Humber River
Story: Humber River-admin
I have photographed the Humber River pedestrian/cycling bridge both because it is my favourite place in Toronto and because it tells us so much about our City's history.
Located at the mouth of the Humber, the completion of the bridge in 1994 was an important reminder of the City's origin as the foot of the aboriginal trading route that ended there, and as the site of the first civilian European settler, also a trader, Jean-Bonaventure Rousseau who built a post here in 1770. The bridge represented the first pedestrian/cycling link across the Humber - the other bridges being built for roads.
The bridge was built with funds from the original infrastructure programme (when cities set the priorities) because of the input of local citizens who wanted a crossing for people. The bridge was paid for by redesigning the road bridges to save money. Key to its creation was citizen participation, and the principle of spending for impact - two Toronto priorities. The bridge was built to the highest standards of design and included design features from, and the participation of, our first nations people.
Personally, I run to and across the bridge frequently - it allows me to see a fabulous view of our waterfront city, and, no matter the weather, there is always a serenity on the centre of the bridge. Perhaps all users are protected by the Thuderbirds designed into the bridge?
Mayor David Miller
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