Riverside AGM Theme “ Embracing Ignite 2015 Community Partnership and getting ready for 2015 when the eyes of the world will be on us”

 

 

“Riverside is ready to host the world in 2015”, claimed Mitch Korman, Chair of the Riverside Business Improvement Area (BIA) as he welcomed an impressive guest list at their AGM held on Sept 30, 2014 at the Royal Canadian Curling Club.  The highlight was a special announcement by MPP Tabuns and Councillor Fletcher awarding  2 Ontario IgniteTO Grants totally $20,000 for the October 25, 2014 Riverside WalkFEST and the June 2015 Riverside Eats & Beats StreetFEST.

Councillor Fletcher and MPP Tabuns announcing Riverside IgniteTO Funding

Councillor Fletcher and MPP Tabuns announcing Riverside IgniteTO Funding

MPP Tabuns stated ”The 2015 Games will be the largest international multi-sport event this country has ever hosted and we are proud to be part of the Host community.  The Riverside BIA has a track record of community leadership and involvement and we are pleased to help Riverside embrace the Ignite 2015 status.”  Councillor Fletcher, exclaimed “I’m always proud to support local businesses, and the Riverside BIA has an exceptional history of delivering signature events, like WalkFEST and Eats & Beats. This partnership with the PanAm Games is a terrific initiative to showcase this very special neighbourhood, the gateway to the east end, when the eyes of the world are on Toronto.”

 

In addition to BIA members, MPP Tabuns, Councillor Fletcher; senior reps from the Pan Am / Para Pan Am games and city staff in attendance including, Aaron Glynwilliams, Senior Manager, External Partnerships at Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games Organizing Committee  Pan Am, James Gen Meers, Executive Director Pan Am Path, Brent Chamberlain, Chair, Pan Am Path;  John Kiru;  President of TABIA;  Mike Major ,Marianne Szczuryk and Michael Bertuzzi from  City of Toronto Economic Development & Culture;  John Rishworth, Shop the Neighbourhood and more

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John Rishworth, Mike Major and John Kiru at the Riverside AGM

MPP Tabuns introduced  Aaron Glynwilliams who outlined the scope and legacy of the Pan Am /Parapan Am Games  – with a special mention of the CIBC Athlete’s Village immediately to the East of Riverside.  During the Games, over 10,000 Athletes and officials will be staying in DownTown Toronto.  Riverside will be hosting thousands of visitors who want a local Toronto Flavor.

Audience watching Presentations at Riverside AGM

Audience watching Presentations at Riverside AGM

 

Councillor Fletcher welcomed Brent Chamberlain, Executive Director-Friends of the Pan Am Path.  Brent, lives in Riverside and runs on the PanAm trail regularly and shared the short and long term plans for the 80+km PanAm Trail, which runs through Riverside, and has an entrance  off Queen Street to the Lower Don Recreational Trail

Brent Chamberlain - Chair of the PanAm Path presenting at Riverside AGM

Brent Chamberlain – Chair of the PanAm Path presenting at Riverside AGM

 

The Riverside BIA has been operating as Community Partner with the PanAm/ Para Pan Am games for over 4 months, having previously been awarded Ignite 2015 Community Partner Status.  However, it wasn’t until last week that the BIA received confirmation that they were also awarded a grant for 2 BIA Festivals.  The Riverside WalkFEST planning has been underway for several months, and are now able to significantly expand  outreach and programming.

 

At the AGM, BIA Board members showcased their 2014 accomplishments and outlined 2015 plans which will further help Riverside host the world.  Rachel Conduit, chair of the Streetscape committee presented details for the completion of the 3 year Riverside Bridge Gateway Capital Project.  Rachel received unanimous approval for this plan and announced that the lighting will be installed on Oct 25th.   With the Riverside Branding and wayfinding marker installed in early 2015.  The project would be complete well in advance of the PanAm games.   Rachel thanked the sponsors:  Streetcar Development, Hullmark Development, Harhey Developments, Ashlar Urban Realty.  Rachel thanked Councillor Fletcher for securing Public Realm funding and supporting the release of Section 37 funds.  Rachel noted that this project would not happen without City of Toronto Economic Development and Culture project leadership and 50/50 grants and thanked Mike Major, Marianne Szczuryk and Raj Kumar.

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Rick Aulier of An Sibin Pub presented the annual Riverside AGM Streetscape award of excellence.  An Sibin was the winner in 2013, and was thrilled to announce there was a tie for 2014 – the recipients are – newcomer The County General, and long standing member Baird MacGregor.  The County was recognized for transforming the corner of Bolton and Queen with their beautiful patio, planters and benches – all of which Bobby has designed, implemented and maintains.  Beyond the exterior, just this week they installed a behind the bar mural of a historical map of the neighbourhood – please pop in and see it.  Baird MacGregor has long been an anchor for the BIA’s East side.  Their seasonal planters have no rival, and this past year, they remodeled their east curb side  to provide ample parking space for employees and customers.  Congratulations.

An Sibin provided Guiness Stew at Riverside AGM - YUMM

An Sibin provided Guiness Stew at Riverside AGM – YUMM

 

Marianne Szczuryk facilitated the Board Election.  Chair Mitch Korman was delighted to report that 8 of the 9 board members planned to return.  Returning members are:  Dale Sonier, Mia Sturup, Adrienne McRuvie, Adam Meery, Rosie Little Jefarres, Aly Damji, Natasha Varjacic and Mitch Korman.  Saeed Mohammed has stepped down, and Mitch thanked Saeed for his long standing service.  Athena Towers-Perrin of The Opera House stepped up to replace Saeed. The members unanimously approved the new board.

 

Closing remarks included impromptu remarks and accolades to the Riverside BIA from Mike Majors, Manager of Economic Development and Culture.  Mike claimed that “Riverside BIA is an example to all other BIA’s and they set the standard for the quality and quantity of work they do, and the community relationships”  Jim Rishworth of Shop the Neighbourhood exclaimed that Riverside was “the most successful” Taste the Neighbourhood Tour during their inaugural Toronto Promotion.  The Riverside Tour was the first one to sell out – and in less than 24 hours.

 

Mitch Korman concluded by thanking Rick Aulier and AnSibin for the delicious Guiness Stew and Curry the members enjoyed and recognized Brian McAndrew of the Royal Canadian Curling Club as our host. Brian shared with the group that on this day in 1929, the RCCC first opened.  He also announced that in 2015 the RCCC will also be welcoming the world LGBT bonspiel in March, and the RCCC will proclaim for one day to have a PanAm Bonspiel for the annual Riverside BIA bonspiel.  Mitch said that the BIA looks forward to this.  Mitch acknowledged the tireless and outstanding efforts of Perry Lupyrypa – Executive Director and Anjuli Solanki – Marketing and Public Programs Director and adjourned the meeting.

 

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Megan Sheppard’s

There’s something about Megan!!!

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 Megan Sheppard is a Realtor but not your conventional kind. She stems from three generations of realtors serving the Riverdale, Leaside, Leslieville and the Beaches neighborhood. Her father Kent Sheppard, who is the most important influence in her career as a Realtor is one of the founders and owners of RE/MAX Hallmark.

She describes the core of what she does as transforming clients’ lives from one stage to another; with a host of clients ranging from first time buyers to seniors. Her innate ability to communicate and care about people gave her the inspiration to collaborate with the Riverside IGNITE 2015 WalkFEST to organize Megan’s Boot and Coat Drive.

Megan came up with this idea while driving her clients and noticed that there were a lot of homeless people without shoes or mismatched shoes. This inspired her not only to collect boots but also coats for the fall and winter seasons. Giving back is very important to Megan because of her belief of “Paying it forward” and her endless love for people across all walks of life.

Besides her career as a Real Estate agent, she is also a certified Massage Therapist and Yoga instructor, a world traveler and loves to collect rocks. Her dream in life is to someday open a retreat centre.

You can connect with Megan directly here

Find out more about Megan’s Boot and Coat Drive and other Riverside WalkFEST events here

Get Fit Body & Soul on the Fitness Fun Walk

8am- 10am: Fitness Fun Walk
STARTS @ Oma Chiropractic (1 Munro Street)
ENDS @ Chi Junky (70 McGee Street)

 

On October 25 wake up early and get refreshed body and soul with a taster of Riverside’s Health and Wellness options, by not just hearing about them, but experiencing the practice first hand.

If you have been meaning to do something for yourself and get mentally and physically backin shape, this is the walk for you.  Led by Rachelle Wintzen-  RYT, CNP,  and Founder of  Chi Junky Wellness Concierge & Private Yoga Studio. Rachelle is a featured expert in Chatelaine, Best Health Magazine and many other media publications. Chi Junky specializes in personalized, convenient semi-private classes and services to get you addicted to your health!

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On this rejuvenating  walk  Rachel will start you off at  Oma Chiropractic where Adrienne Mc Ruvie  will lead mindfull stretching and start off your morning by building your health by releasing tension. Adrienne in addition to being a Chiropractor, she is also trained as a Reflexolgist, Reiki Therapist and Yoga teacher, and she integrates these wellness methods into her practice.

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EnergyXchange is another key stop along the way where participants will have a mini-fitness workshop. EnergyXchange is known as the Un-gym, they are a cutting-edge fitness clinic that pairs amazing instructors with dynamic classes to help keep your mind and your muscles guessing.

Chi junky

The last stop on this Fitness Fun Walk is the newly opened Chi Junky. Designed for busy people looking for a healthy change, Chi Junky makes achieving total wellness simple, accessible and realistic. Think of them as your one-stop shop for clean living. No more commuting, guesswork, stress or excuses when it comes to your health.

In addition to a great start to your weekend, you’ll get treated to special promotions and complimentary guilt-free snacks & beverages offered at each stop. Participants get a swag bag full of goodies and a raffle prize, and  you could be one of the few to get the highly coveted Riverside T-shirt. Plus, top this walk with breakfast treats from  holistic chef, Anushka from  nushnosh.

Sign up for this walk and check out others here: button-register

 

Riverside is proud to be a TO2015 IGNITE community partner.

Riverside WalkFEST is supported by Ontario Ignite

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New Book on History in Riverside from Author Elizabeth Gillian Muir!

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Author is one of the many words one could use to describe Elizabeth Gillian Muir. She is also an educator, researcher, key-note speaker, and volunteer. Living in Toronto, Elizabeth is a retired professor of Canadian Studies at the University of Waterloo and Women’s Studies at the University of Toronto. Having graduated from Queen’s University (Honours BA for English), McGill (BTh, PhD), and Harvard Business School (HRPBA), Elizabeth has had an abundance of experience in the world of education, making her an incredibly knowledgable woman in a variety of areas.

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From the book: “John Bright and his family lived in this frame house on Queen Street East, west of Broadview Avenue, built in the 1830s next door to the Bank of Commerce” – From a watercolour by John Wesley Cotton. Photo: Toronto Reference Library, JRR 909

Her interest in writing sparked when she was very young, having a piece published in Children’s Life Magazine at the age of ten, and she continued on to write material ranging from children’s books to adult nonfiction. When Elizabeth first moved from Ottawa to Toronto, she lived on De Grassi St., making her familiar with the Riverside area. When Dundurn Press asked her to write the history of Riverdale, her jouney to research and write “Riverdale: East of the Don” began.

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From the book: “Detail of the 1878 map of York from the Illustrated Historical Atlas of the County of York, before Riverdale was annexed.” Photo: Toronto Reference Library

This book gives a finely detailed recount of the growth and development of Riverdale, the Riverside area being a significant part within. The book begins with the earliest settlements and prominent families in Riverdale when Riverside and Leslieville were joined in 1884, and goes on to talk about many other intriguing components of the neighbourhood’s history. This includes the struggles with pollution in the Don River and how they were overcome, various accomplishments of the women of Riverdale, and the progression in ethnic diversity and multiculturalism, something that Toronto is widely recognized for in present-day. Elizabeth also goes into deep detail on the history of the streets and buildings in Riverdale, many of which are widely-recognized in Riverside. Essentially, this is a thoroughly researched collection of history of Riverdale and, by extent, Riverside.

With WalkFEST 2014 quickly approaching, you may be able to catch Elizabeth Gillian Muir at one of our History Walk stops. And, if we’re lucky, there may be signed copies of her book available for purchase as well! Make sure to come on out and participate on October 25th!

Creatively Animating Riverside’s Transitioning Storefronts

The Riverside BIA has taken a creative approach to their transitioning storefronts – by adding art to them.

Riverside ArtsFest PATCH It Up (July 13, 2014) Nguyen (20)

Through the PATCH Project’s PATCH It Up program, Melissa Luk and Emanuel Ciobanica created new work for the Riverside community’s transitioning store fronts, during the Riverside ArtFEST held on July 13th 2014. Generously supported by the Riverside BIA, this three-paneled mural highlights the heritage of the neighbourhood by drawing inspiration from its busy business district, depicted through the artists’ whimsical aesthetic.

Riverside ArtsFest PATCH It Up (July 13, 2014) Nguyen (16)

Lead artist Melissa began the process for this mural by taking a walk through the Riverside neighbourhood, through which she was inspired by the various “visual puns” and mentally stimulating signs in the community. Some of these visuals cues run parallel to Luk’s own political and civic interests, such as an awareness of local flora and fauna, urban homesteading, gentrification, and heritage preservation. Through her artistic process, she was able to incorporate the essence of the Riverside community, without the use of common, obvious, or generic imagery.

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The Riverside BIA felt that animating transitioning storefronts, would also be a draw for new businesses, as it shows that the BIA is invested promoting the neighbourhood, and creating enjoyable streetscapes for potential customers. An active and invested BIA is one that also works to serve the businesses within it, attracting new potential businesses to the BIA.

Check out the video on the creation of this piece here