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 … Read more
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.
With summer temperatures reaching peak levels, the Vale of Avoca ravine continues to provide a natural refuge for midtown residents trying to cope with the heat. This underlines the importance of longer-term actions to address erosion of the ravine’s slopes and creek channel, and the dilapidated state of the park’s trail network.
Stephen Smith, an arborist and owner of Urban Forest Associates (UFORA), has been contracted by the Midtown Ravines Group to inventory the Vale of Avoca’s tree and plant communities (both native and invasive) in advance of major restoration work in the ravine to stabilize the streambed and slopes and rebuild the trails, footbridges and access points.
In May 2023, the Lower Don Trail was closed between Pottery Road and the rail line underpass connecting to Corktown, in connection with a major trail improvement project, including erosion remediation, trail reconstruction, and the installation of a stairway connection to the Dundas Street bridge and an accessible ramp to the Riverdale pedestrian bridge.
The Midtown Ravines Group continues to engage with the community on the future of the Vale of Avoca. Thank you to everyone who has shared their views with us. In our last newsletter we provided a survey looking at why people visit the ravine and asking for comments on a draft community vision statement for … Read more
On July 13, 2026, a new section of the mixed-use trail running along the East Don River was officially opened. The new three kilometer section of trail runs from near the forks of the Don River at Don Mills Road, exiting the river valley upstream onto Bermondsey Road just south of Eglinton.
One of the most invasive plants currently plaguing southern Ontario is the Phragmites reed (Phragmites australis ssp. australis).Despite its serene appearance, phragmites are very harmful to local ecosystems, and there are at least two colonies in the Vale of Avoca.
An event at Evergreen Brickworks on June 3, 2026 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.
Video footage of Yellow Creek from May 23, 2026 shows the need to respond to dramatically higher storm flows in the planning process. Channel walls built in the 1800s didn’t anticipate the effect of widespread pavement in the catchment area.
