Since its completion in 1918, the Prince Edward Viaduct has been one of Toronto's most crucial and iconic pieces of infrastructure. Linking together the city's centre with its east side, the bridge played an important role in building modern Toronto, eventually—with a design that proved to have great foresighthousing the Bloor-Danforth subway in its lower deck. Prominently depicted in popular culture (most notably in Michael Ondaatje's In The Skin of a Lion), the bridge came to be a prominent symbol for the city, though one that came to be plagued by a history of suicides. As with many iconic bridges, the Prince Edward Viaduct's popularity as a suicide spot proved dark blemish upon a symbol of civic pride. In the late 90s, the City sought to prevent suicides by commissioning architect Derek Revington's Luminous Veil, a barrier (completed in 2003) that not only saves lives but also serves as a prominent piece of public art.

This weekend, in honour of the upcoming Pan Am Games, the Luminous Veil was lit up for the first time by an impressive installation of LED lights. UrbanToronto was on hand to witness and photograph the evolution of a Toronto icon, as the Luminous Veil welcomed the Games—and the torch relay—with a colourful light display.

The Luminous Veil in the Toronto night, image by Marcus Mitanis

As the Pan Am torch passed the Bloor Viaduct and made its way into the heart of the city, 35,000 LED lights awakened in the summer night, splashing a dose of colour into the darkness that, for drivers on the DVP below, must have danced across the night sky almost like some electric aurora borealis.

The Bloor Viaduct ahead of the torch relay, with booths and rides visible, image by Marcus Mitanis

Earlier in the day (above), UrbanToronto joined afternoon crowds of onlookers on the Bloor Viaduct to cheer on the Pan Am torch relay ahead of the lighting ceremony. Adding to the fun, a temporary carnival of food stands and rides entertained the awaiting public, which included a large number of young families with excited kids.

Citytv's Tracy Moore carries the torch, image by Marcus Mitanis

At 7 PM, the torch relay reached the bridge and Mayor John Tory officially welcomed the Pan-American flame to the City of Toronto, adding the newly illuminated Veil to the extensive infrastructural improvements facilitated by the Games. 

John Tory welcomes the torch to Toronto, image by Marcus Mitanis

While the city has seen significant benefits from some of the infrastructure projects made possible at least in part by the Pan Am Games, Torontonians have yet to fully embrace the hoped-for "Panamania," with much of the evening's excitement coming after the torch relay, as the Luminous Veil lit up the bridge for the first time.

Bathing in a sea of colour, image by Marcus Mitanis

After dark, the Luminous Veil's new lights finally graced the Toronto night at 10 PM, changing colours throughout the evening to reflect the flags of the Pan Am Games' participating nations.

The lights change, image by Marcus Mitanis

As the lights changed, spectators on the bridge were bathed in the Luminous Veil's soft, almost impressionistic glow. In the warm evening, passerby stopped to take pictures of the city below and beyond through the Luminous Veil's steel rods, seeing everything in a new light.

Another change of colour, image by Marcus Mitanis

Following the Pan Am Games, the Luminous Veil will change colours to reflect the seasons, as well as the day's temperature and wind conditions, serving as a visual representation of the natural conditions around it, and indeed as a blank canvas painted by nature itself. 

Deep purple, image by Marcus Mitanis

Long after the Pan Am Games fade into memory, the lights will remain as part of their legacy. A legacy that, rare amongst big sporting events, is set to leave behind a better and more vibrant city. The Pan Am Games may not have the prestige nor have yet quite generated the excitement of the Olympics, but they may well prove to have fostered the fiscally responsible urbanism and good city-building that some Olympic Games have sorely lacked.

We now leave you with a video of the event, by which to remember Toronto's Luminous Night: