Youth Art Fest A Success!

December 17th was the date of Harbourfront Community Centre's first Youth Art Fest. It was an exciting event that showcased videos from 4 youth projects here at the Centre. This night highlighted moments from the LEAP Music Production Project, the Graffiti Mural Transformation Project, The Youth Wilderness Adventure Project and the Youth Program's 2008 retreat.


One of the stars of the evening, Jarel, was one of 4 participants who were recognized at the event for their accomplishment in completing the first Session of our LEAP hip hop music production project.


Nahom (LEAP's Music Instructor) speaks about Harbourfront Community Centre's Music Production Project.


Youth from the Wilderness Adventure Project that were featured in one of the videos.


The Graffiti Mural Transformation Project was featured in one of the videos as well as being the set up and take down crew and the official photographers.

Thanks to everyone who participated and came out to support. It was a great evening and we look forward to more exciting projects in 2010.

Happy Holidays!

Open Invite: Please join us for Youth Art Fest @ HCC

Come out and have some fun!

Physical Activity is FUN! - Endurance

Basketball is where it's at, at Harbourfront! A 3-pointer, lay-up or dunk, it's great for your overall well-being! Be active with your friends!

Physical Activity is FUN! - Flexibility

Dodge Ball really makes you sweat! Heart pumping fun is what it's all about! Physical activity leads to better strength. Walk more - to school, to the mall, to the park, to your friend's house! Stretch your muscles every day!

Physical Activity is FUN! - Strength

Ping Pong or Table Tennis, whichever you call it, it is just one of the many ways you can be active! This very popular sport is not just fun, but it's a very good physical activity. Better health is what you're in store for! Play sports! Go skating, swimming, bike riding or bowling!

LEAP Hip Hop Music Production Program

Harbourfront Community Centre is proud to introduce our new Hip Hop Music production and DJing program called LEAP, which will be starting a new session in January. It is open to youth between the ages of 16 and 24. If interested, download the application form here. Spaces are limited so don't delay.

Popping in front of the mural @ 679 Queens Quay

We finished up on Saturday, had a few minutes to spare and so Anton popped in front of the mural...

Headspin and a Chihuahua

Go Anton!

Breaking in the lobby of 679 Queens Quay

Go Ryan!

Painting a mural at 679 Queens Quay West

When we are painting, any conversation goes....here is a little of what we were talking about last Saturday....

One of the youth atrists looking for any way to make the zombie costume scarier.

Some youth at the HCC painting a zombie costume for halloween

Robert and Israel painting in Room 13

Room 13 started up again on September 21. This fall there are 10 young artists that come to the studio on Monday: Avani, Desi, Ethan, Fatimah, Lateefah, Milla, Nigel, Noah, Rania and Solyana. On Friday afternoons Edward, Emily, Israel, Javon, Kyra, Myah, Robert, Selena, Tara and Yasmine work their magic in the Room 13 studio...Stay tuned for more images/movies in the next few weeks...AND...come out and support Room 13 at HCC's Pajama Party, Thursday Dec. 10th 5:30 - 7 pm.

Urban Camping, Just A Ferry Ride Away

On the weekend of September 25th to the 27th, members of the Harbourfront Community Centre Youth Program went to Toronto's Snake Island for a camping trip. Check out some of the pictures from the trip along with the captions written by the participants.

Are we there yet?

Finally! We get to bathe!!

OMG! Get us down!
This challenge was easier when done with a partner.

An Eggcellent Chef!
J.H.: "This is what comes from hours and hours of the Food Network...unfortunately there isn't a picture of the one-hander."

What, What? We made it!

Thanks to all who participated. Its safe to say everyone had a great time and we look forward to doing it again.

Mural Walk makes page 12 of the Toronto Sun

The Mural Walk that was held on Thursday Aug 27th was a blast! About 20-25 people showed up: Building owners, City staff, friends of the Mural Project and the media came out for 45 minutes and walked to 3 locations in the Queen and Bathurst area. To see a video link, click here.

Please join us for a Walking tour this Thursday Aug. 27th @ 10 am

This Thursday August 27th @ 10 am, youth from HCC's mural project will be leading a walking tour of 3 murals that we completed this summer. Please join us @ 10 am at 318 Bathurst Street (1/2 block south of Dundas on the west side of Bathurst). For more info: download the event press release.

Spirit of the Sea“Spirit of the Sea” is a design created for the purpose of beautifying the Harbourfront Community Centre boat. The concept behind the piece relates to the mythology and fantasy associated with the sea. Mythical creatures and dream-like images reflect a world of wonder and imagination. The mermaid featured at the bow (front) of the boat, represents the spirit (or soul of the sea who watches over the waters and all of its creatures. The images are meant to illustrate a sense of harmony, the constant cycles of the moon and sun and the ebb and flow of the waves.

Pictured here are the artists that made this project happen: (Front Row L-R) Michael Brown, Ryan Beckford, Kirsent Webb; (Standing L-R) Brittany Martel, Jessey Pacho (behind), Anya Karir, Max Ouelette, Jasper Urbina and Jared VanderReest

Youth Link in the week of Monday, Aug 10-15 2009.

On Monday Aug. 10th, we went to the YouthLink which is located at Queen and Spadina Street. We spent a week there, painting walls and the doors. Before we painted the walls, they were all graffitis, a whole bunch of writings there. They were a mess. So now, that we have finished "decorating" the walls...they are much better looking than before. We used, spray paint, paint and tempra paint. We had fun.


These are the three boys from our mural project, they are posing for a picture. Here, you will see, Jared, Jessey and Japser pretending to spray paint. The picture, however, were used for

Painting a sailboat at the The National Yacht Club.

The mural project started painting on a boat, with a permission from the HCC, of course. As you can see by the pictures, we had fun, but we also took a lot of time and effort to get things right. And, ahem, we kind of fooled around a bit.

Anya and Kirsten painting happily...please don't mind Kirsten, she was just fooling around.


Jasper giving it a "go" to paint a boat, and he looks like he is having fun!
Michael using french curves on the boat...

Max and Jessey cleaning the boat with solvent paint.

Ryan sketching on the boat...

The HCC boat, her name is Austra II. This was taken before the paint or the sketching got there. Beauty, isn't she? But wait till you see her now!! AMAZING!

Variety Village on July 29th 2009.

On July 29th, the mural project went to the Variety Village to do some art activities with the kids. We played/did pass and draw, pictionary, string beads, face painting, origami and booklets.
The kids had fun, and so did we!!

A play dough structure, by one of the kids at the Variety Village...

Kids at Variety Village playing pictionary with the mural project...

Break Dancing at July 24th, Cypher by the Lake!

On July 24th, the mural project got involved with the HCC youth program. We did live painting, we did some breakdancing. We also ate hotdogs- yum!! We were hoping that someone will buy our paintings, but oh well..


Live painting by mural painters.

Jessey busts some moves....

This guy is breakdancing...

A Bunch of G's Chillin'

On July, 30th Harbourfront Community Centre's Youth Wilderness Project visited the beach. We discovered that it is faster to ride a bike to the beach than to take the TTC from the Centre. Some of the activities we did were football, swimming, volleyball, play catch, eat, and most importantly relaxing in the shade.

Mural Project transforms corner store at 230 Bathurst St. (north of Queen on west side)

Jared cleaning the wall for the mural.

Adding some touches to the final pieces.

Outdoor Break Dancing Session This Friday!

Vote # 2 - Mural Project designs for HCC Sailboat Starboard side - Choose your favourite from the 3 below and vote in Comments section

Version 3

Version 2

Version 1

Vote # 1 - Mural Project designs for HCC Sailboat Port side - Choose 1 of the 4 below and vote in comments section

Version D

Version C

Version B

Version A

Survey Question # 1: What do you like best about your community?

Photo by HCC mural project, 2008

Survey Question #2: What makes you feel unsafe in your community?

Photo by HCC mural project, 2008

Mural Project Rough Designs for HCC Sail Boat Please vote for your favourite in comments!

Astra-ology:

By Brittany, Jared and Ryan

Spirit of the Sea:

By Anya, Kirsten and Michael

Abstrakt Soul

By: Jasper,Jessey, and Max