A Lake Story: Call for Paddlers & Volunteers

On September 27th and 28th the Bentway will be holding a large scale art-installation event as a part of their inaugural Water/Fall festival! They are seeking 500+ volunteers, for on the water and on land.

Event Details
Date: Sep 27 & 28, 2025 (Procession at 11am & 4pm)
Location: Toronto Waterfront at Biidaasige Park
Volunteers: Apply here (Free to attend!)

About A Lake Story

A Lake Story, a new commission by artist Melissa McGill, takes theform of a large-scale canoe procession that will write Lake Ontario’s story through colour, across the sky and water. Featuring 400+ local canoers and paddlers joining us for this memorable performance, participants will paddle in a coordinated, slow-moving procession. An epic celebration of Lake Ontario along the Toronto Waterfront, Melissa McGill’s project maps Toronto’s harbour and waterfront biosphere with the lake’s own vocabulary expressed through its natural colour palette. By giving visual voice to the interconnected relationships above and below the waters, the project invites us to shift our perspective to participate in and learn from nature’s wisdom and creativity.

What to Expect 

• A slow-moving procession of approximately 120 canoes with large, wind-activated colour field paintings will move through Biidaasige Park and the Eastern Waterfront towards Sugar Beach.
• The entire experience will last approximately 2 hours from beginning to end.
• Two performances will take place at 11am and 4pm on September 27/28
• The experience will be visible from many points along theEastern Waterfront and Biidaasige Park in Oekwemin Minising. A full map of optimal viewing areas will be available in September.
• For the safety of the canoe participants, the experience may need to amend its route or adjust starting times in response to high winds or inclement weather. Please follow @thebentway on social media for weather-related updates on the day of each performance.
• We recommend dressing accordingly for the weather.

Details for Volunteers: A Lake Story_Paddling Volunteer Call_Poster_ PDF_Aug 7