Waard Ward Flower Sale

Scarborough-based arts collective, and current DMG x UTSC Farm Artists-in-Residence, Waard Ward is hosting a one-day flower sale at the UTSC Farmer’s Market! Choose from a selection of beautiful bouquets made by the collective. Purchases of flowers will support the Arab newcomer community. Please note all sales will be processed in cash.

The UTSC Farmer's Market is located on campus, at the corner of Ellesmere and Military Trail. Short-term free parking is available.

ABOUT WAARD WARD

Waard Ward is comprised of members of Toronto’s Syrian newcomer community Hanen Nanaa, Shoruk Alsakni, and Abd Al-Mounim; artist Petrina Ng; and educators Patricia Ritacca and Laura Ritacca.  A florist for over a decade in Aleppo, Abd came to Canada with his family six years ago as refugees. Waard Ward originally formed to support their settlement and create meaningful work opportunities. The collective utilizes social art practice to explore unconventional ideas of the value of work and labour and proposes experimental solutions to employment barriers for newcomers. Waard Ward invests in a community of aspiring newcomer florists and gardeners, to nurture opportunities for social entrepreneurship, and to co-learn new knowledges and skills in a collaborative environment. 

 ABOUT THE RESIDENCY

The Doris McCarthy Gallery has partnered with the UTSC Farm to offer a land-based residency to Waard Ward arts collective.

In Spring 2022, the collective planted historic varieties of Damask roses at the IC Rooftop Garden and the UTSC Farm. This artist project refers to a community’s memory of lost or destroyed public gardens in Syria and the Middle East, creates opportunity to explore diverse culinary traditions of roses, and will build towards an exhibition at the DMG in the winter of 2024.