Mural Routes,
Toronto, CA

Problem: Scarborough, Ontario—my hometown—has long struggled with a negative reputation, especially in overlooked public spaces like "Smokers Alley." Despite being a vibrant and diverse community, the area lacked accessible, uplifting creative outlets that could foster local pride and beautify the neighborhood. How might I create

An interactive art experience that rebrands a neglected space and brings the Scarborough community together through local pride and creative expression.

Solution: I designed an interactive mural for Smokers Alley, inviting the community to help paint a stencil of the iconic Scarborough Bluffs—an image deeply tied to the area’s identity. With help from classmates, we prepared the wall, projected the stencil, and masked out the negative space. During the Arts on the Road festival, people of all ages filled in the design with bright colors. After the tape was removed, the final mural was revealed and quickly became an Instagrammable landmark. It was later recognized by the City of Toronto’s Mural Routes and featured on the cover of the city’s Arts & Culture brochure, helping reshape public perception of Scarborough through collective creativity.