The Dig In Weblog

DIG IN initiates inclusive community and cultural plans and actions that will contribute to sustaining a neighbourhood that is GREEN • CLEAN • SAFE • CIVIL by fostering improvements in the areas of its social, environment, cultural, economic and physical make up. Please join our Mailing List / Yahoo Group.

Friday, December 21, 2007

A message from DIG IN chair Donna Cowan

When people come together we have the power to do extraordinary things.

2007 was a very successful year for DIG IN and the Bloor-Lansdowne community.

There is one reason for our success. YOU! It was your work and support that made this year's tremendous accomplishments possible. It is because of YOU that we are on our way to making this the best neighbourhood in Toronto.

I would like to thank each and every one of you for your donations and for all the time you have contributed to DIG IN projects.

DIG IN doesn't do it alone. We are lucky to work closely with other groups including the Toronto Lansdowne Residents' Association, Humanize Bloordale, the Dufferin Grove Residents' Association and the newly formed South Junction Triangle Residents' Association.

DIG IN is also grateful for the co-operation and support it gets from Adam Giambrone's office, the Bloordale Business Improvement Association and Toronto Police, 14 Division. And of course, there are DIG IN's usual suspects who volunteer for everything from setting up tables for holiday parties to delivering flyers night after night. We thank all of you and are proud that you serve our community.

This past year DIG IN organized several very successful events. Whether big or small, our projects brought people together and made Bloor-Lansdowne a better place to live. This past year…

  • We hosted the SPLASH party in July—which literally cleaned up Bloor St.
  • We put on Bloor NIGHTLIGHT - an all-night art show featuring the beauty and transformative power of light. Our exhibition was a vital part Toronto's annual Nuit Blanche. Bloor NIGHTLIGHT showed off the spirit and talent found in our community to the thousands of visitors who came to Bloor-Lansdowne that evening.
  • We arranged to have GREENFORCE, a show on HGTV, help us transform a part of our “concrete jungle” into a beautiful mini urban oasis at Dupont and St. Clarens. The result is a gorgeous garden that local resident’s will be able to enjoy for years to come.
  • DIG IN members have had several productive meetings with police and local officials in an effort to improve this area's quality of life
  • DIG IN helped organize a well-attended community safety audit with MLS, Toronto Hydro and Toronto police, 14 Division
  • Along with Adam Giambrone's office and the Bloordale BIA we organized a winter holiday party that collected much needed donations for Savard's women's shelter
  • We have the DIG IN Dining Group—which visits and supports our fabulous local restaurants regularly.
We’ve come a long way but we still have further to go. Working as a team we CAN continue to improve this neighbourhood.

For 2008 we already have some exciting new events planned. Starting in February and running once each month, we will be having a local film festival with screenings and discussion at Bloor Collegiate auditorium.

Come out and support us!

And mark your calendars! On June 21 st –we plan to kick off the 1st day of summer with the BIG festival! This promises to be the largest street festival ever held on Bloor. It will be an all-day celebration lasting from 11am til 11pm. We are still looking for people and groups to be part of this ambitious event. Here’s your chance to perform—all you musicians, dancers, creative artists. You can also sell your wares at sales tables, promote your group or sports teams or gardening club. We want restaurants to participate and show off the outstanding cuisine this neighbourhood has to offer. The possibilities are endless.

Let’s show the rest of Toronto how a neighbourhood festival is done! Let's make ours a FUN, exciting & safe event for all!

Again THANK YOU all for your contributions to our success.

Finally, I’d like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season and a wonderful new year! See you in 2008.

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Thursday, December 20, 2007

Last Night's Party

Last nights party looks to have been a success. Dyan Marie writes:

Sarvard's staff was was deeply moved by our efforts saying this is the first experience they have ever had where the local community worked together to do something nice for them. (We gave stacks of useful gifts) A woman that lives at Savard's stated that she appreciated that we were seeing past appearances and several offered if they could give back - to do volunteer work it we needed any help.

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Tuesday, December 18, 2007

A Winter Scene


The View From Balcony, originally uploaded by funkaoshi.

You can see the houses on St. Helens and the Bloorline Lofts, which were at one time a mattress factory.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Looking for a Few Good Carolers

A small group of people are meeting up at Campbell Park this Saturday (the 15th) at 3:00PM to go caroling in the neighbourhood. Everyone is welcome to attend and participate. The more the merrier. This event coincides with Campbell Park's opening day party, so you get to double your fun.

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Wednesday, December 12, 2007

A Ward 18 Christmas Party

Come join Councillor Adam Giambrone, your friends, and neighbours for a holiday party in our community. Help us celebrate all the progress we've made toward making this an even better community and donate to a local women's shelter. The party is: Wednesday, December 19th from 6:30 to 8:30 at Bloor Collegiate Institute (1141 Bloor Street West). Snacks and refreshments will be served. Unwrapped gifts such as sheets, blankets, towels and other necessities are appreciated but not necessary. The party is being hosted by Councillor Adam Giambrone, DIG IN and Bloordale BIA.

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Tuesday, December 11, 2007

DIG IN Meeting Tonight

There is a DIG IN Meeting tonight at the Ambrico Room in the Wallace Emerson Community Centre (1260 Dufferin Street West side, just south of Dupont). On the agenda is:

  1. HOLIDAY CAROLING - details to be discussed
  2. HOLIDAY PARTY - Donations and volunteers still needed
  3. THE BIG FESTIVAL update
  4. DIG IN DOC SCREENING SERIES
  5. Adjourn to Toto's Pizzeria & Trattoria (1627 Dupont @ Edwin)

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Friday, December 7, 2007

Caribbean Queen of Patties

What a colourful photo. The Caribbean Queen of Patties is the best place to get Jamaican patties in the city.

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

BIG Meeting Tonight

There is a BIG meeting tonight at Bloor CI in the cafeteria.

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Monday, December 3, 2007

Are strip clubs losing their sex appeal?

The Globe and Mail asks, " Are strip clubs losing their sex appeal?"

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