Site Specific Performance

On July 8th 2017, the 100th anniversary of Canadian painter Tom Thomson’s death, Paul Walde swam the length of Canoe Lake in Algonquin Park, accompanied by a synchronized swimming squad, a brass ensemble performing a new composition by Walde written for the event, and a flotilla of canoes.

On July 8th 1917, Tom Thomson set out on a canoe trip on Canoe Lake. He did not return. That same day, what turned out to be his canoe was spotted floating upside down. Eight days later his body was discovered floating in the lake.

Coverage of the event can be read about here

This project was supported in part by the Canada Council for the Arts and the British Columbia Arts Council