About the show
In 2023, amid social and environmental crises and a barrage of bad news in the mainstream media, the Future of Canada Show was conceived to create a platform for positivity and a counter-narrative which centers joy, wellbeing, and healing. By collapsing distance in space and time, we invited artists from every province and territory to imagine Canada in 2080 in a scenario where ‘we get everything right’.
To collect these visions, between September 2023 and March 2024 we traveled to visit schools from Corner Brook, NL to Whitehorse, YK, engaging students in discussions relating to climate and nature, quality of life, interpersonal relationships and equitable institutions. These discussions were elaborated through an art practice. Students had the choice of expressing their positive visions of the future through drawing, sketching, painting or poetry.
Artist Statements
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Whitehorse, Yukon
"The more I thought about the kid's ideas, the more I realized that they had followed the instructions even better than I had first understood them. They were to imagine a world where we had solved the climate crisis, what would our world look like then. Once that crisis was averted, they envisioned us working on people issues, making individuals' lives happier and healthier, mentally and physically. Healthy planet, healthy people."
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Vancouver, British Columbia
"My aim was to depict the students’ positivity for the future, as they imagined things like humans being able to communicate with animals, high-speed rail, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and no more homelessness. They drew brightly-coloured, lush, and full scenes, and I wanted to echo that in my illustration, adding a sense of flow to mirror how easily and freely they envisioned such big dreams."
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Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
"My artwork explores the future landscape of the Northwest Territories, where innovation and nature harmoniously coexist. Through vibrant watercolors, I depict a vision where flying cars soar over vast landscapes, symbolizing technological progress. Amidst this futuristic backdrop, I highlight advancements in healthcare, envisioning a region where wellness and care reach new heights.
Gardens bloom with vitality, showcasing a commitment to sustainable growth and local resilience. Each brushstroke celebrates efforts to safeguard species and preserve the natural beauty of the Northern environment. My work invites viewers to imagine a tomorrow where innovation enriches lives while honoring the delicate balance of nature in the Northwest Territories."
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Calgary, Alberta
"I found inspiration in the diverse perspectives shared by the students during the discussion, where their visions ranged from conceptual ideals to tangible plans for their ideal future. Out of these incredible ideas, I wanted to create an artwork that focuses on their aspirations for a future where urban development harmonizes with nature, presented through sustainable growth. The towering buildings adorned with greenery reflect the students' desire for more connections between the cityscape and the natural world. The clear, blue river symbolizes a commitment to environmental stewardship, while the high-speed bullet train signifies enhanced connectivity and accessibility. Central to the composition is an individual immersed in a field of vibrant flowers, representing the joy of life's simple pleasures amidst a thriving urban landscape. This artwork embodies the students' collective vision of a balanced and harmonious Canada, where every individual, regardless of their background, can experience a high quality of life in a pristine and interconnected environment."
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Beachy and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
"My tapestry presents a fantastical version of rural Saskatchewan in 2080, complete with all kinds of weather and various seasons! I tried to infuse the piece with the love students expressed for their home, and their optimism for the future. I created the image by needle-felting colourful wool roving onto a large wool felt sheet."
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Winnipeg, Manitoba
"The most common thing I heard students say during the in-class session was that they wanted to see less space devoted to cars in their future city. I re-imagined Winnipeg's most notorious intersection, Portage and Main, as a community gathering place with a pool and splash pad instead of an intersection closed to pedestrians. I was inspired to include the pool by watching the City of Winnipeg Executive Policy Committee cut funding to and close a number of city pools in the 2024-27 budget. While attending delegations I learned that urban pools help to reduce childhood drowning deaths, which can be a problem in Winnipeg due to our rivers. I also included a monorail, bike paths, and native trees as opposed to the Dutch Elms that currently make up most of Winnipeg's canopy."
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Toronto, Ontario
"In 'Seeds of Tomorrow', I invite viewers to contemplate the intersection of past, present, and future as we navigate the path towards a harmonious existence with nature. This piece, composed using vintage magazines, serves as a visual tapestry of reflection, urging us to glean wisdom from other eras while forging ahead into an uncertain future.
In the classroom I attended, the majority of the artworks depicted an abundance of food and nature reclaiming our neighborhoods. I aimed to capture this theme in my piece. Here, we witness a new family transitioning from the "old way of life" (characterized by car ownership, single-family homes, extensive roads, and processed foods) to embrace the "new" way of living, (characterized by smaller vehicles, walkable cities, manual labor, and abundant greenery). In this envisioned future, coexistence with the natural world becomes paramount.
The composition features a towering wall of leaves, symbolizing the abundance and resilience of nature, its ability to grow back over the concrete world we have created. Within this verdant embrace, figures are depicted engaged in timeless acts of farming, sewing, and building—a reminder of the foundational skills and values that sustained communities in days gone by.
The juxtaposition of vintage magazine imagery against this backdrop serves as a poignant commentary on the complexities of progress. While we may yearn for the simplicity of a bygone era, we must confront the inherent limitations and biases of historical perspectives. The lack of inclusivity in these publications underscores the need for critical examination and selective adaptation of past practices.
Through this artwork, I challenge viewers to embrace a nuanced understanding of history—one that acknowledges both the achievements and shortcomings of past generations. By learning from our collective heritage, we can glean insights into sustainable living practices and cultivate a future that honors the delicate balance between human civilization and the natural world.
In essence, "Seeds of Tomorrow" serves as a visual meditation on the cyclical nature of time and the importance of informed retrospection in shaping our path forward. As we confront the challenges of the present and gaze towards the horizon of tomorrow, may we draw inspiration from the wisdom of the past, while remaining steadfast in our commitment to forging a more harmonious future for generations to come." -
Montreal, Canada
"I sat with the student's drawings for a bit and decided to take all the recurring elements and recreate them in my style. I took the trees (trees, trees!), the sun, the sea, the rainbow, the flowers, the futuristic buildings and the flying cars (a must!) and put my own spin on it, creating a landscape of its own. The vision is distorted and not very clear - in the end we're looking 30 years into the future, not everything is obvious and precise."
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Fredericton, New Brunswick
"My name is Karen Connor, I live in New Brunswick, Canada and I create realistic paintings in oil and acrylic, with over 20 years experience. I am inspired by boldness, acts of kindness, strength that comes from overcoming adversity and the beauty in nature and animals. I believe, that like music, painting and any type of creating is healing and provides for more productivity in our daily lives. This is what I want to share with the world. I want everyone to feel strong emotions of peace, love, inspiration, and awe in all that surrounds you."
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Charlottetown, PEI
"I tried to incorporate ideas from all students into the artwork, from realistic to fantastical. I really enjoyed this idea of a "Tree of Life" with a ring of water surrounding it. Lots of ideas revolving around nature and ways we can grow more and see more life within the city. I wanted to give this piece a youthful and hopeful vibe, making it look as though the students were the ones who drew it as well."
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Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador
Flourish is a painting based on the thoughts and ideas of Immaculate Heart of Mary High students when thinking about how our country may look in the year 2080. Some of their ideas included peace among world leaders, equality, diversity, healthier ecosystems, better access to post-secondary education for all, world peace, pride, sustainability, and many more. I wanted to try to include as many of these ideas as possible in this painting.
Some of the main symbols I’ve intentionally added are endangered species of both land and sea (the bumble bees and sea turtle), white poppies and forget-me-nots (both symbols of remembrance and commitment to peace, end of war), books as a symbol of education, wisdom, knowledge, etc.