After looking at our community’s needs the BIA Office has decided to develop the idea of a Farmers’ Market.

There are a number of locations and dates we are considering but we need the input of our members and community members to truly understand the best timing and placement of a weekly market. We would like to implement this project in May and have it run until late September if enough farmers show interest.

We are currently considering the following locations,

• The Green P Lot East of Oakwood
• The Green P Lot West of Oakwood
• The lot behind the new Omni Jeweler

If you feel there we are overlooking an obvious location contact let us know.

As for timing, we would like to keep the inaugural schedule light: hosting our market once a week. There are individuals who feel an early morning market would work best while others feel an afternoon to evening market would fit our community better. What is your opinion?

This is an exciting prospect, bringing farmers into our community giving our residences and business owners access to farm-fresh produce grown close to home. Any input you would like to provide is welcomed.

That day everyone has been waiting for since New Year’s is fast approaching. St. Patrick’s Day, when everyone is Irish and all the beer is green (unless you’re a purist).

What a better place to celebrate than in Toronto’s International Market? With our many restaurants and bars, our little piece of Eglinton Avenue West is perfect for claiming a barstool and enjoying a pint with your friends or traverse our community with a pub-crawl.

Afraid of being dubbed the group’s designated driver? You’re in luck! We’re mere minutes from the Eglinton West subway station, making driving a thing of the past! Hop on the TTC and enjoy a carefree evening… until the bill arrives

What are you waiting for? Join us for St. Patrick’s Day!

Here is a preliminary map of where the new Light Rail Transit Stations (shaded in red) will be located within our BIA.

Click for full-size image

It might be too small to see the legend, but the little red rectangles represent stairways while the blue ones represent vents.

This is an exciting opportunity for our area as it will give everyone the ability to travel from Pearson to Kennedy Road! Imagine how much easier your life will be when this is completed!

The BIA Office has made contacts in Transit City and will be working with them to develop this project so it has a minimal impact on our shops, landlords and tenants. If you have any concerns or if you would like more information please contact the BIA Office, we’ll be happy to help you out!

Members of the BIA & Festival Event committee, Jades Hip Hop Academy, Jay Davis and the crowd giving off nothing but positive energy!!

We had a bit of rain at the beginning but that did not stop the event and day from being a great success!!

LOOKIN GOOD GUYS!!!

Over the weekend the International Market hosted the Jane’s Walk and it was a great success!

A bit of info on the Jane’s Walk and the legacy of Jane Jacobs.

Jane’s Walk is a simple idea that can be adapted to all kinds of different communities and settings. Some tours look at urbanism and the built environment; some wind their way through parks and ravines; some introduce walkers to vibrant street life; and some focus on a neighbourhood’s social history and hidden stories.

The life and work of Jane Jacobs, a Toronto resident from 1968 until her death in 2006, continue to inspire citizens and planners to look closely at how people live, work and play in their urban environment. First published in 1961, Jane Jacobs’ classic book The Death and Life of the Great American Cities was based on the day-to-day observation of street life in diverse city neighbourhoods. Jane Jacobs’ eye was always at ground level, and she felt strongly that no grand planning scheme could substitute for an understanding of people’s everyday experience of the city. For her, the best way to get to know parks, sidewalks and streets was on foot. As she put it. As she put it “You’ve got to get out and walk”

The second annual International Street Festival is fast approaching and we are excited to give you all a heads up of the great entertainment we have lined up!!

The second annual International Street Festival is fast approaching and we are excited to give you all a heads up of the great entertainment we have lined up!!

Here is a short BIO on the Artist

Described as dynamic and sensational, with the versatility and range that defies restriction to any one genre. Steele is as captivating in his handling of R&B material as he is with soul, reggae, gospel, classical, and jazz. Born in Lucea Jamaica, Steele’s inspiration comes from his parents who sang on the church choir, where he too began singing at the tender age of 10. At age 11 he had developed an affinity for the drums, noting that he was attracted to the physical appeal of this instrument. At 14, Steele entered the Herbert Morrison High School in Montego Bay, and it became clear that a career in music was imminent. He joined the school’s reggae band Mystic Force, which consisted of some of today’s well-respected musicians, Bengy Myaz, Paul Kastic, and Michael Stevens.

Steele’s first taste of success came with his recording of Stevie Wonder’s “Ribbon in the Sky”, produced by veteran singer and producer Tristan Palmer, but before the songs full potential could be realized, Steele had to migrate to Toronto, Canada. This however did not stop his continued quest to achieve greatness while living in a reggae market normally ignored by the rest of the world, his persistence has definitely paid off. He has broken the barrier. Steele is now regarded as the most consistent reggae artist to call Canada home, his music transcends all ages, gender and color. He has made an indelible imprint on the reggae music-loving audiences with appearances at various venues in most major cities in Canada. Steele has performed to rave reviews at the Montreal International Reggae Festival, the Jamaica Day Celebration held in Toronto and the Calgary Reggae Festival, just to name a few. He has appeared internationally performing in Africa to an audience in excess of 20,000 and is now starting to create a storm with his live performances in Jamaica. Steele has performed on shows such as Rebel Salute, regarded as Jamaica’s biggest one day cultural reggae event, and has blessed the annual Peter Tosh Birthday Celebration, with his standout showmanship and charisma.