Cooksville — Food Stories
For those who may or may not know I have the amazing opportunity to collaborate and learn from a national organization in Canada called STEPS.
is a charitable organization that engages and empowers artists and communities to transform public spaces into vibrant places. They are responsible for some of Canada’s largest and most community-engaged public art initiatives. With their partners they transform urban areas into energetic public spaces, helping artists, community organizations, and Business Improvement Areas (BIAs), push creative boundaries.
While I am on my Watson all of the connections I create and the people I engage with are self-initiated. This means I send out emails, call people, and direct message them on Instagram hoping they realize I am a real person and not some scam. Sometimes people respond, other times I am left unanswered.
Please ignore how exhausted I look in this photo. This was only days into my travels after I had moved to Toronto. More importantly, these are some of the incredible people I have the honor to collaborate with!
I am blessed that STEPS was one of the organizations that got back to me! They have been fantastic! I am getting to look at a variety of different engagement and community drive projects as a way to better understand public art in other countries along with the different artists and public individuals I will be connecting with.
One of the projects that I am currently helping with is called Our Food Stories Cooksville.
Cooksville is one of the most diverse places in Canada. The ethnic culinary scene is at the heart of Cooksville’s identity and place-making.
place-making is a participatory process for shaping public space that harnesses the ideas and assets of the people who use it.
Like many areas in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), it is facing developmental pressures. The vital restaurants and independent businesses are being challenged.
I honestly felt a sort of connection with the term GTA because when I was serving through City Year in South Boston the name changed to City Year Greater Boston as it encompassed Everett School Systems. This area is also currently facing similar pressures as Cooksville.
This project aims to enliven Cooksville’s identity while putting its community's culinary scene at its center. Food brings people together from all walks of life and is a universal ground where everyone can find commonality. The outreach workshops center around expanding the project by learning about the communities memories, connections, and unique experiences with food.
Personally, I think every living thing is motivated by food. I mean who can resist french fries or in Canada poutine. Unless you are allergic then I am sorry! Back home there is nothing like special treats, especially mealworms, to get the Divas in at night. (The Divas are a group of Salmon Faverolle chickens that I got as chicks in the first few months of Covid-19). Yes, they are spoiled, love both their grandparents and great-grandparents, and will probably shun me when I come home for leaving them. They get so excited when they know they are getting a special treat. No matter the weather, rain, or shine they are out there hoping to be spoiled with something delicious.
… here are just a few photos if you’ve never met them before because I love them …
On Saturday, August 20th we had our first engagement workshop with the Cooksville commuity. It was a perfect summer day with the sun shining bright, local bands preforming and food for everyone!
Participants were encouraged to write their favorite foods, memories, and recipes on a piece of paper and hang it with the coordinating color. We had a fantastic turnout and I can’t wait for the next steps in the project!
** Thank you for reading! I can’t believe I’ve been in Canada for a little over a month. I appreciate the continued support and have lots more coming your way! **
