Toronto - North York

All tours go – Rain or Shine

Flemingdon Park: From Farmland to Wonderland of Diversity

  • Lolita Perry, Mohamed Dhanani, Ali Baigare
  • Saturday, May 2, 2009
  • 3:00pm
  • Walk: 2 hours
open View Map

Join us for a journey of discovery through historic Flemingdon Park! Witness the transformation from a family farmland that belonged to Toronto Mayor Fleming’s family in 1925 and today is a vibrant multicultural community where over 50 languages are spoken.  Built beside the Don River, it is surrounded by valleys, and is home to many social service agencies, the Ontario Science Centre, Paradise Playground, a Community Garden, three elementary schools, and one of the most integrated community recreation centres in Toronto.

Meeting Place: MacDonald Restaurant’s parking in Flemingdon Park Plaza, 747 Don Mills Road, South of Eglinton, Across from Ontario Science Centre

Tour guide(s): Lolita Perry, Mohamed Dhanani, Ali Baigare, Three community activists and residents of Flemingdon Park, will be joined by host Kathleen Wynne, MPP for Don Valley West and Ontario Minister of Education

End Location: Ontario Science Centre

Neighbourhood Flemingdon Park

Public Transit Directions: Bus # 25 from Pape subway station

Parking Available

Ample parking available on site

close

Growing Up Around Jane & Wilson

  • Doorsteps Community Organization
  • Saturday, May 2, 2009
  • 11:00am
  • Walk: One hour
open

Youth from the Falstaff community will introduce walkers to the places in the neighbourhood that make their community so special to them. They will showcase these places by performing skits, poems, and songs that reflect the experiences that they have had with these various community spaces. They will also explore community spaces that they haven’t explored in the past. Join us for a day of fun and exploration!

Meeting Place: Falstaff Neighbourhood Centre at 50 Falstaff.

Tour guide(s): Doorsteps Community Organization

End Location: Corner of Jane Street and Giltspur Drive.

Neighbourhood Jane and Wilson

Public Transit Directions: From Wilson Subway Station, take Bus 96 Wilson traveling west along Wilson Avenue. Other buses serving Jane and Wilson: 35, 165, 319, 313.

close

Jane-Finch Neighbourhood Tour

  • The Spot Youth group of Jane/Finch Centre
  • Saturday, May 2, 2009
  • 1:00pm
  • Walk: 2 hours
open

Come take a walking tour with Jane/Finch youth who know their neighborhood better than anyone else! Tour includes chill out spots, short cuts, interviews with grandmothers and mothers who cook for many of the teens, conversations about the lack of green space and more! This diverse neighborhood is bursting with stories, imagination and ideas. Tour ends in celebration with music, food and more time for questions and answers!  Come experience one of the most important yet overlooked neighborhoods in Toronto.

Tour includes chill out spots, mall locations, short cuts, interviews with local residents, apartment buildings, laundry mats, conversations about green space or lack of it,  and more!

Meeting Place: Gosford Public School parking lot (30 Gosford)

Tour guide(s): The Spot Youth group of Jane/Finch Centre

End Location: Oakdale Community Centre

Neighbourhood Jane/Finch

Public Transit Directions: Board the Yonge-University-Spadina Subway departing from Dupont Station at and travel to Downsview Station. Board the 108A Downsview departing from Westbound on Sheppard at Tuscan and get off at Jane St corner of Driftwood Ave. Walk west on Driftwood 1 block to Gosford Blvd and turn left (walk south) on Gosford until you reach 30 Gosford Blvd, Gosford Public School and meet in parking lot. Short walk once you get off the bus.

close

Jungle Jaunt: Lawrence Heights is Not What You Think

  • Students of Sir Sanford Fleming Academy
  • Saturday, May 2, 2009
  • 2:00pm
  • Walk: 1.5 hours
open

Students of Sir Sanford Fleming speak to the paths, patterns and people of the Lawrence Heights community named 'Jungle'.  From community gardens, townhouse courtyards, waterparks, malls, shortcuts and secret hangouts, the student guides will open your eyes to the warm welcoming people who call this neighbourhood home. Performers and contributors frrom the award-winninng play "Jungle Baby", featured in this years Sears Drama Festival, will be on hand to reprise some of their provocative and engaging material about growing up here.

Meeting Place: Take the Ranee exit of the Yorkdale subway station and head to the small park just east of the exit and up a small hill.

Tour guide(s): Students of Sir Sanford Fleming Academy

End Location: TBA

Neighbourhood Lawrence Heights

Public Transit Directions: Yorkdale Subway Station.

close

Seton Ravine: Urban Water & Edible Weeds

  • Nancy Chater & Lorraine Johnson
  • Saturday, May 2, 2009
  • 10:00am
  • Walk: 2 hours
open

The unique stretch of ravine along the West Don River below industrial Leaside presents a fascinating juxtaposition of elements that tell a story about the relationship between the tableland above the ravine and the urban ecology in the river’s floodplain below. From industry and monumental CP train bridges overhead to bioengineering and hidden habitat gems at your feet, this area is rich with history. We’ll visit a surprisingly secluded spot and consider the safety issues such a space raises. Author and native plant expert Lorraine Johnson will introduce you to edible weeds and together with landscape architect Nancy Chater will explore the multiple traces of water on this very walkable ravine landscape. Don’t miss the Garlic Mustard Bruschetta and Sumac Lemonade! Bring a cup and napkin.

Terrain includes one steep flight of stairs, firm asphalt path, low-lying grassy surfaces which may still be damp or muddy.

Meeting Place: Bottom of staircase leading into ET Seton Park, at the southwest corner of Eglinton and Leslie, behind and below the TTC bus shelter.

Tour guide(s): Nancy Chater & Lorraine Johnson

End Location: Walk ends where it begins, at entrance to ET Seton Park

Neighbourhood Eglinton and Leslie

Public Transit Directions: Arrive by TTC: Take bus East on Eglinton, get off at south west corner of Eglinton and Leslie. Walk down stairs to the parking lot. Arrive by bike: Cycle through the ravine system to ET Seton Park. Arrive by car: Free public parking available in “Wilket Creek Park” lot. Enter parking lot from Leslie, just north of Eglinton. Walk or drive south through park to sign for entrance to ET Seton Park near low concrete bridge and near the long staircase that leads up the hill to Eglinton.

Accessible

Not accessible - Terrain includes one steep flight of stairs, firm asphalt path, forest paths, low-lying grassy surfaces which may still be damp and muddy.

Parking Available

Free public parking available in “Wilket Creek Park” lot. Enter parking lot from Leslie, just north of Eglinton. Drive south through park to the sign for entrance to ET Seton Park near low concrete bridge. We meet at the bottom of the long stairs.

close

Victoria Village Adventure Walk

  • Victoria Village Residents
  • Saturday, May 2, 2009
  • 1:00pm
  • Walk: 1.5 hours
open View Map

Spring is here and what better way to celebrate than to get to know your neighbours and explore the neighbourhood.  Victoria Village is home to the Charles Sauriol Conservation Reserve, has been generous to many small businesses and has been attracting faith groups from all over the world.  

Residents, friends, and families of Victoria Village are invited to join in the 2nd Annual Jane's Walk and learn about the history of the land and share the stories of the people who live here.

Light Refreshments will be served.

Meeting Place: Sloane Public School, 110 Sloane Avenue, North York Sloane Avenue is located 2 blocks West of Victoria Park Avenue, between Lawrence Ave. East to North, and Eglinton Ave. East to the South. Sloane Avenue runs parallel to Victoria Park Avenue.

Tour guide(s): Victoria Village Residents

End Location: TBA

Neighbourhood Victoria Village

Public Transit Directions: To reach Sloane PS by TTC on Saturday May 2, 2009: Get off at Woodbine Station on the Bloor-Danforth line. Transfer to the 91 Woodbine N bus North. Exit the bus at Sloane Avenue & Wigmore Drive. Walk South one block to Sloane PS (110 Sloane Avenue). TTC INFO: Please note that this bus service is slower on Saturdays.

Accessible

Parking Available

-

close

Weston: Heritage, High Rises and the Humber

  • Weston Community Residents
  • Saturday, May 2, 2009
  • 11:00am
  • Walk: 1.5 hours
open View Map

Many experience Weston as a unique area in Toronto that has retained its small town feel, yet still reflects many characteristics of a big city, including a very diverse population. From heritage homes to high rises to the Humber River, come see the many sides of Weston and hear from different members of this diverse community about life in their neighbourhood.  This walk will explore Weston's past, present as well as our hopes for its future.  

Meeting Place: Weston GO Station 39 John Street

Tour guide(s): Weston Community Residents

End Location: Frontlines 1844 Weston Road

Neighbourhood Weston

Public Transit Directions: 52 Lawrence West bus to Station St (one stop west of Weston Rd.), then walk north on Station St to GO Station. 89 Weston to John St (one stop north of Lawrence Ave.), then walk east on John St to GO Station.

Accessible

Parking Available

Weston GO Station parking lot

close