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Welcome | Latest News 2007 | 2006 News | A Little Retrospective | Library of Stories
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Welcome to Arts in the Park
Note: this page is only an Archive, a museum piece, showing what went on a while back
News 2018
Polish Heritage Day, Saturday Sept.8 from 2 pm until 6 pm
- music and folk dancing from Poland, Hungary and beyond - Polky Village Band - Csango Unchained - Eastern European Jam session. Sponsored by the Polish Consulate in Toronto -- organizer: Ewelina Ferenc
Dufferin Grove Park is host to many events.
Below you'll find retrospectives of other years. The postings are not complete, but they make an interesting archive.
News 2014
Craft Sale Dufferin Park 2014
Click here for full size poster
December 14th : 11-3pm Christmas Craft Sale at the Rink
- Warm drinks and snacks
- Campfire
- Music
- Storytelling
- Handmade crafts by local artists made affordable
From the October 2014 Newsletter:
Saturday October 25 2014: Clay and Paper Theatre presents the 15th annual Night of Dread, which gathers participants together to wander the streets of Toronto in the spirit of banishing fears. 4pm - Participants begin assembling in Dufferin Grove Park. 6pm - Parade begins 7:30pm - Parade returns to DGP for pageantry and celebration.
Clay & Paper Theatre has many costumes and puppets available for the public to wear in the parade. Come early to the Dufferin Grove Park Rink clubhouse to avoid disappointment!
Dress Code: “Black & White & Dreadful”
Admission: Pay-What-You-Can/ $10 suggested
From the organizers: This year's Big Fear of the Year is The Fear of Them and Us.
What will happen when Them and Us come face to face? Clay & Paper Theatre master puppet builders and mask makers will be joined by many volunteers to make 120 life-sized masks and two giant masks come to life for this year’s raucous celebration. All are welcome to help us build imagery, masks, puppets and shrines for the event. Free! No experience necessary.
Making: We need many hands and many volunteers to make this year’s Night of Dread the most dreadful yet! Drop by or contact us for other ways to get involved!
September 25 - October 19 @ The Clay & Paper Theatre studio, 35 Strachan Ave. (@ Ordnance St.) Thursdays & Saturdays 1 - 8pm, Sundays 1 to 6
October 20 - 24 @ Dufferin Grove Park in the Rink House: Monday - Thursday 1 - 8pm, Friday 10am - 6pm
For more information: clayandpaper@sympatico.ca · 416.708.3332
From the August 2014 Newsletter:
Clay and Paper Theatre: Twenty Years in Dufferin Grove Park
In 1994, the Dufferin Grove Park had a little problem. The south side of the field house, out of the sight lines of St.Mary’s High School, had become an unofficial “marijuana club.” And those fellows who gathered there daily were not the dreamy kind of weed smokers. When they got high, they got energetic. The park’s main drinking fountain, used by teams who were playing field sports, was located where the “club” met. The fountain was vandalized and pushed over so many times that finally the Parks maintenance staff just put a danger fence around it and left it lying on the ground.
That year, David Anderson of Clay and Paper Theatre was looking for a garage where he could store some of the theatre’s papier-mache puppets.
Some park friends asked him if he might be interested in moving the puppets, and his puppet-making materials, into the unused park field house instead. The idea was that if Clay and Paper used the field house not only for storage but also as a workshop, there would be “eyes on the park” – and on the marijuana club. Park friends proposed the idea to the Parks and Recreation director. He thought it was worth trying. David moved his puppets in, and he started building new puppets with his group. The field house soon became a draw for people to drop by and watch what the theatre people were making.
That wholesome scene seemed to make the marijuana club guys feel they were suddenly in the wrong movie. They soon stopped coming there. The drinking fountain was relocated and repaired, so the players on the sports field could once again quench their thirst.
That’s how easily a problem could be fixed in pre-amalgamation days, before the city administration was so big. And the fix didn’t stop there. Clay and Paper began to add spectacle to the park, bringing much more in return for their puppet-making space than had been asked. Over the last twenty years they’ve presented original plays, a new one almost every year. There was a year when fire (as in bake-ovens) was the theme, another year it was finance (and Wal-Mart), another year it was the Portuguese hero and poet Camoes. Up to now there have been 19 original plays, drawing in actors and musicians and visual artists. The troupe is mostly student artists, many of them hired through the Canada Summer Jobs program. (The program relies on the federal MP’s support and is often announced at the last possible moment – a cliff-hanger for Clay and Paper’s rehearsal schedule.)
David says there have been unexpected adventures over the past 20 years. One year there happened to be political demonstrations downtown in front of the U.S. Consulate. Back at the park, when the giant puppets came out for the park’s annual Clay and Paper production, the police showed up – on horseback and with backups. It took a little while for the troupe to convince them that this was a play, not an outlier anarchist demonstration bound for the consulate. And there was another year when a robbery scene in Clay and Paper’s play about finance (called “Gold”) seemed so real to a passerby in the park that he called 911. The Fourteen Division gang squad came out very fast (and sized up the situation and left).
Of course, Clay and Paper hasn’t only been doing performances, they also put on the yearly “Night of Dread” community parade, always on the Saturday before Hallowe’en. Some years there have been a thousand people taking part. David Anderson recalls that one year, when he set off with the band and the police escort, and the parade started to leave the park, a stranger marched up to the other end of the crowd, held up a banner, and summoned people to follow him. So the parade started off in two opposite directions. Anderson had to stop the parade, remove the “parade thief,” and get the parade going back the right way.
This year an unexpected, rather painful “adventure” has caused the summer play’s opening to be postponed by a week. A cast member smashed her knee cap in a bike accident three days before the original opening date, and another cast member was sidelined with pneumonia. So the play had to be quickly rejigged for the new circumstaces, and new rehearsals were needed. The opening date is Saturday August 2.
August 2 to August 17th, 2014: CLAY & PAPER THEATRE presents Animal Nature: Wednesday through Sunday @ 8:00pm. Director David Anderson sends this quote from writer Farley Mowat: “…our failure [is] to understand, to recognize, to celebrate our non-humanity, our animality… if we could overcome this failure and come to terms with our animalilty, there may be some hope.”
The new show is inspired by Mowat’s quote. Here is the company description: “Clay & Paper Theatre’s 2014 summer show is an epic papier-mâché tale of the search for the way home. Animal Nature is filled with a decidedly Canadian mélange of creature characters and giant puppets on a fateful journey through Dufferin Grove Park. Owl, Caribou, Possum, Grizzly, Orca and Humanimal have been displaced from their homes and must address the deceptively simple question “How did we get here?” Provocative puppetry at its best, Animal Nature is brimming with original design, music, dance, and signature Clay & Paper Theatre satire and wit gone awry. With its cast of puppet tricksters and merrymakers, Animal Nature rallies audiences to embrace their inner animals, to revel in the beauty of the earth and to find the way home together.”
From the July 2014 Newsletter:
July 23rd to August 17th, 2014: CLAY & PAPER THEATRE presents Animal Nature: Wednesday through Sunday @ 8:00pm, Previews July 16th to 20th. Director David Anderson sends this quote from writer Farley Mowat: “…our failure [is] to understand, to recognize, to celebrate our non-humanity, our animality… if we could overcome this failure and come to terms with our animalilty, there may be some hope.”
The new show is inspired by Mowat’s quote. Here is the company description: “Clay & Paper Theatre’s 2014 summer show is an epic papier-mâché tale of the search for the way home. Animal Nature is filled with a decidedly Canadian mélange of creature characters and giant puppets on a fateful journey through Dufferin Grove Park. Owl, Caribou, Possum, Grizzly, Orca and Humanimal have been displaced from their homes and must address the deceptively simple question “How did we get here?” Provocative puppetry at its best, Animal Nature is brimming with original design, music, dance, and signature Clay & Paper Theatre satire and wit gone awry. With its cast of puppet tricksters and merrymakers, Animal Nature rallies audiences to embrace their inner animals, to revel in the beauty of the earth and to find the way home together.” For more information: facebook/clay and paper
Day of Delight - June 22nd by Clay and Paper Theatere 2014
This Sunday, June 22nd from 2 to 5pm, in Dufferin Grove Park, Day of Delight. For more event info: Facebook Event Page
MusiCamp 2014
A full day (9am-4pm) camp for 8-14 year olds. MuisCamp is a creative summer day camp experience that explores music making in a positive environment, filled with activities that build your child's musical skills (and host of other intellectual and social skills associated with music making) in an intuitive and fun way.
July 7 - 11 - The BLUES: from shouts to 12 bars $225
July 14 - 18 - ROOTS MUSIC (guest artist Rosalyn Dennett!) - NEW in 2014! $275
July 21 - 15 - COMPOSITION & SONG $225
July 28 - Aug 1 - WEST AFRICAN DRUMMING (guest artist AnnA Melnikof and her orchestra of drums!!) $275
Aug 18 - 22 - WEST AFRICAN DRUMMING (guest artist - same as above) $275
Class sizes are small.
No formal training is required. No instrument required – just a love of music.
Our intuitive approach to exploring sound, music, composition, the voice, and the weekly themes also functions as a great supplement to conventional music lessons.
We also integrate crafts (instrument and mask making), backyard games, Pizza-making Wednesdays in Dufferin Grove park and many other park possibilities.
Email me (Andrea Kuzmich) MusiCampTO@gmail.com, phone 647-836-4852 or visit MusicCampTo
Arts 2014 |
Arts 2013 |
Arts 2012 |
Arts 2011 |
Arts 2010 -The Eric Dolphy Memorial BBQ |
Arts 2009 -Eroca’s dance class |
Arts 2008 - HORSE FEATHERS |
Arts 2007 -Winter Craft Fair. |
Arts 2006 -Beach Blanket Bingo. |
Arts 2005 -Puppets On Ice. |
Arts 2004 -Arts and Crafts Festival. |
Arts 2003 -The Sylliad. |
Arts 2002 -Day of De Light. |
Arts 2001 -The annual Morris Dancers. |
Arts 2000 -Theatre and dance in the park. |
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News 2007
- January events
- March And April
- May events
- June events
- July events
- August
- September events
- October events
- December
January events
from the January 2007 Newsletter:
posted December 30, 2006
Local Theatre “And what ALICE found there”
January 23 to February 4, The Great Hall Downstairs Theatre (Queen & Dovercourt), 8 pm (Sunday matinee at 2.30pm)
Many of the park on-site staff are at the park part-time, and do other things the rest of the time. They dance, or do research, or do union work, or grow food. And some of them do theatre. “And what Alice found there” is a new play about Alice in Wonderland, involving singing, dancing, video art, and puppetry. The park staff who are part of this Stranger Theatre Company (website) performance are: Lea Ambros, Sarah Cormier, and Christina Serra. Some tickets are available at the zamboni snack bar.
Ted Carlisle
posted December 30, 2006
DJ on ice, with DJ Ted Carlisle
Sunday January 7, 2 - 4.30 pm
Park staff Ted is also a DJ, with a wonderful collection of music to please all ages. There will be some mats on the ice near the DJ, for little non-skaters who want to dance too (with Eroca Nicols, park dance teacher). But the most fun is on skates.
We stole this idea from Harbourfront Rink, where they have a DJ on most Friday evenings – and that’s another wonderful place to skate.
posted December 30, 2006
A Medieval Celebration: Twelfth Night, Friday January 5th, 5:45pm
It'll be a good night: Twelfth night, Friday Night Supper, Fire Circle, Skating, Friends and Family...
From David Anderson:
The whole event will be about a half an hour just before Friday night dinner. It will begin with a procession from the Rink House to the fire circle to gather the crowd. Then the performance of The Return of the Green Man, perhaps accompanied by some spectacular fire breathing.. This will be followed by the celebratory pouring of the cider on the ceremonial festooned (apple?) tree. A dance around the tree will then lead us back to the Rink House for supper.
(There will be some lamb's wool, an apple cidery drink.)
David Anderson
Artistic Director
Clay and Paper Theatre
163 Concord Ave.
Toronto, Ontario
M6H 2P2
Email: claypaper@sympatico.ca
Website: www.clayandpapertheatre.org
posted December 30, 2006
A Medieval Celebration: Twelfth Night
Friday January 5, at 5.45pm
Twelfth Night is orthodox Christmas Eve all over the world, but it’s also an old festival of foolishness and fun which began in the fifth century. At Dufferin Grove Park this year it will involve a Lord of Misrule, a King and Queen of the Bean, a wassail song around an apple tree near the park fire circle (or a newly-planted tree decorated with apples), twelve small straw fires, a mummers’ play, and a campfire pot of hot cider with cooked apples and cream floating in it (“sheep’s wool”). The idea is to celebrate the gradual returning of the light and the earth’s fertility.
David Anderson’s Clay and Paper Theatre will present THE RETURN OF THE GREEN MAN, as the mummer’s play, with giant puppets. There’s a call for more volunteer mummers. David writes: “The show can be performed with as few as 8 actors, but benefits tremendously from having as many as 20 (or more!) performers. We need you. Please call 416 537-9105 or talk to the park staff. Volunteer now! There will be ONE rehearsal only, the night before in the gymnasium of the Wallace Emerson Community Centre. We have the rehearsal space booked for 2 short hours, from 8:30pm to 10:30 pm on Thursday January 4th.”
Contact:
David Anderson
Artistic Director
Clay and Paper Theatre
163 Concord Ave.
Toronto, Ontario
M6H 2P2
Email: claypaper@sympatico.ca
Website: www.clayandpapertheatre.org
March And April
Tuesday April 3, 11 am (first class): Baby Song and Bounce for Caregiver and Babies 0 to eighteen months
From Christina Serra:
“Each class includes the exploration of instruments, movement and song. Baby Song and Bounce encourages the development of verbal and motor skills, body awareness and also provides the opportunity to learn new songs and games, for you and your little one to enjoy.” In the rink house, class runs for ten weeks.
See the Flyer for more information.
These music classes are part of the programming provided by Dufferin Grove Park. Both classes are given by park staff member, Christina Serra. Christina is a licenced Kindermusik teacher and professional actor. She’s been teaching children’s classes all over Toronto for the past 5 years. She also teaches drama classes at the Lorainne Kimsa Theatre for Young People and is a member of Stranger Theatre (and a performer in this coming summer’s “Cooking Fire Theatre Festival”). Each class is 45 minutes long and will run for 10 weeks, at the rink house. Suggested donation: $80. If you have trouble with that amount, talk to Dufferin Grove staff. More information: 416 392-0913 or e-mail kindermusik@dufferinpark.ca.
posted April 03, 2007
Clay and Paper Theatre Newsletter
From David Anderson:
Hello everybody,
We just published our 2nd newsletter of this year! If you want to see what's up with Clay and Paper right now please subscribe to our newsletter by clicking on this link:
www.mymailout.com/Groupie/Subscribe.aspx?m=3562
all the best,
David Anderson
Artistic Director
Clay and Paper Theatre
163 Concord Ave.
Toronto, Ontario
M6H 2P2Email: claypaper@sympatico.ca
Website: www.clayandpapertheatre.org
May events
from the May 2007 Newsletter:
SUMMER ART ACTIVITIES AT DUFFERIN GROVE
As usual, there are some art activities for kids offered at Dufferin Grove Park, run in partnership with local artists. To register now, here’s a preview:
Summer Theatre in the Park, with Kate Cayley,
Thursdays from July 12 to Aug. 30:
Drama classes will be held outdoors (weather permitting) every Thursday until the end of the summer. The children will make small plays, learn new stories, write poems and scenes, and play in a friendly, inspiring and enjoyable way. A younger group will focus on creative play, improvisation and storytelling, while an older group will experiment with making scenes, devising plots and writing original stories from poems and bits of history. Both classes will integrate movement, traditional storytelling, improvisation, silly games, writing and exploring the world of the park. Kate Cayley, who will lead the classes, has four years experience teaching drama and creative writing to children, as well as working professionally as a theatre director and writer, and as artistic director of Dufferin Grove Park’s Cooking Fire Theatre Festival.
Ages 6-9 every Thursday 2:00-3:00, and ages 10-13 every Thursday 3:00-4:00.
Cost is $85 suggested donation per child for 8 classes (sliding scale available, particularly for families wishing to register more than one child.) Space is limited! For more information or to register please email Kate: katecayley@gmail.com or call 416-538-6084 (e-mail preferred.)
Kids’ Paper Mache Camp, ages 8 – 12, with artist Erin Robertson
July 16 – 20. 9a.m. to 5 p.m.
This is an all-day camp, costing $150.00 for the week. (There will be room for one bursary where a kid can join for free.) This amount also covers all art materials and one snack a day provided. Contact Lyla at: lylarye@sympatico.ca. 416 536 6381.
Spend 5 days in the park developing your own papier-mâché sculpture on the theme of: Wild in the City. You will learn how to make a wire armature and cover it with papier-mâché. You then get to paint and collage on it. On Friday, the whole group will display their artwork in a large diorama. Each morning and afternoon a couple of hours will be spent on art and during breaks you’ll go to the wading pool, playground or the pizza oven.
Theme: Wild in the City
|
Daily Schedule:
|
Erin Robertson: Erin is a graduate of the Ontario College of Art, and Guelph University, studied at Atelier Gilbert Diabold, Paris, France, York University with incorporated Independent study in Tanzania E.A. Erin has been an instructor at the Ottawa school of Art since 1994 where she teaches all age groups including diploma drawing, portraiture, sculpture and painting. She has facilitated several workshops for Ottawa Carleton School Board, the Ottawa School of Dance, and the Museum of Civilization. |
See the brochure.
Kids’ Art Camp in the park with Jeannie Soley and Gillian Tremain.
July 17 - 20 (from 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. each day for four days)
Shibori for Girls : The art of Japanese tie-dye. This 4-day workshop is aimed primarily at girls, as the main project will be a wrap-around summer skirt, using a traditional tie-dye technique known as shibori. Nimble fingers are a definite requirement, as well as good concentration; the initial part of the project involves tying many tiny knots! The girls will also have the opportunity to try various ways of embellishing their skirts even further : embroidery threads, beads and over-painting techniques. There will be a secondary activity interspersed with the main project, as a way to give the kids time to absorb what they've learned. There will be room for one bursary.
From Gillian: This camp will suit girls ages 9 and up. We'll take a maximum of 10 kids. Cost yet to be determined. To register, please email Gillian at gillyt@ca.inter.net or Jeannie at fjsoley@hotmail.com or call 416-532-0773.
June events
from the June 2007 Newsletter:
PARK EVENTS IN JUNE
Special Friday Night Supper "Fundraising Friday Night Supper for local theater group "Ahuri Theater"
Tonight Friday June 29th: 6-7:30:
It will be a culture shock at this Friday's supper! Ahuri Theatre, a local theatre group, has invited actors from Japan and Sweden to perform in Toronto and prepare traditional meals from their countries. Travel the culinary world in the comfort of Dufferin Grove Park!
The Menu:
Soup: Fresh Tomatoe Basil Soup served cold Meat Dish: Swedish Delight (Swedish Meat Balls, Potatoes and green salad) Vegan: Japanese Feast (Japanese Maki, green sesame salad and japanese style pickles) Desert: Grilled Country Apples
A little bit of backgroud -
Ahuri Theatre was formed out of the initiative of local theatre artists to connect and explore theatrical traditions with cultures from around the world. With four different languages represented, Ahuri Theatre has created their first full length production entitled Yabu No Naka: Distruthted which played to rave reviews in Montreal. Toronto audiences will have the opportunity to catch this production at the Toronto Fringe Festival from July 5-15. What started locally has now expanded internationally, and Ahuri Theatre has been invited to perform in Japan in April 2008.
Yabu No Naka:Distruthted Presented at the Toronto Fringe Festival Venue #26, Polish Combatants Association Garage 206 Beverley st. Tickets : 10$
Schedule : July 5-15th - Every day - 9 pm
AND... Don't miss our physical theatre workshops in Toronto:
Fresh Air Fair "Journeys into Climate Change"
Sunday June 3, 11am to 3pm:
This event is a regional fair booked into Dufferin Grove Park by Parks supervisor Peter Leiss, through the City of Toronto Permits section. From organizer Melissa Greiner of Clean Air Partnership:
For the past two years, the Fresh Air Fair focused on environmentally friendly products and organizations. This year, we are adding a focus: climate change. All Non- governmental Organizations, retail, and sponsor booths will showcase information, products, and/or services related to climate change.
Each booth will utilize signage to illustrate the link between their work and the climate change. Retailers will be onsite to allow participants to turn their increased awareness into action through the purchase of energy conservation products.
We will create a journey through different aspects of climate change by using a "footprints" path to guide the audience through the event grounds. To help give the "journey" a realistic feel, each visitor will receive a passport to travel with from booth to booth. Participants will collect stamps and sign their names to a pledge. The booths will draw attention to the connections between our everyday actions, climate change, and on-going air quality issues. Appearing on the City’s Showmobile:
- Earth Rangers: How climate change is effecting the earth and its animals. Meet and greet animals – tangible realities of climate change. (two 22-minute shows)
- Clean Air Foundation: Interactive computer display/car heaven/Electric Car/hybrid boat. - Toronto Public Health: 20/20 program/how to lower your home and car energy use by 20%.
- Sierra Club Toronto Group: Sierra Club’s Climate Change work.
- Environment Canada: How to lower energy use
- Zero Footprint: Computer that computes wasted energy.
- Green Tourism: Traveling by train? Contest.
- Enbridge: Saving Energy within your home.
- Red Spirit Drummers: “Taking care of the earth” drumming and dancing.
- Ontario Science Centre: Scientific experiments on climate change.
The Fresh Air Fair engages children, youth, and families through displays, exhibits and live entertainment and “how to” information and an opportunity to purchase relevant products. LEAF: tree tour and perennials for sale. Community Bicycle Network, Autoshare.
New Content: Specific new aspects of this year’s fair include – New green venue (Dufferin Grove Park). Exhibit booths – all booths are required to be interactive and focus on climate change. Merchandise exhibits – consumers will not only learn about but also purchase new energy-efficient products
Sponsors: Toronto Atmospheric Fund/ Enbridge Gas Distribution/ Shell Environmental Fund/ Dufferin retailers/ Laidlaw Foundation.”
See website.
Stilt-walking workshops with Clay and Paper Theatre.
Friday June 1, 7-9 pm and Wed. June 6, 7-9 pm
Location: Meet at the Field House in Dufferin Grove Park.
You’ll be amazed at how quickly you can learn to walk high above the crowd. Price is pay-what-you-can, with a suggested donation of $5. We may relocate to another area of the park - so if you are late and can't find us, call Krista at 416-316-4461.
Natural Health Practitioners in the Grove:
Thursday June 14 from 3:00 till 7:00 pm
From Anne Shaddick:
“Natural Health Practitioners from a variety of modalities will be gathered in the Grove on, to offer the community a sampling of the work that they do. If you have been curious, but have yet to try out some of these approaches, here is your chance to receive the offerings of those in your community trained to give you something you can truly benefit from. Rain date June 21st. We look forward to seeing you!”
BIG LAWN SALE:
Saturday June 16, 10-2 pm
Councillor Adam Giambrone is having his annual summer BBQ and lawn sale. From the Councillor´s office:
Book your free table now to avoid disappointment. There will be displays from the Police, Fire, EMS, Public Health, and fun activities for the whole family. Free hot dogs while supplies last. Come and have a great time in Davenport's outdoor community centre Dufferin Grove Park--For more information contact Councillor_Giambrone@toronto.ca or 416-329-7012.
Environment Day is coming!
Saturday June 16 10 -2 PM Dufferin Mall Parking lot.
Come get your recycling boxes, free compost, and other City of Toronto environment strategies. For more information please contact: Councillor_Giambrone@toronto.ca or 416-329-7012
Cooking Fire Theatre Festival.
Wednesday June 20 to Sunday June 24, 7 to 9.30 pm.
From director Kate Cayley:
For the fourth year in a row, Dufferin Grove Park will host Cooking Fire Theatre Festival. Each night, dinner will be served at 6:00, with pay-what-you-can performances running from 7:00 to 9:30. This year, the festival will show work by Les Trouveres (the marvelous stilt walking hosts of last year’s festival, with friends and pet poodle), The Golgi Apparatus with Bigfoot (featuring park staff Sandy Gribbin, Christina Serra and Dan Watson), The Spee Society with Lear’s Shadow (King Lear as seen by the Fool, in fifteen minutes), Independent Auntie with their new kid’s show Robber’s Daughters, and American puppet company Rain Machine with How to Tie a Knot. For a full schedule, look up www.cookingfire.ca or call 416-538-6084.
A crowd is enraptured with one of the Cooking Fire plays, June 21, 2007
(Thanks to Wallie Seto for the photo)
5th Annual Day of De Light
Saturday June 23, 2-5 pm
A celebration of love, courtship and desire! Day of De Light. Join Clay and Paper Theatre at Dufferin Grove Park for an artful afternoon of theatre, dance, music, and all things de-lightful! Pay-What-You-Can, suggested $10.
DANCING IN THE PARK:
beginning Saturday, June 23
Dufferin Dance is back! Eroca will be teaching dance in the park, beginning Saturday, June 23. The schedule has changed, so be sure to mark your calendars. Also, please note that this year we are encouraging people to pay what they can for classes, with a suggested donation of $5-$8 per class. But as always, money will not prevent anyone from participating. The age groups are:
- Saturdays: Ages 5 and under, 1-1:30pm; Ages 6-8->1:45-2:30pm
- Sundays: Ages 9-12, 1-1:45pm; All Ages Dance & Instrument Jam->2-2:45pm
If anyone has instruments they would like to donate to the program, or any questions about the classes, contact Eroca at staff@dufferinpark.ca.
Also, from Eroca:
We will kick off the summer´s Community Dances featuring DJ Ted Carlisle on Friday, June 29. Be there for Friday Night Supper and stay and shake it up.
SUMMER ART ACTIVITIES AT DUFFERIN GROVE
Summer Theatre in the Park, with Kate Cayley
Thursdays from July 12 to Aug. 30:
Ages 6-9 every Thursday 2:00-3:00, and ages 10-13 every Thursday 3:00-4:00.
Drama classes will be held outdoors (weather permitting) every Thursday until the end of the summer. The children will make small plays, learn new stories, write poems and scenes, and play in a friendly, inspiring and enjoyable way. A younger group will focus on creative play, improvisation and storytelling, while an older group will experiment with making scenes, devising plots and writing original stories from poems and bits of history. Both classes will integrate movement, traditional storytelling, improvisation, silly games, writing and exploring the world of the park. Kate Cayley, who will lead the classes, has four years experience teaching drama and creative writing to children, as well as working professionally as a theatre director and writer, and as artistic director of Dufferin Grove Park’s Cooking Fire Theatre Festival.
Ages 6-9 every Thursday 2:00-3:00, and ages 10-13 every Thursday 3:00-4:00. Cost is $85 suggested donation per child for 8 classes (sliding scale available, particularly for families wishing to register more than one child.) Space is limited! For more information or to register please email Kate: katecayley@gmail.com or call 416-538-6084 (e-mail preferred.)
Kid’s Papier-mâché Camp , ages 8-12, with artist Erin Robertson
July 16 – 20, 9am – 5 pm.
From Lyla Rye:
“Spend 5 days in the park developing your own papier-mâché sculpture on the theme of: Wild in the City. You will learn how to make a wire armature and cover it with papier-mâché. You then get to paint and collage on it. On Friday, the whole group will display their artwork in a large diorama. Each morning and afternoon a couple of hours will be spent on art and during breaks you’ll go to the wading pool, playground or the pizza oven.”
This all-day camp costs $150.00 for the week (there is one bursary where a kid can join for free). This amount covers all materials and one snack a day provided. Contact Lyla at lylarye@sympatico.ca or call her at 416-536-6381.
Kids’ Art Camp in the park with Jeannie Soley and Gillian Tremain.
July 17 - 20 (from 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. each day for four days)
Shibori for Girls : The art of Japanese tie-dye. This 4-day workshop is aimed primarily at girls, as the main project will be a wrap-around summer skirt, using a traditional tie-dye technique known as shibori. Nimble fingers are a definite requirement, as well as good concentration; the initial part of the project involves tying many tiny knots! The girls will also have the opportunity to try various ways of embellishing their skirts even further : embroidery threads, beads and over-painting techniques. There will be a secondary activity interspersed with the main project, as a way to give the kids time to absorb what they've learned. There will be room for one bursary.
From Gillian:
This camp will suit girls ages 9 and up. We'll take a maximum of 10 kids. Cost yet to be determined. To register, please email Gillian at gillyt@ca.inter.net or Jeannie at fjsoley@hotmail.com or call 416-532-0773.
"Ring Around the Moon" Circle Games for the Entire Family.
Thursdays in July (July 5, 12, 19, 26) starting at 6:30 p.m.
Join Theo Heras in a weekly program of traditional circle games. All are welcome.
Theo Heras has spent many years honing her craft of working with and entertaining children. Best-known as the children's librarian at the Lillian H. Smith Branch of the Toronto Public Library, Theo runs a very popular and highly successful baby program there. In 2005 and 2006, Theo performed at the Franklin Children's Garden on Centre Island and is returning there in 2007. Theo is the author/singer of the book/cd called What Will We Do with the Baby-o?
July events
from the July 2007 Newsletter:
SPECIAL EVENTS IN JULY
THEATRE IN THE PARK: Clay and Paper Theatre presents WE NEED HELP. A play about the end of oil.
July 18 to July 22, July 25 to July 29, August 1 to August 6, 7.30 pm, outdoors in the park
From director David Anderson:
“Giant puppets and live jazz animate this outdoor performance about what happens when the road less traveled becomes the highway to hell. A honeymooning couple is stranded in Northern Ontario when the world’s gas tank runs dry.”
Admission: pay what you can, $10 recommended.
GET YOUR CAR WASHED!
When the weather is dry, cars can get extra dusty. They need extra washing, and Dufferin Grove Park is the place to go. There are three fund-raiser car washes at the northwest end of the park this month:
- Sunday July 15 8 am – 4 pm: Portugal soccer club
- Friday July 20, 1- 4 pm: Wallace-Emerson summer camp
- Saturday July 21, 10 am – 4 pm: Toronto Eagles soccer club
Just drive up the dead end across from the mall lights and watch the kids sudse, rinse, and polish your car to make it look like new. Then put some money in their fund. A win-win.
"Ring Around the Moon" traditional circle games
Thursdays July 5, 12, 19, 26 starting at 6:30 p.m.
Four Thursdays of traditional circle games with children’s librarian Theo Heras: Circle Games for the entire family -- all are welcome. Theo Heras is the children's librarian at the Lillian H. Smith Branch of the Toronto Public Library, where she runs a very popular baby program. She also performs at the Franklin Children's Garden on Centre Island. Theo is the author/singer of the book/CD called “What Will We Do with the Baby-o?”
STILL A FEW SPACES IN ARTS PROGRAMS
FOR THOSE BORED OLDER KIDS
Thursday drama classes
July 12 to August 30.
Ages 6-9 every Thursday 2:00-3:00, and ages 10-13 every Thursday 3:00-4:00.
Drama classes, held outdoors (weather permitting). The children make small plays, learn new stories, write poems and scenes, and play in a friendly, inspiring and enjoyable way. A younger group focuses on creative play, improvisation and storytelling, while an older group experiments with making scenes, devising plots and writing original stories from poems and bits of history. Both classes integrate movement, traditional storytelling, improvisation, silly games, writing and exploring the world of the park. Kate Cayley, who leads the classes, has four years experience teaching drama and creative writing to children, as well as working professionally as a theatre director and writer, and as artistic director of Dufferin Grove Park's Cooking Fire Theatre Festival.
Suggested donation is $85 per child for 8 classes (sliding scale available, particularly for families wishing to register more than one child.) Space is limited! For more information or to register please email Kate: katecayley@gmail.com or call 416-538-6084 (e-mail preferred.)
Kid’s Papier-mâché Camp , ages 8-12
with artist Erin Robertson July 16 – 20, 9am – 5 pm.
From Lyla Rye:
“Spend 5 days in the park developing your own papier-mâché sculpture on the theme of: Wild in the City. You will learn how to make a wire armature and cover it with papier-mâché. You then get to paint and collage on it. On Friday, the whole group will display their artwork in a large diorama. Each morning and afternoon a couple of hours will be spent on art and during breaks you’ll go to the wading pool, playground or the pizza oven.”
This all-day camp costs $150.00 for the week (there is one bursary where a kid can join for free). This amount covers all materials and on snack a day provided. Contact Lyla at lylarye@sympatico.ca. or call her at 416-536-6381.
Kids’ Art Camp in the park with Jeannie Soley and Gillian Tremain.
July 17 - 20 (from 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. each day for four days)
Shibori for Girls: The art of Japanese tie-dye. This 4-day workshop is aimed primarily at girls, as the main project will be a wrap-around summer skirt, using a traditional tie-dye technique known as shibori. Nimble fingers are a definite requirement, as well as good concentration; the initial part of the project involves tying many tiny knots! The girls will also have the opportunity to try various ways of embellishing their skirts even further : embroidery threads, beads and over-painting techniques. There will be a secondary activity interspersed with the main project, as a way to give the kids time to absorb what they've learned. There will be room for one bursary.
From Gillian:
This camp will suit girls ages 9 and up. We'll take a maximum of 10 kids. Cost yet to be determined. To register, please email Gillian at gillyt@ca.inter.net or Jeannie at fjsoley@hotmail.com or call 416-532-0773.
Regular Arts Events
THURSDAY DRAMA CLASSES FOR KIDS:
July 12 to August 30.
- ages 6-9 every Thursday 2:00-3:00, and
- ages 10-13 every Thursday 3:00-4:00.
Drama classes, held outdoors (weather permitting). The children make small plays, learn new stories, write poems and scenes, and play in a friendly, inspiring and enjoyable way. A younger group focuses on creative play, improvisation and storytelling, while an older group experiments with making scenes, devising plots and writing original stories from poems and bits of history. Both classes integrate movement, traditional storytelling, improvisation, silly games, writing and exploring the world of the park. Kate Cayley, who leads the classes, has four years experience teaching drama and creative writing to children, as well as working professionally as a theatre director and writer, and as artistic director of Dufferin Grove Park's Cooking Fire Theatre Festival.
Suggested donation is $85 per child for 8 classes (sliding scale available, particularly for families wishing to register more than one child.) Space is limited! For more information or to register please email Kate: katecayley@gmail.com or call 416-538-6084 (e-mail preferred.)
PARK FILM NIGHT, FRIDAY JULY 20 2007 8.45 PM
The Toronto Public Space Committee, Streets to Screens Project will present a screening of two films - "Men In The Park" a short, followed by "City Park -- A Little Music For The Soul" (52 minutes).The screening, starting about 8:30, will follow Friday Night Dinner.
About the short: Directed by George Geertsen, produced by Robert Verrall (1971).
These men in the park are pencil drawings, but this is no still-life study. It is as if the artist's sketchbook has become animate, alive. The result is intriguing, especially for those with an eye for the art of film animation. About the feature: Directed by Carole Laganière and produced by Nathalie Barton (2006), it’s the story of Parc Lafontaine, an urban park in the heart of Montréal and the lives that inhabit it. A portrait over four seasons of a place where people feel fully alive and less alone, a place that speaks, listens and consoles. This film is a Toronto premiere.
Pay what you can.
August
from the August 2007 Newsletter:
THEATRE IN THE PARK:
Clay and Paper Theatre presents WE NEED HELP.
Wednesday August 1 to Monday August 6, 7:30 pm, outdoors in the park
A greasy black comedy about the end of oil
From director David Anderson:
“Giant puppets and live jazz animate this outdoor performance about what happens when the road less traveled becomes the highway to hell. A honeymooning couple is stranded in Northern Ontario when the world’s gas tank runs dry.”
Admission: pay what you can, $10 recommended. See Clay and Paper Theatre.
All Caps! Concert
Dufferin Grove Park August 11 2pm - 8pm
FREE SUMMER CONCERT FOR MUSIC LOVERS OF ALL AGES
PRESENTED BY “ALL CAPS!” WITH PARKS AND RECREATION
Saturday August 11 2pm to 8 pm
From organizer Ryan McLaren:
ALL CAPS! presents the Outdoor Show in conjunction with Dufferin Grove Park and WhipperSnapper Gallery.
There will be frisbee, soccer, a BBQ, sidewalk chalk, a mix CD trade (details below) and more! Dufferin Grove is a large, beautiful space, so there's a lot of room to make this a user-defined show. Bring a blanket, read a book, bring a slip'n'slide, bring some gloves and a ball and play catch, whatever you like, all while enjoying 8 amazing bands and musicians. We've got a really diverse cross section of music, from hip hop to avant experimental, Gameboy pop to acoustic folk, indie rock to math pop.
The Rural Alberta Advantage; Tetris Hold'em; The Guest Bedroom; John Kameel Farah; Atherton; Germans; Fraser Gielen; Bruce Peninsula.
The first band goes on right at 2pm, so we suggest getting there a bit earlier. Of course the park is open all day, so why not show up early and enjoy the weather?
Rain date: Sunday August 12th. More information: www.allcaps.ca.
“ERIC DOLPHY MEMORIAL BBQ”
SUNDAY AFTERNOON AUGUST 26
Toronto musician Nilan Perera is bringing together some professional musician friends for the Eric Dolphy Memorial Barbeque. Nilan and other Toronto musicians are part of a group called “The Association of Improvising Musicians of Toronto.” They want to make some music in the daytime, so that their families can come along (instead of the nighttime gigs these various musicians usually play). They’re happy to have others come by and listen too, as they do what Nilan calls “creative in-the-moment performance. The art of improvisation and surprise.”
SPECIAL ARTS PROGRAM - SHIBORI FOR GIRLS
August 29 and 30, 12.30 to 4.30:
An Introduction to Textile Design for Kids. From Jeannie Soley:
“Our shibori workshop under a tree in July was a lot of fun so another will be offered in August. Pre-registration is required. The August workshop will be from 12:30 to 4:30 on August 29 and 30th. The cost is thirty dollars per day. The participants will be introduced to textile design by making a sash using the ancient shibori tie-dye resist technique. They will learn how to make a dye bath, resist knotting, basic embroidery and sequin embellishment. The sash will take two days to complete. A second printmaking project will be included in this workshop in order to vary the day's work and give the girls an opportunity to try printmaking.
Here is a chance to become refined resist knotters, pattern thinkers, dyers, printmakers and embroiderers. A great introduction to textile design and printmaking.”
Contact: Gillian Tremain and Jeannie Soley at fjsoley@hotmail.com
DANCING AT THE PARK WITH EROCA
Down by the playground in August, Eroca teaches dance:
Saturdays
- 1:45-2:30pm is for ages 6 to 8;
- 2.30pm is for ages 5 and under
Sundays
- 1 –1.45 pm is for ages 9-12.
- 1.45 pm all ages Dance & Instrument Jam
This year we are encouraging people to pay what they can for classes, with a suggested donation of $5-$8 per class. But as always, money will not prevent anyone from participating.
If anyone has instruments they would like to donate to the program, or any questions about the classes, contact Eroca at info@dufferinpark.ca.
September
from the September 2007 Newsletter:
EVENTS IN SEPTEMBER
Annual MORRIS DANCERS’ gathering.
Sunday Sept.2, 4 p.m.
Sunday Sept.2, 4 p.m. Annual MORRIS DANCERS’ gathering. Dufferin Grove recreation staff have once again been able to persuade the Morris dancers to finish their annual Labour Day weekend dancing at Dufferin Grove Park. Morris dancers date back from farm labourers’ resistance to early industrial conditions in Great Britain in the eighteenth century. The dancers often wear bells strapped to their legs; some are in blackface (this refers to a miners’ disguise, not an attempt to change race); some dance with swords. It’s very energetic, and exhilarating to watch. Groups from other parts of Ontario, NY State, sometimes even Britain, have been coming to this park for years on the Sunday of Labour Day weekend, after they give free dance performances in public outdoor spaces all over the city. The groups wrap up their day by dancing for one another to show off their latest dances, and eat masses of fresh park bread and herb butter and samosas, and make pizza. The jets from the CNE air show often thunder overhead. The gathering is not a public event per se, but they welcome anyone who comes to watch, and they often share their food. It’s the park oven bread that lures them here – another good reason for an oven.
Nineteenth annual Dufferin Grove Neighbourhood Lawn Sale and Street Fair
Saturday Sept.8: 10 a.m., noon, after-lunch, and six pm.
Saturday Sept.8: Nineteenth annual Dufferin Grove Neighbourhood Lawn Sale and Street Fair, 10 a.m., noon, after-lunch, and six pm.
From organizer Liz Martin:
It’s time for the street fair again, always the first Saturday after Labour Day.
10 a.m. Clean out your basement and join us for a Lawn Sale on the east side of the park in the morning, and try not to buy too many things from your neighbours! Kids’ toys and clothes always go well.
Noon: Then we'll have Hot Dog Lunch near157 Havelock, courtesy of our Councillor.
After lunch: Kids Games in the afternoon organized by local parent Robin Crombie
6 pm: Potluck Dinner with Cakewalk over by the park ovens. Pizza-making for the kids too, with Dufferin Grove staff ($2 per pizza).
See the photo gallery from the 2006 street fair
Annual bench-and-picnic table painting day
Sunday Sept. 9, 1 pm to 4 pm
Sunday Sept. 9, 1 pm to 4 pm: Annual bench-and-picnic table painting day.
Organized by Michelle Webb, with paint supplied by the Parks department. For many years now there have been no provisions for repairing or maintaining picnic tables, and what’s a park without tables? A coat of paint before winter, for some of the most paint-deficient picnic tables, will help preserve them. Michelle says, wear old clothes and come to the park oven at Sunday pizza time. The tables most needing paint will be set up there. Last time Michelle organized this painting bee, friends or even whole families came and painted a table together. A very friendly occasion, with free pizza for painters.
Parks Committee meeting.
Friday Sept.14, 9.30 a.m., City Hall, Committee Room 1.
Friday Sept.14, 9.30 a.m. Parks Committee meeting. City Hall, Committee Room 1. This is the first day back for the Councillors on the Parks Committee. The decision to keep the 50 outdoor rinks without ice until 2008 may be raised at this meeting. (See Rink News below)
The annual Dufferin Groove Hockey League Music Jam
Saturday Sept. 22, 2 to 7 pm., in the Garrison Creek Hollow beside Dufferin Street
Saturday Sept. 22, 2 to 7 pm. The annual Dufferin Groove Hockey League Music Jam in the Garrison Creek Hollow beside Dufferin Street. The Dufferin Groove league has had the Monday Night hockey permit at Dufferin Rink for so long, nobody can exactly remember when it started. Many of the players are also musicians, and this is their yearly chance to give the park a present – a free concert down in the hollow.
In collaboration with Dufferin Grove recreation staff, who provide the food from the oven. This year the concert will no doubt be an occasion for hockey players to discuss the City’s rink cut.
Dufferin Mall Youth Services Goodbye Celebration.
Sunday Sept.23, Time TBA
Sunday Sept.23: Dufferin Mall Youth Services Goodbye Celebration. Time TBA.
After more than fifteen years, the agencies that have been running the mall’s youth services are throwing in the towel. Dufferin Grove recreation staff will have to hunt for another place to send the youth at the park who are having trouble. From organizer Shani Kipang:
Between 30-60 current and past youth services users will be at the park to celebrate what DMYS has been to the community and its youth over the years and to raise some community support to keep us open. We’ll have music, free food, and some 'speeches' by youth about what DMYS has meant to them.
Native Child and Family Services Annual “Honouring our Children” Pow Wow
Saturday September 29
Saturday September 29: Native Child and Family Services will be presenting their annual “Honouring our Children” Pow Wow. This event is a very popular, very colourful occasion with many craft vendors, two big tipis, drummers, dancers in beautiful costumes, free food and a big “give-away” of donated goods at the end. The day begins at sunrise with a fire ceremony in the fire circle, lit by an elder. Then there is a pause while the soccer field is set up with tipis, vendors and information tables, a stage, and food areas. The grand entry of the dancers is at noon, and the give-away is at about 4 p.m. Everyone is welcome to join in the pow wow dancing, all afternoon.
Since having over a thousand people in the park all afternoon can lead to some problems, recreation staff will be at the playground this year again to supervise. Tipi poles and shovels will not be available at the sandpit on that day, to reduce the number of loose parts that can become weapons if there are too many kids packed into the playground together.
October
from the October 2007 Newsletter:
Events in October
Clay & Paper’s stilt-walking workshops
Thurs. Oct. 18, 6-8 pm, Sat. Oct. 20, 2-4 pm, Tues. Oct. 23, 6-8pm, Thurs. Oct. 25, 6-8 pm.
From Clay and Paper director David Anderson:
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced stilter who wants to practice your skills for the Night of Dread parade, all are welcome to our drop-in workshops. Meet at the Field House at Dufferin Grove Park, that’s the small brick building adjacent to the soccer field. Cost: $5. Contact Krista for more info: krista_dalby@hotmail.com
NIGHT OF DREAD
Saturday October 27, 5.30 to 9pm, assemble from 3 p.m. on.
The eighth annual community parade and celebration. Assemble from 3 p.m. on, parade leaves the park at 5.45 pm. Black and white dress code. (I.e. don’t come as Batman unless you really have to). Organized by Clay and Paper Theatre, with David Anderson as the parade master.
This is the annual parade that everyone gets to be in. Between 400 and 500 people gather by the rink and basketball court and then parade along Bloor, south down to College, and then back to the park. There are performances and bonfires at the park, wonderful bake-oven food (from 3.30 on), and music.
For more information, or to help make masks, wear a giant puppet, or bang a drum, call 416 537-9105, or visit www.clayandpapertheatre.org, or e-mail claypaper@sympatico.ca.
Halloween Swap
Saturday and Sunday October 27 and 28, Masaryk Cowan CC
From Bruce Whittaker:
Just a reminder ... THIS SATURDAY and SUNDAY between 2 and 5 is the first annual TOYS/DVDS/BOOKS/Halloween Costumes SWAP. On Saturday, drop off all of that stuff you no longer use and replace it, if you wish, on Sunday. The SWAP will be located at Masaryk Cowan Community Center, around 4 blocks west of Dufferin at Queen. Check out http://neighborlyswap.blogspot.com for details. Lots of toys etc. will be going to families in need ... just in time for Xmas. Hope to see you there.
December
from the December 2007 Newsletter:
WINTER CRAFT FAIR SUNDAY DEC.16,11- 4 PM
This season's winter craft fair at Dufferin Grove Park will be set up outside along the rinkhouse, in the market tents. From organizer Lisa Logan:
“There will be wonderful and wild hand-made goods this year including Woodworks, Knitwear, Glass designs, Print Work, Dolls, Cashmere Scarves, Buckskin creations brain-tanned by designer Dano, Revolution Wear featuring salvaged and found materials, Jewellery and more. All are produced by non-professional crafters bringing great deals to you for the holiday season! There will be hot drinks and food available from the Dufferin Grove kitchen, as well as Yasi's Place, Tim's Crepes and Chocosol.”
News 2006
- February
- April
- June
- July
- August
- September
- Special Events In September
- Yoga With Dufferin Mall Youth Services
- Free Prenatal Yoga And Campfire In The Park
- Friday Night Supper Dinner Dance
- Annual Neighborhood Street Fair
- Pugalug Gathering
- Pow Wow
- Notice Of Public Meeting About Community-Built Composting Toilet
- Public Meeting About Community-Built Composting Toilet
- St Annes Church Flower Event
- One Time Only Wrestling Show
- Special Events In September
- October
- November
- December
February
posted February 13, 2006
Laura Berman Photographic Exibit: Seasons at Dufferin Grove
February 24 - March 11, 2006 in the Rinkhouse
Karl Bechmann will be playing jazz piano at the show opening - Friday Night Dinner in the rinkhouse on February 24.
See Laura's website at www.greenfusephotos.com
April
posted April 4, 2006
Friday April 7, 2006: Easter egg decorating at the rink house, 4.30 to 6 p.m.
Park friend Belinda Cole will be hosting this. Tables will be set up in the rink house, with a good supply of hard-boiled eggs, paints, Easter-egg dyes, drying racks, tongs, and magic markers. Park staff will help, by providing mini-pizzas, juice, and cookies to keep the egg-decoraters’ strength up. Donations are welcome to cover the cost of materials. This event is early this year, but the eggs will keep very well in the fridge until Easter Sunday. For more information call the park at 416 392-0913.
posted April 4, 2006
Sunday April 9, 2006: Eighth annual Matzo bake at the park outdoor bake oven, 2 – 5 p.m.
Park friends Emily Paradis, Sarah Fowlie and Zio Hersh will be hosting this. From Emily:
"Celebrate Freedom! Bake Matzo! Bring the whole family to a celebration of liberation!
We provide: koshered wood fire oven, kosher matzo flour all the way from Montreal, implements used only for Passover baking, and 18 minutes to make your matzo. You provide: elbow grease, joy. Pay What You Can – suggested donation $10 per family. Games! Crafts! Freedom Stories! Queer! Straight! Jewish! Jew-ish! For info call or email Sarah and Emily at 416-588-4025 or sfowlie@sympatico.ca.
Park staff will help at the ovens, keeping them very hot. A huge thanks also to Alan Carlisle for bringing the park its oven wood (unpainted, untreated skids) donated by Downtown Lumber on Ossington.
June
posted June 8, 2006
Dancing In The Park, Step One
Tuesdays and Wednesdays,4 to 6 p.m.
Many of the people who work at the park have other “hats” that they wear as well. Park staff Eroca Nicols, as lots of park friends know, is a dancer currently studying with Ballet Creole. When park staff Ted Carlisle, who is also a DJ, presented a DJ on Ice day at the end of February, lots of people danced (on the ice, with or without skates). That was so much fun that Eroca began to plan with Ted, for summer dancing in the park.
So this is the summer to try it. Eroca says there are so many wonderful group dances/ line dances/ square dances in all the cultures of the world, and she wants to introduce some of them in the park, with the help of park kids. So the park is offering free children’s dance classes every Tuesday and Wednesday all summer long at the park. Then on one Friday each month (July, August, September, maybe October if the weather is still good), Eroca and Ted and will host a D.J.’d dance on the rink pad, for everyone, after Friday Night Supper. The dance class kids will teach everyone (adults too) who want to learn the traditional group dance of that month and then Ted will spin all sorts of other music too.
The sessions are:
- Tuesdays:
- Ages 5 and under, 4:00pm-4:30pm.
- Ages 6-8, 4:45pm-5:30pm
- Wednesdays:
- Ages 9-12, 4:00pm-4:45pm.
- All Ages Dance/Instrument Jam 4:45pm-5:45pm
From Eroca:
All classes will be in front of the playground gazebo. Make sure to wear sunscreen and bring water to class. Thanks to all who came to the first week of classes, And for your patience with the age group/schedule experiment. If anyone has kid friendly instruments (maracas, tambourines, percussive noisemakers of any kind) and would like to donate them please contact Eroca or drop them by during the All Ages Jam on Wednesday between 4:45pm and 5:45pm.
To find out more or to sign up, call the park at 416 392-0913 and leave a message, or e-mail Eroca at staff@dufferinpark.ca.
posted June 14, 2006
Rummage Sale & Community Fair
HUGE RUMMAGE SALE
&
COMMUNITY FAIR
SATURDAY JUNE 17th
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
DUFFERIN GROVE PARK
(South of Bloor)
>> Books, toys, clothes, dishes, and much much more !
>> Craft tables
>> Food tasting
>> Drumming Music by: Nkrumah’s Squad
>> Tai Chi in the park
ALL FOR A CHARITABLE CAUSE IN SUPPORT OF
WORKING WOMEN COMMUNITY CENTRE
posted June 8, 2006
The Third Annual Cooking Fire Theatre Festival
Wednesday, June 14th – Sunday, June 18th, 2006
From director Kate Cayley:
“We are pleased to announce the third annual Cooking Fire Theatre Festival, a weeklong performance extravaganza celebrating theatre, food and public space in Toronto's Dufferin Grove Park. Companies from Toronto, Victoria , Halifax and New York City will present original work that promises to delight, provoke, and inspire. Each evening, Toronto's Number Eleven Theatre will lead the audience from site to site throughout the park to see performances ranging from an ancient Japanese folktale to a modern cowboy musical, from grand spectacles to intimate puppet pieces.
Delicious organic meals will be served to the audience over cooking fires and from Dufferin Grove Park's two wood-fired outdoor community bake ovens. Dan DeMatteis, who cooked at the park in years past but now works for Jamie Kennedy, will be back just for that week to work with the park cooks. Building on the success of the last two years, this year's Cooking Fire Theatre Festival will offer the experience of enchanting and challenging theatre, wonderful food and the beginning of summer.”
The schedule:
Zuppa Circus Theatre (Halifax) Open Theatre Kitchen: all possible futures – 6:30 PM
In a kitchen in the desert, a couple desires a child so deeply that they imagine one into existence. Equal parts human, part onion, mischief and mythology, the child transforms and threatens the life they have made. Presented by celebrated Halifax company Zuppa Circus, this new piece is a generous, wild theatrical feast celebrating a relentless appetite for the world. www.zuppacircus.com
Drama of Works (New York City) On the Backs of Fishes – 8 PM nightly
Part two of their epic puppet drama Warrior, On the Backs of Fishes tells the story of Jingo, the warrior empress of Japan, and uses marionettes, rod puppets, overhead projections and storytelling. On the Backs of Fishes won an award for Original Adaptation at the World Festival of Puppet Art in Prague. Drama of Works is an experimental puppet company, and company-in-residence at New York City's HERE Arts Centre. www.dramaofworks.com
Theatre SKAM (Victoria) Billy Nothin' – 8:30 PM nightly
Trapped in a world of leather chaps and cowboy boots, five Wild West characters collide, encountering murder, metamorphosis, and mayhem alongside a meta-whore who may or may not have the answers to set them free. This cowboy musical, presented by the wildly popular BC company, is a quintessential Western with more twists than a lasso. www.skam.ca
Stranger Theatre (Toronto) Käthe Kollwitz – 9:45 PM nightly
A new piece using marionettes, shadow puppetry and toy theatre, based on the life and work of German printmaker and sculptor Käthe Kollwitz, her depiction of life in working class Berlin, and her struggles as a pacifist in Nazi Germany. www.strangertheatre.ca
Performances begin at 6:30 PM every night and dinner is served from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM. Admission is pay-what-you-can ($10 suggested contribution).
posted June 8, 2006
Dufferin Grove Park Summer Craft Fair
Sunday June 18, 11 – 4 p.m.
DUFFERIN GROVE PARK SUMMER CRAFT FAIR Sunday June 18, 11 – 4 p.m. organized by Gladstone Ave. resident Abbey Huggan. She writes:
“we’ll have a variety of crafts and art on offer at this event: all *hand-made* by the person who is selling them, and with a priority for people whose craft is not their profession (at least not yet).”
If you fit that description and you want to sell at the fair, you can contact Abbey by e-mailing her at abbeyhuggan@yahoo.ca.
Wed June 14 - Sun June 18, 2006
The Cooking Fire Theatre Festival is returning for the third year, from June 14 - June 18, 2006 at Dufferin Grove Park. See material from last year: Cooking Fire Theatre Festival, 2005. And they now have their own web address: www.cookingfire.ca, which will soon be brimming with information about the event.
posted March 19, 2006
Day of Delight Returns for 2006 (Fourth Season)
Sunday June 18, 2006
David Anderson of Clay and Paper Theatre has confirmed that Day of Delight will return to the park this summer on Sunday, June 18, 2006. We'll post more information as we get it.
Jully
Back II Basiks, Photographer: David Hou
posted July 10, 2006
Dusk Dances 2006 (seventh season)
Tues July 11 - Sun July 16
Community Dinner at 6:30, Band Starts at 7:00 Dance starts at 7:30
Dancer: Angela Del Sol
Designer: Nigel Skinner
Photographer: Gary Mulcahey
Dusk Dances 2006 - Toronto Season CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS Dufferin Grove Park: July 11 - 16 It takes a village to run Dusk Dances... We are looking for volunteers for the Dufferin Grove Park season of Dusk Dances. If you would like to help out for one night, from 5:30pm -9:30pm, please contact our Park Co-ordinator, Molly Johnson, at jollymohnson@hotmail.com or on 416 536 0042. Visit www.duskdances.ca
Dufferin Grove Park, July 11 - 16
On Dufferin, south of Bloor
Featuring opening band Grupo Capoeira Mâles; new dance commissions from Nova Bhattacharya/Louis Laberge-Côté, Little Pear Garden Collevtive and Lucy Rupert; plus works from Montreal's Roger Sinha and Solid State.
Hosted by Lisa Ann Ross Band starts at 7pm, Dance starts at 7:30pm
Pay-What-You-Can
See a review in the July 12 Toronto Star: Red shorts in the sunset. (But note that the show only runs to July 16 at Dufferin Grove Park).Post-show artist talk-back: July 12
Reel Dance Screenings and DJ Zahra: July 13, 14 and 15, after the dance (www.movingpicturesfestival.com)
Info-line: 416 504 6429 ex 41
“Gather to the sound of live music at twilight and stroll between dances that dot the grounds like whimsical new forms of greenery.”
Toronto Life Dusk Dances is also touring to regional Ontario centres in 2006 - Kingston, Manitoulin Island, Chatham, Haliburton and Deep River. Fore more information, visit www.duskdances.ca.
Dusk Dances is generously funded by Ontario's Trillium Foundation, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, the Toronto Arts Council and Canadian Heritage.
See a Picture Gallery from the 2004 season.
posted April 1, 2006
Cooking Fire Theatre Festival announces its line-up for 2006. Read more >>.
Digest of Events Planned Early
posted February 14, 2006
Dusk Dances Returns for 2006 (Seventh Season)
July 11-16, 2006
The ever popular and wonderful Dusk Dances is coming back to Dufferin Grove Park July 11-16, 2006. See a picture gallery from last year. Produced by Corpus.
posted March 19, 2006
Clay and Paper Theatre Returns for 2006 (Eleventh Season)
July 19 - August 20, 2006
Clay and Paper Theatre, with its amazing puppets, is presenting a new play this year (Luís de Camões in Dufferin Grove Park) from July 19 - August 20, 2006, Tuesdays to Sundays at 7:00pm, beginning Wednesday July 19.
From the Clay and Paper Theatre website:
Narrated by the one-eyed adventurer, soldier and poet himself, Luís de Camões in Dufferin Grove Park will sing the praises of the Portuguese who have come to our community. It will fill the park air with the songs of the Fado. Gigantones and Cabeçudos (giant puppets and big head puppets) will recall and connect the Portuguese parade tradition with ours, and the smell of the barbequed sardines will mingle with the smell of fresh corn bread baked in the Dufferin Grove Park bake oven, itself inspired by the village ovens in Portugal. Read more >>
posted March 22, 2006
ART CAMP IN DUFFERIN GROVE PARK (Second Season)
JULY 31 TO AUG 4, 2006
Back by popular demand, the art camp for kids interested in making papier mache sculptures and hanging out laughing! This year's theme is "Funny things are everywhere." Aspiring artists will build and paint their ideal pet using papier mache and mixed media. Course also includes drawing and painting in the park. The day includes an hour for lunch and a swim break. Campers can take advantage of the pizza oven on days it is open, otherwise bring a lunch. Last year the campers made large wearable monster puppets and paraded across the park on the last day (see photos). The teacher is Ottawa-based multi media artist Erin Robertson, sister of Dewson St. resident Kate Robertson, and aunt to Madeleine and Isabelle. Email Gabrielle at feligab@yahoo.ca or call 416-534-5317 if you have any questions and to register. If someone is interested but can't afford the cost please contact us.
JULY 31 TO AUG 4, 2006
AGES 9 to 12
COST: $130 for the week
DROP OFF: 9 a.m.
PICK UP: 5 p.m.
Gabrielle Langlois
Photos from 2005 Art Camp | |
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Special Events In July
posted July 4, 2006
Councillor Adam Giambrone SUMMERFEST
Saturday July 8, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Hot dogs, lawn sale, free city compost. By the basketball court. To book a lawn sale table call the Councillor’s office at 392-7012. Toronto Fire Services will be sending their community outreach fire truck (may be called away to respond to an emergency).
posted July 4, 2006
“Portugal 2004” girls’ soccer fundraiser CAR WASH, rummage sale and BBQ
Saturday July 8, 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m
in the dead-end street by the rink house across from the Dufferin Mall lights. This group does an excellent job on your car.
posted July 4, 2006
DUSK DANCES
July 11 – 16. Band starts at 7pm, dance starts at 7:30pm. (Dinner at the oven from 6.30 to 7.30)
New works from Toronto artists Nova Bhattacharya and Louis Laberge-Côté; William Lau; and Lucy Rupert and choreographies from Montreal’s Roger Sinha and Solid State.
Opening band: Grupo Capoeira Malês
Artist Talkback: July 12 after the performance
The Moving Pictures Festival of Dance on Film and Video and Dusk Dances Inc. present Reel Dance in Dufferin Grove Park: July 13, 14 and 15 following the performances.
posted July 4, 2006
Clay and Paper Theatre: Camões, the One-Eyed Poet of Portugal
Wednesday to Sunday, July 21 to August 13, 7:30 p.m.
Previews: Wednesday July 19 and Thursday July 20.
Opening Night: Friday July 21.
Camões, the One-Eyed Poet of Portugal is the fourth show in Clay and Paper Theatre’s program they call “Building Local Stories”, following The Resurrection of Fornax, The Ballad of Garrison Creek, and Gold all of which were written by Larry Lewis and directed by David Anderson.
From director David Anderson: “On the northwest corner of College and Crawford stands a sculpture of Luis Vas de Camoes. Many local Torontonians know that statue, but few who are not Portuguese know that he is the national poet of a nation of poets, the greatest and most beloved poet of Portugal. We hope to correct this omission. Narrated by the one-eyed adventurer, soldier and poet himself, Luis de Camoes in Dufferin Grove Park will sing the praises of the Portuguese who have come to our community. It will fill the air with the songs of the Fado. Gigantones and Cabecudos (giant puppets and big head puppets) will recall and connect the Portuguese parade tradition with ours, and the smell of the barbecued sardines will mingle with the smell of fresh corn bread baked in the Dufferin Grove Park bake oven, inspired by the village ovens in Portugal. This is a collaboration between David Anderson, Nuno Cristo, Aida Jordao, Mark Keetch and Larry Lewis.”
posted July 20, 2006
Reviews
Now magazine review, July 20, 2006
Eye Weekly Arts Week review, July 20, 2006
Toronto Star review, July 22, 2006
All Clay and Paper shows are weather dependent. Go/No-Go decisions will be made daily around 6pm. If in doubt call Clay and Paper Theatre at 416-537-9105 just before the events for information. Local forecast.
posted July 4, 2006
ART WORKSHOP for kids aged 8-12 with Gillian Tremain
Wednesday July 26, 2 - 5 p.m. at the rink house.
Gillian writes: “Marbling on paper and fabric : Come and explore this fascinating and beautiful art medium, probably first done in eighth century Japan. Classic marbling (or marbleizing) is a method of decorating paper or fabric through the manipulation of floating colours. The water-based colours are applied to the surface of a gel-like liquid and are then manipulated with combs and sticks; the print is ready to be "pulled". The children will be able to produce vivid patterns with relative ease once the basic technique has been mastered. They will see how colours in different combinations react differently to each other; I think they will also see very quickly what wonderful things they can create when there is a constant element of surprise. I'll need a minimum of 6 kids, maximum of 10 for the class to go ahead. Cost will be $30 plus a $10 materials fee, payment in full by cash or cheque the day of the class. Please wear appropriate art-making clothes! Excellent snack included, and if the weather's good, the class will be outdoors on the grass..”
To register, please e-mail Gillian at gillyt@ca.inter.net or call 416-532-0773.
posted July 4, 2006
DUFFERIN MALL YOUTH SERVICES (DMYS) SUMMER-IN-THE-PARK SERIES
Yoga in the park
every Thursday, weather permitting, 4:45-6:00.
It is open and free for youth (12-24), no registration is necessary. They usually meet between the Basketball court and Soccer field.
Theatre in the park
And here’s a schedule of youth-oriented outdoor park theatre performances from DMYS program supervisor Wolfgang Vachon:
Friday, July 7th at 1:00, in the yurt, “Trans Cab”.
“Toronto is home to Canada’s largest trans community. It is also home to one of the largest homeless populations in the country. “Trans Cab” was created by homeless and formerly homeless transgendered and transsexual individuals based upon their experiences navigating Toronto’s shelter system. Drawing upon diverse theatre styles, Trans Cab allows multiple voices to interact- including the audience- in a way that does not lose the integrity of the production.”
Monday, July 17th also at 1:00pm: Toronto Playback Theatre.
“Toronto Playback Theatre is dedicated to listening to people's stories and transforming them spontaneously into theatre. Their mission is to provide organizations with dramatic, audience-interactive performances and programs that build trust, deepen dialogue and generate opportunities for personal and professional development. Playback Theatre aims to create a ritual space where every voice and any story - however ordinary, extraordinary, hidden or difficult - might be heard and told. The Toronto Playback Theatre is committed to a theatre that values community, service, and the possibility of personal and social transformation through art.”
Monday August 14: Mixed Company Theatre: Under Pressure
...a newly developed work addressing the current trend of rising STI and HIV transmission rates among youth. This Forum Theatre production explores sexual pressures and consequences from a variety of perspectives as we observe five highschool students in their struggles with image and popularity, love and friendship, betrayal and trust. Under Pressure explores relationship negotiations and encourages students to find their own voices amidst the complex pressures faced in high school today.
Forum Theatre is issue-based and interactive and purposely presents the worst case scenario to prompt audience participation. Audience members intervene in the story, acting (as a spect-actor) in the play to create a positive alternative ending. The first part of the play is 30 minutes in length followed by the 45-minute facilitated educational program of audience interventions and topic discussions. A trained Forum Theatre facilitator (the Joker) prepares and encourages the spect-actor to replace the actors on stage and to change the story in a constructive way.
About Dufferin Mall Youth Services
Dufferin mall Youth Services program supervisor Wolfgang Vachon says that staff from the agency will be in the park throughout the summer and into the fall to connect with youth. Their services are: “culturally sensitive counselling, community support, and programming for youth age 12-24 and their families. DMYS was conceived and established as a joint community, mall, and business initiative to meet the needs of families, youth, businesses, and individuals striving to improve their communities. We are located inside Dufferin Mall in Suite 103, down the hall from HRDC and beside Abrigo. For more information call 416 535 1140.”
Regular Events in July
posted July 4, 2006
STORYTELLING IN THE YURT, with Kate Cayley
Every Wednesday afternoon 1 – 2 p.m. and 2 to 3 p.m., starting Wednesday, July 12.
Everyone is welcome to come and hear stories from all around the world, with new stories each week. As the summer progresses, drama and puppetry may also be part of the Wednesday afternoons. Kate is a former staff member at the park, and is now the artistic director of The Cooking Fire Theatre Festival. She told stories by the wading pool and at pizza days for many years.
For information about the yurt, see the yurt picture gallery.
posted July 4, 2006
DANCING IN THE PARK FOR CHILDREN, with Eroca Nicols
Every Tuesday and Wednesday,4 to 6 p.m.
Park staff Eroca Nicols is a dancer, as lots of park friends know. Eroca says there are so many wonderful group dances/ line dances/ square dances in all the cultures of the world, and she wants to introduce some of them into the park, with the help of park kids. So the park is offering free children’s dance classes every Tuesday and Wednesday all summer long at the park.
The sessions are:
- Tuesdays:
- Ages 5 and under – 4:00pm-4:30pm.
- Ages 6-8 – 4:45pm-5:30pm
- Wednesdays:
- Ages 9-12 – 4:00pm-4:45pm.
- All Ages Dance/Instrument Jam 4:45pm-5:45pm.
From Eroca: “All classes will be in front of the playground gazebo. Make sure to wear sunscreen and bring water to class.”
To find out more or to sign up, call the park at 416 392-0913 and leave a message, or e-mail Eroca at staff@dufferinpark.ca.
Friday Night DJ Dance
The first dance is on Friday July 28, starting at 7.30
Park staff Ted Carlisle is also a DJ. So one Friday each month (July, August, September, maybe October if the weather is still good), Eroca and Ted and will host a FRIDAY NIGHT DJ DANCE on the rink pad, for everyone, after Friday Night Supper. The dance class kids will teach everyone (adults too) who want to learn the traditional group dance of that month and then Ted will spin all sorts of other music too. The first dance is on Friday July 21, starting at 7.30.
posted July 4, 2006
BIKE MAINTENANCE CLINIC near the farmers’ market and/or the playground
Every Thursday, 2 to 6 p.m.
Park friend Issie Chackovicz brings his tools and also his educational material about the CAN-BIKE courses he teaches. He does on-the-spot bike maintenance, with explanations. If your bike is squeaking, the handlebars are crooked, the brakes are loose, the gears don’t work right – Issie can get your bike back in shape while your kids play in the sandpit, or while you walk the dog, or come to shop at the market. He’ll charge for the work and the parts; the explanations, of how to do it yourself the next time, are free. That might get some squeaky bikes back into good condition fast, for all those busy people who can’t fit in regular maintenance trips to the bike shop.
Issie is a nationally-certified CAN-BIKE instructor. He writes: “The CAN-BIKE PROGRAM is a set of courses on all aspects of cycling safely and enjoyably on the road. The orientation is toward recreational and utilitarian use of the bicycle rather than toward competition. The CAN-BIKE courses are organized on age and 3 levels - basic, advanced and instructor. I teach all the levels including bike maintenance.”
Issie says the Can-Bike approach works for people who
(1) want to learn to ride a bike, or
(2) who already ride a bike in the city but would like to learn how not to get run over by a truck.
Issie says he can teach anyone, child or adult, to ride a bike in half an hour. That’s just getting moving. After that comes riding in your neighbourhood, then riding on main streets, than riding safely in the urban jungle. The courses are offered at various Parks and Recreation locations but Issie says there couldn’t be a better location than Dufferin Grove, with the large surface of the rink for doing figures-of-eight, and then the local-traffic-only protection of the block between the park and St.Mary’s High School. Contact: issie.chack@sympatico.ca.
August
Special Events In August
posted August 2, 2006
The Toronto Humanist movement – WORKSHOP
Saturday August 5th (2-4pm) in the rink house:
"Being an activist in the real world." [website: www.humanistmovement.ca]
posted August 2, 2006; updated August 10, 2006
Mantler
“All Caps” open-air FREE CONCERT
Saturday August 12, 2-7 p.m. In the Garrison Creek hollow by Dufferin Street.
Organized by Ryan McLaren. There will be eight youth bands, playing a great variety of music, from rock to jazz to punk music (family friendly). The Toronto Public Space Committee will have a table there, and so will “Who Runs this Town.” That’s Dave Meslin’s group, which organized the “Toronto Idol” candidate-for-City Council contest. We’ve invited the winner, and any other candidates for the upcoming municipal election this year, to stroll around during the concert and talk to young people about the issues.
See the website - www.allcaps.ca
The bands:
Neil Haverty - www.myspace.com/neilhaverty
Proof of Ghosts - www.myspace.com/proofofghosts
The Diableros - www.myspace.com/thediableros
I Can Put My Arm Back On, You Can't - www.myspace.com/icpmaboyc
Mantler - www.myspace.com/mantler
Stop Die Resuscitate - www.myspace.com/stopdieresuscitate
The Lolo Project - www.myspace.com/peterproject
See a story about this in the Toronto Star: Under-age and under-served
posted August 2, 2006
Clay and Paper Theatre SUMMER PERFORMANCES:
Camões, the One-Eyed Poet of Portugal.
Wednesday to Sunday, July 21 to August 13, 7:30 p.m.
Camões, the One-Eyed Poet of Portugal is the fourth show in Clay and Paper Theatre’s program called “Building Local Stories”, following The Resurrection of Fornax, The Ballad of Garrison Creek, and Gold all of which were written by Larry Lewis and directed by David Anderson.
From director David Anderson: “On the northwest corner of College and Crawford stands a sculpture of Luis Vas de Camões. Many local Torontonians know that statue, but few who are not Portuguese know that he is the national poet of a nation of poets, the greatest and most beloved poet of Portugal. We hope to correct this omission. Narrated by the one-eyed adventurer, soldier and poet himself, Luis de Camões in Dufferin Grove Park will sing the praises of the Portuguese who have come to our community. It will fill the air with the songs of the Fado. Gigantones and Cabecudos (giant puppets and big head puppets) will recall and connect the Portuguese parade tradition with ours. This is a collaboration between David Anderson, Nuno Cristo, Aida Jordao, Mark Keetch and Larry Lewis.”
The Bairrada Churrasqueira (at College and Rusholme) send their cook up after the show to grill delicious Portuguese sardines, served with corn bread, at the cob courtyard. Pay by donation (all proceeds go to Clay and Paper Theatre). They also give lessons in how to eat the sardines (peel them off the bone, bit by bit).
posted August 2, 2006
Something brand new at Dufferin Grove: WRESTLING SHOW.
Thursday August 24, 7 – 9 p.m. On the rink.
There will be various wrestling acts, such as the Italianos versus Motor City Assassins, Magnus the Punisher versus Big Daddy Hammer, and many others. There are also midget wrestlers (Farmer Pete versus El Tigre) and lady wrestlers (Ladies’ Champ LuFisto versus Sexxxy Eddie). The finale may involve quite a bit of ketchup. This is a fund-raiser for a dog-adoption shelter called “adopt a dog - save a life.” By donation.
This is a chance for Dufferin Grove to get even more diverse than it already is. For that one evening, the skateboarders will have to yield their place to the wrestlers, on the pleasure-skating side of the rink.
Produced by www.strangleholdwrestling.com.
posted August 2, 2006
FRIDAY NIGHT DJ DANCE
Friday August 25, 7 to 9 p.m.
with DJ and park staff Ted Carlisle. On the grass beside the basketball court. Eroca Nicols will teach a traditional dance of some kind and after that Ted will spin all sorts of other music too.
posted August 2, 2006
CHILDREN’S THEATRE
Friday August 25 and Saturday August 26, 8:30pm
A new theatre company called the “Maboroschi Orchestra” presents shadow puppet show, The Man with the Wolf in his Belly. 8.30 p.m. by the playground gazebo. Livia Berius and Stuart Wiber are both recent graduates of the National Theatre School in Montreal. They’re touring this show, adapted from a story by German Saravanja, to various parks this summer (including our sister park, MacGregor). Dufferin Grove is their last stop. The show lasts half an hour and then kids are welcome to come backstage and see how shadow puppets work. Admission is free and donations are welcome.
posted August 2, 2006
DANCE
Sunday September 3, 4 p.m. on the basketball court
The annual get-together of the Morris Dancers. Organized by John Parkinson. On the basketball court. This event is a party for all the various Toronto Morris Dancing groups, plus some out of town groups. It’s always held on Labour Day weekend. The groups come together at Dufferin Grove after they’ve danced all over the city. They have an “ale” inside the rink house along with pizza at the oven and lots of park oven bread and herb butter. The point of the get-together is so that groups can show off their latest dances to one another. They welcome anyone else who wants to watch, and they are generous about sharing their food. They’re not allowed to share the ale, though.
REGULAR SUMMER AFTERNOON PARK ACTIVITIES IN AUGUST (FREE)
Arie's morning glories climbing the
chain link fence by the rink house
posted August 2, 2006
DANCING IN THE PARK FOR CHILDREN.
Every Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon,4 to 6 p.m.
Park staff Eroca Nicols is a dancer, as lots of park friends know. Eroca says there are so many wonderful group dances/ line dances/ square dances in all the cultures of the world, and she wants to introduce some of them into the park, with the help of park kids. So the park is offering free children’s dance classes every Tuesday and Wednesday all summer long at the park.
The sessions are:
- Tuesdays:
- Ages 5 and under – 4:00pm-4:30pm.
- Ages 6-8 – 4:45pm-5:30pm
- Wednesdays:
- Ages 9-12 – 4:00pm-4:45pm.
- All Ages Dance/Instrument Jam 4:45pm-5:45pm.
From Eroca: “All classes will be in front of the playground gazebo. Make sure to wear sunscreen and bring water to class.” To find out more or to sign up, call the park at 416 392-0913 and leave a message, or e-mail Eroca at info@dufferinpark.ca
posted August 2, 2006
BUILDING WITH CLAY
Tuesday afternoon, 1 to 3 pm by the wading pool
with Kate Cayley.
posted August 2, 2006
STORYTELLING IN THE PARK
Wednesday afternoon, 1 to 3 pm
...with Kate Cayley. Near the playground. Everyone is welcome to come and hear stories from all around the world, with new stories each week. As August progresses, drama and puppetry may also be part of the Wednesday afternoons. Kate is a former staff member at the park, and is now the artistic director of The Cooking Fire Theatre Festival. She told stories by the wading pool and at pizza days for many years.
posted August 2, 2006
COB-BUILDING
Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 3.30pm
with Georgie Donais, Jenny Cook, and lots of others. Help build a park bench that looks like an old tree; find out how to make an earth-bag foundation; and (later in August) make a little composting-toilet enclosure with bas-relief sculptures. For more information: cob@dufferinpark.ca. See the dufferin park cob courtyard subsite for details about cob.
posted August 14, 2006
See a review of this project in the National Post: Park goes arty with compost toilet
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posted August 13, 2006 7 a.m. by the cob gardens | |
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posted August 2, 2006
TRADITIONAL CAMPFIRE COOKING
Thursday afternoon, 1 to 3 pm
with park staff Anna Bekerman. By the cob wall. Cook scones, fritters, dovladas, tortillas. Children too.
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Anna cooking blue corn pancakes at the Saturday afternoon campfire: | |
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posted August 2, 2006
Thursday Stories For Children
Thursday 4-5 pm at the farmers’ market
Stories for children with April and Daniel.
posted August 2, 2006
BIKE MAINTENANCE CLINIC
Thursdays (except NOT Aug.10 and 17), 2 to 6 p.m. near the farmers’ market.
Park friend Issie Chackovicz brings his tools and also his educational material about the CAN-BIKE courses he teaches. He does on-the-spot bike maintenance, with explanations. If your bike is squeaking, the handlebars are crooked, the brakes are loose, the gears don’t work right – Issie can get your bike back in shape while your kids play in the sandpit, or while you walk the dog, or come to shop at the market. He’ll charge for the work and the parts; the explanations, of how to do it yourself the next time, are free. That might get some squeaky bikes back into good condition fast, for all those busy people who can’t fit in regular maintenance trips to the bike shop.
posted August 2, 2006
STILTWALKING
Friday afternoon, 1 to 3 pm (except August 4):
with park staff Sandy Gribbin. Sandy does physical theatre when he’s not working at the park. He has four pairs of stilts for kids who want to try being taller.
posted August 2, 2006
Saturdays
Those are just lazy afternoons, but there’s often a surprise activity of some kind, since the park staff have many talents. You can also borrow a volleyball, chess and checker pieces are set up, and once in a while there’s croquet.
posted August 2, 2006
BEACH BLANKET BINGO
Sundays 1 to 3pm
That’s the time for Eroca Nicols’ BEACH BLANKET BINGO. Everyone welcome.
posted August 2, 2006
DUFFERIN MALL YOUTH SERVICES (DMYS)
Yoga in the park
every Thursday, weather permitting, 4:45-6:00.
It is open and free for youth (12-24), no registration is necessary, between the basketball court and soccer field.
Dufferin mall Youth Services program supervisor Wolfgang Vachon says that staff from the agency will be in the park throughout the summer and into the fall to connect with youth. Their services are: “culturally sensitive counselling, community support, and programming for youth age 12-24 and their families. DMYS was conceived and established as a joint community, mall, and business initiative to meet the needs of families, youth, businesses, and individuals striving to improve their communities. We are located inside Dufferin Mall in Suite 103, down the hall from HRDC and beside Abrigo. For more information call 416 535 1140.”
September
Special Events In September
posted September 12, 2006
Yoga with Dufferin Mall Youth Services
Every Thursday, 4:30 pm to 6 pm - Studio @ Bloor/Gladstone Library 4:30-6:00pm- If the weather is good we’ll go to the park
It is open and free for youth (12-24), no registration is necessary. They usually meet in the middle of the park.
posted September 12, 2006
Free prenatal yoga and campfire in the park
Friday September 22, 4-5:30pm, followed by a campfire at the park
Join the drop-in program from Seventh Generation Midwives Toronto for pre/postnatal yoga led by First Nations yoga instructor Rhianna Keon. Yoga happens from 4-5:30pm, followed by a campfire at the park. We will be making bannock over the fire. Please wear comfortable clothing.
See the Neighbourhood section.
posted September 7, 2006
Friday Night Supper Dinner Dance
Friday September 8, 6 pm to 9 pm
After supper there’s dancing with Eroca Nicols and the kids from her summer dance classes. Special guest: a teacher of traditional Arabic circle dancing.Then Park DJ Ted Carlisle will play disco, soul, funk, and old-school hip hop. On the grass beside the basketball court.
Friday Night Supper
Eroca and dancers
See the Picture Gallery.
posted September 7, 2006
Annual Neighbourhood Street Fair
Saturday September 9, On Havelock Street and Dufferin Grove Park, 10am to around 9pm
- 10 am fantastic lawn sale
- clean out the basement and browse for bargains. At the park fence along Havelock Street.
- 12 noon free hot dog lunch on Havelock Street
- courtesy of Councillor Adam Giambrone.
- 2- 4 pm celebration tea
- for a special person from the neighborhood
- 4.30 pm kids’games
- games for kids with prizes, also stilt-walking, juggling, tumbling for kids with park staff Eroca and Sandy
- 6.30 pm potluck dinner and $2 pizza
- by the park bake-oven. Join your neighbours, bring plates, cutlery, extra pizza toppings.
- 7 p.m. cakewalk
- Decorate a cake in the most imaginative way you can think of, walk it around so everyone can admire it, then share it for eating.
- 7.30 p.m. after-dinner dancing with a live band
- “Gordon’s Acoustic Living Room” On the basketball court. Donations welcome to defray the cost of the band.
See the Picture Gallery.
posted September 7, 2006
Pugalug Gathering
Sunday September 10, 2 to 4 pm
The Pugalug rescue group is having a pugalug gathering at Dufferin Grove Park. There will be t-shirts, wristbands, and plush pugs for sale to raise funds for more rescues (they say they’ve rescued 29 pugs since October 2005) and for a veterinarian medical fund.
posted September 17, 2006
"Honouring our children" pow wow
Saturday September 30, 6 am, 12 noon to 5 pm
vendor at pow wow
Native Child and Family Services will be presenting their annual “Honouring our Children” Pow Wow at Dufferin Grove Park again this year. This event is a very popular, very colourful occasion with many craft vendors, dancers in beautiful costumes, free food and a big “give-away” of donated goods at the end. However, having over a thousand people in the park all afternoon can lead to some problems. Last year these problems led park staff to the idea that perhaps the pow wow would be better located at a regional park like Christie Pits, which is set up with internal roads for all the vehicles. It has no adventure playground area, and therefore no loose parts like tipi poles, rocks, wooden pieces, pails, and shovels that can become weapons if there are too many kids packed into the playground together.
However it appears that the pow wow will not be moving up to a regional park like Christie Pits this year. Instead, Tino Decastro, the Recreation supervisor of this area, will assign 5 or 6 recreation staff to be at the playground this year to supervise. Park staff Mayssan Shuja and Native Child and Family Services staff person Beverly Fanjoy are collaborating directly on how to make the playground work better for this event.
City: No kids allowed
posted September 7, 2006
Notice Of Public Meeting About Community-Built Composting Toilet
Tuesday September 12 2006, 6.30 p.m by the Cob Courtyard
This is the public meeting about the community-built composting toilet for the playground area. The meeting is on site, near the cob courtyard. The food cart will be there and the park staff will entertain the kids, so their parents can address the regulatory obstacles to building the toilet. If it rains, the meeting will be in the rink house.
Yes! Kids allowed after all
posted September 13, 2006
Results of Public Meeting About Community-Built Composting Toilet, September 2006
Tuesday September 12 2006. Issues resolved the next day...
cob stomp with no fence
Since it rained, the meeting was held in the rink house instead. We now know that 95 adults and a whole lot of children can crowd into the rink house if necessary. The complainants who had called for the meeting didn't come, but City Parks manager Sandy Straw came, and so did her Parks supervisor Peter Leiss, and so did Recreation supervisor Tino Decastro. City Councillor Adam Giambrone was the moderator. Children as well as adults talked about wanting to help build the cob structure, wanting to have a toilet by the playground, and wanting to do something better with the environment. Georgie Donais answered questions about the way the toilet works. Many people asked the City staff and the councillor to go back to City Hall and find a way to remove the blocks to the project. They said they'd try.
They were as good as their word. Early Wednesday morning Georgie went to the Park supervisor's office for a meeting with architect Martin Liefhebber. They looked at the plans and the architect said they needed only very minor changes for him to certify them. The Buildings Department said they would fast-track the approval as soon as the certification reaches them.
Peter Leiss said that when the foundation hole is level with the ground, the project would be categorized as no longer a construction site but an art project. That means that children can help again and the fence can come down. Later, when the roof goes in, the fence will go back up briefly until that bit of construction is finished.
See also Meeting The By-Law Blues and the editorials David And Goliath and David And Goliath Two. See the Main Composting Toilet Project page.
September 13, 2006
Pictures from the meeting (pictures by Wallie Seto)
 Part of the crowd |
 One of the speakers |
posted September 15, 2006
St.Anne's Church
St. Anne's Church flower event
Saturday and Sunday, Sept.30 and Oct.1, Gladstone and Dundas
The Garden Club of Toronto celebrates its 60th anniversary of community involvement at St. Anne's Anglican Church. [See map.]
This National Historic Site is Canada's only Byzantine Anglican church and houses the sole collection of religious art by members of the renowned Group of Seven. The front garden will be restored to complement St. Anne's unique design and a Floral Carpet will lead you into this beautiful church where floral artistry will enhance the rich interior.
There will be seed packets for children to take home.
The church will be open to the public on:
Saturday September 30th, from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday October 1st, from 11:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Admission is free.
Some of the stained glass and art inside St. Anne's church.
posted September 6, 2006
ONE-TIME-ONLY WRESTLING SHOW
At the end of August there was a real pro-wrestling show in the park, on the rink pad. When the organizer first approached park staff with his dog-shelter-fundraising proposal three weeks earlier, the staff asked around among park users and found surprising enthusiasm for the idea. The park skateboarders were particularly excited, since they like a challenging spectacle.
Opening the park to many different people’s events is one of the ways the park has become so lively. And not everyone likes theatre and dance. So the park staff agreed to make this a jointly-run event (the lead time would have been too short for a City permit). They made conditions – no tickets, only pay-what-you-can donations, family orientation, event over by 11 p.m., no loud amplified music. All was agreed to.
On the day of the wrestling, this arrangement fell apart a little. Park staff Eroca Nicols had to stand beside the money person all evening to make sure that payment was voluntary. Negotiations about the amplified music settled on only amplified announcements, no music – but those announcements could be heard inside every house in the neighborhood. The show started an hour late.
Still, there were lots of neighborhood people who came, and lots of new people too, who don’t usually use the park. The rink house changeroom, so often full of dancers or parade marshals or theatre people outside of rink season, was full of wrestlers waiting for their slot. There were moments of good fun.
At the end it wasn’t so good. The last fight involved throwing chairs and smashing fluorescent glass tubes over wrestlers’ heads. One of the two final wrestlers, not a young man, had been seen drinking earlier. At the end of the match, he was lying on the floor of the ring, knocked out, and the blood was more than ketchup. When it was over, the spectators left, the rink lights went off, the ring was disassembled and trucked away. The “loser” refused to go to the hospital, after he came back into consciousness, but hobbled to a truck, groaning, leaning on his escort. The “winner” of the final match, who was also the organizer of the whole show, had to clean up almost solo. At the end he was bundling the sound system into his rented van in the dark, groaning from where the flying chairs had hit him, while the park staff swept up the broken bits of fluorescent tubes. Show business sure looked unappealing that night! And now we really know that pro-wrestling doesn’t fit into the park.
October
Park Events in October
posted October 18, 2006
NIGHT OF DREAD Saturday October 28, 5.30 to 9pm.
The seventh annual community parade and celebration. Assemble from 3 p.m. on, parade leaves the park at 5.45 pm. Black and white dress code. (I.e. don’t come as Batman unless you really have to). Organized by Clay and Paper Theatre, with David Anderson as the parade master.
This is the annual parade that everyone gets to be in. Between 800 and a thousand people gather by the rink and basketball court and then parade along Bloor, south down to College, and then back to the park. There are performances and bonfires at the park, wonderful bake-oven food (from 3.30 on), and music.
This year, there’s also a new attraction: tarot readings. Deirdre Norman, convenor of The Women of Winter Outdoor Shinny Hockey Tournament, is a professional Tarot consultant. She’ll be raising money for the next tournament by offering mini-Tarot reads at the Night of Dread. $10.00 for 10 minutes. Deirdre calls this “Night of Dread plays Shinny,” and she says: “When the veil is thinnest and spirits walk the earth, see what the cards have to tell you!”
For more information, or to help make masks, wear a giant puppet, or bang a drum, call 416 537-9105, or visit www.clayandpapertheatre.org, or e-mail claypaper@sympatico.ca.
posted October 18, 2006
PUREWAWA FESTIVAL Sunday October 29, 12 noon to 7 pm
Check out the Information poster and the festival map (both PDF).
From organizer Chie Yamano:
Information Poster
Festival Map“There will be a colourful mix of music, art and performance for every one of all ages! Clowns, aerial performers and more circus fun! There will also be healthy food, information booths, creative activities and a range of informative workshops designed to foster healthy families, communities and creativity!
At the peak of the festival will be the candle ceremony of HOPE where as a community, we focus our intention towards manifesting a peaceful future for generations to come. We urge you to participate in this ceremony, which is planned to take place at 5:00 pm. Candles will be offered for purchase on the day, in support of the ceremony. All proceeds generated from the sales of these candles will be donated to this year’s selected charity, JAPAN-HEART. Japan-Heart is an organization, led by one doctor, Hideto Yoshioka, who is dedicated to providing life-saving medical care to under-privileged children living in remote villages in Myanmar. We have chosen Japan-Heart for this year’s charity, as it is a small organization that is actively saving lives one child at a time. Money donated goes directly to the source, as little is needed for administration.“
Artists participating:
Jerome Godboo on Blues harp/
Rachelle Elie, Clown Comedy, A Girl In The Sky Productions, Aerial Performance/
Richard Underhill on Sax, Samba Allegua, LIVE Brazillian percussion/
Shugamai Johnson, Vocalist, Telefunk Sound System, LIVE electronic breaks and beats/
Yoshi & Chie, LIVE Sitar and Digeridoo/ Tomolennon, LIVE painting/ Djs: Lex, Task & Violet/
+ more
posted November 11, 2006
PARK EVENTS IN RAINY OCTOBER
Canadians, including newcomers, can handle the weather. There seemed to be rain almost everyday this past October. But here’s what still went on:
October 1: the Farmers’ Market Tasting Fair: a cloudy day but only one shower. There were as many recreational eaters as last year, and the money raised went toward buying some excellent market tents. Liz Martin donated $70 to the park from sales of her Street Food book. Everyone cooked enough delicious food , but not a scrap was left over. The gifted conductor of this “orchestra” was market manager Anne Freeman.
October 28: Night of Dread. The seventh annual community parade and celebration seemed doomed by rain and high winds. The rain stopped an hour before the parade and almost 300 people came out, many in wonderful costumes. A police car lost a muffler coming into the park, but otherwise the parade went off perfectly. Afterwards the fire twirlers and the musicans performed in the park, the fears were burned without torching any people, the soup and bread were served from the park oven, and then everyone went home. The rain began again fifteen minutes later.
Organized by Clay and Paper Theatre, with David Anderson as the parade master. David was optimistic all day long, never discouraged, but afterwards he admitted he was as shocked as everyone else, that the event worked out so well again.
October 29: Purewawa festival: This was a first-time festival organized by musician Chie Yamano and many friends, for a Japanese charity called Japan-Heart. From Chie: "Japan-Heart is an organization, led by one doctor, Hideto Yoshioka, who is dedicated to providing life-saving medical care to under-privileged children living in remote villages in Myanmar. We have chosen Japan-Heart for this year’s charity, as it is a small organization that is actively saving lives one child at a time. Money donated goes directly to the source, as little is needed for administration." Despite bitter winds that knocked out power elsewhere, the friends put on their festival, with a story tent, food, and beautiful music. If the wind had knocked out the park power too, it would not have been a problem, since the music sound system was run off a solar panel mounted on top of a shiny green bus parked on the basketball court.
Nasty weather often makes events friendlier. People gathered around the campfire, or danced to the music on the basketball court. The old man who often plays his mouth organ in the park, for the park staff and the squirrels, spent most of the day at the festival. He walks with two canes, but on that day he used the canes to steady himself as he swayed to the music. Music crosses the Japanese / Portuguese divide, and the age/youth divide, just as easily as it crosses other barriers.
At the end of the festival Chie found that despite the bitter weather, she had collected over $500 in donations for the Japanese doctor who works with kids in Myanmar.
posted October 28, 2006
Night Of Dread Call for Volunteers
Clay and Paper Theatre still needs volunteers for our seventh annual Night of Dread this Saturday October 28th in Dufferin Grove Park!
We need:
- organizational people
- set-up helpers
- helpers to put it all away
- puppet and mask “dressers”/ distributors to assist in the distribution and
retrieval of costumes on the day
- parade wranglers (helping us get everyone in the right order)
- performers
- stilt walkers
- giant puppet operators
- rod puppet operators
- “Death on a Broken Car” pushers
There will be Clay and Paper people working on preparations at the Rink House in Dufferin Grove Park every afternoon from 1 to 5 o'clock until the Night of Dread.
Please drop by to offer your services, or to sing, or to dance a jig. For info call or leave a message at 416-537-9105
David Anderson
Clay and Paper Theatre
email: claypaper@sympatico.ca
website: www.clayandpapertheatre.org/news.html
November
posted November 11, 2006
PLANNING FOR THE DECEMBER 10 CRAFT FAIR:
From neighbourhood crafter Abbey Huggan: “Calling all Dufferin Grove craftspeople and artists! No previous craft fair experience necessary! Come out and brave the weather and sell your wares under the new market awnings around the rinkhouse... table rates will be very reasonable.”
You can contact Abbey at abbeyhandmade@yahoo.com if you want to participate.
December
posted November 29, 2006
Winter Craft Fair Sunday December 10, 2006
posted December 10, 2006
Annual Rink Clubhouse Craft Fair
Sunday Dec.10, 11 am to 4 pm
Handmade items for holiday gifts made by neighborhood artisans, on sale in the market tents in front of the rink house, with a campfire and hot cider. Organizer: Abbey Huggan: abbeyhandmade@yahoo.com. Also some daybooks and calendars will be for sale, with a part of the proceeds going to the park.
A Little Retrospective of Arts in the Park
2005 and before
posted March 21, 2006
All kind of things go on at the park. Here's a little retrospective of a few of them:
Little Folk Festival The The Little Folk Festival was held at the park last June (2005). Nine acts, great weather, people and music, led to a charming day of friends, food, and music. |
Pow Wow at the Park The Native Child and Family Services Children and Youth Pow Wow has been going at the park for a few years. Here's a picture from October 2004. |
The Raising of The Yurt For a few year's we've been setting up a yurt from Uzbekistan during part of the summer. Here is a picture gallery from the 2004 event. |
Night Of Dread The Annual Night of Dread parade, starting and ending at Dufferin Grove Park in October had an amazing collection of costumes last year. Laura Berman sent us a set of photos from the event, which we've assembled into a photo gallery. |
The Cooking Fire Theatre Festival The Cooking Fire Theatre Festival is coming back this year. Here is a photo gallery from 2004. |
Dusk Dances Dusk Dances is coming to the Park again this July, for the seventh year. Here's a picture gallery from 2004. |
Library of Stories
Sections  |
News 2006 the brochure posted February 13, 2006 Berman Photographic Exhibit 2006 was held at the rinkhouse Feb 24 - March 11, 2006 |
Special Events 2006posted April 4, 2006 Easter Egg Painting Friday April 7, 2006 Matzo Bake Sunday April 7, 2006 (Eighth Annual) posted March 22, 2006 Art Camp July 31 - Aug 4, 2006 Dusk Dances July 11 - 16, 2006 Night Of Dread |
Stories from our newsletters |
Special Events History | |
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2000: October, November: Theatre and dance in the park; The Night of Dread. Read more >> 2001: September, October, November: The annual Morris Dancers' "Ale"; Noisy sound systems; Third Annual "Celebrating our Children" Pow Wow; The Second Annual Night of Dread Parade. Read more >> 2002: June, July, August: Park "legacy in our neighbourhood" celebration; Clay and Paper Theatre prepares for and presents Day of De Light; Dusk Dances; Clay and Paper Theatre will present "The Sylliad"; GOLD, the play...and their chef. Read more >> |
2003: July, August, September, November: Dusk Dances; The Sylliad, Clay and Paper Theatre; East of the Sun, West of the Moon; Story-tent for children, by Three Funny Hats; The first-ever hockey players' hootenanny; The Sixth Annual Native Child and Family Services "Honouring our Children" Pow Wow; Clay and Paper Theatre Night of Dread mask-making workshops; The noise of amplified music in the park; Night of Dread. Read more >> 2004: March, April: Otomi People 8000 Drums Ceremony; the broadcast of Cavan Young's short film about our zamboni and the visit from the inspectors, on CBC's Newsworld. Read more >> |
 posted June 9, 2005 posted November 4, 2004 posted October 5, 2004 posted October 11, 2004  June 22-26, 2005 |
Archives | ||
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Citizen Z - A Film about us (about Dufferin Park folks) |
Arts Archives 2004 (20 entries) |
Cooking Fire Theatre Festival, 2005 Arts Archives 2005 (21 event listings) |
Picture Galleries | ||