A few Canada Day events to tell you about, but first thing’s first. You need to know what’s happening at wonderful Stephenson Park.
DECA is proud to help sponsor the Friends of Stephenson Park (FOSP) 3rd Annual Canada Day Celebration! If you want to know why you should attend, keep reading.
We asked FOSP founder, Peter Woodcock about his work to bring people together around Stephenson Park. Here is what he told us:
When we moved here 6 years ago, Stephenson Park seemed kind of sad and forgotten, and a bit of a hot spot for some undesirable behaviour. Just over 3 years ago, I decided to organize a park group in an attempt to get the neighbours to start coming out and using the park. A group of us brainstormed for ideas of what we could do with no budget.
Our first event was a picnic in the park in 2014. It was Canada Day and Pride weekend, so we decided to celebrate both with donated watermelons from Sobey’s, a huge slab cake from Costco and little Canada & Rainbow flags adorning the entire fence around the park. Kids played in the pool and we had music by neighbour and artist extraordinaire Tak Bui. What more could we want?
The park is slowly becoming more vibrant and more loved. We have music nights, yoga most Saturdays, an amazing ice rink, community clean ups, new trees and organized tree watering.
And here we are, 3 years later, getting ready for our 3rd Annual Canada Day Celebration, which is getting bigger and better each year. This year we will be having more food and music, and an early evening bonfire with marshmallows. We will be selling corn on the cob and having an old-timey lemonade stand to raise funds for permits and other activities throughout the year. And of course, we’ll still have the Costco slab cake!
Stephenson Park is a pretty darn amazing park, and I am so happy when I hear someone say how much it has changed. Kids laughing and playing is an amazing return on investment. No man is an island or a park. All the success comes down to all the people in our neighbourhood that come to Stephenson Park.
Peter and Joey after Saturday morning yoga in the park. Photo credit: Mary-Margaret McMahon
Other Free Canada Day events
East York Canada Day Parade & Festival at Stan Wadlow, including fireworks! eycdc.ca/event.html
Note: they are also looking for volunteers.
Danforth Mosaic BIA – The Danny Loves Music Canada Day concert at East Lynn Park from 6-9pm, Julian Taylor Band (beer, wine & food can be purchased on site)
