FOSS MEMBERSHIP - TIME TO BECOME A MEMBER OR RENEW

Friends of Sam Smith Park invites you to become a member or renew your membership for 2015.

These are very exciting times for FOSS. The viewing platform for the pond is being rebuilt and we are involved in many other initiatives in the park.

As a member you will be kept up to date on developments at the park and your input will be welcomed.

Please join us!

Memberships are $5 single or $10 for a family.

Click on this link, print form and mail to the address on the form.  Thank you.

Brian Keaveney 

President FOSS

SATURDAY, MARCH 21ST - SAM SMITH BIRD WALK

SUDAY MARCH 22ND - "SEEDY SUNDAY" SEED AND PLANT EXCHANGE

*** Friends of Sam Smith Park will be hosting a table at this event.

FRIENDS OF SAM SMITH PARK'S SECOND ANNUAL PHOTO COMPETITION

Friends of Sam Smith Park is pleased to announce our second annual photo competition.
 

The competition is open to everyone on our mailing list at any skill level (hopefully to become full members soon!) Here’s a link to the FOSS membership form.  Photographs can be ones you have taken at any time.
 

Last year we focused on people enjoying the park. Click here to see last year's winners and click here to see the runners-up.
 
This year, there will be two categories and a prize will go to one winner in each of the categories.  The categories are …..

1) Scenery and 2) Wildlife

Send your digital photographs to FOSS email – friendsofsamsmithpark@gmail.com and please don’t send us more than 2 per category per contributor. Please indicate the category for which your photo is being submitted.

Photographs should be in jpeg format and have enough pixilation suitable for a larger format print. If you want, an embedded caption could be added to the photograph. The deadline for sending photographs is Friday, May 15th, 2015.

 

Photo contributors understand that by emailing their photographs they will be giving FOSS permission to reproduce them for non-commercial, promotional purposes.  All submitted photos will be eventually posted on FOSS’s website as a slideshow for all to enjoy.

 

The current steering committee will judge all entries.  The two winners will be notified by e-mail and the results will be posted on the FOSS website during the week before the Spring Bird Festival (Saturday, May 23rd).

 

Prizes will be awarded during the festival at the FOSS booth where the two winning prints will be on display.

Enjoy.  Give us your best shot!

UNUSUAL WINTER BIRD SIGHTINGS

Pair of Surf Scoters

Male Harlequin Duck (in full breeding plumage)

At this time of the year, intrepid birders who are willing to brave the cold, snow and ice can be rewarded with views of unusual visitors to the bays of Sam Smith Park.  

Birds like the Harlequin Duck and the Surf Scoter need to rest up on their migration route from their winter grounds (marine coastal) to breeding grounds in the far north (boreal forest and tundra).  The Harlequin Duck is listed as “endangered” in Canada.

These birds were photographed by Brian Bailey yesterday close to the shore in the first and second bays (13^th street entrance).

YES ..... MORE FANTASTIC COYOTE PICS! THANKS TO ZENY ATAS LLOYD

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 25TH - FIRST OPEN HOUSE - HUMBER COLLEGE'S WELCOME CENTRE INTERPRETIVE CENTRE

Humber’s College’s new Welcome Centre is set to open in 2016 at the corner of Kipling Ave and Lakeshore Blvd W.  The new Welcome Centre will host an Interpretive Centre that will feature artworks and heritage activities related to the site’s natural and built history, primarily, the former Lakeshore Psychiatric hospital and the surrounding ecology and waterfront. Friends of Sam Smith Park will sit on the Advisory Committee.

  OPEN HOUSE

WHEN:
Wednesday February 25th 6:00pm to 8:00pm
& Sunday March 1st 1:00pm to 3:00pm

WHERE: 
Humber College, Lakeshore Campus
3199 Lake Shore Boulevard West
Toronto, ON M8V 1K8
Building A/B. Room A170 
 
Join Humber College staff for the first Open House about the Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre. At this event, you will have the opportunity to: learn about the development of the Centre, contribute your feedback, and learn about community storytelling. 

These Open Houses are completely free to attend. For questions and directions, please contact Curator Tara Mazurk at  416-675-6622 x.79378 or by email.

Follow this link to register.

The Interpretive Centre now has its own website.

As of now, the website offers basic information about the Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre. Coming in March 2015, you will be able to use the website to contribute personal stories about your relationship to the grounds.