Local Issues

**Welcome to Miss Bachata & Miss Salsa!** Summer has arrived—and with it, long, golden evenings, warm breezes, and the irresistible call of the dance floor! It’s the season of sun-kissed smiles, fresh adventures, and reconnecting with the joy of being together. At Miss Bachata & Miss Salsa, we’re ready to turn up the heat and fill your Monday nights with rhythm, laughter, and community spirit. My objective has always been to create a different kind of social gathering—one that is open, non-judgmental, and safe. A place where you can meet people just like you, where socializing and dancing come together to help build community and tear down the walls that separate us. Here, we make new friends, feel a sense of belonging, and enjoy the calmness that comes from knowing we are in a safe and welcoming space. Many times, I have been asked, “Why host an event on Monday night?” Many people escape on the weekend and dread Mondays when they return to work. I believe that if you dance and socialize on a Monday, you infuse your week with joy and positive energy, giving your life balance and helping you face your challenges with enthusiasm and confidence. We’re also thrilled to announce that our trial of advanced Bachata lessons, which began last September, has been a resounding success! Building on this momentum, we’re excited to offer an enhanced schedule for 2026. Our dance evenings will now feature three hours of classes: one hour of beginner to intermediate Bachata, one hour of advanced Bachata, and one hour of beginner to intermediate Salsa. As always, the entrance fee remains $15 for a night of 2 lessons and social dancing. For those interested in the advanced Bachata lessons, there will be an additional $5 fee. Here’s our updated schedule: **Miss Bachata – Main Ballroom** 🕖 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Beginner to Intermediate Bachata Lesson (No partner required) 🕗 8:00 pm – 12:00 am: Social Dancing **Miss Salsa – Round Room** 🕖 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Advanced Bachata Lesson (+$5) **NEW** 🕗 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Beginner to Intermediate Salsa Lesson 🕘 9:00 pm – 12:00 am: Social Dancing ✨ **Additional Details:** ✔️ Free Parking ✔️ Full Bar (Water Bottle $1, Beer: $5.75) Over the past decade, organizing Latin dancing events in Mississauga has been a labor of love. Our mission has always been to foster a sense of community, proving that the connections we share are far stronger than the differences that divide us. Loneliness is a growing concern, with over half of U.S. adults and many Canadians experiencing its effects. The COVID-19 pandemic has only heightened this issue. Harvard University's long-term study on happiness, which began in 1938, highlights the detrimental impact of loneliness on health. People with strong social connections experience slower mental and physical decline and greater overall happiness compared to those who are isolated. Here are some key findings from the study: 🌿 Close ties help delay mental and physical decline more than money, fame, social class, IQ, or genetics. 🌿 Relationship satisfaction is a better predictor of aging well than cholesterol levels in middle age. 🌿 A strong sense of community improves memory function. 🌿 Loneliness can be as harmful to health as smoking or alcoholism. But there’s hope! Strengthening our relationships and supporting community initiatives can combat loneliness and build healthier, happier lives. Miss Bachata & Miss Salsa provides a wonderful opportunity to make new friends, expand your social circle, and enjoy a safe, welcoming, authentic environment. Bring your open heart and a smile, and we’ll take care of the rest. 🌞 ***Cheers to a season of sunshine, joy, and community!*** 🌞 **Anna G.** https://www.facebook.com/groups/1871491806494168/ https://www.facebook.com/EventsByAnnaG

Join us for ESL Cafe on Mondays nights at St Paul's Bloor Street. We have groups for all levels of English: Basic English, Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. At ESL Cafe, you can practice English conversation, drink coffee (or tea) and have lots of fun meeting other interesting people!!

Allons trouver un peu d'ombre 🥵 dans le parc Riverdale et parlons en français! C'est l'endroit idéal pour admirer le coucher du soleil, et il y a des endroits à proximité pour prendre une collation ou une boisson à emporter (ou apportez le vôtre)! **Point de rencontre: en face du café “Rooster Coffee House” à 479 Broadview Avenue, Toronto, M4K 2N4 (côté du parc)** ......................................…………………………………. Let’s find some shade 🥵 in Riverdale park and speak French! This is a great spot to enjoy the sunset, and there are spots nearby to grab a snack/drink to go (or bring your own)! **Meeting spot: across from the café Rooster Coffee House at 479 Broadview Avenue, Toronto, M4K 2N4 (park side)** ................................................................................ Pour soutenir le groupe, nous demandons de payer $3.00 à chaque événement. Nous vous prions de bien vouloir apporter de la monnaie pour votre contribution. Si vous préférez, vous pouvez utiliser ce lien sur Square et montrer à Erin votre reçu: [https://square.link/u/Mgc9vPXQ ] Merci, Erin To support the group, we kindly request that you pay $3.00 for each event. Please bring change for your contribution. If you prefer, you can use this Square link and show Erin your receipt: [https://square.link/u/Mgc9vPXQ ] Thank you, Erin

Have you ever wondered what happens at a Toastmasters club? Visit us Monday’s @6:50pm and learn more about what Toastmasters can help you with. We meet in person at the Lorne Park Library , 1474 Truscott Dr, Mississauga. OR join us via Zoom. contact us for the meeting link. contact-1474@toastmastersclubs.org

**Social Pool Night in Downtown Toronto (King & Spadina)** **Details:** 📍 FunMix Downtown 393 King St W, Toronto 🕕 Monday, April 20th 7:00PM - 9:30PM 💲 $20 per person (**Cash or ET to dean@tbcpool.org**) Join us for a relaxed and social evening of pool right in the heart of downtown. Whether you're wrapping up your workday nearby or just looking for something different to do in the city, this meetup is designed for people who enjoy good conversation, a bit of friendly competition, and a lively atmosphere. Hosted at FunMix Billiards, ESports and Mahjong, a modern and vibrant space just off King & Spadina, this event brings together a mix of players of all levels. You don’t need to be experienced — most people come to meet others, rotate through games, and enjoy the environment. Unlike our more community-style neighborhood events, this downtown session has a more social flow, with players rotating frequently so you’ll have the chance to meet a variety of people throughout the night. **What to expect:** * Drop-in friendly pool games (8-ball primarily) * Rotating play so everyone gets involved * A mix of beginners, casual players, and regulars * Music, energy, and a central downtown setting * Come solo or bring a friend — most people show up on their own and quickly find a group to play with.

We invite you to join us to play games and socialize! **There is now a cut off for RSVPs. If you do not RSVP for an event on meetup, we cannot guarantee that we will have a seat available.** CAFE POLICIES 1. There is an entry fee of $6/person + tax for this event If you do not RSVP for the even by noon on the day of the event the price will be $8+ tax. 2. As a cafe we offer coffee and other beverage options. We would greatly appreciate that you not bring outside drinks into the store 3. We serve our own for and snacks and do not permit outside food and drink, except from the other businesses in the plaza to support our neighbouring small businesses 4. Be considerate of other guests when selecting games from our library and limit the number of games you bring back to each table to two (2) at a time 5. You are welcome to bring your own games to use in the cafe, but LVLUP GAMES is not responsible for lost, stolen, or otherwise damaged games/components Also as a general meet up rule, to be considerate to other guests. Since we have limited seating, it is of the utmost importance that if you plan on attending you sign up for the event. Likewise, if you are unable to make it, kindly mark that you will not be coming so your spot becomes available for another person. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. Hope to see you soon!

Come and lets talk Ubuntu talk. Come see the new Ubuntu 26.04. Bring your laptops and show off your favorite apps and your wallpaper. Got questions ? Bring them too ! New members get to receive a Ubuntu case badge ! Location and time: Monday 7pm Jun 29 2026 Bishop and Belchers pub Church and Bloor St E. 175 Bloor St E. Toronto, ON M4W 3T5 [(416) 591-2352](tel:+14165912352)

⚽ Evening Pickup Soccer Join us for an organized pickup soccer game and help kick off the ReliPlay community in Mississauga. Whether you're coming solo or bringing friends, we'll organize balanced teams and create a fun, competitive, and welcoming environment for everyone. ⚽ Small-sided pickup soccer 👥 Join solo or with friends 🏃 All skill levels welcome 🔥 Meet local players and get a great midweek run 💰 Cost: $15 Payment Options: • Register through ReliPlay • Pay by e-transfer • Pay cash at the field ⚠️ This game will be confirmed once enough players commit. Game will be cancelled 24 Register early to help us lock in the field and secure your spot. What to Bring: • Soccer boots or turf shoes • Water • Light and dark shirt options Invite a friend and let's get a great game going! ⚽

🍂 **Fall Walk: Rouge National Urban Park** 🌳 is Canada's only Urban Park and is one of our most popular hikes that we do as it's really the only hiking trail in Toronto that you can get to by TTC. Once you are on the trail you will not believe that you are still in the City. Not only will we be walking up and hills but I will take you to one of the best lookout points in the Valley. You don't want to miss an afternoon of hiking. This trail can be a bit challenging (with some ups and downs), so it may not be the best choice for beginners. But if you’re up for it, you’ll feel proud of yourself at the end — and you’ll have shared the experience with a great group of people. After the hike, we’ll enjoy a **group picnic** (30–40 mins). Please bring something small to share — nothing too big so it’s easy to carry! 🥪🍎 *** ### Meetup Details 📍 **Meetup Location (TTC):** On the platform for the **85B bus** at Don Mills Station. Look for me in my Moose Hat 🦌. 🕙 **Meetup Time:** 10:00am (I’ll wait until the bus comes, but remember: *Early is on time, on time is late*.) 🚌 **Bus Leaves:** 10:13am sharp. If you miss it, you won’t be able to join us. 🚗 **By Car:** * Parking is **not available** where we are meeting. If driving, please park at the **Toronto Zoo** (paid parking) and walk to the **Park’s Welcome Centre (the house)**. * Car Meetup Time: 11:00am (we might be a few minutes late arriving). 👟 **Hike Length:** \~2 hours 30 minutes + short break 🧺 **Picnic:** 30–40 minutes after the hike 💲 **Fee:** $5 cash 💵 or e-transfer 📲 to **mathewmaclean@hotmail.com** *** ### What to Bring * Water 💧 * Good walking shoes 👟 * A snack 🍫 * Picnic item to share 🥗 📍 **End Spot:** Park’s Welcome Centre *** ✨ This group is open to anyone who wants to be social, make friends, and enjoy nature. We also run events like movies, hikes, arts & culture, and restaurants. 📱 **Don’t forget to join our WhatsApp group** – [CLICK HERE!](https://chat.whatsapp.com/H59mSCbsAi018gYANrKAnc?mode=ac_t) 🔔 Reminder: You can just show up on the day if you’re not sure ahead of time. ⚠️ Sometimes things happen and I may need to cancel — please keep an eye out for updates. 👤 Organized by Mathew. For questions, post on the wall or email **torontomoviesandoutings@hotmail.com**

**Are third spaces dead....(like this book club was for the last year)?** Short-Read Socials are back! Come meet with like-minded and unlikeminded people to talk about the topic of the month. This time, we're thinking about **third spaces, socialization, and community-building.** *How has socialization changed with modern urban living and the rise of social media? Have commercialization and high cost of living killed third spaces? How do (or should) we actually build communities now?* \-\-\- **How does it work?** * The event is casual. You can talk to anyone there with or without our prompt sheets, either about the month's topic or about whatever you want. * Open philosophical discussion, including for controversial topics, is welcome but be respectful :) * If you've read/watched/heard anything related to the topic of the month, feel free to bring it in! Not necessarily physically, but you can if you want... * If not, here are some thought-provoking reads to start you off (read as many or as few as you want): * On third spaces: * [Are commercial “third places” a dying breed?](https://spacing.ca/toronto/2024/04/26/are-commercial-third-places-a-dying-breed/) * [the modern third space is in your phone](https://maansiwritesstuff.substack.com/p/the-modern-third-space-is-in-your) * Who's creating third spaces? (slightly more interesting imo) * [From sauna socials to run clubs: Are community event leaders the new influencers?](https://archive.is/20260320083437/https://www.vogue.com/article/from-sauna-socials-to-run-clubs-are-community-event-leaders-the-new-influencers#selection-1275.0-1275.81) * [“The more I give away, the better the bar does”: Why Danu Social House wants to become the city’s first community-owned watering hole](https://torontolife.com/food/danu-social-house-community-owned-co-op-bar/) * Bonus: [Why do Torontonians love to line up? Expert says there’s many reasons, including making friends](https://nowtoronto.com/lifestyle/why-do-torontonians-love-to-line-up-expert-says-theres-many-reasons/) * Feel free to post other recommendations (blogs, movies, tv episodes, video essays, etc.) in the comments!

Join us as we get together to get together to help those in need at this CMG Gives Back event! We have a great little community of Movie Group friends so rather than see a movie this time, we’ll help “Create a better world” by helping serve those in need. NOTE: We’re switching it up this time and going with a DINNER shift on Mon, 7/6. Here are complete details and our plan for this event: FAITH MISSION – GRANT KITCHEN: The Faith Mission kitchen and dining room serves residents 3 meals a day, every day of the year. For this event, our group will help prepare food, serve meals, assist residents in the dining room, wash dishes, and clean surfaces. PLAN: We will be preparing / serving / cleaning for DINNER from 4:30 to 6:30pm and have space for a total of 7 volunteers. Please arrive at 4:20pm and wear closed-toe shoes and long pants. LOCATION: Faith Mission – Grant Kitchen is located at 245 N. Grant Ave. Enter the kitchen at Dock 1 (in the back of the building), indicated in the attached map. On-site parking in the adjacent lot and street parking are available in the surrounding area. Below are some links / attachments with additional info/details: IMPORTANT REMINDER: Our group will be providing all of the volunteers on this day so a firm RSVP count is essential. Please only sign up if you are certain you’ll be able to attend. If something unavoidable comes up, please try to update your RSVP no later than one week prior to the event. With few exceptions, no shows or cancelations within 1 week of the event will not be eligible for future CMG Gives Back events. I appreciate your understanding as we try to ensure the agencies have the volunteers needed to provide the essential services they provide to the vulnerable population they serve. Our Partner Agency for this event is Lutheran Social Services! A huge THANK YOU to those volunteering at this (or any of our previous or future) CMG Gives Back events! Look forward to seeing you there, Dan

Be prepared for an entirely different type of sci-fi movie! Unofficially, the second movie in director Lars von Trier's "Depression Trilogy," 2011 Melancholia depicts the events that occur before a rogue planet is about to collide with the earth. Considered by many to be a masterpiece, the film was included in BFI's 2022 Sight and Sound Poll of the greatest movies of all time. It is available at the library as well as on Kanopy.

Our next much-awaited **COLUMBUS** meetup is **Tuesday June 30th from 7-10 pm EST at ACE OF CUPS**. Meet patients, cultivators, processors, dispensary managers/staff, physicians, home growers, educators, activists, nonprofits, artists, attorneys, business owners, writers, students, and supporters to network, share our knowledge, collaborate, support each other and make new ones! Hope you will be there too! Save the date and pass the word. **Please RSVP** so we know who is coming and how many to expect. Find us to say hi and we will introduce you to others. We should be easy to spot. (The happy-looking group wearing cool nametags! See photos from our past events.) Sign in, grab a name tag, start your own bar/food tab, meet old friends and make new ones! Everyone is welcome. SEE YOU THERE!

Hosted by OSU Extension Summer 2026 Food Preservation Workshops Join Shari Gallup from Ohio State University Extension, for a summer food preservation series at the Bryn Du Mansion. Discover how to safely preserve food at home. Learn basic food preservation methods including pressure canning, water bath canning and drying. June 4 - Water Bath Canning July 9 - Pressure Canning August 6 - Drying Fruits and Vegetables We're excited to once again welcome Shari Gallup from The Ohio State University Extension Office to lead a series of Life Local food preservation workshops. These hands-on sessions are designed to help participants learn practical, time-tested techniques for preserving seasonal foods at home. Registration is not yet open but will be available soon. Stay tuned for details on this wonderful series. Time 5:00 p.m. Location Bryn Du Mansion 587 Jones Road, Granville https://www.bryndu.com/public-events

***July is National Picnic Month*** (along with National Hot Dog/Baked Beans/Ice Cream Month)! So let's do it up by joining a giant PICNIC celebrating America's 250th Birthday! Join us at Wyandotte Winery for an **America 250–Ohio Homecoming Picnic as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States in true Ohio style!** Throughout July 2026, communities across Ohio are gathering for food, fun, and friendship to honor our nation’s history and reflect on the contributions of Ohioans over the past 250 years. Our picnic will feature a relaxed atmosphere with food, live music (starts at 5pm), and opportunities to connect with friends. ***BRING***: ***Guests are encouraged to bring picnic blankets and lawn chairs*** and enjoy an afternoon of community celebration. ***FREE EVENT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC***: Food and beverages will be available for purchase from the shop and food trucks. ***PARKING***: limited near the wine shop. Most park one block away in the church parking lot. [Wyandotte Winery](https://www.wyandottewinery.com/) has been part of the Central Ohio community since 1977, and we are proud to host this gathering during our 50th year of operation as a local place for connection and hospitality.

Join us for a 2.4 mile hike along the Alum Creek Trail south from Casto park to Strawberry Farms park and back. This is a fully paved flat trail along Alum Creek. Come and enjoy a great hike with us!

Monthly working lunch for Columbus business owners. One specific topic, one to three actions you can run this week. You can be the best at what you do and still be invisible. If local buyers cannot find you, the phone does not ring. Marketing Monday Lunch + Learn is a monthly working lunch for Columbus business owners focused on building relationships, local networking, and local marketing. Every kind of local business welcome. No pitch round, no pressure, no upsell. **This month** Most local businesses pick one or two places to be visible and call it good. The result is inconsistent calls and a feeling that marketing is not working. We will walk through the three places every local business needs to show up, plus the fourth place most owners ignore that quietly produces the warmest leads. **What to expect** Doors open at noon. Order lunch and drinks at the cafe counter or bring your own. You get real conversation with other local owners and a focused marketing lesson. You leave knowing people and with one to three actions to run that week. The room is reserved through 1:30 PM. **Who this is for** Any local business owner who wants clearer marketing direction and real local relationships. Service businesses, retail, home services, professional services, online owners building local presence, anyone serious about being part of the Columbus business community. **Not the right fit if** You are here to pitch the room or recruit for an MLM. **Details** * Second Monday of every month * 12:00 to 1:30 PM * Good Cafe Easton, 4400 Easton Commons, Ste 150, Columbus, OH 43219 * Order lunch and drinks at the counter when you arrive * Free to attend, RSVP required, space is limited **About the host** Rita Suzanne is a local marketing strategist and the founder of Local Marketing Method. She runs Visibility is Profitability, the membership where local business owners build the system that keeps their phone ringing. Learn more at learnlocalmarketing.com. Register here: [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1989964540509?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1989964540509?aff=oddtdtcreator)