The Waterfront Trail artists have taken a new look at a venerable tradition -- the Scottish tartan, which uses colour and pattern to signify clan or family background. During the summer of 2003, five women gathered at Etobicoke's historical Montgomery's Inn to help weave a tartan that would celebrate the unity in diversity which constitutes that city's heritage. In addition to being invited to help create this 4'x6' communal piece, each participant also wove a small sampler for herself.

Etobicoke's history, geography, and current demographics all provided textile artist Mona Kamal with inspiration for the tartan's overall design. Green was chosen to represent the Alder trees for which Etobicoke was named; gold is a prominent colour in Etobicoke's coat of arms; blue reflects the area's African and Asian communities, as well as suggesting the waters that border it on three sides -- Etobicoke Creek, the Humber River, and Lake Ontario; brownish maroon evokes the Alder tree bark which was used by First Nations peoples to dye their cloth brown, and also resembles mud cloth, a hand-dyed African fabric; grey was chosen to represent the industry that brought immigrants to Etobicoke in search of work and a better life.

The Etobicoke Tartan resides at Montgomery's Inn. Many thanks to our partners -- Montgomery's Inn, Toronto Arts Council, National Silicates, and Campbell's Soup.

Photo of
Etobicoke Tartan
by Eric Field