2004 Events

April 17: 10:00 am
6TH ANNUAL FODE SPRING FLING AT TODMORDEN MILLS
After a short rain delay, about 50 people from FODE and the Todmorden Mills Wildflower Preserve did a great job, followed by a walk lead by Michael Dennison and a festive barbeque.

Saturday, April 17: 12 noon
GENERAL MEETING: MOVING FORWARD
Short updates were provided by the Chair, and the meeting approved the proposed membership fee increases of $25 for regular members and $10 for unwaged members. The increases will take effect with the next mailing to members.

Sunday, April 18
CORPORATE PLANTING NEAR UNDERWRITERS ROAD
Over 150 participants from Toronto Hydro, LEAF, Underwriters Laboratories Canada, and FODE planted almost 300 trees and shrubs in a first effort to restore this reach of Taylor Massey Creek, described at www.fode.ca/taylor/reachA8.htm. Following the provision of an initial supply of planting stock from the City, Toronto Hydro made a huge investment in the effort, providing funds for additional trees, a fantastic barbeque, a festive atmosphere for over 100 of their employees, and installing a gate in their back fence for planting and future access. Thanks all!

Saturday, April 24: 10 am
SITE PREP EVENT WITH COMMUNITY CARES EAST YORK
To prepare for the public event the next day, 65 staff, parents, and teenage supporters of Community Care East York planted a perimeter of 90 sumac around the easternmost edge of Taylor Creek Park, followed by an interpretive tour of the riparian edge of the Goulding Estate.

Saturday, April 24: 1 pm
TAYLOR MASSEY CLEAN-UP
A new Reach Stewardship Group has joined FODE efforts to help restore Taylor Massey Creek. The new group held a clean-up, with about 35 people, which included several existing FODE members, in the Eglinton Ravine. The Reach is described and an e-mail link to this group can be found at www.fode.ca/taylor/reachA7.htm .

Saturday, April 24: 5:00 pm
TAYLOR CREEK PLANTING
Around mid-March, FODE received a call from a man turning 40, wanting to make a donation to FODE to plant 40 trees and shrubs with some of his friends. We were able to respond, and over 40 plants were purchased to expand the natural area around a small wetland in Taylor Creek Park. This was a great initiative.

We thank Frank, wearing the bandana, and hope to figure out a way to stage additional celebratory plantings in the future.

Sunday, April 25: 10:00 am
TAYLOR CREEK PARK NATURALIZATION PLANTING
Over 60 people, including Councillor Janet Davis, staff from Parks, the Danforth East Association of Ratepayers, and members of FODE braved a low temperature, strong morning winds, and sporadic downpours to plant 300 pieces of stock to naturalize the first 600 square metres of Taylor Creek Park at Dawes Road.

Saturday, May 8: 10 am - noon
SPRING EPHEMERALS IN THE CROTHERS' WOODS ESA
A cold and windy morning – we actually had HAIL! – kept the turnout to 12 people, supported by 2 staff from the City and TRCA. Our thanks to Keri McMahon of the City and Lionel Normand of the Conservation Authority.

Saturday, May 8: 1 - 4 pm
9th ANNUAL FARLINGER RAVINE CLEAN-UP AND BBQ
The hail let up, and turned into a driving rain, but 42 dauntless people turned out for a great clean-up. The reach looks the cleanest it has in years. Thanks to Janet and Harry, who co-ordinated the local turnout, barbequed under 2 marquees, and welcomed about 30 people into their home.

Tuesday, May 11, 6:30 pm
INTERPRETIVE TOUR OF TAYLOR CREEK PARK AND THE GOULDING ESTATE
FODE member James McArthur lead a tour of about 15 people, including Councillor
Janet Davis. The small group made for some interesting and detailed discussion .

Saturday, May 15: 2 pm
TERRAVIEW WILLOWFIELD "CONCEPT SITE" TOUR
After a great start to huge turnouts for spring events, we had rain. Again. Nonetheless, about 12 people, including Councillor Norm Kelly, local champion Nancy Penny, and Peter Hare and members of the Lost Rivers Society, had a great walk and discussed even more restoration.

Sunday, May 16: 9 am
BIRDING IN WARDEN WOODS
Fifteen people turned out for a great walk, lead by FODE member Christine Jamieson, who lead the identification of 23 species, including a Scarlet Tanager. We also got to see a tremendous dog-fight between two male Northern Orioles. Warden Woods rules!

June 5 and 8
OPEN HOUSE AT GOLD AWARD GARDEN
Phyllis Head, a long-time member of FODE, welcomed several members of FODE and the public to visit her award-winning naturalized garden in this year's Open Gardens Toronto, 2004. Phyllis' garden features native perennials, disconnected downspouts, and uses no pesticides.

Sunday, July 18: 1-4 pm
LOWER DON BIKE TOUR
Hot and humid, but 12 hardy folks showed up for this year's tour, lead by John Routh of FODE and Joanna Kidd of Toronto Bay Initiative.

Monday, August 9: 7 pm
SECOND ANNUAL FUNDRAISING DINNER
The staff of the The Bow and Arrow Restaurant and Pub, supported by Creemore Springs, provided another fantastic evening of great food and prizes. Over 40 people, including MPP Michael Prue, helped FODE have fun, raise funds, and groan as past Chair Steven Peck portaged into the sunset with this year's canoe.

Saturday, August 14: 1:30 pm
TOUR OF THE DON VALLEY BRICKWORKS
FODE member Tom Brown lead a great tour, in partnership with Heritage Toronto, that saw 94 people attend an industrial, geological, and natural heritage tour of the Brickworks.

Saturday, September 25, 10:00 - noon
PLANTING EVENT AT THE GOULDING ESTATE
Twenty people gathered and planted almost an acre with 175 trees and shrubs, with funding from the Toronto Trees and Parks Foundation and additional stock provided by the City.

Saturday, October 2, 10:00 - noon
TAYLOR MASSEY'S PRIVATE NATURE TRAIL IN PINE HILLS CEMETERY
FODE board member Michael Dennison lead a fascinating tour along a private trail through the woods that line Taylor Massey Creek as it flows through Pine Hills Cemetery. A threatening forecast kept the numbers low, but allowed for excellent information exchange among the 11 participants.

October 17, 9 - noon
LEAP-FROG: THE UPPER TAYLOR MASSEY BUS AND HIKING TOUR
Sponsored by the City of Toronto, The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, and Grassroots, over 45 people hiked four sections of Taylor Massey Creek, getting to better understand the wonderful natural resource it represents.

October 23, 10:00 - 11:30 am
SATURDAY STROLL THROUGH WARDEN WOODS
Twenty-two people, including members of the Warden Woods Neighbourhood Association and Parents without Partners, joined FODE members in brilliant sunshine and great fall colours as we walked this unspoiled jewel of Taylor Massey Creek.