Green Toronto Tree Planting - May 11th 10am - Partnering with DASSP and FOSS

DASSP will be partnering with Green Toronto and FOSS,  for a tree planting of Native trees and shrubs, across from the Pavillion, near Warbler Woods.

Please register and join us !

Colonel Samuel Smith Park Planting Event Wednesday, May 11 • 10 am - 12 pm Join us for a morning of planting trees and shrubs at Colonel Samuel Smith Park. One of Toronto's most unique parks, it's known for great bird watching and a great waterfront view. Native trees and shrubs will be planted to enhance the forest understory and provide valuable habitat. Event partners: Friends of Sam Smith Park and Disabled Allies of Sam Smith Park

Cancellation Policy & Site Information

An event will be cancelled if there is a greater than 70% chance of thunderstorm forecasted, or if hazardous weather arises. We will notify registered volunteers by email at 8 am on the morning of the event if there is a cancellation; however events may be cancelled at any time if needed. Please email greentoronto@toronto.ca if you're not sure if an event has been cancelled.

Planting and stewardship site conditions vary. Contact greentoronto@toronto.ca for information on site conditions including accessibility. If you would like to request accessibility support or accommodation, contact us as soon as possible.

Sam Smith Park - Green Toronto inclusive Planting event was a great success!

On Saturday the 25th, DASSP participated in the Planting event, sponsored by Green Toronto.

Walt, along with, Frank and Sue, a pair of able-bodied members of DASSP, were asked to plant 3 different, bird friendly, native shrubs along the North Eastern edge of the large bowl, behind The Gatehouse.

We planted ninebark, witch hazel and and dogwood, and the timing was great, as a few hours later Mother Nature graced us with a rainstorm!

Many thanks to Janette Harvey and her friends at Green Toronto, for a well organized, and Covid distanced event! Participants were limited by pre-registration and completion of Covid assessments and forms.

Let's hope that this time next year, the birds are as happy as everyone at DASSP and FOSS were!

September 25th - Inclusive Tree Planting site selection at SSP, by Urban Forestry and Green Toronto.

This morning DASSP had a meeting with Ray Vendrig of Toronto Urban Forestry, and Scott Laver of Green Toronto.

In the meeting DASSP outlined the issues regarding the lack of inclusivity for the upcoming Tree Planting at Sam Smith Park on Saturday, September 25th.

Ray and Scott outlined the process of site selection, as it exists now, and noted that DASSP had not been included the the original site selection onsite review which occurred with FOSS only, early this year.

We are assured that DASSP will be included in the site selection next year, to ensure that inclusive planting sites are chosen from now on.

DASSP outlined three (3) inclusive sites for this month's event. Two of the sites are flat and currently occupied by goldenrod, while the other is a previously used tree planting area beside the Pavillion.  The site will be selected next week during another meeting, and all three sites support bird life and migration, while paying attention to the creation of shade as well.

This year's tree planting for Disabled and Seniors, would unfortunately, be on a different site, from the one selected by FOSS.

The meeting culminated with a discussion on tweaking the actual yearly planning process, to ensure that DASSP is involved for SSP planting events, and that other Disabled and/or Senior groups are involved in events throughout Urban Toronto Green parks, to support the inclusive expansion of the valuable tree canopy in Toronto.

Urban Forestry and Green Toronto both stated that they support DASSP's goal of all Toronto Park events being inclusive for all Black, LGBTQ+, Disabled, Islamic, Senior, Aboriginal, etc., citizens !

Stay tuned for next week's update !

Lakeshore Lodge residents enjoy the fully accessible SSP Skating Trail in the summertime !

One of the most wonderful and unexpected uses of the SSP Skating Trail, is the pleasure it brings to mobility impaired residents of nearby Lakeshore Lodge. 

On summer mornings or evenings you may spot an elderly resident or two, along with their companion moving slowly along the winding path, listening to the song birds or enjoying the foliage and wildflowers which many volunteers from FOSS and CCFEW planted a number of years ago. 

The path has a ramp, and also offers access to the NW entry point of Sam Smith Park past the Swallow Field. 

The Observation Deck is now safe for Disabled again !

Saturday, after quite a few months of waiting, the Observation Deck at the southwest end of the Pond was finally re-opened.

The original Deck modifications from early 2019 had been unsuitable for the Disabled, as the worn out original wooden decking had been replaced with a metal grating, with gaps too wide, causing wheelchair front wheels to become stuck, and cane tips to actually go through the grate for slow walkers.

The new metal grating has a narrower gauge, and is much safer for all members of our Disabled Community, and parents with strollers !

Many thanks to Jorge Ture (Toronto Parks), and Janette Harvey (City of Toronto Forestry) for making the remediation!