Celebrating the revitalization of Butterfield Park

OCAD University welcomed over 100 guests to Butterfield Park on September 10 to celebrate the revitalized space and recognize the donors who made the transformation possible.

The event brought together campaign supporters, donors, members of the Board of Governors, faculty and staff for an evening program that featured inspiring remarks from University leadership, including a video screening detailing the process and meaning behind seven bronze animal sculptures created in recognition of each major contributor to the park.

The bronze animal sculptures were created by OCAD U alum and Toronto-based artist David Salazar (BFA 2007, MFA 2017). A graduate of the Sculpture/Installation program, Salazar later completed the Interdisciplinary Master’s in Art, Media and Design (IAMD) program in 2017. His work brings a thoughtful and lasting artistic presence to the space, deepening the park’s role as a creative and welcoming environment.

Guests enjoyed refreshments and live music by Toronto-based ensemble Trash Panda Brass while taking in the park. The refreshed space incorporates Indigenous design principles and includes expanded seating and gathering areas, a ceremonial fire circle, native plants and trees and new spaces for public art.

The Butterfield Park revitalization campaign raised more than $1.7 million in support of the project. Early contributions from George and Martha Butterfield and David Binet propelled the campaign forward, and the final gift from Chancellor Jaime Watt and Paul Ferguson helped bring the vision to completion.

At the celebration, OCAD U also recognized David Binet’s philanthropy milestone of $1 million in total giving, highlighted by his recent transformational gift, The David Binet Design Leadership Fund, which will build on the strengths of the University’s Master of Design in Strategic Foresight and Innovation (SFI) program. It will support student scholarships, innovative research, student and faculty participation at key international conferences, as well as the enhancement of our digital platforms through the creation of an SFI web portal and a new design leadership speaker series. The series will bring some of the world’s most influential voices in design and strategic innovation to the University.

Butterfield Park now stands as a renewed gathering space in the heart of OCAD University’s campus and is a reflection of what is possible through donor support and shared community vision.

Thank you to our Butterfield Park donors:

• George & Martha Butterfield
• David Binet
• Jaime Watt & Paul Ferguson & Navigator
• Anonymous
• TD Bank Group
• DH Gales Family Charitable Foundation
• The Catherine & Maxwell Meighen Foundation 

Butterfield Park Bronze Sculpture video featuring OCAD U alum and Toronto-based artist David Salazar detailing the process and meaning behind the seven bronze animal sculptures created in recognition of each major contributor to the park. 

Back Row: Jenny Le, Riley Watts and Olivia Fernandez from TD Bank, George and Martha Butterfield, Judy and Wilmot Matthews, David Binet. Front Row: OCAD U Chancellor Jaime Watt and OCAD U President & Vice-Chancellor Ana Serrano. 

From left to right: Isadore Sharp, OCAD U Chancellor Jaime Watt and Rosalie Sharp.

Live Band - Trash Panda Brass. 

OCAD U President & Vice-Chancellor Ana Serrano (left) and Métis Elder Dr. Tony Belcourt (right). 

Dr. Sarah McKinnon (left) and Peter Dawes (right).