Wednesday, April 30, 2014

CONTACT 2014 Photography in the Junction: Identity
Opening Receptions on Saturday, May 3rd

Poster: Photography in the Junction: May 1-31, 2014
Photo: Gunnelbobbing, 2011 by Phillipa C.
Credit: thejunctionbia.ca + scotiabankcontactphoto.com

CONTACT Photography Festival in The Junction
May 1–31, 2014

Presented by The Junction BIA

The Junction BIA is pleased to present another great year of Photography in the Junction- part of Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival.

This year you will be able to explore 21 venues and see fine photographic works of 25+ artists.

This is yet again, the highest concentration of photographic venues in the City, for the duration of an internationally acclaimed CONTACT Photography Festival.

CONTACT 2014 Photography Festival in the Junction Opening Receptions
May 3, 6-9 pm

The Junction BIA will kick-off CONTACT Photography Festival with several opening receptions on May 3rd, 2014.

From 6PM – 9 PM you will have a chance to discover several opening receptions along Dundas St. West. between Indian Grove and Quebec Avenue at Keele Street. Furthermore you will have a chance to meet several photographers at participating venues.

Location: Anchored by the intersection of Dundas Street West and Keele Street, the Junction neighbourhood follows Dundas Street West and is an emerging art and design district.

Public Transit:  Easily accessible from Dundas West, Keele, or High Park Metro Stations. Average 15 minute walk (north).

TTC:
-No.30 - from High Park Subway Station
-No.40 - from Dundas West Subway Station
-No.41 - from Keele Subway Station
-No.89 - from Keele Subway Station

Venue and Map: Photography in the Junction: May 1-31, 2014 
★ The Junction Train Platform: 
May 3rd – 6-9 pm Info Booth 
May 23rd – 7-9 pm Audience Choice Awards Venue


Please find more details about all venues and photographers; opening reception, wards night, contests, map and directions on
thejunctionbia.ca: CONTACT Photography Festival in the Junction May 1-31, 2014

Please come and celebrate another great year of Photography in the Junction - part of Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival!


Monday, April 28, 2014

Jane's Walk: Toronto: Junction of the Canadian Dream

Screenshot: Jane's Walk: Toronto: Junction of the Canadian Dream: Hangin' Out With History
Walk Leader: Neil Ross; Meeting Place: Runnymede Library — May 3, 2014, 2:30 PM
Credit: janeswalk.org: Canada: Toronto: Junction of the Canadian Dream: Hangin' Out With History

2014 Jane’s Walk annual global festival runs May 2nd, 3rd and 4th!

This year the Jane’s Walk turns eight, and there are more then 120 of great walks throughout Toronto. The walks get people to explore their cities and connect with neighbours. As always, Jane’s Walk is FREE and locally led walking tours run rain or shine.
No reservations are needed – JUST SHOW UP! 

Below are links to two Junction walking tours this weekend.

Junction of the Canadian Dream: Hangin' Out With History

Saturday, May 3, 2014 | 2:30 PM

Walk Leader: Neil Ross


Meeting Place: Runnymede Library
The exact meeting point is in the park immediately north of (behind) the Runnymede Library along Glendonwynne Road, Kennedy-Margdon Parkette. The closest transit stop is Runnymede subway station.

Ending Place: Annette Street Library
Participants can catch either the Junction 40 bus to Dundas West or the Keele bus to Keele station, both from Dundas and Keele.

About This Walk
Travel the Junction and learn its place in the heart of Canada.

Experience the coming together of the railways on the meeting point of First Nations trails. Explorers La Salle and Brûlé may well have passed through here, and there is some evidence La Salle actually stopped for a latte . . .

Neil Ross tells you his favourite Canadian stories and his favourite Junction stories in a walk from the Runnymede to Annette Street Libraries. Perfect bookends: Runnymede was designed to reflect a Canadian identity.  Annette Street was envisioned as the cultural centre of an independent city. "After all, we're all immigrants on this bus."
Duration: Approximately 1 hour, 30 minutes

About Neil Ross
Neil Ross is the co-author of One Hundred Years at the Junction Shul and of the screenplay Worthy of Such a Country: D'Arcy McGee. As president of the West Toronto Junction Historical Society, his historical walking tours have made NOW Magazine's Editors' Big Three Can't Miss Events -- along with Caribana and professional wrestling. Neil writes the graphic novel series Justice in the Junction: the Life and Times of Josiah Royce.

Screenshot: Jane's Walk: Toronto: A Crash Course on the Junction
Walk Leader: Leah Cooke; Meeting Place: Keele and Dundas — May 3, 2014, 5:00 PM
Credit: janeswalk.org: Canada: Toronto: A Crash Course on the Junction

A Crash Course on the Junction

Saturday, May 3, 2014 | 5:30 PM

Walk Leader: Leah Cooke, Junction BIA Staff


Meeting Place: Keele and Dundas
(SW Corner) at the benches beside the bus stop.

Ending Place: Indie Ale House Brewing Co.
We will be ending the walk at a licensed brewery, so those wishing to partake in this stop will need to be 19+ with valid ID.

About This Walk
On this walk, we will explore the historic Junction’s main commercial strip on Dundas Street West.

We will discover businesses that exemplify what the Junction is best known for: reclamation, design, art, innovative food and beer.  An overview of the area’s history will be discussed, and interesting buildings/shops will be pointed out while we go.  Come with questions about the area and we'll do our best to answer them!

As a bonus, CONTACT photography festival opening receptions will be happening in the area from 6-9 pm on the same night, so you can turn this into an evening outing in the Junction.

Duration: Approximately 1 hour, 30 minutes

About Leah Cooke
As a current Urban Planning graduate student, lifelong Junction resident and former Junction BIA intern, I'm excited to lead this walk in my area.

About Junction BIA Staff
Junction Business Improvement Area Staff - fan and advocate of the Junction neighbourhood, passionate about all the hidden gems and fantastic stories each retail building in the Junction holds.

Screenshot: Jane's Walk Toronto 2014: Ward 13 Parkdale-High Park (9)  
Credit: janeswalk.org: Canada: Toronto walks: Ward 13 Parkdale-High Park


In fact, at least a dozen other Jane's walks are coming to our neighbourhood of wards 13 and 14, Parkdale-High Park in Toronto this weekend.

Check it out #janeswalk:
  • Twilight Labyrinth Walk in High Park — May 2, 6:30 PM
  • Walk as workout! — May 2, 7:00 PM and May 3, 10:00 AM
  • Bloor West Village - A century of development, heritage and community — May 3, 10:00 AM and May 4, 10:00 AM
  • The Centre for Opportunities, Respect, and Empowerment presents! The Culture of Parkdale: Past, Present, and Future — May 3, 10:00 AM
  • Belly Full: A History of Hunger Resistance in Parkdale (Bob Rose) — May 3, 10:30 AM
  • Jane and Annette, Friends Forever (Madeleine McDowell) — May 3, 12:00 PM
  • The World of Labyrinth Walkers: High Park on World Labyrinth Day — May 3, 12:00 PM
  • Ghost River (Juliet Palmer, Diana Tso , Gib Goodfellow) — May 3, 1:00 PM
  • Visions of Parkdale Past and Future, In the Balance ( Alec Keefer) — May 3, 1:00 PM
  • Junction of the Canadian Dream: Hangin' Out With History (Neil Ross) — May 3, 2:30 PM
  • A Crash Course on the Junction (Leah Cooke, Junction BIA Staff) — May 3, 5:00 PM
  • Swansea, Past and Present (Swansea Historical Society, leaders) — May 3, 6:30 PM
  • Celluloid and Popcorn: The history of Cinema on Roncesvalles (Keith Denning, Scott Worsley) — May 4, 1:30 PM
  • Walking with Refugees in the West Bend (Romero House) — May 4, 2:00 PM

For more information visit: http://www.janeswalk.org/index.php/canada/toronto/

EVERY CITY HAS A STORY
On Friday May 2nd - Sunday May 4th 2014
Join the Jane's Walk Festival to Learn about Yours!

Artists in Community: Apply for 2014 Neighbourhood Arts Network BMO Seed Fund


Toronto Artists Working in Community: Neighbourhood Arts Network and BMO Financial Group 2nd Annual Seeds Fund
Poster: The Neighbourhood Arts Network and BMO Financial Group
2nd Annual Seeds Fund: Six $1,000 Prizes for Artists Working in Community

Credit: neighbourhoodartsnetwork.org: 2014 NEIGHBOURHOOD ARTS NETWORK BMO SEEDS FUND

Are you looking to make a positive impact in a Toronto neighbourhood or community through a unique arts based project?

Apply for the 2nd Annual Neighbourhood Arts Network BMO Seed Fund
Six $1,000 Prizes for Artists Working in Community

The Neighbourhood Arts Network and BMO Financial Group are once again planting creative seeds this spring in the form of six $1,000 prizes. The Neighbourhood Arts Network BMO Seed Fund is a special prize opportunity geared to support artists in the development, creation and/or dissemination of a community engaged arts project they are leading anytime between June 2014 to April 2015

Deadline: Monday May 2, 2014

Prize recipients announced in May 22, 2014

The top 10 finalists will be selected by four local judges from the community, followed by a week long social media campaign in May that will promote their projects and give the general public the opportunity to vote for the six final prize winners. Prize recipients will be celebrated and awarded their prize at an inaugural Neighbourhood Arts Network BMO Seeds Fund reception in June.

Interested?
Click here for more details and online application form.

Link: neighbourhoodartsnetwork.org: 2014 NEIGHBOURHOOD ARTS NETWORK BMO SEEDS FUND

Photo: "We Are Grandmas" Community Art Project in Wawa, Ontario
flickr.com: itceremony: The Babushkas' project: The Great Lakes Tour - 2008

Wednesday, April 02, 2014

Musical Canada: Young Classical Pianist Anastasia Rizikov Touching the Hearts of the Audience

Photo: Canadian Classical Musician: Anastasia Rizikov
"Let’s take a look at a young popular classical musician who is from Toronto, Ontario: Anastasia Rizikov. 
At just 15-years-old, Anastasia is already being labeled at the “one to watch” when it comes to classical music."

Young Canadian Classical Pianist Anastasia Rizikov is a remarkably poised and precocious fifteen year old who is already showing signs of being “one to watch”.


She is currently performing numerous solo concerts in major US and Canadian cities.

Anastasiaa has a heavy and busy schedule in Toronto.

Anastasia Rizikov
Piano Solo Concert

Date: April 10, 2014
Time: 7:00 pm

Venue: Bernard Betel Centre
Address: 1003 Steeles Ave. West, Toronto, ON, M2R 3T6

More info: anastasiarizikov.ca: Future Events

Please come and enjoy an evening of classical music with Anastasia Rizikov, a remarkable young pianist!