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SEE THE TOWN SQUARE DONOR WALL

April 2012

“Artists in the Hood” fundraiser for Sorauren Town Square May 11-13

Mark your calendars: Artists from the Hood is a special three-day art show in the beautiful upstairs gallery space above Pizzeria Defina on Roncesvalles… with 15% of all proceeds donated to the Wabash Building Society for the Sorauren Park Town Square fund.

You’re invited to this special event taking place May 11 to 13 upstairs at the restaurant, 321 Roncesvalles, between Geoffrey and Grenadier:

Opening Reception: Friday, May 11, 7 – 10 pm
Saturday 12 – 6 pm
Sunday 12 – 4 pm

Our thanks to artists Catherine Beaudette, Maihyet Burton, Michael Gerry, Frances Patella, and James Ridyard… come see their work and bring your chequebook!

Big thanks also to organizer Michael Craig of the Sunnyside Community Association, and Pizzeria Defina owner Roksolana Curkowskyj. See you there!

8 April 2012

Campaign reaches half-way point with $20,000 raised

Toronto residents continue to show their generosity and desire to expand the park, with donations to the Sorauren Park Town Square community fund now at $20,000.

A donation from local real estate agent Chander Chaddah has brought the fund to the half-way mark after four months of campaigning. Thank you Chander!

Construction of the new Town Square is expected to begin in 2013. The “town square” will occupy the now vacant land between the Fieldhouse and the abandoned linseed oil factory along Wabash Avenue, and will add new green space, 31 more trees, gardens, picnic tables, performance space, and a pizza/bake oven.

You can donate online and all donations over $10 receive a charitable tax receipt. The community fund will leverage funding from other sources... every dollar counts!

29 March 2012

Metrolinx donates $1,000 to Town Square fund for bike rings

Metrolinx, the provincial agency that runs GO Transit and coordinates regional transit, has donated $1,000 to the Sorauren Park Town Square fund as part of its Community Partnership fund.

The donation will be used to purchase 12 bike rings for the Town Square expansion of Sorauren Park. Improving bicycle infrastructure is part of Metrolinx’s mandate.

The bike rings have been manufactured and will be installed next year during Town Square construction. Thanks Metrolinx!

2 March 2012

Winner picked in draw, more than $16,500 raised to date

Congratulations to Chris, Samantha, Patrick, Camilla & 'Bump' Parsons, winners in the draw for “Temagami Shadow” in the Sorauren Town Square fundraising campaign.

Local artist Susan Farquhar generously donated her work, “Temagami Shadow,” to the Sorauren Park Town Square campaign. Every donation of $100 or more between Jan. 26 and Feb. 28 was entered into a draw to win this beautiful mixed-media work.

“Temagami Shadow” is 8" x 8" x 1.5" (20 cm x 20 cm x 4 cm). It is a collage on canvas of photos, drawings printed on Japanese paper, papercuts and a little painting and texture added.

You can learn more about Susan at www.susanfarquhar.ca or see her Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/sf4pics where she provided a similar work, “Northern Minute,” for the Daily Bread Foodbank.

All donations over $10 to the Town Square campaign will receive a charitable tax receipt. All donations of $100 or more will also be recognized on the virtual donor wall and the permanent wall to be erected on site. Every dollar counts and leverages funding from other sources. Help us reach our community goal of $40,000.

You can donate online through the Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation (100% of your donation is transferred to the Town Square fund) or by cheque.

15 January 2012

Donate online to the Sorauren Town Square fund

You can now donate online to the Sorauren Park Town Square campaign and receive a charitable tax receipt.

The Wabash Building Society has partnered with the Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation to offer this new service.

100% of your donation will be deposited in the Wabash Community Reserve Fund, a special City account set up for capital improvements to Sorauren Park. Donations over $10 will trigger a charitable tax receipt from the Foundation. Thanks to all who have donated so far!

You can also donate via cheque using our downloadable donation form.

Click here for online donations. Donations of $100 or more will be recognized on the virtual donor wall and the permanent donor wall to be erected when the square is constructed, planned for 2013.

25 November 2011

Thousands raised for Town Square campaign, April target looms

Almost $10,000 has been raised so far from community members for the expansion of Sorauren Avenue Park into the new Town Square space on Wabash Avenue. See the Donor Wall here.

The next target date in the campaign is this April. That’s when the City of Toronto begins preparing its 2013 capital budget. The more money in the campaign fund, the more likelihood the project will get built in the 2013 target year. It other words, money talks.

Your charitable donations leverage funding from other sources, not just the City but also foundations and corporations. In addition to the community campaign, the Wabash Building Society is fundraising from these other sources.

The Town Square, located in the currently vacant space between the Fieldhouse and the old linseed factory along Wabash Avenue, will be become an important new asset for the park and the community. It will feature a bake oven, community sinks, mores trees and picnic space, a stage area for performances and gatherings, more bike parking and gardens.

Click here for the plans. Donations of $100 or more will be recognized on the virtual donor wall and on a permanent donor wall to be erected at the Square. Click here to donate and receive a tax-deductible charitable receipt.

The campaign is organized by the non-profit Wabash Building Society, in partnership with the City of Toronto and Parks, Forestry and Recreation. Our goal is to raise $40,000 or approximately 10% of the total construction costs from the community.

Please join our community-building campaign to create new public space for you, your family and friends, and a legacy for the neighbourhood. To learn more, you’re welcome to attend any WBS meeting, usually the first Thursday of every month at 7 pm at the Fieldhouse.

30 October 2011

Pumpkin Parade Tuesday night, and $2,600 raised at Pumpkin Sale

Chander Chaddah and Joanna Lang at the Pumpkin Sale

A big-thank you to everyone who bought pumpkins at the Sorauren Park Pumpkin sale on Oct. 23. Sponsored by Chander Chaddah/Broker, Sutton Group, and Joanna Lang/Mortgage Manager, Scotiabank, all proceeds have been donated to the Wabash Building Society and its new Sorauren Town Square fund.

More than $2,600 was raised, bringing the Town Square fund to more than $11,000 to date.

Many of those pumpkins will return to the park on the evening of Nov. 1 for the 8th annual Sorauren Pumpkin Parade. Bring your lit jack-o-lantern and add it to the parade along the pathway that circles the park.

Is this the year pumpkins will line the entire pathway? More than 1,600 works of pumpkin art have been counted at the parade in previous years.

Following the parade, the good folks at Parks, Forestry and Recreation will pick up the pumpkins for composting. (Please place your pumpkins along the edge of the pathway rather than the middle of the field to make it easy for pick-up.)

Meanwhile, the Sorauren Town Square project continues... the latest version of plan will be unveiled at the Nov. 3 WBS meeting (7 p.m., Fieldhouse). Watch for the full fund-raising campaign to kick off this holiday season.

The new Town Square will rehabilitate the vacant land between the Fieldhouse and the old linseed factory, with amenities including a bake/pizza oven, community sinks, more picnic tables and benches, gardens, trees and performance/event areas.

August 2011

MLSE and Kia fund upgrades to Sorauren soccer pitch

Big thanks to Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment’s Team Up Foundation, and auto maker Kia, for funding the recent upgrades to the soccer pitch at Sorauren Park, unveiled at a special ceremony in August featuring members of Toronto FC.

Improvements to the field included leveling, new sod, four benches, storage locker and upgrades to the goals. After the opening ceremonies the full team joined local youth on the field and took part in a mini clinic.

To read more and to see pics and video, click here:

http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2011/08/tfctwelve-kicks-sorauren-park

July 2011

“Town Square” design workshop focuses on common themes

While participants brought a range of ideas, several common design themes emerged at the recent Design Workshop for the new Sorauren Park “Town Square” proposal.

The new public square is proposed for the derelict space between the Sorauren Park Fieldhouse and the abandoned linseed oil factory (site of the future community centre) on Wabash Avenue.

Twenty residents participated in the open workshop, hosted by the Wabash Building Society and held June 29. They discussed these broad principles:

• Multi-use space, e.g. Farmers’ Market, concerts, rink in winter, special events (art shows, exhibitions, performances), Nuit Blanche, Totstock, Summer Festival. A “raw space” to allow uses to take place “organically”

• Phased development, starting with bare bones, adding features over time. Build in hydro/water/lighting for future needs

• Move fence back as close to 40 Wabash Ave (old linseed factory) as possible

• Multi-partner funding including foundations (e.g. Trillium, Evergreen), community fundraising with a “Buy A Paver” program, corporate donations, City support.

Participants were encouraged to sketch their own design, which have been saved for discussions with the City, which owns the property. While ideas varied, many sketches included these common features, which have been compiled into the Option A diagram on this page:

• “stage” area roughly in the middle of the square, facing a natural amphitheatre formed by the grade change from “town square grade” up to “park grade” near the dog park

• stage not necessarily raised, but kept flat at “square grade” to accommodate rinks in winter

• use of grass/turf in addition to permeable pavers to soften hard surface. Space for blankets to enjoy performances

• some kind of grade change at Wabash Avenue to delineate square, create entrance event

• other features along Wabash Avenue to define square, e.g. gardens, bike racks

• seating for skate changing

• “community sink” (3 sinks) and pizza oven to complement Farmer’s Market

• lighting, hydro, water where appropriate

• gardens and trees

• outdoor cinema, projected on Fieldhouse or possibly other surface

• storage for extra seating, risers for stage events, etc.

In addition, these other features were suggested by some participants:

• flat surfaces for roller blading

• fountains, spray pads/splash pads

• walkway/connection between 40 and 50 Wabash

• sculpture/public art, including “sound sculpture” like wind chimes

• “veil” in front of 40 Wabash Avenue (linseed factory) upon which the vision for the Community Centre could be projected as an art project e.g. Nuit Blanche

• graffiti wall in front of old building during baby-steps phase

• drinking fountains

• labyrinth

• solar panel covers

• vegetable gardens

• seats and tables with umbrellas, European plaza style

The Wabash Building Society is working on fundraising plans and also scheduling meetings with Parks, Forestry and Recreation to move the square project forward. If you’d like to comment, please use our comment page, and sign up for the Sorauren Park Newsletter to stay in touch with developments.

18 May 2011

Volunteers, donors beautify Fieldhouse gardens, MLSE donates sod

The Sorauren Fieldhouse gardens got a spring make-over May 14 thanks to members of the Yale University Alumni, the Deputy Speaker of the Ontario Legislature, Sweetpea’s garden shop, Nincompoop compost and other volunteers and donors.

The rain held off long enough to complete weeding, plant annuals and spread a good layer of grade-A manure compost. A big shout-out to Sara Jameson of Sweetpea’s on Roncesvalles for donating the flowers, lending tools and arranging the compost donation from Tim of Nincompoop.

Gardeners included Cheri DiNovo, Parkdale-High Park’s MPP (and Deputy Speaker of the House) and several members of the Yale Alumni, who chose Sorauren for the second year in a row as a volunteer project. Yale gardeners included Jean O’Grady and the family of Elisa and Joseph Mangina and young green-thumbers Frances and Nick. Yale organizer Rosa Rahimpour also planted, thanks Yale!

Area residents Douglas Shepherd and daughter Julia, Doug Bennet, Nancy Clark and daughter Eliza, and Sven from the east end also dug in. Thanks to Frank Moens for making a round of the park with the litter bag.

Thanks also to Peter White and his crew from Parks, Forestry and Recreation for providing the bags and for making the rest of the park ship-shape.

And if you’ve been wondering what’s been happening on the soccer field: Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment donated funds this year for a complete re-sodding of the pitch. Thanks!

24 February 2011

MPP stands up for Sorauren kids as Metrolinx votes for diesel

Parkdale-High Park MPP Cheri DiNovo made a stirring last-ditch stand in support of clean electric trains for the new Air-Rail Link running beside the park, but it was all for naught as the Metrolinx board of directors voted unanimously for diesel trains at the Feb. 18 board meeting. (Click on video for the speech and the vote.)

DiNovo, local residents and members of the Clean Train Coalition attended the board meeting. But it was clear the decision had already been made.

Metrolinx, which operates GO Transit, will be buying 12 diesel trains to run on the Georgetown line every 15 minutes between Union Station and Pearson Airport in time for the 2015 Pan Am Games. The trains are for tourists for the 2-week event; athletes will be taking buses from the airport.

Metrolinx says the Japanese-designed and US-assembled trains will be “Tier 4” diesel, a less polluting technology than current diesels. No Tier 4 diesels are currently in existence. Metrolinx also says the trains can be converted to electric in the future. The manufacturer has never done this before.

For more information, visit the Clean Train Coalition website. Metrolinx has approved a plan to convert to electric on some lines in the future but says it won’t be ready in time for the Pan Am Games. The Clean Train Coalition has argued that taxpayer dollars will be wasted by buying diesel trains now then having to convert to electric a few years later.

21 February 2011

First Sorauren Winterfest chilly in temperature, warm in spirit

The first Sorauren Park Winterfest, held on Family Day (Monday Feb. 21) in conjunction with the Farmers’ Market, was a grassroots success. The rink froze again after turning into a puddle two days earlier, and hosted many dozens of skaters. The Farmers’ Market opened two hours earlier and some hardy vendors set up outdoors with deluxe hot chocolate, cider, coffee and treats.

Indoors at the Fieldhouse, the full market was hopping with busy stands and a great selection of local and organic foods.

Thanks to all who participated and look for an expanded Winterfest in 2012. If you’d like to volunteer or have ideas, contact us.

 

2 November 2010

Pumpkin Parade another glowing success

The Sorauren Pumpkin Parade gets better every year. Despite a chilly evening the neighbourhood (and beyond) came out in force with their jack-o-lanterns to light up the evening. Our young reporter counted more than 1,700 before heading home for the evening, with more pumpkins still arriving.

Media coverage included Toronto Star, Global TV, the Torontoist blog and more. There are awesome photos on Flickr.com (search “Sorauren Pumpkin Parade”). To learn about the history of the parade and the hopes of its founder, Colleen Kennedy, watch the video on the RMRA web site here.

24 October 2010

Pumpkin Sale raises $3,000

Thanks to everyone who bought a pumpkin at the Sorauren Pumpkin Sale on Oct. 23! The fundraiser for the Wabash Building Society raised $3,000 towards the costs of the new “town square” planned for the space between the Fieldhouse and the old factory. Very special thanks to Chander Chaddah and Joanna Makaroff of TD Canada Trust (pictured above) for once again (3rd year) organizing and donating the pumpkins.

28 June 2010

Clouds clear for successful Totstock Festival

The rain held off last Sunday for another successful Totstock festival organized by The Little Paper and managed by a huge crew of volunteers. The event gets better each year. Proceeds from the raffle were donated to the non-profit Wabash Building Society for park improvements including more trees and plants around the Fieldhouse to accompany the new patio (see below).

Visit the Totstock web page for more info including all the sponsors such as presenting sponsor Fiesta Farms.

28 June 2010

Patio Phase 1 and 2 complete!

Another hard-working volunteer crew led by Mike Dica and Grant from Eco-scapes by Design has finished the second phase of the beautiful new community patio at the Fieldhouse.

The second phase created a path from Wabash Avenue around the side of the building to the main washroom door, and connected to the rectangular patio built a few weeks ago.

Thanks to Crew 2 including Karen, Boran, Helena, Philip, Isaac, Nathan, Eliza, Nathan, Emma, Scott, Stephen.

For more pictures of the new patio and the work crew, click here.

12 December 2009

City publishes final report of Green Feasibility Study for Wabash Community Centre

 

The City has published the beautiful final report of the Green Feasibility Study for the Wabash Community Centre. The project took place over 2009 and included many community consultations.

The report was funded by the City and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and was produced by Oleson Worland_Taylor Smyth Architects in joint venture.

 

To see some of the pictures from the report, click here. Note: The full report is a large PDF file, approx. 30 MB. You can download it by clicking here:

http://www.toronto.ca/parks/pdf/wabash2009-11-24_final-report.pdf 

The Wabash Building Society continues to work on “next steps” for raising the necessary funds and generating the political will to get the community centre built. The next WBS meeting is Thursday, Jan. 7 at the Sorauren Fieldhouse, and all are invited.

26 September 2009

Human Train for Clean Air rally at Sorauren draws crowds and VIPs

The protest to stop Metrolinx’s plan to increase diesel train traffic from 40 to 400 trains per day along the rail line by the park took the form of huge rally at Sorauren Park today. The “Human Train for Clean Air,” marching from Weston, was ushered into the park with whistles and cheers from a waiting crowd.

Politicians and VIPs including Councillor Gord Perks, MPP Cheri DiNovo, MP Gerard Kennedy, councillors Adam Giambrone and Adam Vaughan, TDSB trustee Irene Atkinson, former MP Peggy Nash, and Toronto’s medical officer of health Dr. David McKeown all spoke against the diesel plan, in favour of electrification.

The rally, organized by the Clean Train Coalition with helpf from the Wabash Building Society and many other groups along the rail line, called for electrification of the rail line now rather than 15 years from now. For more information on the campaign visit www.cleantrain.ca.

Picture above by Gary Beechey. For more pictures from the event, click here to see Gary’s gallery.

12 September 2009

Event marks history of Sorauren Avenue Park

The Roncesvalles Village Historical Society has produced a video with former mayor Barbara Hall, current councillor Gord Perks, and TDSB trustee Irene Atkinson who remember the early days in the battle to develop Sorauren Park... it was destined to be a garage for municipal garbage trucks after the TTC abandoned the site. Click on the video below to learn the story.

8 February 2009

How to use the Sorauren Park Fieldhouse for your group or event

The Fieldhouse is now available for rental by organizations and individuals for events like birthday parties, classes, meetings, workshops. Click on the Permits page for full details.

18 October 2008

A beautiful day for planting

A hardy crew descended on the Fieldhouse site this morning to plant the latest batch of 13 native trees and 18 clematis plants (along the fence line); click here for pictures. It was a beautiful morning and there was much excitement when Justine stumbled across a nest of pink, fur-less and madly squeaking newborn mice in the hot mulch pile.

Many thanks to Jonas and crew from Ecoman residential landscaping for helping us man-handle the big hawthorns into place, along with planting other trees. The trees have been purchased thanks to a grant from the Evergreen Wal-Mart Common Grounds Fund.

Special thanks also to Mary and Victoria from Plant Architect, Jennifer from Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation, David from Oleson Worland Architects and all the other volunteers for their hard work and dedication.

10 October 2008

Painting and subflooring days

a success

Thanks to all the volunteers and donors who helped with

our successful painting day on Sept. 27 and the subfloor installation on Oct. 4.

An enthusiastic crew led by volunteer paint captains Susan Vandendam and Douglas Shepherd finished both the upstairs and downstairs painting. Paint and supplies were generously donated by High Park Paint and Wallpaper (thanks Frank!) and Pollocks Home Hardware (thanks Len!). Special thanks to all the volunteer adults and kids, and the crew from Metro Girl Fitness. For more pictures, click here.

The following Saturday, Kevin, Rob, Andy, and Jennifer provided the main volunteer labour for the downstairs subfloor installation. The new final floor has been donated by Pollocks Carpet Market (thanks Guilio!) and installation began this week. Click here for more photos.

Upstairs flooring has been donated by Bousada Flooring and installation is imminent.  

31 May 2008

Plants go in, more to come

The first Fieldhouse planting day was a success with dozens of native shrubs planted on the south and east side of building, and couple of trees planted on the north side. More…

24 May 2008

First neighbourhood-wide yard sale a fundraiser for Sorauren Fieldhouse/Wabash campaigns

This Saturday, May 31 marks the first neighbourhood-wide yard sale.... and the organizers are asking participants to donate 10% of their proceeds to the Sorauren/Wabash campaigns! More…

5 May 2008

Fieldhouse ribbon-cutting with Mayor Miller a big success

The Sorauren Park Fieldhouse was officially opened May 5 with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by approximately 600 residents and a gathering of VIPs. More…

21 April 2008

Fieldhouse open house attracts crowds; May 5 ribbon cutting and BBQ coming next!

Hundreds of residents and visitors got their first inside peek at the new Sorauren Park Fieldhouse at the April 19 open house. More…

1 February 2008

A new web site for Sorauren Park

Welcome to SoraurenPark.com, a new site designed to connect all park users and organizations, and to provide news and information about upcoming events and the new Fieldhouse.

The site is maintained by the Wabash Building Society, a non-profit, volunteer-run, community-based organization dedicated to developing the City-owned property along the southern edge of the park (Wabash Avenue) into new recreational and community facilities. The Sorauren Park Fieldhouse is just the first phase of bringing the old industrial site back to life for community use.

Sorauren Park and all its related facilities are owned by the City of Toronto. If you have immediate issues related to park safety or maintenance, please contact Parks, Forestry and Recreation. The volunteers who maintain this site will also be able to forward your concerns, but it may take several days.

If you have ideas or comments on this site or the park, please use the Contact Us form to reach us. We encourage feedback. Keep in mind it may take a few days to answer queries. See you at the park!