Avoca open house sees strong community engagement
October 19, 2026
Lots of community members welcomed the opportunity to attend an open house on October 7, 2026, the first of three formal consultation exercises planned for the Avoca Project. The City's project team introduced the community to the overall scope of the project, and many of the issues that will be addressed as plans for the ravine are developed.
July 2026 MRG Community Survey Summary Results
September 18, 2026
Thanks to everyone who completed our July community survey on what you value about Vale of Avoca. The overall message we took from the survey results was that addressing erosion and upgrading the trail network should be done in ways that safeguard the ravine's unique natural setting and biodiversity.
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.
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.
Vale of Avoca July 2026 update
July 20, 2026
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.
Ravine plant studies underway in the Vale
July 18, 2026
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.
Lower Don trail improvements
July 16, 2026
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.
Vale of Avoca: what we’re hearing from you
July 16, 2026
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 the Vale.
East Don Trail opening
July 13, 2026
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.
The Vale has a phragmites problem, and it’s growing
July 10, 2026
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.