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Sunday, October 7, 2018

"PARKS PEOPLE" MUNICIPAL ELECTION PLATFORM


Toronto will head to the polls on October 22, 2018 to decide who will be our next mayor and city council. While there are many important issues up for discussion—affordable housing, poverty reduction, transit—we have yet to see a real discussion of parks and public spaces.



Here is a platform that Parks People put together for the upcoming election.  

In the platform, they call for ...... 
  • Stationed park managers at high-use parks and park staff information displayed in all parks
  • Public funding for long-term engagement and programming as a part of park construction budgets
  • A free Community Event Permit for local volunteer-run events
  • Approving a stormwater fee to fund green infrastructure that makes our parks more climate resilient
  • And more...

Saturday, October 6, 2018

HUMBER STUDENTS PLANTING IN SAM SMITH PARK

Elaine Belore, Social Sciences Instructor at Humber College South, was out with her students this week planting bird-friendly shrubs and trees in the Dogwood Thicket.  City of Toronto Parks staff provided the plants, planting tools and the know how. 
Elaine is very interested in "Nature Therapy Guiding", a new field of social sciences that promotes the idea that connection to nature has a major beneficial impact on our mental health, particularly for city dwellers.  Increased urbanization is associated with increased levels of mental illness, particularly anxiety and depression. There are many easily searched studies showing a relationship between nature exposure, relaxation, and well-being.

Thanks to you Elaine and to your eager students! 


 

Friday, October 5, 2018

TREE IDENTIFICATION WALK - OCTOBER 27TH

Tree Identification by the Season

©2018 LEAF
Saturday, October 27, 2018 - 1:00pm to 2:30pm
Cost: 
$5 suggested donation
Colonel Samuel Smith Park
3145 Lake Shore Blvd. West
M8V 4B6 Toronto , ON
Canada
Join us for a guided Tree Tour through Colonel Samuel Smith Park! LEAF’s certified arborist will lead the tour and share fall/winter tips on tree identification. This is the second of a two-part series. On the spring tour, we focused on buds, flowers, and fruits.  This time, we’ll then return to the same trees and look at fall colour, bark and leaf shape.
This event is a two-part series which will allow participants to tour the same route in spring and fall to discuss varying tree identification techniques. Everyone welcome - whether you attended the spring tour or not!
Meet at the welcome sign at the east corner of last parking lot at the end of Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive.

Tuesday, October 2, 2018

SUMMARY: MINUTES FOSS STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING, SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2018


Summary: FOSS Steering Committee Meeting                                         
SEPTEMBER 24, 2018
7:08PM, LAMP, 185 5th Street, Etobicoke

2018 FOSS PHOTO EXHIBIT: Nature’s Sanctuary Juried Exhibition. Assembly Hall at Humber College Lakeshore Campus. Opening Reception—October 11, 6-8PM. All welcome. Sponsors are greatly welcomed. 
       
Preliminary judging now completed and finalists have been determined.
NATURE WALK FOR BEGINNING PHOTOGRAPHERS with Irene Cholewka and Nancy Barrett. Saturday, October 13. 9:30AM. Check blog for details.

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.

BURDOCK ERADICATION: FOSS volunteers have been cutting invasive burdock in an attempt to control/eradicate this plant in order to encourage the growth of preferred native species.

2018 MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS: Check the FOSS blog as we get closer to the municipal election on October 22nd for responses from local candidates to questions posed by FOSS related to Col. Sam Park, e.g. off-leash dog situation, no washroom facilities (except during skating season), vandalism, etc.

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. 61 tickets issued at the beginning of the new college term.

Sandra Hawkins, Secretary

Monday, October 1, 2018

FREE BEGINNERS' NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP

"Nature's Sanctuary" presents a Beginners' Nature Photography Workshop led by Nancy Barrett and Irene Cholewka in partnership with Friends of Sam Smith Park and Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre at the Assembly Hall on Saturday, October 13th, 2018..

Experienced FOSS birders and wildlife photographers Nancy Barrett and Irene Cholewka will share tips on how to take great shots of birds and animals in an ethical manner. Bring your camera and meet outside the Assembly Hall before heading out into the park for this hands-on workshop. Ages 12 and up. Youth under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Space limited. Free.

Pr-register at goldengooseproductions@yahoo.ca or call 416 251 5930  

Friday, September 28, 2018

FOSS QUESTIONS FOR WARD 3 COUNCILLOR CANDIDATES - TORONTO MUNICIPAL ELECTION, OCTOBER 22ND




The Friends of Sam Smith Park steering committee has compiled a short list of question for Ward 3 Councillor candidates concerning some of the issues that are important to us.  The list will be sent to each candidate and their responses will be published here about a week before the election.  We will also send them out by e-mail to those on our contact list.  Non-responses will also be noted.  If a candidate knocks at your door, you might also consider asking questions related to our park.
  

We receive constant complaints that there is no public washroom in the park when, in fact, there is - in the Power House.  It is only open during the winter skating season.  Will you push Toronto Parks to keep it open at all times?


How would you deal with the increasing concerns many of us have around vandalism, night fires/parties and off-leash dogs in the park?


As an elected member of Toronto City Council and a custodian of a precious resource, what will you do to preserve biodiversity and natural heritage in your ward and across Toronto?


Parks are often seen as a place for primarily active pursuits.  Please state your views about the value of easily-accessible quiet, natural green spaces for passive activities that promote mental health.


What is your overall vision for green space, particularly along the waterfront, in Ward 3?


Would you be willing to share publicly the City’s future plans for the newly refurbished Power House and also invite public input in to those plans?

Thursday, September 27, 2018

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11TH - "NATURE'S SANCTUARY 2" PHOTO EXHIBIT OPENING RECEPTION AT THE ASSEMBLY HALL - EVERYONE INVITED


Entries have been submitted and judged, winners selected and exhibitors informed - we're getting ready for the big event!

Make sure you don't miss out on the "big reveal" of the winners at six o'clock, the music, the presentation, the refreshments and the many wonderful images that will be proudly displayed on the walls.
  
If you were there at the opening of "Nature's Sanctuary 1" two years ago, you will surely remember the excitement that buzzed around the Assembly Hall gallery as everyone shared in that joyous and loving celebration of nature in our favourite park. 

Well, it's back!   Let's recreate it.  See you there.