The Tom Patterson Island and the Land

Tom Patterson Island was named in honour of the founder of the Shakespearean festival in 1978. What is now a spot of considerable beauty came from humble beginnings, however. The island was the result of the dumping of landfill into the river in the 1920s.

We propose placing an information plaque or work of art on the banks of the Avon adjacent to Tom Patterson Island to honour those Indigenous peoples who acted as stewards of the lands and waterways of this region for centuries prior to colonization. In doing so, we hope to stimulate conversation about the meaning of honour, commemoration and memory, and raise questions surrounding whose stories are told and commemorated in this region.

One further possibility would seem to be equally pressing. There has been an active debate in recent years about the feasibility and necessity of expanding access to Tom Patterson Island by building a link that accommodates those with mobility challenges. We would like to champion such a link.

The River Above the River Below is a vision inspired by the Provocations Ideas Festival. 

Introduction | Shakespearean Gardens  | Orr Dam | Allward Monument | The Tom | Festival Theatre | The Lookout | Healing Waters | Island  | Gallery Pathways | North Shore | TJ Dolan Pathway | Conclusion