An event at Evergreen Brickworks on June 3rd ushered in the next phase for development of Toronto’s ambitious Loop Trail project. The gathering included Evergreen staff, City officials responsible for parks and ravines, community project sponsors, and an array of organizations and individuals (including MRG) engaged with different aspects of the project. Mayor Olivia Chow … Read more
Here’s some video footage of the Vale of Avoca’s Yellow Creek recorded on May 23, 2026. This elevated flow level was based on a fraction of the rainfall experienced in July 2024. Nature’s impressive display is leading to further erosion and decline of this midtown gem. The channel walls built in the 1800s eventually succumb … Read more
Date Option 1: Wednesday, June 3 at 6:30 p.m. Date Option 2: Sunday, June 7 at 10:00 a.m. Meeting Point: We will specify meeting points a few days in advance of the scheduled outings, depending on sections of the ravine that would benefit most from the attention of our clean-up crews. Each outing will last … Read more
Date: Wednesday, May 27, 6:00pm to 7:00pm Meeting Point: The southern end of David Balfour Park, by the traffic light across from Roxborough Drive (beside Mount Pleasant Road) The Midtown Ravines Group and Toronto Nature Stewards (TNS) will be initiating volunteer stewardship activities in the southern section of David Balfour Park / Vale of Avoca. … Read more
The development of an effective master plan for the Vale of Avoca depends on a vision broadly shared by the community and other stakeholders. We believe that a vision for the future of the ravine should be guided by two important sources. The first is the City’s Ravine Strategy, along with other relevant policy documents … Read more
The Midtown Ravines Group is pleased to announce that the City has given us permission to begin volunteer stewardship activities in the Vale of Avoca. City permission is needed because park and ravine by-laws generally prohibit the unauthorized removal of plants from these areas, even troublesome invasives. The Avoca stewardship project will be organized through … Read more
In late 2025 the City’s Urban Forestry Division issued an updated framework for the management of designated Environmentally Significant Areas, or ESAs. The ESA designation has been a feature of the City’s planning approach for decades. With the 2017 publication of Toronto’s Ravine Strategy, additional measures were introduced to safeguard these areas, which are closely … Read more
Date: Sunday, June 7, 2:00pm to 3:00pm Meeting Point: Top of the Chorley Park switchback Join acclaimed arborist Stephen Smith for a guided walk exploring the rich variety of native plant species along the Chorley Park switchback. This free, one-hour walk offers a chance to discover the beauty and ecological benefits of local plants, uncover … Read more
On April 18th and 19th, as many as 50 members of the community headed into the Vale of Avoca to gather any trash and litter that could be found. This event coincided with the city-wide Earth Day park clean-ups that enjoy wide support from ravine and park supporters across all neighbourhoods. The Vale of Avoca … Read more
Date: Saturday, May 2, 2:00pm to 3:30pm Meeting Point: St. Clair TTC Station, Pleasant Blvd exit What to Expect Discover the hidden oasis of the Vale of Avoca Ravine in midtown Toronto. A stream runs through it! Learn about the birds, rare plants and human history of one of our city’s treasures. You’ll get a … Read more
