Welcome (Back) to Main Street Ground Murals

This project is part of I HeART Main Street, a program supporting Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) with the support they need to activate their main streets through public art and placemaking. This program engages BIAs, local artists and businesses across Ontario to create more vibrant and safe communities.

Project Type: Temporary Exhibit

Artist: Bareket Kezwer

Riverside BIA recognizes the importance of public art for placemaking, and had a great time participating in last year’s I HeART Main Street program. As a prize winner last year, the BIA was especially motivated to come back into the challenge with a big, bold concept to welcome everyone back to Queen St. E in collaboration with the neighbouring Leslieville BIA.

With the theme “Welcome (Back) to Main Street”, Riverside and Leslieville are welcoming the community with the word “welcome” in 16 different languages appearing in mural art along the main street sidewalks. Whether a local resident, employee, or a visitor for the first time (and young or young at heart), this activation aims to make the community feel welcomed back with a bit of the normalcy everyone has been seeking, as well as to enjoy new adventures through appreciation for - and participation in - the local things in everyday life.

Find Bareket Kezwer's murals going east along Queen St. E until Greenwood Ave!

Booth Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M4M 2M5, Canada
  • <p>Welcome (Back) to Main Street<br>Artist: <a href="http://stepspublicart.org/artist-roster/bareket-kezwer/">Bareket Kezewer</a>, <a href="http://stepspublicart.org/artist-roster/curtia-wright/">Curtia Wright</a><br>BIA: Riverside BIA<br>Photographer: <a href="http://www.shotbyselina.com/">Selina McCallum</a></p>
  • <p>Welcome (Back) to Main Street<br>Artist: <a href="http://stepspublicart.org/artist-roster/bareket-kezwer/">Bareket Kezewer</a><br>BIA: Riverside BIA<br>Photographer: <a href="http://www.shotbyselina.com/">Selina McCallum</a></p>
  • <p>Welcome (Back) to Main Street<br>Artist: <a href="http://stepspublicart.org/artist-roster/bareket-kezwer/">Bareket Kezewer</a><br>BIA: Riverside BIA<br>Photographer: <a href="http://www.shotbyselina.com/">Selina McCallum</a></p>
  • <p>Welcome (Back) to Main Street<br>Artist: <a href="http://stepspublicart.org/artist-roster/bareket-kezwer/">Bareket Kezewer</a><br>BIA: Riverside BIA<br>Photographer: <a href="http://www.shotbyselina.com/">Selina McCallum</a></p>
  • <p>Welcome (Back) to Main Street<br>Artist: <a href="http://stepspublicart.org/artist-roster/bareket-kezwer/">Bareket Kezewer</a><br>BIA: Riverside BIA<br>Photographer: <a href="http://www.shotbyselina.com/">Selina McCallum</a></p>
  • <p>Welcome (Back) to Main Street</p><p>Artist: <a href="https://stepspublicart.org/artist-roster/bareket-kezwer/">Bareket Kezewer </a></p><p>BIA: Riverside BIA</p><p>Photographer: <a href="http://www.shotbyselina.com/">Selina McCallum</a></p>
  • <p>Welcome (Back) to Main Street</p><p>Artist: <a href="https://stepspublicart.org/artist-roster/bareket-kezwer/">Bereket Kezewer </a></p><p>BIA: Riverside BIA</p><p>Photographer: <a href="http://www.shotbyselina.com/">Selina McCallum</a></p>
  • <p>Welcome (Back) to Main Street</p><p>Artist: <a href="https://stepspublicart.org/artist-roster/bareket-kezwer/">Bareket Kezewer </a></p><p>BIA: Riverside BIA</p><p>Photographer: <a href="http://www.shotbyselina.com/">Selina McCallum</a></p>
  • <p>Welcome (Back) to Main Street</p><p>Artist: <a href="https://stepspublicart.org/artist-roster/bareket-kezwer/">Bareket Kezewer </a></p><p>BIA: Riverside BIA</p><p>Photographer: <a href="http://www.shotbyselina.com/">Selina McCallum</a></p>

About the BIA: With its origins as an early agricultural tree farm and its role as an industrial centre for the east end, Leslieville has played an important role in Toronto’s history. Thanks to the longstanding support for creative industries, Leslieville has a vibrant arts and culture community. Leslievillers came together to fight against big box retail in the neighbourhood and defend the small business community that thrives on Queen St. East and continue to shop local in this great neighbourhood.

Thank you to our additional supporters!

I HeART Main Street, presented in partnership with RBC Royal Bank and ShowLoveTO produced by the City of Toronto, is generously supported by the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative funded by the Government of Canada, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, funding provided by the Government of Ontario.