This fall, second and third year Master of Landscape Architecture students participated in a design charrette that focused on the Lower Don Valley as part of the Evergreen Brickwork’s initiative to revitalize the Lower Don trail. The non-profit organization is working with the city of Toronto, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and other key partners to not only enhance the green space within the ravine, but also make it more accessible, “enabling more people to share in one of Toronto’s great natural treasures.”

The charrette was interrupted on the second day of the originally planned schedule at the end of October due to heavy rain, which threatened to flood the Brick Works, located in the Don Valley ravine. Everyone had to be evacuated.

Many of the students returned for the final day of the charrette on November 19.

“It was an incredible event that will surely be known as the seed for a major transformation of the Don Valley into an accessible urban park and ecologically sound, and efficiently functioning transportation corridor, with the Don River as its centrepiece,” said the Director of the Daniels Faculty’s Master of Landscape Architecture program Alissa North.

Plans for the area include new gateways and access points, improved pedestrian and cycling trails, enhanced and restored green spaces, and public art and educational programs that will, according to Evergreen’s website, “allow residents and visitors to better enjoy and appreciate the wonders of this remarkable ravine corridor.”

The multi-day charrette provided the students with an opportunity to witness the working process of some of Canada’s most notable landscape architects, including: Claude Cormier, Scott Torrance, Michael Van Valkenburg, Marc Ryan, Nina-Marie Lister, and Janet Rosenberg — among others. The professionals who took part in the charette were full of praise for the students’ work. On the final day, three groups made presentations to city organizations, officials, and potential donors, each of whom will be key in making the visions that grew out of the charrette a reality.

“There is no doubt that this charrette will be a key catalyst in the transformation of the Don Valley,” says North. “One day the students will be able to tell their kids, nieces, nephews, and grandkids, about their role in helping make Don Valley Park a reality.”

Participating students from the Daniels Faculty included:

Afshin Afshari
Kono Asuka
Jianing Chee
Andrey Chernykh
Sandra Cook
Jordan Duke
Jasper Flores
Leonard Flot
Nicholas Gosselin
Kamila Grigo
Andrew Hooke
Ameneh Kadivar
Shui Ko
Tom Kwok
Wenting Li
Jordan Lypkie
Anita Manitius
Emma Mendel
Kaitlyn Pelletier
Tamar Pister
Anna Rosen
Dayne Roy-Caldwell
Jacklyn Ryback
Rachel Salmela
Hanna Soules
Natasha Varga-Papp
Nate Wilner
Julie Wong
Shaine (Grace) Wong
Shan Yang

Photo courtesy of Evergreen © Mike Derblich