Toronto Areas Sustainable Neighbourhood News Dec 2019

Picnic in Park

A great time was had by all at the Toronto foreshore “Picnic in the Park” on 29/11/19. We listened to Connor Wink singing and appreciated the cultural experience of Chinese Dancing. A drumming workshop for the children and adults filled the air with booming beats and the face painter was kept busy furnishing faces with decorative designs. Thank you to everyone that came down to the community picnic. The next picnic is being planned to celebrate Harmony Day, 21st March 2020.

TASNG now has a facebook page where you can keep up to date with the goings-on of the group.

Awaba Road Welcome Garden

On Friday 29 November, a keen crowd of local residents gathered by Awaba Road on the western outskirts of Toronto. The occasion was the unveiling of a sign and the opening of a roadside garden, a vision put forward by Lois Simpson of the Toronto Area Sustainable neighbourhood group (TASNG) over two years ago, to beautify and enhance the appeal of this gateway to Toronto for travellers coming off the M1.

Representatives from TASNG, Toronto Rotary Sunrise, Lions Club of Toronto, Lioness Club of Toronto and Toronto and Districts Garden Club combined to complete this project to improve the site. Today, a native plant garden is becoming well established. The selected plants are hardy, low-maintenance and drought-tolerant. Thanks to Hymix’s water donations they have had a flying start in harsh conditions.

The newly-installed sign is also cultural recognition of the Awabakal Nation, sporting a photo of a sea eagle, Biraban, often sighted soaring above the shores of the lake, and a local totem.

Community support with planning, organising, labour and finance enabled the project to reach fruition. Friday’s celebration was the culmination of many hours of volunteer work preparing and planting the site. We were privileged to have MP Greg Piper and Mayor Kay Fraser attend our event and unveil the sign. Everyone agreed that this project has been a great collaborative endeavour, bringing people together to improve their town and enhance community spirit.

We thank Origin, Centennial Coal and the Garden Club for financial support.