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I am truly grateful to Mr. Lloyd Darlington and Mrs. Carol Darlington for their generous support in making this experience possible, through the Carol and Lloyd Darlington Internship Award.

This summer, through the Carol & Lloyd Darlington Arts Internship Award, I completed an internship with The Bentway, a non-profit organization dedicated to building community under the Gardiner Expressway, an elevated 6.5km highway running through Toronto. As a history student heading into my final year at Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾, I have always had a passion for writing and storytelling, something I have also pursued through my work as an editor for the Bull & Bear, Â鶹´«Ã½Íøվ’s student-run news magazine. During my time with The Bentway’s Marketing and Communications department, I engaged in storytelling in new ways, an experience that was both fun and rewarding. It was an amazing summer, and one that was only made possible through the generosity of Mr. Lloyd Darlington and Mrs. Carol Darlington.

I was drawn to The Bentway because of their mission to preserve and encourage community in the city I grew up in. Born and raised in Toronto, I have always loved living in a big city, finding comfort in the constant buzz of people and perpetually busy streets. At the same time, I know cities can feel impersonal and isolating, a reality that a post-Covid world has only exacerbated. When I came across the AIO’s posting for The Bentway, I was coincidentally in the midst of writing an article for the Bull & Bear about the importance of maintaining community in cities. As I read the job description for an organization dedicated to doing exactly what I was writing about, it felt like a perfect fit.

Committed to transforming the space under the Gardiner into an accessible public space, The Bentway is a non-profit organization offering low-cost and free programming in Toronto, including art exhibitions, themed events, workshops, and more. As a Digital Content Intern, my role centred on promoting and capturing The Bentway’s multi-faceted offerings. My day to day included creating Instagram and TikTok content, writing newsletters to The Bentway community, tracking the organization’s news and media coverage, helping coordinate volunteers, and both attending and capturing various events throughout the summer.

My time with The Bentway was filled with many highlights, but some of my favourite moments were working at various in-person events. In my first couple weeks, I captured social media content at The Bentway’s Opening Night Party for their summer art exhibition. I had been helping promote the event since my first day and had heard about how much work had gone into planning it, so it was very rewarding to see everyone’s efforts pay off. This event also taught me firsthand about the challenges of working in public space, as ticket sales for this outdoor, summer-themed event were impacted by bad weather in the weeks prior. My manager and I had to rethink our strategy for promoting the event, ultimately leaning into humor over the weather, which offered important learning about being adaptable to various circumstances. Although the weather didn’t cooperate on the night of the event, hundreds of people still came out to support The Bentway, which was an amazing testament to the organization’s impact and importance to their community.

Another favourite moment was working at the Moving Forest Parade, in which a team of volunteers pushed a flock of 50 trees in shopping carts across Toronto’s waterfront. Not only was this event fun, but it also showcased The Bentway’s innovative strategies for bringing their community together. Being able to witness and capture people showing up and having fun at these events – even in the cold and rain – was like seeing The Bentway’s mission come to life!

I learned so much from my internship with The Bentway. While my degree in History equipped me with the writing skills and strategic thinking needed for a Marketing role, this internship taught me how to communicate and think in ways I never have before. From learning to engage audiences through short, snappy content, to having to adapt to shifting and sometimes unpredictable circumstances, to contributing to meetings with The Bentway’s dedicated team, I gained invaluable experience during my internship that I will carry with me for the duration of my time at Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ and into my career. It was incredibly meaningful to help bring greater visibility to a mission I value greatly, and I hope to continue doing this kind of work into the future.

None of this would have been possible without the Carol and Lloyd Darlington Award. I am so grateful for my experience with The Bentway and to Mr. Lloyd Darlington and Mrs. Carol Darlington for their generous support in making it happen!