AS SUMMER DRAWS to a close and children return to school, there are a couple of things I am glad to be putting behind us. Both the civic strike and various infrastructure projects contributed to summer difficulties. Thankfully they happened over the holiday period, and many found ways around the disruptions with good grace.
Moving into the fall, I am looking forward to several exciting events and initiatives that will be coming to Ward 21. On Labour Day weekend, there will be two free outdoor Movie Nights in the Park. On Sept. 4, at 8 p.m., I will be screening a film in Laughlin Park. On Sept. 5, I will be showing Ferris Bueller’s Day Off in Cedarvale Ravine. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets!
The fall will be an exciting time for the arts. The St. Clair Artwalk will be expanding to include more open studios and an art sale along St. Clair in the Hillcrest and Wychwood Heights BIAs. In its sixth year, Artwalk showcases the great talents of local artists in our neighbourhood. This year’s festival runs on Sept. 26 and 27 and will include live music and readings.
The next weekend, on Oct. 3 and continuing until the following dawn, will be the Nuit Blanche contemporary arts festival. Nuit Blanche is one of Toronto’s premier cultural events, and this year it will be coming to Ward 21 for the first time. The Artscape Wychwood Barns will host a cluster of exhibits and performances, and St. Clair will be abuzz.
Whether it’s the weekly WychCraft market at St. Michael’s and all Angels Church, the galleries of Eglinton Avenue and Spadina Road, the studios of the Wychwood Barns or one of our annual festivals, the creativity and artistic expression of local residents is one of the many reasons that I am so proud to represent Ward 21.
