How to Build A River: Display and Author Talk by Ryan Walker and Vid Ingelevics

How do you build a river? Explore the history, artifacts, and stories behind the transformation of the Port Lands.

Beneath Toronto's biggest new park in a generation lies a remarkable story.

Before the new Don River flowed and Biidaasige Park opened, construction uncovered histories and stories that had literally been buried for over a century.

On September 23, join artists Ryan Walker and Vid Ingelevics for an evening of stories, photographs, artifacts, and conversation. Drawing from their book How to Build a River Ryan and Vid will share their experience documenting one of the most ambitious revitalization in North America, Waterfront Toronto’s Port Lands Flood Protection project.

Through photographs and found objects, Vid and Ryan will share stories of the people, places, and unexpected discoveries they encountered while documenting the creation of a new mouth for the Don River and a new island, Ookwemin Minising.

Whether you're interested in city-building, landscape architecture, environmental restoration, photography, history, or Toronto's waterfront, this event offers a unique opportunity to explore the history of the Port Lands and learn how a new island was built in the heart of Toronto.

Program highlights include:

• A talk with Ryan Walker and Vid Ingelevics
• Audience Q&A
• Discover some of the found objects salvaged during construction
• Book signing with the authors

Where: Waterfront Neighbourhood Space, just east of 39 Commissioners St on Ookwemin Minising.

Books will be available for purchase at the event courtesy of University of Toronto Press, with a special 20% discount offered to attendees.

Reserve a spot now!

Accessibility: We want to ensure everyone can fully participate. Please let Waterfront Toronto know if you have any accessibility needs by contacting info@waterfrontoronto.ca.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Vid Ingelevics is a Toronto-based artist, independent curator and writer. He holds the title of Associate Professor Emeritus from the School of Image Arts, Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), where he taught from 2007. Prior to that he taught at OCAD University. His research-based practice has been concerned with the representation of the past, the role of the photographic archive as well as with urbanist issues related to Toronto. He works primarily with photography, video and installation. His projects as artist and curator have been exhibited across Canada, in the US, Europe and Australia.

Ryan Walker is a Toronto-based photographer, specializing in documentary, editorial photography, and visual advocacy. Having graduated in 2013, Walker holds an MFA in Documentary Media from Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). He is also an educator for the BFA Photography Program at TMU and Sheridan College. His creative practice explores intimate storytelling through cinema and photographic mediums.

Walker’s work explore narratives encompassing themes of land, identity, and the diverse ways in which society is grappling with and embracing the challenges posed by our changing climate.