GDNA members gathered last night at Rodney's with neighbours from Wellington Place, Draper Street, and the Entertainment District Neighbourhood Associations to mark the end of another busy year. Thanks as always to Bronwen, Julius, Chantelle, and especially Carly for your great hospitality and service. It was terrific to have Councillor Joe Cressy and his colleague Brent Gilliard join us to raise a glass to all the successful activity in this part of the Ward. We also welcomed Anne-Louise Blaikie and John Cruickshank from the YMCA which will soon be a major part of the neighbourhood.  
​Season's Greetings to all, and a very Happy New Year! 

Where:  Toronto Collective, 389 Spadina Avenue
When:  Saturday December 2, 2017 at 9:30pm
What:  A gathering of members from the graffiti community at an event titled Recognition. 

Valerie Eggertson gave our award up for adoption and Sandy Kemsley recorded the occasion for posterity.

Yearly at its AGM of 600 members, Tourism Toronto presents a "Presidents' Award" to recognize organizations and individuals outside the tourism sector that have helped to create an improved business environment for the tourist and meeting industry.

This year, on November 9th, this award went to GRAFFITI ALLEY and by extension to the Queen Street West BIA, the GDNA (represented by myself), The Laneway Project and a representative of all the laneway artists that give "canvas and colour to the spaces in between". 

The AGM was held at the Metro Convention Centre.  Rick Mercer sent a pre-recorded thanks / congratulations message.  At the reception immediately following, some of the graffiti artists demonstrated their skills.  And it was through them that I learned about Toronto Collective, a store that caters to the graffiti community.  

Because the GDNA has no "home" to speak of, it is our pleasure to give our statue up for adoption to Toronto Collective where all their artist/clients can experience a sense of acceptance and pride in knowing that their efforts are indeed appreciated.

Mel from Cedar Glen Organic Farm was also on hand at the YMCA event. She had a stall set up with produce for sale with ground cherries, melons, peppers, kale, and eggplants, and free packages of thyme and sage to sample at home. Having a food market again in St. Andrew's Playground would be fabulous, reminiscent of the summer of 2009. 

Thursday October 5 was the official ground-breaking for the 'McDonald Family YMCA'. Instead of a shovel, a time capsule would mark the event. The GDNA was invited to add something. A protected copy of our letter of support to City Council was chosen, along with a photo of the volunteer crew from the spring 2017 cleanup of St. Andrew's Playground to show the neighbours in favour of a community centre and physical facility. Cheers to the McDonald Family for their philanthropy!

Toronto City Council will decide today on whether homeowners can keep up to four hens in their backyard. However, roosters will not be permitted due to their potential noise. Obviously this concern arises from Councillors who have no idea  what level of noise residents in Ward 20 endure long before the dawn on a regular basis. Crowing might be a nice change.

T O Leather Store from Spadina & Camden was present at the CNE, a nice surprise.

The artist of this piece of functional street art has completed her work, and Spadina is more colourful as a result!