The Harbourfront Community Centre Mural Project, operating since 1997, is a program that employs youth (ages 16-24) to design and execute murals in the Greater Toronto Area. To date in 2006, the program has transformed over 50,000 square feet of Toronto walls into public art with the help of more than 100 talented youth artists. In addition to producing artwork, the program brings employment and life skills to high-needs youth from different Toronto neighbourhoods. The National Crime Prevention Centre and Toronto Economic Development have provided funding for the Peace Mural.
The Mural Project envisions many more murals to come which will beautify Toronto. On Saturday April 1, 2006 the Harbourfront Community Centre hosted the opening of a new mural, entitled "Peace Mural". For the months leading up to this date, many concerns were expressed about the increase in gun violence in Toronto. The Harbourfront Community Centre have attempted to address this issue in a positive way by expressing different images, thoughts and words in the form of a Peace Mural.
In the mural are portraits and quotes from famous people who were killed by gun violence. There is a variety of images with different styles, representing each mural painter's interpretation of peace. The 52 people, who died of gun violence in 2005, all have their first name and their ages written in the mural. Candles represent the mourning for these people and any loved ones lost in an unfortunate manner. A description of the meaning of the mural from the artist.
The box filled with numbers contains the ages of all the citizens who fell victim to gun violence in 2005. Underneath the numbers is a quote taken from rapper Tupac Shakur who was gunned down in the 90's. Next to the quote are pictures of Selena Chicana (singer from Texas), Che Guevara, Indira Gandhi and Dudley George. All of whom where well known and killed by guns.
In the next panel is a picture depicting tears coming from the eyes of the fallen in 2005.
Underneath is a rendered photo of Toronto Police Officer Todd Baylis who was shot to death while doing his job in 1994. The image of the hands holding signs represents Unity. On top is a sign of peace in sign language followed by a lotus blossom that is being held. The trumpet player is used to draw attention to the subject of peace.
Immediately beside the trumpeter is a photo of John Lennon who was a big advocate for peace and who was also shot and killed. Next is a mother holding her child that is used to show a new life and comfort. The candles represent mourning for all of the victims that have been killed.
The rectangle to the right of the trumpet player contains the words for peace and love written in braile. The white ribbon is in honor of the women who lost their lives in the Montreal Massacre. The box with names on the far right holds the first names of the 52 Toronto victims of gun violence in 2005.
In the spring of 2007 the mural was vandalized by three known individuals from Montreal. It is hoped that they did not know the significance of the Peace Mural when this vandalism occurred, and they have learned from their poor choice to vandalize this mural.
During the summer of 2007, youth artists along with artist mentor Michael Brown of the Harbourfront Mural Project revitalized the mural to its original lustre. It took approximately 80 hours to restore, and a significant monetary budget. The community rallied to come up with the money, and the artists are grateful for this. Both the Toronto Star and the Toronto Sun newspapers carried stories on the mural, as well as Citytv News. It is hoped that the mural will continue to inspire PEACE in its revitalized form, and everyone, including the vandals who damaged it, will benefit from the message of PEACE that the mural is designed to foster.
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Ontario Provincial Police - Racist Ipperwash Remarksby kainaij12,942 views
@Alex94131 As much as I agree with your statement I think it's lost on this audience. There is some kind of revival of commuist imagery going on that's just pretty sad. The number of people who died under communist regimes is higher that the Nazi's and nobody is painting murals in tribute to them.
dbutch1976 1 year ago
Dudley George was not Martin Luther King. He had numerous convictions for crimes of violence. On the evening he was killed he had a gun and was shooting it when the the police shot him. Live by the sword..................
OPPgreg 3 years ago
Che Guevara was a perpetrator of gun violence, not a victim of it -- ask the families of the people he personally assassinated whether he is an appropriate subject of a "peace" mural. Where is the memorial to his victims?
Alex94131 4 years ago