East Gwillimbury Unveils Holding Hope Sculpture in Children of Peace Park

East Gwillimbury is excited to unveil the resident-selected sculpture, Holding Hope, on October 22 at 11 a.m. in the Children of Peace Park (68 Sharonview Cresent). Members of the community are invited to attend the unveiling and ribbon-cutting ceremony. 

This permanent art piece was designed by Kyle Thornley and symbolizes resilience, growth and optimism. The sculpture, which is made entirely of metal and features a hand grasping a mature dandelion with 150 seeds, speaks to the stories and rich history that our community holds, as well as the seeds we plant as we continue to grow.

The sculpture was selected by residents through a survey and consultation process. Residents decided between two art pieces, ultimately selecting Holding Hope. The process began in early 2022 with a community call-out for design proposals. The EG Arts and Culture Advisory Committee received and assessed 13 submissions and selected two concepts to move to the next phase. In July of 2022, the Town and the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee launched “Which Art in the Park”, a poll to assist with the selection of EG’s first permanent art piece. Close to 400 people voted in total, with the majority of people selecting Holding Hope as their preferred concept.

About the Artist
Kyle Thornley is an artist blacksmith who, for the last 18 years, has been creating art with metals through commissioned pieces, architectural metalwork, exhibitions, and public art. Kyle enjoys creating inviting art that allows every visitor to perhaps find some aspect of their own experience, reflected back to them, to provide a fresh perspective, or to act as a catalyst towards critical thought.

To learn more about Arts and Culture in EG, please visit www.eastgwillimbury.ca/ArtsAndCulture.

For more information:
Bethany Lee, Director of Communications and Customer Service
blee@eastgwillimbury.ca