WBS and Yale Alumni tidy up Fieldhouse gardens

Ray (from Yale), Jen, Karen, Helena and Mary cleaning out the weeds

In what’s becoming an annual tradition, Toronto members of the Yale University Alumni joined WBS volunteers to help tidy up the flourishing garden around the Sorauren Fieldhouse on May 12.

Every year, Yale declares a worldwide “Yale Day of Service” in which local alumni volunteer for neighbourhood projects. This is the third year a Yale group has helped out at Sorauren, such that the garden around the Fieldhouse is becoming known as the “Yale garden.”

Thanks to the volunteers for helping to weed, prune and spread a new layer of wood chips. Thanks to park supervisor Daniel Vala and his crew at Parks, Forestry and Recreation for providing the wood chips and support. Thanks to Jen Kowalski and Mary Tremain for leading the day. See you in the garden next year!

Kara and Tannis from the Yale alumni

Jen, Jean (from Yale), Ray and Sara sprucing up the front garden on Wabash

It’s a path again

Don’t miss Artists from the Hood May 11 – 13 in support of WBS

Mark your calendars: Artists from the Hood is a special three-day art show in the beautiful upstairs gallery space above Pizzeria Defina on Roncesvalles… with 15% of all proceeds donated to the Wabash Building Society for the Sorauren Park Town Square fund.

You’re invited to this special event taking place May 11 to 13 upstairs at the restaurant, 321 Roncesvalles, between Geoffrey and Grenadier:

Opening Reception: Friday, May 11, 7 – 10 pm
Saturday 12 – 6 pm
Sunday 12 – 4 pm

Our thanks to artists Catherine Beaudette, Maihyet Burton, Michael Gerry, Frances Patella, and James Ridyard… come see their work and bring your chequebook!

Big thanks also to organizer Michael Craig of the Sunnyside Community Association, and Pizzeria Defina owner Roksolana Curkowskyj. See you there!

Campaign reaches half-way point with $20,000 raised

Toronto residents continue to show their generosity and desire to expand Sorauren Avenue Park, with donations to the Sorauren Town Square community fund now at $20,000.

A donation from local real estate agent Chander Chaddah has brought the fund to the half-way mark after four months of campaigning. Thank you Chander!

Construction of the new Town Square is expected to begin in 2013. The “town square” will occupy the now vacant land between the Fieldhouse and the abandoned linseed oil factory along Wabash Avenue, and will add new green space, 31 more trees, gardens, picnic tables, performance space, and a pizza/bake oven.

You can donate online or by cheque and all donations over $10 receive a charitable tax receipt. The community fund will leverage funding from other sources… every dollar counts!

Metrolinx donates $1,000 to Town Square fund for bike rings

Metrolinx, the provincial agency that runs GO Transit and coordinates regional transit, has donated $1,000 to the Sorauren Park Town Square fund as part of its Community Partnership fund.

The donation will be used to purchase 12 bike rings for the Town Square expansion of Sorauren Park. Improving bicycle infrastructure is part of Metrolinx’s mandate.

The bike rings have been manufactured and will be installed next year during Town Square construction. Thanks Metrolinx!

More than $16,500 raised for Town Square

Thanks to generous community donors—individuals, families, businesses—the Sorauren Town Square community campaign has raised more than $16,500 to date.

And the family of Chris, Samantha, Patrick, Camilla & ‘Bump’ Parsons has won “Temagami Shadow,” an original artwork donated by artist Susan Farquhar to help the campaign. Thank you!

The community goal is $40,000, while the Wabash Building Society is working with other foundations and organizations to raise more funds through grants and donations.

Every dollar counts and leverages more funding… construction target is 2013. All donations over $10 will receive a charitable tax receipt, and donations of $100 or more will be recognized on the donor wall. You can donate online or by cheque. Donate today!

The Grid writes about Wabash

The Grid weekly newspaper has published an excellent article on the history and potential for the old linseed oil factory on the Wabash site, the focus of efforts to create the new community centre.

The article is part of the paper’s Derelict Delights weekly series, where it looks at abandoned buildings begging for revitalization.

Writer Shelley White interviewed Gary Miedema, chief historian for Heritage Toronto: “The former Canada Linseed Oil Mills building has tremendous potential, says Miedema. For one thing, it’s located in the heart of a bustling, growing neighbourhood in need of community facilities. As well, the hundred-year-old property tells a story about Toronto’s industrial and manufacturing heritage.”

Miedema points out that though the building is solid concrete, it is deteriorating with time. The brilliant 2009 Green Feasibility Study by Oleson Worland_Taylor Smyth Architects in joint venture outlined a revitalization plan that is the ultimate goal of the Wabash Building Society.

Thanks to Gary Miedema, Shelley White and The Grid!

Win art with your donation

Temagami Shadow by Susan Farquhar

Local artist Susan Farquhar has generously donated her work, “Temagami Shadow,” to the Sorauren Park Town Square campaign. Every donation of $100 or more between now and Feb. 28 will be entered into a draw to win this beautiful mixed-media work.

“Temagami Shadow” is 8″ x 8″ x 1.5″ (20 cm x 20 cm x 4 cm). It is a collage on canvas of photos, drawings printed on Japanese paper, papercuts and a little painting and texture added.

You can learn more about Susan at www.susanfarquhar.ca or see her Facebook page where she provided a similar work, “Northern Minute,” for the Daily Bread Foodbank.

All donations over $10 to the Town Square campaign will receive a charitable tax receipt. All donations of $100 or more will also be recognized on the virtual donor wall and the permanent wall to be erected on site. Every dollar counts and leverages funding from other sources. Help us reach our community goal of $40,000.

You can donate online through the Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation (100% of your donation is transferred to the Town Square fund) or by cheque.

Help build the new Town Square!

Help expand Sorauren Park into some of the former industrial land by tearing down the fence with the development of the new Sorauren Town Square.

With construction targeted for 2013, the Town Square will occupy the now vacant land between the Sorauren Park Fieldhouse and the old linseed factory. It will include a pizza/bake oven, more trees, gardens, picnic areas, benches, and a stage area for performances and events, using the naturally sloping land up to the dog park as an amphitheatre.

Just like our successful campaign to build the Sorauren Fieldhouse, your tax-deductible, charitable donation will make it happen! Every dollar leverages funds from other sources. The City of Toronto does not have enough resources to complete the project on its own.

You can donate online or by cheque. All donations over $10 will receive a tax-deductible receipt. All donations of $100 or more will be recognized on the virtual donor wall and the permanent donor wall to be erected on the site.

Town Square plan by Alex Mut, Parks, Forestry & Recreation, based on community input

A new site for the Wabash Building Society

Hi, thanks for visiting this site. We’re rebuilding to serve you better. If you’re looking for information from the old site, check the Archives or contact us at dbennet-at-sympatico.ca.

To visit SoraurenPark.com, the operational web site for Sorauren Avenue Park in Toronto, click here.