Toronto 
More than 100 canoes will form a coordinated procession along Toronto’s waterfront this September as part of A Lake Story, a large-scale public art project by artist Melissa McGill. Commissioned and presented by The Bentway, the performance is part of the inaugural Water/Fall Festival and will feature over 400 paddlers moving in unison through Biidaasige Park toward Sugar Beach.
Credit: Project Render courtesy of Melissa McGill
Each canoe will carry a wind-activated colour field painting made with pigments gathered from Lake Ontario and its shoreline. These materials—including goldenrod, red brick, clay, algae, and wild grape—were sourced from areas such as Leslie Street Spit, Gibraltar Point, and the re-naturalized Don River. The pigments were developed in collaboration with Jason Logan of the Toronto Ink Company.
The artwork aims to visually express the natural ecosystem and character of Lake Ontario. Local Indigenous knowledge keepers and ecologists provided guidance for the project, which intends to reflect the connections between people, water, and the environment. The whole procession will last approximately two hours and will be visible from various points along the waterfront. A map of recommended viewing areas will be released in September. Weather conditions may affect timing or routing.
Following the canoe performance, a celebration will be held along the western waterfront, featuring a screening of a documentary film and a display of the colour field paintings. The event is supported by organizations including Waterfront Toronto, Ports Toronto, Redpath Sugar, and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.
The Bentway is currently seeking over 500 volunteers for land and water-based roles and is accepting donations to support the project. Donors may receive one of the canoe paddles used in the performance as a keepsake.
A Lake Story is part of the Water/Fall Festival, which runs over two weekends: September 27–28 and October 4–5. The festival will feature food and drink markets, live music, dance performances, boat tours, and interactive art installations along Toronto’s waterfront.
