Toronto Pearson and Arts for Children and Youth (AFCY) unveiled new mural designed to welcome passengers to Terminal 3

TORONTO, 2014-10-27 — /Travel PR News/ — On Thursday, October 23, Toronto Pearson and Arts for Children and Youth (AFCY) unveiled a new mural designed to welcome passengers to Terminal 3.

“At Toronto Pearson, we’re in the connections business – connecting travellers to their families, passengers to their next flight, and visitors of Toronto to their next adventure,” said Robyn Connelly, Toronto Pearson Community Relations Manager. “The GTAA partnered with AFCY on this mural because of the connections it would make between communities surrounding the airport, the airport employee community, and our passengers.”

The mural images were developed through a consultative process that engaged employees across the airport. Employees provided ideas for the mural images – the airport experience, Toronto landmarks and nature, and for the message – uplifting, positive and welcoming.

“Innovation was all over this mural project; we brought together an eclectic group of artists and change-makers that included Rexdale youth from a shelter, students from a neighbourhood school and airport employees,” said Julie Frost, AFCY Executive and Artistic Director. “The result is a mural that publicly expresses what is important to AFCY, to Toronto Pearson and to the City of Toronto – Diversity, Inclusion and promoting the notions of Cultural and Civic Care. We have created an artful landmark that will excite and welcome passengers to Toronto for many years to come.”

Rob Matejka, the lead artist, and AFCY youth artists worked with over 50 children and young adults to create the mural’s panels. The community-led mural-making sessions took place in Rexdale at Smithfield Middle School and Youth Without Shelter, as well as directly inside the airport where employees and the Airport Council of Unions added mosaics to the panels.

Toronto Pearson’s partnership role supports AFCY in providing opportunities for children and youth in under-resourced communities and schools to engage meaningfully and actively in hands-on, high quality arts education.

Many people from across Toronto Pearson took part in supporting this initiative including the Airport Council of Unions who hosted a bake sale with all funds raised donated to AFCY programs.

“The Airport Council of Unions was pleased to partner GTAA and AFCY on this mural; having the airport workers’ voices represented in the mural’s theme was an important way to be able to tell their stories,” said Antonios Kourteridis, District Chairperson Unifor 2002, District 333. “And working together on a bake sale to support AFCY is a great way to bring the airport community together.”

Toronto Pearson aims to reflect the community that surrounds it; if the community is thriving, so too is the airport. That’s why it takes community responsibilities so seriously – because the choices made every day – have an impact on each and every passenger, employee and neighbour of Toronto Pearson. When it supports community programs like AFCY, it is making an investment in the community today so AFCY can help develop the potential of youth through meaningful engagement with the arts so they can be leaders tomorrow.

About Arts for Children and Youth
Arts for Children and Youth (AFCY) is an award-winning organization whose mandate is to engage young people living in priority neighbourhoods in high-quality, accessible arts educational programs that are meaningful, relevant and collaboratively developed with community and education partners. AFCY positions arts programs in schools and neighbourhood venues as a means of building community, and empowering marginalized children and youth to reach their full potential as artists and social contributors.

About the Greater Toronto Airports Authority
The GTAA is the operator of Toronto Pearson International Airport, the biggest airport in Canada and one of the largest airports in North America in terms of passenger and air cargo traffic. The focus of the GTAA continues to be on competitiveness, growing the airport’s status as an international gateway, meeting the needs of our travellers and ensuring the long-term success of the organization, our airline customers and the regional economy.

For more information, please contact:

Toronto Pearson Media Office
416-776-3709

AFCY Media Contact
Stephanie Aranda
Marketing and PR Coordinator
416-929 9314 x 114
stephanie@afcy.ca

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