A Monumental Achievement

By: Lori Harito

I have always wondered why there were so many graffiti stained walls in Regent Park.

It seems that on almost every block somebody has decided to voice their opinions through art....it's as if it is a release for the people of Regent Park. Personally, I've always admired these particular graffiti because to me they're beautifully done and voice so well the opinions of a people who are somewhat stigmatized in this neighbourhood. When I think of graffiti, I never really see it much more than just scribbles, or those wannabe artists who scribble their autograph on a wall, and try to make it look artistic but it just ends up looking like trash on the wall.

But there's something about this certain art on the wall, that makes you want to stop and look at it. But while walking through Regent Park and taking a look at these, I never thought of them as "monuments." I always think of monuments as big, long steel buildings or statues of someone. But then again, every community has the right to have their own monument, and Regent Park's version of the tall, big, steel monument is the brick building filled with some one's expression and opinion via art.

While I was looking up how to define monument, I chose this one as the best meaning of what I think these monuments are in Regent Park: "an outstanding enduring achievement"

Because what better monument in Regent Park than this....

This stands tall and strong as a reminder that a "revolution" is about to happen. I think as all monuments do, it's a reminder to the people that walk past it. And this "monument" stands as a reminder that Regent Park is being torn down, to make way for something new and revolutionary.

Now this is an outstanding enduring achievement. Once it is fully built and erected than we can fully say the enduring part of it, but all in all it is an achievement. An achievement for Toronto for stepping up and doing something about the situation in Regent Park, and an achievement for Regent Park, because now they will get streets that go throgh, and shops and banks that are willing to open up in Regent Park.
This stands in the way as a reminder to not only those in the community, but everyone that walks through Regent Park, that Regent Park is still a community in transition, that has its struggles, but is looking to make it better.

I think a huge construction project such as the one that overtakes Regent Park is a sign of community endurance.