THANK YOU!

Thank you to everyone who came out and participated in the 39th Annual Ward’s Island Fire Parade and Residency! Once again community and artists came together to make a magical art-filled, lantern-lit fire parade and spectacle that welcomed islanders and mainlanders alike!

Each summer Shadowland holds a free community arts residency and performance on the beautiful Ward’s Island, situated in the Toronto Island Park. Shadowland presents a fun-filled week of art-making workshops, music and performance activities for all-ages.

On Friday, July 31, 2026, participants, artists and community came together for 39th Annual Ward’s Island Fire Parade, a magical celebration of light and community. From July 26 to 31. Shadowland welcomed artists and community members to join together over the residency week to create lanterns and puppets and rehearse for the Parade performance.

Shadowland’s heartfelt thanks and appreciation go out to the many folks who make this annual celebration possible

Including all the volunteers and participants who joined us for the Ward’s Island July residency week to make puppets, costumes and lanterns and rehearse scenes. A special shoutout to our hardworking Fire Parade volunteers including – Alex Villar Saucedo, Mohammed Ghazavi, Nat Lister, Sequoia Erickson, Caroline Hollway, Zach Fowler, Ines Lacarne, Elise Leske, Marilyn Yogarajah, Emma Barrasso, Nik Geddes, David Hostetter, Maiko Taku, Parisa Shaeri, Peter Rahul, Carolyn Anderson, Paula May Ponesse, Chris Clifford, Leida Englar. If we missed anyone, we apologize, you were all fantastic!

Thank you! to our awesome donation bucket volunteers Kathleen McDonnell, Alec Farquhar, Maiko Taku, who helped us raise money for our community arts programs and the many generous donors who filled those buckets. 

We appreciate the many artists and performers including the inventive musical narrative led by Chris Wilson 🎼 with Jim Bish, and the spectacular community band, The A’Rythmics; the dynamic Shadowland youth troupe; Mykola Paskaruk (“Controller”); and, last but not least the Shadowland team and our fearless and talented Summer Interns Eva Weiss (Studio Lab Theatre Foundation), Maddy Smart, Amanda O'Connor-McTigue and Carmina Pascutiu (Canada Summer Jobs). 
 

Thank you to our many generous individual donors!  

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Shadowland Theatre recognizes the ongoing support provided by our Government Funders who make our year-round operations and programs possible: The Canada Council for the Arts, Toronto Arts Council, Toronto Arts Foundation, and the Ontario Arts Council. 

We are grateful for the generous support given by the Emerald Foundation, Studio Lab Theatre Foundation, F.K. Morrow Foundation, The Hilary Kilbourne Trust, Canada Summer Jobs, Ward's Island Association and The Island Cafe. 

THANK YOU ONE AND ALL!

We couldn’t have done it without you! Anne, Brad and Terry 

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