Descriptive Transcript: A Look Back at the Port Lands Transformation
This is a descriptive transcript for our YouTube Video: A Look Back at the Port Lands Transformation
[AUDIO: this video has no audio.]
DESCRIPTION: This video features aerial footage of locations around the Port Lands Flood Protection Project.
The first set of footage shows the area labeled as the Cherry Street South Bridge through the years.
In 2019: the area shows a busy parking lot at the end of a slip of water and large open field.
In 2020: the parking lot is mostly empty and there are machines working in the large field.
In 2021: the parking lot is gone and replaced with a construction site. The field has been excavated to show a s-shaped trench.
In 2022: a bridge now sits where the parking lot used to be. The slip of water has been extended under the bridge. The s-shaped trench now has some trees on the sides of it.
In 2023: traffic is using the bridge, greenery is growing on either sides of the trench, and there are smaller bridges crossing it.
In 2024: the slip of water has been extended and now also flows into the trench (which is a now a river). The river is surrounded by greenery.
The next set of footage shows the area labelled as Canoe Cove through the years.
In 2019: A mostly paved area with a few mounds of soil and aggregate are next to a straight dockwall.
In 2020: Several mounds of soil occupy the space next to the dockwall.
In 2022: The straight dockwall has been removed and carved into a more natural shoreline where the land meets the water. The water now flows into most of the area where the mounds of soil were.
In 2023: small islands appear in the water next to the naturalized shoreline.
In 2024: The islands now feature lush green plants.
The next set of footage shows the area labelled as Promontory Park through the years.
In 2019: A barge is working on filling in a section of the lake to create new land, next to a large warehouse.
In 2020: The land has been built and there are boulders to make up a more natural looking shoreline.
In 2021: Green plants appear over the land.
In 2022, 2023, and 2024: More plants appear each year.
The next set of footage shows the area labelled as Cherry Street North Bridge through the years.
In 2019: The video shows the Keating Channel flowing between a large parking lot on the left and construction on the right, and a small basic bridge.
In 2020: Park of the parking lot has been turned into a construction site on the left.
In 2021: The parking lot has been removed and a striking white and red arched bridge sits next to the more basic bridge. The new bridge is at a higher elevation than the construction sites on either side.
In 2022: The land leading up to the new bridge has been elevated.
In 2023: A road, still under construction, leads to and from the new bridge.
In 2024: Traffic moves across the new bridge, the road also features greenery. The old bridge has been removed.
The next set of footage shows the area labelled as the Commissioners Street Bridge through the years.
In 2019: Traffic travels on a road next to an empty field.
In 2020: The field shows active construction work and excavation.
In 2021: Bridge foundations and mounds of soil appear in the field.
In 2022: A bridge with two spans, each with its own arch, is on top of the foundations. Excavation on a trench below the bridge has begun.
In 2023: The trench has been lined with large boulders and plant matter. In the distance an excavated area now features a small island.
In 2024: A road is now connected to the bridge and water flows through the trench (which is now a river), surrounded by green plantings.
The next set of footage shows the area labelled as Wetlands through the years.
In 2019: A partially demolished warehouse sits next to a road and empty field.
In 2020: All buildings are gone and the field has machines excavating it.
In 2021: Bridge foundations appear in the field and the excavation also shows large mounds of soil.
In 2022: A large trench has been dug and lined with tree roots. In the distance an excavated area now features a small island.
In 2024: A road is now connected to the bridge and water flows through the trench (which is now a river), surrounded by green plantings.
The next set of footage shows the area labelled as Progression of River through the years.
In 2023: A large trench in a construction site. On the left side of the trench, a shallow excavation is full of plant matter and a small amount of water.
In 2024: The video changes to timelapse footage, showing the trench slowly filling up with water. The shot returns to an aerial shot showing the trench, which is now a river, full of water and surrounded by greenery on either side.
The video ends with a white screen showing the logos of Waterfront Toronto, and the Governments of Canada, Ontario and Toronto.