Wunderman Thompson’s City Guide to Inspiration in Nature: Toronto Edition
As the world’s leading researcher on inspiration, Wunderman Thompson knows a thing or two about the psychological link between people’s value systems and their sources of inspiration to predict how humanity will be inspired. In Wunderman Thompson’s Inspire InFocus report, being outdoors in nature ranked number one as the top source of inspiration globally. Even though life is starting to “get back to normal”, many of our new habits formed during the pandemic, such as taking walks during work breaks or exploring nature in our own backyard, have endured.
As we yearn to move, connect, and get off a plane and stretch our legs, out of a conference hall into fresh air, leave the confines of a hotel room, or even take a walking meeting or lunch in a park vs. a restaurant, here are some ideas for the next time you find yourself in some of the most inspirational cities around the world, for business or pleasure.
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Name: Sucheta Shankar and Jeremy Lenz
Title: Associate Creative Directors, WT Toronto
Location: Toronto, Canada
Sucheta: I'm Sucheta, an ACD at Wunderman Thompson, and I find Toronto inspiring because you can get a bit of everything here whenever you want. Good food? Check. Quiet walks in a park? Check. Beaches? Check. It's an all-in-one city and you just have to know the right places to go for it!
Jeremy: And I’m Jeremy, also an ACD in Toronto. The one thing that I love about The Six is the diversity in the people, the neighbourhoods, and the nature. It’s called ‘the city in a park’, and it really does live up to that. Behind the buildings and highways is an extensive network of rivers, ravines, parks, and valleys, most of which connect by winding trails and paths open to the public. Anywhere you go, you’re just a few steps away from a trail that leads you into a dense ravine or vibrant park. As someone who loves being in a large city, these instant connections to nature are vital to keeping me inspired.
Left to right: Sucheta and Jeremy
Q> When do you find you crave inspiration in nature and where do you find it?
Sucheta> I live north of downtown so I’m lucky to have a lot of nature around me. I usually like to start the mornings with a loop around Sherwood Park. Parts of it look like you’re not even in the city anymore and with an off-leash section, you meet so many friendly dogs. It’s the best way to start the morning and it feels meditative. In that state, it’s easy to come up with ideas or think through any creative problems.
Jeremy> I usually don’t know that I’m craving inspiration in nature until I find myself there. It’s that strange feeling of pleasure that you can’t seem to pinpoint until you realise that taking this hike is exactly what you needed.
Sherwood Park
Q> Where is the best place to people watch in Toronto?
Sucheta> Best people watching is for sure Trinity Bellwoods Park – it can get crowded easily, but you can see people hosting birthdays with cute decorations, people learning to tightrope, BBQ parties and much more. It’s also close to amazing food and dessert spots so you can enjoy a slice of pizza or ice cream and people watch away.
Jeremy> I live on a street that has a good amount of people walking by in a very diverse neighbourhood. I find myself just sitting on my front porch and subconsciously making up little stories about them – It feels closer, more relevant, because they’re neighbours and it feels familiar. Outside of my porch? I love Woodbine Beach. It’s a massive beach that goes one for several kilometres just five minutes from the city core. And it’s a great place to see people relax and have fun. There are no office buildings, so it’s a nice change of scenery.
Q> What’s your favourite hike or walk?
Jeremy> I prefer walking the main strip. It’s a big reason I stay in the city, that I just find the busier streets to be the most inspiring. But since this is about nature, I would have to say Rouge Park here in Toronto. It’s really the one place where you feel like you’re a world away from the city without leaving it.
Q> What are some interesting natural attractions near your city that are worth checking out?
Sucheta> If you’re ever in the area, it’s worth checking out the Cheltenham Badlands – the rapid erosion of shale has created a gully-like landscape. I’d also recommend Elora Quarry in the summer – it’s a beautiful sea green beach that’s in an enclosed area. My final recommendation is taking a trip to Tobermory – the sunsets are stunning and the turquoise blue waters at the Grotto are unbelievable.
Jeremy> Everyone loves a good trip to Niagara Falls for a day. But if you’re not into cheesy tourist attractions, I’ve always quite liked visiting the many waterfalls in Hamilton. And if you’re willing to go for more than a day, to me, Lake Huron is the greatest great lake. It’s usually fairly calm and clear, not too hot, not too cold. Being there slows you down, and having that chance to pause always gets ideas flowing. I find that I come away from those trips with a need to create.
Lake Huron
LBB> What’s your favourite park/botanical garden/body of water and why?
Sucheta> My favourite park in all of Toronto is Riverdale Park – it’s a great view of the city and feels like you are looking at Toronto from another town, but you’re close to the heart of it. Stay for the sunset and you’ll get some social media-worthy photos!
LBB> Anything to add that might involve wildlife, especially critters or birds or a specific example of when you were inspired by nature?
Jeremy> The wildlife in Toronto is actually pretty amazing. First off, it’s hard to believe that any animal would want to live here. And secondly, I feel like we have a pretty unique collection of critters. You’ll find big black squirrels everywhere you go. Hawks will nest on the office buildings and swoop down to grab a pigeon or two downtown. Coyotes wander out of the ravines and threaten all the local cats and dogs. Deer will get lost and end up in your backyard. You’ll see a number of dead skunks and possums, I don’t think I’ve ever seen one living. But the GOAT, the king, the one creature that Toronto is known for, is the majestic Raccoon. The raccoon now rivals the CN Tower as the icon of the city. And I’m all for it.
Q> And how about a quick day trip or weekend trip to somewhere near Toronto?
Sucheta> The first place I think of for a quick day trip is Scarborough Bluffs Beach. During the pandemic, this was one of the few places that seemed like a vacation to me. Pack a picnic, bring your swimsuit and get there early (if you’re driving) and you’ll have a small part of the beach to yourself to enjoy.
Mount Pleasant Cemetery
Q> Best place for a run/swim or other form of exercise outside?
Sucheta> I love taking long walks and this might be an unpopular choice for one but I usually take a walk through Mount Pleasant Cemetery – it feels like a park and you’ll find several people running in there or taking walks as well. It’s so big that you could get lost in there. There are even trees that have cherry blossoms in the spring. Head’s up - I do not go here at night!
Don Valley
Jeremy> I do a lot of running, and my favourite routes always include the Don Valley. It’s a network of creeks and streams all nestled into a kilometre wide valley that stretches from the lake to the outer suburbs.
