Cultural Heritage

Join us for an evening of French conversation at B Espresso Bar in the atrium of the Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music (near St. George station)!
We welcome all levels of French, and it's free\*.
Venez pratiquer votre français! \*While there is no fee to attend this event, guests are expected to purchase something from B Espresso Bar, in accordance with RCM's restrictions on usage of the cafe atrium space. **Building location:** The Royal Conservatory is at 273 Bloor St W, between Varsity Stadium and the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). There are entrances off Bloor St. and Philosopher's Walk. If you enter from Bloor St through the large glass doors, follow the hallway on the left beside the staircase and turn left at the end. (Closest TTC: St. George) **Notes and restrictions:** The host may or may not attend this event. Attendees are encouraged to seat themselves at two or more adjacent tables, as needed. Please form groups of 6 people at each table; do not rearrange chairs and tables to accommodate more people, as this obstructs the narrow walking space. Guests are expected to order something from the cafe, and are asked to please refrain from bringing outside food or drink. Attendees must leave the building at 8pm when the cafe stops serving. **Contributions:** If you are a regular with us and would like to support the group, please send any contributions by e-transfer to [diskutomeetup@gmail.com.](http://diskutomeetup@gmail.com.) The yearly donation goal and amounts received year-to-date will be tracked anonymously on [this google sheet](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18GfqYsis8Cf2XGg4KsKQJsY_0Fv3bsSQHwJAxvC1Km8/edit?usp=sharing). Thank you so much for your support.

\*These classes are not a language exchange, but instead are meant to be a step in between so that students feel confident maintaining in depth and grammatically correct oral conversations outside of class\* \***Meetup event numbers only tend to show new students registering and do not include returning students attending class.** **Per class, there is an average of 7 students.** The first 2 classes are free and then only cost between $15 and $35 depending on which type of class you want to continue with\* These French, English (For Spanish and French speakers only), and Spanish classes are primarily meant for adults who are travellers, or who are planning to live in a French, English, or Spanish-speaking country. The classes are primarily oral-based through guided conversations. They will teach you how to handle conversations in situations such as **"Going to the Convenience Store"**, **"Making Plans"**, **"Negotiating Prices"**, and **"Going out for a Drink"**. To ensure that students get used to using the language automatically, students will learn to maintain contextual conversations with timing before moving on to the next lesson. Call (647)787-9953, e-mail us info@monkeylingo.ca, or visit monkeylingo.ca for more information! **Online and private classes are also available!** No other language classes are as conversational as these ones. We guarantee it! Cheap parking can be found using the "Spot Hero" app.

Exhibition Place has lots of majestic buildings but it's hard to appreciate them when it's crowded. So, we'll visit before event season begins. It's a sprawling venue that's great for a hike to work up an appetite. We will detour first to Trillium Park for a vista of downtown Toronto and check out some of the illuminated works from the [Lumière](https://ontarioplace.com/en/special_programs/lumiere/) light exhibition. Then, we'll make out way through all the heritage-listed buildings of Exhibition Place. It runs the gamut from a colonial fort to neo-Classical exhibition buildings. The hike ends in Parkdale, where we can peruse the late night restaurants there: Tibetan momos, Japanese ramen, Saudi kabsa, Italian millefoglie, and even Mexican insects. **Highlights** 1. Princes' Gates (depart 6:30pm) 2. Toronto Inukshuk 3. Trillium Park (depart 7pm) 4. CNE Food Building 5. CNE Fire hall / Music building / Press building 6. CNE Bandshell 7. Fort Rouillé / Scadding Cabin / Wind turbine 8. Ontario Government Building 9. Dufferin Gate 10. Lao-Thai / Gladstone Hotel (depart 7:50pm) 11. The Drake Hotel / DoDoner / Lisgar Park 12. Matt’s Burgerlab 13. Molkagtez Mexican Cuisine / Kaminari Ramen Bar / BB's 14. Daymi 15. Shambhala Kitchen (arrive 8:20pm) **Neighbourhoods** Ontario Place > Exhibition Place > Parkdale **Map** [https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1tJVHKn9_bIiGBuweFLULTS71AJSIMCE&usp=sharing](https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1tJVHKn9_bIiGBuweFLULTS71AJSIMCE&usp=sharing) **How it works** Hike starts punctually. Late or can't do the whole route? Meet us at scheduled checkpoints. We'll browse many food places but won't linger long. Grab ready-made food, or see the route in advance, organize takeout, then pickup along the way. Not sure what to try? Join our omakase for $5, which gives a tiny sample from different restaurants. Payment on the day of event by cash or e-transfer to [globaltorontoeats@gmail.com.](http://globaltorontoeats@gmail.com.) No refunds after orders are placed. Details of sampled food will be uploaded after the hike. Limited cutlery provided. Highly recommended to bring cutlery and containers for omakase and bringing back leftovers. See our [About section](https://www.meetup.com/hike-to-eat/) for more info.

\*These classes are not a language exchange, but instead are meant to be a step in between so that students feel confident maintaining in depth and grammatically correct oral conversations outside of class\* \***Meetup event numbers only tend to show new students registering and do not include returning students attending class.** **Per class, there is an average of 7 students.** The first 2 classes are free and then only cost between $15 and $35 depending on which type of class you want to continue with\* These French, English (For Spanish and French speakers only), and Spanish classes are primarily meant for adults who are travellers, or who are planning to live in a French, English, or Spanish-speaking country. The classes are primarily oral-based through guided conversations. They will teach you how to handle conversations in situations such as **"Going to the Convenience Store"**, **"Making Plans"**, **"Negotiating Prices"**, and **"Going out for a Drink"**. To ensure that students get used to using the language automatically, students will learn to maintain contextual conversations with timing before moving on to the next lesson. Call (647)787-9953, e-mail us info@monkeylingo.ca, or visit monkeylingo.ca for more information! **Online and private classes are also available!** No other language classes are as conversational as these ones. We guarantee it! Cheap parking can be found using the "Spot Hero" app.

*To join this event, you must be able to speak full sentences in Mandarin. This event is for those wanting to practice Mandarin and/or English. Here, you can chat with others and play board games in either language to improve your linguistic skills. Feel free to join our WeChat group during the event, as it is the best way to stay connected with us. If you have any questions, leave a comment on this event page. ＜中文版＞ 此活动是以聊天和玩桌游练习中文或英文，等级不限，平时有6-10位参加者。此活动微信群可在活动中加入，互相学习，天天向上。 如果您有任何疑问，请随时在活动页上留言或联系主持人

Practice English with Boardgame! Big discount $10 -> $5! (Fees help us keep the event running.) Join Japanish for a fun mix of language, board games, and new networking opportunities—all in a friendly, supportive environment! Perfect for anyone eager to practice English and build a new community. ボードゲームで楽しむ英語の練習！ 参加費は割引10ドル -> 5ドルだけ！（イベント運営に使います。） Japanish では、英語をメインにボードゲーム、新しいネットワーキングの機会を楽しみながら、英語を学びたい人を繋げます！新しいコミュニティを作りたい方はぜひご参加ください！ 注) 連絡無しのドタキャンをされた方はブラックリストに載ります。 Note: Those who cancel last-minute without contact will be added to the blacklist.

Please contact event host, Christopher, for the event location at christopher.tyrrell@ymail.com

**Location: Huron Park; 830 Paisley Blvd W, Mississauga** A special free session to move the body, challenge the mind, and reconnect with the breath and the heart. Program 1.⁠ ⁠Opening & Intention Setting A brief welcome and grounding moment to set the energy of the space and connect with the purpose of the practice. 2.⁠ ⁠Power Flow Yoga A dynamic and energizing flow designed to awaken the body, build strength, and activate focus through movement and breath. 3.⁠ ⁠Sweat & Sculpt Training A powerful sequence to strengthen and sculpt the body, combining endurance, balance, and controlled intensity. 4.⁠ ⁠Breathwork Reset Guided breathing techniques to slow the nervous system, release tension, and reconnect with inner calm. 5.⁠ ⁠Medicine Music & Sound Integration A closing moment of deep relaxation with medicine music and conscious sound to reconnect with the heart, the spirit, and the present moment. 6.⁠ ⁠Closing Reflection A short moment of gratitude and integration before returning to the day with renewed energy.

\*\***The Toronto History Walks Yearly Pass is available. Get it now for $125.00 for 1 year of unlimited tours, email** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com** **for more information or for signing up!\*\*** \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com** Italians arrived in Toronto during the late 19th century, and first settled in the old "Ward," centred at the corner of University Avenue and College Street. Over the next few years 40,000 Italians came to Canada between 1914 to 1918, mostly from southern Italy. Most Italians had moved west of Bathurst Street and the College Street area had emerged as the city's Italian enclave. By the 1920s, the community we know today as Little Italy emerged as a cultural and historic jewel in Toronto! Leaving southern Italy the majority immigrated to Toronto—increasing from 4,900 in 1911, to 9,000 in 1921, or two percent of Toronto's population at the time. But it was the massive influx of Italians after the second world war that changed Toronto forever. They brought a cultural revolution to the way Torontonians thought, interacted socially, and ate and of course drank coffee. The sidewalk cafe and patio is one of those things that evolved when the Italians came to town. And coffee is the best part of waking up, no that's Maxwell House I believe, oh well, need I say more! Hope to see you all on this walking adventure! This walking tour is for all walking levels and fitness skills. Please dress for the season and bring water. And remember to bring your love of history as well. The walking tour begins outside the **Lillian H. Smith** Library on College Street West just east of Spadina. The tour ends at Shaw Street and College Street West. This tour has a ticket price of $15.00 per person! \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com**

Practice your Spanish and Italian language skills in a fun and social setting at our Language Exchange Night! Join us for an evening of engaging conversations, cultural exchange, and new friendships. Whether you're a native speaker or just starting out, all language enthusiasts are welcome to participate in our interactive activities designed to improve communication skills and broaden cultural knowledge. Bring your enthusiasm and curiosity to our friendly community of language learners, and let's explore the beauty of Spanish and Italian together. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and expand your language horizons at our Language Exchange Night event!

\*\***The Toronto History Walks Yearly Pass is available. Get it now for $125.00 for 1 year of unlimited tours, email** **[torontohistorywalks@gmail.com](http://torontohistorywalks@gmail.com/)** **for more information or for signing up!\*\*** \* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **[torontohistorywalks@gmail.com](http://torontohistorywalks@gmail.com/)** Parkdale has many faces. And over the years those faces have become sharper and clearer to residents and visitors alike. The tone has changed in Parkdale. And that is always a good thing. One of the main reasons why Toronto History Walks came into being was simply because the images of Parkdale at the time, 2019, seemed to convey a negative picture of the neighbourhood. Toronto residents wanted to avoid Parkdale at all costs based on assumptions. It was dangerous and better to avoid than explore. But those ideas have changed over the last several years. Parkdale is a great place to explore, have a cup of coffee or dinner and check out the arts and entertainment or take a stroll down a side street in one of the best preserved Victorian neighbourhoods in Toronto. Welcome to Toronto's first suburb, the floral suburb. And it truly is a remarkable place to get to know. What Parkdale needed most was understanding. And this walk provides the interested walker with that understanding of how Parkdale came to be, and why it had a rather sketchy history right from its inception in 1879. And it had to do more with the attitudes of the residents than reality. Attitudes that followed the growth of Parkdale to this very day. Parkdale just can't get free of its own legacy! From its beginnings in 1850 to the controversy surrounding the Gardiner Expressway, and the death of Sunnyside Amusement Park, the story of Parkdale unfolds, and it has a remarkable ability to climb out of depressed economic periods. This is a detailed exploration of the district. This tour begins at the southwest corner of King, Queen, and Roncesvalles, at the Polish memorial Katyn, just east of the Sunnyside pedestrian bridge across the street from the McDonald's. We wind our way through West Parkdale, and end the tour at the TTC stop for St. Joseph's Health Centre on the site of Sunnyside Villa! This 2 hour walking tour is for all walking levels. Please dress for the season, and hope to see you there. This tour has a ticket price of $15.00 per person! \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket amount when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com**

\*\***The Toronto History Walks Explorer Pass is available. Get it now for $125.00 for 1 year of unlimited tours, email** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com** **for more information or for signing up!\*\*** \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket price when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com** The destruction of Toronto's downtown started on a windy, cold night in early spring. The above sentence sounds like a mystery novel set in Victorian England. But things were about to heat up in old hog town on that April evening. As the workday ended at the E&S Currie Neckwear company on Wellington Street at Bay Street, on April 19, 1904, a tiny flicker of light spelled disaster for the entire city. A police officer on the downtown beat spotted smoke and flames at precisely 8 pm. He headed to the emergency call box on King Street at Bay to alert the fire department, but by then, the fire had spread to the adjacent buildings. The fire department responded to a fiery nightmare as most of Wellington Street was already in flames. Moreover, the night was turning colder, and a stiff wind blew in from the north. Toronto's second great fire was about to explode out of control. Toronto was well aware of the dangers of fire. In April of 1849, a small fire started in stables near the corner of Jarvis and King Streets and destroyed the old downtown including St. James Church, and the market. By the time the fire was out most of the core of the old city was in ashes. Toronto, after the great fire of 1849, was a different place. The old town was centred around St. James Church, and the commercial district was then on King Street East. With the great fire and its aftermath, there was a shift west, both physically and emotionally; the central core moved to Yonge and King Streets as the city spread. Now the heart of the business district was at risk once again. And the stakes were much higher. The fire that had started at the E&S Currie Neckwear Company spread quickly along both sides of Wellington Street, as far as Yonge Street to the east and York Street to the west. But with a stiff wind blowing, embers touched off other fires to the south and southeast, threatening the historic Bank of Montreal building at Yonge and Front Streets. Ships docked at the Yonge Street and Church Street piers were moved to safety, and documents from the old customs house were packed up and moved to other venues around the city. Some business owners who had managed to get into their businesses removed precious documents before the flames engulfed their premises. Firefighters held their ground at several points, putting up fire lines, including Yonge Street just feet west of the old Bank and around the majestic Queen's Hotel. Help came in the form of Queen's Hotel guests, and staff as they moved from room to room and tore down draperies, and dampened the wooden window sills. Their efforts saved the Queen's Hotel and possibly the rest of the downtown, including the old Union Station south of Front Street. Had the Queen's Hotel been destroyed, the rest of the city may have been destroyed as well. Eight hours after the fire was first spotted, it was brought under control. Residents and business owners fled to the downtown core to watch their lives go up in smoke. Thousands of curious people crowded the streets around the burned area. Toronto would have to be rebuilt, and fire would be tamed through laws and building restrictions. But out of the great fire of 1904, a new modern city emerged; one such building was the new Union Station which was built on the ruins. The city hasn't suffered a great fire like the one in 1904, but came close to disaster in 1977, with the Eaton's Annex fire. That fire just about destroyed the new Eaton Centre. Where would we shop, that is the question of the day? and let's not forget 1871. And everyone thought Toronto was boring! This walk is for all fitness levels. Please dress for the weather. This walk begins and ends outside St. James Cathedral at 106 King Street East at Church Street. This tour has a ticketed price of $15.00 per person! \*\* **Please note: Please e-transfer the ticket price when booking your space for this tour! You can e-transfer to the following email at:** **torontohistorywalks@gmail.com**

\*These classes are not a language exchange, but instead are meant to be a step in between so that students feel confident maintaining in depth and grammatically correct oral conversations outside of class\* \***Meetup event numbers only tend to show new students registering and do not include returning students attending class.** **Per class, there is an average of 7 students.** The first 2 classes are free and then only cost between $18 and $36 depending on which type of class you want to continue with\* These French, English (For Spanish and French speakers only), and Spanish classes are primarily meant for adults who are travellers, or who are planning to live in a French, English, or Spanish-speaking country. The classes are primarily oral-based through guided conversations. They will teach you how to handle conversations in situations such as **"Going to the Convenience Store"**, **"Making Plans"**, **"Negotiating Prices"**, and **"Going out for a Drink"**. To ensure that students get used to using the language automatically, students will learn to maintain contextual conversations with timing before moving on to the next lesson. Call (647)787-9953, e-mail us info@monkeylingo.ca, or visit monkeylingo.ca for more information! **Online and private classes are also available!** No other language classes are as conversational as these ones. We guarantee it! Cheap parking can be found using the "Spot Hero" app.

Let's grab some coffee/food and share a morning chat! The East Market has an ample parking lot and outdoor and indoor seating. Grab a cup of coffee from Winston's Coffee & Waffles or on your way to East Market and meet us on the second floor - table behind or east of the elevator. Per what this group is about: "Everyone is welcome! International transplants to Columbus who want to improve language skills, Columbus residents who want to discuss international travel and culture, and anyone who enjoys getting together for good conversations."

We thought of one of the interesting things that can be enjoyed at this time of the year. We will be meeting at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church for a "Fish Fry" in Marian Hall on Friday, March 27th at 5:00 PM. It might be fun for you to experience what has become a tradition on the Fridays before Easter. They will have fried fish or baked fish, French fries and Cole slaw, as well as beverages, all for $16.00 for adults. They will have other beverages and desserts available for sale, as well. We have never tried this, and sometimes there are quite a few people at these events so we hope that we will be able to find each other easily. I'll try to have signs outside Marian Hall that Identify our group. We hope to have you join us!

Ciao a tutt\*! Let's meet Monday at 6.30pm at the Upper Arlington Library (**Tremont** Branch) in **Meeting Room A** to speak in Italian for 1 hour. Keeping Monday for consistency but we can discuss if there are better days/times/locations!

Free at Bexley Library Adventures in Ecological Horticulture with Rebecca McMackin Wednesday, March 18 1:00pm - 2:30pm Gone are the days when a garden could be ornamental alone. We now recognize the impact that our land care practices have on the ecosystems around us, and can see the importance of encouraging biodiversity. Thankfully, we do not need to sacrifice beauty when we invite butterflies and songbirds into our gardens. Rebecca McMackin has cultivated gorgeous landscapes in the toughest environments possible: urban parks, school playgrounds, and the sidewalks of New York City. She will take lessons from her work at Brooklyn Bridge Park, the Brooklyn Museum, and decades of research to share how those of us who are fortunate enough to care for land, can do it beautifully and ecologically. Rebecca McMackin is an ecologically obsessed horticulturist and garden designer. She writes, lectures, and teaches on ecological landscape management and pollination ecology, as well as designs the rare public garden. She is currently Lead Horticulturist for the American Horticultural Society, an Associate with the Harvard Divinity School’s Thinking with Plants and Fungi Initiative, and Consulting Arboretum Curator for Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, NY. Rebecca spent a decade as Director of Horticulture of Brooklyn Bridge Park, where she managed 85 acres of diverse parkland organically. Their research into cultivating urban biodiversity and ethical management strategies has influenced thousands of people and entire urban parks systems to adopt similar approaches. She has been published by and featured in the New York Times, Gardens Illustrated, on NPR and PBS. Her garden for the Brooklyn Museum recently won the PPA’s Award of Excellence and her TED Talk has been viewed over a million times. She holds M.Sc. from Columbia University and University of Victoria in landscape design and biology and recently completed the Loeb Fellowship at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. This program is presented in partnership with Rooted in Bexley and generously funded by the Bexley Community Foundation and Bexley Community Author Series Fund.

The Humanist Monthly Program is our longest running event and still a community favorite. In the old days it used to be called "Going to HCCO" and we still like to think of it as our flagship event. Food and drinks will be provided at the event. Feel free to show up a little bit early to hang out and talk. Our March speakers are Molly Gaines and Zack Parrish, co-organizers of the Secular Education Association: They will share their story of how a small group of Ohio parents grew into a national organization tracking released-time religious instruction and other church–state issues in public schools. The presentation will cover SEA’s early wins and hard lessons, what we’re seeing nationally right now, and how local advocates can play a meaningful role in protecting public education. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of the landscape — and practical ways to get involved. Going forward our meetings will be hybrid. You can meet us in-person or attend online Join Zoom Meeting [https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1) Meeting ID: 878 3656 4953 Passcode: 760812 One tap mobile +19292056099,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (New York) +13017158592,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (Washington DC) The formal presentation will start at noon