Get ready for an incredible sight this September as 8,000 dominoes cascade through Toronto in the name of art!

Torontonians will come together with excitement on Sunday, September 22, 2024, as 8,000 giant dominoes will gracefully fall along an epic 2.5-kilometre trail through old and new downtown neighbourhoods, circumscribing The Bentway in a path that will stretch from King West to Canoe Landing to the waterfront — even crossing under the Gardiner Expressway!

The art project, known as Dominoes, was created by the artists of Station House Opera and is co-presented with Choice Properties. The Bentway is currently recruiting 250 volunteers (ages 16 and up) to participate in the construction of this public artwork and celebration, making it one of Toronto’s largest art projects. Additionally, this will be the project’s North American debut following successful presentations across Europe, Australia and South Africa.

“Dominoes is a unique and creative project for Toronto,” notes Deputy Mayor and local city councillor Ausma Malik. “It connects vital public spaces and everyone who is a part of them, imagining and engaging another vision of the city — just like The Bentway has done since its opening. I’m excited to see our communities and visitors enjoy the Dominoes experience!”

There is always meaning behind every piece of art and how it’s presented. Dominoes symbolizes the crucial act of collective city-building. Solidarity, a positive spirit and a common goal are the vital elements of a thriving city, and this artistic occasion reinforces it.

Ilana Altman, co-executive director of The Bentway, elaborates: “At a time seeing their neighbours, this event brings together over 250 local volunteers and thousands of audience members in the collective act of city-building. We are thrilled to bring this larger-than-life event to The Bentway and surrounding neighbourhoods to close our summer season and to prove out the possibilities for new long-term connections across the Gardiner corridor.”

This day-long city event will surely be an unforgettable and meaningful experience for community residents, businesses and non-profits to all enjoy as they come together in anticipation of seeing the “big fall”!

Who could have imagined that a cascading fall of dominoes could be both an artistic statement and community initiative, and also lead to the development of a community — all at once?

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