News

DUFFERIN GROVE ORGANIC FARMERS' MARKET

The Weekly Market Notes for Thursday May 16th (3:00pm - 7:00pm) are on-line. Read more>>

The Farmers' Market continues all year round, every Thursday, rain or shine. You'll find it around the rinkhouse and along the path near Dufferin Street.Read more >>

The making and unmaking of Dufferin Grove Park

Click to watch

FRIDAY NIGHT SUPPERS HAVE NOT RESUMED YET FOR SPRING

The City has scheduled the SUPPERS to start the Friday after the Children's Store Front community supper on May 31 (rain date June 7). They are normally from 6 to 7.30. There is always soup, a vegetarian or vegan entrée, a meat entrée, a side dish, a salad, and dessert. Although the money all goes back directly to the City now, prices listed are still only a suggested donation. If you can’t spare the cash, donate at some other time – nobody goes away hungry! (Of course, if you feel like donating more than the suggested amount, that’s fine too.) Details around food purchasing are still being worked out - for a preview take a look at this new release that CELOS prepared about cost accounting as it pertains to Dufferin Grove: Cost Accounting

Regular activities

CAMPFIRES

There are three small-group campfire locations – centre path, south path, and beside the rink. The centre path fire circle is in the middle of the park, and the south path fire circle is beside the cob courtyard. The park’s recreation staff book the cooking fire times. They also give fire safety training and are available to help start/end your fire. You can reach them at 416-392-0913 or email staff@dufferinpark.ca, Read more >>

SPORTS

ball hockey guys prepping rink

Summer sports are getting back on track. The snow is melting on the basketball courts, the bike polo guys moved big chunks of ice last week and cleaned up the rink pads, and the skateboarders are working on fixing the ramps that have been tarped all winter. To know more or lend a hand, email us at staff@dufferinpark.ca

fixing the skateboard ramps

Community groups wishing to the field or the hockey pad or the volley ball court can email us at staff@dufferinpark.ca. Check out the sports page for more activities that you can do for free at the park.

Pizza Day

Staff are now taking school and day care bookings on weekdays and birthday parties on weekends in May

Weather permitting in season. $2.50 per pizza is the requested donation. You get a lump of dough, some tomato sauce, and cheese, and you can pick toppings from the park gardens when they’re growing there. If you plan to bring a big group (more than 12 people altogether) please call ahead to warn the staff 416-392-0913 or email staff@dufferinpark.ca.”

Birthday parties and day cares with pizza: You can book an hour on Wednesday before public pizza day (i.e., at 10am or 11am Program costs are a $60 donation, plus the regular $2.50 per pizza. If you can’t afford that, park staff will work out a trade with you. To book: contact staff at 416-392-0913 or staff@dufferinpark.ca

Gardening 2013

Gardening this week: Sunday, May 19, 2-4 pm, and Wednesday, May 22, 5-7 pm

Hi everyone, That was some strange weather we had last Sunday. It was so strange to see everything blanketed in hailstones...brief though it was!

This week we've been quite busy...We've continued repotting seedlings and started hardening them off outside. We've also been pruning rosebushes and weeding the vegetable gardens, and laying woodchip pathways down as well. This Sunday will be somewhat of a seed sowing frenzy in the vegetable gardens. Leslie will be making a tasty treat for us with the rhubarb from the garden again too...It should be a lot of fun : )

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Community News and Notices

In Neighbourhood Section, there is a repository of information, stories, and notices from around the neighbourhood.

News 2013

Norwegian Constitution Day parade and picnic. Saturday May 18th: 12 noon to 3 p.m - across from the playground.

Hosted by park neighbours Arne Nes and Robin Crombie. Arne says that about 200 Norwegians living in Toronto celebrate Norway’s biggest holiday, Norwegian Constitution Day, every May. Last year was the first day this event was held in Dufferin Grove Park, and this year the Norwegians are back again. The schedule: NOON: Welcome. 12:30 PM: Parade, 30-45 minutes parade on the neighbourhood streets including a small stretch on Bloor St. 1:30 PM: 17. Mai tale/speech. 1:45 PM: National Anthem. 2:00 PM: Sarah Longwins performs. 2:30 PM: Games for the Kids. 3:00 PM: Prizes.

From Arne Nes: “There will be Waffles, Ice cream, Hot-Dogs, 17. mai sløyfer T-Shirts etc. Non-Norwegians are welcome!” Photos from last year

Click to enlarge.

Mindful families and friends day. Sunday May 26: 12-4pm

Join us in celebration of our community for a fun-filled family-friendly afternoon of mindful activities. If you have information or mindful products to share, we will have a networking table available.

The Children's Storefront Community supper May 31 (rain date June 7)

We are a local Charitable not-for-profit organization called, the Children's Storefront. We are a free drop-in service for young children and their caregivers. We have been serving the community for almost 30 years. Two years ago we moved to the corner of Bloor and Shaw st. At that time we expanded our services to include a community kitchen facility with programs based on the success of Dufferin Grove Park. Twice a year we offer annual suppers for the community prepared by our staff and volunteers and served in Dufferin Grove Park using the park's facilities

Notices: Clothing Swap was cancelled this year due to lack of volunteers/staff availability in 2013

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Click to enlarge.

Papier-Mâché Camp at Dufferin Grove Park

Back for it's 10th Year!!!

Theme: Miniature Worlds July 15-19

Description:
Have you ever been like Horton & heard a Who? If you have, then this is the camp for you. The little folk have taken up residence in Dufferin Grove Park and their king tells Erin Robertson that they need a town.

Won’t you help them?

Week Breakdown:
Over 5 days, you will create a wire armature, sculpt with papier-mâché, draw, paint and collage to bring your artwork alive. During breaks you’ll hang out at the wading pool, playground or pizza oven. On the final day, you‘ll introduce your creations to the world! Details:
July 15 - 19 9 - 5 pm Ages 6 - 13
with Artist Erin Robertson
$ 190. includes all art materials, a snack each day & a bursary spot for one child
Contact Bridget at:
416 - 536 - 2634
bridgetfrog@gmail.com

Instructor:
Erin Robertson has been an instructor at the Ottawa School of Art since 1994, where she teaches all age groups including diploma drawing, portraiture, sculpture and painting. She has facilitated work- shops for Ottawa Carleton School Board, the Ottawa School of Dance, and the Museum of Civilization.

MUSICAMP for KIDS (8-12) 9am-4pm in a private studio close to Dufferin Grove Park (Bloor and Dufferin).

July 15-19 The Blues: From Shouts to 12 Bars 9am-4pm $225
July 22-26 West African Drumming 9am-4pm $275 (co-hosted by Anna Melnikoff and her orchestra of drums!)
July 29-Aug 2 Composition and Song 9am-4pm $225

Each week is filled with fun music activities (like beatboxing and other vocal percussion games, Bobby-McFerrin styled circle songs and an improvising choir, soundwalks and soundscape compositions, end of week performances, and other activities centred on the weekly themes) designed to overcome inhibition and develop a host of intellectual and social skills associated with music making.

We’ll also have some crafts (instrument and mask making), backyard games, water fun, Pizza-making Wednesdays in DG and many other park possibilities.

Love of music is expected but formal training is not required. Neither is an instrument. Our intuitive approach to exploring sound, music, composition, the voice, and the weekly themes also functions as a great supplement to conventional music lessons.

Email me (Andrea Kuzmich) MusiCampTO@gmail.com, phone 647-836-4852 or visit MusicCampTo

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