Curating the Lassonde Art Trail: November Paynter and Chloe Catan

Curating the Lassonde Art Trail: November Paynter and Chloë Catán

Join us!

Launching in Biidaasige Park in summer 2026, the Lassonde Art Trail (LAT) is a free, open-air destination for contemporary art from around the world. Join Executive Director Chloë Catán and Artistic Director & Chief Curator November Paynter for an introduction to the project—its conception, its integration within the park system and the Port Lands Protection Project, and how artworks respond to the new Don River mouth. Participants will explore detailed site maps and discuss curatorial approaches to a project of this scale, focusing on how to work creatively within the constraints and possibilities of public space.

Chloë Catán:

Chloë Catán is a British-Mexican arts professional with over 30 years of experience across Canada, Mexico, and the UK. She has managed major public art commissions for Millennium Park in Chicago, the Vancouver Sculpture Biennale, Hermann Park in Houston, and Michigan State University. Before becoming Executive Director of the Lassonde Art Trail, she was Public Art Curator for the City of Mississauga and led the Public Art Program at Waterfront Toronto. There, she developed master plans, commissioned projects, launched a temporary art program, and advanced cultural strategy. The Art Trail on Villiers Island builds on work initiated during her time at Waterfront Toronto.

November Paynter: 

November has worked as a curator and in leadership roles at cultural institutions internationally. She is Artistic Director & Chief Curator of the Lassonde Art Trail, and previously served as Chief Curator and Associate Director at the Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto, where she led a program emphasizing new commissions and exhibitions with artists including Jeffrey Gibson, Shirin Neshat, Mika Rottenberg, and Kapwani Kiwanga. She also co-founded the Greater Toronto Triennial. Previously, she was Associate Director of Research and Programs at SALT in Istanbul and has done freelance curatorial work for institutions including Tate Modern, London, and the Asia Pacific Triennial, Brisbane. She has served on numerous juries including for the Sobey Art Prize and V&A Jameel Prize.  

Below: Artist impression of the proposed Art Trail on Ookwemin Minising courtesy Norm Li AG+I.