“Triple threat implies that I can dance, which is certainly not the case”—Noah Reid, p.26 At the moment, it’s an arid canvas of dirt piles and construction equipment, but by 2024, this once-derelict section of the Port Lands will be transformed into a lush 88-hectare urban oasis of public greenspace and wildlife habitat, plus cafés, housing and retail. To make that possible, Waterfront Toronto has to redesign the mouth of the Don River to prevent flooding during extreme weather—a mammoth task that involves creating a one-kilometre river valley and raising the grade of the existing land a few inches. If all goes to plan, we’ll be able to kayak, birdwatch and snowshoe, all within spitting distance of downtown. It’s big. It’s expensive. And it’s about time.…
