SUMMARY: MINUTES FOSS STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING, NOVEMBER 26TH, 2018

Summary: FOSS Steering Committee Meeting                                         

NOVEMBER 26, 2018

7:05PM, LAMP, 185 5^th Street, Etobicoke

• 2018 FOSS PHOTO EXHIBIT: Nature’s Sanctuary Juried Exhibition. Assembly Hall at Humber College Lakeshore Campus. Deemed to be a great success. FOSS thanks all participants and attendees. Next exhibit planned for 2020

• DECK THE DOGS: Scheduled for Col. Sam’s Dog Park. Saturday, December 1. 12-4PM. Volunteers needed. Contact organizer Eric Code if you can help (eric_code@hotmail.com).

• COYOTE INFO SESSION: December 3. 7-8:30PM. Mimico Centennial Library, 47 Station Road. Register on-line at: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/coyote-info-session-tickets-52733458193

• FOSS WINTER BIRD FEEDER PROJECT: Scheduled to begin first week of December. Volunteers welcome. Check blog for details.

• NAMING PARK ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AND NATURAL HERITAGE AREAS: A FOSS mapping project to assign names to significant areas of the park (such as the already-designated “Whimbrel Point”) in order to provide consistency when communicating info about Col. Sam. For more details, check the blog .

• BURDOCK ERADICATION: FOSS  thanks the many volunteers who have spent countless hours cutting invasive burdock in an attempt to control/eradicate this plant in order to encourage the growth of preferred native species.

• NATIVE SPECIES PLANTINGS: FOSS is actively advocating for the planting of native shrubs and pollinator-attracting plants in suitable locations throughout the park.

• FOSS SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS: Check out FOSS on both Instagram and Facebook. No personal Facebook account? You may still view the contents, but you will be unable to post comments. Keep watch for nature photos highlighting your park.

• DRUG/GARBAGE PROBLEMS AT COL. SAM: Discarded drug paraphernalia and litter are on-going detriments in the park, particularly in the North Creek area. Visitors are asked to notify the police at 416 808-2200 for drug infractions and 311 for trash build-up. Any problems reported to 311 are greatly strengthened when accompanied with a photo.

• TWO HOUR PARKING LIMIT ON SOUTH LOT AT COLONEL SAM: Vehicles are being marked and fines are being issued.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THIS WINTER'S SKATING TRAIL BIRD FEEDERS

The CSSP Skating Trail opened this past weekend, so FOSS is looking for volunteers for our “Winter Bird Feeder Project” by the Skating Trail again this winter. 
We have several volunteers returning from last year, but we still need a couple more. 
The job consists of coming to Col. Sam Smith Park once a week and filling the bird feeders that we are placing around the Skating Trail.  There are seed and suet feeders.  FOSS provides all the bird seed and suet, and will deliver it to your door!

Last year we found that it worked well if volunteers chose a specific day of the week when they would fill the feeders. If you can help us out this year, please let us know which day choices would suit you best- days that are still open are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.  We have already purchased some seed, and will get the feeders up this next week, with a map.
I hope a few new volunteers can join our team this year! This project was very successful last year.

You can contact FOSS at friendsofsamsmithpark@gmail.com

Thanks!
from FOSS

SLIDESHOW VIDEO OF THE IMAGES PRESENTED FOR "NATURE'S SANCTUARY 2018" PHOTO EXHIBIT

The images in this five minute video are all of the ones submitted for this year's photo exhibit, not just the ones selected for showing or the final winners and honourable mentions.  A few had to be omitted because they were sent to us in an unsuitable format.  We feel that they are all worthy of a being showcased here.  The video can be paused for a moment to linger a bit longer on a particular photo you like.

Be patient and enjoy.

“Nature’s Sanctuary” came to a close on November 15, 2018. FOSS would like to thank the many photographers who participated in the Exhibition. The opening night was electric with excitement and anticipation. The evening truly celebrated the beauty of Sam Smith Park. I would like to thank the volunteers who helped the make the exhibition a success. Thank you, Bruce Wilkinson, Terry Smith, Monika Meulman, Irene Cholewka, Nancy Barrett, Barbara Keaveney, Sandra Hawkins, Bert Meulman, and Chantal Lee. We would also like to thank our sponsors, City of Toronto Parks, Big Guys, Lamp, The Healing Muse, Sandra Hawkins, The Graphic Print Shop as well as the ongoing support from our neighbours, Lakeshore Grounds and Humber College. A shout out to the staff at the Assembly Hall - Katrina Campitelli, Suzy Broderick and other staff who were amazing and very supportive. It is always a pleasure to work with such knowledgeable and professional facilitators. A special thanks to Denise Dickens for encouraging us to have an exhibition when we had our doubts. We look forward to 2020. So get out there and take photos of our beloved nature sanctuary, Sam Smith Park.

Liana Franciosi

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION TERMS FOR SAM SMITH PARK WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS

When locations for wildlife sightings in the park are shared or posted, there are some geographical location terms that have been "commonly" used.  Now, having said that, not all park users adopt the same terms.  Some terms are uniquely personal.  For example, what is sometimes referred to as "Third Beach" might be called "Nana's Beach", depending on one's association with that location.

However, Friends of Sam Smith Park has been asked to attempt some sort of useful standardization. 

So, this is a first and undoubtedly incomplete, probably misleading stab at that daunting task.

Please contact FOSS by email and inform us of missing location terms or terms on the map below that are not correct or, indeed, any ideas you may have to help us.

Over time, together, we might be able to pull this off!

REPORT FROM "LEAF'S" RECENT SAM SMITH "TREE TOUR"

 

 

 

 

"Spring Buds and Fall Foliage at Colonel Samuel Smith Park" report

NOVEMBER 26TH - GLADSTONE HOTEL, QUEEN STREET - "ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF ROAD SALT RUNOFF ON FRESHWATER BODIES"

Winter is coming! As GTA residents prepare for frosty weather, it’s the perfect time to consider how we use a winter staple – road salt.

Join the Toronto & Region Remedial Action Plan on November 26 for a discussion about the environmental impacts of road salt runoff on freshwater bodies, best management practices, and salt alternatives.

This is a free event and is part of the quarterly Lake Ontario Evening speaker series. Snacks are provided and drinks are available for purchase.
 

SPEAKERS:

Increasing chloride trends in Ontario surface waters
Ryan Sorichetti, PhD, Ministry of Environment, Climate and Parks

Salting the Earth: The unintended impacts and what we can do to prevent them
Tim Van Seter, Senior Manager, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

Being less salty about winter
Anthony Merante, Freshwater Specialist, World Wildlife Fund

All are welcome | Doors open at 6:00 pm | Presentations will begin at 6:30 pm | Discussion to Follow

FREE EVENT, REFRESHMENTS

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER