December 2025 News

Slipping into your inbox just as the snow starts, here's your last newsletter of 2025:

  • Santa's in town: Once again Santa's visiting Canary District; here's where to find him
  • Fitness Classes for Seniors: Here's another chance to join these free, fun classes
  • Lawren Harris Square Update: Preliminary results of community feedback on Lawren Harris Square
  • Shelter from the Storm: A promise of transit shelters at Front and Bayview
  • Pop-up Engagement Results: You told us what you care about, and here it is

Before we begin, here's Bit, the winner of our first-ever Halloween Dog Costume Contest! BIG thank-yous to all the beautiful pets and humans who participated, and to the Good Dog Collective for providing the prize. Thank you all!


Santa in Canary! Free Photos, Holiday Tunes & Hot Cocoa

Saturday 6 December, 4:00–6:00pm
Canary Dental, 465 Front Street E

Neighbourhood business Canary Dental is inviting the whole community to drop by their office and the patio outside to enjoy hot chocolate, music by Mo Guzman, and an opportunity to meet Santa and take pictures!

Bring donations for Canary Dental's toy and food drive to benefit the Yonge Street Mission (YSM). You can also take in donations before the event. Click this link to see the kinds of toys and food that are needed.

Huge THANK YOU to Dr. Lamba and her staff at Canary Dental for dreaming up this event. We love our community-minded businesses!


Gentle Exercise in January

New sessions for Seniors 55+

Join us for a twice weekly gentle, full-body routine combining aerobic movement, stretching, strength training, and balance. Classes include both seated and standing segments. You'll get your own small dumbbells and therapy bands.

A new session will run from January 5/6 through to March 30/31, 2026:

  • Mondays and Wednesdays from 10–10:45am at 80 Mill Street
  • Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9–9:45am at 80 Mill Street

Space is limited. Please only register for one program; however, if you wish to attend multiple programs, let us know and we’ll add you to a waiting list. If you already know dates when you will not be able to attend, please pass them along.

Register here by December 17

(Many thanks to the Gooderham & Worts Neighbourhood Association for making this program possible)


What We’ve Learned (So Far) about Lawren Harris Square Park

Many of you participated in our community survey about this park. We have also reached out to individuals at Waterfront Toronto and the West Don Lands Committee who oversaw the design and building of the park in 2013 to find out more about the original intentions of the design.

The History

The park was conceived as a quiet urban counterpoint to Corktown Common. It was in fact planned that it would also house a farmer's market, but as we know, events went a different way, with Underpass Park hosting this activity instead. 

What You Said

We got feedback from 170 residents. In general, people seem to appreciate the quiet elegance of the park, especially those who live nearby. 

We asked for open answers, without prompting for specific issues. Here are some of the themes that people raised:

  • Nearly half mentioned loving the trees and flowers
  • Nearly half mentioned the gravel as problematic 
  • One-third mentioned unpicked-up poo as a problem, and some are actively bothered by the smells of dog waste in the park

Most of your responses were accompanied by eloquent comments, reflections, and advice. We have shared these results with Councillor's Office and will continue to follow up and monitor what plans emerge. And keep you posted of course!


Shelter from the Storm

Transit Shelters at Bayview & Front? Yes!

If you came to the Canary District Yard Sale in September, you may have noticed kids (both large and small) creating model transit shelters at the CDNA booth near Bayview Avenue, highlighting the issue in a playful way. We also brought the issue up in a more formal way with our Councillor's office and they came through!

City staff have assessed and confirmed that installing a shelter at both the northwest and southwest corners will happen.

It may take some time, as the southwest corner needs a new concrete pad, but the wheels of bureaucracy are in motion! Well done, magical building block workers!


Pop-Up Engagement

Toy transit shelters weren't the only thing we did at September's Yard Sale. We also hosted a pop-up engagement session.

We invited participants to draw their neighbourhood on a large map, highlighting places they enjoy and changes they wish to see. They wish to see a lot! This report summarizes the feedback gathered and identifies key priorities and actions to improve the neighbourhood.

Click here to read more.


That's a wrap for 2025...

Happy Holidays to
All You Beautiful Canaries!


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Latest posts

Finally! The warm weather's here! Here are some things to plan for:

  • Repair Café at the Yard Sale: Repair Café will be among the 50+ tables filled with local treasures on May 30 on the Promenade from 11-3pm
  • Doors Open in Canary District: On May 23 we can get a tour of that beautiful Anishnawbe Health Toronto building on Cherry Street
  • Failing the Density Test: Proposal for 50+ storey towers at 1 Sumach greenlit by City staff; there's still time to object
  • Lassonde Art Trail Launch: The 4km trail of plein-air installations launches its initial phase June 4

As the weather finally warms up (just ignore today's temperature) here are some things to plan for:

  • Clean Canary Together: It's time again for our twice-yearly neighbourhood cleanup 
  • Vaccine Clinic May 4: The force will be with you if you spend Star Wars Day getting your next COVID Vaccine re-up!
  • Jane's Walk: Once again two of our residents will lead a tour of the neighbourhood looking through accessibility-coloured glasses 
  • Canary District Yard Sale Returns: Time to clean out that locker! Our yard sale returns on Saturday May 30

2026 is off to a great start! Here are some reasons why:

  • 2025 Annual Report: We flex our 2025 accomplishments and welcome a new Board member
  • Lost Craft Brewery: Finally the beer is flowing in Canary District again!
  • The Urban Prairie Trail Project: An ambitious attempt to whack the invasive weeds right out of our prairie
  • PollinateTO Grant: Widening the Butterfly Corridor, one in-ground planter at a time
  • Development Committee: Keeping tabs on major development projects in and around Canary District

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