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News And Notices 2008

News And Notices 2008

From the December 2008 Newsletter:

Business of the month – Multiple Organics, at 1545 Dundas Street West.

Three or four times a year, this newsletter reports on a local business that’s an asset to the neighbourhood. We’ve featured all sorts of businesses, from auto repair shops to shoe stores. In keeping with this newsletter’s “local” theme, this month’s pick is a grocery store: Multiple Organics, west of Dufferin at Sheridan. They have local produce (impressively fresh), bottled milk, Red Fife and other Ontario-grown flours, Monteforte cheese, Raani samosas and naan pockets, beans by the “Bean ladies” all local producers. The owners are Carriane Leung and Nupur Gogia. They write on their website (multipleorganics.ca) “We are located in an area that has come to be known as Brockton Village. This area is very special, rich in many layers of history. On the Dundas "strip", you will find new-ish businesses like Lula Lounge, Pho Phuong, West Side Stories, She Takes the Cake, Beadle beside various Portuguese sports bars and barber shops. It is a vibrant, dynamic and humble little corner of Toronto and we are so proud to be here.” -- Nice!

From the October 2008 Newsletter:

TWO NEIGHBOURHOOD EVENT INVITATIONS

'Community Campfire, Saturday, October 18, 6pm - 10pm, Susan Tibaldi Parkette From DigIn president Donna Cowan: “Have some country fun in the city. Invite your friends and neighbours! Don’t forget to bring… some marshmallows and make some s’mores…some wieners and roast them on a stick … your own soft drinks. ….lawnchairs and enjoy a night under the stars. We supply the hot chocolate.”

'Pizza nights at Christie Pits, every Friday evening in October From Monica Gupta, Chair of Friends of Christie Pits Park: “This is a group which was started about a year ago by concerned residents who like the park. We have a strong vibrant community and want to work together to improve the green space and recreation activities. We work closely with Bob Abate Community Recreation Centre in providing events like pizza nights and community meetings.

I wanted to extend an invitation to all Friends of Dufferin Grove Park to come to Pizza Nights every Friday in October at Christie Pits Pizza Oven. Make your own pizza and share ideas with each other.”

For information about times, call Bob Abate Rec Centre at 416 392-0744.

From Davenport Neighbours for Peace: Call to support U.S. Iraq war resisters in Canada

posted September 03, 2008

September 13th is a pan-Canadian Day of Action to support U.S. Iraq war resisters and to demand that the Harper government immediately stop the deportation of resisters like Jeremy Hinzman and Corey Glass. U.S. Iraq War resister Jeremy Hinzman and his wife and two children have been ordered to leave Canada by September 23rd. In spite of Hinzman’s four and a half years living, working and raising a family in Canada, the Harper government plans to deport him to the United States where he will likely face a court martial and a potential military jail sentence and felony conviction. This flies in the face of democracy and the will of Canadians: Parliament passed a motion in support of war resisters June 3rd, 82% of Canadians oppose the Iraq war (Strategic Counsel poll), and 64% of Canadians support war resisters (Angus Reid poll). Actions, demonstrations, and pickets will take place in cities and towns all across Canada.

See http://www.resisters.ca for further information.

From Sarah Marlowe of Davenport Neighbours for Peace

From the August 2008 Newsletter:

SPECIAL EVENTS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

Friday August 8 from 3 to 8pm, Campbell Park has a neighbourhood “pool party” with a BBQ, music, and lots of free activities for kids (including slip and slide, “Fear Factor” with Charlene, dance class with Eroca)

MacGregor Park: free movie nights on two Saturdays: August 17 and 23, 7pm, and PWYC BBQ.

Dance in My Backyard! Backyard dance festival with Eroca Nicol and her dance company. August 23 2.30 pm, at 171 Havelock Street.

From the August 2008 Newsletter:

THREE GREAT WADING POOLS: DUFFERIN, MACGREGOR, CAMPBELL.

Dufferin Grove wading pool is open seven days a week all summer except during stormy weather, from 11 a.m. until 6 pm (with extended hours on days over 29 degrees Celsius). The 2008 wading pool renovation plans will be on display most days. (The renovations are to begin right after Labour Day weekend.) Also posted on the bulletin board are archival photos and old newspaper clippings of the ground-breaking for the original wading pool in 1954. It was called the “Abe Orpen Memorial Wading Pool,” in honour of the original owner of the Dufferin Park Race Track, whose family donated the money to build it. That track, located where the Dufferin Mall is now, drew people from all over Toronto. Betting on horses was a big part of the local economy.

On hot days in summer, Dufferin Grove’s wading pool sometimes gets too crowded. Two other nearby local wading pools are getting help from Dufferin Grove staff this summer. MacGregor Park wading pool www.macgregorpark.ca on Lansdowne north of College has games and arts activities every weekday from 10 until 4, snacks and coffee available. Their schedule: gardening, Monday from 12-4pm with Yo Utano. Martial Arts, Monday and Friday 6pm-7:30pm, with Andrew Dodd, all ages welcome. Crafts with Flora: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning 10am -11. Tuesday and Friday are dedicated to crocheting, with some of the older women in the neighbourhood joining in the circle. Flora will be starting the kids on finger knitting bracelets, then to crochet, string and then design, also kernel pictures, masks, jewelry, etc. Story Time: Tuesday afternoon, 2pm-3pm. Kids will be working with Charlene turning a local urban legend into a story book, with book reading, performance after 6 weeks. Basketball:Wednesday afternoon, 2pm-3pm. round-up at the courts, basketballs provided, drills, passing, shooting and game.

Campbell Park wading pool www.campbellpark.ca on Campbell Ave. north of Wallace Ave. has music for kids (including instrument-making) every Friday at 2.45, snacks available, crafts in the afternoons, and lots of impromptu fun as well.

From the July 2008 Newsletter:

“BIG ON BLOOR” STREET FESTIVAL: A FINE PARTY

One of the organizers of Dig In’s Bloor-Street-from-Christie-to-Lansdowne festival said partway through the festival day that she was overwhelmed at how many people came out. “You can invite your neighbours to a party…but that they would all come…!” Dyan Marie’s idea of musicians and artists of all sorts – no big acts – plus tables along the whole length of the street closure, rented out to anyone with something to show or to sell, then transformed into dinner tables, proved to be just what was wanted. Brilliant.

From the June 2008 Newsletter:

Neighbourhood events

MacGregor Park Planting Picnic, Friday June 6, 10:30-1:30.

From park baker Yo Utano: “This is in collaboration with the school beautification project of West Toronto Collegiate's adult ESL class. On June 6th, herbs, vegetables and flowers will be planted in the planters and the new garden beds. There will also be some snacks, music and garden chats. If you have anything to share (tools, plants, food, music, knowledge, friends...), bring them along and join this effort!” If you can't make it on the 6th but are interested in helping the garden, please contact Yo: 416 392-0913.

Annual PORTUGAL DAY Parade: Sunday June 8, 11 a.m.

This parade, with its theme of Portuguese history, is one of the most interesting parades in Toronto. It starts on Lansdowne just south of Bloor, goes past MacGregor Park, bends onto Dundas Street, and leads into two days of celebration at Trinity Bellwoods Park. There are huge horses, ships on wheels, floats depicting every aspect of past and present Portuguese life, regional costumes, folk dancers, Fado music. The Portuguese are international masters of float-making. See The Portugal Day Parade Gallery

“BIG ON BLOOR” STREET FESTIVAL JUNE 21, 1pm to 9 pm.

From the organizers: The first-ever Bloor Street festival in this neighbourhood includes Toronto’s longest dinner party. A continuous row of tables will stretch all the way from Christie to Lansdowne. In the daytime, anyone who rents a table ($25) can set out their wares for sale (used, new, homemade, bargains, art) or put up a display (see the story on page 6 about the CELOS neighborhood history tables). Then at 6 pm, the tables convert to dinner tables – rent a table with your neighbours, bring food from home or buy some of the delicious street food from all the many Bloor Street restaurants participating. Meet new people, stroll on the street, listen to music, enjoy the solstice day. More information: info@bigonbloor.com or drop in at the BIG storefront at 957 Bloor West.

Advice needed Rogers disconnected my phone

Gabrielle wrote on May 7, 2008:

HI all,

Rogers disconnected my home phone service without my permission. Every day I have contacted them using the 1-800 number and email. Everytime they tell me it will be reconnected the next day. 7 days later it is still not connected. And now I am told I will have to get a new telephone number.

I am in desperate need of some advice. Does anyone know how to reach anyone at Rogers who can actually do something to help a customer? Every person I speak with gives me a reference number, but there is no way to call or email the same person back. The only way I can send a formal complaint is via Canada Post. What kind of service is that for a company that provides internet, phone wireless etc?

Some one in my basement requested cable (with a different name) and Rogers assumed I no longer needed my home phone (I guess they thought I was moving) and hence the reason for disconnection.

Bell wasn't so great and Rogers was cheaper for international calls.

Any advice greatly appreciated. I am so frustrated!!!!

From the May 2008 Newsletter:

NEIGHBOURHOOD EVENTS

Saturday May 3, 10 a.m. to 3 pm: KENT SENIOR PUBLIC SCHOOL Centennial Celebration 1908 - 2008 This good old neighbourhood school (at Dufferin and Bloor) will have a “memorabilia room” with old pictures and other objects. There are many alumni coming from the graduation year 1933 (!) to the present. It’s a good chance to find out a bit more about the history of the neighbourhood, even if you didn’t go to Kent as a student. And if you did go: your old friends might be there. For more information: www.tdsb.on.ca

Saturday May 3 and Sunday May 4, ST. ANNE’S CHURCH (270 Gladstone just north of Dundas) May 3, 9.30am – 3.30pm. Symposium: Sacred Space -- Art and Architecture inspired by faith. This free symposium explores the personalities, the artists, and the theology which came together 100 years ago to create St.Anne’s Church. More information at .

May 4: St. Anne’s Church organ recital at 2 pm. A special recital by organists past and present will display St.Anne’s newly enhanced Casavant Organ. Selected works played by Peter Orme, Nina Wu-Cotton, Clement Carlisle.

Thursday May 8, 9pm: Sixth Annual Small World Music South Asian Music Series, LULA LOUNGE (Dundas west of Dufferin) From park friend (and wonderful musician) Ravi Naimpally, about his group “Tasa”: “Tasa will be playing new repertoire from their upcoming CD. We will be joined by ace pianist Adrean Farrugia on keys. We are happy to be sharing the night with a new and exciting Indo-jazz group called Monsoon. They play original tunes fusing elements of music from India with modern jazz. $15 advance $20 door.”

2nd Annual ‘Brockton Triangle’ Neighbourhood YARD SALE! Saturday, May 10th, 10am-3pm

(Rain date, Sunday May 11th)

More details at www.brocktontriangle.com – please check periodically for updates.

---

Mark Stafford - Concord Cafe - This Thursday. (April 3rd) early show 4:30 - 8pm - All Ages

Please consider this a personal invite to attend an "all ages" blues concert with Mark bird Stafford and Aaron Griggs.

When: Thursday April 3rd and Thursday May 1st. (4:30 to 8pm) - early show!
Where: The Concord Cafe, 937 Bloor St. West. (just west of Ossington - Beside Long and McQuade) 416 532-3989

Our last date in March went really well with lots of families attending. The kids got together and hung out and the parents sat and enjoyed the low volume music. Thank you families! Great to see you all. Street parking on south side of bloor or green P's Ossington and Bloor, on the subway line. $5 door charge (for the band)

Family price: $8 (all ages event) - Everyone welcome Mark Stafford has been singing and playing harmonica for 25 years. He is well known in the community and internationally as a performer and blues educator. In fact he has been invited to conduct a workshop for 150 high school students at the upcoming Buddy Guy show at Massey Hall April 5th.

He will be performing at the Concord with the solid partnership of Aaron Griggs, a great guitar player that knows Mark's material and more. And you can be sure that these matinees will attract some great musicians from near and far that will sit in for some exciting music. Last month we had Steve Hammond join us on the kit.

This particular event is targeted for the family who enjoys "Roots Music" namely blues.

Everyone has been asking: Mark where are you playing???

Truth be known we have been recording. Sessions that include - Aaron Griggs, Ken Whiteley, Bucky Berger, Ted Leonard, Dennis Pinhorn, Julian Fauth and Mark Stafford.

The Concorde Cafe is an incredibly dynamic neighborhood/ community bastion. Genivieve [Proprietor/ owner] is a beautiful person and has given much support to musicians and artists throughout the area as well many contributions to the community/neighborh ood. Latin, Jazz, blues and rock musicians play regularly. A lot of very talented musicians on a regular basis. Great food and very warm and friendly communal atmosphere and the most friendly hostess you shall ever meet. It is important to support this great business in our area, it plays a very positive role in our community - Anthony Smith.

Art lives Here

New storefront, community art centre opening reception and ribbon cutting March 25, 4pm – 7pm
1593 Dundas West

Everyone Welcome!

Read More >> (pdf). Information: artliveshere.toronto@gmail.com

3rd ANNUAL CLOTHING SWAP

This year's clothing SWAP will be held again at the Dufferin Grove Rinkhouse. Dropoff your clothing on Saturday May 10th between 10 and 2 ON HANGERS PLEASE. You will get a maximum of 10 tickets --- 1 ticket per item. Donations are not limited. Read More

posted March 20, 2008

THE BIG FESTIVAL - CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS AND INFO SESSION ON MARCH 26, 2008

The Bloor Improvement Group (BIG)

Run by volunteers, The Bloor Improvement Group (BIG) is a dynamic coalition defined by a geographic area and a common goal: to makeBloor Street West from Lansdowne to Christie a better place to live, work and play. BIG is a community action project to mobilize local participation by initiating creative strategies for community and economic development. BIG represents: residents' associations, Business Improvement Areas (BIAs), cultural producers, creative activists, social service agencies, and all the stakeholders in our community. BIG formed in 2006 to increase our capacity to effect positive change on complex social issues. Community leaders from an area spanning two City wards on Bloor Street West came together to form The BIG coalition, an umbrella organization that defines a new locality.

The strategy: by harmonizing all our smaller actions we can effect BIG(ger) change.

The organizations represented in the BIG Coalition include: Bloordale BIA, Bloorcourt BIA, Christie Ossington Residents' Association, Dufferin Grove Residents Association, BeBloor, Bloor Collegiate Institute, Christie Ossington Neighbourhood Centre, Clay and Paper Theatre, Cooking Fire Theatre, Councilor Adam Giambrone, Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone, Councilor Adam Vaughan, , DIG IN, Dufferin Grove Park Staff, Dyan Marie Projects, Friends of Dufferin Grove, Green Here, Kent Senior School, Friends of MacGregor Park, MP Mario Silva, MPP Tony Ruprecht, MPP Rosario Marchese and Wallace Emerson Community Centre... and the list keeps growing!

posted March 20, 2008

Trinity Bellwoods Park gets new greenhouse

From: Joe Pantalone
Deputy Mayor

As you know, I'm always pleased to work with community organizations, residents, and others to beautify and improve our city. In the last handful of years, we have created the Princes' Gates Piazza (a joint Milan-Toronto initiative which made that section of Strachan Avenue pedestrian and bicycle friendly as well as enhanced this beautiful Toronto monument), Piazza Johnny Lombardi at College Street & Grace Street and the restoration of the Trinity Bellwoods Gates (at Queen & Strachan).

The latest improvement is the solar-powered greenhouse in Trinity Bellwoods Park (see pictures attached). This wonderful addition is thanks to the television production "Green Force" and the Friends of Trinity Bellwoods working closely with my office and city staff. If you're interested in learning about how it came to pass, you may want to tune into HGTV Canada (Channel 46 in Toronto) on Tuesdays at 10 pm starting March 18. This environmentally sustainable greenhouse will add much to the experience of children, seniors, and adults in our community on a year-round basis. It has been built literally in the last two-and-a-half months at no cost to the City of Toronto thanks to "Green Force".

We have great parks and a great city. This is one example of why this is so. I hope you agree with me.

From the March 2008 Newsletter:

DIGIN TO DOCS Film Screening Series

The Dupont Improvement Group (DIGIN) is hosting this film series (Donna Cowan is the president of DIGIN and also the film screening organizer). Donna sent this information: Monthly screenings of award-winning films. Join us as we delve into worlds rarely seen; and celebrate how courageous people are daring to make a difference. Bloor Collegiate, 1141 Bloor St west. Pay What You Can - suggested donations: $4 per person, $8 per family

March 17th 7pm CHEATING DEATH Cheating Death takes us inside the mind of a man still struggling with the temptations of the street, while at the same time trying to serve God. This documentary is a journey into the world of drugs, gangs and guns - a world much talked about and feared but rarely understood.

Confirmed guests include Gyasi Ferdinand, subject of Cheating Death; Karim Ismaili, Associate Professor & Interim Chair, Dept of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Ryerson University; Staff Sergeant Frank Besenthal, Toronto Police Services (14 Division)

WHO ARE YOUR FAVOURITE LOCAL MERCHANTS? ARE YOU STARTING A SMALL BUSINESS?

On this month’s newsletter cover is Jane LowBeer’s drawing for the dufferinpark.ca web site home page. The site now gets about 4000 visits a month, and one of the sections that people go to is the “neighbourhood” section’s local service providers. There are lists for house maintenance, doctors, restaurants, car mechanics, gardeners, and on and on. Next month’s park newsletter will have a two-page “local business” section, and that includes people who are just starting out. Since we have an emphasis on local food with the farmers’ market, what about other local enterprises? Is there anyone manufacturing anything locally – furniture, clothes, ingenious devices? Let the editor know, at editor@dufferinpark.ca. Or drop off a note/pamphlet/flyer at the rink house and we’ll get in touch to find out more.

posted March 09, 2008

Travel the World at Garrison Creek during March Break 2008

Click on the poster to the right to enlarge it, or for more information check the Garrison Creek Art Education Centre Web Site

posted March 10, 2008

Alpha II Alternative School

Carol Nash, BEd PhD
Founder

I would like to inform you of the January 22, Alpha II Alternative School open house in the Kent Senior Public School, 980 Dufferin St.

Our school is an alternative school with the Toronto District School Board. It opened September 2007 and is intended for self-directed students who learn most effectively when they are encouraged to pursue their own interests in responding to the Ministry of Education curriculum. Teachers place a strong value on cooperative and democratic principles in daily activities. There are no standardized tests. Instead, students discuss their progress with teachers and keep a record of their work in Ministry-approved secondary-level portfolios.

We began with a grade 7/8 class and September 2008 we will be adding grade 9. By 2011, our school will include grades 7-12.

Attached you will find the Alpha II Alternative School brochure( Part 1, Part 2) and the open house flyer.

If you have any questions about the school, I would be happy to respond.

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