Celebrating 20 years of community arts in Etobicoke
THE LAKESHORE
VILLAGES Volu me 06 • Is s ue 03 • Summ e r 2 0 1 3
www.thelakeshore.ca
Chuck Jackson
Rik Emmett
lakeshorearts.ca
IN TH IS IS S UE Shop Local 02 Fun in the sun 04 Go West 05 ESHOF 07 Community Corner 08 Lakeshore Arts brings the water up 09 Assembly Hall 10 Mimico Tulip Festival 11 Committed to Greening 12 Skate the Shore 13 Family Fun 15 Marie Curtis Park 16 Mimico Waterfront Park 18
Lakeshore Mardi Gras celebrates ten years! As summer finally begins to roll around, we seem to have gotten a reprieve from the rain and cold weather. Planning is under way for the tenth year of the Lakeshore Mardi Gras! Once again, Colonel Sam Smith Park is the location for this annual event. This year’s festival, which runs from Friday, August 2nd through to Monday August 5th will be once again be providing the entertainment that the Etobicoke-Lakeshore has come to love. The four day event features live music on the main stage while a children’s zone provides activities to keep the little ones engaged. The grounds of Colonel Sam Smith Park will be overflowing with midway games, street entertainers and so much more. What makes Lakeshore Mardi Gras so special is the appeal it holds for both young and old, singles, families and couples. Last year’s festival saw a great turnout to see the entertainers take the stage. This year will be no different. Friday night features a live performance by The Reason. Saturday night keeps up the excitement with Rik Emmett, founding member of the famous Canadian rock band Triumph. Sunday will feature the sounds of Jarvis Church of Philosopher Kings. Finally, Monday will wrap up with local musical artists Robin Banks, Johnny Max and Chuck Jackson. The event will also feature great food from local restaurants as well as various tables set up by local vendors. A fencedoff beer garden will also be available on site for those looking for a cool refreshing drink on a hot summer’s day. Lakeshore Mardi Gras is a free non-profit event designed to foster community spirit and bring Etobicoke Lakeshore residents closer together.
OF F I C I A L N E WSPA P ER
Every day, shop local! As we head out every day to purchase our consumer goods, I would like every reader of Lakeshore Villages to consider shopping local. Why? We all have an investment in our community - home, schools, churches, etc. The more we shop locally and support our local merchants, the more we re-invest in our own community. Shopping local also makes good economic sense. The ideology that consumers would find it appealing to shop for a variety of items in one location seemed to be catching on. However, the novelty is beginning to wear off and we are starting to return to the smaller, specialized stores, known for unmatched customer service and product knowledge. In tough economic times, one might think that low prices are all that businesses need to increase sales, however, the majority of people are not looking for cheap, they are actually looking for value. The lowest price does not solely constitute value. Quality customer service, expert advice and a supportive environment also comprise value. With the economy down, people are not buying as many big, extravagant products. Why would we attempt to navigate a busy parking lot and roam a monstrous store for a few small items that can be purchased quickly and for a good price at a neighbourhood independent store? Independent businesses on the Lakeshore provide consumers with quality service, while maintaining competitive pricing. The Lakeshore is largely comprised of family-run businesses where the customer is always welcomed and valued. Shop local and remember to think before you head to the box mall.
The Lakeshore Villages Volume 06 | Issue 03
Quarterly Publication ~ Circulation 30,000 Delivered by Canada Post
For advertising information, please contact Toby Gardiner at 416-875-1409 or by e-mail at toby@rjentertainmentpublishing.com Editorial Contributors Lindsay Howe • J. Knox
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Toby Gardiner | Publisher toby@rjentertainmentpublishing.com The Lakeshore Villages is printed on 100% recycled fibre. Please recycle.
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Fun in the sun – at your local patio! The summer season means hot weather, cool drinks and lots of outdoor get-togethers. When it comes to summer fun, you can find it at any of the local patio restaurants located in south Etobicoke.
Blue Goose Tavern (1 Blue Goose Street) Whether it’s a pit-stop to quench your thirst or an extended stay to enjoy live bands, Mimico’s Blue Goose Tavern is the place to be. “The Goose” features a friendly atmosphere, a wide variety of ice-cold beers and menu items, a walkup food counter and Sunday afternoon live entertainment featuring Sunday Summer Blues. The horseshoe pits are back! Stay outside on the patio and bask in the sun – you might even spot an old friend!
From lakeside restaurants to rooftop patios (and everything in between), there are many places available for customers to relax and have a cold drink, enjoy great food and have great conversations with friends and family.
Maple Leaf House (2749 Lake Shore Boulevard West) Featuring a host of live bands Friday and Saturday night, a fully-licensed patio and a wide selection of specials, including Wing Wednesdays, Half-Price Appetizers on Thursdays, Nacho and Steak Nights and Sunday brunches, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at Maple Leaf House!
Patios are a wonderful place to unwind and enjoy yourself with friends, live entertainment, food and drink specials and unique atmosphere. With so many patios in the area, it may be hard to decide which one you’ll want to visit – so why not visit all of them?
Timothy’s Pub (344 Browns Line) Known as “Alderwood’s Friendly Meeting Place”, Timothy’s Pub features some of the GTA’s hottest up-and-coming bands, great service and menu specials. Take the time to visit Timothy’s and try out the dart leagues (held twice a week), watch a game on any of the 10 flat-screen TV’s or enjoy a cool drink on the outdoor patio. Whether you’re hanging out with friends, going on a date or just want to enjoy a cool drink on a sunny day, visit the local patios in south Etobicoke...you won’t be disappointed!
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Lakeshore Villages Celebrate Pride By J. Knox
On Saturday, June 15th, in celebration of Toronto’s annual Pride festival, the Lakeshore Villages LGBT Community group held their first “Go West” fundraising dance party at Jay Jay’s Inn on Lake Shore Blvd. W.,
The “Go West” dance party featured live entertainment from Chris Tsujiuchi and his 90’s Tribute Band, a top 40 and retro DJ, complimentary food and over $400 worth of prizes donated from local businesses. “We couldn’t be happier with the success of our first “Go West” dance party,” say’s Jamie. “Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate Pride with us, it was a blast. A huge thanks you to Jack Cohen of Jay Jay’s Inn for hosting our first fundraiser. Also thanks to all the local businesses who donated all the fabulous prizes and to Hexmex Handheld Grub for catering the night. A big thanks to Cynthia Ostos of Remax for sponsoring the event and to Maria Shaw and the Lakeshore Villages BIA for supporting this Pride celebration on Lakeshore”. Local businesses that donated gift certificates and other prizes were Community Roots Books, Movies & Art, Birds & Beans Café, Taste Portuguese, Fusion Hair Salon, Boo Boo’s Pet Grooming, Vital Planet, Big Guy’s Coffee Shop, Not Just Marbles Glass Art Gallery, Sweet Olenka’s and Toronto Magazine. The Lakeshore LGBT is an organization founded in 2011 by Public Relations student, Jamie Berardi and musician Bram Zeidenbert. The LGBT is dedicated to supporting the Lakeshore area’s growing gay and lesbian community through events and advocacy. “Now that we are bringing the LGBT community together on Lakeshore, we hope that we can continue to have successful events that will bring out more new people each time. Community is such a huge aspect of living on the Lakeshore and it just makes sense for the LGBT community to come together and create our own vibrant and visible community. Most LGBT people on Lakeshore have different values and personality traits than LGBT people in the East-end, Queen West or the Church and Welsley-village and it’s about time that we have our own community to be proud of and call our own,” says Jamie. The next “Go West” dance party will be held on Saturday, July 27th, 10:00 pm at Jay Jay’s Inn, 2847 Lake Shore Blvd. West, Etobicoke. Cover is $10. The LGBT will also have a bi-weekly Pub Night at Taste Portuguese Cuisine every month at 9:00 pm and a Pre-Pride Brunch at Around The Corner on June 30th at 10:30 am. For more information on these events please visit LakeshoreLGBT.ca or Facebook.com/LakeshoreLGBT or connect through Twitter at www.twitter.com/ LakeshoreLGBT. The Lakeshore Village BIA is celebrating Pride for the first time this year with rainbow banners across the storefronts of Lakeshore Village and with many other great events throughout the month of June. For more information on these events connect with them on twitter at www.twitter.com/LakeshoreBIA.
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Thank you for nominating us a GEM of the Lakeshore! Carrying Major Brands & Specializing In:
#1 Rated Appliance Retailer by HomeStars 2010, 2011, 2012
Good Food & Good Friends Good Times! Live Entertainment Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Thank You...
344 Browns Line, 416-201-9515 (2 blocks south of Horner)
To everyone who made us a 2013 Gem of the Lakeshore in our first year of business!
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GEMS of the Lakeshore Winner of 3 Gems Nominated 8 Times THANK YOU! Saturdays 4 to 8 pm NOW IN THEIR 10th YEAR
Michael Theodore Trio Sundays 4 - 8 pm
COMMUNITY CORNER Painty McGee’s is going MOBILE! That’s right… we bring the art to you! Birthday parties, art workshops, classroom art experiences – sit back and let us do all the work! Book us for your camp, daycare, fundraiser or event -- or why not a play-date with friends? Visit www.paintymcgees. ca to find workshops near you and learn about our new range of services!
The Lakeshore Villages w w w. t h e l a ke s h o r e. ca
16th Annual Mimico Party in the Park. Summer officially kicked off on Tuesday, June 18th with the 16th Annual Mimico Party in the Park. The event included a senior’s tea tent, raffles, games, slides, crafts and face painting. The playground at John English Junior Middle School was filled with party goers that danced to the live entertainment and visited the many display booths.
Flower Festival The Flower Festival held from the 10th to the 19th of May incelebration of Poetry, Art and Community brought cheer to the Lake Shore community from Second Street to Islington with children’s poetry and art in the windows of many businesses, including giant tissue paper flowers still hanging in Sweet Olenka’s. The art, poetry and paper flowers were donated by the children of Second Street School. Many thanks to The Institute of Floral Design, Sweet Olenka’s, Painty McGee’s and the Loot Lady for participating with donations and prizes! Call for special events volunteers Would you like to get involved with your community? Are you a student hoping to earn some community hours this summer? Get involved with the Lake Shore Village BIA. Volunteer at events and make a difference in your neighbourhood! Visit enjoytheshore.ca for details. Join Lake Shore Village online The Lake Shore Village BIA is now working with a professional coordinator, Maria Shaw. She’s been working hard, networking and promoting events and shops in our Community! For event dates, photos and exciting news about Lake Shore Village join us on twitter @LakeshoreBIA Facebook: LakeshorevillageBIA and our new website enjoytheshore.ca Mimico by the Lake upcoming events Mimico by the Lake BIA is happy to announce a list of events taking place in Mimico Square, Amos Waites Park this summer and fall. Friday, July 5 “Forgotten Voices” Beyond the War of 1812 Friday, July 19 “Dancing Under the Stars” Friday, August 16 “Dancing Under the Stars” Friday, September 27-29 “Culture Days” Friday, November 1 “Pumpkin Parade” Mark your calendar for these events! For more information please contact mimicobythelakebia@hotmail.ca Bowling for baskets fundraiser On May 30th, the “Bowling for Baskets” fundraiser was held at Bowlerama West in Etobicoke benefitting the Annual Gift basket Drive for Women Shelters. 48 bowlers participated raising over $4,500 for the cause. A big thank you goes out to all the bowlers, sponsors and donors of silent auction items. All proceeds will go toward this Novembers Annual Gift Basket Drive which makes and distributes over 3,000 gift baskets to women in shelters across the GTA and surrounding areas. For more information go to www.annualbasketdrive.ca Shown are the winning team comprising of: Buck Mitchele, Heather Ann Mitchele, John Mitchele, Carl Porritt , Paige Smith and Dave Smith. Graffiti clean-up program - YIPI Supplies are required to help the Toronto Police Services deal with the increasing problem of graffiti removal and prevention. New brushes, rollers and paint trays are needed to provide Youth in Policing Initiative tools and supplies required to clean up graffiti in Etobicoke. The aim of the Youth in Policing Initiative (YIPI) is to promote youth participation in and exposure to a work environment through diverse, educational, and productive work assignments. Supplies can be dropped off 22 Division at 3699 Bloor St. W., Toronto. For further information call 416-808-2200
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Lakeshore Arts brings the water up to the Boulevard By Susan Nagy
All along the lakeshore, from Park Lawn to Browns Line, we share a common thread; the nearness of the water. It draws us and we are able to revel in all its moods; from pristine glass to rollicking waves and turbulent whitecaps.
The creative process has been captured and is being documented on our blog: http:// lakeshoreartsblog.wordpress. com/ and pictures are loading daily on our Lakeshore Arts Facebook page. We encourage you to follow along as this 2D water world is slowly unveiled day by day.
Our goal over the next ten years, as a community arts organization, is to interpret the water using diverse styles of Toronto artists to create public art across the lakeshore that is thought provoking and beautiful. Last year, Lakeshore Arts along with support from the Mimico by the Lake BIA created two murals in Mimico. This year, under the guidance of project coordinator, Kayla-Wray Amy, artists Alexa Hatanaka and Patrick Thompson have been hired to create an underwater world on the side of Birds and Beans Café, 2413 Lake Shore Blvd W. Assisting in the process is Paula McDines who has become an asset to the project as she rolls up her sleeves to help in any way possible; no task is too daunting!
Lakeshore Arts is a local not for profit charity, community arts organization who revel in offering art opportunities and happenings to all ages in the neighbourhood. Check out our website; www.lakeshorearts.ca for more amazing programs and events.
This project was funded in part by a grant from StreetARToronto (StART), a program of the City of Toronto. StART is part of the City’s Clean Toronto Together Campaign, which links citizens with city government to keep Toronto streets clean and free of posters and graffiti vandalism.
Lakeshore Arts and Sirius Theatrical Company premiere Forgotten Voices: Beyond the Conflict of the War of 1812 A Collaborative Theatre Project Lakeshore Arts and Sirius Theatrical Company proudly premiere Forgotten Voices: Beyond the Conflict of the War of 1812, collaborative theatre project of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812. By Sirius Theatrical Company Artistic Director Heather Dick, dramaturgy by playwright Emil Sher, Forgotten Voices is a fresh look at the human dimension of the War of 1812 and the story of those left behind when the soldiers went off to the battlefield.
Emil Sher has written for young audiences and the once-were-young. His stage works include Sanctuary, Beneath the Banyan Tree, Mourning Dove and his acclaimed adaptation of Hana’s Suitcase. emilsher.com Celebrating its 20th year in existence, Lakeshore Arts, a registered charity under the leadership of Executive Director Susan Nagy, is committed to improving the availability of arts, cultural and heritage activities in South Etobicoke. Encouraging people of all ages and backgrounds to participate in the arts as a way of enriching their lives and strengthening the community, Lakeshore Arts plays a vital role in enhancing the quality of life for people who live and work on, and visit, the Lakeshore. www.lakeshorearts.ca
This community-based project is FREE and Thursdays-Sundays from July 4to July 14at various outdoor park settings in South Etobicoke. Audience members are encouraged to bring a blanket and picnic dinner to enjoy during the performance of this family-friendly play. Men head off to battle; women stay behind tending children and home - a timeless and universal story set in a crucial time and place: the War of 1812. Against the backdrop of a historic conflict that would shape a continent and forge a nation, Forgotten Voices shines a light on the lives of those who experienced it first-hand, examining the impact of the war on a more human scale.
Lakeshore Arts and Sirius Theatrical Company premiere Forgotten Voices: Beyond the Conflict of the War of 1812 Thursdays through Sundays from July 4-14 at 7pm at various parks in Etobicoke area A collaborative theatre project with 34 Actors from in and around Etobicoke and the GTA Written by Heather Dick / Dramaturgy by Emil Sher Set & Props by Arber Makri, by Sonja Rainey, Music by Jeff Vidov, Technical Director: Clyde Whitham
Based on original source materials, this fictional account centers on three “late Loyalist” families, living side by side, who had come to Etobicoke following the American Revolutionary War 29 years earlier. Shedding tears of sorrow and joy, marching to the drums of war and dancing at a wedding, parting and reuniting with loved-ones, the cast of dozens (aged 12 - 70+) -including both professional actors and community participants - resurrects local voices forgotten through the course of time. Family histories, letters, diaries and historical records are weaved into a story of courage, perseverance and sacrifice, revealing the challenges that afflicted the people left behind.
Thursday, July 4 at Jeff Healey Park 16 Daniels Street M8Y 1L7 (Park Lawn and Queensway) Friday, July 5 at Amos Waites Park 2445 Lake Shore Blvd. W, Toronto, ON M8V 1C5 (At Mimico Ave. and Lake Shore Blvd. W.)
Forgotten Voices is not only a play about Etobicoke residents; it is a play by Etobicoke residents - some of whom even have a personal connection to the time period of the war. In the months leading up to the show, Lakeshore Arts and Sirius Theatrical Company invited local residents to participate in a series of free workshops covering script writing and development, acting, period dancing, set/costume design and construction and other essential elements of live theatre. These workshops, led by professionals involved in the play, developed important new material that has been incorporated into the production. The entire process has, moreover, benefited enormously from the generous cooperation of community partners: the The Assembly Hall, Mimico-By-the-Lake BIA, Montgomery’s Inn, TPL - New Toronto Library and Mimico Presbyterian Church.
Saturday, July 6 at the Assembly Hall Grounds, Sunday, July 7 at the Assembly Hall Grounds 1 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive (Kipling Avenue and Lake Shore Blvd. W.) Thursday, July 11 at Humber Bay Shores East Park, Friday, July 12 at Humber Bay Shores East Park 100 Humber Bay Park Rd W M8V 3X7 (Park Lawn and Lake Shore Blvd. W.)
Heather Dick has been performing, directing and producing for more than 30 years. She has worked with theatres across the country such as the Sudbury Theatre Centre, the Banff Festival, the Great Canadian Theatre Company, Huron Country Playhouse and Lunchbox Theatre (Calgary) to name a few as well as in film and television. She is the Artistic Director of the Sirius Theatrical Company which produces cross-disciplinary performance pieces that integrate dance, photography, live music and spoken word in staged presentations. Her one-act play Dinner at Le Papillon Blue appears in Canadian Imprints (2011). Forgotten Voices is her first full-length stage play. www.siriustheatrical.com
Saturday, July 13 at Montgomery’s Inn Grounds, 4709 Dundas St. W., Etobicoke, ON M9A 1A8 (Dundas St. W., at Islington Ave) Sunday, July 14 at Montgomery’s Inn Grounds FREE! (Donations gratefully accepted.) Bring a picnic dinner AND a blanket! For more information, visit www.lakeshorearts.ca or www.siriustheatrical.com, or call 416 201-7093
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Lakeshore Arts upcoming events
Upcoming Events at the Assembly Hall
2422 Lake Shore Blvd. W., 416-201-7093
Explorations Art Show Opening Reception: presented by York Artists Guild July 4, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm New vistas, ventures and vantage points. This exhibition features York Artist Guild members’ work in various media. Admission is free and everyone is welcome! Show runs June 27 – July 25. Gallery hours: Mon - Fri: 12 - 5 pm & Sat: 10 am – 1 pm. For more information, please call 416-338-7255.
Coming to a park near you!! Forgotten Voices: FREE Collaborative Community Theatre Presented by Lakeshore Arts and Sirius Theatrical Company A play written and directed by Heather Dick. Outdoor performances involving local community members and budding thespians. Drums, dancing and a narrative that weaves the stories of those behind the lines and how the war affected their lives. Family friendly!! Bring a blanket, a picnic dinner and be prepared to be entertained! All performances begin at 7 pm. Donations will be gladly accepted. July 4 – Jeff Healey Park July 5 – Amos Waites Park July 6 and 7 – Assembly Hall Grounds July 11 – Queen’s Park July 12 – Humber Bay Park East July 13 and 14 – Montgomery’s Inn Check out our blog: 1812theatre.blog.com
Forgotten Voices: Beyond the Conflict of the War of 1812: presented by Sirius Theatrical Company and Lakeshore Arts July 6 & 7 at 7 pm, in parkland behind the Assembly Hall Based on historical records, letters, diaries and family histories, stories of the courage, loneliness, and perseverance of those left behind the lines will be woven into a theatre piece that will be performed this summer. For more information, please contact us at http://www.siriustheatrical.com/contact.
ARTiculate FREE* Youth Leadership in the Arts. Ages 13-17. July 15-26 at Mimico Presbyterian Church An innovative 2 week program for youth ages 13-17 featuring workshops with professional artists, field trips to art destinations, leadership training, a volunteer placement and a final exhibition and event. This is a great opportunity to work with peers, learn new art forms and earn volunteer hours. As part of the program, youth participants design and facilitate one hour workshops at local Toronto Public Library branches. ARTiculate registration is by application and interview process. Download registration at www.lakeshorearts.ca or contact bebhinn@lakeshorearts.ca for more information. *Donations are accepted and welcomed.
Full Day Musical Theatre Summer Camp (Ages 9 – 16) July 8 – 12, 9 am – 4:15 pm Half Day Musical Theatre Summer Camp (Ages 9 – 16) July 15 – 19, 12:30 pm – 4:15 pm Half Day Broadway Babies Summer Camp (Ages 6 – 9) July 15 – 19, 9:30 am – 11:45 am Presented by The Music Studio, students will learn singing, acting, dance, movement and scene skills. Take a trip to Broadway this summer! Cost: Full Day - $590 per person; Half Day (AM) - $185; Half Day (PM) - $305. For more information or to register, please call 416-234-9268 or visit www.themusicstudio.com. 10th Annual Lakeshore Mardi Gras: presented by the Lakeshore Mardi Gras Committee August 2 at 6:30 pm, August 3, 4 & 5 at 12 pm, in parkland behind the Assembly Hall The 10th Annual Lakeshore Mardi Gras is a unique family experience, bringing the sounds and tastes of the south to the Lakeshore. There’s something for everyone & admission is free! Please visit the Lakeshore Mardi Gras Committee website at www.lakeshoremardigras.ca for more information on this event.
Step x Step – Coming in September!! September 21st until November 30th, from 1- 4 pm New Toronto Library at 110 Eleventh Street Step x Step is coming to our community! This is a FREE 9 week Mural Making workshop. Join Lakeshore Arts and Mural Routes every Saturday hosted by professional street and mural artists to learn the tricks of the trade. Leading up to this amazing workshop series, L-Space Gallery, Humber College (21 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive) will be presenting an exhibition of past Step x Step Murals, August 1st-21st.
1 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive • 416-338-7255 10
Mimico Village BIA Sponsors New Retail Merchant Website
Mimico Tulip Festival celebrated its eleventh year!
by Stephen Lea
The sky was grey but the weather did not spoil the excitement of the unveiling of the painted flowers throughout Mimico during the eleventh annual Tulip Festival, held this past May 28th.
The Mimico Village BIA is proud to announce the launch of the new retail merchant advertising website www.MimicoVillage.ca, joining neighbouring website www.LakeshoreVillage.ca in promoting our local area retail merchants.
Developed and sponsored by the Mimico Village BIA, The Tulip Art Project and Tulip Festival are community initiatives that demonstrate the talents of young Etobicoke residents and raise awareness about the importance of caring for the community through a creative hands-on approach. Students from 20 Etobicoke-area schools and community groups designed and painted a series of four-foot tall tulips, which will be displayed through the summer.
The websites are designed as a Virtual Sidewalk Shopping Tour and now include the retail merchants of the Mimico Village area. Maintained on a regular basis, the www.MimicoVillage.ca website provides a current business directory and a pictorial tour of the merchants along Royal York Rd. between Evans Ave. and Newcastle St. in the Mimico Village area of Toronto. The viewer is able to scroll along at a street level view on the east and west sides of Royal York Rd. and virtually enter a store or link to the merchant’s website. Regular area shoppers are able to leave their comfort zone and explore merchants they may not normally visit, while the website also invites new area customers to “check out” Mimico Village.
The Tulip Art Canvas Award was also presented to the Cornerstone Christian Fellowship. Thanks to everyone who sponsored and attended!
The Chairman of the Mimico Village BIA, Bill Kassels, recently stated: “We wanted to make it easier for residents in our area to see at street level what we have to offer them. Our website now makes that possible. We encourage everyone to shop locally and support the businesses in our area that support them in all they do, to make our area a better place to live, shop, and play.” Ward 6 Councillor Mark Grimes said “I encourage all of our residents to support local business and shop locally whenever possible. Electronic tools, such as this website, are great assets to the community to learn about what our stores have to offer.” The www.MimicoVillage.ca is committed to assist in the economic development and prosperity of the Mimico Village and Lakeshore Village areas. Also see Lakeshore Village BIA sponsored www.LakeshoreVillage.ca, along with websites Mimico-bytheLake.ca and www.LongbranchVillage.ca. To learn more visit: www.MimicoVillage.ca inquiries: info@mimicovillage.ca
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Committed to Greening our City
By Bernard Trottier, MP Etobicoke-Lakeshore I was delighted to participate in the ribbon-cutting for Phase 2 of the Mimico Waterfront Park at the beginning of June.
lic Transit Fund and Public Transit Capital Trust to the Province of Ontario since 2006. We’re helping Toronto get moving!
Connecting Humber Bay Shores Park with the first phase of the Mimico Waterfront Park, we now can enjoy a continuous recreational amenity from Grand Harbour to Norris Crescent Parkette. The project was a great demonstration of collaboration between the Toronto Region Conservation Authority, Waterfront Toronto and all three levels of government.
Back to the subject of parks, the federal government announced in the Throne Speech of May 2011 that we would create the Rouge National Urban Park. Much of 2012 was spent conducting consultations, and Parks Canada is now working on the park concept and vision. The Rouge Park is a first of its kind in Canada, being our only national urban park – with 20% of Canada’s population within easy reach (and accessible by transit.) The Park will be 5600 hectares in area, or more than 13 times the area of Stanley Park in Vancouver. Rouge Park will be a tremendous addition to our city, and will allow us to connect to our country’s rich natural heritage.
Revitalization of the waterfront of Canada’s largest city remains a priority for the federal government. Each level of government has committed $500 million in seed money and has given Waterfront Toronto effective development control over government-owned lands along the shores of Lake Ontario within the City of Toronto. The revitalization of Toronto’s waterfront is the largest urban redevelopment project currently underway in North America, comprising over 800 hectares – 4 times the size of Monaco. The pace of change along the waterfront is accelerating as we prepare to welcome Pan Am / ParaPan Am Games visitors in July and August of 2015, with the redevelopment of the West Don Lands for the Athletes’ Village.
Parks and transportation are two pillars of what make cities great. I pleased to help ensure that Toronto will continue to be a great place to live, work, play and raise a family.
Often I am asked about the federal government’s involvement in making our city even greater. Perhaps the federal government is less visible to residents of Etobicoke-Lakeshore than the municipal and provincial governments, due to our seat of activity in Ottawa. However, I can assure you that the federal government’s support for Toronto is large and consistent. Since 2006, the federal government has invested over $4.5 billion in infrastructure in the GTA, with noteworthy projects including $622 million for the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension, $250 million for GO Transit improvements and $133 million for Union Station Revitalization. It includes $2.2 billion in Gas Tax funds directly to GTA municipalities, of which more than $1 billion was for the City of Toronto. In addition, the federal government has contributed over $700 million to the Pub-
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Skate The Shore By J. Knox
On Saturday, June 1 the Mimico By The Lake (MBTL) BIA in partnership with Roller Sports Canada and the Toronto In-Line Skating Club, held their first annual Skate the Shore Rollerblading event.
coconut water for everyone, Oxygen Bike Co. on hand for tire inflation and safety check, Chasers who provided fresh juice for all and ValuMart.
Starting in Amos Waites Park in Mimico, skaters and bicyclists took off from the start line at 9:00 am and headed toward the turnaround point at Sir Casimir Gzowski Park. Participants were treated to a free pancake breakfast served up by Taste Portuguese Cuisine upon their return to the finish line back at Amos Waites Park at 11:00 am.
If you would like to learn more about MBTL and upcoming events please visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/mimicobythelake or their website at www.thelakeshore.ca/mimicobythelake.
Event Organizer and MBTL BIA General Manager, Alison Juda says the BIA is always interested in creating events where the community can get involved and events that help promote the area. With last years extension to the trail and the official opening of the Mimico Waterfront Park Phase II on June 7th, the MBTL BIA saw a great opportunity to introduce the community to the beautiful Waterfront trail that extends through to Scarborough, with Skate the Shore. In addition to promoting the new Waterfront Trail the BIA hopes to raise awareness and lend support to the areas Athletes who will be attending the 2015 Toronto Pan Am Games. “The inline skaters for the Pan am games practice here in Etobobicoke, it’s a competitive event so we thought what better way to help introduce the 2015 Pam Am Games and to have an event leading up to the two year countdown. Any proceeds that we make, we are going to look at starting a fund for the athletes of the Pan Am games that are participating in the sport and we are hoping that over the next couple of years we will raise some money for them and try to help them out” says Alison. Sponsors of the event included David Bolland Sports who provided agility testing, Emergency Rescue who rode the trails with the skaters, Grace who provided
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Call me today. And we can discuss which loved ones you’d rather protect.
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Peter Kearns Kearns Financial Inc 2731 Lake Shore Blvd W (at First St) (416) 369-2266 peter@kearnsfinancial.com
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Family Summer Fun in Ontario
By Laurel Broten, MPP Etobicoke-Lakeshore Lambton-Kingway, Ourland, Park Lawn and Rotary pools are all located outdoors. The splash pad at Marie Curtis Park just recently opened to great success.
Is your family, like many others, considering a “staycation” this summer and wondering where to experience some family fun and recreation? Ontario is providing more than 1.5 million children across the province with free admission to stay and explore in the province all summer long with the 2013 Fun Pass.
Lakeshore Arts, Arts Etobicoke and Sirius Theatrical Company represent only a few of our local community organizations that offer summer programs, including camps, for children and youth.
The Fun Pass provides school-age children with free admission to many Ontario attractions when accompanied by a paying adult or senior. With more than $185 in savings, the Fun Pass makes it more affordable for Ontario families to experience different attractions, including the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto. Children across the province received their 2013 Fun Pass with their June report card and families will be able to enjoy savings until November 1, 2013. The Ontario government is helping to make it more affordable for families to explore the province’s attractions. With our unique historical sites, museums, galleries, world class attractions and breathtaking outdoors, Ontario is truly a place to explore and experience.
Summer is also the perfect time for families to explore the neighbourhoods around them and connect with nature, while turning these outings into a learning experience that can positively impact children’s health in the years to come. I believe that one of the best things about summer is the appearance of local farmers’ markets. I like to take my own boys there to introduce them to fresh food produce and teach them about sustainability and the importance of “buying local” and supporting Ontario farmers.
At home in Etobicoke-Lakeshore we need to go no further than our own south Etobicoke community to find affordable, or free, family fun and adventure.
Last month, I was delighted to participate in the waterfront ceremony as Waterfront Toronto and its municipal, provincial and federal partners officially opened the final phase of Mimico Waterfront Park. The park now offers 1.1 kilometres of continuous waterfront park between Norris Crescent Parkette and Humber Bay Park West. I look forward to continuing to bike, hike and rollerblade with my family along a healthy, beautiful and accessible shoreline.
May and June offered several family festivals, including the Mimico Village Tulip Festival, Celebrate the Queensway Festival, Mimico’s Party in the Park, and my own SummerFest. Still to come: Lakeshore Mardi Gras and the Humber Bay Shores Waterfront Festival in August, and Franklin Horner Community Centre’s Family Fun Fair Extravaganza, Taste of the Kingsway and Shop the Shore in September.
Many of us have favourite summer memories that include being with family and participating in activities together that didn’t cost a lot of money. Here’s to making some new family memories this summer as you explore all that Etobicoke-Lakeshore has to offer!
Etobicoke-Lakeshore is fortunate to have a number of beautiful parks, outdoor tennis courts, wading and splash pools, and swimming pools. Amos Waites,
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Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame Celebrates 20 Years
Marie Curtis Park Revitalization Continues By Mark Grimes, City of Toronto Councillor Ward 6
By J. Knox
On Tuesday, May 14th, , the Board of Governors and Advisory Board of the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame (ESHOF) hosted their 20th Anniversary Celebration at the MasterCard Centre for Hockey Excellence.
At long last, work is drawing nearer to completion on the new and improved Marie Curtis Park facilities. This spring marked the opening of a brand new playground and splash pad. In addition, the washroom facilities adjacent to the playground have undergone an extensive renovation. After a slight setback with the Hydro connection earlier this season, the facilities are now ready to entertain residents and visitors for years to come.
The formal event was well attended by men and women of distinction within the sports world, ESHOF Inductees and scholarship recipients. Also in attendance was celebrated athlete Jason Gordy of Simcoe, who is a Gold, Silver and Bronze medal Special Olympian and Ontario’s Top Male Special Olympian of 2012. Jason has been competing in the Special Olympics for 20 years in a wide range of sports that include Swimming, 5-Pin and 10-Pin Bowling, Long Distance Running, Floor Hockey and Long-Jump.
The playground and splash pad join the new off leash dog park, beachfront boardwalk, and revitalized path system constructed over the last several years. A small BMX skills facility is also slated for the park in coming few years. Watch my website www.markgrimes.ca or sign up for my weekly eNews for notice of a Community Meeting to discuss the scope and design of this bike park later this year.
The ESHOF honors exceptional amateur and professional athletes, officials and media who serve as positive role models for today’s youth. Funded by two annual fundraising events (the Induction Dinner and the Celebrity Golf Tournament) and the proceeds from Salute Magazine, the ESHOF also supports high school and college students who excel athletically and academically and Special Olympians through nine yearly scholarships.
In addition to the great work done by City of Toronto and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority staff, the City of Mississauga and Region of Peel have also begun an extensive environmental assessment and planning process for the Mississauga portion of Marie Curtis Park extending west towards the Lakeview Water Treatment plant. Initial work on the Environmental Assessment proposes a mixture of new wetlands, cobblestone beaches, forested areas and meadows to support new wildlife and recreation opportunities. For more information on the project on the Lakeview Waterfront Connection visit creditvalleyca.ca.
Pictured below: Top: Red Kelly, ESHOF inductee and eight time Stanley Cup Champion (four Red Wings, four Toronto Maple Leafs) and his wife Andra McLaughlin Kelly, former World Free Skating Champion.
With these and ongoing investments, Marie Curtis Park has truly become a gem in Toronto’s west end.
Bottom: Swim Coach Kim Deelan and Jason Gordy, 2012 Male Athlete of the Year for Special Olympics Ontario.
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Timothy’s Pub celebrates fifteenth anniversary This July drop into Timothy’s 15th Anniversary Party on Friday, July 26th for customer appreciation specials and wish Tim and Robin Brem a Happy Pub Anniversary! Entertainment for the evening will kick off with 3 Dads from 4-7:30 pm followed by Harvest Moon at 9:30 pm til close. The day will be filled with prizes and commemorative giveaways. Enjoy the company of the Carlsberg Girls and Mike’s Hard Lemonade Girls! Since 1998, Tim and Robin have made Timothy’s a destination for local patrons, and have built a comfortable and unique establishment that provides the best in customer service. They take great pleasure in organizing a variety of events such as wine and scotch tastings, golf tournaments and the ever-popular mystery pub crawls. In-pub activities include dart leagues, sports on TV and sensational live bands. Robin grew up in Alderwood and Tim has been a resident for the past 18 years, and both support and give back to the community. Robin also enjoys re-uniting with her many school friends at the pub. Last year, Timothy’s raised over $19,000 for the Salvation Army, and well over $120,000 in total since the pub opened. Amazing! Over the last 15 years, Timothy’s has become the live entertainment hotspot in south Etobicoke. The pub presents bands every Wednesday through Sunday, with two shows on Saturday. The Meteors are now in their tenth year hosting the Saturday jam. On Friday and Saturday evenings, you’ll be amazed away by the array of talented musicians. Timothy’s recently won the 2013 Etobicoke Guardian Readers’ Choice Platinum Award as Best Pub, Best Sports Bar and Best Wings in Etobicoke. The pub has been recognized as a Gem of the Lakeshore for eight nominations and three GEM awards. Robin, Tim and Chanel, would like to thank all their loyal clientele and staff for making the past 15 years so wonderful! Timothy’s Pub is located at 344 Browns Line (two blocks south of Horner Avenue) in south Etobicoke, and is open seven days a week. Call 416-201-9515 for more information.
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FINAL PHASE OF MIMICO WATERFRONT PARK OFFICIALLY OPENED IN ETOBICOKE Waterfront Toronto and Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA), together with the Governments of Canada, Ontario and the City of Toronto officially opened the second and final phase of Mimico Waterfront Park today. Located on the shore of Lake Ontario in Etobicoke, Mimico Waterfront Park connects people to the water across a lakefront area that historically lacked public access to the waterfront. The final phase of the park has transformed the shoreline east of Superior Avenue and created an additional 500 metres of park space. The park now provides 1.1 kilometres of continuous waterfront park between Norris Crescent Parkette and Humber Bay Park West. Waterfront Toronto opened the first 600 metre western portion of the park in 2008. This final section of new park enables Torontonians to enjoy the lakefront west of Humber Bay Park for the first time and provides the missing link in the city’s waterfront trail system. “The Harper Government is pleased to be part of the renewal of Toronto’s waterfront by providing $5.5 million in helping transform this part of Toronto’s industrial past into a beautiful park,” said the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance. “Public spaces strengthen and bind this country by building a healthier environment for all Canadians.” “We are proud to be part of the transformation of Mimico Waterfront Park,” said Laurel Broten, Member of Provincial Parliament for Etobicoke-Lakeshore. “The park is a vibrant addition to the community and will benefit both local residents and visitors, while supporting the revitalization of Toronto’s waterfront.”
Mimico Waterfront Park is an important asset that has enhanced and strengthened the local community. This community has been targeted for revitalization by the City of Toronto; creating more and better waterfront park space is one of the strategies the City identified to help attract investment in the area.
“We are very pleased to have this addition to our waterfront parks, which are the heart of revitalization in our community,” said Mark Grimes, Councillor for Etobicoke-Lakeshore. “Toronto and Region Conservation has done an outstanding job on the design. We look orward to the continued growth of the park as we look at new ways to open up the waterfront for everyone.”
“Waterfront revitalization is about connecting the people of Toronto to their waterfront and leveraging our investment in parks and public spaces to deliver key economic and social benefits,” said Mark Wilson, Chair of Waterfront Toronto. “Mimico Waterfront Park has delivered much needed waterfront public space, and is acting as an economic catalyst, helping to draw investment to the area.” TRCA is an integral partner in the revitalization of Toronto’s waterfront and was responsible for the planning and construction of the park. “Mimico Waterfront Park is a culmination of an extensive public consultation process that began in 1999,” said Chair, Gerri Lynn O’Connor, Toronto and Region Conservation. “The park you see today reflects the vision of the community that will enjoy it for years to come. Toronto and Region Conservation is extremely proud to have partnered with Waterfront Toronto to make this vision a reality.” As with all Waterfront Toronto projects, sustainability is a key feature of Mimico Waterfront Park. The park was designed to support the native ecology of the area, and includes features that benefit residents as well as improve the local aquatic and terrestrial habitats. The park was constructed through a lakefilling process along a narrow section of the existing shoreline. Beginning at Superior Avenue in the west the second phase extends the waterfront trail and public waterfront access to Humber Bay Park West in the east. Features of this final phase include an additional 500 metres of waterfront trail, three sections of cantilevered pedestrian boardwalk, a separate multi-use trail located along the backshore that provides cycling and in-line skating access adjacent to the boardwalk, small pockets of wetland habitat, landscaping and park lighting. The total project budget for Mimico Waterfront Park, phases one and two, was $18.2 million dollars of which $6.5 million was contributed by the City of Toronto, $6.2 million by the Province of Ontario and $5.5 million by the Government of Canada. Roughly half, $9.2 million, was the budget for the second phase of the project.
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Designed and built as part of the revitalization of Toronto’s waterfront, ownership of Mimico Waterfront Park has been transferred to the City of Toronto. The park will be operated and maintained by Toronto Parks, Forestry & Recreation. The Governments of Canada and Ontario and the City of Toronto created Waterfront Toronto to oversee and lead the renewal of Toronto’s waterfront. Public accessibility, design excellence, sustainable development, economic development and fiscal sustainability are the key drivers of waterfront revitalization.
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