The Sorauren Farmers’ Market returns to the Sorauren Town Square on May 22 to begin the outdoor season, appearing every Monday 3 – 7 pm until October 30.
With fresh and prepared food, delicacies and entertainment, the Market is as much an event as a place to shop and eat. Visit the Market website for updates.
Thanks to the Canada Summer Jobs program, Friends of Sorauren Park will again be hiring for the summer season to assist with programming and communications in the park. Come work with us!
The CSJ program is aimed at post-secondary students or graduates up to age 30. Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents (international students are not eligible).
There are two positions:
Full job details below. Applications are due May 26 to feedback@soraurenpark.com.
Who We Are
The Friends of Sorauren Park (FOSP) is a volunteer-based, non-profit corporation dedicated to the enjoyment and completion of Sorauren Avenue Park in Toronto’s Roncesvalles/Parkdale neighbourhood.
We are a fun group of community members who have volunteered for many years to animate our neighbourhood park and fundraise and advocate for capital improvements.
This is the fifth year we have received support from the Canada Summer Jobs program to hire students to help with our exciting summer program.
About the job
The Opportunity
The Coordinator, Special Events will work with volunteer board members and other volunteers to help promote, deliver and evaluate the 2023 summer program of public events at the park.
Duties include but may not be limited to:
The Ideal Candidate
We are seeking a community-minded, creative, fun-loving candidate with good communication skills and the ability to work flexible hours around events. Candidates should also be self-starters who can spot opportunities to pitch in or improve existing programs.
Under the Canada Summer Jobs program, candidates must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Sorry, international students are not eligible.
How to Apply
To apply for this exciting and creative opportunity, please send your cover letter and resume to feedback@soraurenpark.com by May 26.
About the job
The Opportunity
The Digital and Social Media Coordinator will work with volunteer board members and other volunteers to help promote the 2023 summer program of public events at the park, and upgrade and develop the FOSP’s digital media assets.
Duties include but may not be limited to:
The Ideal Candidate
We are seeking a community-minded, creative, fun-loving candidate with excellent digital media skills and the ability to work flexible hours around events. Candidates should also be self-starters who can spot opportunities to pitch in or improve existing programs and assets.
Under the Canada Summer Jobs program, candidates must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Sorry, international students are not eligible.
How to Apply
To apply for this exciting and creative opportunity, please send your cover letter and resume to feedback@soraurenpark.com by May 26
Game on! The Friends of Sorauren Park will be broadcasting Game 5 of the Leafs – Panthers playoff series live on the outdoor-movie big screen at the Sorauren Park Town Square on Friday, May 12. The game starts at 7 pm.
This public, free broadcast is made possible through special arrangement with Sportsnet and Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment. Special thanks also to Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation and Councillor Gord Perks. Note there will be no Snack Shack or food service. The water fountain is on for the season.
Please join us on the Town Square – now Maple Leafs Square – to cheer on the team at this family-friendly event. Go Leafs go!
Join us Saturday, May 13 from 10 am to 12 noon for the annual Gardening Day at Sorauren Park. We’ll focus on the gardens around the Fieldhouse and also mulching trees in the park. Bring gloves and shovels.
Once again we also look forward to welcoming Yale University alumni in Toronto. Thirteen years ago they were looking for a volunteer activity to align with the Yale Day of Service held every May around the world. Ever since, the Sorauren May Gardening Day has aligned with the Yale Day of Service. You can see some of our Yale friends featured in the Sorauren Park 25th anniversary documentary, The Story of Sorauren Park.
Watch for more volunteer opportunities and be sure to sign up for the Sorauren Park News newsletter and follow us on social media @SoraurenPark.
Thanks again to Parks, Forestry and Recreation for the wood chips.
Brought to you by our neighbours and friends at the Museum of Contemporary Art, An Exploration of Queer Botany is a hands-on workshop where participants will have the opportunity to learn about the history and connection between plants and people on an outdoor tour of Sorauren Park.
Join artist, ecologist and urban wildlife behaviourist Jaylen Bastos to learn about plant anatomy and the relationship between plants and geography and to explore how plants have helped people express themselves throughout history.
This workshop connects to MOCA’s current Augmented Reality exhibition Seeing the Invisible, part of which also takes place in Sorauren Park.
Details
Event: An Exploration of Queer Botany with Jaylen Bastos
Date: Friday, May 12
Time: 6:00–8:30 pm
Admission: Pay what you can
Where: Meet at MOCA Toronto, 158 Sterling Rd, Toronto
More info: https://moca.ca/events/queer-botany-workshop/
The Sorauren Park Sports 2023 Season starts Monday, May 8 at Sorauren Park.
Saturday, May 06 2023 MEET THE COACH @ The Fieldhouse at Sorauren Park 11:00 am – 1:00 pm (rain or shine)
Parents / Guardians: Meet The Coach
(1) Parents sign up for snack duty. Soccer – there are (2) snacks: One at half time and one at the end of the game.
(2) Provide your contact info: This is for the Teams COACH to communicate any changes/updates during the season.
(3) Pick up a Schedule and a tee shirt.
(4) All SOCCER plays are required to wear Shin guards. Players without Shin Guards WILL NOT be permitted to participate in the game.
Coaches Needed
Sorauren Park Sports runs on the steam of Volunteers. Absolutely NO experience is required to be a Coach only a FUN attitude towards the game.
Contact Liz Leason -Volunteer Convenor: 416-697-5902 / liz.leason@rogers.com
From your yard waste bag to your garden… the Ward 4 Community Compost Days come to the corner of Wabash and Macdonell avenues (by the rail corridor) on Saturday, May 6 starting at 10 am until supplies last. Bring your own shovel and containers.
The weather forecast for the Earth Day weekend is forcing a change to some park programming. The Sports Gear Spring Swap now moves to Sunday, April 23 on the Sorauren Town Square, starting at 9:30 am for drop-offs and 10:30 am for scoring that great gear you need. Full details on what is and what isn’t accepted for the Swap.
The park spring clean-up event remains on Saturday, April 22, rain or shine, starting at 9:30 am. Meet at the Friends of Sorauren Park booth by the Fieldhouse. All welcome, bring gloves and garbage bags. The Friends will arrange for pick-up. The clean-up will take place in both Sorauren Park and Charles G. Williams Park.
See you at the park!
It’s time for spring cleaning! Join the Friends of Sorauren Park for a volunteer parks clean-up day on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22 starting at 9:30 am in both Sorauren Park and Charles G. Williams Park. This event is being held rain or shine, dress appropriately.
All welcome… meet new people and contribute to your community. Bring gloves and a garbage bag.
You can start at the Friends of Sorauren Park booth on the Sorauren Town Square or near the Fieldhouse.
The clean-up is part of Clean Toronto Together, a City program. The City will pick up all the garbage we collect.
NEW DATE: The Swap will be held on the Rain Date, Sunday April 23. The Spring Swap returns to the Sorauren Park Town Square on Sunday, April 23 following its successful debut last year. This is your chance to drop off gently used bicycles and sports equipment and return to find gear you need.
The drop-off period runs from 9:30 to 11:30 am. You can return to pick up gear any time after 10:30 am until 12:30 pm.
In addition to bicycles, the Spring Swap accepts functional camping, baseball, soccer, tennis, football, hockey and ski gear. Not accepted: helmets, kayaks, canoes, paddles, life jackets. Please ensure items are clean and in good working order.
Left-over equipment will be donated to Kids with Incarcerated Parents Canada. The Spring Swap is brought to you by Friends of Sorauren Park, your community non-profit devoted to the enjoyment and completion of Sorauren Park. For updates, follow @SoraurenPark on social media and subscribe to our newsletter.
Registration for Sorauren Kid’s Soccer ages 4 to 9 has been extended to Thursday, April 13! Established over 20 years ago the Sorauren Park Sports program is a fun and easygoing soccer program. Participants enjoy playing a soccer game each week and make a friend or two. There are no practices with the all-game soccer program.
Games run weekly through May and June with start times at 6 pm and 7 pm depending on the league. (Start times on the poster are misleading; please contact volunteer league coordinator Liz Leason – liz.leason@rogers.com / 416-697-5902 with any questions.)
You’ll need a City of Toronto Family Number and Client Numbers for each family member participating. Use the bar codes in the poster. If there is a wait list, continue registering.
Sorauren kids’ leagues have been a feature of park life since the 1990s, and a collaboration between the community-based Sorauren Sports Association and Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation. Volunteer coaches are needed (the City supplies referees and equipment).
Some program codes have been corrected from original post.
Some spaces still available! Registration deadline April 6.
After three long years it is a great joy to advise the children’s Soccer and Baseball season is returning to Sorauren Park. The program is a collaboration between the volunteer Sorauren Park Sports Association and Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation.
· The season runs May to end of June.
· All games are played at Sorauren Park, from 6-7 pm or 7-8 pm
· Sorauren Park Sports Association runs on the steam of volunteers.
· Coaches are required for (34) teams. NO experience is required, only a fun attitude towards the game.
· All games are refereed with City of Toronto Parks and Recreation staff.
· If you would like to be a Volunteer Coach please email Liz Leason – liz.leason@rogers.com. Or 416-697-5902
· Register through City of Toronto eFun. Below are the registration codes. Please have your City-issued family number and a client number for each participant.
NOTE: Some codes have been corrected from the original post. They are also correct on the poster below.
Soccer
4-5 Girls Code 4202910
4-5 Boys Code 4202909
Soccer
6-7 Girls Code 4202907
6-7 Boys Code 4203580
Soccer
8-9 Girls Code 4202905
8–9 Boys Code 4202904
BASEBALL
4-5 T-Ball Code 4202881 Mixed
6-9 T-Ball Code 4202882 Mixed
The Second Annual Radio-Controlled Toy Car Rally zooms into the park on Saturday, April 1 starting at 10 am.
The fun takes place on the course formed by the rink boards on the baseball diamond. While the rink didn’t get much skating action this winter, it will serve one last purpose before the boards come down.
This year there will be different races for different categories, based on car size. Register on-site, participation is free.
The first Rally was held last year and was a ton ‘o fun, with cars of all sizes zipping around the course, over and through obstacles. Volunteer race marshalls registered the participants, rescued stranded cars and kept things moving.
Follow @SoraurenPark on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for updates, or sign up for the park newsletter. Brought to you by Friends of Sorauren Park and Rally volunteers.
The RC Toy Car Rally is sponsored by Scooter Girl Toys. All race participants will be entered into a draw to win a Lite-Hawk Radio-Controlled Rocket. Plus, you can win a Rowdy Radio-Controlled Toy Car by visiting Scooter Girl on Roncesvalles between March 13 – 26, and dropping off a picture or a few words about what your favourite part of going to the park is. Or, you can like a Scooter Girl post on Facebook or Instagram and tag two friends between March 13 – 26 to enter the car draw.
The Sorauren Farmers’ Market and Friends of Sorauren Park are teaming up to bring extra-special Family Day fun to Sorauren Park on Monday, February 20… Family Day.
Ball hockey on the Town Square starts at 1 pm, all welcome. Then the Market gets under way at the Fieldhouse and the bake oven at 3 pm. The Market will have a hot chocolate station, fresh-made delights from the bake oven, kids’ games and activities, face painting and a maple syrup demo. The Market runs till 7 pm.
Mark your calendar now and see you at the park!
The warm weather is a natural ice rink’s worst enemy. Regular flooding by the volunteer Sorauren Hosers Rink Crew has halted while temperatures are above zero. Conditions become even harder as the calendar moves to March, but the Hosers will continue to monitor the forecast in case there is a change for the better.
Watch this space for updates, or follow @SoraurenPark on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter for updates.
The Sorauren Farmers’ Market moves indoors to the Sorauren Park Fieldhouse for its winter schedule.
For the rest of 2022, enjoy the Market every Monday 3 – 7 pm until and including December 19.
In 2023, the Market will run every third Monday of the month, 3 – 7 pm, in the Fieldhouse on these dates:
The Market is produced by the non-profit Sorauren Farmers’ Market Association. Visit the Market website for up-to-date information.
The world-famous Sorauren Pumpkin Parade returns to Sorauren Park November 1, the day after Halloween.
With more than 1,500 pumpkins on display in some years, the Parade is a neighbourhood and even regional highlight of the season. From witches and cats, to politicians and world events, the artful jack-o-lanterns represent the spirit of Halloween and also the spirit of the times.
Add your pumpkin to the parade. It starts at 6 pm, with the busiest times after dinner. There is no competition… but will your pumpkin get noticed? And what will be the dominant theme this year?
Place your pumpkins along the inside edge of the path around the park. Please light your pumpkins with wax candles and not battery-powered lights or tin-bottomed tea lights that contaminate the eventual compost. Your candle-lit pumpkins make the parade come alive.
Walk or take transit to the park. The streets are narrow and busy and there is no parking at the park. The 505 Dundas and 506 College streetcars stop at the top of Sorauren, a three-minute walk from the park. The 47 Lansdowne bus stops at Rideau St., also a short walk away. Be safe.
The annual Pumpkin Sale fundraiser in support of Friends of Sorauren Park and free park programming returns to the Sorauren Town Square Saturday October 22 from 9 am till noon… or until all the pumpkins are sold.
The Pumpkin Sale is generously supported by Chander Chaddah, Broker, Sutton Group Associates Brokerage, who donates all the pumpkins and 100% of the sale proceeds to the Friends. The Pumpkin Sale has raised more than $30,000 over the years to support community programming and projects at Sorauren Park and Charles G. Williams Park, including outdoor movies, natural ice rink, festivals, dance programs, bake oven and more.
Many of the pumpkins, transformed into jack-o-lanterns, will return to Sorauren Park for the city’s best, and original, Pumpkin Parade on November 1, the day after Halloween. See you there!
The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) on Sterling Avenue is bringing a global virtual art experience to Sorauren Park starting October 1. One of the stops at Sorauren Park features celebrated Chinese contemporary artist Ai Weiwei.
To experience the exhibits, you need to download the Seeing the Invisible app to your iPhone or Android smartphone, details here.
From the MOCA website: “MOCA presents the acclaimed augmented reality (AR) contemporary art exhibition, Seeing the Invisible, in partnership with the City of Toronto and Toronto Parks, Forestry & Recreation. Presented for the first time by a museum and in free public spaces, the exhibition includes AR works by thirteen internationally recognized artists: Ai Weiwei, Jakob Kudsk Steensen, Sarah Meyohas, Timur Si-Qin, Isaac Julien CBE RA, Ori Gersht, Refik Anadol, El Anatsui, Pamela Rosenkranz, Mohammed Kazem, Mel O’Callaghan, Daito Manabe, and Sigalit Landau.
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The Country Fair edition of the Sorauren Farmers’ Market returns to the Town Square on Labour Day Monday, September 5 from 3 – 7 pm.
Enter your best jam, pickle, cookie or pie in the BEST IN FAIR competition at the Country Fair on September 5th. Lots of great prizes for the winners of each category. Fill in the online form to enter.
You can also enter the DOG FAIR by dropping in at the Market’s info booth. Prizes for Best Trick, Obstacle Course and Feelin’ Cute.
Plus you’ll enjoy all the regular features of Toronto’s best park farmers’ market. Brought to you by the Sorauren Farmers’ Market Association.
Sorauren Park 