As a Toronto pet photographer, I spend most of my days chasing the perfect expression from the dogs and cats I photograph. When I heard that Old Town Toronto had placed 54 hand-painted beaver sculptures across the neighbourhood for The Great Beaver Quest, I couldn’t resist a new kind of animal photography challenge – one where, for once, none of my subjects moved, blinked, or were distracted by the occasional squirrel that crossed their path.

So, over the past few weeks, I tracked down and photographed all 54 beavers. From Algeria to Uzbekistan, plus 4 ‘bonus’ beavers, the gang’s all here!

Note: The Quest itself runs until August 16, 2026, so if you are reading this before the, there’s still time to go hunt beavers in person.

What Is The Great Beaver Quest?

The Great Beaver Quest is a scavenger hunt running from May 25 to August 16, 2026, in which players find 4-foot beaver statues around Old Town Toronto and complete challenges in the Scavify app for a chance to win gift cards from local businesses. The beavers represent each of the nations competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup and are hand-painted by a different local artist. In addition, there are 4 bonus beavers named Infinite Welcome, Maple Leaf Forever, Old Town Toronto, and Welcome World. The event is run by the Old Town Toronto BIA (Business Improvement Area).

It’s a genuinely lovely collection of public art: a mix of Canadiana, global culture, and soccer fandom, painted onto the body of the most Canadian animal there is.

Why a Pet Photographer Went Chasing Beaver Statues

While every artist has work they create for clients, personal projects are a source of great fun and inspiration.

The Great Beaver Quest turned out to be perfect. It allowed me to photograph these different personalities in all kinds of different light, all the while exploring the city I call home. I had a blast diving into alleys and secret gardens to follow clues and be greeted by a beautifully-painted, friendly beaver.

The Full Collage: All 54 Beavers at a Glance

Here is the  full set together:

54 beavers.

54 locations.

1 very happy pet photographer.

Tips to Photographing 54 Beavers

1. Shoot early or late in the day. The midday sun can create harsh shadows. But know that some of the beavers will photograph better at different times of the day, mostly because the buildings can throw them into nice shade.
2. Avoid background clutter. You cannot move the beavers, but you can move yourself. Old Town Toronto is busy. So move to the left or right to see if the composition is better. Also, photographing early in the morning means fewer people around.
3. Get low. Try to have the beaver stand out from the background. Guess what? This is the same trick I use to get a dog to look heroic.
4. Photograph more than just the beaver. Try photographing the location. Or, a close-up. Whatever you choose, try to do it consistently for all 54.
5. Make a plan. With 54 separate sculptures to track down, a rough route will save your feet from lots of backtracking.

Need help tracking down a beaver?

Leave a comment below and I will see what I can do to help. I have noticed that they move around slightly, but the clues are always updated.