SUPPORT YOUR LOCALS T.O.

COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE INITIATIVE

Building Stronger Neighbourhoods. Together.

Toronto is built by its people.

The artists, musicians, makers, independent business owners, community organizers, families, and neighbours who contribute to the culture and character of our city every day.

The SUPPORT YOUR LOCALS T.O. Community Infrastructure Initiative was created to celebrate those people and invest in the public spaces that bring communities together.

Through public art, community gathering spaces, neighbourhood storytelling, cultural landmarks, and locally inspired infrastructure, we aim to strengthen the connections between people and place while creating lasting community assets that can be enjoyed for generations.

At its core, the initiative is built around a simple belief:

When we support our locals, we strengthen our communities.

The initiative includes a growing collection of community-focused installations including Community Benches™, Frenchie Guardians™, Community Tables™, Story Stations™, Planters™, and future public infrastructure projects designed specifically for Toronto neighbourhoods.

Each installation is intended to serve a purpose beyond aesthetics.

A bench becomes a place to gather.

A sculpture becomes a landmark.

A story station preserves neighbourhood history.

A planter creates a greener public space.

Together, these projects help create safer, more welcoming, and more connected communities.

The initiative also provides opportunities for local artists, makers, tradespeople, community organizations, schools, and independent businesses to participate in shaping the public spaces around them.

By combining art, culture, sustainability, and community engagement, SUPPORT YOUR LOCALS T.O. seeks to create a recognizable network of installations across Toronto that celebrate local identity while encouraging civic pride and participation.

This is not simply a public art project.

It is an investment in community infrastructure.

It is a platform for local culture.

It is a celebration of the people who make Toronto unique.

Together, we can build spaces that inspire connection, honour local stories, and strengthen the neighbourhoods we call home.

LIVE LOCAL. LOVE LOCAL.

SUPPORT YOUR LOCALS T.O.

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WHY IT MATTERS

Strong communities do not happen by accident.

They are built through shared spaces, local businesses, public gathering places, cultural expression, and meaningful relationships between neighbours.

As cities continue to grow and change, many of the spaces that once brought people together are disappearing. Independent businesses face increasing pressure, local artists struggle to find affordable opportunities, and neighbourhood stories risk being lost over time.

SUPPORT YOUR LOCALS T.O. was created to help address these challenges through community-focused infrastructure that encourages connection, celebrates local identity, and creates opportunities for residents to actively participate in the places they call home.

Every project is designed to strengthen the cultural fabric of our city while creating visible reminders that community matters.

Because when people feel connected to where they live, neighbourhoods become stronger, safer, more vibrant, and more resilient.

The future of Toronto should not be built solely by developers, institutions, or corporations.

It should also be shaped by the people who live here.

The artists.

The business owners.

The makers.

The volunteers.

The neighbours.

The locals.

•••

SUPPORT YOUR LOCALS LONG-TERM VISION

Our vision is to establish a recognizable network of community infrastructure throughout Toronto.

From neighbourhood benches and public art installations to community tables, planters, storytelling stations, and cultural landmarks, each project contributes to a larger system designed to strengthen local identity and encourage civic participation.

Over time, we envision SUPPORT YOUR LOCALS T.O. installations becoming recognizable symbols of community pride throughout the city.

A resident should be able to see a bench, a Frenchie Guardian, a story station, or a community gathering space and immediately recognize it as part of a growing effort to support local culture, local businesses, and local communities.

This is a long-term investment in Toronto’s social infrastructure.

One neighbourhood.

One project.

One story at a time.

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HOW THE INITIATIVE WORKS

COMMUNITY MEMBER

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Identifies a need, shares a story, nominates a location, or participates in a local project.

LOCAL ARTIST

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Contributes artwork, design, storytelling, murals, sculpture, cultural interpretation, or creative programming.

LOCAL BUSINESS

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Provides sponsorship, resources, materials, services, promotion, or community support.

COMMUNITY PARTNER

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Schools, libraries, BIAs, neighbourhood associations, cultural organizations, and community groups help guide implementation.

SUPPORT YOUR LOCALS T.O.

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Coordinates design, fundraising, partnerships, artist engagement, installation planning, and project delivery.

COMMUNITY INSTALLATION

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SUPPORT YOUR LOCALS TO Community Bench™

Frenchie Guardian™

Story Station™

Community Table™

Community Planter™

Future Public Infrastructure Projects™

COMMUNITY IMPACT

↓

Stronger neighbourhood pride

Increased local engagement

Support for artists and businesses

Public gathering spaces

Cultural preservation

Community storytelling

Long-term civic investment

The result is a self-reinforcing ecosystem where local people, local culture, and local businesses work together to create stronger neighbourhoods.

•••

PARTNER WITH US

SUPPORT YOUR LOCALS T.O. collaborates with organizations, businesses, institutions, artists, and community groups that share our commitment to strengthening neighbourhoods through culture, public space, and community engagement.

PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Neighbourhood associations

Community groups

Resident organizations

Libraries

Schools

Youth programs

ARTIST PARTNERS

Visual artists

Muralists

Designers

Musicians

Writers

Cultural workers

BUSINESS PARTNERS

Independent businesses

Restaurants

Retailers

Studios

Service providers

Neighbourhood champions

CORPORATE PARTNERS

Community investment initiatives

Public realm projects

Employee volunteer programs

Infrastructure sponsorships

FOUNDATION PARTNERS

Arts organizations

Community foundations

Granting bodies

Cultural institutions

Together, we can create meaningful public spaces that celebrate local culture while strengthening the neighbourhoods we call home.