Arts & Ideas

Toronto Artist Uses Augmented Reality to Transform Public Murals

A Toronto-based visual artist is integrating AR technology into city murals, offering passersby an interactive art experience that blends urban expression with digital storytelling.

July 21, 2025 at 03:34 — By Angie Henderson, Leaf & Thought

A grassroots initiative is taking root in Vancouver: community fridges, stocked and maintained by neighbors, are providing free food to anyone who needs it. What began as a small experiment during the pandemic has now grown into a citywide movement.

The premise is simple. Volunteers place a commercial-grade fridge outside a local business or community center, fill it with donated produce, meals, and pantry items, and invite passersby to take what they need or leave what they can.

“It’s about sharing abundance,” says Darnell Morgan, a co-organizer of the Eastside Community Fridge. 'We’ve got restaurants donating extras, gardeners bringing fresh vegetables, and even local kids helping clean and stock the fridge after school.'

With rising food insecurity, the initiative has become a lifeline for many. Fridges are now found in neighborhoods from Mount Pleasant to Commercial Drive, each operated by small teams of volunteers.

Donations range from homemade soup and fruits to canned goods and baked treats. Posters nearby often list fridge etiquette and food safety guidelines to help maintain standards.

What makes the movement particularly compelling is its low barrier to participation. There are no forms, no oversight—just a mutual trust that those in need will find nourishment, and others will contribute when they’re able.

Small businesses have also embraced the idea. Jada Park, owner of a café that hosts one fridge, says it’s been good for the community and for business. 'We’ve had more foot traffic, but more importantly, it’s brought a sense of unity to the block.'

As the cost of living continues to rise, organizers hope to see municipal support in the form of mini-grants or food safety training. But for now, the fridges operate on goodwill and elbow grease—and they’re thriving.

You can find locations of active fridges through the Vancouver Fridge Collective website or by following #VancouverCommunityFridge on social media.