Events

​2024 Events: SLNA Canada Day Celebration

​St. James Park​; July 1, 2024

2024 Events: 10th REmarket

St. Lawrence Market tent; June 12-13, 2024

SLNA's Waste Reduction Group (WRG) held its 10th REmarket event on June 12 and 13 in the St. Lawrence Market tent on The Esplanade.
Growing with each successive event, REmarket is making a difference. It has a direct and tangible impact on both the environment and the social welfare of our local community. Community members continue to express enthusiastically their appreciation for REmarket’s services and eagerly await the next event. This kind of neighbourhood support makes it possible to continue to expand REmarket's impact.

Thanks to the WRG for its leadership, enthusiasm and dedication to this event and to the many hundreds of neighbours who are committed to reducing waste.
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​Highlights:

• 40 individual volunteers; many who worked multiple shifts over the 2 days
• 37 skids of donations (over10,000 lbs) to The Salvation Army
• 3 skids (approx. 2,000 lbs) of electronic e-waste, plus 20 laptops/tablets/electronic items for reuse (thanks to Renewed Computer Technology)
• Repair Café Toronto had 34 volunteers (fixers, apprentices, and support) who repaired 126 items
• 25 bikes were brought in for small repairs by CultureLink Bike Hub’s 3 volunteers

Ever-expanding REuse, REcycling, and Disposal programs, included the following items collected:

• 240 pairs of prescription glasses for redistribution by Optic Zone
• 16.3 kg of oral care waste, 680 razors, 191 Brita filters, 119 empty coffee bean bags, 215 coffee pods to various Terracycle Recycling programs
• 5 – 50 litre bins of Household Hazard Waste for pick up
• 7 reusable shopping bags of cosmetic items went to the Pact program via HBC
• Over 660 cleaned prescription bottles to be redistributed for reuse by Earthub
• 1 large box of unusable writing instruments, 8 medium bags of batteries and 3 large boxes of toner cartridges for recycling at Staples
• 2283 single use masks for recycling by Canada Strong Masks
• 19 smartphones for CNIB’s Phone It Forward program
• over 11,000 cigarette butts were dropped off by residents for recycling by Terracycle
• 6 large boxes of black take-away containers to be recycled for reuse by Plastic Flux
• 3 bags of art supplies will be dropped off at local shelters
• all reusable shopping bags left over from donations went to the New Toronto Food Bank

 
Information Tables:

• TransformTO/Live Green Toronto
• City of Toronto 3Rs Ambassador Program/Solid Waste Management
• Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA)/Reusable Toronto

The next REmarket is scheduled for October 9-10, 2024

2024 Events: Celebrating the achievements of the West Don Lands Committee: 1997-2024

Corktown Common; June 8, 2024

On June 8, 2024 SLNA co-hosted (along with neighbouring associations GWNA, EWCA, CDNA and CRBA) a celebration of the significant accomplishments of the West Don Lands Committee over a period of almost 30 years as the work of representing the new neighbourhoods the Committee helped to create is turned over to the residents and successor associations.

The program featured an Indigenous welcome from singer and drummer, Danielle Migwans with remarks from Michael Millward, both from Anishnawbe Health Toronto, followed by remarks and remembrances from Meg Davis of Waterfront Toronto, Tom Davidson and Macy Parakh from the offices of Deputy Mayor Malik and Councillor Moise, MPP's Chris Glover and Kristyn Wong-Tam and long time co-chairs of the committee Cynthia Wilkey and John Wilson.

Equally important was the opportunity for current and former colleagues to catch up and reminisce.

Thanks to everyone who attended, to the rain for holding off just long enough, to Waterfront Toronto for the interactive display and photo booth, to Distillery Events for the food and to the financial sponsors: Architects Alliance, 

2024 Events: Celebrating SLNA's 41 years of service to the St. Lawrence neighbourhood.

Celebration of SLNA's 41st Anniversary at Novotel-Toronto Centre: February 12, 2024

February 12, 2024: Presentation of Certificate to SLNA by MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam.

Pictured: current and former Board members (left to right) Ronnie Yaron, Donna Patterson, Catherine Limberte (partially hidden) Toby Tenenbaum, Nancy Fung, Renate Tilson, Stewart Linton, MPP Chris Glover, MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam, Victoria Ilgacs, Sharon McMillan, Suzanne Kavanagh

On February 12, 2024, SLNA hosted neighbourhood residents for a most enjoyable evening of fellowship and conversation at Novotel Toronto Centre. It was a 'registration required' event and was booked to capacity. Thanks to everyone that attended and thanks to Novotel for their support. Look for announcements of future events in the SLNA newsletter.

2023 Events: Celebrating SLNA's 40 years of service to the St. Lawrence neighbourhood.

Parliament Square Park Cycle Track:
Official Ribbon Cutting, August 17, 2023

SLNA / JAMII Celebratory Indigenous Mural:
Official Unveiling, June 21, 2023

Co-produced by SLNA and JAMII, this community mural on the exterior wall of the St. Lawrence Community Recreation Centre at 230 The Esplanade was unveiled on June 21, 2023. Designed and painted by artist Darwin Peters of Pikangikum First Nation, assisted by members of the Community, the mural will serve as a legacy feature and celebratory landmark honouring the SLNA's 40 years of service to the residents of the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood.
Following is the artist's statement:

• The turtles represent life from the new to the old, and the journey from the beginning to the end. The turtles also represent the land we live on, where everything grows, flourishes and thrives, like the fish.
• Not only do the fish provide the food we eat, but they also represent friendship: they come along together, they make mischief together, and they become like family when they are forming a pack.
• The roots at the bottom of the tree are going in different directions, then they grow stronger, and at the end, the roots become floral. This symbolizes my life: all the struggles I have been through, how I grew stronger from them, and how I found a light through the arts and became the artist I was meant to be. I hope that people can be whoever they want to be and be where they want to be.
• The birds on the tree branches are watching the sun and then the moon. Every time I go to sleep, I see the moon. Every time I wake up, I see the sun and I am thankful to see yet another day. I wish that everyone can feel gratitude for each new day.
• Everywhere I look in this community (The Esplanade), I see different faces, races, cultures, languages and religions, and that makes me happy. It shows me how life can be when we are around each other. This is how I represented this community with the birds living in the tree.
• In the canoe, you can see the thunderbird beings, with their pet fox. The thunderbird in the middle points in the direction where to go next. As a family, they paddle on their journey through life and bring light into their community. I hope I contributed to this community by bringing colours here.
• When thunderbirds are finished with their work, they bring in other people to see what they’ve made. This is a metaphor for my life as well.
• The stars represent our ancestors shining bright light on us and they give us directions for the North, South, East and West, so that we can follow each star we see in the sky.
• The feathers are there for the loved ones we lost too soon and we carry in our hearts.
• The butterflies can fly wherever they want to be; they are free. Someone from the community also suggested they represent transformation through healing.
• The three leaves have a meaning of new beginning, new life, and a new chapter starting.

          Darwin Peters; June 21, 2023

SLNA's Canada Day Celebration: July 1, 2023

Love Letters to the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood:
SLNA's 40th Anniversary; February 14, 2023