Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport unveils large-scale exterior mural on Toronto’s waterfront

We are humbled to play a role in bringing this meaningful piece of public art to life alongside our partners and community. This mural is more than a beautiful addition to the passenger terminal; it’s a celebration of the Indigenous lands and waters that surround us, and a tribute to the stories, ecology and diversity that make Toronto so unique. We’re honoured to support projects that deepen our connection to place and people, and we invite all Torontonians and visitors to experience it for themselves.

PortsToronto celebrates this striking new mural as a powerful example of what’s possible through partnership and a shared commitment to centering Indigenous voices. It invites reflection on the site’s cultural and historical significance, complementing the Maanjidowin sculpture by the water and other representations of First Nations art and culture throughout the airport.

StreetARToronto (StART), an initiative of the City of Toronto, Transportation Services Division, is pleased to partner with and support the artists in the Jakurundi Graphics Collective. The mural, created in partnership with Nieuport Aviation, transforms the space into a colourful canvas that reflects the community’s stories, cultures and resilience.  In consultation with Chief Claire Sault and Darin Wybenga of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, this mural will be a meaningful part of the Toronto waterfront migration path for years to come. StART programs and projects are rooted in a set of values that demonstrate the positive and powerful impacts of reconciliation, diversity and inclusion.

The design of the mural was inspired by the interconnectedness between people, the land and water, past and present. We are inspired by the beauty of the natural world, the relationships and the stories of the waterfront—those that are known and just as importantly the untold stories of arrival and departure. Those that have made this location their home, those that have been displaced and those that visit or are located temporarily, like migratory birds. We each have our own personal stories and histories related to Toronto and Lake Ontario. We are grateful for the community participants who attended our workshops and the people who also shared with us their thoughts and reflections regarding the waterfront and what it meant to them during the whole process of the project.

This mural stands as a vibrant tribute to Toronto’s diversity, creativity, and waterfront heritage, prominently placed at one of the city's key gateways. It honours the deep roots and ongoing presence of Indigenous communities along these waters, and brings their stories and cultures to the forefront. By supporting projects like this, we’re investing in Toronto’s cultural vibrancy and economic vitality, while creating public spaces for both residents and visitors to gather and enjoy.