Other years
SUNDAY AUGUST 16, 1998, 11 AM, VOIDED SPACES - DAY HIKE EXPLORING FORGOTTEN SPACES & LOST RIVERS NEAR THE DOWNSVIEW LANDS. WALK LEADER MICHAEL MCMAHON, Curator of the “After The Sprawl” Exhibit at the City Of Toronto Archives (formerly Metro Archives). Meet outside the Downsview Subway Station - northeast comer of Sheppard Avenue and Allen Road BRING LUNCH. Presented In Partnership By: Toronto Archives, North Toronto Green Community, And Toronto Field Naturalists.
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 1998, 1 P.M. FROM TADDLE CREEK TO THE OAK RIDGES MORAINE. Join us for a Taddle Creek Equinox Walk with a different twist. The upper part of Taddle Creek was put into a sewer largely as a result of the growth of Toronto’s earliest suburbs - The Annex and Yorkville. This early example of urban sprawl was also the moment at which the City was forced to abandon smaller local sources of water and turn to the lake for a supply of water. Today we are faced with massive urban sprawl, which threatens to engulf the Oak Ridges Moraine, the watershed boundary for the entire Greater Toronto Bio- Region. The walk begins at the City of Toronto Archives exhibit “AFTER THE SPRAWL - Suburban Pasts and Futures in the Greater Toronto Area,” a fascinating look at the evolution of built infrastructure like sewers and water filtration plants in response to urban expansion through the last century. From here we climb the stairs to the top of the old Lake Iroquois shorecliff, explore upper part of the Taddle Creek watershed, and trace its path through Wychwood Park into the Annex, where new projects and partnerships are aiming to regenerate this long buried downtown stream, and are pointing to a new relationship with nature and natural systems. Walk Leader, Michael McMahon, Curator of the “After The Sprawl” Exhibit. Meet At The City Of Toronto Archives (Formerly Metro Archives), 255 Spadina Road (north of Dupont St). This walk is a City of Toronto Healthy City Week Walk, and is presented in partnership by Toronto Archives, the North Toronto Green Community Lost Rivers Project, the Toronto Field Naturalists, and the Taddle Creek Watershed Initiative. It is designed to follow naturally from the Taddle Creek Visioning Workshop which is taking place on Friday and Saturday at Hart House, also a part of Healthy City Week. For more information about the Taddle Creek Watershed Initiative call EdSousaat599-417l.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 10 & TUESDAY OCTOBER 13, 1998 , 2 P.M. THE WHITE OAKS OF DEER PARK. Peter Hare leads us on a tour of the urban forest In Deer Park, including many of the beautiful oaks that live along the height of land above the Iroquois Shore Cliff. Meet at the Deer Park Library, comer of Alvin and St Clair Ave East.
SUNDAY OCTOBER 11, 2 P.M. LAVENDER CREEK AND LAKE IROQUOIS This walk explores bits of Lavender Creek, the next Creek to the north west of Garrison Creek. 100 years ago, Lavender Creek was advertised by a local farmer as having “fresh spring water and trout year round”. Today springs still flow along the path the creek took, especially in the area of Weston Road and St Clair, where the creek once flowed into Black Creek. Walk Leader, Ian Wheal, Meet at the southeast corner of St. Clalr Ave. West and Lansdowne Ave.
SUNDAY OCTOBER 18,1998, 2 P.M. Walmsley Brook, the Upper Mill & THE ELEVATED WETLANDS at the Forks of the Don. There is ART in the Don Valley at the Forks of the Don! Noel Harding. the artist, will lead us on a tour of his work - “an ecological plastics based artwork that will sustain plants indigenous to the Don River Basin, and purify water drawn into the planters by solar-powered pumps”. On the way we will have a chance (at last) to enjoy the spectacular fall colours in the Walmsley Brook Ravine & find out a bit about the glacial history of the Forks of the Don. We will look down from on high to the historic site of the Upper Mill Dam. Meet at the northwest comer of Beth Nealson and Overlea. Walk Leader, Noel Harding. Presented by FODE (Friends of the Don East), the North Toronto Green community and the artist, Noel Harding.. For more information about FODE call 544-0420.
Sunday November 8, 1:30 p.m. GARRISON CREEK - November seems to be “Garrison Creek Month” at the Toronto Field Naturalists. You can trace almost the whole length of the Garrison if you go on all the Garrison walks this month. This first walk started at Bloor and went south. Meet at the Christie Subway Station. Walk Leader, Jerry Belan.
Saturday November 14, 1.30 p.m. WILKET CREEK GEOLOGY Toronto Field Naturalists. A newly discovered out-cropping of sandstone in Windfields Park. Meet at the southeast corner of York Mills & Bayview. Walk Leader Kathleen Kemp.
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 15, 1998, AT 2 P.M. GARRISON CREEK HEADWATERS Come and explore the landscape created by the northern branches of the creek’s headwaters and the valleys they carved through the Lake Iroquois Shore Bluff. We will trace these old valleys and hear interesting tales of early residents - of their homes, estates and land developments that have almost hidden parts of the valleys from view. We’ll also hear about a new committee and plans to preserve arid enhance the remaining traces of the valleys. Meet at Humewood Park, one block north of St. Clair on Humewood Drive (Just west of Christie). Walk Leader, Dick Watts
Wednesday November 18, 6:3O p.m. Sierra Club Joint Outing TOUR OF THE R. C. HARRIS WATER FILTRATION PLANT. Come and see Toronto’s urban eco-system in action! This is where our “fuel-driven underground river flowing uphill” begins! The tour will include information about how Lake Ontario water is purified, as well as a look at the supporting infrastructure which is needed to drive the system - a great opportunity to consider the links between water and global warming for example! RSVP to Garry Pringle, 604-0724
Saturday November 21, 11 a.m. Garrison Creek to the Lake. TFN NATURE WALK.
Meet at the Christie Subway Station. BRING LUNCH. Walk Leader, Joanne Doucet.
Saturday November 28, 1O a.m. Sierra Club Joint Outing TOUR OF THE ASHBRIDGES BAY SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT More urban eco-system in action! At the “other end of the pipe” we get a look at what happens to the water that came from R.C. Harris! An illuminating look at wastewater treatment processes, including information about storm-water, about problems caused by combined sewers, and about efforts underway to minimize the need for treatment. RSVP to Garry Pringle, 604-0724
SUNDAY DECEMBER 20, 1998, 2 p.m. TADDLE CREEK URBAN FOREST, THE WHITE OAKS PROJECT. Oak trees, including white oaks, thrive on the sandy interglacial deposits all along the top of the Iroquois Shore Cliff. The White Oaks Project began a few years ago when a developer threatened to cut down a large number of white oaks, to build two houses near Casa Loma. We’ll start at the edge of the Taddle Creek Watershed, and work our way down through the TTC Yards on Wychwood, and through the “garden suburb” woodlands of the Wychwood Park and Casa Loma neighbourhoods. Meet at Humewood Park, one block north of St. Clair on Humewood Drive (just west of Christie). Walk Leader, TBA.
1999
SUNDAY JANUARY 17, 1999, 2 P.M. ON THE SHORES OF LAKE IROQUOIS - FROM CASTLE FRANK CREEK TO YELLOW CREEK. Back in the Don watershed, we will start our walk from the City of Toronto Archives, and go east to explore the landscape created by Castle Frank Creek, Mashquoteh and Yellow Creek at the Lake Iroquois Shore Cliff. Peter Hare will be talking about geology and trees in winter, as well as tracing ancient trails, showing us some old estates and built heritage. If the weather is bad, we’ll linger longer at the archives. Meet at City of Toronto Archives (formerly Metro Archives), 255 Spadina Rd. Walk Leader, Peter Hare.
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 27, 1.30 P.M. RUSSELL CREEK AND HOSPITAL CREEK. A Toronto Field Naturalists Walk exploring some of the smaller creeks which once cut through downtown Toronto. Walk Leader, Ian Wheal. Meet at the southwest corner of Queen and Spadina.
SUNDAY MARCH 21, 1999, 2 P.M. BELOW THE SHORES OF LAKE IROQUOIS -CUDMORE CREEK TO WALMSLEY BROOK. Come celebrate the first day of spring with a walk in the lower Don Valley. This is a chance to see our little tributaries and the Iroquois shore bluff from a different perspective. The walk will include a visit to the site of the Sun Brickyard, and an outcrop of shale bedrock which is quite spectacular before the spring thaw, as well as a visit to the sites of the first and second Taylor Mills which are now used to dump snow and house police dogs. Walk Leaders, Helen and Aarne Juhola. Meet at the corner of Pottery Road and Broadview Ave.
SATURDAY APRIL10,1999 1 P.M. FISHERMAN’S ISLAND, TORONTO’S LOST FISHING VILLAGE (1873 to 1915). Walk Leader, Ian Wheal. Meet at the northwest corner of King Street East at Sumach Street A Toronto Field Naturalists Walk.
SUNDAY APRIL 11,1999,1.30 P.M NATURAL AND BUILT HERITAGE ON THE SHORES OF LAKE IROQUOIS. Geology, trees, ancient trails, and built heritage From the City of Toronto Archives, we will go east to explore the landscape of the ancient lake in the watersheds of Castle Frank Creek, Mashquoteh Creek and Yellow Creek Walk Leader, Peter Hare. Meet at City of Toronto Archives (formerly Metro Archives), 255 Spadina Rd.
SUNDAY APRIL 18, 1999, 2 P.M. RIVERDALE RIVERS & GARDENS. Riverdale is the site of a number of small rivers which formerly drained off the south side of the great sandbar formed by Lake Iroquois. These little streams drained into a vast marshy wetland, Ashbridges Bay, at the bottom of the Don River. In the early days of Toronto there were a number of quarries and brick works along these streams, as well as many dump sites. We’ll follow one of these streams through Withrow Park and the Bain Avenue Coop, visiting some interesting gardens and historic sites along the way. Walk Leader, Dagmar Baur. Meet at the Chester Subway Station (Chester & Danforth).
SUNDAY APRIL 25,1999, 2 P.M. LOST WETLANDS OF PARKDALE/ LIBERTY STREET An exploration of the lost bogs, creeks, ponds, and swamps in the once watery landscape of this neighbourhood. Toronto Field Naturalists Walk. Walk Leader, Ian Wheal. Meet at the SE corner of Dufferin Street and King Street West.
SUNDAY MAY 9,1999, 2 P.M. AQUEDUCTS, RESERVOIRS A SPRINGS, A HISTORY OF WATER IN NORTH TORONTO Toronto Field Naturalists Walk Walk Leader, Ian Wheal. Meet at the SW corner of Yonge A Montgomery Streets (three blocks north of Eglinton).
TUESDAY MAY 11,1999,1.30 P.M. NATURAL AND BUILT HERITAGE ON THE SHORES OF LAKE IROQUOIS. See April 11 walk for details. Walk Leader, Peter Hare. Meet at City of Toronto Archives (formerly Metro Archives), 255 Spadina Rd.
SUNDAY MAY 16, 1999, 2 P.M. SPRING IN SHERWOOD PARK We’ll explore the beautiful but very stressed woodlands in Sherwood Park, hearing about efforts to regenerate the forest under-story and see Trilliums and trout lilies perhaps? If there is time we leave the Burke Brook ravine and pick up the continuation of Lake Iroquois shoreline above Eglinton. Walk Leader, Terry Fahey. Meet at the entrance to the Park on the south side of Blythwood Avenue (walk east from Mount Pleasant to the bottom of the hill).
SUNDAY JUNE 13, 2 P.M. WHERE EDGES MEET - PARKDALE. The natural history of Parkdale - the old Lake Ontario shoreline, as well as ponds, creeks and a tour of a new community wildflower garden. Walk Leader, Catherine Goetz of the Evergreen Foundation. Meet at the (SW corner) at the intersection of Queen, Roncesvalles, King A the Queensway (the five corners).
SUNDAY JUNE 20, 2 P.M. GARDENS IN THE TADDLE CREEK WATERSHED. Where Edges Meet, joint garden tour. Meet outside the Bathurst subway station for an Annex walk with Catherine Goetz of the Evergreen Foundation.
SUNDAY JULY 18, 2 P.M Where Edges Meet, Lost River Walk. Discovering Castle Frank Creek and other little rivers, a neighbourhood natural history walk featuring the Community Butterfly Garden in St Jamestown West Park. Walk Leader, Catherine Goetz of the Evergreen Foundation. Meet outside the Sherbourne subway (SE corner of Sherbourne A Bloor).
SUNDAY AUGUST 15, 2 P.M. GARDENS & NATURALISATION SITES near two North Toronto lost rivers - Mud Creek and Burke Brook, featuring the Eglinton Park Heritage Community Garden and Naturalisation Site. A pleasant meander through two watersheds to look at some lovely gardens and regeneration sites. Meet in Eglinton Park at the garden outside the Seniors Common Room at the North Toronto Memorial Community Centre, 200 Eglinton Ave West. Walk leader TBA
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 19, 2 P.M. Stormwater in the Mud Creek Watershed. Walk leader TBA. Meet at the southwest corner of Mount Pleasant and Merton.
SUNDAY OCTOBER 3, 1999 Stormwater in the Mud Creek Watershed. Joint walk with Riversides and Don Task Force. Call for details.
SUNDAY OCTOBER 17, 1999, 2 p.m. Stormwater in the Mud Creek Watershed (again!). We will be heading south from Eglinton to Merton crossing Yonge Street. Meet in Eglinton Park at the garden outside the Seniors Common Room at the North Toronto Memorial Community Centre, 200 Eglinton Ave West.