Category: Vaughan

SmartCentres plans transit-oriented community at Caledonia Station

SmartCentres’ ArtWalk breaks ground in growing SmartVMC community

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March 9, 2022

Thousands More People To Call Vaughan’s Emerging Downtown Home In Future

Source: The Star

A total of 2,628 units are under construction, which could accommodate approximately 5,203 more residents

During peak hours, school buses and cars at the intersection of Apple Mill Road and Millway Avenue — the heart of Vaughan’s emerging downtown core — patiently wait their turns. Pedestrians, too, walk in and out of the subway station nearby, creating some buzz.

“From 4 to 6 p.m., this is like the most heavy traffic,” said Anupam Dwijendra, a father of one child, who moved in with his family to the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre nine months ago after bidding his previous home, at a more populous and busier Toronto area, goodbye.

Dwijendra is one of the relatively new occupants of the completed eight condos, which currently total 3,900 units and house about 7,722 residents.

“But usually when you come here (during non-peak hours), it’s mostly deserted,” Dwijendra added. “I think that’s because it’s still developing, and people are still coming in.”

The completed condos — all occupied — are Transit City’s three towers, Expo City’s two towers, North Condos’ two towers, and a condo called The Met.

However, more units are still under construction.

The developer Menkes & QuadReal is building Block 2 — also called Mobilio, which has 751 apartment units and 397 townhouses — and Block 3 — called Festival that comes with 2,470 apartment units.

SmartCentres is developing Transit City — towers 4 and 5 — and a purpose-built rental building, bringing its total to 1,480 units. And, Cortel is developing CG Tower, which has 551 units.

“Realization of developments that are occupied, under construction and approved currently represent more than 29,100 residents in more than 14,700 units moving into the VMC,” the City of Vaughan said.

“This represents 123 per cent of the residential units and 116 per cent of the population target established for the 2031 planning horizon,” it added.

The city also gave these figures:

• 3,900 units or approximately 7,722 residents in developments that are completed and occupied

• 2,628 units or approximately 5,203 future residents in developments that are under construction

• 8,176 units or approximately 16,188 potential future residents in developments that are approved by council

The city added there are 13,662 units or about 27,051 in potential future residents in formally-submitted development applications are in progress. Also, pre-application development proposals show 6,218 units or approximately 12,312 potential future residents.

As the new downtown inches closer to completion, it’s also adding the first Buca-branded restaurant and bar outside Toronto — at the Transit condo tower.

The addition is another higher-end brand, joining Balzac’s coffee shop, already serving people there.

Dwijendra, who described Balzac’s as special, said he would like to see more common brands like Tim Hortons.

“Tim Hortons feels more like home, so they can have more of these familiar kind of stores,” he said.

Others also have pitched in with their input.

“It just needs to get more stores to add life here,” said Adam Williams, an Egyptian student, who is visiting his sister at the VMC.

Anastasia Gale, who lives in an area near the new downtown, suggested the square in vicinity of the VMC subway station could showcase artwork of various artists.

“The square over there would be perfect for public art,” Gale said, adding it would be “lovely” to showcase the work of multicultural artists given that the area is diverse.

Last September, food trucks, an art exhibition and drive-in movie theatres gave people a taste of culture.

“It definitely left an impression on me. I took a video I shared with my friends and everything,” said Dwijendra. “If more of that could happen, that would be amazing.”

So far, the Vaughan International Music Festival is planned to take place from June 10 to 12 after its soft launch last year.

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February 7, 2022

Park Place Bringing Refined Living to Vaughan Metropolitan Centre

Source: UrbanToronto

One of the fastest-growing neighbourhoods in Canada is about to grow a little more as SmartLiving introduces Park Place, the next phase of SmartVMC, SmartCentres REIT’s 100+ acre master-planned city centre in Vaughan’s new downtown hub. Located on the northeast corner of Highway 7 and Commerce Street and immediately adjacent to SmartVMC’s central 9-acre park, the two-tower proposal is set to expand the area’s emerging skyline, rising to heights of 48 and 56 storeys. These mixed-use towers build on SmartVMC’s transit-oriented, pedestrian-friendly development, adding to the vibrant community growing in Vaughan’s burgeoning downtown.


Park Place looking east, image courtesy of SmartCentres REIT.

The two towers are designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects and will contain more than 1,100 residential units, with over 10,000 ft² of retail space at the base. The south tower rises 56 storeys with the north tower reaching 48 storeys, both of which sit atop a connected 3-storey podium. Given their location adjacent to the park and the Highway 7 corridor, the towers will offer uninterrupted views across the entire GTA. The proposal includes generous sidewalks and public realm around the building, including a north-south pedestrian mews along the east edge of the site connecting Highway 7 to New Park Place.

The proposed development fronts directly onto the middle section of the 9-acre central park at the heart of the SmartVMC master plan. The park is designed by renowned landscape architects Claude Cormier + Associés, and the central heart of the park will contain a sunken lawn, a kids’ play area, and a dog park, essentially becoming a big backyard for residents. The first phase of the park will begin construction later this year.


View of Park Place from within the central park looking southeast, image courtesy of SmartCentres REIT.

The buildings feature a signature curving design from Hariri Pontarini Architects, with the podium swerving inward to embrace a courtyard on the west. “The project conveys a contemporary expression that is distinguished and notable on the newly created Vaughan skyline,” states Michael Attard, Associate Partner at Hariri Pontarini, “a simple, graceful residential tower lightly resting on an iconic three-storey retail and amenity base. It is informed by the constraints of its context and celebrates the relationship of program and structure, tracing its form to a natural conclusion.”

Attard describes how the massing of the towers was sculpted and integrated seamlessly with the public realm: “We carved away the massing next to Commerce Street to create a retail plaza which links into the new park. The towers were oriented with an offset to preserve views and maximize access to light. The podium is seen as an extension of the plaza and activated by outdoor amenities which terrace upwards away from the plaza. The base and corners of the tower are defined by a warm terracotta screen which links through the development like a ribbon.”


The base of Park Place, image courtesy of SmartCentres REIT.

Sustainability also informed the design of the towers. “The towers are wrapped in bands of white fritted glass which quiet the division of envelope to balcony and provide locations for us to introduce solid walls to improve our window-to-wall ratio,” explains Attard. “Incorporating concepts of passive sustainable design, the project strikes a balance between responsive solar strategies, cohesive skin design, and the needs and comforts of the occupants who desire maximum access to view and light.”

At ground level, a generous retail plaza and expansive public realm integrate the development with its surroundings, with a trellis tracing the edge of the site to create an intimate gathering space. “We’ve softened the threshold from street to building by incorporating a public plaza that is visually connected to the central park and bordered by an elevated sun-shading trellis,” Attard states. ”Stairs with integrated benches mitigate the grade change along Commerce Street.” Attard adds that, “The building form and program helped to shape the public space, encourage connectivity, and provide opportunities for neighbourhood interaction.”


Retail plaza along Commerce Street, image courtesy of SmartCentres REIT.

Condo units in the building are available in a variety of sizes, ranging from 470 to more than 1,100 square feet, and from one to three bedrooms. SmartLiving describes the development as offering their highest level of refined living in SmartVMC to date. Amenities are located on the second and third floors of the podium and include a fitness area with yoga and wellness spaces; a cycle lab; a lounge and games room; and a large outdoor terrace, complete with an outdoor cooking area. It is also being designed as a smart building, with Wi-Fi available in all common areas, and features such as touch-free entry, smart thermostats, and app integration.

Park Place joins a growing collection of high-rise developments in SmartVMC, where several other SmartLiving residential projects are planned, completed, or under construction, including five Transit City Condo towers; Artwalk Condos; and The Millway purpose-built rental tower. SmartVMC’s skyline also features the award-winning Class A KPMG Tower and the PwC-YMCA Tower, which is home to a brand new YMCA, slated to open very soon. These buildings are all centred around immediate access to public transit, with the TTC’s Vaughan Metropolitan Centre subway station and SmartVMC regional bus terminal at the heart of the community, and the VIVA/BRT line on Highway 7 along its perimeter. Park Place benefits from its location directly adjacent to the Commerce Street stop on the BRT line and is a short walk from the subway station.


SmartVMC master plan with Park Place highlighted in orange, image courtesy of SmartCentres REIT.

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November 19, 2021

ArtWalk’s Three Towers Will Overlook a Nine-acre Central Park and Aim to Give Toronto’s Core a Run for its Money

Source: National Post

It wouldn’t be surprising to find the artist birdO’s massive outdoor mural of a kingfisher, with its technicolor plumage and bright red beak, in Miami’s Wynwood Arts District, where big, trippy murals trail more than 50 blocks. Or even in downtown Toronto.

But this is Vaughan.

“We wanted to bring people together in a COVID-free way,” says Mandy Mail, vice-president of marketing for SmartCentres, who explains the art initiative – along with food trucks and free drive-in movies – was to set the stage for a new mixed-use development called ArtWalk.

The project is part of the 100-acre master-planned community within the 400-acre Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, or SmartVMC, a development that comes with a subway on its doorstep, at Jane and Highway 7.

Developed by SmartLiving, the residential branch of SmartCentres — the retail giant responsible for Walmart-anchored plazas in Canada — the ArtWalk district shares its name with the condominium planned for its core.

In addition to murals, street food and movies, extensive public art is planned for the new community. The PXL Gallery, for instance, launched this past summer. “It’s like a giant Lite-Brite,” says Mail of the 10,000-square-foot outdoor installation. “Because it’s low-resolution, it has beautiful movement. It feels fuzzy, like a memory.”

She adds, “Out of all 100 acres, for me [ArtWalk] is the prime real estate within SmartVMC. It is kitty corner to a nine-acre central park and steps from a new library and a YMCA.”

A mix of materials and palettes are being used to impart variation among the buildings. PHOTO BY PHOTO COURTESY SMARTCENTRES

Bordered by Portage Parkway to the north and Apple Mill Road to the south, ArtWalk is unrolling in four phases. Phase 1 is three mixed-use towers: thirty-eight storeys and 18 storeys that are linked by a podium, alongside a separate six-storey “jewel-box residence” with retail at grade. Suites in the tallest tower range from 500 to 900 square feet. Pricing is not available yet; occupancy is set for January 2026.

Designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects, the buildings will offer a range of floorplates and suite sizes. A European-inspired shared central courtyard will have retail at grade and an urban vibe. A range of natural materials and colour palettes are meant to create variation among the buildings.

Multiple outdoor terraces with gardens, an outdoor movie area, lounge seating with firepits, as well as an outdoor dining space with barbecues are in the plans.

There will also be an indoor/outdoor children’s play area and a 2,500-square-foot co-working space with a sculptural spiral staircase that faces the central courtyard.

Wi-Fi will be available in all common areas and amenities can be booked via mobile app. Suites will include smart thermostats and keyless entry.

“SmartVMC has 20 million square feet of planned development; 3.5 million of that is built or under construction,” says Mail.

The monumental venture started with the launch in 2017 of Transit City, the five towers to the east of ArtWalk. “The demand was unprecedented,” says Mail. “There were 2,500 real estate agents lined up around the corner.”

Originally, it was only going to be one 36-storey tower, says Mail. But interest was strong and the design was adjusted to make it 55 storeys. Pretty soon, a second tower was added, followed by a third, fourth and fifth.

Mail believes COVID concerns have spurred the trend of Canadians relocating from downtown.

“SmartVMC gives them the benefit of life north of the city, but they don’t lose the energy and vibrancy of being in the city centre,” says Mail, who notes a Buca restaurant will be opening in the base of Transit City’s Tower 1, with a goal to bring in additional culinary offerings in the future.

Amenities include a 2,500-square-foot co-working space with a sculptural spiral staircase that faces the central courtyard. PHOTO BY PHOTO COURTESY SMARTCENTRES

But one of the community’s biggest draws, Mail adds, is transit connectivity.

“As I’m looking out my window, I’m two steps away from the subway station. You have the TTC on site, you have the regional bus terminal. You’re five minutes to York University, and 40 minutes to downtown Toronto.”

The construction of the subway was a game-changer in VMC’s story. In the 1990s, SmartCentres focused on finding key locations to introduce Walmart to Canadians.

“We would typically buy 25 to 30 acres of land,” says Mail. “But the seller of [the VMC parcel] at the time refused to split it.” Serendipitously, they ended up with 100 acres.

Then SmartCentres’ founder Mitchell Goldhar got “the call every developer dreams of,” says Mail. The TTC asked if they could extend the subway line so that it terminated at the property.

“Nobody is going to say no to that,” says Mail. “A subway is typically built in a densely populated area to relieve traffic,” but the City recognized that the vacant land had potential.

Cities like London or Paris revolve around open space, Mail notes. “You think of the square: the piazzas in Italy, the big parks in London. Instead of maximizing density and financial gain, the first thing we planned is a nine-acre park.”

The green space runs one block across the property. “It’s the true heart of the community,” says Mail. “We think of open space as the music and the architecture as the lyrics. The building is built around the open space to complement it versus building being the prime focus.”

Suites in ArtWalk’s 38-storey tower range in size from 500 to 900 square feet. Pricing is not available yet. For more information, visit artwalkcondos.com.

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October 5, 2021

SmartCentres Unveils ArtWalk Condos at SmartVMC in Vaughan

Source: UrbanToronto

It doesn’t seem all that long since the centre of Vaughan was just big box stores amid acres of parking… but then the subway arrived with the opening of Vaughan Metropolitan Centre station, and the area has been on a tear ever since. SmartCentres REIT, who own 100 acres adjacent to the station, took the opportunity of the new direct accessibility to Downtown Toronto to make best use of the land through a master plan they developed, gradually bringing a new 20M ft² City Centre to Vaughan surrounding a 9-acre central park.

Looking through the proposed Central Park at SmartVMC, designed by Claude Cormier + Associes for SmartCentres REIT

The plan, developed with Diamond Schmitt Architects and Claude Cormier + Associés, has quickly brought quite a bit of new development to the area that’s just a minute’s drive from Highways 400 and 7. “With five sold out world-class residential towers, and two leased out award-winning office towers, SmartVMC is one of the fastest growing communities in Canada,” Mitchell Goldhar, Executive Chairman and CEO of SmartCentres REIT told us. “This emerging city centre has unparalleled transit connectivity, including a TTC Subway Station and York Regional Bus Terminal on site.”

The first three Transit City towers behind the Smart VMC Bus Terminal, and PwC Building with Library to the left, image by Edward Skira

While current construction immediately to the east is adding more residential buildings, the next parcel of land to be developed has now been revealed; just to the west of Transit City will be the mixed-use ArtWalk District. Launched this past summer with a series of “accessible, experiential art and culture activations,” the ArtWalk District was kicked off with 30,000 ft² of murals painted by acclaimed local and international artists including Ricardo Cavolo, birdO, Ben Johnston, and Jeremy Shantz. Currently, the murals provide a colourful backdrop for ArtWalk’s food truck market, and for a series of free drive-in movies that run every Thursday and Saturday evening.

Mural by renowned Barcelona-based artist Ricardo Cavolo at ArtWalk, image courtesy of SmartCentres

New developments will transform the art district with a four-phase block of new, mixed-use developments from SmartLiving, SmartCentres’ wholly owned in-house residential development brand. The first of these is ArtWalk Condos Phase 1. Goldhar continued “ArtWalk Condos represent our next phase of new residential buildings within SmartVMC; a pedestrian and public art-oriented neighbourhood within a vibrant new city centre. ArtWalk Condos is located at the nexus of a brand-new YMCA and public library, a series of striking public art installations, and a spectacular 9-acre central park that will serve as the heartbeat of the whole community.”

Looking southwest to ArtWalk Condos Phase 1 at Smart VMC, designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects for SmartCentres REIT

Designed by renowned Hariri Pontarini Architects, the first phase of ArtWalk is just to the west of the library, an arrangement of four buildings that will rise around an integrated courtyard. HPA is leading both the architecture and interiors for this phase, bringing varying building and suite sizes to accommodate a diverse range of people and lifestyles. The design is detailed and welcoming, featuring natural materials and colour palettes, “purposefully creating variation between all the buildings while crafting a striking skyline.”

Looking southwest to ArtWalk Condos Phase 1 at Smart VMC, designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects for SmartCentres REIT

The tallest of the four buildings is a 38-storey residential tower at the east end of the courtyard and fronting Buttermill Avenue. It will be joined by a 3-storey podium to an 18-storey residential building on the north side of the courtyard. To the south will be a 6-storey residential building, low enough to allow sunlight to flood the courtyard. At the southeast corner of the site, at the corner of Apple Mill and Buttermill will be a 4-storey mixed-use building. The base of the 6-storey building will feature a co-working space and café which spills into and animates the courtyard. Coverage of the site is 4.63 times, with a total gross floor area of 51,124m², in a mix of 50,281m² of residential space and 590m² of retail. The three buildings count a total of 627 residential units. A single-level underground garage provides 220 parking spaces to serve residents, employees, and visitors, while parking for 383 bicycles is also included.

Courtyard at ArtWalk Condos Phase 1 at Smart VMC, designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects for SmartCentres REIT

Residents of all three buildings will enjoy access to a full roster of amenities in the development, arranged around the courtyard to foster activity and interactions between residents, creating an urban neighbourhood feeling and build a sense of community. Amenities will include multiple lushly landscaped terraces with gardens that variously boast an outdoor dining space with barbecues, intimate lounge seating with firepits, and even an outdoor movie area. Families will benefit from an indoor/outdoor children’s play area, while those working from home will have use of an expansive 2,500 ft² co-working centre facing the courtyard. The double-height co-working space is designed with neutral tones to provide a calming, focus-supporting environment, and a community café will be at hand. A spiral staircase, see below at the back, leads to a breakout area to chat with co-workers or friends.

Co-working space at ArtWalk Condos Phase 1 at Smart VMC, designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects for SmartCentres REIT

ArtWalk will be future-ready when delivered, with WiFi will be offered in all common areas, and an app available for all residents to book amenities, control smart thermostats in suites, provide keyless entry, and more. According to Goldhar, the same holistic approach to master planning SmartVMC has been applied to ArtWalk, including “the active integration of art and culture, the pedestrian focus, and the thoughtful consideration of connectivity with the surrounding amenities.”

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August 24, 2021

SmartCentres unveils a permanent 10,000 square foot art installation

Source: Building.ca

SmartCentres unveiled the PXL Gallery, a 10,000 square foot low resolution LED permanent art installation that features rotating exhibits of curated moving artwork by acclaimed digital artists.

Photo Credit: SmartCentres

Located in SmartVMC, SmartCentres’ flagship 100-acre master-planned city centre in Vaughan, the gallery adorns the façade of one of the residential towers. The PXL Gallery is only one of many high-impact art installations that have debuted in Vaughan’s new city centre this summer.

“The PXL Gallery at SmartVMC introduces digital art, a progressive contemporary art form that is on the rise,” says Mitchell Goldhar, Executive Chairman, SmartCentres. “The PXL Gallery is a 10,000 square foot LED canvas, integrated into the building’s design, at the nexus of three 55-storey residential towers, the TTC subway station and the new regional bus terminal. The PXL Gallery brings new meaning to hanging art on the wall.”

The PXL Gallery’s inaugural artwork was curated in collaboration with the City of Vaughan’s Senior Art Curator, Sharon Gaum-Kuchar. An open call for submissions invited artists to submit proposals of their vision. Acclaimed artists Jim Campbell, Rafaël Rozendaal and Rob King were awarded commissions, and their artwork will be the PXL Gallery’s first three rotational features.

Photo Credit: SmartCentres

“Public art is an urban design mechanism that brings vibrancy to the forefront, and gives a personality to the city,” says Ms. Gaum-Kuchar. “The PXL Gallery is theatrical and dynamic. It is not a static entity. The artist’s work is constantly morphing and evolving, and the resulting effect is a sense of transformation that really aligns with the vision for SmartVMC.”

Along with creating artwork for an upcoming PXL Gallery exhibit, San Francisco-based artist and digital pioneer, Jim Campbell, was instrumental in the design and development of the PXL Gallery. Known for his contemporary, low-resolution LED lightworks, Campbell worked alongside SmartCentres, Diamond Schmitt Architects, Studio F Minus and Mulvey & Banani Lighting to investigate LED technology, glass, frit patterns and input standards while conducting substantial testing on the infrastructure supporting the gallery.

Photo Credit: SmartCentres

On display now is Silence, by Rafaël Rozendaal. Based in New York, Rafaël Rozendaal is a Dutch-Brazilian artist who uses the internet as his canvas. Silence is a digital artwork consisting of three ambient moving images. The works are almost abstract, but a suggestion of space and movement hint at experiences of landscape and travel. With restrained, minimal elements of color and rhythm, a maximal experience is created of immersion and contemplation.

Jim Campbell’s work will debut this fall, followed by digital art by Rob King. Best viewed after sundown, the PXL Gallery’s summer hours are daily between 9:00pm and 12:00am. It is located on the west side of Millway Avenue between Portage Parkway and Apple Mill Road in SmartVMC.

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August 20, 2021

SmartCentres unveils largest digital art gallery of its kind in Canada

Source: REMI Network

SmartCentres unveiled Canada’s largest low-res LED art installation, with permanent status, in SmartVMC, its flagship 100-acre master-planned city centre in Vaughan.

At 10,000 square feet, PXL Gallery adorns the façade of one of SmartVMC’s condominium towers and features rotating exhibits of curated moving artwork created by acclaimed digital artists. The LED canvas is integrated into the building’s design and overlooks the on-site SmartVMC regional bus terminal and the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre TTC subway station.

Digital art has been getting trendier over the past decade as technology evolves. As a medium, it offers much versatility. As the City of Vaughan’s Senior Art Curator, Sharon Gaum-Kuchar, explains, “public art is an urban design mechanism that brings vibrancy to the forefront, and gives a personality to the city.”

“The PXL Gallery is theatrical and dynamic,” she adds. “It is not a static entity. The artist’s work is constantly morphing and evolving, and the resulting effect is a sense of transformation that really aligns with the vision for SmartVMC.”

An open call for submissions invited artists to submit proposals of their vision. Artists Jim Campbell, Rafaël Rozendaal and Rob King were awarded commissions, and their artwork will be the PXL Gallery’s first three rotational features.

San Francisco-based artist and digital pioneer, Campbell, was instrumental in the design and development of the PXL Gallery. Known for his contemporary, low-resolution LED lightworks, Campbell worked alongside SmartCentres, Diamond Schmitt Architects, Studio F Minus and Mulvey & Banani Lighting to investigate LED technology, glass, frit patterns and input standards while conducting substantial testing on the infrastructure supporting the gallery.

Photo courtesy of SmartCentres.

Best viewed after sundown, the PXL Gallery’s summer hours are daily between 9:00pm and 12:00am. It is located on the west side of Millway Avenue between Portage Parkway and Apple Mill Road in SmartVMC.

Feature photo courtesy of SmartCentres

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July 28, 2021

A look at four zany and psychedelic new murals in Vaughan

Source: Toronto Life

ArtWalk is a new culture venue in the developing Vaughan Metropolitan Centre area. It’s part of a 100-acre master-planned hub, SmartVMC, and launched this summer by transforming a vacant warehouse with 30,000 square feet of art. The space is an attractive backdrop to ArtWalk’s daily food truck market and drive-in movie screenings, running every weekend through September. And the murals, by local and international artists, were painted over a three-week period in June using 1,000 cans of paint. Here’s a closer look at the art.

Here Comes the Sun

Ricardo Cavolo is a Madrid-based artist known for eccentric and comic-inspired creations. His mural takes over the southern façade of the warehouse, and he directed the painting from Spain. “The worst part of this process was not being there, but the best part has been realizing this kind of magic is possible even when I’m in a different country,” says Cavolo. The bold colours and sunny, vibrant illustrations are meant to symbolize the power of sharing your inner light with the world to get through turbulent times.

Better Together

Toronto artist Ben Johnston—who has painted murals in Serbia, India, Colombia and across North America—stamped his characteristic typography onto the northern façade of the building, using bold pinks and reds. “The colours are associated with joy, warmth, sunshine, enthusiasm and optimism,” says Johnston. “Now more than ever, we need to work together to create a better future.”

Birds of a Feather

Multidisciplinary artist Jerry Rugg, known in street-art circles as BirdO, added his signature blend of animals and geometric shapes to the western façade of the warehouse. For this project, Rugg wanted to include a long-beaked kingfisher, which would fit his horizontal canvas perfectly. “My style is a merging of my interests: graffiti that pops up in unexpected places, surrealism that’s conceptually strange and graphic design that assembles the parts in a harmonious way,” says Rugg.

An Exploration of Our Timespace

The central figure in Montreal-based Jeremy Shantz’s abstract piece on the eastern façade is a disembodied character floating in a liminal space. Shantz created the drawing and worked with local artists to complete the project, in order to illustrate the different elements it takes to build a community. “Mural art is a fantastic platform for collaboration,” he says. “The talented artists interpreted the drawing through their hands, creating the most beautiful work of art.”

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July 16, 2021

From food trucks to drive-in movies, ArtWalk district opens in Vaughan’s emerging downtown core

Source: Yorkregion.com

ArtWalk features 30,000 square feet of vibrant “Instagrammable” artwork

What’s the value of a downtown area if there is no art, street food or entertainment?

This is exactly why Vaughan’s emerging downtown core saw its first-ever art district, also known as ArtWalk, recently open up with a “collection of experiential activations,” according to a press release by SmartCentres Real Estate Investment Trust.

SmartCentres is behind the 100-acre master-planned city centre in the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre.

The ArtWalk has 30,000 square feet of vibrant “Instagramable” artwork, painted by four acclaimed international and local artists.

“The murals are the backdrop for ArtWalk’s daily Street Eats food truck market, and a free series of drive-in movies, running every Thursday and Saturday through September,” the release added.

FREE DRIVE-IN MOVIES

Starting July 10, SmartCentres launched a bi-weekly series of free drive-in movies to compliment the ArtWalk murals. The outdoor theatre runs every Thursday and Saturday evening through September, screening a variety of cult classic and family-favourite movies in a safe and fun environment.

FOOD TRUCK MARKET

Rounding out ArtWalk’s summer activations, SmartCentres has engaged Street Eats to set up a food truck market on site. From authentic Latin tacos to BeaverTails to Toronto’s “OG” mac ’n’ cheese truck, the market has something for every palate, with more vendors that have yet to be announced.

ArtWalk Street Eats is open daily at 101 Edgeley Blvd. in SmartVMC, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. The hours extend to 10 p.m. on drive-in movie nights.

For more information on the ArtWalk activations, including movie listings, showtimes and registration, please visit smartvmc.com/events.

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July 14, 2021

A massive mural, drive-in movie and food truck festival just landed in the GTA

Source: Curiocity

Photo via LNDMRK - It’s going to one heck of a time!

Hey Toronto! Feeling excited about all the amazing new things you have to check out now that things are reopening? Well, get this, a new summer-long event with massive art murals, free drive-in movies, and a food truck market is happening right now in Vaughan. Sounds cool right? Let’s check it out.

This event is part of ArtWalk, SmartCentres’ new art district within SmartVMC. One of the first things you’ll notice about the event is the massive murals. There are 4, each by a different artist, on the outside of an abandoned warehouse. The murals were painted over just 3 weeks in June and you’ll see Instagrammable works by both emerging and acclaimed artists.

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When it comes to movies, you’ll be able to check them out Thursday to Saturday evening now through September. You can watch a variety of films including cult classics and family-favourite movies. While you’re at it, you definitely have to check out all of the tasty food trucks. You can find items ranging from tacos to BeaverTails, to mac n’ cheese. And the market hours are extended on movie nights to ensure you have the tastiest movie-watching experience.

This is yet another fun thing and COVID-19 safe thing to check out as we all get back into the swing of things. Go solo, with a friend or two, or turn it into date night. If you’d like to learn more you can click below. Have fun out there folks!

ArtWalk

When: Until September 30th
Where: 101 Edgeley Blvd
Cost: Free/Varies

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