During the week after Christmas Toronto’s temperature plummeted to a 57-year record low. Brrrrr! Bundled up tightly against such crazy wintery weather, the day was slightly brightened by coming across this group of colorful sculptures of fishing bobbins. Situated in Canoe Landing Park in the CityPlace neighborhood, these cheerful works were created by noted Vancouver artist Douglas Coupland. Elsewhere in the park there is an oversized sculpture of a red canoe (also by Coupland), in which park-goers can sit and look out across Gardiner Expressway toward nearby Lake Ontario. Clever and fun subject for sculptures and another great example of the vibrant public art that can be found throughout metro Toronto.
O' Canada 
Here in Melbourne, Australia, we had 42° Celsius two days ago and boy, it’s hot!
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These are fun, Brett! I could have very well walked past you as I was in Toronto Christmas week on Queen’ s Quay! I wish I had seen these delightful structures during my travels around Toronto! Cher xo
Cher, what a nice coincidence! Between the usually tough winters in Chicago and the amazing one underway in Toronto, you’re a glutton for punishment. But even with the trying weather, for me it’s always nice to be in Toronto.
How fun!
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TO is balmy in comparison to Ottawa. Coupland is always playful of his artwork. Is that a frozen pond? Happy New Year!
I heard Ottawa was/is frozen over as well. (Love that good-natured competition between cities.) It’s all cold to me. 🙂
Reblogged this on Epiphanie d'un style.
I too was in TO during the most frigid weather, except I had heard it was since 1959. Coming from Vancouver Island it was a major shock. I did not do much sightseeing outside of Uber cars! Still a lovely city.
It’s always fascinating to me how temperatures on the east and west coasts are always more moderate than inland, such as Toronto, Ottawa or Montreal.
Very cold! But what a creative display.
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Such a bright contrast to my gray winter Monday morning start of the work week. Thank you.
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Every little bit of colour serves to brighten up a dreary winter scene. Well done! Great photos!
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Very colourful! I would guess that they hadn’t seen much real use in fishing or they would be more beat up, but they do brighten up the day with those colours.
If they had been used that way, that would be some big fish!
Nice. Very nice.
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Those bright colors help take the bite out of the hyper-cold conditions. Here in South Dakota USA, we had 45 degrees below zero last week.
That’s bitter cold!
Super cool, thank you for sharing. Really enjoyed this.
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I wonder if he used actual fishermen colors on his floats? I know that in Maine each lobster man has his own particular color scheme. It would be fun if he was referring to specific B.C. people.
That’s a neat thought!
I love this park, was drawn to discover it after seeing the red canoe from the highway below, and making my way on foot to investigate. I’ve never visited the park in winter, thanks for taking us there. (And bravo for braving the cold to do it.)
Yes, it’s great how large cities in each of the provinces, such as Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, Halifax, etc., have nice off-the-beaten track parks.
Coupland’s installations are amazing. The Vancouver Art Gallery has a whole floor of them a few years back.
That sounds very cool!
Very cool post, Brett !
Thanks, buddy! 🙂
Clever and fun are indeed the words to describe this outdoor art –Brett – love the bright colours!
How ironic these whimsical sculptures should be placed outside one of toronto’s most infamous of all the downtown condo developments, a source of heated debate. After only 10 years, Cityplace is already showing signs of disrepair.
And while it “may always be nice to be in Toronto” for you – living here is a whole different matter…
Thanks for bringing this colourful art-work to our attention!
Richard, thanks for sharing this about the Cityplace area. I don’t know much about it but from a few things I’ve gleaned I sensed some of the tension you mention. Large urban areas are full of contradictions (as are people, in general, everywhere). Perhaps an appropriate, even if unintended metaphor for the placement of Coupland’s art, something that I suspect would not be lost on that artist.
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Wow, this made a colorful and beautiful display in the brilliant white snow, Brett.
Hope your year is heading off in a fun direction and healthy days, too. Take care! 🙂🎈
Thanks, Robin. You as well! 🙂
Thank you back, Brett. 🙂
Your pictures are like postcards.
That’s a nice thought! Thanks!
Got someone from Canada to have some pictures… Thanks a lot… Canada is beautiful…. Love from India…💛
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