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Toronto historic sites whimsically illustrated in new exhibit and book

October 4, 2017

A new art exhibit consisting of more than 100 sketches by artist and urban geographer Daniel Rotsztain illuminates Toronto's history through his illustrations of historic sites and artifacts. The City of Toronto's Todmorden Mills Heritage Site is presenting the exhibit, called A Colourful History: Toronto's Historic Sites, from October 4 to 15 as part of the TO Canada with Love Canada 150 program.

"The exhibit and colouring book are eye-catching tributes to the historical communities that helped shape Toronto into what it is today," said Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 37 Scarborough Centre), Chair of the City of Toronto's Economic Development Committee. "The artist's work playfully animates these sites and many Toronto artifacts."

"Visiting and illustrating Toronto's historic sites gave me the opportunity to explore Toronto's enormity and appreciate our historic buildings as vibrant community hubs that ground the city in the past while creating affordable and accessible space for its present and future," said Rotsztain.

The Papermill Gallery's exhibit at Todmorden Mills offers visitors the opportunity to see drawings of historical sites across Toronto, along with captions and comments by the artist. These renderings are also featured in a colouring book called "A Colourful History Toronto," published by Dundurn Press.

Admission to the gallery is free. The public is invited to the free exhibition launch from 6 to 9 p.m. on October 5 at the Papermill Gallery.

More information about the exhibit and the book are available at http://ow.ly/jXbQ30ftiB4 and http://ow.ly/iF3s30fAcCs.

Todmorden Mills Heritage Site is one of 10 historic sites operated by the City of Toronto. More information is available at http://www.toronto.ca/museums. The public can also interact with the sites on Twitter @TOHistoricsites and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/tohistoricsites.

This news release is also available on the City's website: http://ow.ly/dfAq30fDsQs

Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. In 2017, Toronto is honouring Canada's 150th birthday with "TO Canada with Love," a year-long program of celebrations, commemorations and exhibitions. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/TorontoComms and on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/cityofto.

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Media contact: Shane Gerard, Strategic Communications, 416-397-5711, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.