Ashraful Khan • May 2 2021
Throughout Islington Village there are large murals that depict the history of the community.
The murals took hundreds of hours to complete and were mostly painted by artists John Kuna and Sarah Collard.
They were originally an idea by the BIA to prevent graffiti.
This mural celebrates the ethnic and cultural character of Islington as it has changed over the last century.
In the early 1800s, a pastor on horseback would serve the needs of people in outlying communities— such as Islington Village.
Charles Nelson was a local shoemaker in early 20th century.
Hotels were devastated when Ontario banned the sale of alcohol in 1916— this mural depicts the owners of a local hotel selling what they could: soda pop.
This mural portrays a home nicknamed the Briarly— for the briar roses that once adorned it’s gardens.
This mural is based off of early photos of the Dundas streetscape.
Gordon’s Ayrshire Dairy delivered and pasteurized milk to the village.
This mural commemorates the original founding families of Islington Village.
The Appleby family in front of their farmhouse at the corner of Dundas and Islington.
This mural tells the story of a bomber pilot who flew over an Etibicoke high school during a football game— to drop free tickets to a dance.
A mural celebrating Toronto’s Glenn Gould with his piano teacher.
This mural pictures children fishing off the banks of the nearby Mimico Creek.
This mural depicts the forerunners to today’s electric streetcars.
A light-hearted scene of the mill pond— which was a favourite swimming hole for generations of young Islington residents.
You can definitely spot the murals whether you are walking or driving in Islington Village. Their intense colour and creativity will definitely catch your eye.
