Jane’s Walks planned for East Toronto this weekend

A NUMBER of Jane’s Walks are planned for May, 5, 6 and 7 in the East Toronto area.

The walks are in honour of urbanist, activist and longtime Toronto resident Jane Jacobs, and celebrate the communities that make up Toronto.

Local walks include:

• Water Ways: Histories of the Don on Friday, May 5, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. This walk looks at the connection between water and community in the Don Valley and will be led by an Evergreen Brick Works volunteer.

“Everything you are – everything you know – it has been shaped by water. You are made of water, you need water, and the land upon which you stand is an intricate sculpture carved by ancient waterways. But just as water carves, it also builds: systems and communities and history,” said Evergreen Brick Works of this walk. “In the Don Valley, these themes coalesce, and at the Brick Works, the story of water and community is alive.”

Participants will meet in front of the Water Shed Wall at the Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview Ave. The walk will begin and end at the Water Shed Wall as it travels a loop through the Don Valley and Brick Works site.

Those attending are reminded that a free shuttle bus runs to the Brick Works from just north of Broadview station.

• Creating a New Park: West Scarborough Rail Trail on Saturday, May 6, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. This walk looks at the Scarborough Junction area and follows a hydro corridor and abandoned rail lines. The walk is led by Sam Wong of the Scarborough Junction community.

“First proposed more than 50 years ago by University of Toronto students, the West Scarborough Rail Trail has garnered renewed interest from Scarborough Junction community members due to an increase in planned and proposed development in the area,” said the organizer.

Participants will meet at Warden Hilltop Community Centre, 25 Mendelssohn St., just off Warden Avenue and north of St. Clair Avenue and the Warden subway station.

• Don Valley: Past, Present and Future Opportunities on Sunday, May 7, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This walk looks at the southern end of the Don River and will be led by Floyd Ruskin and friends.

“Before the 1790s, the Don Valley was wild and unspoiled. Over the next two centuries, the river was harnessed, channelled, polluted, moved and ignored,” said the organizers. “This walk will look at how humans have impacted the valley and how it is being reclaimed as vital green space at the heart of the city.”

Participants will meet at St. Matthew’s Clubhouse, 450 Broadview Ave. The walk will conclude at Todmorden Mills, 67 Pottery Rd.

• Bain Co-op: it takes a village walk is on Sunday, May 7, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. This walk looks at the more the history of the Bain Co-op in Riverdale. The walk be led by Bain residents Alice Dixon and Laura Sikstrom.

“Built as Riverdale Courts in 1913/14, it is one of Canada’s earliest examples of social housing. Its aim was quality affordable housing for workers, including single working women. It was designed by Toronto Arts and Craft’s architect Eden Smith, who imbued the development with an air of quality, respectability, and as it turns out, functionality,” said the organizers. “The co-operative was formed as one of Canada’s first, by residents in 1974. Thus it remains social housing today.”

Participants will meet at the northwest corner of Bain and Logan avenues. The walk will end within one block of the starting point.

For more on Jane’s Walk, please go to www.janeswalkfestivalto.com