AU G U S T 2021
Leaside Life leasidelife.com
No. 111
New local drive-thru Environment Days Pg. 22
SU
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ORTING LOCAL
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by SUSAN POAPS Digging up dog strangling vine was surely an unconventional way to celebrate Canada Day, but to the devotees of Don’t Mess With The Don it was a day of connecting with likeminded people and giving back to Mother Earth. DMWTD began as a S ES group of local nature IN enthusiasts deeply concerned about
the amount of neglect in Toronto’s vast ravine system, including those adjoining Leaside. Full disclosure: I am a dedicated member of DMWTD. “We regularly make use of the trails but were disheartened to see the amount of dumping going on, primarily adjacent to apartment buildings,” spokesperson Floyd Ruskin says. “We also want to advocate for healthy green spaces by ridding the
NANCY WARD
Advocating for local ravines valley of rampant invasive species such as dog strangling vine and replacing it with native plants.” Though stewardship and advocacy for the ravine system are a primary focus for the group, they stress the desire to fix issues at the source and stop the recurring problems and behaviours at the root. “We are looking to work with stakeholders at all levels to get a maintainable solution that can DMWTD Page 11
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