We need ravines
With the City’s population expected to grow by another million people over the next 25 years, we will need them even more in the coming years. The buildings already in the development pipeline for the Yonge Street corridor and the area north of Mt. Pleasant Cemetery — buildings under construction, approved, or submitted as applications — will add at least 100,000 more residents to the area immediately adjacent to the Midtown ravines. And more developments will come.
The Midtown Ravine Group is a confederation of ten residents’ associations seeking to revitalize the ravines in Toronto’s midtown core. Our ravines — potentially and historically a recreational resource and an ecological treasure — are a pale shadow of the destination parks that existed in the 19th century, degraded by the inexorable effects of erosion coupled with lack of maintenance. Our mission is to bring back and realize that potential.
Ravine News

Ecological survey looks at the impact of Norway Maples on Avoca’s biodiversity
September 12, 2026
An ecological survey of the Vale of Avoca conducted this summer found that the Vale still supports a significant mature oak forest, but without active management, parts of the ravine are likely to continue transitioning toward a forest dominated by invasive Norway Maple trees. Norway maples are a particular concern because they suppress growth of

August downpour highlights Yellow Creek issues
August 17, 2026
A brief but heavy rainfall on August 10, 2026, produced more erosion and stream overflow in the Vale, underlining the importance of the work that is planned with the Vale of Avoca Improvement Project. In just under an hour, we saw a rainfall accumulation of 3.8mm.

July 20, 2026
Vale of Avoca July 2026 update

July 18, 2026
Ravine plant studies underway in the Vale

July 16, 2026
Lower Don trail improvements

July 16, 2026
Vale of Avoca: what we’re hearing from you

July 13, 2026
East Don Trail opening

July 10, 2026
The Vale has a phragmites problem, and it’s growing
Events and walks

Vale of Avoca walk – 12 gateways to Avoca
Sunday, September 27, 2026, 2 to 4 p.m. Distance: 3.75 km (approx.)
Meet: St. Clair Subway, Alvin Ave. exit
Not many people know that there are twelve trail routes in and out of midtown Toronto’s Vale of Avoca ravine.
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Secrets of Rosehill Reservoir
Wednesday, September 23, 2026, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Deer Park Branch, Toronto Public Library, 40 St. Clair Avenue East, Toronto (St. Clair Subway Station)
Join photojournalist Ian Darragh for an illustrated talk about this much-loved park.
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Vale of Avoca monthly clean-up outings for June
Wednesday, June 3 at 6:30 p.m. OR Sunday, June 7 at 10 a.m. Meeting points will be specified a few days in advance. Each outing will last about an hour or until you’ve had enough.
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Site tour of new south-Avoca community stewardship area
Wednesday, May 27, 6 to 7 p.m. at David Balfour Park.
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