#DanforthEast community mural – Saturday morning (June 6) 9:30-12:30

Thanks to the East End Pioneer for this guest post, and for teaming up with us for this exciting initiative!

100in1 day

This Saturday, June 6, we will be stretching 30 feet of canvas down the sidewalk in front of Coxwell parkette (south-west corner of Danforth and Coxwell) from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. You are all invited to come and paint, draw or write what makes living here so special.  Is it the parks? How about your favourite local shop? Maybe it’s your awesome neighbours? What keeps you loving our little neck of the woods?

Sometimes events in life can happen that although minor on their own, end up solidifying humanity around a cause. Malcolm Gladwell calls it the ‘tipping point’ and it celebrates the small things adding up to something bigger. This Saturday is 100in1Day around Toronto, a collection of 100+ community-led urban interventions or ‘small actions’ aimed at improving the city. Things like asking cars to slow down on Jane Street, or a midnight dance party under the Gardiner ramps.

In our neighbourhood, some people are saying that we’ve also reached a tipping point.  But despite a number of violent crimes in our area recently, the community continues to come together to make positive change happen – we want a safer, walkable, vibrant Danforth East and so many of us are actively working to make this a reality.  Our ‘hood is awesome and people want to celebrate all the awesomeness and show why we love living here.

That’s where the idea for our very own #danfortheast 100in1day intervention came from. DECA and community partner East End Pioneer are inviting community members (residents, business owners, politicians) to help us create a community mural about what Danforth East means to all of us.

So come out on Saturday. All supplies will be on site (thanks to generous donations from Dulux Paints at 2031 Danforth for donating paint and to DeSerres at 2056 Danforth for supplying the canvas) so all you need to bring is you your kids, families, the dog, your friends and your imaginations –  let’s all get our paint on!  See you there!

(Afterward, the plan is for the mural to be mounted along Danforth East as a symbol of neighbourhood support and community pride.)

More information here: https://toronto.100in1day.ca/initiatives/d92dqUDJtlPRmYuzzucq7Olg7X

Imagine the Danforth with us (May 11) + recap of other events

Please join DECA on Monday, May 11 at 7:00pm at Tobias House (695 Coxwell Avenue) for Imagine the Danforth.

This public forum will be an opportunity for the community to hear urban mentor and former chief planner for the City of Toronto, Paul Bedford, present the top 10 ideas for the Danforth generated from his planning students at the University of Toronto.  Joining them will be architecture students from Ryerson University, who will present their vision and development of the Danforth East Streetcar Yards (located south-east of the Danforth and Coxwell.)

This will be a fun opportunity to Imagine the future of the Danforth – hope to see you there!

imagine the danforth

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Here are some other upcoming events that we’ve recently blogged about:

Wednesday, May 6 – Community consultation/brainstorm session to generate ideas for better city and healthier community for the 100in1Day Festival, to take place on June 6.   Details here.
Thursday, May 7 – The last day to nominate your favourite local business (anywhere in DECA boundaries, not only on the Danforth) for the DECA Gems competition. You’ll see lots of blog posts featuring some of the nominees, but keep nominating  (no limit to how many times)!!  Details here.
May 8-14 – Battle of the Gems – have your say on which of the four DECA Gem finalists should win!
Saturday, May 9 – Danforth Adopt-A-Tree kickoff meeting – Details here.
Monday, May 11 – Imagine the Danforth (scroll up for details!)
Thursday, May 14 – Panel of judges to crown the winner of the DECA gems competition. Details to come.
Saturday, June 13 – #DanforthEast Garage Sale day – start clearing out your basements! Details here.