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·5· Community Advisory Stakeholders C

25-Oct-2011 [770]

• The City's list of "stakeholders" who were contacted to give their opinions about the Recreation Service Plan in May and June, 2011 (and the Parks Plan in September 2011).

Call-A-Service Inc./Harmony Hall Centre for Senior

Call-A-Service Inc./Harmony Hall Centre for Senior

2 Gower Street, Toronto, Ontario, M4B 1E2
Programs Office: 416-752-0101
harmony@call-a-service.com

Harmony Hall Centre for Seniors In addition to providing a reliable low cost transportation service, we offer programs for seniors in English, Chinese, Tamil and Bengali.

Our agency is funded by grants from the Province of Ontario's Ministry of Health and the Toronto Central LHIN, the United Way of Greater Toronto, the City of Toronto and the Federal Government. We have also been fortunate enough to receive grants from the New Horizons Program, the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Harmony Hall Centre for Seniors is a multicultural community centre specializing in transportation, recreational and support services for seniors and disabled adults who live in or near the former Borough of East York and South West Scarborough, in the City of Toronto.

Mission Statement:
Call-A-Service Inc. / Harmony Hall Centre for Seniors is a multicultural community centre specializing in transportation, recreational and support services for seniors and disabled adults who mainly reside in East York. The objectives of our organization are:

  • To enhance the physical, psychological, social and cultural well being of seniors and disabled adults.
  • To help seniors and disabled adults gain access to appropriate health and social services.
  • To encourage the meaningful participation of seniors and disabled adults in the community.

Cabbage Town Preservation Association

Cabbage Town Preservation Association

Helen Coltrinari, Chair, Stephen Yeates, Past-Chair, David Pretlove, Vice-Chair, Karen Hersey, Treasurer, Mary Martin, Treasurer, Sue McMurtry, Secretary

The Cabbagetown Preservation Association was Founded in 1989 to preserve the architectural integrity and historic character of the Cabbagetown neighbourhood Cabbagetown is one of the largest areas of continuous, preserved Victorian housing in North America.

The CPA spearheaded the establishment of Cabbagetown's Historical Conservation Districts, forming contacts with the City, and conducting the research and documentation on each of more than one thousand properties necessary for approval. Now that official approval and adoption has been obtained under the Ontario Heritage Act, all responsibility for the management of our HCDs has been taken over by the City of Toronto, specifically by Heritage Preservation Services, a branch of the Culture Division. The CPA, therefore, plays no role in overseeing or administering our HCDs.

Cabbage Town South

26 Poulett Street, Toronto, ON M5A 1Z5 info@cabbagetownsouth.ca

http://www.cabbagetownsouth.ca/

Cabbagetown South is a membership-driven residents' association whose objectives are:

  • To promote measures which enhance the beauty, safety, and environmental and economic viability of the Cabbagetown South area.
  • To promote the general quality of residential and economic life in and around the Cabbagetown South area.
  • To promote a sense of community within the Cabbagetown South area that respects the diversity of people in the Cabbagetown South area.
  • To undertake or support projects requiring or benefiting from community support which are intended to advance the above objectives.
  • To oppose measures which diminish the above.

Cabbage Town South is working to fix up the Ontario Street Parkette

For years, we have worked to have this parkette refurbished. Finally, we have been advised by the Councillor's office that adequate funding has been secured in the City's 2012 budget.

On Feb. 24, 2012 we received a revised Plan for the parkette, this following a meeting which included Parks, Forestry and Recreation personnel, representatives of the Councillor's office, the consulting firm and of this association.

For more information, visit the link below. http://www.cabbagetownsouth.ca/Default.aspx?pageId=1225409

Campbell House Museum

Campbell House Museum

160 Queen Street West Toronto, Ontario M5H 3H3
Liz Driver, Curator/Director
416-597-0227 ext. 3
info@campbellhousemuseum.ca

The Sir William Campbell Foundation is a non-profit organization charged with the preservation and interpretation of Campbell House and related histories. Campbell House, built in 1822, is the oldest remaining building from the original town of York. It is a classical example of Georgian architecture, a rare find in Toronto. The Foundation maintains the house and operates a museum within the building for the purposes of educating the local and tourist community. The museum endeavours to make history come alive through the use of innovative hands-on approaches to history while still preserving important artefacts from Toronto's early heritage.

Programs:

The following programs are offered together with a house tour, for students and adult groups. The programs emphasize hands-on activities that stimulate the mind and excite the imagination. The programs have been created to complement the school curriculum; however, all programs can be customized to suit a particular group except for the Types Trial, which is restricted to grade 7 or older.

Historic Baking:
Help our servant with traditional baking in the historic kitchen, by the fire.

The Types Trial:
Students re-enact the famous trial where William Lyon Mackenzie took the Family Compact to court. Extensive pre-visit materials help students with role playing. Suitable for grades 7-8 and high school law classes.

Dancing:
A simple Scottish country dance will bring the past to life as students dance in the way people did when the Campbells lived in York. Accompanied by fife music.

Herbs:
Learn about the herbs used by early settlers for medicines, foods, dyes, and even bug repellants!

Campbell House is available for private functions, everyday. The interior and exterior spaces provide a gracious setting for events of all kinds – from corporate meetings to wedding parties. Free tours of the building by the museum’s historical interpreters can be arranged for your guests.

Hearth & Garden (inside Campbell House) is now open to the public each weekday from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm and more information is available by calling 416-597-0542 x111. The kitchen is committed to a local, sustainable and ecological interpretation of great tasting food. The majority of our ingredients are sourced locally and there are many nods to Ontario’s food history in our menus, which change regularly.

Cawthra Dog-off Leash

Cawthra Dog-off Leash

519 Church Street at Wellesley Street East, Toronto

Hours: 7:00 AM to 9:30 AM, 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Cedarvale Community Gardens / Children's Garden

Cedarvale Community Gardens / Children's Garden

Claire Rodger – (416) 656-5475

crodger@sympatico.ca

This garden is in Cedarvale Park at the North end, near the Duram Avenue entrance.

This multi-national garden has about 150 gardeners that speak Chinese, French, Italian, Portugese, Yugoslavian, Hebrew and German, including the children.

It was established by Claire Rodger and “the gardening angels” a group of devoted adult volunteers. They started this project in 2000, and now their communal garden beds grow organic Food crops, Flowers, Native plants and some Trees. These are grown and enjoyed by the children and their families.

Mission Statement:
At the cccg we teach the value of cultural diversity by exploring bio-diversity in the garden for the benefit of the children, the community, and the planet. CCCG offers free gardening classes for children & adults.

http://www.Cedervalepark.com is a place to connect, collect and share local information ideas etc. for people in the Cedarvale Park area of Toronto, Ontario.

Seasonal Overview:

Once the risk of frost is passed, the children will start planting seeds and seedlings to create a bountiful garden of vegetables and flowers. As the season progresses our community children will work on maintaining the garden. They participate in preparing the soil, planning the garden, planting, cultivating, weeding, and harvesting. When we reach the harvesting stage, our young gardeners will pick ripe produce and help to sell it on the hill just beside the garden. The marvelous residents of our community have come to know our garden and its wonderful organic produce and they look forward to purchasing our freshly picked vegetables and flowers. The funds raised contribute to the yearly continuation of the CCCG. Donations are most welcome to help us continue the legacy of cultural and environmental diversity.

Here is a Toronto Star article with an interview with garden founder Clair Rodger:

Cedarvale Dog Owners Association

Cedarvale Dog Owners Association

602 Rushton Road, Toronto ON M6C 2Y7
info@cdoa.ca

CDOA Vision:
The establishment and operation of a community dog-owners’ association for the primary purposes of:
a. Promoting and advancing the interests of the Cedarvale dog-owner community.
b. Advocating on behalf of the Cedarvale dog-owner community. c. Fostering community fellowship between dog owners and all users of Cedarvale Park.

The CDOA is a registered not-for-profit organization.

Cedarvale Oldtimers Hockey

Hockey Phil White Arena

(view for team statistics)

Centennial College Recreation Leadership Program

Centennial College Recreation Leadership Program

156 Centennial Park Road
416-621-4439

centennialparkskatingclub@hotmail.com

Program Overview:
The mission of the Recreation and Leisure Services program is to improve quality of life for all by developing healthy communities. Leisure service professionals are front-line practitioners in direct contact with program participants. They have many roles including leaders, teachers, group facilitators, advocates, referral workers, counsellors, outreach workers or coaches. In addition, they have strong leadership skills and are able to establish programs, prepare budgets, market activities, recruit, train, assign and evaluate teams of volunteers.

Course themes include: programming, communication and group skills, community development, life span development, diversity and recreation management.

Career Outlook:

  • Employment opportunities for graduates of the Recreation and Leisure Services program exist with: long-term care settings, hospitals, municipal community recreation centres, school-aged childcare centres, rehabilitation centres and youth-focused organizations.
  • Develop plans for ongoing personal and professional growth and development

Centennial Park Skating Club

Centennial Park Skating Club

156 Centennial Park Road (Renforth & Rathburn)
416-621-4439
centennialparkskatingclub@hotmail.com

Centennial Park Skating Club is a non-profit organization that is operated by a group of parent volunteers under the sanction of Skate Canada. Our professional coaches are Skate Canada certified, hold a valid FIRST AID CERTIFICATE and have undergone a POLICE BACKGROUND CHECK.

Volunteer Assistance:

is required from all parents to facilitate the operation of this non-profit skating club. Parents of Junior, Intermediate, and Senior skaters are asked to complete 25 hours of assistance while parents of PreCanSkate and CanSkate skaters are asked for 5 hours. A $200.00 post-dated cheque is required upon registration for Junior, Intermediate, and Senior skaters. Upon completion of your mandatory 25 hours of volunteer assistance, your cheque will be returned to you. Your support is much appreciated!

Child Fitness Tax Credit:

The Government of Canada allows a non-refundable tax credit on eligible amounts of up to $500.00 paid by parents to register a child under 16 in an eligible program of physical activity. Centennial Park Skating Club programs qualify for this tax credit. For more information visit these Government of Canada websites:

Uploads:ChildrenGarden.jpg...
Children's Garden Program

Children's Garden Program

Keely Forth 416-392-1329
kidsgrow@toronto.ca

About:
“Imagine our city’s future led by a generation of lifetime gardeners and naturalists.” – vision of the Children’s Garden and Exploring Toronto Programs

Our purpose at the Children’s Garden and Exploring Toronto programs is to educate Toronto’s children, youth and community members about environmental, physical and social health. We provide a variety of environmental education opportunities including curriculum based school programs, summer Eco Camps, youth cooking programs, free family drop-ins and free community events. Using Toronto’s gardens, parks and ravines, children are able to explore and investigate an outstanding urban natural environment.

The High Park Children’s Garden (a 2009 David Suzuki Digs My Garden Contest award winner) is our flagship garden. It’s an organic education garden planted, maintained and harvested by children, for children. This fully accessible site is home to a butterfly garden, a fedge (a hedge made from edible plants – a “food hedge”), a naturalized hillside garden and a variety of raised vegetable and herb beds shaped to spell out ABC. We also run the Waterfront Children’s Garden, which is a small organic education garden located at the Spadina end of Toronto’s Music Garden.

This site is also planted, maintained and harvested by our program participants.

Our Exploring Toronto programs offer a unique look at nature in an urban environment. Nature, science, geography and social sciences are just a few of the topics covered while hiking along one of Toronto’s engaging Discovery Walks. Drama, art and dance are some of the tools used to educate students and campers while learning more about our environment.

In 2011 we will be building the Children’s Teaching Kitchen (http://torontochildrensgarden.ca/teaching-kitchen/). This new space will provide room for a variety of new, year round programs and will be built using sustainable building practices. To learn more about this amazing new space click here.

As a major urban centre Toronto is fortunate to have such diverse natural areas. The Children’s Garden and Exploring Toronto Programs are here to help kids learn, play and discover a whole new world right in their own backyard!

Programs:

A variety of hands-on, curriculum based educational activities are used in each program and can include:

Planting and harvesting | Seed Collecting | Composting | Plant and animal identification | Garden Crafts | Habitat and Soil Investigation | Sensory Activities | Drama and Music

JK/SK: Little Green Thumbs

Explore relationships and cycles in plant and animal life using all five senses. A fun and active first-time garden experience!

Grade 1: Sun, Soil, Water, Air

Investigate adaptations and environments. A hands-on introduction to the needs of plants and animals.

Grade 2: Garden Critters

Examine the furry, feathered, scaly and slimy creatures that help and harm our garden habitat.

Grade 3: Soil, Seeds, n’ Needs

Whatever you do, do not call it dirt! Discover the wonders of soil and it’s relationship to plant growth and change.

Grade 4: Habitat Hunt

Become a green detective and search the garden for habitats big and small. Learn about plant, animal and insect relationships within this unique habitat.

Grade 4: It Came From Space

And your backyard and hundreds of meters inside the earth. Explore the rocks and minerals of our urban environment through soil experiments in the garden.

Grade 6: Biodiversity in the Garden

New investigations of old planting techniques have taught us that biodiversity in the garden is essential to a healthy, organic growing space. Learn more about the diversity above and below the soil.

Grade 5, 7 and 8 programs also available upon request.

Chinese Chamber of Commerce

Chinese Chamber of Commerce

250 Consumers Road, Suite 402, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M2J 4V6
416-5029199
info@ccgc.com

Canadian Chinese General Chmber is Industry & Comerce Outline of CCGC's Services:
CCGC hosts a variety of events to promote business potentials and information exchanges between its members in Canada and China. On a regular basis, it organizes business tours to visit fast-growing regions of China for those members from North America; at the same time, members from China are able to attend business exposes, conferences and tours within North America. CCGC’s annual CEOs’ Forum attracts international top level entrepreneurs and leaders to share their views on global corporations and management.

Commercial Information Centre of CCGC provides information and consulting services to members, helps members to establish and promote their business images especially when first land to a different continent. Every member can be linked to CCGC’s website, be part of membership directory, and publish their business reports through the CCGC newsletters. In addition, every member can participate in various business, academic and entertainment events that are organized by CCGC, either free of charge or at discounted rates. They are also entitled to obtain the latest information on business cooperation and business opportunities through CCGC distribution channels.

CCGC provides Canadian and Chinese business corporations with quality commercial services, latest market information and a dynamic platform for idea exchanges, communications, and co-operations. It also fosters resource integration as well as the creation of new business opportunities. CCGC provides its extensive service to business and trade sections of all levels of government, individual and corporate members from manufacturing, customer-service, finance, agriculture, trade, law, IT, pharmaceutics and education industries in Canada and China. CCGC is also willing to help others who is developing or wants to develop his business in North America and China.

Currently, CCGC has more than 1600 corporate and individual members. These outstanding individuals, industry leaders and entrepreneurs have formed the core-driving force of this organization.

Special Advisors:

Mr. Frank Ling, C.M.
Canada-Asia Pacific Development Consultant

Stephen Siu
Assistant Director (Public Relations) Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada)

Herbert Moon
Publisher
Today Daily News Inc.

John Man
Vice President, Commercial Markets
Director, Asian Banking, Ontario
RBC

Thomas Qu
Chairman, Board of Directors
Chinese Professionals Association of Canada

James Lin
Marketing Director
World Journal

Elizabeth Shaw
Publisher
Asianetwork

Art Rasmusson
Director
The Salvation Army - Bunton Lodge

Legal Advisors:
Jim Zhang
Barrister, Solicitor and Notary Public

Nancy Myles
President
Nancy Myles Elloitte

Christie Ossingtion Residents' Association

Christie Ossingtion Residents' Association

About:
The CPRA (Crishtie Pits Residents’ Association), formerly known as CORA (Christie Ossingtion Residents' Association), started in 2006 when a dedicated group of residents were concerned about some of the businesses on Bloor Street between Crawford and Ossington. They fought to keep the number of establishments with liquor licenses to a reasonable number and worked with the police and housing authorities to crack down on the drugs that were being dealt out of the Irene Avenue Parkette. The Parkette was very successfully brought back to the community, cleaned up and with the City's help new play structures were installed.

The CPRA is now expanding its focus and looking to engage more of the residents that live between Dupont and Harbord, Ossington and Christie/Grace. We are in close and frequent contact with our elected officials, particularly our new Ward 19 Councillor, Mike Layton, as well as MP Olivia Chow and MPP Rosario Marchese. We hope to help keep our area up-to-date and well informed on issues that effect us all.

Church - Wellesley BIA

Church - Wellesley BIA

Mailing address: CWVBIA, BOX 69-552 Church Street, Toronto, Ont. M4Y 2E3 Office Address: 511 Church Street, Suite 210
David Wootton, Manager
Phone: 416-393-6363 Mobile: 647-864-6028
info@churchwellesleyvillage.ca

Working in conjunction with the City of Toronto Business Improvement Area (BIA) Office, the CWVBIA is an organization comprised of local business people and commercial property owners from within the village district. Our district extends from the intersection of Church and Wood Street to the intersection of Church and Gloucester Street.

CWVBIA Mission:

The Church Wellesley Village Business Improvement Area is deeply committed to preserving and improving our diverse urban community through high energy promotion of the business district and civic engagement with a remembrance of a history rich in advocacy for sexual liberation, social justice and equality. Through a streetscape beautification program aimed toward encouraging resident and tourist pedestrian traffic, we intend to help foster a safe, healthy and vibrant neighbourhood.

The 519:

The 519

519 Church Street | Toronto, ON M4Y 2C9
Phone 416-392-6874
Fax 416-392-0519
Email info@the519.org

About the 519

The 519 Church Street Community Centre is the hub of community life in Toronto's diverse Church and Wellesley Village. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgender, two-spirit and queer (LGBTTQ) communities and our allies and friends have always found a welcoming place at The 519.out the 519

Box 69-552 Church Street

We offer a wide range of internationally renowned Programs and Services sthat operate from an anti-oppression framework. Our public meeting space enable groups in our community to organize and find support as well as find enrichment through arts and culture.

Church of the Holy Trinty

Church of the Holy Trinty

10 Trinity Sq., Toronto, ON, M5G 1B1
416-598-4521

“Loving justice in the heart of the city” The Church of the Holy Trinity is a community of people who seek to express Christian faith through lives of integrity, justice and compassion. We foster lay leadership, include the doubter and the marginalized, and challenge oppression wherever it may be found.

History:

The Church of the Holy Trinity opened in 1847 following the gift of an anonymous donor (later revealed as Mary Lambert Swale of Settle, England). Mrs. Swale had stipulated that all pews were to be free and unreserved, a tenet of the High Church party in England at the time.

James Fisk, Rector from 1962-1976, made a dynamic impact on Holy Trinity. During his rectorship the laity came to take a larger part in worship and governing the parish. The congregation, with supporters from the larger community, successfully fought efforts by a developer to have the church torn down. A fire in 1977 caused damage to the original ceiling and south windows. In 1989 the interior walls of the church, painted in the nineteenth century, and the organ were restored.

Today Holy Trinity is in a strong position geographically, to minister to the urban core. Holy Trinity strives to work with others in the community to uproot the systemic injustice which entraps the weakest members of our society.

In 2007 Holy Trinity was joined by the Hispanic congregation of San Esteban. It has proven to be a great relationship with a number of joint bilingual services through the year.

Community involvement: mail@tcgn.ca

The church has an active outreach to Toronto's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Prior to acquiring its first building in 1985, the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto worshipped there, and the church vocally supported Anglican priest James Ferry after he was inhibited by the Anglican Church in 1991 when his sexual relationship with another man was discovered.

Holy Trinity Staff:

Sherman Hesselgrave, Incumbent
Margot Linken, Parish Administrator
Becca Whitla, Music Director

Churchill Dog Owner Association

pending

Community Gardens in the City of Toronto

Community Gardens in the City of Toronto

Solomon Boye, Community Gardens Co-ordinator (416) 392-7800
sboye@toronto.ca

The Community Gardens Program is cultivating a dynamic community gardening movement across the City. Working in partnership with a wide variety of community groups, the program draws on the collective heritage of gifts from Toronto's distinct cultures. Community gardens benefit everyone by creating safe and healthy recreational activity within our parks system, and on other city-owned lands.

What is a community garden?

They are safe, beautiful outdoor spaces on public or private lands, where neighbors meet to grow and care for vegetables, flowers and native plant species. The gardeners take initiative and responsibility for organizing, maintaining and managing the garden area. This participation builds skills and creates positive community development that is widely accessible to a diverse range

Copernicus Lodge - No connection to parks

Copernicus Lodge

Contact: 66 Roncesvalles Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M6R 3A7
416-536-7122
Tracyk@CopernicusLodge.com

Copernicus Lodge is a not-for-profit organization made possible through the efforts of the Polish Canadian community. We strive to provide the highest quality of resident-driven service and continuum of care to meet the changing needs of our aging community. Copernicus Lodge fosters a caring Christian and Polish environment that is desired by those who have made this their home.

Copernicus Lodge shall perform such acts as are required to attain the following objectives:

  • Provide a continuum of care in order to meet the changing needs of our seniors.
  • Provide independent Self Care Apartments, Supportive Housing, Adult Day Program, and a full spectrum of Long-Term Care, as required by the government regulations and requirements.
  • Give comfort and care to the elderly to enable them to live a happy, dignified and contented life, while at the same time preserving their individual self-reliance and self-determination;
  • Assist the elderly by providing quality of care based on modern concepts and procedures in accordance with the Residents Bill of Rights.
  • Create, provide and assist community based programs, utilizing other health care providers, community organizations, volunteers, staff and Copernicus Lodge facilities.
  • Meet the needs of individuals and strive to provide for their physical, cultural, social, spiritual, emotional and intellectual needs.
  • The Board of Directors, Staff and Volunteers are to achieve the foregoing within the available resources and legal responsibilities of Copernicus Lodge.

CELOS Survey:

Q: Does Copernicus Lodge have direct involvement with city parks?

A: No.

Q: Has Copernicus Lodge collaborated with park staff on community events or making park improvements?

A: No.

Q: Does Copernicus Lodge use a park/parks for events or gatherings? (If so, have permit fees limited your use of the park?

A: No.

Information provided by Tracy Kamino, Chief Executive Officer - Copernicus Lodge
Tracyk@CopernicusLodge.com

Corktown Residents and Business Association

Corktown Residents and Business Association

info@corktown.ca

Larry Webb - President, Jonathan Goode - Vice-President, Adam Holmes - Secretary/Treasurer

The CRBA (Corktown Residents and Business Association) is a not-for-profit and non-commercial volunteer neighbourhood organization, which follows the latest developments in Corktown on a wide range of topics. We serve as a liaison between Corktown and many relevant organizations. The CRBA is an inclusive organization open to all local residents and businesses. We are not aligned with any political parties or religions and we highly value openness to all ideas and to non-discrimination.

Mandate

  • Keep the local residents and businesses informed through monthly public meetings, a recurring newsletter and an up-to-date website.
  • Convey community concerns and issue priorities to all relevant public and private institutions.
  • Help realize neighbourhood improvements, using a constructive and collaborative approach.

CRBA has formed Construction Liaison Committees in order to impact the development of Regent Park and the West Don Lands.

For more information on each of these projects visit: http://corktown.ca/category/development/

Coxwell Parkette (Danforth Mosiac BIA)

Coxwell Parkette (Danforth Mosiac BIA)

253 Danforth Ave., Suite 302
Toronto, ON M4K1N2, Canada

Danforth Mosaic BIA, established in 2008, is one of the newest and longest BIA's in Toronto covering an area of 2.9 km. We stretch along the Danforth from Westlake Avenue on the east to Jones Avenue on the west, giving residents and visitors a choice of more than 400 shops and services to browse.

Our community is rich in diversity, which is the reason we proudly brand ourselves a "mosaic" of many cultures. Celebrating various ethnicities in the Danforth Mosaic BIA makes the choice of local restaurants, shops, services, and nightlife a treat for all. We are very pleased with the wide array of family owned shops and services that reside in our BIA, as they add a personal touch to the service provided to each welcomed visitor to the Heart of the Danforth.

  • More on the Danforth Mosais BIA:

Susan Puff, Executive Director
416-429-4479
bia@thedanforth.ca

Jaaz in the Park

AUGUST 5, 2009 BY KHALID MAGRAM

The music of top Canadian and internationally-acclaimed talent will be filling the air in the first annual Mosaic Does Jazz festival. Organized by the Danforth Mosaic BIA, the festival will spotlight the diversity of the jazz genre throughout the summer. This free event is open to all local residents as well as Jazz enthusiasts from across Toronto. Everyone is encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket and listen to the music. Vendors from local businesses will be on-hand to provide food and refreshments to the listening audience.

What: Mosaic Does Jazz (Jazz in the Park)

When: Every Wednesday, from July 1st to September 2nd inclusive, rain or shine

Where: Coxwell Parkette (SW corner of Coxwell and Danforth) from 5pm to 8pm

Other Parks in the Danforth BIA:

Lower Donland Park - Walking Trails Pottery Rd.
Riverdale Park - Ice Rink, Outdoor Pool & Tennis 550 Broadview Ave.
Riverdale Park West - Leash-Free Section 375 Sumach St.
Withrow Park - Ice Rink, Wading Pool, Tennis & Leash-Free Section 725 Logan Ave.

Curran Hall Community Association

Curran Hall Community Association

Contact: Brian MacFarlane, President
merrimac@sympatico.ca

We are an organization formed in 1957, the year when a substantial amount of the now over 2,000 homes in the Curran Hall community were just being built. An organization made up of neighbours committed to the common interest of the health and well being of our community and to engage the community in social and recreational activities, we have accomplished many things over the years.

We were instrumental in the construction of the tennis courts and later the Curran Hall Community Centre at 277 Orton Park Rd., the only community centre of its type in city ward 43. Half the cost of construction of this building was raised by our members going door to door for donations, and holding community events to raise funds, the other half provided by the then Borough of Scarborough.

Over the years we have organized Fun Fairs, Fireworks, Parades, built skating rinks, maintained the ski and toboggan hill at "Horseshoe Valley" in Botany Hill Park, Community Picnics, Spring baseball league for children, Dances, Children's Christmas party (first one held in 1957), Food Drives for the local food bank, Garden talks with Sheridan Nurseries and Town Hall meetings to provide a forum for community and household safety and for public consultation on matters that concern the community. Members of the executive regularly attend city audits of both community and parks to ensure areas of concern are addressed directly with those responsible for their care. A member of our executive reports on a regular basis as a member of the Community Police Liaison Committee (CPLC). The executive of our organization communicates on a regular basis with all three levels of government, municipal, provincial and federal, but does not hold any political affiliation with any of them. In the Fall and Winter months at the community centre we offer a Ladies Thursday afternoon craft and conversation activity as well as a roster of other activities open to all members of  the community. Recently we  have organized a children's winter festival "Winterfest,", built a community ice rink, worked towards obtaining the first enclosed off leash area for dog in Scarborough, and have organized clean up events for our community's beautiful parks to remain that way. 

CELOS Survey:

Q: Does the Curran Hall Community Association have direct involvement with city parks?

A: Yes, in addition to our annual park clean up at two of our four local parks, our association spearheaded getting Scarborough's first off leash park and our two DOLA (dogs off leash association) members sit on the community associations executive board. We build natural ice rinks in our central park with PFR providing the hoses and water, our association provides the boards and the community provides the volunteer labour to build and maintain the ice.

Q: Has the Curran Hall Community Association collaborated with park staff on community events or making park improvements?

A: Yes, we have collaborated recently on several successful Winterfest events that were well received by our surrounding communities. Our community has many people that are the eyes and ears in the park and relay their concerns and compliments about the parks to us which in turn are relayed in direct communication with our PFR supervisors. As with other city departments, our association communicates PFR on a regular and cordial basis with the best interests of our community in mind. As a community representative I sit on an advisory group for Morningside Park which includes PFR supervisors, managers, planners, councillor's office etc. I also sit on a TRCA advisory group for the Highland Creek Watershed. The Highland Creek is an amazing inner city watershed that is included in several beautiful parks in Scarborough that offer spectacular portions of urban forest. In addition I attend all community park audits with PFR staff. This allows me to point out areas of concern and receive direct feedback which in turn I relay to my community.

Q: Does the Curran Hall Community Association use a park/parks for events or gatherings? (If so, have permit fees limited your use of the park?)

A: Yes, we have a long history of using our parks for events, gatherings and until recent years sports. In recent years permit fees have been an issue preventing some activities and a frequency thereof from taking place that we would like to provide and have community participate in. As an organization, part of our mandate is to engage the social, mental and physical health of our community, for free or for as little cost to community as possible, and to our organization to cover expenses, as we have very few opportunities for fundraising and funds are accrued from a small percentage remaining from membership fees after the expense of printing our community newsletter has been deducted.

Information provided by Brian MacFarlane, President - Curran Hall Community Association merrimac@sympatico.ca

Our conversation with Brian continues below:

Q: Thank you so much for your response. We really appreciate your taking the time. Word on the street is that your group is one of the best at making natural ice rinks, something CELOS is quite interested in. Could someone from CELOS come and talk to you about that? We are currently trying to put together a bunch of "how to" pages for projects communities might want to do in their parks. We would love to have your input about natural ice.

A: I would be pleased to share advice for what CELOS is working on. This will be me my community's third winter building natural ice for skating in our local park and currently I am sharing advice and support with the Guildwood community to the south of us who are building their first rink this winter. Great idea to get together some "how to pages", this coupled with the ambition of engaged communities will make their journey towards what they are working towards somewhat less intimidating, giving them some sense of the best approach for what they are seeking to bring to their local parks.