The Spirit Garden

Located in the City of Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square, the Spirit Garden is a contemplative public space dedicated to cultural education and reconciliation. Opened in September 2024 on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, it integrates Indigenous teachings and architectural traditions into one of Canada’s most recognizable civic gathering places.

The centrepiece of the garden is the Teaching Lodge, a circular structure modeled after the Haudenosaunee longhouse and constructed entirely of wood under the guidance of an elder and Knowledge Keeper. Its form diverges from the surrounding urban grid, symbolizing a return to circularity, humility, balance, and relational thinking. The use of pre-formed laminated ash glulam timber, sustainably harvested in Quebec, provides both strength and resilience, while laminated spruce sheathing supports a copper-zinc exterior that complements the warm natural tones of the structure.

The ribbed timber system aligns with the Four Directions, with two primary beams spanning east to west to represent the symbolic Red Road of ethical and spiritual living. Supporting ribs extend north to south, embodying the relationship between female and male principles grounded in Mother Earth. At the apex, seven operable skylights symbolize the Seven Grandfather Teachings—Love, Respect, Courage, Honesty, Wisdom, Humility, and Truth—while introducing daylight and natural ventilation.

Inside, built-in wooden benches provide seating for approximately 60 people, supporting gatherings, storytelling, and ceremony. The Spirit Garden also incorporates installations from Anishinaabe, Inuit, Métis, and Haudenosaunee artists, making it both a sanctuary and an educational platform. Through its intentional use of wood, the project exemplifies architecture as a vessel for cultural continuity, memory, and reconciliation.