Thanks to DECA’s Visioning Committee for these important updates!
On February 1, 2018, City Council approved the Danforth Barns at 1627 Danforth Avenue for the location of a new consolidated 54 and 55 Police District facility.
DECA, in an ongoing effort to keep our community informed of important changes happening in the ‘hood is, with permission of CreateTO, posting their recent letter to the participants of the various consultations regarding the Danforth Barns site at Coxwell & Danforth as well as the discussion about the building for the TPS 54/55 divisions. (We blogged about the proposed changes previously here.)
This immense site, larger than the Honest Ed’s site at Bathurst & Bloor St. will shortly enter its Master Planning Stage. Overseen by CreateTO, many City of Toronto agencies among them the Library, the TTC and the TPS, along with the community, will be involved with this innovative multi-use project. We look forward to being part of the process of seeing this project take shape in our community!
Stay tuned – when the community consultations begin, we will share the dates/times/locations with you!
We are following up on our initiative for 1627 Danforth Avenue. Below please find an update and work plan for the next phase in the renewal of this important City property. We look forward to collaborating with all of you as we move into the next phase of this City initiative.
On behalf of CreateTO our thanks for your continued commitment and passion.
The 5th Community Consultation Meeting for the Danforth Avenue Planning Study is happening on Tuesday, March 20th, at Hope United Church (2550 Danforth Avenue) in two different time slots to accommodate as many people as possible:
3:30-5:30pm & 6:30-8:30pm
This is the final community consultation so we encourage you to attend, understand the issues at play, and have your input heard on the future of our neighbourhood.
To learn more about the study, and the consultations leading up to this point, you can visit www.toronto.ca/danforthstudy
Mark your calendars! The Danforth East Yard Sale will be happening on June 9th. In the coming months, we’ll let you know how to sign up and add yourself to the big map. In the meantime, take a peak around your living space… do you have excess stuff you’d like to cull? The Yard Sale is a great way to meet your neighbours and clean house all at the same time. Happy spring!
3rd Annual DECA Young Leader Scholarship
DECA’s 2017 Scholarship Winner Sal Sabila
There are a lot of kids in our neighbourhood with huge potential. Some of them are already volunteering their time to make our neighbourhood a better place. DECA wants to help one of them this upcoming school year through our third annual DECA Young Leaders Scholarship. We’ll be posting the scholarship application soon and asking you to help us spread the word to local students and through our local high schools… Watch for more details on the blog. As always, fundraising for the scholarship will be through awesome neighbourhood events including a brand new Pub Night. You will also be able to contribute for the first time this year by making a donation thru the Danforth East Yard Sale.
Calling All Artists! Apply Now – Danforth East Arts Fair
Don’t miss out on an incredible opportunity to showcase and sell your work at the Danforth East Arts Fair, taking place on September 15th and 16th, 2018, at East Lynn Park. Our vibrant community is filled with new families, established homeowners and creative folks who are eager to support local artists. Applications are due by March 31st, 2018. For more information or to apply visit the website: http://deca-arts.ca/exhibitors/
Emerging young artists have a sweet opportunity! You may apply for a #FREE booth at the Arts Fair this year. If you are an artist AND a full time student, the Emerging Artist Booth gives you a chance to sell and show your art in an open market. Apply now for this free opportunity! Two young artists will be selected: http://deca-arts.ca/exhibitors/emerging-artist/
The DECA Board is meeting on Tuesday, February 27 from 7:30-9:30pm at Sarah’s Cafe & Bar, 1423 Danforth in their private back room on the main floor. [Please update your calendar if you had noted that we were meeting at Gerrard Pizza, as per the previous post – my oops!]
Why come to a meeting? Lots of reasons! Perhaps you’d like to get involved. Perhaps you want to hear more about us. Perhaps you’d like to meet some neighbours. Whatever your reason, we look forward to meeting you!
If you want to know more about us but the thought of coming to a meeting fills you with dread, or if you prefer to chat one on one, a few Board members will be at Sarah’s from 7-7:30pm to meet and greet with anyone who wants to come out.
Please drop us a line to let us know you’ll be coming by clicking here. That way, if there is a snowstorm and we need to cancel, we will be able to let you know. In any case, feel free to join us at the last minute – all welcome.
Meet Roxane. She’s the owner of Fresh Paint Studio + Cafe.
“Sometimes people will ask if I can do my art without the words, but to me
it’s like doing half a painting.” – Roxane
Roxane loves to read. Growing up, her head was always in a book. It was with words where Roxane’s journey as an artist began.
Spoken word events,
written anthologies,
poetry published and entered in contests.
Things began to change when Roxane decided to add a sketch to a poem she had written. Somehow it felt like a natural fit to have words and art balancing one another. Words began to make their way into every* piece and it slowly became her thing – “poetic art.”
Waxes and dyes on cotton.
Colourful images with her handwritten poetry.
Batiks on watercolour paper.
Chalk pastel on wood.
Roxane loves experimenting and seeing where it will go. Some may question her style and feel that she is pushing her interpretation by adding words to her pieces, but for Roxane, it’s about the freedom to express yourself, however you choose.
As a child*, she always had a creative inclination to make things with her hands. The idea of making something from nothing is* still fascinating to Roxane, which has served her well as an* entrepreneur.
Roxane began her first art studio in Mount Pleasant and Davisville. It was a second floor space where she was able to show her work and offer workshops. It was a place to get her feet wet as an artist* and to see what it would be like to own a studio in Toronto.
She went to her full time job during the day and then to her studio during evenings and weekends. Roxane did communications work for the non-profit organization Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief (CPAR). Sharing the work of CPAR brought together her love of story, writing, and helping communities. She may have continued to run her studio on the side, if it hadn’t been for an event that was out of her control.
After being in her studio space for two years, the* landlord raised her rent substantially. It left Roxane with a problem* – she could no longer keep her studio. Although it was very hard for her at the time, she is* now able to look back and see it as a gift.
Pregnant with her first child, Roxane and her husband decided that instead of staying* in their area, they would look around the city for a place to buy. It provided control over her destiny and a new place to begin as an* artist*. When* their real estate agent told them about a Korean church on the Danforth, they weren’t too sure.
Walking in, one had to look beyond the outdated paneling and carpeting. Roxane saw the potential and the ultimate creative project. Carpet was pulled up to reveal original hardwood. Pieces of newspaper from the 1920s were found beneath the wooden strips and two pieces of art were found hidden inside the walls. It was like the space was meant for her.
If you haven’t been into Fresh Paint Studio + Cafe yet, you need to stop in and take a look. The brick walls have been exposed, the original tin ceiling remains, and calligraphy menu boards feature not only cafe items, but also your art materials. Order a canvas or maybe a wood panel.
Relax. Unwind. And Create. Enjoy a tea or coffee as you* paint. Nourish your creative spirit with a baked good. Fresh Paint is a place where you can lose yourself for a little while and simply enjoy the act of creating something with your own two hands.
Fresh Paint Studio was created in the spirit of bringing the community together, people of all ages, to create and to express themselves. Lego. Slime. Paint. It’s a chance to go back to being a kid again when we simply enjoyed the act of making and we were open to possibility. (When did we grow* out of that?)
At Fresh Paint Studio, it’s fun to do art again.
For Roxane, finding the time to create is a necessity. It’s what has her up* at 2 a.m. painting, while her daughter is sleeping and the rest of the world is quiet. She knows the happiness that art has brought to her life and she wants to share that with others.
Visit Fresh Paint Studio + Cafe for more information about upcoming workshops or to book a painting party or corporate event. If you would like to drop-in to do some painting and get away for a bit, check out their studio hours at 1849 Danforth Ave.
*Writer’s note: you might have noticed some asterisk throughout Roxane’s story. Go back through the story and write them out to see a secret message from Pablo Picasso!
Additional posts from The Humans of Danforth East series:
