Your chance to see inside the Weston Bread Factory

Graywood Developments and Alterra are opening up the former Weston Bread Factory to the public in partnership with the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival, the largest photography event in the world with more than 200 exhibitions!

The landmark Leslieville building has rarely been seen by public eyes, and this is your opportunity to see it for yourself, as well as through the eyes of photographer, Laird Kay.

“The details of the equipment are seen as sculpture, and as graphic design,” explains Kay. “This building is still a wonder—a word that fills us with optimism, stimulates the imagination, and makes us aware of the infinite possibilities that the future may hold.”

Kay is known for his aviation photography and is fascinated with mechanical and technical details. Naturally, he was drawn to the industrial workings of the bakery.

“Buildings grow, learn, and adapt. They are organic. Just like the bread that was made, proofed, and baked here in this building, the factory is changing, and still has many stories to tell,” adds Kay.

Graywood and Alterra currently have a residential development in the works for the Weston Bread Factory site. The project is still in planning, but in the meantime, it’s great that the developers are making the space accessible to the public for a great art initiative.

“Graywood and Alterra saw this as an opportunity to pay homage to and recognize the role this building played in Leslieville’s industrial history,” says Stephen Price, President and CEO of Graywood. “We are working hard to evolve and maintaining elements of that important historical landmark, and look forward to welcoming the sales of an exciting new residential residence later this fall.”

“Anyone growing up in the neighbourhood would have been familiar with the smell of baking bread,” adds Neil Pattison, Vice President, Development Project Management, Graywood. “It seemed a natural fit to team up with Laird Kay and give the community a chance to be welcomed once more into this evocative building.”

The developers are working to preserve the heritage aspects of the building, so once the building is redeveloped, the former bakery will still be remembered as a Leslieville landmark. Plus, we now have all these great photos of the inner workings of the factory.

The Weston Bread Factory exhibit will be open May 12th and 13th, as well as May 19th and 20th, from 10 am to 4 pm. Entry is free!