We’re Counting on Your Support this Season

November 24, 2022 by Creating Together

“I bring my son and baby here every week to learn, play, and teach my children. If it wasn’t for this place I don’t know where I would take my children or get the help I need.”
– Parent

We have received some lovely messages from current and past families since we launched our fundraising campaign earlier this month. They have been wonderful reminders of our many community connections, as Creating Together has been supporting families in Parkdale since 1976. With your help, we can continue to offer high quality, accessible support and services to our community into the future!

Please consider making a donation in support of our program through our Canada Helps page.

Curious about how many families drop in each month? Here’s a look at Creating Together by the numbers:

Our community continues to grow – we love seeing new and familiar faces each week!

With over 1,000 visits monthly, we will direct some funds raised towards hiring additional program staff to keep up with our growing community. We hope we can count on your support in the coming weeks!

This Holiday Season, We Need Your Support

November 24, 2022 by Creating Together

Dear Creating Together Friends and Family,

We are eager to announce that we will be participating in Giving Tuesday on November 29! Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement which unleashes the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. We hope you will join us in supporting our meaningful work on this exciting occasion.

As you know, in September 2022 Creating Together had to relocate from our longtime home at Queen and Sorauren, and we are thrilled to have found a new space at Queen and Brock. With this move comes new challenges: increased rent and a greater demand for our services, and therefore a need for renovations to our space and additional staff support.

Our sunny program space at 1342 Queen Street West.

This holiday season, your support will go towards:
– Renovations to our community kitchen, allowing a fully functioning nutrition program including healthy snacks and hands-on baking and cooking programs for families
– Accessibility upgrades, including to the office, washroom and front door
– Hiring additional program staff, ensuring the ideal level of support and service to match the increased demand that our centre is experiencing.

There are several ways to give, and we are happy to provide charitable tax receipts:

~ Single gifts or Monthly donations through Canada Helps.

~ Host a fundraiser as part of your birthday celebrations, school bake sale, or workplace gathering

~ Designate your United Way contributions to Creating Together using our charitable number

~ Corporate partnerships. For more information, contact our Resource Development Manager today at patty-creatingfamiliestogether@rogers.com

We have been serving the families of Parkdale since 1976, and with your help, we can continue to offer accessible support and services to our community into the future.

From everyone at Creating Together, THANK YOU in advance for your support.

Welcome to Our New Space!

October 24, 2022 by Eliza Martin

Let’s Take a Tour!

This past September we threw open our doors and welcomed families into our brand new space at 1342 Queen Street West. Whether you’ve been to the program in person, or are considering joining us for the first time, here on the blog we’d like to offer you a brief tour of our new space.

Come on in!

The first thing you’ll notice when you enter our bright centre, is a sign-in station on your right. Be sure to sign in, remove your outdoor shoes and gear, and place it away using the cubbies or the hooks. We encourage families to travel light, and fold strollers whenever possible.

We encourage child-led play here at Creating Together. Your child may choose from any number of areas and materials to explore in the centre. Here are a few areas you’ll notice:

Circle Time Area

This window-facing area is used for circle-time gatherings throughout our program, and provides a nice cushioned place for infants to crawl!

Art Table

You can find art activities and materials at the back of the centre. An activity is set out on the table every program day, along with accessible art materials on the shelf. Come express yourself – we are all artists!

Dramatic Play Area

A multitude of materials are available in this area to encourage imagination and dramatic play! In early stages, the dramatic play you’ll begin to notice will focus on imitating every day behaviours, before moving into more formalized pretend play. For this reason many of our dramatic play materials are modeled after objects your child may interact with on an every day basis.

Cozy Nook

This window seat features a number of materials for your child to choose from as they enjoy the stimulating Queen Street view! Curl up with a book or a puzzle, or make use of our city-scape carpet!

Climber

There are many opportunities for gross motor development and play in our program. Our developmentally appropriate climber is a very popular feature at Creating Together.

Sensory Play

Our sensory play changes often, and may feature activities such as sand play, water play, themed sensory play, or other sensory material exploration.

Snack Table/Table Activities

Our 11:00am healthy snack time takes place at the tables in the back of the centre. Outside of snack, these tables will have many different activities placed on them, before being sanitized for eating.

Shelves

Our centre has a number of shelves which remain open and accessible for children. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Feel free to pull an activity or book off of a shelf. All we ask is that after use, the activity is returned to its spot and any mouthed items are placed in the mouthed toys bin!

Information Boards and Displays

We have several information boards and displays around the centre which are updated with helpful community information, as well as centre information. Check back often!

Toy Resource Library

Did you know that we have a toy resource library? Located by the office, the toy resource library is full of exciting materials which you can sign out, and enjoy with your child at home. Feel free to ask a staff for the toy resource binder to sign out materials!

You’re welcome to pour yourself a cup of coffee or tea using our self-serve cart by the office. Hardworking parents and caregivers need to stay caffeinated! Amiright?

Washrooms and change tables can be found in the back of the centre to the right of our office.

Hi Zalikha!

Be sure to greet our hard working manager, Zalikha, as you pass her desk!

That’s The Tour!

Don’t forget to sign out before you leave!

Thanks for stopping by…

Get Outside with Parkdale FitPlay!

January 27, 2021 by Melanie

Getting children outside to enjoy time for free play in natural environments increases attentions spans, creative thought, and the desire to learn through exploration (https://www.asla.org/ContentDetail.aspx?id=39558). It also helps their motor, sensory, social and cognitive development – and is great for their general health and well-being (https://www.learningpotential.gov.au/the-benefits-of-outdoor-play).

Finding ways to be active in colder winter months can be challenging, and even more so with physical and social distancing measures in place. The Parkdale Village BIA is proud to support a local community initiative; Parkdale FitPlay! The Parkdale FitPlay Campaign provides a fun affordable way for Parkdalians to be active outdoors safely throughout the winter months. Kicking-off on Wednesday, January 27 for 4 weeks, and with the support of local fitness leaders and personalities from Parkdale’s diverse Black / BIPOC communities, you’re invited to get outside, get fit and have fun!!

Challenge yourself and you could win a prize!

The FitPlay

Community members are encouraged to visit designated public park locations and participate in self-led physical exercise and play, inspired by the FitPlay letter key.

How it works

Each letter of the alphabet, A to Z, is associated with a simple exercise most can perform some variation of safely. E.g. A = 10 high knees on the spot.
Participants self-select a word or phrase and perform the exercises associated with each letter. E.g. P A R K D A L E = 10 squats, 10 high knees on the spot, etc.

Mix up your FitPlay by choosing a new word, a new park or a new challenge each time and invite your Parkdale friends and neighbours to do the same!

Here is What You Need To Do

Video tape yourself, children or family doing some physical activity in a park near you
Upload your video on the dedicated Parkdale FitPlay Facebook event page and Instagram page
Personalize your post! (eg., “Hey Parkdale Friends! I’m so excited to be part of the Parkdale FitPlay – a fun way to be active outdoors safely through the winter! I just FitPlayed at (name of park) and am challenging you to do the same! Take a break, get outside, get outside, get moving then tag a friend! Follow @parkdalefitplay for the exercise key, demo videos, chances to win and more!

FitPlayed on Facebook

FitPlayed on Instagram

Full Details

ParkdaleFitPlay-Poster Download

FitPlay Contest Details (Article by Anna Bartula)

Hashtags: #parkdalefitplay
Instagram/Facebook Tags: @parkdafitplay @supafitmama

Summer Fun in the Hood

July 4, 2019 by Melanie

Looking for some fun things to do with your child / children this month? Well, one of the beautiful things about Toronto is that it sure has a lot to offer families. Here are just a few things happening in our neighbourhood:

Pop-up Skatepark Saturdays at Ontario Place

This skatepark made of Freshpark ramps offers quarter pipes, rails, and fun boxes complete with an awesome view of the CN Tower!

Have your own skate gear? The skatepark is open daily from 10am – 6pm. If you need to rent gear or interested in taking a lesson, CJ’s Skatepark staff will be onsite every Saturday between 12-5pm to offer up some great lessons!

Magic with Scott Dietrich at the High Park Public Library

On Wednesday, July 17th from 2-3pm, popular and award winning Toronto magician Scott Dietrich comes to the High Park Public Library to put on a magic show for ages 12 and under and their caregivers.

Drop in, however space is limited. Large groups and camps should contact High Park branch in advance.

Art in the Park: An Outdoor Painting Event for Parent and Child

For children 6yrs old and their caregiver(s), “Art in the Park” is a 3 part series presented by Mama Soul Living. The event, held July 13th in High Park, will be coupled parent and child creating art together on one canvas. This event for the child will be Fun, Creative and for the parent, Connected, intimate. Both will get to know eachother at an equal level.

Both of you will have fun! and create art together!

Star Wars Day

This free event, held at the Toronto Public Library at 228 Roncesvalles on July 25th from 2-3pm, invites all those over 6yrs of age and their caregivers to come in costumes and celebrate all things Star Wars!

Museum of Contemporary Art

“Life of a Dead Tree” by Mark Dion is an exhibit that brings attention to our role in observing and caring for Ontario’s natural ecosystems. With the support of the Faculty of Forestry at the University of Toronto and other partners, visitors can observe and participate in a kind-of autopsy of the tree that will unfold over the course of a two-month exhibition period. This shared investigation will remove, preserve and document all the various life forms the tree continues to support.

Most importantly, the project will act as a site for conversations around specific pernicious, invasive insects threatening North American forests, such as the Emerald Ash Borer and Elm Bark Beetle. Everything from beetles to liverworts, fungi to bug galleries will be revealed during the examination.

CultureLink’s Annual Picnic in High Park

CultureLink’s Summer Picnic was an annual tradition that got lost some years ago. But we are happy to announce that we are bringing it back!

Join our family and bring yours to enjoy a BBQ and an afternoon of outdoor fun. Food, drinks and games on us. All you have to do is RSVP(*) and count the days to July 27th. We’ll be at High Park’s Picnic Area #14, across the road from the Outdoor Pool. See you there!