Three Jane’s Walks in the Ashbridge’s neighbourhood – Saturday May 6, 2017

On Saturday May 6, take part in a Jane’s Walk to learn about interesting parts of our city, including our neighbourhood. There are three walks in our area on May 6 — two starting at 10 a.m. and another one at 1 p.m.

Living in our laneways
Meet at 1374 Queen Street East – The Sidekick Cafe
Saturday May 6, 2017, 10 a.m., two hours
Led by Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon

Take a stroll down some quaint lanes in Toronto’s east end with Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon, Councillor Ana Bailao’s Executive Assistant, City Planning, Lanescape, and Evergreen as we discuss our initiative to create a Laneway Suites policy in the city of Toronto!

Where Will the Next Generation Live?
Meet at 151 Hiawatha Road
Saturday May 6, 2017, 10 a.m., two hours
Led by Joy Connelly

Blue collar workers used to live on my east end street. Now houses sell for $1.2 Million and up. I couldn’t afford to buy or rent on my own street today, and neither could my kids. We can’t go on like this. While the Federal and Provincial Governments discuss tax policy and rent controls, let’s talk about what local governments and local citizens can do — from second suites to inclusionary zoning to community land trusts — to make housing

Ashbridge’s Neighbourhood – since 1793.
Meet at Ashbridge’s Bay skatepark, Coxwell at Lake Shore Blvd.
Saturday May 6, 2017, 1 p.m., 1.5 hours
Led by Robert Miller

Take a stroll up Ashbridge’s Creek – one of the hidden streams of east end Toronto. We will stroll up from the bay. What is Ashbridge’s Bay today? What was it in 1793? Who were the Ashbridges? Why is there a historic house on Queen East with a huge expanse of lawn? Guess a few of the names that the Ashbridge’s neighbourhood has been called in the last 100 years.

See a complete list and map of Jane’s Walks in Toronto.

Monarch Park’s Penny Oleksiak wins Olympic gold – August 11, 2016

Anyone who ever went to Monarch Park Collegiate would have been happy to hear their school name mentioned on international TV – Penny Oleksiak is now their most famous student. Click on the image below to see the CBC report.

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.

 

TDSB studies East End enrolment – high schools review

From Beach Metro News

TDSB studies East End enrolment
November 18, 2015 Andrew Hudson
Beach Metro Community News

A special committee reviewing the future of 10 East End high schools is calling for community input.

Prompted by falling enrolment at Eastern Commerce Collegiate, which had just 67 students last fall despite a capacity for 903, the Toronto District School Board is studying the possible closure of Eastern and the best way to use another nine high schools nearby.

Some of the schools, such as Danforth and Eastdale Collegiate, are under 50 per cent enrolled and projected to remain that way until 2024.

Others, such as Riverdale Collegiate and the smaller East York and SOLE alternative schools, are over-enrolled now and projected to remain full or over capacity for the same time period.

The other four schools under review include Monarch Park Collegiate, East York Collegiate, Greenwood Secondary, and the Subway Academy 1, all of which have recent and projected enrolments above 65 per cent.

Across the city, the TDSB has been under pressure from the Ontario government to close some of its schools that are under 65 per cent full.

Before staff recommend a plan for the 10 schools in the East End, they will consider input from a special committee that includes two students and two parents from each school along with their principals, superintendents and local TDSB trustees Jennifer Story and Sheila Cary-Meagher.

Called a Pupil Accommodation Review Committee or PARC, it is scheduled to hold a series of four public meetings on Nov. 23, Nov. 26, Dec. 7, and March 9.

During the Dec. 7 meeting, community members are invited to make five-minute presentations.

Requests to speak must be emailed to Audrey Amo at accommodationreviews@tdsb.on.ca by Monday, Nov. 30 at 4 p.m.

All the meetings will run from 7 to 9 p.m. at Danforth Collegiate, and childcare or an interpreter is available by calling 416-394-7275 a week in advance.

Updates on the local schools review will be available at tdsb.on.ca/accommodationreviews by choosing “Pupil Accommodation Reviews” and then “2015 – Toronto-Danforth Review” from the drop-down menus.

Monarch Park Collegiate 50th reunion, Greenwood Park monument, Diwali on Gerrard Street, more local events October 18-19, 2014

This is a busy weekend:

Saturday October 18 – 12 to 3 p.m. “Anyone can roam the halls” at Monarch Park Collegiate’s 50th anniversary reunion. Evening dance – tickets required.

Saturday 10:30 a.m. Gerrard-Ashdale Library – learn how to write a novel in 30 days

Saturday at 3:30: Jeffrey Baldwin monument to be unveiled at Greenwood Park – Beach Mirror

Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 9 p.m. Little India – Gerrard India Bazaar celebrates Diwali.

Sunday – Ashbridge Estate hosts the final Leslieville Flea Market of the season.

Sunday 9 to 2 is the second-last day for our farmers’ market in Jonathan Ashbridge Park.

Join the Ashbridge’s Neighbourhood Jane’s Walk on Sunday May 4, 2014

You’re invited to the Jane’s Walk Sunday May 4 – meet at the northwest corner of Lakeshore and Coxwell.

You’re invited to the Jane’s Walk Sunday May 4 – 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon.
Meet at the northwest corner of Lakeshore and Coxwell. (Ashbridge’s Bay skatepark).

We’ll take a stroll up from the bay, roughly up the Ashbridge’s Creek, one of the hidden streams of east Toronto.

What we’ll talk about:
What is Ashbridge’s Bay today? What was it in 1793? Who were the Ashbridges? Why is there a historic house on Queen East with a huge expanse of lawn? Where is the Ashbridge’s Creek today? Guess a few of the names that the Ashbridge’s neighbourhood has been called in the last 220 years.

See the walk page on the Jane’s Walk website.

Also see photos of the Jane’s Walk I led in 2012, in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of Duke of Connaught Public School, Woodfield Road, Toronto.

Greenwood Park rink open til March 16

Good news, our local rink is on the list of rinks that will stay open until March 16, 2014. Also open until then: Monarch Park, Kew Gardens, City Hall rink.

See the “rinks open” list on the city website.

Greenwood Park skating path – taken on opening day November 23, 2013

Monarch Park tree tour this Saturday October 19, 2013

Before it was Monarch Park, it was Ashbridge’s Woods, at the north end of the Ashbridge Estate which extended from Ashbridge’s Bay to Danforth Avenue.

Here is an invitation to visit Monarch Park from Paula Fletcher, Councillor Ward 30:

Dear Friends,

This Saturday, October 19 I will be co-hosting a Tree Tour of Monarch Park with Jessica Piskorowski from LEAF (Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests). I hope you’ll join neighbours and nature lovers to explore the urban canopy.

This year 64 new trees have been planted in Monarch Park, which puts us over the top for our goal of 1000 new trees planted in Ward 30 since 2010! I’m excited to continue strengthening our urban forest – let’s keep up the great work. The new trees in Monarch Park need care to help them thrive, and Friends of Monarch Park will be coordinating an adopt-a-tree program to protect our newly planted trees as they take root.

What: Monarch Park Tree Tour.
Where: Monarch Park – Meet at the North East corner of the park by the large rocks.
When: Saturday, October 19, 2013, 11:30 a.m – 1:00 p.m. (rain or shine).
Suggested donation: $5.00

I hope to see you this Saturday!

Councillor Paula Fletcher
Ward 30 – Toronto Danforth

Coming up – neighbourhood events

Coming up in the Ashbridge’s Neighbourhood and nearby — lots of community events and public meetings in the next few weeks:

S.H. Armstrong summer programs.

Greenwood Park – swim times, swim lessons, CanBike courses

Outdoor pools
Greenwood Park Pool opens for recreational swim on June 28.
These pools are open, check the schedules: Monarch Park Pool and D.Summerville (Olympic).

Jonathan Ashbridge Park wading pool also opens June 28.

Also see: Parks, Forestry and Recreation Customer Service Satisfaction Survey – Recreation Program Registration

Sat. June 15: Strawberry Tea with Music
Glen Rhodes United Church, 1470 Gerrard St. E. (west door), 2-4 p.m.
Admission $10. Sponsored by UCW. All welcome.

Sun. June 16: Father’s Day 5km Prostate Cancer Walk/Run, Ashbridge’s Bay Park.

9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Farmer’s Market, J. Ashbridge Park

Monday June 17: Ashbridge’s Bay Treatment Plant (ABTP) Neighbourhood Liaison Committee (NLC) Meeting
6:30 p.m. – 8:10 p.m.
Mennonite New Life Centre, 1774 Queen Street East
Environmental Assessment of Ashbridge’s Bay Pumping Station
More info including opportunities for reviewing the study.

June 18: Feldenkrais with instructor Marlene Kennedy
6:30-8 p.m.
Gerrard-Ashdale Library, 1432 Gerrard St. E.
Explore the link between brain and body with unique, slow and easy movements. Registration required. Library is wheelchair accessible. Info: 416-393-7717, ashdaleevents@gmail.ca, www.torontopubliclibrary.ca

Wednesday, June 19, 2013: Open house
6:30pm to 8:30pm
Ashbridge’s Bay study to address erosion and sediment issues – open house
Toronto EMS and Fire Academy, 895 Eastern Avenue

Thu. June 20: East End Community Health Centre Annual General Meeting
5:45 to 8 p.m.
Info: 416-778-5805 x. 209

Sat. June 22: Leslieville Tree Festival
12 to 4 p.m.
Leslie Grove Park
Queen and Jones
www.yourleaf.org/leslieville-tree-festival

Tuesdays: Seniors Jazz
Canadian Legion, Baron Byng Beaches Branch 1/42, 243 Coxwell Ave., 1-3 p.m.
Info: 416-465-0120

Sun. June 23: Farmer’s Market, J. Ashbridge Park
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

June 27-Aug. 22: Weight No More
East End Community Health Centre, 1619 Queen St. E., Thursdays 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Learn how to plan meals, control food portions, grocery shop smarter and get fit. Space is limited. Program info and registration: Olivia 416-778-5805 ext 208. Centre info: www.eastendchc.on.ca

June 28: Opening day for Greenwood Pool.
See list of outdoor pools:

Sun. June 30: Farmer’s Market, J. Ashbridge Park
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Mon. July 1: Canada Day Fireworks, Ashbridge’s Bay Park.
Red White and Vinyl Music Festival, Woodbine Park.

Sat. July 6 – Sun. July 7
Festival of South Asia, Gerrard Street
Heatwave Beach Volleyball, Ashbridge’s Bay

Sun. July 7: Farmer’s Market, J. Ashbridge Park
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sun. July 14: Farmer’s Market, J. Ashbridge Park
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

July 19-28: Beaches International Jazz Festival
Music at Woodbine Park, Kew Gardens, Streetfest (July 25-27) and along the Boardwalk.

An undiscovered neighbourhood – Greenwood-Coxwell

To those of us who “discovered” this neighbourhood quite a while ago, i.e. moved here because it was sort of affordable at the time, it’s always amusing to see this sort of thing. Toronto Life’s real estate guide for sale on the newsstands is saying that our neighbourhood is “where to buy now,” “undiscovered” etc. The print edition has been on sale for a while now, but doesn’t seem to be on their website yet.

They do have this page on Greenwood-Coxwell, which has a map, list of schools including Duke and Roden, etc.