WWF brings origami wilderness to Toronto's financial district

We Are All Wildlife is a new WWF-Canada campaign to mark the beginning of our national mission to show people across the country that when nature thrives, people and economies thrive.
The inextricable link between nature and communities is at the foundation of the work WWF does across Canada. While our country undergoes change and looks forward to the future, we want Canadians to think of environmental protection as a key component in sustaining a prosperous country – both environmentally and economically.
Today, as part of “We Are All Wildlife” campaign, we unveiled something truly unique: an origami wilderness right in the heart of Toronto’s financial district. For the next week, until December 1, Torontonians can see the beautiful art installation at the north west corner of King and University in a space generously donated by Living Planet @ Work supporter Bentall Kennedy (Canada) LP. What typically is a ‘concrete jungle’ is now home to a beautiful artistic display that passersby can take photos with.

On-site at 200 King Street West, this one-of-a-kind origami wilderness art is made of faux Canadian money. The origami plants, animals and flowers is a reminder that nature and the economy must work together to sustain healthy communities. © Chris Chaplin / WWF-Canada
On-site at 200 King Street West, this one-of-a-kind origami wilderness art is made of faux Canadian money. The origami plants, animals and flowers is a reminder that nature and the economy must work together to sustain healthy communities. © Chris Chaplin / WWF-Canada

The massive structure features our campaign motto, hashtag, and phrase that we hope all Canadians will adopt: #WeAreAllWildlife. The letters are composed of various animal, plant, and flower origami structures made from faux Canadian money. This, and the location of the installation in the financial district are intended to highlight the integral relationship between nature and economy and reinforce the fact that one cannot thrive without the other.
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Handmade from faux Canadian money, the letters are composed of various animal, plant, and flower origami structures. © Chris Chaplin / WWF-Canada

Handmade from faux Canadian money, the letters are composed of various animal, plant, and flower origami structures. © Chris Chaplin / WWF-Canada
Origami folds by PULP: Reclaimed Materials Art and Design with artists Aileen Ling, Dylan Johnston, Nancy Nguyen, and Rotem Yaniv © Chris Chaplin / WWF-Canada

As humans, we often see ourselves as something other than nature. But, our goal at WWF-Canada is to change this perception, to show Canadians that we truly are all wildlife. We’ve worked hard to create this life, and we feel passionately that we need to work to protect it. In order to do this, we created something that could extend the idea of #WeAreAllWildlife to those beyond Toronto’s core – something with national scope that speaks to all Canadians.
At 10 feet-high by 24 feet wide, you cannot miss this art installation at King and University in downtown Toronto. © Chris Chaplin / WWF-Canada
At 10 feet-high by 24 feet wide, you cannot miss this art installation at King and University in downtown Toronto. © Chris Chaplin / WWF-Canada

For the month of November, WWF-Canada partnered with photographers across the country to help bring this idea to life on social media. We asked them: what does “We Are All Wildlife” mean to you? Tasked with taking a photograph that embodies their personal representation of ‘We Are All Wildlife,’ we then shared (and are continuing to share) their interesting and beautiful interpretations on the WWF-Canada Instagram page.
From sweeping rural landscapes to urban jungles to mountain peak views, the #WeAreAllWildlife Instagram campaign amplifies our deep connection with nature – all while highlighting the undeniable beauty of the country we call home. The hope is that this will inspire Canadians to show us what “We Are All Wildlife” means to them and in turn, illustrate that we’re all in this together.
What does “We Are All Wildlife” mean to you? Share your photos on Instagram tagging #WeAreAllWildlife and @WWFCanada.