Toronto, ON – June 20, 2025 – Today, WoodGreen Community Services unveiled Hope Grows Here, a vibrant new community mural created by and for Toronto’s newcomer communities. Unveiled on World Refugee Day, the mural spans the side wall of WoodGreen’s Newcomer Centre at 1491 Danforth Avenue, a central hub for settlement services in East Toronto.
Led by award-winning newcomer artist Kseniya Tsoy, Hope Grows Here is the result of a deeply collaborative and community-engaged process. Through a series of design workshops and cultural consultations, newcomer clients shared stories, symbols, and visions of hope. The mural’s central motif — the dandelion — reflects resilience, renewal, and the pursuit of dreams, even in unfamiliar soil.
“Every brushstroke in this mural represents the strength and vision of our newcomer clients,” said Steve Vanderherberg, Vice President, Community Programs, WoodGreen Community Services. “This is more than a piece of public art — it’s a testament to how inclusive spaces, creative expression, and community support can foster belonging and well-being. Hope Grows Here is a celebration of the vibrant contributions newcomers make to our city every day.”
The mural was made possible through a participatory process that engaged WoodGreen’s LINC students and clients in co-designing the concept and contributing directly to its creation. Several emerging newcomer artists also received paid mentorship opportunities through the project, gaining skills in community engagement, mural production, and public art facilitation.
Unveiling speakers included Councillor Paula Fletcher (Toronto-Danforth), WoodGreen leadership, and the artists behind the work. Local residents and program participants also joined the event, reinforcing the mural’s message of hope and togetherness.
WoodGreen’s Newcomer Centre at 1491 Danforth Ave. serves hundreds of clients annually, including newcomers, refugees, women, children, and seniors. The centre offers English language classes, settlement services, child care, and community programs — all designed to help individuals build strong, connected lives in Canada.
This project was a partnership between the of the City of Toronto’s StreetARToronto program and WoodGreen’s Newcomer Centre.
ABOUT WOODGREEN COMMUNITY SERVICES (woodgreen.org): WoodGreen is one of the largest social service agencies in Toronto, serving 40,000 people each year. We offer over 75 programs and services tackling the social determinants that affect the health and well-being of individuals in our community. Deeply rooted in our community for 85 years, we are a United Way Anchor Agency and member of the East Toronto Health Partners (ETHP), working to create innovative solutions to address vital social needs.
ABOUT StreetARToronto: StreetARToronto (StART), a program of the City of Toronto’s Transportation Services Division, is an innovative suite of city-building initiatives specifically designed for streets and public spaces. StART aims to deter vandalism and replace it with vibrant, colourful, community-engaged street art while encouraging active transportation (walking and cycling) and making our streets more beautiful and safe. Follow StART on X, Instagram and on Facebook.
- 30 -
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Jon Reed, Sr. Manager, Marketing & Communications [email protected]