From September 15 to October 4, 2026, Paul Ramírez Jonas’ Public Trust asked participants to examine the value of their word. The promises made by the public were published on a large-scale marquee board, alongside promises made by politicians, scientists, economists, companies, and weather forecasters, drawn daily from the headlines.
Public Trust offered a welcoming, non-partisan space for contemplation, conversation, and renewed optimism at a time marked by declining civic participation, eroding public trust, and growing political polarization.
A decade after its premiere, Public Trust made its Canadian debut in Toronto, remaining as timely and relevant as ever. As our city approached its municipal election, the work invited reflection on civic participation and the promise of the democratic process itself—the idea that we are not only inhabitants of our city, but also authors of its future.
Torontonians and visitors of all ages were invited to make promises to themselves, to one another, and to the city they share.
Artist: Paul Ramírez Jonas
Filmed and edited by: Andrew Williamson
Music by Podington Bear, licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.
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All photos are my own, and copyright Andrew Williamson Photography (unless otherwise stated)
Thank you for reading (and watching) No AI tools were used in the creation of this post. Any grammatical or spelling errors are the result of my career as a professional photographer and filmmaker and not being a writer. ✌️
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