Walk With Watershed
A guided hike to hold grief, loss, and awe in the ravines of Toronto
The Story
The depths of Toronto hide one of the widest ravine systems in the world. In a time of overlapping crises, how might the city's watersheds help us meet this moment of collective grief and loss?
Water from thousands of years of glacial ice melting, flowing, and pooling have shaped the city we live on. These ravines and waterways, often hidden beneath the city, have witnessed the turning over of worlds – the humming of mercantile gatherings, the rise of extractive industry, the violent separations forced upon the original peoples.
To connect with these waterways is to seek possibility, resonance, and wisdom for how life might continue to endure.
Your Invitation
Walk with Watershed invites you to a slowing of time. To find presence through individual and collective contemplative practices rooted in Spiritual Ecology as we hike along the Toronto ravines.
Here's a little video about the event ~
This may be for you if...
You feel a bit lost in the world, and find yourself asking what it means to live in this time and place
You want to deepen your relationship with nature and the city in a slower, intentional way
You want to feel more connected to other people, the world around you, and yourself
You enjoy walking with a small group
Timing and Physical Accessibility:
The route is roughly 2.75km, following a major trail. Parts of the trail become steep, bumpy and/or narrow. We'll be moving at a slower pace. There won't be many formal places to sit (such as benches, etc.), and washrooms will be available once we reach David Balfour Park at the 1.5–2 hour mark.
Notes on Cost:
This is the first community practice created under The Dark River Shelter. The cost covers the planning and content created for the walk, a printed zine to accompany the experience, and the facilitation of the practice.
The hope is that I can offer more financially accessible community practices in the future.
About the Dark River Shelter
The hike is a community practice of the Dark River Shelter, and will be guided by its Caretaker, Matthew Morales.
The Dark River Shelter sits at the thresholds of grief, loss and transitions. Through individual companioning journeys, community and systems level practices, and creative projects, the Dark River Shelter is a place of safety for life to endure.