As a resident of what's generally referred to as the GTA, Toronto has always had an air of mystery about it for me. Going downtown when I was a kid was considered a rare and exciting event, and even now, when I venture into 416 territory regularly, the city still feels strangely foreign and full of secrets.

Shawn Micallef, James Roussel and Gabe Sawhney launched a project called [murmur] last summer to uncover some of the hidden stories of Toronto and help both citizens and tourists connect to the city. The project works like this: you look for a [murmur] sign, dial the phone number and accompanying code on your cell phone (or a nearby pay phone) and listen to someone tell a story about something that happened in the spot you are standing. Micallef, a freelance writer, says they chose to launch [murmur] in the Kensington community because it is a place that still has remnants of immigrants who came to Toronto in the past'”from Jewish to Portuguese to Caribbean.

'œKensington is a very contained neighborhood, but it has lots of layers,'? says Micallef. 'œIt's like a microcosm of Toronto and Canada at large.'?

Micallef, Roussel and Sawhney met two years ago at the Habitat New Media Lab in Toronto and came together out of their love for the city. The three were in the process of thinking up a new media prototype when they got the idea for [murmur]. They received funding from a Toronto Arts Council grant and began by putting up posters and sending e-mails to advertise the new project. Both Micallef and Sawhney say they were surprised at how difficult it was to get Torontonians to tell their stories.

'œPeople are often reluctant to contribute because they think their stories aren't interesting enough,'? writes Sawhney via e-mail. 'œBut more often than not, they're great.'?

When I first read about [murmur], I decided to venture down to Kensington Avenue to see what it was all about. Arriving at dusk, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to spot the signs among the overabundance of posters and ads. Fortunately, my fears were unfounded and I came across the first sign in front of a store called Marmalade. It felt very movie-scenario-esque as I dialed the number and was instructed to walk down the alley in front of me, which led to a tiny street lined with multi-coloured houses and bikes of all sizes piled along the edge of each residence. As I listened to the history of the neighbourhood, I wondered what it must be like to live there.

Tape-recorded history is not a learning tool that many people find compelling. Micallef recalls a trip to Malta where he was fed straight historical facts by the voice of a boring tour guide. The difference between that and [murmur], he explains, is that the he, Roussel and Sawhney didn't want it to be all about facts.

'œ[murmur] is everyone's stories and the personal connection makes it unique,'? says Micallef. 'œAfter listening to a story you won't walk by a place the same way again.'?

Along with Toronto, [murmur] signs can be found in Vancouver and Montreal, and the project expanded into Toronto's Annex neighbourhood on August 19. Micallef says he would also like to see [murmur] signs in the not-so-well-known places in the city, or what he calls 'œthe places in between'?, citing the Dovercourt and Bloor area as an example.

After listening to five [murmur] recordings (and kicking myself for not bringing the map to find more), I headed back to the GTA satisfied and feeling a little more 'œin'? with Toronto. My favourite story of the night was one of a girl who goes to the Saigon Pearl restaurant at the corner of Kensington and Dundas to break the news to her friends that she will be going to school in Ottawa. Coincidentally, I found myself in a similar situation last summer. Sawhney and Micallef both say the Rochdale College stories are among their favourites, but point out they are all wonderful.

'œThese stories are totally compelling and give people a new perspective of the city,'? says Micallef. 'œThey help us know who we are.'?

For more info on the [murmur] project, go to www.murmurtoronto.ca