World Cup scavenger hunt brings 51 beaver statues to Old Town Toronto

Fifty-one hand-painted beaver statues have taken over Old Town Toronto's streets as part of an artistic scavenger hunt running through the World Cup.

Four-foot-tall rodents with grins and soccer balls clutched under their right paws now lurk under trees, peer through office tower windows, and stand guard near busy intersections across the neighborhood near St. Lawrence Market and the Hockey Hall of Fame. Forty-eight of them represent the countries competing in the tournament. Two others welcome the world, and one celebrates the vibrant neighborhood.

No two beavers look the same. One wears the Brazilian flag. Another is painted with a view of the Toronto skyline. Yet another sports classic red-and-black Canadian plaid. Each was hand-painted by artists with roots or other connections to those participating countries.

Ceramic artist Chloe Begg, who holds Swiss citizenship, was inspired by a handmade map of Switzerland from the 1800s. "I wanted to lean on that idea of this culture of exactitude and precision that the Swiss are known for," she said. Tetyana Bibik, who painted the Ecuador beaver, drew on the country's language and diverse culture, incorporating the national flower, references to the Galapagos and Andes, and Indigenous symbols.

Each statue has a QR code linking to a scavenger hunt sign-up. Participants can earn points by completing challenges and win gift cards to local businesses. The quest runs until August 16, with weekly winners announced every Monday. It's a clever way to welcome thousands of World Cup tourists while inviting locals to explore the east end.