6 February 2024 – Having puttered my way along Commercial Drive, I am now zigzagging my way north-west through various neighbourhoods, making my way to Main Street and a bus on home.

No particular plan, so it’s sheer serendipity and pleasure to find myself on Charles Street looking north along McLean — the site of Mosaic Creek Park.

Hundreds of mosaic tiles form the “creek” running through this tiny park. It is the late-90s creation of a determined local coalition, the Britannia Neighbours Community Group, with the help of mosaic artists Glen Anderson and Marina Szijarto, who ran workshops and facilitated tile-making by any community member who wanted to take part.

The Park Board insisted the tiles be frost-proof, but set no artistic criteria. People were free to create whatever they wanted to create.

Agile fish, for example…

or a sleepy cat…

or wind-blown leaves…

or (why not) a dancing, prancing human being.

The two people on that corner bench, though relaxed and companionable, are not dancing. In raspy voices, they discuss strategies for getting your s**t together in rehab.

Farther down McLean, two dapper young businessmen stand side by side, eyeing a corner lot. In quick, clipped voices, they discuss marketing strategies for new builds.