Jane's Walks In and Around Ward 30

About: The main focus of our walk is to explore Riverdale’s outdoor spaces from the perspective of teenagers. Each stop is a park or outdoor space used by our class. The walk consists of five stops: Riverdale Collegiate grounds, Leslieville JPS grounds, Greenwood Park, Maple Leaf Forever Park, and Leslie Grove Park. This is a walk with the aim of bringing people together based on how teens use outdoor space. We feel that sometimes the teenaged perspective is overlooked and we want to show how we connect with our outdoor spaces.

Saturday

Wild Plants for Food & Medicine in Riverside http://janeswalk.org/canada/toronto/wild-plant/ Led by: Danette Steele, Riverside Walks Date: Saturday, May 6, 2017 Start time: 1:30 pm - 2:00 PM Length: 2 Hours Meeting spot: Queen E/Saulter St - Library steps at 765 Queen E Route: Start at library and walk west to Riverside Community Garden (Joel Weeks Park) About: Find out what to do with Nettles, Goosefoot, Knotweed - and more!! This is an opportunity to explore the Riverside neighbourhood on a wild springtime adventure with our local herbalist – Danette Steele. During this interactive walk, Danette will identify local plants and talk about how to forage using sustainable practices for food, medicine, and textiles. This FREE guided tour is part of the 'Riverside Walks' series. 1:30 pm – gather at Queen St. E and Saulter St. for informal mingling and tasting herbal teas 2 pm – walk departs from Queen/Saulter Library steps (765 Queen St E)

Putnam's Passion http://janeswalk.org/canada/toronto/putnam/ Led by: Geraldine Cahill Date: Saturday, May 6, 2017 Start time: 2:30 PM Length: 1.5 Hours Meeting spot: Riverdale Public Library Route: Walk down Broadview Ave, Gerrard St. E to Queen St. E About: Along a short stretch of east end road lies a diverse set of clubs and associations - Curling, Gospel and Buffalo among them. How well subscribed are these organizations? How has the role of these clubs changed over time? Do we still use clubs and associations to feel as though we belong? If not, where do we go?

Discover the Lower Don River Valley http://janeswalk.org/canada/toronto/discover/ Led by: Evergreen Brick Works Date: Saturday, May 6, 2017 Start time: 1:00 PM Length: 1 Hour Meeting spot: NE Corner of Broadview & Queen Street in front of Dangerous Dan's Diner. Route: Queen and Broadview, Don Valley Trail, Eastern Bridge, Corktown Commons About: Join our volunteers and explore the history and culture of the Lower Don River Valley. The water in the Don River flows from the Oak Ridges Moraine into Lake Ontario and has been used by humans for thousands of years. The area first inhabited by First Nations groups is now home to 1.2 million residents and one of Toronto’s most urbanized waterways. Once fully established the Don River Valley Park will span from Pottery Road to Corktown Common protecting diverse groups of plants and animals and connecting Torontonians to beautiful green space, culture and history.

Where Will the Next Generation Live? http://janeswalk.org/canada/toronto/where-will-next-generation-live/ Led by: Joy Connelly Date: Saturday, May 6, 2017 Start time: 10:00 AM Length: 2 Hours Meeting spot: 151 Hiawatha Road Route: Hiawatha Rd, Woodfield Rd, Gerrard St. E, Ashdale Ave About: 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 affordable for everyone.

Come and Explore Toronto's "Accidental Wilderness" at Tommy Thompson Park! http://janeswalk.org/canada/toronto/tommy-tho/ Led by: Jane Michener Date: Saturday, May 6, 2017 Start time: 10:00 AM Length: 2.5 Hours Meeting spot: Tommy Thompson Park Information Centre Route: Info Centre, bird viewing point and research station About: Tommy Thompson Park is located on the Leslie Street Spit, a man-made peninsula which extends 5 km into Lake Ontario and has been designated as a "Globally significant Bird Area." This walk will explore how the park was transformed from a man-made landfill into a significant urban wilderness. There will be opportunities for excellent bird watching for the over 300 species that visit the park set against the stunning back-drop of Lake Ontario.

Sunday

Bring Your Umbrella to the Riverdale Stormwater Walk http://janeswalk.org/canada/toronto/riversides-city-stormwater-walk/ Led by: Marcus Ginder Date: Sunday, May 7, 2017 Start time: 2:30 PM Length: 1 Hour Meeting spot: Withrow Clubhouse Community Route: Riverdale neighbourhood About: Join us for a walk through the Riverdale neighbourhood as we discuss the challenges cities and their residents face in managing stormwater. We will show working examples of new and innovative automated rain barrels in action, show you how rain gardens can be integrated into your landscape, and offer in-depth and practical details for installing a rain barrel on your property.

Lost Movie Houses of the Danforth http://janeswalk.org/canada/toronto/lost-movie-houses-danforth/ Led by: Jared Ross Date: Sunday, May 7, 2017 Start time: 10:00 AM Length: 1 Hour Meeting spot: Broadview Subway Parkette Route: Walk east along Danforth Ave to Pape About: In the first half the 20th century - before TV, DVDs or computers - the only way to see a film was on the big screen, and the Danforth was a cinema hotspot. Join us on this guided neighbourhood walk, as we discover some of the lost movie houses of the past.