Ravine Days, the annual city-wide celebration of Toronto’s ravine system, will take place from Saturday, September 30 to Monday, October 9 to build awareness about Toronto’s unique ravine system through free, City-led and community-driven events and self-guided activities.
Ravine Days, held annually since 2017, recognize and celebrate the importance of Toronto’s system of ravines, streams and creeks. Toronto ravines extend more than 300 kilometres, covering 11,000 hectares or 17 per cent of the city’s land area. More than half of Toronto’s ravine system is publicly owned parkland.
A new interactive Ravine Days map (https://toronto.mysocialpinpo
Ravine Days activities include:
• “Then and Now” exhibit: Monday, October 2 to Thursday, October 5, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Toronto City Hall Rotunda, 100 Queen St. W. In celebration of its 100th anniversary as a volunteer charity devoted to conserving Toronto’s natural areas, Toronto Field Naturalists has paired archival photographs with 2023 images of the same locales to document the spread of urban development and the positive results of conservation efforts.
• Heart Berry mural unveiling: Sunday, October 8, Rowntree Mills Park, 155 Rowntree Mill Rd. Coordinated by STEPS Public Art with support from Park People and City staff, this afternoon event will celebrate the unveiling of an Indigenous-themed Heart Berry mural by artist Lindsey Lickers with a medicine walk and spoken word performances.
These and other outdoor Ravine Days activities may be subject to weather conditions.
Ravine Days start on the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. The City encourages people enjoying ravines during Ravine Days and throughout the year to acknowledge that the land they are on is the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
The City also acknowledges that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Williams Treaties signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa bands.
Ravines provide many environmental, health and recreational benefits. They are important sites for biodiversity and wildlife habitats containing forests, wetlands, floodplains and a variety of plants and animals, including 87 per cent of Toronto’s environmentally significant areas. Ravines also connect people with nature, providing important access to green spaces and opportunities for recreation.
Ravine visitors are asked to stay on paved trails where possible, avoid climbing trees or removing leaves or branches and use designated bins for litter and recycling to help preserve Toronto’s shared natural spaces for future generations.
Mayor Olivia Chow’s Ravine Days proclamation is available on the City’s website: www.toronto.ca/city-government
More information about Ravine Days is available on the City’s website: www.toronto.ca/ravinedays.
Ravine Days is one of many City-led efforts to protect and improve Toronto’s unique ravine system. Learn more about Toronto’s Ravine Strategy at: toronto.ca/ravinestrategy.
Quote:
“Toronto’s ravines are places to enjoy nature, support green infrastructure by filtering storm water and house a significant portion of Toronto’s urban forest. I encourage everyone to enjoy Ravine Days and foster a greater understanding and appreciation for our ravine system.”
– Mayor Olivia Chow
SOURCE City of Toronto
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