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DECA’s Strolling with Seniors Walking Club!

We are excited to announce that we will be hosting a weekly seniors walking club aimed at connecting folks in the community and enjoying the beauty of our neighbourhood!

The guided walks will occur every Tuesday at 10am,  from June 11 – September 3, and will depart fro the top of East Lynn Park.

All are welcome (even if you aren’t a senior!) and leashed pups can join the fun.

Don’t forget to bring comfortable walking shoes, appropriate sun protection, and water to drink – and make sure to tell a friend!

Throughout the summer we will also host post-walk events with experts in the community who will give free talks on topics relevant to the group.

Stay tuned for details!!

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The Market This Week: Bikes and Tents and Wine – Oh My!

The wait is over! Our first market of the season is here!

On top of the yummy, local food vendors this week we have:

  • Parks Canada’s Learn-to Camp team will show your kids the basics of camping. Come and learn about how to set up a tent, camp cooking, fire safety, and much more!

  • 32 Spokes doing bike repairs and simple tune ups

  • Chateau des Charmes Winery offering tastings

  • Live music – Classical Guitarist, Joseph Landau

This Week’s Scheduled Vendors

AUSTIN’S FRUIT & VEGETABLE

5th TOWN CHEESE

SUN-RAY ORCHARDS

THE POP STAND

MAD MEXICAN

BOLO SOUP

CEDAR HEDGE FARM

DUNDAS PARK KITCHEN

OAK RIDGE PARK SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS

The East Lynn Park Farmers’ Market runs every Thursday from 3-7:00 p.m. between June 6 – October 17 at East Lynn Park, located on the south side of Danforth Ave, just west of Woodbine Ave. Stay up to date by visiting the East Lynn Market Facebook page or by following us on Twitter.

 

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East Lynn Farmers’ Market Starts This Week!

The East Lynn Farmers’ Market starts on Thursday, June 6th!

fresh vegetables at the market

We are excited to have some of our favourite vendors returning and to welcome some new faces too!

Each week the market will host:

  • Farmers selling their in-season produce

  • A local winery offering tastings and wine for purchase

  • A community wellness booth

  • Live Music

  • Children’s activities, including Face Painting

 

Returning Vendors

AUSTIN’S FRUIT & VEGETABLE

5th TOWN CHEESE

GODELIE FAMILY FARM 

ROYAL ROSE GARDEN 

SUN-RAY ORCHARDS

THE POP STAND

MAD MEXICAN

BOLO SOUP

 

New This Year!

CEDAR HEDGE FARM

DUNDAS PARK KITCHEN

OAK RIDGE PARK SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS

REAL PIES

 

ONTARIO WINE!

This year we’ll see a rotating selection of Ontario wines for sale and sample.  Wineries confirmed for 2019 are:

  • CHATEAU DES CHARMES (Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario)

  • FLAT ROCK CELLARS (Jordan, Ontario)

  • TAWSE WINERY (Vineland, Ontario)

DECA founded the East Lynn Park Farmers’ Market in 2008. DECA volunteers continue to support its growth and overall success, including hosting face painting, kids crafts, running kids activities and a variety of other events, such as Pride at the Market.

DECA partners with Farmers’ Markets Ontario to bring fresh, local fruit, vegetables, meats, dairy products and more.  Read more about what it means to be a Certified Local Farmers’ Market.

The East Lynn Farmers’ Market runs every Thursday from 3-7:00 p.m. between June 6 – October 17 at East Lynn Park, located on the south side of Danforth Ave, just west of Woodbine Ave. Stay up to date by visiting the East Lynn Market Facebook page or by following us on Twitter.

 

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It’s time to dance for a good cause!

Thanks to guest blogger, Juilette Fergus for this post!

Each year, for the last three years, the Danforth East Community Association (DECA) has awarded $2,000 to a local high school student who is about to enter post-secondary education/training based on the student’s involvement in supporting/improving their community. Pretty awesome, right?  We think so!

Given that DECA is a 100% volunteer-run organization without grants or any other sort of funding, we’ve got to raise some funds to make this happen – enter our 2nd Annual Retro Dance Party! By purchasing a ticket and coming to the best dance party in the East end you can have the time of your life AND contribute towards recognizing a young adult who has made our little community a better place. How’s that for a win-win?

The DECA Retro Dance Party happens on Saturday, May 25, 2019 at the East York Masonic Temple located at 13 Chisholm Ave. Hot tip – Tickets are $15 each at the door, but you can save $3 each by buying in advance via Eventbrite. You’re welcome;)

In honour of our Retro Dance Party and Scholarship guest blogger, Juilette Fergus, put together some fun facts about some of our favourite 80’s artists and their community-driven passions.

 

Prince holding flowers
Prince Rogers Nelson

Prince took the power of his public persona and leveraged it to become a very generous philanthropist. His key charity, “Love 4 One Another” (why am I not surprised at this name?), gave more than 1.5 million dollars to various charities, including a youth leadership non-profit, and numerous women’s empowerment initiatives. He even donated money to help those impacted by the I-35Wbridge collapse in 2007. What a true Prince of a soul!

 

Maddona head shot
Madonna Louise Ciccone

This lady rarely takes a Holiday from making the world a better place! A quick Google of Madonna’s charitable impact delivers a staggering list of 30+ charities that Madge has supported over her vast career. These charities range from AIDS research organizations, to international relief, to multiple children’s organizations. Her focus on children’s charities culminated in the creation of her Raising Malawi non-profit in 2006. There’s no doubt – Madonna’s heart is True Blue.

 

Cyndi Lauper with yellow hair
Cynthia Ann Stephanie Lauper

This girl ain’t just about having fun! Cyndi has made no secret of being passionate about supporting the LGBT+ community and AIDs related organizations over the course of her career. What you may not know is that Cyndi’s True Colours Residence (Jeeze, it’s hard to write that the American way!) is a major contributor to providing at-risk, homeless LGBT+ youth a safe harbour in her home town of New York City

How’s that for some community building inspiration? While our local youth likely don’t have the fame or financial resources that these celebs have (yet), there are young people in our midst making a real impact in our community. Do you know the next young Prince, Madonna or Cyndi? If you do, encourage them to apply for the DECA Young Leaders Scholarship before Tuesday, June 16, 2019.

In the meantime, see you all on the dance floor on Saturday, May 25! Costumes are encouraged ;)

Poster for DECA Retro Dance Party May 25, 2019

 

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Final Plan for the Danforth Garage goes to Council this Spring!

Thanks to Audrey Kvedaras of DECA’s Visioning Committee for writing this fabulous update.

DECA and the community look forward to seeing the final iteration of the Danforth Garage (or Danforth Barns as many say) Master Plan and the delineation of its phases, as it heads to Council this spring. This Master Plan will confirm the locations of new buildings for the three initial tenants, the TTC, the TPS Divisions 54 & 55 and the Toronto Public Library Coxwell Branch and conceptually describe access through the site, locations of public spaces and sites for additional new buildings whose uses are yet to be determined (employment or residential).

During the last public meeting, the possibility of interim uses for the Barns prior to their development was proposed. DECA welcomes animation of the site with a variety of uses including revenue-generating events drawn to the impressive space of the Barns, while the community waits for phase two of the development to be underway. To implement possible interim uses we anticipate a discussion of allocation of funds and of oversight to be part of this submission to Council.

DECA looks forward to participating in the next phase of this project to create a material vision for the site, especially the heritage Barns. The opportunity exists to remedy the significant cultural and community space deficiencies that exist in our neighbourhood.

The Danforth Garage Master Planning Study provided community engagement through the guidance of a team of knowledgeable and professional City staff and private-sector consultants. We look forward to seeing, under the continued leadership of CreateTO, a vision for the site that manifests a unity, vitality and urban sensibility appropriate to this large site in the City of Toronto and is consistent with the images put forth as examples in the study.

Below are two images from the final public presentation for the Danforth Garage Master Planning Study and the link to both the presentation and meeting information:

https://www.danforthgarage.com/s/DanforthGarage_PublicMeeting3_Presentation.pdf

https://www.danforthgarage.com/community-meetings