Calendar of Events

Spring 2006

Sunday, April 23: 10:00 AM - 12 Noon
Nature’s Spring Awakening along the Don
Join Task Force to Bring Back the Don volunteer Steve Gahbauer to explore flora and fauna along Taylor Massey Creek. This hike begins at the Forks of the Don and ends at Victoria Park Ave. between St. Clair and Danforth. Meeting location is parking lot east off of Don Mills Rd. between E.T. Seton Park and Taylor Creek Park. View map for directions.

Sunday, April 23:  12 Noon - 2 PM
Halsey Plateau Tree Planting
Join our first public planting of 2006! Help us plant a few hundred trees to start naturalizing this open-grass area next to Taylor Massey Creek. Meet at the west end of Halsey Avenue off of Dawes Road. View map for directions.

Special Event: April 24-30
Operation Clean Sweep
We'll be taking school groups out during the week to cleanup their neighbouring green spaces as part of Pitch-In Canada Week. If you are interested in getting your (or your child's!) school or class involved, please call us at (416) 657-2800 or send us an email at eco@fode.ca.

Saturday, May 6: 10:00 AM - Noon
Donora Park Planting
A planting of a different sort for those who prefer a smaller shovel Help plant flowers and other small plants in the new garden beds at Donora Park. Made possible by the Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation. View map for directions.

Sunday May 7: 9:00 AM - 1 PM
Hike the Don
If you prefer to enjoy the annual Paddle the Don event without risking a dive in the river, this event is for you! Hike alongside the paddlers in one of 3 timeslots from E.T. Seton Park to Todmorden Mills, with "finish-line" activities awaiting. In partnership with the TRCA.

Saturday, May 13: 1 PM - 4 PM
Leslieville Tree Festival
A day of tree celebration!  Displays, music, art, vendors, kids activities!  FODE will be selling native plants for your garden. In partnership with Councillor Paula Fletcher. Leslie Grove Park (corner of Queen St East and Jones Ave).

Tuesday May 16: 7 PM - 9 PM
Natural Gardening Workshop
Stan Wadlow Clubhouse, 373 Cedarvale Ave, Woodbine & Cosburn.
Learn about the issues surrounding home pesticide use and how to care for your green spaces without them. With resources provided by Greenest City and the City of Toronto, this workshop will teach you all about the city’s pesticide by-law and how to achieve and maintain healthy and vibrant lawns, gardens and trees the natural way.

Saturday May 20: 10 AM - 12 Noon
The Don Valley’s History
Learn about the old homesteads, paper mills and other industries, and various other human activities in the Valley in the 30s and 40s before the DVP. Led by Task Force to Bring Back the Don guest leader Bill Lewis, who is the current program director for the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre. Meeting location is parking lot east off of Don Mills Rd. between E.T. Seton Park and Taylor Creek Park. View map for directions.

Saturday, June 3: 10:00 AM - 12 Noon
Bike Week Tour of the Don
Travel along some of the trails in the Don Valley Ravine Parks. Start at the entrance to Victoria Park subway station on Victoria Park Rd. just north of the Danforth. Ends in Sunnybrook Park.

Sunday, June 11: 10:00 AM - 12 Noon
Canadian Rivers Day Water Walk
Follow a raindrop's journey to reach Lake Ontario on a Water in the City Walk with us and RiverSides. Learn about Riverdale's urban history, lost streams, storm sewer infrastructure, and its impacts on the Don River. You'll also see what homeowners can do to help protect and restore the Don River! Start at Chester Subway Station and conclude at Chester Spring Marsh.

Saturday, June 24: 10:00 AM - 12 Noon
Heritage Toronto Goulding Estate Walk
Join us on this Heritage Toronto tour around the last surviving structure of the Dentonia Park Farm, where the Massey family helped pioneer pasteurization in dairy farming. The surrounding green space boasts some of the largest oaks to be seen along Taylor-Massey Creek and is home to both serious challenges and several lovely restoration projects. Parking is available east off of Dawes Road just north of the creek. View map for directions.

Sunday, July 9: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Heritage Toronto Don Valley Brick Works Walk
An industrial site since the latter part of the 1800s, the Brickworks is now being transformed into a valley wilderness park. Hear how this site has influenced the history of the city from pre-colonial days to the present.  View map for directions.

Sunday July 15: 10 AM - 11:30 AM
Summer in the Don Valley
Join leader Steve Gahbauer to explore the sights and sounds of nature in the summer in the Don Valley with a walk from the Forks of the Don northward into E.T. Seton Park. Meeting location is parking lot east off of Don Mills Rd. between E.T. Seton Park and Taylor Creek Park. View map for directions.

Fall 2006

Monday, October 16: 6:00 PM
Fundraising Dinner!
Allen’s, 143 Danforth Ave.
Our Annual Fundraising Dinner just keeps getting bigger and better! With our new sponsors from last year and even more, come enjoy the fantastic food, service and locale of the award-winning Allen's - With a full-course meal in Toronto's best-voted
outdoor dining space under the leaves of century old willows! Complimentary beer is provided by the Don's own Mill St. Brewery. There are also great prizes from Mountain Equipment Co-op, Nature Clean, Grass Roots and The Big Carrot.  Your support is crucial, get your $55.00 ticket today!  Phone 416-657-2800, or email us at eco@fode.ca. Allen's is located about 1/2 block east of Broadview Ave on the south side of the street.

Saturday, October 21: 10 AM - 12 Noon
Tree Planting at Prairie Drive Park
Our first planting of the fall season brings us to Prairie Drive Park.  We are planting an area above Warden Woods with beautiful native hardwoods. By car, you’ll find this park just off Pharmacy Ave, at the first traffic light north of the subway overpass.  There is a small parking area in the park.  It may be necessary to park at the community centre to south or the Warden Woods lot immediately north of the park and walk back.  See map for directions. Transit access via #67 Pharmacy bus, running from Victoria Park subway station.

Saturday, October 28: 10 AM - 12 Noon
Tree Planting at Halsey Avenue
Help complete a major FODE planting along the banks of Taylor Massey Creek that was started this spring. Join us as we put the final 200 trees and shrubs in the ground, completing the restoration of over 1 hectare (2.5 acres) of woodland! See map for directions. Parking is available just off Dawes Road in the park. The #23 Dawes bus from Main Street subway station also passes by the park entrance.

Saturday, November 4: 10 AM - 12 Noon
Tree Planting in E.T. Seton Park
Come out and join us at a new planting area for FODE as we begin the process of restoring riparian forest along the edge of West Don River. See map for directions. Park in the southwest parking lot. Someone will be there to direct you to the planting location. By transit, take the #81 Thorncliffe Park bus from Broadview Subway station. Walk down the park entrance road to get to the planting site.

Sunday, November 26, 6 – 9 pm
ANNUAL POTLUCK DINNER, VOLUNTEER & PARTNER CELEBRATION
& 13th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Our annual celebration of the year's accomplishments over a pot luck social returns. As usual, FODE will supply the coffee, cream, and sugar, as well as utensils. This year, we add a new segment, saluting our volunteers and partner organizations, before easing into the Annual General Meeting. To be held at Todmorden Mills, the agenda is: