And here’s why:
Behind the curtains of storefronts, in back alleys, in spare rooms and above retail shops are numerous artists working on their craft. Why not give them a break! Instead of trekking downtown, give them the option to shop local.
There is a huge fine craft following that would benefit from access to supplies – just ask Mary at Wise Daughters Craft Market. She hosts numerous artists and workshops. It would be so much easier to buy supplies locally.
In the area we have the Academy of Realist Art, Art Works Art School, the Junction Arts Festival, and numerous galleries, teachers, designers and creative upcyclers and recyclers. We also border Bloor West Village which hosts the Bloor West Village Art Tour. No art store on Bloor West either! All those creative folks would come to the Junction to shop. Think about all of the other surrounding neighbourhoods and art schools that would also come – High Park, Roncesvalles, Junction Triangle, Bloordale, Etobicoke School of the Arts...
There have been suggestions that the store could rep. some industrial art supply companies for quick pick up of supplies for potters, sculptors, etc. The shop could also cover niche services such as binding, compilation of portfolios, custom sketch books, client pick up services for artists to drop off works. But basically, anything would be great!
Being an artist and gallery owner in the Junction, I would rather ride my bike or walk to an art supply store rather than fight my husband for the car to drive downtown. Buying art supplies on public transit is not fun either (think large canvases and reams of paper).
I hope some creative entrepreneur is out there and reading this. We welcome you with open recycled shopping bags.
Sharlene Rankin, Director
TELEPHONE BOOTH GALLERY
3148 Dundas St W, Toronto
647-270-7903
http://www.telephoneboothgallery.ca/
Apr 30, 2011
Junction-based home daycares list by local moms
If you are a parent in the Junction, looking for full/part-time childcare and keep on getting stuck with 2-3 year waiting lists, consider local home-based daycares run by stay-at-home moms:
Apr 29, 2011
Jane's Walk in the Junction
Junction of the Canadian Dream: Real Facts & Neil Facts
Guided by Neil Ross
Sunday, May 8, 3:30-5 pm
The Walk begins at the Runnymede Library and ends at Keele and Dundas, Bank of Montreal Parking Lot
Info & Image credits www.janeswalk.net & Runnymede Library
Neil Ross, a walk leader, historian and comedian, and currently vice president of the West Toronto Junction Historical Society will be leading this walk through his neighbourhood. Travel the Junction and learn its place in the heart of Canada. Experience the coming together of the railways on the meeting point of First Nations trails. Explorers La Salle and Brûlé may well have passed through here, and there is some evidence La Salle actually stopped for a latte . . .
Apr 28, 2011
This Sunday, May 1'st! Pancake Breakfast fundraiser to benefit the local LLL
Community Pancake Breakfast at Runnymede Presbyterian Church
680 Annette Street
Tickets: $5 per person, $15 per family, under age 3: FREE
9:00am - noon (last sitting 11am)
Hot pancakes, real maple syrup, fresh fruit and great coffee combine for a morning of delicious family fun.
Fundraiser to benefit La Leche League, providing mother-to-mother breastfeeding support in your community.
Apr 19, 2011
New contest for queer parents! Guest post by Kristin Craig Lai, Life Coach for Queer Parents
Anyone who’s been paying attention to my website , may have noticed a few changes recently. Those who follow me won’t be surprised to hear that I have decided to narrow my niche and focus my coaching on parents in the queer community.
To quote my website:
“As a queer parent it can feel as though you're charting new territory. While many more people from the LGBT community are becoming parents it can still feel like a lonely uphill battle to be the kind of parent you want to be in the face of all of the additional challenges thrown in your path. As a coach and as a parent I believe that the bumpy unworn paths take us to the best places. Sometimes we just need a little support to stay the course.”
So I guess this is my way of saying:
I am proud to announce the official launch of Kristin Craig Lai, Life coach for queer parents!
In the spirit of my new direction I would like to offer 25% off of full-time coaching* for the first month to the first 3 people who answer the following questions:
*Who was the first queer fictional character that you remember from TV or film?
*What inspiring or empowering song do you wish you had known when you were a teenager? (Doesn’t matter if the song wasn’t around at the time)
*Which fictional (TV, film or books) parent did you most wish was yours growing up?
All coaching is done over the phone or Skype so you don’t have to be in Toronto to enter the contest.
*Weekly 50-minute sessions at $350 (plus applicable taxes) per month. With the discount the first month would be $262.50
Some info about the Redwood Women's Shelter, guest post by Mary Breen
As many of you know, the Junction Parents Group is holding a Mom2Mom Sale on May 28th to benefit the Redwood Women's Shelter, here's a bit of info on the shelter itself, submitted by Mary Breen, the owner of the Wise Daughters Craft Market and regular supporter of the shelter.
The Redwood Shelter
My indirect involvement with the Redwood Shelter near Bloor and Dundas began when my daughter started tutoring there while still in middle school, about 7 years ago. Because the Redwood welcomes women and children fleeing violence, the kids who arrive are typically uprooted from their neighbourhood schools so their abuser can’t locate them. Not only do they leave their homes, possessions and everything familiar behind, they also leave the teachers and friends they know. Safety is paramount for these families, but comes at a high price.
The Redwood provides a haven for over 300 women and children every year. Families stay an average of three months, getting the counselling, legal help and other supports they need before they can start rebuilding their lives.
The Redwood is an amazing place, free from fear and judgement. Look what your money will do:
• $30 can give a mom and new baby a special kit with all the basics a newborn needs
• $50 can provides a teen with three hours of tutoring
• $75 can feed a child three nourishing meals a day for two weeks
• $100 can provide a woman with one day of shelter and emotional support
To find out more or make a donation, contact:
smcaulay@theredwood.com
416-533-9372 ext. 227
http://www.theredwood.com/
Apr 18, 2011
Farmer's Market Initiative meeting is this Thursday, April 21'st, 7pm
Axis Gallery and Grill - 3048 Dundas St W (downstairs)
The Ward 13 Farmers Market Initiative is holding its next meeting on Thursday, April 21 from 7-9pm at Axis Bar & Grill in the lower level. People interested in getting involved and helping out are welcome to join!
Junction’s Newest Functional Training Fitness Facility
Submitted by Art
Co-Owner/Business Director
LP Fitness Co-op
Limitless Potential Fitness Co-op
Limitless Potential Fitness Co-op was formed by a group of friends motivated to help push each other to reach and surpass their personal fitness goals. Our mission is to promote healthy living throughout the community through functional movement training. We view fitness as a life-long journey that can be attained through proper instruction, personal attention and dedication.
Our Philosophy
All our workouts are short, efficient at improving fitness and fun! At LP we make our class sizes small with participants who are like-minded, positive and have similar goals. Our goal is to provide our guests with the individual attention needed to make leaps and bounds in their fitness through personal group sessions of no more than six people.
CommunityFit
Team LP would like to reach out to all Junctioneers seeking to soar past their fitness plateaus and just get plain healthy! We have started a series of FREE 1 hour classes called ComunityFit where guests can drop by to try out an introductory class and get a better understanding of our methodology. These classes are held on Saturday mornings at 10AM. Everyone is welcome to come out, no matter what fitness level.
*Please note that attendance is limited to 1 class per person*
Location and Contact Details
Our humble space is located in the heart of the Junction. Most classes will take place within the facility, but on particularly nice day’s we will head outside to take in the nice weather.
142 Vine Ave. Unit B7
M6P1V7
Jeff – 647 268 3424 or Art – 647 831 6510
Visit us at http://www.lp-fitness.com/
Follow us on Twitter at @lpfitnessTO
Summer Crafting Camps for kids at the Wise Daughters Craft Market!
Come play with all the sewing, stamping, painting and other great supplies in Anna's art box!
July 11-15th, 10:00am - 11:30am
Ages 6 - 8
July 18-22nd, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Ages 9+
$125 per week ($200 for 2 kids in same family)
http://www.wisedaughters.com/
wisedaughters@sympatico.ca
416-761-1555
3079B Dundas St. West
M6P 1Z9
(facing Quebec Ave, just south of Dundas)
Apr 16, 2011
Apr 15, 2011
Junction Parents group's outdoor playdates @ Vine Park are now happening twice a week, every week!
We meet every Tuesday and Thursday at 10 am, every week for some fun outdoor play, doesn't matter the age of your child, everyone's welcome!! Grab a coffee/Tea and hang-out with us! Check out our group's absolutely packed calendar and let us know if you're coming (if you're not a member, membership is free, ALWAYS!)
Vine Ave. North of Dundas St. W.(by Pacific Ave)
Vine Ave. North of Dundas St. W.(by Pacific Ave)
FREE Connecting with Dads drop-in @ the Dundas/Keele Early Years Centre, no registration necessary!
This program focuses on strengthening relationships between male family members and their children. The program will highlight ways to build language and make social /emotional connections. There will also be information sessions focusing on issues between fathers and children. (0-6 years)
10:00-11:30- Connecting with Dads (Dads and kids)
11:30-2:00- Connecting with Families (The rest of the family is welcome)
April & May dates:
Saturday, April 16th
Saturday, April 30th
Saturday, May 14th
Saturday, May 28th
2918 Dundas St. West
416-762-3700
Dundas/Keele Early Years Centre MAY CALENDAR
Parkdale-High Park Ontario Early Years Centre
2918 Dundas St. West Toronto, Ontario
Tel: 416-762-3700 Fax: 416-762-5544
Apr 10, 2011
Junction Mom2Mom Sale to benefit the Redwood Women's Shelter!
Saturday, May 28, 9:30 am-1:00 pm
Wise Daughters Craft Market
3079B Dundas St. W (at Quebec ave)
Toronto, ON M3H 6A7
416-761-1555
Mary Breen, a Junction Parents member and the owner of the Wise Daughters Craft Market, has graciously offered her downstairs studio space for this Spring's Junction Mom2Mom Sale, it'll be a small scale event compared to the previous one, but I know it'll be fabulous, next year we'll plan our usual gigantic sale, I promise :)
Shop your heart out!
The $2 admission fee will be donated in FULL to the Redwood Women's Shelter.
If you are a mom who has maternity/baby/kids clothing/equipment to sell, please don't reply here, email me directly at junctionparents@yahoo.com to secure your spot and pay the $5 non-refundable deposit.
What each seller is required to have:
1. Small folding table/Box/crate.. etc share table with a partner
2. GENTLY used clothing/equipment, no tears, stains, nothing broken
3. $5 non-refundable deposit which will be donated in full to the Redwood Women's Shelter, you can pay your fee by Paypal to junctionparents@yahoo.com with a comment "Redwood Shelter".
4. Clearly priced items
5. Small garbage bag to clean-up after yourself post sale if needed
Free Easter Photoshoot by Tangerine Photography
Sunday April 24th,11am-2pm
Stop by their studio with your little ones in their Easter Outfits for some Face Painting, Photos and Fun!!
406 Pacific Ave (at Dundas St W)
416.769.7684
Apr 5, 2011
"Preserving Built Heritage in the Junction" presented by the JRA & WTJHS
Monday, April 18, 7:30 PM
West Toronto Baptist Church
3049 Dundas Street West
Architect Catherine Nasmith has agreed to speak to the community about the idea of Heritage Conservation Districts. There has been a great deal of interest expressed locally in establishing a Heritage Conservation District in the Junction and public discussion of the idea will follow.
Refreshments provided.
Presented by the Junction Residents Associaion and the West Toronto Junction Historical Society.
The JRA is streaming this and all of their meetings live on their website, http://junctionra.ca/jra-tv for anyone who can't make the meeting.
Apr 4, 2011
Junction Rib Fest to benefit the MS Society of Canada- Saturday, May 14th!
Saturday, May 14, 11am- 11pm
347 Keele Street
(416) 761-7474
The First Annual Junction MS Rib Fest will be held to raise awareness about MS, its impact on those afflicted with the disease, and their family and friends. All proceeds from the event will go to the MS Society of Canada.
Spring Nature Walk: Early Birds
April 9th, 1-3 pm
They have arrived! Who are the earliest of the early birds? We will learn some birding basics as we hike the habitats of High Park looking and listening for the early spring migrants.
Hikes are not wheelchair or stroller accessible.
NO PRE-REGISTRATION NECESSARY
High Park Nature Centre
430 Parkside Drive
(Parkside Drive & Indian Valley Crescent)
416 392 1748
All Ages, $2 donation
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