Hello All,
Seasons greetings from the CRA team. We hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and a very Happy New Year.
Your friends at the CRA
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CRA HOLIDAY CARD CONTEST – WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Well, the ever popular CRA holiday card contest has wrapped up for another year and the results are in for everyone to enjoy.
Thanks to all the children at both Winchester and Sprucecourt Schools for participating so enthusiastically as well as to our organizers and, of course, to our dedicated and diligent judges.
Each of the winning entries has been made into holiday cards, which will be printed and distributed to CRA member households within the CRA boundary (Gerrard, Parliament, St. James Cemetery and the Don River).
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CABBAGETOWN HOLIDAY LIGHTS COMPETITION
Yes, it’s back for 2021 and we’re ready to receive your photos for posting to the voting portal, so we encourage you all to light up your front gardens to bring some extra festive cheer to Cabbagetown.
Find out all you need to know about how to enter and win!
Just want to vote? Here’s the link to the voting portal.
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DIXON HALL LOOKING FOR MOW VOLUNTEERS
This just in from Dixon Hall:
We thank all out volunteers for helping out with our Meals on Wheels (MOW) program in the past. With their help, we have been able to continue to bring comfort to those experiencing food insecurity and isolation during such challenging times.
Due to the pandemic and its continued restrictions, we are currently experiencing a shortage of volunteers for this upcoming holiday season. We are asking for your help once again.
If you are able to offer your time with the MOW program this year, and help deliver essential meals to seniors and people with disabilities in the community, please complete this volunteer registration form.
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HELP OUR LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPIONS GROW
As a signed up user, I received a message from Julianna at Suppli, a Cabbagetown organization who believes that together we can make single-use takeout containers a thing of the past:
As the giving season is upon us we want to thank you for being a part of this journey and ask for your help! Together with you and others from our amazing community, we’ve saved over 17,000 (and counting!) single-use containers from landfills and generated tens of thousands in additional revenue for east-end restaurants. Wild!
We’re trying to get the word out about Suppli and figured we’d start by asking our existing community members to refer a friend!
Already a user? Please spread the word. Not a user? Sign up now and if you indicate you were referred by a friend (at the CRA!), they’ll donate $1 to Second Harvest.
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TORONTO NYE FIREWORKS GO BIG FOR 2021/22
Toronto’s New Year’s Eve fireworks display is returning to the sky for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic but it is going to look a little different as the city works to limit crowds.
Mayor John Tory announced on Wednesday that there will be a “10-minute, high-altitude fireworks display” to ring in 2022, reports Chris Fox at CP24/CTV News.
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REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
The City of Toronto encourages residents to “recycle right” and reduce the amount of waste that they generate during the holidays.
Every year, the City manages more than 900,000 tonnes (two billion pounds) of waste. This requires money, energy and resources, and takes up valuable landfill space. The holiday season in particular can create a large amount of waste. The most effective way to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfill is to practice the 3Rs – reduce, reuse and recycle right. Small changes can make a big impact.
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TORONTO KIDS VACCINE DAY THIS SUNDAY
Team Toronto and Toronto Kids Vaccine Day partners are ready for action! The team will be welcoming nearly two thousand of the city’s youngest public-health superheroes to Scotiabank Arena to get their COVID-19 vaccine surrounded kid-friendly activities, entertainment, ticket and toy giveaways and special Toronto mascot and PAW Patrol visitors.
Toronto Kids Vaccine Day is taking place this Sunday, December 12 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Appointments are needed and some appointments are still available by calling the provincial vaccine booking line at 1-833-943-3900 or through the Province of Ontario’s How to book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment.
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LATEST NEWSLETTER FROM GTGK
Heather over at Green Thumbs Growing Kids asked us to share their latest newsletter highlighting efforts to provide environmental stewardship through hands-on garden and food education for urban children and their communities.
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LIVE GREEN NEWS – DEC. 2021
And here’s a bumper year-end round-up from our friends over at Live Green Toronto.
Posted on December 11, 2021
We’re so happy to welcome Winchester School back to the Holiday Card Contest after a brief hiatus, re-joining Sprucecourt for a bit of festive fun for the kids.
After much deliberation, the judges have selected a primary and junior winner from each school along with 2 runners-up. All 8 artists will receive a CRA ribbon. Each of the winners’ classes will get a Pizza Party Prize from the CRA too!
For Sprucecourt:
The Winners are:
- Sanika in Grade 3
- Sara in Grade 8
Runners up are: Beatrix in Grade 3 and Raisha in Grade 7
For Winchester :
The Winners are:
- Louisa in Grade 3
- Jaxen, Amari, Leo & Ella in Grade 7
Runners up are: Alyssa in Grade 3 and Evan in Grade 4
All the winning artwork will be framed and put on display over the holidays at Epicure on Parliament Street.
ORGANIZERS
Many thanks to CRA Member Lindsay Matheson, and CRA Board Members Lise Flynn and Katie Tozer for managing this years competition. And thanks, of course, to our three invaluable judges, Betty White, Cynthia Eldridge and Sarah Birnie , for working so diligently to select the winners.
JUDGES
Betty White is a professional artist and art teacher. She taught art to children for 28 years and continues to teach children in her Cabbagetown home since retirement.
Cynthia Eldridge is an art history major who uses design thinking to work with global thought leaders to address critical public health challenges. She believes whole heartedly that a picture is worth a thousand words.
Sarah Birnie is an Interior Designer living in Cabbagetown with her husband, 2 girls and golden retriever. She believes all of us benefit from finding our own creative outlet!
Each of the winning entries has been made into holiday cards, which will be printed and distributed to CRA member households within the CRA boundary (Gerrard, Parliament, St. James Cemetery and the Don River).
NEWS FROM THE CRA CREW
Pumpkin Walk a Success
Thanks to the CRA volunteers for organizing it and to all of you that came out to enjoy the Pumpkin Walk on 1st November. It was great to see so many neighbours and friends out there, enjoying the spectacle.
2021 Holiday Lights Competition
Yes, it’s back for 2021! We encourage you all to light up your front gardens to bring some extra festive cheer to Cabbagetown. Find out all you need to know about how to enter and win!
2021 Holiday Cards Competition
This festive favourite is back too and we’re delighted to welcome Winchester School back to the competition after a short hiatus. So kids, get your creative juices flowing and see what you can come up with!
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SINKING SHIP PRODUCTIONS GIVES BACK – BIG!
As you probably know, Sinking Ship Productions is currently filming a series called Jubilee in Cabbagetown, mostly located around the Coop at the corner of Winchester and Metcalfe. As a gesture of thanks to our community for the disruption filming can cause, they have already made several donations to local concerns, including a $2,500 donation to Sprucecourt School for their food program.
Over the last few weeks the CRA has been in discussions with the Location Manager, Dason Johnson, to see what more they could do to ‘give back’ to the community. We are delighted to announce that they have well and truly stepped-up to this by committing an additional $15,000 to be shared across several local organizations.
The CRA, in consultation with various local parties has identified the following organizations as recipients of these funds, with a heavy emphasis on helping address food insecurity in the neighbourhood:
Winchester School food program: $2,500
Dixon Hall: $5,000
Building Roots: $1,500
Cabbagetown Youth Club/Kiwanis: $4,500
St Luke’s Church: $500
Riverdale Farm: $500
Children’s Book Bank: $500
On behalf of the community, we would like to thank Dason and the Production team at Sinking Ship for this extremely generous donation.
About Jubilee
Jubilee is produced in partnership with Apple TV+ and The Jane Goodall Institute. It follows Jane, a precocious 10 year old inspired by her namesake Jane Goodall to protect the environment, endangered species and ultimately those around her. Each episode centers around Jane embarking on an adventure with different endangered species from Giant Bats to Polar Bears, Blue Whales and Rhinos!
Jane uses her fertile imagination to see these animals in the real world and together with her best friend, David, and her stuffed animal chimpanzee come to life, Greybeard – inspired by the first chimp who befriended Jane Goodall at Gombe – they embark on adventures in and around their neighborhood. During these adventures they learn important lessons about threats to at risk animals and about the ways humans can help. They also discover ways to conserve local species and environments through their interactions with their neighbours. Each episode ends with a lesson being imparted that echoes the theme of the series; “Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference.” The ultimate aim in creating this show is to offer hope, inspiration and a way forward for children, parents and everyone else in the fight to combat climate change, environmental destruction and species extinctions.
Posted on November 14, 2021
It’s the most wonderful time of the year: which means the annual Cabbagetown Holiday Lights contest is back for the SEVENTH year running!
In what has become a popular annual tradition, every December Cabbagetowners get to see our neighbourhood’s houses in all their illuminated glory.
You can enter your own home or nominate one of your neighbours. There are three ways you can enter:
1. Post a photo to Twitter with the hashtag #cabbagetownlights;
2. Post a photo to our Facebook page timeline with the hashtag #cabbagetownlights;
3. Simply email us your photo to info@cabbagetowner.com
Please include the address of the home in the photo so we can include the street name on the voting website and know how to contact the residents if their house wins.
Photos can be submitted anytime between Wednesday December 1st and Sunday December 26.
By submitting your photo, you consent to your photo being reproduced on a voting website that will contain all of the submissions. Photos will be identified by the house’s street only and no names or other personal identifying details will be published.
This year the three photo submissions that have the most votes by the end of the day on December 26 will each win:
- A lawn sign marking their achievement.
- A one-year membership to CRA
- PLUS – A $50 donation to their charity of choice c/o the CRA
and bragging rights, of course!
NOTE: For the purpose of determining resident winners, when the same house is photographed more than once, total votes will be counted. Only one vote will be allowed per IP address; however, you can switch your vote anytime up until the deadline.
QUICK NEWSLETTER UPDATE
Hello Valued Readers,
You probably noticed that we’ve made various changes the cadence of the CRA newsletter over the last year or so, in response to the cataclysmic events we’ve all been working through together. Moving the newsletter from monthly to weekly throughout 2020 and into mid 2021, then back to bi-weekly a few months ago. As things continue to settle down (hopefully) we’ve decided to move back to our normal monthly publication from this issue onwards.
Thank you for supporting the CRA and for subscribing to and reading the newsletter so consistently. As ever, if there is anything you would like to see us cover, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us by email at: info@cabbagetowner.com.
CABBAGETOWN CRIME ALERT
(Thanks to Doug Fisher at Cabbagetown Neighbourhood Review for this article)
A crew is going door-to-door through the neighbourhood offering to restore patios – and possibly do other projects as well. They’re rip-off artists. Stephen Armstrong from Wellesley and Sumach has sent us a caution about them. His wife was intimidated and his neighbours were cheated out of $3,000. It’s an old scam.
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FINAL REMINDER FOR THE ANNUAL PUMPKIN WALK
Cabbagetown’s beloved Pumpkin Walk will once again be happening in Riverdale Park West (Sumach and Winchester entrance), on November 1 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
We invite all Cabbagetown Residents to ring their Pumpkins over and, of course, feel free to dress up appropriately for the occasion!
As we have done in previous years, we’ll also be hosting a food drive, this year it’s for local service provider Dixon Hall , so please bring some non-perishable foods to donate as well.
All the Pumpkins will be recycled by the City of Toronto.
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FINAL FEW POOP SIGNS LEFT (NO, REALLY!)
Been meaning to email us to get your very own scoop your poop sign but haven’t quite get round to it yet? Well, we have a dozen or so left from our initial print run – so it’s now or never.
We created these free lawn signs to provide a gentle reminder to dog owners that perhaps forget to stoop and scoop their lovable pooches poop.
If you’d like one to display in your front garden please email us at info@cabbagetowner.com, indicating your preference for design A or B.
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CafeTO SET TO BECOME PERMANENT
They’ve become popular fixtures during the pandemic: those expanded patios dotting sidewalks and curb lanes, spilling into city streets. They’re all part of the city’s CaféTO program — initially expected to be a temporary help to the city’s struggling restaurants. Now business owners and city residents say they’re thrilled these outdoor spaces could become a permanent part of the city — though they do have a few suggestions for improvements. Update from the Toronto Star.
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FILM PRODUCTION SCHEDULE UPDATE
Film production continues at the Coop on the corner of Winchester and Metcalfe next week (see below). For those of you that don’t know, Jubilee is an education series about a young girl whose idol is Jane Goodall. From the series web site:
“Jubilee follows Jane Garcia, a 10-year-old girl with an active imagination. Through pretend play, Jane and her trusty teammates work to protect an endangered animal in each mission-driven episode because, according to her idol: “Only if we understand, will we care. Only if we care, will we help. Only if we help, can they be saved.”
The production is creating a bit of disruption in the neighbourhood, as usual, but it’s good to see that it’s squarely aimed at developing strong educational content for kids.
The CRA is in talks with the production company to see if we can get further donations for local charities/concerns, to serve as compensation to local residents for the inconvenience caused.
Filming Location(s) & Times: 77 WINCHESTER ST
FILMING – Start Date Time: Oct-25 07:00, To: Oct-28 23:00
PREP – Start Date Time: Oct-25 07:00, To: Oct-25 23:00
WEATHER, Start Date Time: Oct-29 07:00, To: Oct-29 23:00
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QR CODE BASED VACCINE CERTIFICATE LAUNCHED AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
The Ontario government has now made the enhanced vaccine certificate with official QR code (and the free, made-in Ontario verification app, Verify Ontario), available for download. Together, these tools will make it easier, more secure and convenient for individuals to provide proof of vaccination where required to do so, and for businesses and organizations to verify vaccine certificates while protecting people’s privacy.
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NEW TRAVEL VACCINE PASSPORT UNVEILED
Canada’s new proof of vaccination program for domestic and international travel has been unveiled and it is very similar to what some provinces are already using. The new pan-Canadian vaccine passport will be issued through the provinces and territories, as they have access to the immunization records.
The federal government says it has been working closely with the provinces and territories for some time on how to ensure the system is as easy to access as possible. Update by Clair Fenton from City News.
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CANADA NO LONGER ADVISING AGAINST NON- ESSENTIAL TRAVEL
The Canadian government has quietly lifted its advisory against non-essential international travel, marking the first time since March 2020 that the notice has been lifted.
A travel notice on the Government of Canada website had been advising travelers against all non-essential international travel, but is now replaced with a notice urging all travelers to be fully vaccinated before a trip, reports Ben Cousins at CTV News.
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CITY NEWS UPDATES
CITY PREPARES TO LIFT CAPACITY LIMITS
Yesterday, the Province announced a plan to safely reopen and manage COVID long term and provided details about the provincial plan to gradually lift COVID-19 safety measures: The City of Toronto welcomes the reopening plan and is prepared to support reopening activities, including the lifting of COVID-19 capacity limits in a number of settings as of next Monday, October 25.
TORONTO PREPARES FOR 5-11 YEAR OLD VACCINES, ONCE APPROVED
Team Toronto continues to prepare for the vaccination of five to 11 year-old children in Toronto as soon as the vaccines are approved for use by Health Canada, and guidance is received by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) and the Province of Ontario. Partners from across the City have come together to develop a multi-pronged strategy to reach the more than 200,000 Toronto children, along with education and engagement opportunities with their parents and guardians in the coming weeks.
TPH LAUNCHES ANNUAL FLU VACCINE CAMPAIGN
Toronto Public Health (TPH) is kicking off the City of Toronto’s annual flu vaccination campaign this week by bringing vaccine to those who are at increased risk of serious illness. Starting this week, TPH is collaborating with Inner City Health Associates (ICHA) to start offering the flu vaccination to homeless and under-housed individuals in shelters and drop-in settings to protect some of our city’s most vulnerable residents.
LIVE GREEN TORONTO COOKING DEMO FOR GARLIC WEEK
Live Green Toronto is excited to present the 11th episode in the LiveGreen@Home Workshop Series in collaboration with Nepali Momo and Ontario Garlic Week.
NEW BIKEWAY FOR CANARY, DISTILLERY, ST. LAWRENCE AREA
Planned construction of a new, permanent two-way cycle track along The Esplanade and Mill Street in Toronto officially began on Sunday, October 17.
The new bikeway will help improve overall road safety for the surrounding communities, support transit use, and grow Toronto’s cycling network in three of the city’s heritage neighbourhoods (Canary and Distillery Districts and St. Lawrence Market area).
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE ANNUAL PUMPKIN WALK
Cabbagetown’s beloved Pumpkin Walk will once again be happening in Riverdale Park West, on November 1 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
We invite all Cabbagetown Residents to ring their Pumpkins over and, of course, feel free to dress up appropriately for the occasion!
As we have done in previous years, we’ll also be hosting a food drive, this year it’s for local service provider Dixon Hall , so please bring some non-perishable foods to donate as well.
All the Pumpkins will be recycled by the City of Toronto.
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FILM PRODUCTION DISRUPTION HAS SILVER LINING
Sinking Ship Productions, is filming a TV series over several months at the corner of Metcalfe and Winchester. The CRA approached them recently to ask if they would make a donation to local charities, as a sort of compensation for the disruption these events bring to the community. They agreed! And now three local kids organizations are $500 better off:
- BGC Toronto Kiwanis
- Cabbagetown Community Arts Centre
- Green Thumbs Growing Kids
Thanks go out to to Lise A. Flynn from the CRA board who negotiated these donations with Sinking Ships on behalf of our community.
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WHILE WE’RE ON THE SUBJECT OF LOCAL GROUPS…
We received a blog post from our friends over at Green Thumbs Growing Kids about growing Urban Trees From Seed.
“Trees provide shade and oxygen in our urban environment, but many trees fail for various reasons. Some are the wrong species in the wrong place, and some are simply reaching the end of their lives. Some have been victims of poor maintenance, and pest or disease problems. Our municipality and our school board require trees to be a few years old and a certain width diameter to be planted, but where do those trees come from…….? Find out from Sunday Harrison what GTGK is doing to help.
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A THANKSGIVING ASK FROM DIXON HALL
We received a message from Mercedes Watson, CEO at Dixon Hall. They need your help to ensure that everyone at Dixon Hall has a safe and memorable Thanksgiving.
For one part of the Dixon Hall team, Thanksgiving will be spent with 550+ fellow community members. Over the past 15 years, the Dixon Hall Emergency Housing Services team has served a full Thanksgiving meal for clients that are currently facing homelessness. A hot meal, shared without judgement, that these clients otherwise would not have. This year, the meal includes turkey, with homemade stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy and fall vegetables, along with a vegan option of, “tofurkey” with all the fixings. And don’t forget the pumpkin pie!
This Thanksgiving, please consider donating to Dixon Hall and supporting programs that provide safe, warm spaces for individuals who need it most.
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WHAT’S OPEN AND CLOSED THIS THANKSGIVING?
What’s open on Thanksgiving Monday 2021 in Toronto is a bit of a mixed bag. While most of the city has the day off, there are some exceptions. If you need to do some last-minute turkey day shopping or want to spend the day out with the fam, let this be your guide on October 11.
Here’s what’s open and closed on Thanksgiving Monday in Toronto, care of Jaclyn Skrobacky at BlogTO.
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CITY NEWS UPDATES
CITY SEEKS CLIMATE ACTION CHAMPIONS
The City of Toronto is inviting residents and community leaders to help inspire local climate action by becoming a Neighbourhood Climate Action Champion.
Participants in the program will receive virtual training and support to empower them to support residents in developing innovative climate action projects that reflect the needs and values of their communities.
CITY COUNCIL APPROVES EXTENSION OF MASK BYLAW
Toronto City Council has approved the extension of the City of Toronto’s temporary mask bylaws and the COVID-19 amendments to Chapter 354, Apartment Buildings until the end of Council’s January 2022 meeting.
COUNCIL APPROVES EXTENSION OF FREE ParkFitTO PERMITS
City Council has voted to continue waiving permit fees for businesses providing outdoor fitness programs in City parks and greenspaces until December 31. As COVID-19 recovery efforts continue, this extension recognizes the ongoing need to access outdoor spaces, fresh air and exercise, and assist businesses impacted by the pandemic.
CONSTRUCTION NOISE REGULATIONS BACK IN PLACE
The provincial regulations that limited the City of Toronto’s ability to regulate construction noise during the COVID-19 pandemic expire. Effective today, regulations in the City’s Noise Bylaw, as it relates to construction activity, will apply again and construction noise will not be permitted from:
- 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. of the next day, except until 9 a.m. on Saturdays
- All day Sundays and statutory holidays
PROOF OF VACCINATION REQUIRED FOR INDOOR SPORTS
Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa has issued a Letter of Instruction requiring all people age 12 and older who participate in indoor organized sports, including players, coaches, and officials, to provide proof of vaccination as an additional measure to reduce community COVID-19 transmission.
LIVE GREEN NEWS – OCTOBER ISSUE
Here’s the latest insights and updates from our friends over at Live Green News, Toronto.
THE CRA WELCOMES THREE NEW BOARD MEMBERS!
Following the commitment made by the CRA board at the AGM in June, we have identified three residents to join our expanded board.
We are therefore delighted to welcome the following individuals to the CRA Board of Directors:
Caroline Murphy: Cabbagetowner since 1998, Lives on Winchester Street , works in Financial Services.
Sarah-Jane Greenway: Cabbagetowner since2010, lives on Rolston Avenue, Associate Dean at Humber College.
Matt Boire: Cabbagetowner since 2021, lives on Salisbury Avenue, works at Scotiabank.
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THE CABBAGETOWN PUMPKIN WALK IS BACK!
We just received an email from the City announcing the return of Pumpkin Parades across Toronto.
So our beloved Pumpkin Walk will once again be happening on November 1 in Riverdale Park West, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Bring your Pumpkins and, of course, feel free to dress up appropriately for the occasion.
We’ll also be hosting a food drive, so please bring some non-perishable foods to donate as well.
All the Pumpkins will be recycled by the City of Toronto.
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LAST CALL FOR SCOOP THE POOP SIGNS
Following a few complaints about an uptick in “un-scooped poop” on the sidewalks of Cabbagetown we created some free lawn signs to provide a gentle reminder to dog owners that perhaps forget to stoop and scoop their lovable pooches poop.
If you’d like one to display in your front garden please email us at info@cabbagetowner.com, indicating your preference for design A or B.
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HOW TO DOWNLOAD YOUR COVID-19 VACCINE PASSPORTS
This week marks the launch of the (to some, controversial) Vaccine Passports. We think that they’re a great idea, to keep both clients and staff members safe. In fact we’re seeing many retail establishments, beyond those outlined by the Province, adopting them as a right of entry and we applaud this move.
If you are wondering how to download your vaccine passport so that you can still continue to access bars, restaurants, gyms and? Becky Robertson at BlogTO explains everything for you.
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NEWS FROM DIXON HALL
2021 IMPACT REPORT
We received an email from Mercedes Winson, CEO at Dixon Hall :
As we present this year’s Impact Report, we cannot ignore the factors that made it so different than years prior. The pandemic marked new challenges of distance, separation and scarcity for the agency and our community. However, with all the hurdles we faced – individually and collectively – we have also witnessed, and been part of, a strident coming together of more agency partners, funding supports, donors and community engagement than we thought possible.
This year’s report celebrates the growth and accomplishments our departments, clients, partners and community achieved. You’ll read about new programs and partnerships brought together by the pandemic; personal stories from a number of our clients; our increased reach and impact in the community, including three new shelter sites; and our continued efforts to respond to the needs of our community in a time of emergency.
JOB FAIR
On October 7th, 2021 Dixon Hall will be hosting a job fair
The event will be hosted outside with a BBQ (weather permitting) and will run from 11am-2pm at our 188 Carlton St. office. We ask those interested in attending to please pre-register by sending an email to hr@dixonhall.org, and to bring their resume on the day of the event.
It’s a great opportunity to:
- Explore current employment positions and future opportunities
- Interview on-site for current openings
- Grow your network
- Make connections
- And more!
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CITY NEWS UPDATES
HOW TO CelebrateTO THIS FALL
The City of Toronto department of Economic Development & Culture has provided a round up of City-produced festivals and events for everyone featuring arts, culture, food, heritage, music and more! This September, rediscover your city through ShowLoveTO, a City-led initiative to support economic and cultural recovery by using creativity to inspire engagement. Connect with neighbours, support local artists and businesses and explore the city’s many neighbourhoods.
REGISTRATION FOR FALL RECREATION PROGRAMMING OPENS SOON
The City has announced that registration for City of Toronto fall recreation programs opens on September 25 and 28. This fall marks the return of regular recreation programming for the City of Toronto, where COVID-19 has impacted programming since March 2020. The City is Toronto’s largest provider of recreation programs for people of all ages, skill levels and interests.
Registration for fall recreation programs and December holiday programs starts at 7 a.m. on the following dates:
• Saturday, September 25 – Etobicoke York and Scarborough
• Tuesday, September 28 – North York and Toronto and East York
DineTOgether KICKS OFF AT OVER 270 LOCATIONS
DineTOgether, part of the City of Toronto’s ShowLoveTO initiative, kicks off to support local restaurants and celebrate Toronto’s diverse culinary scene.
DineTOgether will run for two weeks starting today Friday, September 17 to Sunday, October 3 and will showcase the breadth and diversity of Toronto’s restaurants. Over the next two weeks residents are encouraged to patronize local eateries by ordering a feature menu available through takeout, delivery, patio dining and/or indoor dining as part of DineTOgether.
Tokyo Ramen, Phosome and Stout Irish Pub are listed as participants
FREE PUBLIC ART IN YORKVILLE THIS WEEKEND
Toronto’s Yorkville community will welcome people to explore the neighbourhood and enjoy free outdoor public art animations from Thursday, September 23 to early morning on Monday, September 27.
A temporary vehicle closure of Yorkville Avenue, between Bellair Street and Hazelton Avenue, will be in place Thursday to Sunday, from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. nightly, and on Sunday at noon until Monday at 2 a.m. for pedestrians. A free mural activation will be available for all starting Friday through the weekend.
CABBAGETOWN ARTS & CRAFTS IS BACK THIS WEEKEND
Sadly there is no Street Festival on Parliament this year but everyone will be delighted to know that Cabbagetown Arts & Crafts will be on. And it’s happening this weekend!:
Sat, 11 & Sun 12 Sep., 2021: 11 a.m. – 6.p.m.
Please come out and give your support to all the amazing artisans that will be showcasing their very best creations over the two days. After 18 months of no festivals I’m sure all the vendors will appreciate all the support that Cabbagetown can provide.
Cabbagetown Art & Crafts was founded by Randy Brown in 1988 and is a not-for-profit corporation which benefits many local charitable organizations in various ways. The aim of CA&C is to encourage appreciation of the visual arts, to give artists a place to sell their work, and to foster community spirit.
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GOT DOG POOP ON YOUR STREET?
We’ve received a few complaints from residents over the last few months about an uptick in “un-scooped poop” on the sidewalks of Cabbagetown. So we created some free lawn signs for you, to provide a gentle reminder to dog owners that perhaps forget to stoop and scoop their lovable pooches poop.
If you’d like one to display in your front garden please email us at info@cabbagetowner.com, indicating your preference for design A or B.
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UPDATE ON CABBAGETOWN YOUTH CENTRE
Last year, the Cabbagetown Youth Centre (CYC) decided to merge with the Toronto Kiwanis Boys and Girls Club (now known as BGC-Toronto Kiwanis or BGCTK) and in December 2020, the operations of CYC and ownership of the clubhouse at 2 Lancaster Avenue were transferred to Kiwanis. Here is an update on what’s happening from Art Eggleton, Chair of Joint Merger Committee and Chair of Capital Campaign.
AND DON’T FORGET BLAIR’S RUN!
The 42nd annual Blair’s Run, in support of the Cabbagetown Youth Centre runs from Friday September 10 thru Sunday September 19.
Help to launch the rejuvenated Cabbagetown Youth Centre under the umbrella of The Toronto Kiwanis Boys and Girls Clubs (BGC Toronto Kiwanis). You can find all about how to participate and donate at the event web site.
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ADDITIONAL PARKING ADDED FOR FILMING NEXT WEEK
The Production company that starts filming next week at the corner of Winchester and Metcalfe Streets has added some additional parking for residents. Oak Street may not be the most convenient, but it’s better than nothing.
Parking Location(s):
WINCHESTER ST between METCALFE ST and SACKVILLE ST, Side: N. Start: Sep-14 07:00 , End: Sep-15 23:00
SACKVILLE ST between MILLINGTON ST and WINCHESTER ST, Side: W. Start: Sep-12 07:00 , End: Sep-17 23:00
PARLIAMENT ST between WELLESLEY ST E and BLOOR ST E, Side: E. Start: Sep-12 18:00 , End: Sep-17 23:00
METCALFE ST between MILLINGTON ST and WINCHESTER ST, Side: W. Start: Sep-14 07:00 , End: Sep-15 23:00
WINCHESTER ST BETWEEN METCALFE ST AND SACKVILLE ST, Side: S. Start: Sep-12 18:00 , End: Sep-18 23:00
OAK ST BETWEEN PARLIAMENT & SACKVILLE ST, Side: S Start: Sep-12 18:00 , End: Sep-18 23:00
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ROOMING HOUSE UPDATE FROM DIXON HALL
In 2020, Dixon Hall took on a project renovate a row of four large Second Empire properties at 502-208 Parliament Street, in the heart of Cabbagetown. These were formerly TCHC rooming houses that had fallen into disrepair and were uninhabitable. The idea was to completely reconceptualize rooming house accommodation at these properties. The pandemic plus wildly fluctuating materials prices have both impacted the original schedule somewhat. They are currently performing the historical restoration, which they hope will be completed this fall. The interior work will follow and will hopefully be completed late spring early summer next year for resident move in.
Dixon Hall is also working on redesigning rooming houses at 41 Rose, 273- 277 Wellesley as well as 220 Carlton St with hopes to also have the work completed around the summer of 2022. This work is similar to Parliament Street, but there is much less exterior work required. The buildings will remain rooming houses for those at risk, with a high level of support available from Dixon Hall.
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40 ESSENTIAL FALL DAY(ISH) TRIPS FROM TORONTO
Fall day trips from Toronto run the gamut from deep forest hikes to quaint small towns. There’s no better way to see how the province transforms each autumn than by packing into a car and heading to nearby destinations that show off the beauty of the Southern Ontario landscape. A fun photo report by Olivia Little at BlogTO.
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CITY (AND PROVINCIAL) NEWS
CITY OF TORONTO COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT DAYS
The City of Toronto will be holding Community Environment Days at the City’s seven Drop-Off Depots on Sundays throughout September and October. The events begin September 12 and will run until October 31, 2021.
This year, the City will host 14 drive-thru events at Drop-Off Depots. Toronto residents will be able to drive to different stations at Drop-Off Depots to drop off household hazardous waste and electronic items, donate materials for reuse and pick up free compost.
LIVE GREEN NEWS
Here’s the August update on green news from our friends at Live Green Toronto.
MAYOR TORY LAUNCHES ARTWORX TO
This week the Mayor unveiled a new temporary work of public art at the Ontario Place lagoon as part of the launch of ArtworxTO: Toronto’s Year of Public Art 2021–2022 which kicks off on September 22. The installation at Ontario Place, titled ‘Over Floe’, by John Notten, depicts five icebergs made almost entirely of Styrofoam salvaged from a Toronto demolition site.
As part of one of the largest investments in arts and culture in the City’s history, new City and Toronto Arts Council grants – funded by corporate and government partners – will provide Toronto artists with more than $4.5 million to produce more than 350 new murals, installations, exhibitions, art events, performances and productions in 2021 and 2022
TIME TO RENEW YOUR LICENSES AND HEALTH CARDS
People with expired driver’s licences, licence plate stickers, and health cards are being warned by the Ontario government that renewal requirements are being reinstated, reports Sean Davidson at CTV News.
At the height of the pandemic, the provincial government told residents that any identification cards that expired after March 2020 did not have to be renewed in an effort to keep people from gathering at Service Ontario locations.
Posted on August 26, 2021
We have received notification of a couple of new film shoots from Alice Lilwell at the City film permitting office. These shoots are both scheduled for mid September:
PRODUCTION #1:
Production Type: TV SERIES
Project Title: Tallboyz 03
Production Company & Address: ACCENTBOYZ3 PRODUCTIONS Production Company Phone #: 437-344-3040
Location Manager: Ingrid Fielden. Cell #: 416-930-9030
Filming Location(s) & Times: Location: 200 WINCHESTER ST
Type: FILMING, Start Date Time: Sep-13 07:00, To: Sep-13 21:00
Type: WEATHER, Start Date Time: Sep-17 07:00, To: Sep-17 21:00
Crew Parking Location(s):
SUMACH ST BETWEEN CARLTON ST AND WINCHESTER ST, Side: E. Start: Sep-12 07:00 , End: Sep-13 23:00
WINCHESTER ST BETWEEN SUMACH ST AND SUMACH ST, Side: N. Start: Sep-12 07:00 , End: Sep-13 23:00
PARLIAMENT ST BETWEEN WELLESLEY ST E AND BLOOR ST E, Side: E. Start: Sep-12 07:00 , End: Sep-17 23:00
PRODUCTION #2:
Production Type: TV SERIES
Project Title: Jubilee
Production Company: SINKING SHIP (JUBILEE) PRODUCTIONS
Production Company Phone #: 905-699-5531
Location Manager: Dason Johnson. Cell #: 647-272-7477
Filming Location(s) & Times: Location: WINCHESTER ST and METCALFE ST
Type: PREP, Start Date Time: Sep-12 07:00, To: Sep-13 23:00
Type: FILMING, Start Date Time: Sep-14 07:00, To: Sep-17 23:00
Type: WRAP, Start Date Time: Sep-18 07:00, To: Sep-18 23:00
Type: WEATHER, Start Date Time: Sep-20 07:00, To: Sep-22 23:00
Parking Location(s):
WINCHESTER ST between METCALFE ST and SACKVILLE ST, Side: N. Start: Sep-14 07:00 , End: Sep-15 23:00
SACKVILLE ST between CARLTON ST and WINCHESTER ST, Side: W. Start: Sep-12 07:00 , End: Sep-17 23:00
PARLIAMENT ST BETWEEN WELLESLEY ST E AND BLOOR ST E, Side: E. Start: Sep-12 18:00 , End: Sep-17 23:00
METCALFE ST between MILLINGTON ST and WINCHESTER ST, Side: W. Start: Sep-14 07:00 , End: Sep-15 23:00 – Please note that this is the road closure date
WINCHESTER ST BETWEEN METCALFE ST AND SACKVILLE ST, Side: S. Start: Sep-12 18:00 , End: Sep-18 23:00
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