PACE Toronto 2025 - A Youth-Led Celebration of Culture & Creativity

Last month, PACE Toronto 2025 transformed the STACKT Market into a vibrant space for students to lead, reclaim space, and celebrate culture, while also acknowledging the often-unspoken history of Treaty 13 and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation as the original caretakers of this land.

This special event showcased the creative talents and entrepreneurial spirit of students from across the GTA through immersive art installations, fashion design, music, and storytelling. The event began with a powerful land acknowledgment delivered by Tobie Loukes that set the tone, grounding the celebration in respect for the land, the ancestors, and the eight fish species that have been lost from local ecosystems—an emotional reminder of the deep ties between culture, history, and the environment. Students from Kapapamahchakwew led the fashion showcase for Humber CI (In Bloom), CTA, CTS, ESA and LP.

Students collaborated with community mentors, Indigenous elders, and creative professionals to design a vibrant, multi-sensory experience. From the Art & Design Market, where students showcased businesses that fused traditional teachings with modern design, to the Fashion Runway that transformed cultural storytelling into wearable art, every element of PACE Toronto 2025 reflected a spirit of reclamation and resilience. Music and performances infused the space with energy and pride, while the outdoor festival and public art pieces invited participation and dialogue.