Centennial Commemorative Art Projects and Initiatives
Celebrating Our Centennial 1924-2024 Booklet
Download and print the Celebrating Our Centennial PDF (44 pages). Hard copies are also available for pickup at Service Oshawa while supplies last.
Commemorative Art and Culture Projects
Oshawa's Commemorative Pin
The City of Oshawa commissioned a local artist to design an official enamel pin to commemorate and celebrate the City of Oshawa’s 100th anniversary. The selected design, Send Flowers from local artist Chrrie, brings together two unexpectedly iconic Oshawa elements: the peony and the stamp.
Before adopting the name “Oshawa,” the settlement surrounding King and Simcoe streets was originally called Skae’s Corners, after Edward Skae, the local general store owner. When Skae applied to run an official post office in 1842 he was told a new name would be needed for the location, which spurred the name change to Oshawa. The name “Oshawa” stems from an Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe language) word meaning “a crossing place” and has further translation as “the point at the crossing of the stream where the canoe was exchanged for the trail.”
Peonies, though native to Asia, Europe and Western North America, have come to be a symbol that represents the city as Oshawa hosts the annual, award-winning Peony Festival which draws thousands of people from across the country to Oshawa to celebrate their beauty.
This enamel pin is a keepsake that residents and community members can wear proudly to mark this significant milestone.
Centennial Banners
Take a trip down memory lane! Twelve historic images connecting you with Oshawa’s past have been featured in banners installed downtown and at Lakeview Park!
Images featured are courtesy of Oshawa Museum’s Archival Collection, Oshawa Public Libraries’ Local History Collection and The Robert McLaughlin Gallery’s Thomas Bouckley Collection.
Public Art
The City of Oshawa is excited to commission new public artwork as part of our centennial celebrations! These projects support our vision for a community where public art is innovative, diverse and accessible to create vibrant public spaces and meaningful connections.
Community Based Art Project
The City is working with Mary Krohnert and the LivingRoom Community Art Studio to facilitate the creation of a community based art project. The How Many Hearts Mural Project invites community members to contribute their creativity and imagination to create a mixed media felted paper quilt that will be exhibited in Delpark Homes Centre.
Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park Public Artwork
The City is working with Indigenous artists and community members on the development of a new permanent public artwork for Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park. We are thankful to the working group for their ongoing support and guidance of this initiative.
Downtown Oshawa Urban Square Public Artwork
Through a national call to artists and a community-engaged selection process, the City will commission a new permanent public artwork for the forthcoming Downtown Oshawa Urban Square at Bond St. E. and Simcoe St. N.
TeachingCity Centennial Projects
TeachingCity brings together the City of Oshawa and its education and research partners – Durham College, Ontario Tech University, Trent University Durham Greater Toronto Area and the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. The partners address Oshawa’s urban issues through innovation, collaboration, applied research and shared experiential learning opportunities with the aim to position Oshawa as a local, national and global community of urban research and learning.
What is TeachingCity?
TeachingCity brings together the City of Oshawa and its education and research partners – Durham College, Ontario Tech University, Trent University Durham Greater Toronto Area and the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. The partners address Oshawa’s urban issues through innovation, collaboration, applied research and shared experiential learning opportunities with the aim to position Oshawa as a local, national and global community of urban research and learning. As a TeachingCity, we focus on: developing practical, scalable and sustainable solutions to urban challenges, building research partnerships, coordinating experiential learning opportunities, applied research and innovative educational activities, developing new technologies, sharing access to facilities, resources and equipment. To learn more about TeachingCity visit TeachingCityOshawa.ca.
TeachingCity Centennial Temporary Public Art Project
Fine Arts students from Durham College’s Community Collaborations course were invited to submit proposals for a temporary public art project commemorating Oshawa’s centennial. This visual celebration of Oshawa’s history asked students to consider activities, local landmarks and the local landscape as inspiration for their designs. Artworks will be reproduced on the windows of 1 Mary St. N. in downtown Oshawa.
Trailblazing Women Storymap
Durham College Journalism students celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024 by writing about trailblazing women from Oshawa’s past and present. Students researched and wrote articles highlighting the achievements of these trailblazing women.
Rotary Park and Pool Redevelopment Legacy Project
City Council selected the Rotary Park and Pool Redevelopment project as Oshawa’s centennial year Legacy Project.
The Rotary Park Redevelopment project will include:
- a new outdoor pool with four lanes, a zero-entry pool area and toddler pool area
- a destination playground
- a splash pad
- a parking lot
- pathways
- site amenities
To learn more about the project and view the renderings visit Rotary Park Redevelopment.