May 5 & 6 - Jane's Walk

Dilapidated high-rises? Houses ripe for a sell-off? That's one picture of Toronto's social housing. But there's a bigger story than what you'll read in the media.  This East End tour looks at the policy decisions that made social housing what it is today-from the government memo that decreed "ugliness requirements" for public housing to the "stand alone" houses that may be funding your pension plan. You'll also meet people who found home in a stable, turned a fire-damaged church into a lively courtyard, drew a skeptical government to the table, and saw a New Frontier in a factory. Joy Connelly has worked in social housing for 30 years. She is joined by people from Toronto Community Housing, Innstead and Riverdale Co-ops and Project Amik.

Route note: This walk has two parts, divided by a 15 minute "Spot the Social Housing" walk. Come for the first hour, or join us for the entire 2 hour tour.

A Walk on the Radical Side: Gentrification and other downsides of becoming a desirable neighbourhood Guided by Diane Dyson & Martine August Saturday, May 5, 2012. 3:00 pm

Meeting location: Jimmie Simpson Recreation Centre, 870 Queen St. East End point: Broadview Avenue and Queen St., at the Real Jerk

While the east-end has undergone a visible revitalization in the past decade and a half, its roots are as a working class community. This is still visible in the small lot sizes, the converted factory buildings and the environmental challenges which regularly emerge. As the neighbourhood becomes richer, (and whiter), low-income and racialized households are being squeezed out. In fact, the east end is losing the vital mix which drew many people to it. This walk will explore how rising inequality has re-shaped one Toronto neighbourhood.

Broadview: Exploring Todmorden to East Chinatown Guided by Lori Zuppinger Saturday, May 5, 2012, 10:00 am

Meeting location: Corner of Broadview Avenue and Pottery Road - terrace behind Dairy Queen End point: Riverdale Library, Broadview Avenue and Gerrard Street East

Broadview Avenue - once a "mere wagon track, winding among the trees and underwood" - connects a number of diverse neighbourhoods and fascinating slices of Toronto's history.  From the river's earliest mills to one of the city's newest landmarks, join us as we explore two centuries of change east of the Don.

Discovering hidden Hastings Creek Guided by Paul Dowsett and Dylan Reid Sunday, May 6, 2012, 10:30 am

Meeting location: N-E corner of Danforth Ave. and Langford Ave. (Beside the Starbucks) End point: Near Hastings Ave. and Gerrard St. E.

Hastings Creek is one of Toronto's less well known buried waterways. Using clues from sound, natural topography, man-made landscape and infrastructure, this walk will attempt to trace its route from the heights of the Danforth to to the fabled "weeping wall," as it makes its way towards Ashbridge's Bay. Along the way, the walk will also explore some features of the neighbourhood known as The Pocket.

The walk will be led by two local residents, Paul Dowsett, Principal Architect at SUSTAINABLE.TO, and Dylan Reid, Spacing magazine editor and former co-chair of the Toronto Pedestrian Committee. Anyone who knows something about the creek and its history is also encouraged to make a contribution during the walk.

Leslie St - Gateway or Gate to the Waterfront Guided by Paul Young Saturday, May 5, 2012, 10:00 am

Meeting location: North west corner of Queen St. East and Leslie St. (beside "the nose"). End point: Same as startm

Join health promoter and landscape architect Paul Young and various members of the "Leslie St. Complete Street Working Group" as they guide us on a tour of Leslie St. near, but not quite at the waterfront. Leslie will be reconstructed. Why does it have one of the most dangerous intersections in the City? Is it a barrier to the waterfront? What might be done to improve conditions?  Join a discussion about how to assess safety for pedestrians and cyclists and about the potential for a "green gateway" on Leslie.

Rooster to Rocket - Bridging the Don Valley Guided by Paul Backewich Saturday, May 5, 2012, 1:00 pm

Meeting place: he Rooster Coffee House, 479 Broadview Avenue End location: Jet Fuel coffee house on Parliament St.

This walk will traverse the Don Valley from Riverdale to Cabbagetown with reflections on the historical and future developments that have shaped the Don Valley and its adjacent neighbourhoods. It starts and ends at two of Toronto's choice spots for fantastic coffee!

The Other Danforth: The Life and Death of Upper Midway Guided by Stephen Wickens Saturday, May 5, 2012, 10:00 am

Meeting place: Wise Guys nightclub, 2301 Danforth at Oak Park End location: Linsmore Crescent and Danforth (near the Linsmore Tavern)

For many Torontonians, the Danforth is the main street of Riverdale or a place to eat Greek food. But that image covers just a small strip of this storied street, formerly known as the Second Concession, the Danforth Plank Road and The King's Highway No. 5. Danforth east of Pape, often referred to as the "Other Danforth," wasn't really developed until the 1920s, after the Bloor viaduct opened. The Other Danforth has always tended to be blue collar and gritty.  And while it has seen hard times, especially in the past four decades, the area is almost certainly about to see a wave of gentrification, investment and development.

We're going to concentrate on the history and character of the three main Upper Midway intersections (Woodbine, Coxwell and Greenwood), as well as the three lost creeks that crossed this stretch of the Danforth-creeks that still affect the way land is used. The walk will be led by Stephen Wickens, a freelance writer and editor who spent more than 35 years at four Toronto newspapers (not counting boyhood Star, Tely and Globe routes). Stephen was raised in the east end and is a lifelong amateur urbanist.