A UNIQUE SITE
ART, NATURE, WATER, CITY
THE LASSONDE ART TRAIL WILL BE A FREE, OPEN-AIR DESTINATION FOR OUTSTANDING CONTEMPORARY ART FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
Situated on the extraordinary site of a new island in the Toronto harbour archipelago, LAT believes public art enhances wellbeing, guides respectful dialogue and opens our eyes to how we steward the environment.
Our Story
The Lassonde Art Trail (LAT) is at the heart of a massive $1.25b project to reroute the mouth of the Don River and build flood protection for downtown Toronto. This feat of civil and bioengineering has created a new island in the city harbour called Ookwemin Minising. The project will establish a new river valley with functional wetlands and deliver 62 acres of publicly accessible open space along the riverbanks and inner harbour. It will clean and restore soils contaminated from past industrialization, and naturally accommodate the effects of flooding and erosion. In the process it will re-establish aquatic and terrestrial habitat where Indigenous species of plants and animals can thrive.
In master plans for this new neighbourhood and park system, Waterfront Toronto included a vision for a contemporary art trail with embedded supporting infrastructure. In 2022, philanthropist Pierre Lassonde was invited to view progress on the site, and he committed a transformational gift to realize the art trail. This gift of $25M includes $10M for two permanent destination artworks that will be gifted to the City of Toronto’s Public Art and Monuments Collection. The remaining $15M is allocated as a challenge fund to sustain programming over the long-term, and manage the free, outdoor public art trail in parks along the banks of the Don River mouth in Toronto’s transformed Port Lands.
Incorporated as a non-profit charitable organization in 2023, LAT is actively fundraising to unlock the Lassonde family’s matching funds and achieve its goal to be a world-class, dynamic art destination. The permanent sculptures will be unveiled in 2026 alongside a rotating cycle of contemporary installations from local, national and international artists in collaboration with a range of donors, supporters, city-builders and partners both near and far.
Land Acknowledgment
The land upon which LAT is located is part of the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and Toronto is covered by Treaty 13. LAT acknowledges that Toronto has historically been a gathering place for many Indigenous people including the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, the Anishnabeg, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is home to many First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples today.
LAT also respects the inherent rights of Indigenous peoples as set out in the United Nations Declaration of the rights of Indigenous Peoples. Furthermore, LAT acknowledges the desire and rights of Indigenous peoples to own heritage and artistic products and resist misappropriation.
LAT is committed to strengthening formal and informal connections with Indigenous communities through public art. We will listen to and work closely with Indigenous artists to honour their stories.
Timeline
2022
Pierre Lassonde and family announce lead commitment to establish an Art Trail on Toronto's waterfront
2023
Lassonde Art Trail Foundation incorporated, charitable status established, launch campaign initiated
2024
New Don River mouth flows
An Indigenous Advisory Circle names the island Ookwemin Minising meaning “place of the black cherry trees" and the park Biidaasige Park meaning “sunlight shining towards us” in Anishinaabemowin/Ojibwemowin
2024/5
Permanent anchor artworks announced
2025
Parks open on Ookwemin Minising island
2026
LAT launch with two permanent artworks and trail of temporary artworks
2027
Ongoing LAT annual program
News
Contact
The Lassonde Art Trail launches in 2026
Temporary office: 45 Hazelton Avenue, Suite A Toronto, ON, M5R 2E3, Canada
+ 1 647 547 4070
lat@latfoundation.org
Executive Director: Chloë Catán
Artistic Director and Chief Curator: November Paynter