CURRENT WALK SCHEDULE

Our walks are on rain or shine and free.

Riversides and Lost Rivers have created a new website to support the Thirsty City initiative, which includes walks and other activities. Please visit www.thirstycitywalks.ca where you can find a downloadable field guide.

 

Sunday, April 29, 2012 12:30–2:30pm Reading the Ravines Join John Wilson of Lost Rivers and author Maggie Helwig for a guided tour of the ravines from Castle Frank Station to Evergreen Brick Works. Learn about the history of Toronto’s Don Valley Ravine surrounding the great Don River. On this tour you will follow Milkman’s Lane, where dairy trucks once delivered milk to the mansions of Rosedale. Discover the ravines of "lost" Yellow Creek and Mud Creek, and see how they are being restored with tree plantings and wetlands. Walk along the Beltline, Toronto’s first commuter rail line. The tour will meet on the Danforth across from Castle Frank Station, and move through the Beltline trail, finishing at Evergreen Brick Works. Author Maggie Helwig will read excerpts from her book and talk about the inspiration behind her character, Derek, who lives in the ravines in her book, Girls Fall Down. Once at Evergreen Brick Works, join a tour of the site and learn about how it has been transformed into the environmental community centre it is today. Meeting Place: The North East corner of Castle Frank Road and Bloor Street East, across from Castle Frank Station.

Saturday, May 5, 2012 Jane's Walk: Tap to Toilet, 2 pm Meet at Queen St E and Nursewood Ave In 2011 Toronto celebrated a century of safe water supply. It is 100 years since the last major outbreak of waterborne disease due to the shortcomings of the Toronto’s tapwater. Prior to 1910 it wasn’t safe to drink. Major investments in the decade 1905-1915 brought huge improvements in the quality of the city’s drinking water, and some progress in the treatment of its sewage. But it took the appointment of R C Harris as Works Commissioner to truly transform the city’s sanitation measures. He presided over massive expansions of sewage and water treatment. He forced both the public and politicians to find the necessary funds. On this walk we will be exploring the remarkable urban life support system created by R C Harris from the R C Harris Water Filtration Plant - Toronto’s “Palace of Purification” to the Ashbridges Bay Sewage Treatment Plant. We will be finding out a bit more about efforts to bring sustainable sanitation to the 2.6 billion people worldwide who are still vulnerable to waterborne disease, learning more about water protection in Ontario from the new source protection legislation, to improvements at the Ashbridge’s Bay Sewage Treatment Plant, and hearing from local experts about some exciting new ideas for eco-engineering the future of sanitation and toilets. Led by John Wilson, Helen Mills, Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon.

Sunday, May 6 2012, 1 pm Jane's Walk: Garrison Creek spring rising. Parade and story-telling walk on lost Garrison Creek. Wear something blue. We will become a human river and bring the Garrison back to life. Meeting: 1 pm on SE corner of Dundas and Crawford. A joint venture of Human River & Lost Rivers. WE may be filmed for the HotDoc "Under the City". Community artists and volunteers are needed to help run the walk. Please contact helen.lostrivers@gmail.com if you'd like to volunteer.

Wednesday May 9, 2012 5 p.m. Historical Landscapes and Hauntings:
Connecting place to the history and social studies curriculum. Meet at the outside C5 entrance of the ROM. A spring walk around the University of Toronto campus. Talks by Helen Mills from Lost Rivers, Richard Fiennes-Clinton from Muddy York Walking Tours, and University of Toronto instructor Rose Fine-Meyer. ApproachingThePast-Toronto.com. RSVP now: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22FJKUDU7G6

Saturday, May 12, 2012 1 pm Aggie's Wildflowers A two-hour tour of wildflowers in the Magwood Sanctuary. There were trilliums in bloom on last year's walk. Start at Historic Lambton House 4066 Old Dundas Street with a talk about Agnes, and return there for tea. Led by Madeleine McDowell, chair of Humber Heritage Committee. In association with Heritage Toronto.

Sunday, May 13, 2012 1 pm [Mother's Day] Aggie's Wildflowers A two-hour tour of wildflowers in the Magwood Sanctuary. There were trilliums in bloom on last year's walk. Start at Historic Lambton House 4066 Old Dundas Street with a talk about Agnes, and return there for tea. Led by Madeleine McDowell, chair of Humber Heritage Committee. This second walk will be slightly different from the first one. Come to both if you like.

Sunday, May 20, 2012 2 pm Wildscapes of the West Don Meet at the corner of Thorncliffe Park Dr east & Overlea Blvd. Led by Helen Mills and friends. Hidden jewels tucked away behind high-rise Thorncliffe Park.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012 6:30 pm Lower Mimico Creek Ramble. Meet at NW corner of Lake Shore Blvd W and Parklawn [TFN says 'Parkside Dr', this is an error]. Led by Ian Wheal.

Sunday. May 27, 2012 6:45 pm Grenadier Heights: Rennie Gardens, Ponds & Seeds. Meet at entrance to High Park (Bloor St W and High Park Ave). Led by Ian Wheal.

Sunday, June 17, 2012 2 pm - Milliken Park and Highland Creek: Headwaters and Heritage. We will complete the walk that was interrupted by thunderstorms last August. Start at Milliken Park Community Recreation Centre, 4325 McCowan Rd., just south of Steeles. We will trace headwaters feature, walk the Finch hydro corridor, and see heritage homes in Agincourt. Ends at Brimley Woods, Brimley and Finch. Leader: John Wilson.

Tuesday June 26, 2012, 6:30 pm. Upper Mimico Creek Ramble. Meet at the entrance to Islington Subway Station. Leader: Ian Wheal.

Sunday, July 15, 2012 2 pm Waddling the Wendigo. This walk explores the lost Wendigo Creek which drained into Grenadier Pond from north of Bloor. Hear the stories of Mrs. Kennedy's cows and the lost feminist golf course. Meet at the Runnymede Rd exit of the Runnymede TTC subway station. Led by Richard Anderson and friends. Please dress appropriately for this summer walk and bring your own drinking water., ideally in a reusable container.

Sunday, August 19, 2012 2 pm. Whats in a name? Uncovering layers of history, meaning and culture along Burke's Brook. Meet at the SW corner of Yonge St. and Cranbrooke Ave. (north of Lawrence). Walk Leaders, poet and essayist, Maureen Scott-Harris and Helen Mills.

 

Plans for walks are constantly been developed. We welcome your suggestions for interesting walks. Maybe you might like to lead walk. Send your suggestion to: The Streamwalker.