The Scarborough Sign Finds a New Home at Toronto Zoo

After years of travelling across Scarborough, the Scarborough Sign by Scarborough Arts has found a new home at Toronto Zoo, marking a next chapter in the life of this evolving public art project.

The Scarborough Sign was initiated in 2018 as a Signature Project of the Cultural Hotspot program in partnership with the City of Toronto, and developed in partnership with the Department of Arts, Culture, and Media at University of Toronto Scarborough, and McWood Studios.

The Scarborough Sign began as a legacy project created by Scarborough Arts to bring artists, communities, and creative practices together. Rather than belonging to one artist or one place, the sign has taken on a nomadic life of its own, moving through different spaces and gathering stories, artworks, and contributions along the way.

Over the years, the sign has activated sites across Scarborough, including Fool’s Paradise, the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus (UTSC), Scarborough Town Centre (STC), and Nuit Blanche. Each new location offered an opportunity for artists and communities to engage with the sign, adding to its story and transforming it along the way.

At its heart, the Scarborough Sign has always been a project made by many hands. Artists from different backgrounds and practices have contributed to its evolving appearance, making the sign a reflection of the creative energy and diversity of Scarborough.

Past iterations and artists of the sign include #LOVEISLOVEISLOVE by Adam Zivo, Out for a Stroll by Curtia Wright, The Indigenous Youth Mural Making Program by Mo Thunder and 7th Generation Image Maker, and work by Evand Blake (MEDIAH).

From its first installation to its many stops across Scarborough, the Scarborough Sign has never been static. Its journey has been shaped by the artists who contributed to it, the places that hosted it, and the communities that encountered it. Now coming to the Toronto Zoo, the sign will be reimagined for a new place, but the connections, collaborations, and creative legacy it has gathered across Scarborough will continue to live on.

Come visit the Toronto Zoo at 2000 Meadowvale Road, and see the Scarborough Sign in its new home inside the entrance of the zoo!

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The latest iteration of the Scarborough Sign, titled “Things that Go Bump in the Night,” was created by 2SLGBTQ+ youth participants in Scarborough Arts’ EAST H.E.A.R.T. program, led by artist Jared Olsever and EAST H.E.A.R.T. leaders Jega Delisca (Youth Coordinator), Sky Ffrench (Peer Mentor), and Rainée Nelson (Peer Mentor). With their support, youth participants conceptualized and painted the design as part of their culminating project.

Funded by the City of Toronto, Toronto Urban Health Fund, and Delta Bingo and Gaming, EAST H.E.A.R.T. is an annual program supporting 2SLGBTQ+ Scarborough-based youth through art, health, and wellness.

Drawing from the horror genre, the work celebrates Scarborough’s 2SLGBTQ+ community through themes of identity, resilience, and self-expression.