The Region of Waterloo International Airport is growing. The investment in the YKF’s growth is enhancing customer experience and contributing to the economic growth of the community.
In keeping with high industry standards and contributing to a world-class customer experience, YKF features artwork by local, internationally renowned artists.
The ART YKF Gallery features four exciting installations that explore the themes of travel, movement and memories for visitors to discover and enjoy!
Indigenous Languages Greetings Wall
Aanii, Boozhoo, She:kon, Tansi, Welcome! As you arrive at the Region of Waterloo Airport domestic arrivals you will be welcomed
with a new sign offering greetings in Indigenous languages spoken within the Region of Waterloo. This initiative reflects our commitment to inclusivity, cultural awareness, and the recognition of the important role Indigenous communities play in our shared history and future.
This sign carries a message of both education and change. Each of the languages is spoken in the Region of Waterloo by various Indigenous Peoples across Turtle Island that now call the Region of Waterloo home.
Hearing and learning Indigenous languages is vital in Canada because these languages carry the history, culture, and worldview of Indigenous peoples, fostering reconciliation and mutual understanding.
Within the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action, there are 5 calls directly related to language and culture. Call 14.i says, “Aboriginal languages are a fundamental and valued element of Canadian culture and society, and there is an urgency to preserve them.” We agree and celebrate the preservation and use of Indigenous languages in our community spaces.
This wall stands as a powerful symbol of change, marking a shift away from a history where Indigenous languages were silenced and unwelcome in government spaces. Today, it reflects our commitment to creating a space that welcomes First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples by honoring their languages. This gesture is one of the meaningful ways we are advancing Truth and Reconciliation here in the Region of Waterloo, opening our doors to inclusivity, respect, and shared understanding.
We invite you to take time to visit the sign, learn greetings in these Indigenous languages, and reflect on your own Truth and Reconciliation journey.
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| The Region of Waterloo is situated on the lands within the Haldimand Tract of 1784, a formally ratified agreement acknowledging six miles on either side of the Grand River as treaty territory belonging to Six Nations of the Grand River. The Region of Waterloo serves an area within the traditional territories of the Anishinaabe, Chonnonton and Haudenosaunee peoples. This territory is within the lands protected by the Dish with One Spoon wampum - which calls upon us to share the land and its resources fairly, represented by a shared dish and spoon, and to keep the dish clean by caring for the land and ensuring peace among all who share it. We acknowledge the enduring presence, knowledge and philosophies of Indigenous Peoples. We acknowledge the continuing accomplishments and contributions Indigenous Peoples make in shaping Waterloo Region. |
Honouring These Lands and Waterways, coming Spring 2025
Three murals by Indigenous artists have been selected to have their work displayed in the Domestic Arrivals Building at YKF in spring 2025. The selected artists include Jeannette Ladd, an Anishinaabe artist from Saugeen First Nation, Judy Ross Mack, an Urban Indigenous artist of Swampy Cree heritage from Weenusk First Nation and Cheyenne Ricard, a Haudenosaunee artist of Mohawk and Tuscarora descent. The murals, under the theme "Honouring These Lands and Waterways," will reflect the rich cultural heritage, resilience, and diverse voices of Indigenous peoples.
The purpose of an exhibit by Indigenous artists at YKF is to offer an opportunity to learn about and honour the culture, history, and traditions of the lands on which the airport is situated. YKF is a point of entry for many visitors to, and residents of, the Region – art is one way to share the stories of the First Nations of this area and surrounding lands and waterways. This initiative is one part of an ongoing process of relationship-building and mutual understanding. Learn more.
Field of Winds, 2003
Artist: Linda Covit
Material: Stainless steel, brass, aluminum with silk screened elements
Location: Outside entrance to Region of Waterloo International Airport, Breslau, public space
Nine mobiles each have two branches of brass leaves atop a stainless steel pole. The poles ascend in height from 10 to 14 feet, creating upward movement across the sky. The branches are constructed to move in the breeze. Aluminum light posts line the walkway to the terminal building. Each supports a plaque with silk-screened text or images depicting an event from the rich history of the airport. One reads: "Mary Weber, 20 years old, learned to fly at Lexington Field and became the fifth woman in Canada to receive a pilot's licence."
Learn more about Linda Covit
Crossing with the Light, 2019; Pedestrians Crossing #1, 2015; Otherwise Occupied, 2019
Titles from Left to Right
Artist: Sherry Czekus
Material: Oil on canvas
Location: YKF Departure Lounge, restricted area, valid boarding pass required
Czekus’ paintings put the viewer in the middle of bustling, energized streets filled with people in transit. The paintings evoke memories of travel with their sense of movement, overlapping patterns, and snippets of walking figures.
From the artist: "Making my paintings begins with becoming one of the crowd as part of the everyday experience. On busy city sidewalks with my camera, I make my source images of the urban crowd and its figurative gestures, intersections, and spaces between its members."
Learn more about Sherry Czekus
Memory and the Temporal Exchange, 2017
Artist: James Nye and Amber Pacheco
Material: Acrylic on canvas, briefcase hardware
Location: YKF Domestic Arrivals Building, public space
This sculptural painting folds up to form a piece of luggage, and is fittingly installed above a baggage carousel. Memory and the Temporal Exchange is a token of the memories and experiences we carry with us on our personal journey. The artists seek to evoke the temporal aspect of human existence and the fleeting nature of experience. Through the representational collage of images, the artists pay homage to the process of creation. The artwork serves as a window into the artists' process and experience, while the deconstruction and portability of the painting instill a narrative of false privacy. Our baggage, whether emotional or physical, becomes the bridge of experience between states of being.
Learn more about James Nye
Learn more about Amber Pacheco
The Wall of Nightmares and Dreams, 2010
Artist: Ernest Daetwyler
Material: Plastic toys, painted plywood, hardware
Location: YKF Departure Lounge, restricted area, valid boarding pass required
The Wall of Nightmares and Dreams is a sculptural work created with colourful plastic toys collected in Waterloo Region. The piece is inspired by the experience of childhood, from the playful perspectives of both child and parent. The abundance of toys inspire stories and memories, becoming a mirror of our society in this moment of time. The installation offers a bird’s-eye view of a toy microcosm of sorts, similar to the unique vantage point of a traveller peering down on earth from their airplane window.
Learn more about Ernest Daetwyler
To learn more about public art and keep up to date with upcoming artists visit the Public Art Program page.
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