CANCELLED - 2020 SPRING BIRD FESTIVAL, SAM SMITH PARK

RECEIVED TODAY ....

"Hello everyone,

It's unfortunate that we have to make this announcement, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Toronto has cancelled all City-led mass events until June 30^th. In light of this decision, Urban Forestry has cancelled volunteer events and programs until further notice.

This includes the 11^th Annual Spring Bird Festival Saturday, May 23^rd

Please sign up for our mailing list to receive an update when programming resumes. We will provide more information when it becomes available.  toronto.ca/greentoronto#mail

More information on the COVID-19 situation in Toronto and the City’s response is available at toronto.ca/covid-19.

We regret any inconvenience this may cause. Thank you for your patience as we work to maintain the health and safety of both the public and our staff during this rapidly evolving situation.

We hope everyone is well during this time. Please contact us at greentoronto@toronto.ca if you have any questions and thank you for your understanding.

Thank you,

City of Toronto Parks and Forestry"

CANCELLED - ALAN ROY'S ANNUAL PARK CLEAN-UP, SUNDAY APRIL 19TH

To my friends around Colonel Sam Smith Park .....

It is with deep personal regret, not necessarily shared by many of my cherished volunteers (you know who you are), that I find myself, in light of the current health/safety precautions, deferring my 28th Annual park clean up scheduled for COVID19th of April.

I had all preparations in place and it was promising to be a GREAT year. How could it not after the year of the ice storm and a freezing rain, dreary day, that we moved back a week to allow us ANOTHER rainy, dreary day? We remember them all.

I was looking forward to my annual catch up with many of you as it seems my park clean-up is the only time I see you.

As much as I would like to be able to use the catchphrase “Rain, Shine, Ice storm or Pandemic, the event happens!”, this year we are unavoidably delayed.

I will be at the park on Sunday, 19 April as I have been for the last few weeks, collecting garbage and scrap metal. I would be happy to see those of you who are willing come out and, while keeping a safe distance from one another, collect what you can. I’ll be the one in the Bonnet and army boots. Shout “Hello” from a socially distanced acceptable standard!

It doesn’t need to be today, or even on Sunday the 19th . If you can spare ten minutes during your walks, the park and, by extension, ourselves, can only benefit.

I can’t offer you supplies or draw prizes this year (yet) but I can offer you the spirit and the camaraderie of like-minded neighbours and the knowledge that we are doing our best to help make the world a healthier place while we endeavour to keep ourselves and our friends, family and community healthy.

I look forward to our return to better times and to rescheduling a proper park clean up. You know, with only the miserable weather to complain about!

My thanks as always, for your ongoing support and my best wishes to all of you and your families.

Stay Healthy

Alan Roy
Colonel Samuel Smith Park Clean Up