East Streets: Scarborough

This series explores the hidden corners of Scarborough, a Toronto district long overshadowed by negative perceptions. Born and raised there, Lee reconnects with her hometown, finding beauty in its communities and landscapes while witnessing its ongoing transformation.

As both participant and observer,  Lee invites ten current and former residents to share their personal Scarborough—whether through local plazas, artist centres, public parks, parking lot food vendors, or schools. Through this shared connection, she captures their stories by documenting the everyday streets and landmarks that hold memories, preserving a landscape that is both familiar and ever-changing.

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About

Jennifer Lee (she/they) is a photographer based in Toronto. Specializing in candid and street photography, her practice serves as both a storytelling tool and a contemplative meditation on the evolving landscapes and interactions within our communities. She has actively lent her lens to various grassroots organizations and advocacy groups in Toronto, emphasizing community building and a sense of belonging. Through her body of work, Lee seamlessly integrates her passion for capturing candid moments in public spaces with a commitment to community engagement.

Lee’s works have exhibited in the Scarborough Arts' Scarborough’s New View (2020), the Canada Council for the Arts and CBC-funded project The Time Being (2020), the Scarborough Museum's exhibit Awaken Your Senses (winter 2021/22), choa Magazine Volume 3: "Aging in Place" (2022), Worth Gallery’s Worthy Circa 4x4 show (2023), New York Grandmas presented at North York Central Library (2024), and Spectra (2024).

Once a largely unused hydro corridor, the Meadoway has been transformed into a 16-kilometre corridor of restored natural habitat that links Scarborough’s increasingly built-up neighborhoods to vital open spaces. Stretching from the Don to the Rouge, this expansive multi-use trail reveals how urban infrastructure and thriving ecosystems can coexist. By merging community growth, improved connectivity, and the essential function of local ravines and meadows, the Meadoway illustrates the delicate balance between human development and nature.

These photographs document the Meadoway’s evolution—showcasing its transformation through different seasons, the ongoing construction that shapes its growth, and the diverse users who share the trail, from human visitors to the plants and animals that now call it home.

As the Meadoway continues to expand, it stands as a hopeful model for sustainable city-building. Through thoughtful planning and collaboration, Scarborough proves that preserving ecological integrity while meeting the needs of a growing urban population is indeed possible.

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About

Nithursan Elamuhilan is a Scarborough-based photographer and data analyst whose work bridges photography and data as tools for storytelling and communication. His practice centers on documenting natural and built landscapes, with a particular emphasis on often-overlooked public spaces. Since 2021, he has led itsneerby, a civic tech initiative that documents communities through the use of archival materials, community initiatives, and open data to foster knowledge-sharing and civic engagement.

His work has been featured in several group exhibitions, including the Flash Forward Photography Show (Magenta Foundation and WoodGreen Community Services, 2025), PS Scarborough (CONTACT Photography Festival, 2024), Scarborough Made: Resilience (CONTACT Photography Festival, 2023), and the ScotiaRISE Exhibition (VIBE Arts, 2023).

IG:  @v_deux / @itsneerby

Serving Scarborough from 1985 to 2023, the Scarborough RT (later known as Line 3) was a vital yet problematic transit line that ran from Kennedy Station to McCowan Road, with stops at Lawrence Avenue, Ellesmere Road, Midland Road, and Scarborough Town Centre. Many Scarborough residents relied on it for their daily commutes to school and work. However, it became a political football and was left to deteriorate until July 2023, when a derailment forced service to end unceremoniously. Now, Scarborough residents have been downgraded to crowded buses until the Line 2 subway extension to Sheppard Avenue (with stops at Lawrence and Scarborough Town Centre) is completed.

This exhibit, presented by TTCRiders, is a tribute showcasing the impact Line 3 had on Scarborough commuters and honors its final days with dignity and community activism.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of TTCRiders, a replacement busway was added to the TTC budget in 2024 and is set to open in 2027, making it easier for transit users in Scarborough to commute in the absence of Line 3.

Proving that no matter what, if there is a will, there is a way.

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About

TTCriders is a grassroots transit advocacy organization based in Toronto. They work to give public transit users a voice and advocate for better, more accessible, and affordable public transit in the city. Founded in 2010, TTCriders organizes campaigns, rallies, and other activities to push for improvements in the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) services.

Their mission is to ensure that public transit is frequent, reliable, and dignified, connecting all neighborhoods in Toronto. They also focus on securing stable funding for transit operations from all levels of government.

www.ttcriders.ca

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Artists

Fizza Khalid is a Scarborough-based artist and community organizer whose work is deeply rooted in environmental advocacy. As a co-founder of the Scarborough Environmental Association, she uses her art to inspire a deeper connection with nature, encouraging people to slow down and appreciate the beauty of birds and the natural world. In addition to her artistic practice, Fizza serves on the board of TTC Riders, advocating for accessible and efficient public transit in Toronto. She also leads volunteer efforts with Progress Toronto, working on campaigns for affordable housing. Through her art and activism, Fizza is dedicated to building a more sustainable, equitable, and connected world.
IG: @fizza.khalidd

Damian Wiktor Kazimierz Baranowski
IG: @damianbaranowskiDC

Mathew Inchoco