Girls on the Run 2011 - June 11, 2011

As the volunteer Run Director for Girls on the Run GTA, a not-for-profit organization that promotes healthy living and positive lifestyles in girls aged 8-14, I am getting SUPER excited for our annual 5K run, this Saturday at Downsview Park! With over 1200 girls enrolled in the program, under the encouragement and support of 307 wonderful coaches + approximately 650 support runners who will be running with the girls at 10AM on Saturday, this year's run is going to be the biggest and the best yet!

We're hoping for great weather - but after 12 years of running in the rain, we're prepared for anything! The logistics are in place, the route is great, and the training is almost complete. I am proud to have connected with Girls on the Run - an organization whose only agenda is to promote and empower positive self-esteem, healthy lifestyles and positive self identities in the next generation of girls and young women. I was attracted to the model of GOTR program, the quality of its curriculum, the dedication of its staff, volunteers and coaches, and the value of the impact the program visibly makes on the participating girls. As I become more involved in volunteering for the organization I drew a deeper connection from the inclusive nature of how the organization is expanding the program; increasing the number of sponsorship schools in the program to ensure access to the program is available to girls who may otherwise not have the opportunity to participate in such advantageous extracurricular programs. I believe in the lessons the program teaches and I have had the opportunity to see the benefit of the program delivered first-hand to the girls.

I would encourage individuals looking to get involved in/contribute to a worthwhile youth mentorship/leadership/athletic/character building program to consider supporting GOTR and coming out to cheer on the girls on June 11 at Downsview Park. See you there!

Celebrate Ontario Announces 2011 Grant Recipients

The province of Ontario has announced the recipients of 2011 grant funding through its Celebrate Ontario initiative. Check out the list of 2011 winners online. I'm proud to announce that the grant application I submitted for Downsview Park's Trail of Lights while working in my previous role as Programs & Events Supervisor for Downsview Park, received $75,000 - its maximum eligible funding. Congratulations to all grant winners!

Edgefest 2009 - Year two of pouring rain

It helps when you know what you're getting yourself into...or so they say. The Edgefest concert was held at Downsview Park for the second year in a row on June 19, 2009. More than 17,000 people turned out to hear Metric, AFI, Alexisonfire and Billy Talent rock the stage in the pouring rain. Maybe it was the music or maybe it was the fact that it poured rain for Edgefest in 2008 too, but people didn't seem to mind - there's nothing like a good mudslide to prevent concert-goer's spirits from dampening anyway. Overall, the show was good, and music was loud, and the beer was plenty.

One year later...

Well, it's been quite some time since I last posted; having been "too busy" seems an unjust excuse though an accurate summary of the pace of life these last few months.

January 2009 marks two milestones of particular significance: 1) It has now been one full year since I joined the never-a-dull-moment pace of the Toronto events industry as the Event Coordinator at Downsview Park, and 2) January marks the close of my latest and longest event to date - Trail of Lights (http://www.trailoflights.ca), Canada's largest walk-through holiday light show - after 34 consecutive evenings.

2009 is already shaping up with many exciting events and festivals - some I am planning, some I am planning on attending. My experiences with both will be featured here.

Wings and Wheels Heritage Festival - May 24 & 25, 2008

This year's Wings & Wheels Heritage Festival, held in association with the Toronto Aerospace Museum, brought a showcase of aviation history, live fly-overs, and an automotive show-and-shine show to Downsview Park.

Working on this festival gave me a great opportunity to celebrate the heritage and history of the park as a military air force base. Wings & Wheels was a great festival for families and air plane enthusiasts alike.

Check out: http://www.torontowingsandwheels.com/ for more information about next year's show.

Earth Day - April 20th, 2008

Next in the line up of events I'm planning at Downsview Park is Earth Day, Sunday, April 20, 2008 from 11:00AM - 4:00PM and is free for the whole family! Rain or shine.

This public festival draws well over 5,000 people a year by offering opportunities for the public to help create a sustainable community for future generations.

This year's even includes:

• The Green Pavilion - food, crafts and products by eco-friendly vendors and exhibitors


• The Recycle Yard welcomes your donations to Goodwill and iRecycle (used computers and other technology)


• Interactive exhibits by Creepy Crawlers, Earth Rangers and Citizen's Environment Watch


• The Kids Area - arts and crafts, origami, buskers, face painting and more!


• On the main stage the best in up-and-coming enviro-focused Canadian artists Delta Folk, the Funky Mamas and GreenTaRA

If you are looking for a corporate or community team-building activity for your coworkers or community group, join the Team Green Challenge on Earth Day and register to plant trees in the park's Canada Forest. Tree planting teams can compete to be the "largest group of planters" or the "most spirited group of planters".

Click below to download a Team Green Challenge registration form!
http://www.pdp.ca/media/ED_teamregform.pdf

For more information about Earth Day at Downsview Park or to register a team for the Team Green Challenge, visit the Downsview Park website at: http://www.downsviewpark.ca/ or contact me at 416-952-2222 or info@pdp.ca.

One down...

Check out the City TV press coverage of my first PDP event:

http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_19454.aspx

Hockey not your thing? Check out my next event in this year's line up - Earth Day at Downsview Park, April 20th, 2008.

"CAR!"

Relive your youth at Downsview Park's 4th annual 3/3 Street Hockey Tournament - Saturday, Feb. 9th! Find some friends - like the ones you used to play with on your block when you were 12 - sign 'em up, and show up at Downsview Park for a day of street hockey that will undoubtedly remind you how out of shape you are.

For more information check out: http://www.pdp.ca/en/events/hockey.cfm

$100/team to register (that's a steal!) - online or call 416-952-2222.

Find us on Facebook: Group --> Downsview Park (PDP) --> 3/3 Hockey

Event Planning, Toronto-centre style

It is the popular opinion of Ontarians and have-not provinces alike that Toronto is the centre of the universe - at least where Canadian cities with a population >1M are concerned.

For this reason, I am proud to announce myself as Toronto's latest inhabitant. I got myself a swanky 20-something's apartment, a metropass and a flak-jacket; 'cause now I live in the city. But I do more than just live here...I'm also proud to be the Event Planner at Downsview Park (http://www.pdp.ca/). Now, before you either ask me where that is, or equate it to some event that involved the Pope or the Rolling Stones, inform yourself, and check out the website - because I would hate for you to be one of my Toronto-based friends who doesn't know where the place is.

At the Park I am looking forward to a position that will undoubtedly offer me a variety of opportunities in my chosen events field of special events and festivals, my line-up this year includes Canada Day, FamilyFest, Fall Fair and many concerts and shows along the way. So, if you're in the city looking for something to do this spring-summer-fall, stop by, we've got lots, and I'll be there.