Ashbridge neighbourhood events June 3-4, 2017 – Duke Fun Fair, Craft Beer at Ashbridge Estate, more

Lots going on this weekend at the Ashbridge Estate and nearby.

Saturday June 3
11-3
Duke of Connaught Fun Fair. Lots of fun. Also, you can sign the petition to keep the city’s swim programs alive at our local pool — S.H. Armstrong.

12-8
The Art of Craft Beer at the Ashbridge Estate.

10-8 (also Sunday)
Vintage clothing sale at the VandenBerg House, 1400 Queen East.

Sunday June 4
9-2
Farmers’ market, Jonathan Ashbridge Park.

And not too far away, this weekend there are art walks – Riverdale and Kingston Road.

Penny Oleksiak’s tweet supporting Duke/S.H. pool gets a positive response from Mayor Tory

January 11, 2017

Thanks to Penny Oleksiak, you are even more awesome than before.

Mayor John Tory tweeted this morning “Gold medal message received, @OleksiakPenny. I’ve asked Budget Chief Gary Crawford to find a way to save these pools.” He was responding to Penny’s tweet of yesterday:

Penny Oleksiak tweets her support for keeping the Duke of Connaught / S. H. Armstrong pool open

Our local Olympian and Monarch Park student Penny Oleksiak has tweeted her support for our swimming pool at Duke of Connaught School / S.H. Armstrong Community Recreation Centre, Woodfield Road.

And thanks a million to the local parents who are lobbying Mayor John Tory and Toronto City Council to not implement this proposed cut to the City budget.

Join the Facebook group to keep up to date: Save SH Armstrong/Duke of Connaught pool 2017.

Join the Ashbridge’s Neighbourhood Facebook group to keep up to date on what’s going on in our community.

 

The Ashbridge’s baby willow lives on – photos of the giant willow that went down September 29, 2016

If you go by the Ashbridge Estate on Queen Street East, and you see a large willow tree, you might wonder: didn’t I hear that the big willow tree fell down? Yes it did, on September 29, 2016 in high winds. For years, its trunk was showing signs of severe rot, so its fall was a matter of time.

It lived for 97 years, about 20 more than the average lifespan for a weeping willow. At least that’s what a forester friend told me.

What about the tree you see now, in the photo below? It’s the baby of the old tree, but the baby is more like a teenager now, already taking its place on the estate, growing in the moist earth above the Ashbridge’s Creek, now buried under its roots.

Scroll down to see a couple of photos of the old tree, taken today September 30, 2016.
Also see the article in the Toronto Star by Evelyn Kwong, who I enjoyed speaking with last night:
Beloved 97-year-old weeping willow crashes on Ashbridge’s Estate

And a photo of the old tree about a year ago, by our local ace photographer Diane Walton:
The Great Toronto Tree Hunt – vote for your favourite tree, such as the willow on the Ashbridge Estate

And:
The Ashbridge Estate’s giant willow has gone down – September 29, 2016

Ashbridge willow down – photo September 30, 2016 by Robert Miller

“Baby” willow, now a teenager, growing strong in front of the empty space left behind by its now-deceased parent.

Ashbridge Estate willow, planted 1919, down September 2016.

In March 2016 the giant willow, right, was showing deterioration in its trunk. Looking north to Duke of Connaught School from the back yard of the Ashbridge Estate.

Summer camps, swimming pool hours and upcoming events – updated July 25, 2016

Summer camps
Spaces still available in some local kids’ camps – inquire at Applegrove, S.H. Armstrong, Greenwood Park about spaces.

Lake Ontario swimming
Check the water quality report for Woodbine Beach, Ashbridge’s Bay Park.

Outdoor pools

Note Greenwood Pool is closed Labour Day but you can swim at Monarch or Summerville (Olympic) pool on that day.

Greenwood Pool is open daily until Sunday September 4 from 12 to 7 for leisure swim, and from 7 to 8 p.m. for adult lane swim (18+). On the Greenwood Park page click on Drop-in Programs/ Swimming to see the current week’s schedule. Also see swim lessons by clicking on Swimming.

Monarch Park Pool daily *including Labour Day – leisure swim 12 to 7 p.m., lane swim 7 to 8 p.m. Note Monarch is also open the weekend of Sat. Sept. 10 – Sun. Sept. 11. Those two days, same times for leisure swim 12-7 and lane swim 7-8. Final closing Sun. Sept. 11 at 8 p.m.

Donald Summerville Olympic Pool Lane swim 7 to 8 p.m. daily until Sept. 4. Leisure swim daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. until Sept. 4. Leisure swim also from 5 to 7 p.m. starting Aug. 1 to Sept. 4. *On Labour Day, Sept. 5 — leisure swim 12 to 5 p.m.

Ongoing neighbourhood events

Flea market at Ashbridge Estate, 1444 Queen Street East – third Sunday of the month
Sunday August 21
Sunday September 18
Sunday October 16

Farmers’ market, Jonathan Ashbridge Park
Every Sunday until Oct. 30, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

 

Come to Applegrove for Connecting in the Community Information Fair – April 30, 2016

Come to Applegrove on Saturday April 30th from 11-3 to learn about finance, health, travel, real estate and more at the Connecting in the Community Information Fair at 60 Woodfield Road! Free admission! Free Workshops! Free door prizes! $5 lunch and $5 childcare. For info and updates including workshop times, please visit http://applegrovecc.ca/CitC/

Ashbridge Estate 1919 willow and 1960 wing of Duke of Connaught School

March 19, 2016

This giant willow on the Ashbridge Estate is almost 100 years old. Beyond it, the “new” wing of Duke of Connaught school is about 56 years old. The older part of Duke (not visible in this view) is 104 years old, a few years older than the willow tree.

Looking north to Duke of Connaught School from the back yard of the Ashbridge Estate.

Duke of Connaught cyclists – September 12, 2015

See photos from the Duke of Connaught fundraising event on September 12. Looks like the kids had a lot of fun raising money for the Noah John Winston Miles Foundation.

Beach Metro News photo by Andrew Hudson

Beach Mirror photo by Alessandro Shinoda

Many summer activities, such as S.H. Armstrong hosts the Pan Am torch relay on July 6, 2015

A roundup of summer activities courtesy of Duke of Connaught School Council. Lots to choose from, right in our neighbourhood. Greenwood Pool is now open for swimming (as of Friday June 26).

Pan Am Games: S.H. Armstrong hosts the Pan Am torch relay on July 6 at 10 a.m.!
S.H. Armstrong Community Recreation Centre is a stop on the Pan Am Torch Relay on July 6th! It’s scheduled for 10 a.m. in the gymnasium, so please come out and experience the Pan Am spirit! 56 Woodfield Road.

Summer Camps
– Applegrove Community Complex: We currently have space available in our day camps for children ages 6-12 during the weeks of June 29, July 27, August 4, 17 and 24. Our weekly camp activities include: physical activities/swimming, cooking, crafts, trips every week, light Breakfast & Snack, cooperative games. The cost is $100 per week. We are also running 2-week Leadership Programs. This program helps young teens (ages 12 – 15) build confidence and self-esteem; gain leadership and team-building skills; and develop life skills such as planning, budgeting, cooking and first aid. There is currently space available for the weeks of July 6, 20 and August 10. The cost is $200 for 2 weeks. Please email May Seto at mseto@applegrovecc.ca for more information on either camp program and to register.

– NEW – Planète Française is a French immersion camp being offered at Duke this year starting July 6. We are a safe, convenient and innovative French-Immersion camp designed to build French language skills and confidence in a fun summer environment. Enjoy up to 7 action-packed weeks with unique themes, incredible guests and city adventures. Bite into healthy, local and organic snacks which are included during the camp and in the Aftercare Lemonade Club/After-Camp French Reading Club. We want to celebrate our new DUKE location! All registered campers attending the Duke location will receive a drawstring Planète Française nylon bag – perfect for taking along when we explore the local beaches and parks. For more information and to register (some courses are almost full), please visit http://www.planetefrancaise.ca/

– S.H. Armstrong runs a variety of day camps out of their Woodfield Road location. We are so excited for this summer as we have some new staff that are eager and excited to provide an exceptional camp experience! Below are some courses in which space is still available … to register for these or other City of Toronto programme, please visit: https://efun.toronto.ca/torontofun/Start/Start.asp
– Specialty Camp-Acrylics paints: w/o July 27 2015, 9-4pm. Course code #2698749
– Specialty Camp-Acrylics paints: w/o August 17 2015, 9-4pm. Course Code #2698753
– Specialty Camp-Clay: w/o August 4 2015, 9-4pm. Course Code #2698750
– Specialty Camp-Multi Art: w/o August 24, 2015, 9-4pm, Course Code #2698751

Swimming Lessons at S.H. Armstrong and Greenwood Park
– S.H. Armstrong, 56 Woodfield Road: Swimming lessons are being offered this year at SH Amstrong for the month of July! Space is available for a variety courses. Please see attached for the list of courses and click on this link to register: https://efun.toronto.ca/torontofun/Start/Start.asp
– Greenwood Park: Swimming starts at Greenwood Park this Friday, June 26 and ends Sunday, September 6. Greenwood Park offers lessons, leisure swim and lane swim. Please see attached for the Greenwood Park schedule and click on this link to register: https://efun.toronto.ca/torontofun/Start/Start.asp

Sunday Markets
– Farmer’s market in Jonathan Ashbridge park every Sunday from 9 to 2 (20 Woodward Avenue) until November 1. For more information, please visit: http://leslievillemarket.com/

– Ashbridge Estate flea market: 3rd Sunday of every month from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until October 18. The next two markets are July 19 and August 16. For more information, please visit: http://leslievilleflea.com/

June 13 to 15, 2015 events – Duke Make IT Fair and Bike Parade, Maple Cottage Fest, Our changing neighbourhood discussion

Scroll down to find out about these great local events — June 13 to 15, 2015 events – Duke Make IT Fair and Bike Parade, Maple Cottage Fest, Farmer’s Market, Our changing neighbourhood discussion

Saturday June 13
Duke of Connaught Make IT Fair and Bike Parade
11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Duke of Connaught School
70 Woodfield Road, Toronto
This will be awesome!!
Click on the photos to see the full posters.

Sunday June 14
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Farmers’ market, Jonathan Ashbridge Park

1 to 5 p.m.
Maple Cottage Fest
Maple Cottage, 62 Laing Street. Two blocks west of Queen and Greenwood.

Monday June 15
West of our area, but an important east end event – should be an interesting talk about Queen Street East.
Join Planning South Riverdale for a discussion on:
Our changing neighbourhood: Supporting a main street for everybody
7 to 9 p.m.
Ralph Thornton Centre
765 Queen East at Saulter