As people around the world welcomed a new millennium, Torontonians in the year 2000 were welcoming something even bigger – a herd of hundreds of life-size moose statues.
Twenty-five years ago, Toronto launched its Moose in the City campaign, a project featuring 326 colourful moose statues decorated by artists and placed all over the city in an effort to usher in the new year by promoting local tourism and art sectors.
The project came at no cost to the city, according to council minutes from April 2000, and the statues were sponsored by various companies. The public could stumble upon the hoofed-herbivore masterpieces at locations including the CN Tower, Pearson Airport and city hall.
Now, some of the artists involved say the project was emblematic of the city's culture and shows how municipalities can step up to support the art scene — even as some of the famed sculpted creatures have disappeared in the years since.
Here are some scenes from the project at the time, and where some of those moose are now.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 29, 2025.
The Canadian Press
