What does it mean to be sensitive towards one another, and towards nature?

If life is a vast network of relationship, how are we related to one another and the world around us?  

As educators, we provide a safe, open and attentive platform so that children’s minds may remain free to enquire on their own and ask fundamental questions and learn. Our year-round programming is an opportunity to come together and observe and absorb the beauty of nature in its fullness, while finding our place in it by listening to our bodies, each other and the natural habitat that are still around us in this fast-growing city. ______Placemaking is to learn the art of listening and seeing.

______Placemake is jointly organized, programmed and facilitated by Gelareh Saadatpajouh + Jill Aston.

Trained as an architect and with years of experience as educator, public art curator, working with people and places, Gelareh has been observing the ways of nature in the city and hope to explore them with kids using various hands-on methods and socially-engaged activities.

Gelareh was the former Director at DesignTO where she had helped build its renowned reputation as Canada's largest cultural celebration of design. In 2015, Gelareh co-founded ====\\DeRAIL Platform for Art + Architecture with Victoria Taylor to get commissions from the city of Toronto and private arts sector to activate and animate public spaces, mainly along the linear landscape of the West Toronto Railpath.

Jill Aston is a lifelong learner, with decades of experience working with children in various settings. After several years working in a corporate environment, she changed career path to provide a more holistic educational experience for her two young children. Her passion for finding new approaches to learning evolved over time and led to the basic understanding that learning can happen everywhere.

Over the past few years Jill has led weekly forest programs, incorporating music, exploration and cooperative activities. Through an inquiry based educational approach, Jill hopes to create supportive environments where kids can express their individuality while developing their emotional and social well being. Jill also loves muddy rain walks, impromptu jam sessions and baking healthy treats!

For inquiries about our programming, contact us: we.placemake@gmail.com