Join Our Contact List
Want to get future newsletters in your email inbox? That's great! Click here to sign up.
Discover Canary — This Saturday!
Saturday, August 22 @ 12–3 PM
Front Street Promenade
This Saturday the Front Street Promenade comes alive from 12 to 3 PM as your local businesses open their doors — and their imaginations — for Discover Canary.
Wander down the Promenade and you'll find something a little different at each stop. Free samples. Coupons. Raffle tickets. Low-priced snacks. Each business has put together its own way of welcoming you in and showing you what they're about. It's a chance to meet your neighbours, explore what's right on your doorstep, and enjoy one of the best stretches of public space in the city on a summer afternoon.
No tickets, no registration — just show up and take a stroll. Here's a list of participating businesses, west to east:
- YMCA
- Elit Care
- Dark Horse
- Expedia Cruises
- Canary Dental
- Canary District Animal Hospital
- Fuel+
- Sukho Thai
- Bar Burrito
- bb.q Chicken
- Rock On Climbing
- Region
- Marché Leo's
- Lost Craft
- Souk Tabule
The Murals at Underpass Park
If you've walked through Underpass Park lately, you may have noticed that some of the murals are starting to look distressed. The works that transformed the space beneath the Eastern, Richmond, and Adelaide overpasses have faced the elements for years, and some have sustained damage from the recent bridge upgrades.
We've reached out to StreetARToronto, the City program that commissioned the original murals, and the news is good. A formal damage assessment is planned for this fall, followed by restoration work and new commissions in summer 2027. Underpass Park's art is not going anywhere — it's getting renewed.
We'll keep you posted as the process moves forward.
Secret Garden in the Sky
Most people who walk past 39 Parliament have no idea what's growing on the roof.
When leaks forced a complete excavation of the planters on the 11th floor terrace of the building, residents Ute Lischke and Diana Belshaw saw an opportunity. Along with their building's Garden Committee, they decided to start over — this time with native plants.
"We decided that we would do a native garden," says Diana. They found Ontario Flora, a native plant nursery and design firm, who drafted a full garden plan and, in less than a year, the transformation was complete.
For residents, the terrace has become something more than a garden. Some come up regularly at quiet times for peaceful enjoyment. Neighbours stop by after supper. Residents pop up to harvest herbs. Kids have pizza up there on Saturday nights.
"There's something about this kind of green intensity that is really soothing," says Diana. Ute adds, "It's become a very happy place for us to be, to share."
The garden has also become generous. Seeds and seedlings have gone out to other community gardens — most of the PollinateTO Project on the north side of Mill Street east of Parliament was created from seeds harvested 11 stories above.
We visited to film a short reel — you can watch it on our Instagram (@canary_to).
Developments on our Borders
Our neighbours at the Corktown Residents and Business Association (CRBA) track new development proposals across the area, including four significant projects sitting right on the edges of Canary District. The Development page on their website provides valuable context and timelines for each development they add.
- Queen & Berkeley (49 storeys, 545 units, council-approved)
- One Sumach (twin towers of 59 and 55 storeys, 1,276 units total, approved, bye bye Cube House)
- 4 Gilead Place (20 storeys, city staff recommend refusal)
- Queen & River (18 storeys, resolved through the OLT, yep that's the Beer Store)
These developments represent a lot of change coming to streets we walk every day. The CRBA keeps this page updated with status, details, and context for each project. Worth bookmarking; you can also sign up for updates.
Click here to explore.
Save the Date • September 26
Our next Canary District Yard Sale is coming up Saturday September 26 (rain date September 27)! Registration for tables opens this week.
The sale takes place on the Front Street Promenade between Cooperage Street and Bayview Avenue: three blocks of more than 50 tables, a broad sidewalk lined with public art, and a lot of neighbours happy to be outside. Past sales have brought out clothing, vintage finds, books, baby gear, handmade items, furniture, baked goods, lemonade — you name it.
Whether you want to clear out a closet, sell something handcrafted, or just help make the day run smoothly as a volunteer, there's a spot for you.
Register for a table or sign up to volunteer here.
Clean Canary Together
Saturday September 19 @ 10am
Meet outside Lost Craft, Front & Tannery
Twice a year, neighbours come out to tidy up the streets, paths, and green spaces we all share — and somehow it's always fun.
The next Clean Canary Together is Saturday, September 19. Meet outside Lost Craft Brewery (NE corner of Tannery and Front) at 10am. Gloves, bags, and trash grabbers provided; you'll be assigned one of our lovely streets. For those who want extra karma, there's an optional poo pickup squad for the special treasures lying around.
Bring a friend, bring the kids. It's about two hours and a great way to feel good about where you live.
Please sign up in advance so we can have supplies for everyone
All Candidates Debate
Monday September 28 @ 6:30pm
YMCA Community Room
With the municipal election coming up in a little over 2 months (October 26), CDNA is teaming up with our neighbouring associations in Corktown (CRBA) and Distillery (GWNA) to co-sponsor an in-person candidates debate focussing on Downtown East issues, specifically in our patch.
More details to follow soon, but mark your calendar now for the evening of Monday September 28.
Join Our Contact List
Want to get future newsletters in your email inbox? That's great! Click here to sign up.