THE LITTLE ESPLANADE – THE PROJECT’S SEEDS

The Little Esplanade is a heartfelt project that began in 2023. Inspired by local miniature expert Roxanne Braithwaite, that year, Jamii organized a project for community members to create Mini Homes for Little Amal, a larger-than-life puppet who was looking for her home, and who visited The Esplanade as part of the Luminato Festival. During a debrief session after this inspiring project, a community member suggested, "Why don’t we make a miniature version of our neighbourhood, The Esplanade?"  At first, it sounded like an impossible idea, and we brushed it off. But the excitement was undeniable and so began our journey to craft a miniaturized version of our neighbourhood, capturing its spirit, stories, and vibrant landmarks. 

 

THE LITTLE ESPLANADE – PHASE 1

Starting in the fall of 2023, The Little Esplanade has brought together 68 community members of all ages to build this miniature neighbourhood - from its buildings and playgrounds to schools and park areas. The scaling we decided was 1/200th. It was the first time for Jamii and our lead artist Roxanne Braithwaite to take on a project of such a scale and our 64 workshops became gatherings of creativity, connection, and resourcefulness to make this project work. First phase is from Parliament to Princess st. Phase 1 of the project was unveiled on December 1st 2024 during a beautiful community celebration, and has since garnered hundreds of visitors checking the exhibition – which was displayed in front of The Jamii Hub through 2025.

 

THE LITTLE ESPLANADE – THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

This project represents one Toronto’s most iconic neighbouhood. Nestled between the St Lawrence Market (West), the Distillery District (East), the train tracks on the South, and Front St on the North, The Esplanade is a high-density mosaic of cultures. Created in the 1970s, The Esplanade consists of a mix of commercial and residential infrastructures with both subsidized and market-oriented housing. The Esplanade is home to Toronto Community Housing, with at least ten independently operated co-ops, condos and privately owned townhouses. Our community’s diversity is also in age with senior housing and amenities for families with three daycares and three schools. The Esplanade is also one of the most accessible neighbourhoods with a wide ground-level promenade, as well as a large percentage of accessible and assisted housing. The cultural mix of our community is its greatest strength.

 

The Little Esplanade, is a political statement advocating for diverse types of housing that covers the needs of the whole population and not just a few. The Esplanade neighbourhood is an example of successful urban planning and design that is used as an international reference. The Litte Esplanade is one way to preserve the importance of this community, not only for locals, but as a reference for future city development, and for international reach.

 

THE LITTLE ESPLANADE – A LABOR OF LOVE

Building The Little Esplanade has been a labor of love. Each tiny detail - a tree, garbage bin, window, or patio - has been crafted with careful thought and creativity. We’re grateful to the community members who have added their unique touches to this evolving project, as well as to those who have carried the project’s spirit forward through its full year of creation. Together, we built a community masterpiece, one mini-moment at a time.

Most of those who were directly involved in this project are residents of The Esplanade neighbourhood: one of the most diverse in Toronto, if not Canada.

 

THE LITTLE ESPLANADE – PHASE 2

In 2025, we developed and unveiled Phase 2, spanning Princess St to Frederick St. This phase brought together residents of all ages to craft tiny buildings, playgrounds, and landmarks, celebrating local creativity, stories, and shared memories. The project continued to be guided by miniaturist Roxanne Braithwaite and Jamii’s staff Ghader Bsmar. The installation preserves the neighbourhood’s history while fostering connection and reflection for years to come.

Phase 2 involved 44 contributors and 41 workshops, resulting in a true miniature masterpiece. Special thanks to the dedicated community members who spent endless hours working on this project: Tracy, MacKenzie, Daphne, Brian, Prudence, Silvia, and Nicole.

 

THE LITTLE ESPLANADE – PHASE 3

We hope to continue this passion project in 2026 with Phase 3, extending the installation all the way to Market St. Just imagine the neighbourhood from Parliament to Market St in miniature—wouldn’t that be exceptional?