Click here for more information and to register.
This a free event.
Thursday, June 6, 2019
Tuesday, June 4, 2019
Thursday, May 30, 2019
SUMMARY: MINUTES FOSS STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING - MAY 27TH, 2019
Summary: FOSS Steering Committee Meeting
May
27th, 2019
7:07PM,
LAMP, 185 5th Street, Etobicoke
SPRING BIRD FESTIVAL: In spite of the
rainy weather, much was enjoyed and accomplished and the attendee numbers were
surprisingly good. Thanks to all the volunteers and the crew from the City of
Toronto who made the festival possible.
IN THE WAKE OF THE PASSENGER PIGEON: An
exhibit to be held at the Humber College Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre,
May 11 through September 25. See link below for more details:
UPDATED FOSS BLOG: FOSS’s blog is in the
process of being updated and will soon be capable of allowing a live feed on
both Facebook and Instagram. A new slide showing highlighting the natural
jewels of the park is also planned.
NAMING PARK ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AND
NATURAL HERITAGE AREAS: A June
deadline has been set for finalizing the FOSS mapping project assigning names
to significant areas of the park (such as the already-designated “Whimbrel
Point”) in order to provide consistency when communicating info about Col. Sam.
For more details, check the blog.
COL. SAM’S TRASH BIN CONCERNS: FOSS has
contacted the Park Superintendent re: unlocked trash can/trash spillage
concerns. The Superintendent has contacted the city’s solid waste management department
personnel who are responsible for such matters.
GREBE PLATFORMS: Four Red-necked Grebe nesting
platforms have now been installed by FOSS President Brian Keaveney and Mr. Joe
Calico (originator of the platforms) of the Yacht Club. All are now occupied.
SENIORS IN THE PARK WALKING PROGRAM: Col.
Sam’s neighbours from the Friends of Marie Curtis Park have started a walking
program for seniors. Interested individuals should check out their website at:
NORTH CREEK POLLINATOR MEADOW: FOSS is
working with the City of Toronto to design and plant a pollinator meadow in the
park. Students from Sir Sandford Fleming College (supervised by Janette Harvey,
City of Toronto) have completed a design for the garden and have offered
suggestions as to the nature of the plantings. Work began on May 2. See blog for details.
DRONE PROBLEMS IN COL. SAM: Drone
operators have aggressively buzzed both people and wildlife (swallows, owls,
grebes) in the park. Harassment of
wildlife is against the law. If you observe such harassment, contact the
Municipal Standards By-law Enforcement Officer responsible for Col Sam
Park—Gary Borges, Cell # 647 460-4270. Office # 416 338-5706 OR call 311, OR e-mail
311@toronto.ca,
OR contact Ward 3 Councillor Mark Grimes.
See blog for more detail.
BURDOCK REMOVAL: The TRCA plans to set up
a burdock eradication test site on Whimbrel Point.
OWL HARASSMENT: A few thoughtless
birders/photographers have been harassing Col. Sam’s owls of late. In addition
to disturbing the birds, these individuals tramp down trails and damage
vegetation. Caution: it is illegal to
harass wildlife.
PARKING LOT TICKETING BLITZ: The city has
recently been conducting parking ticket blitzes at Col. Sam. There is a two
hour parking limit for the south lot. Please report any parking problems to
311.
FOSS SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS: Check out
FOSS on both Instagram and Facebook. No personal Facebook account? You may
still view the contents, but you will be unable to post comments. Keep watch
for nature photos highlighting your park.
DRUG/GARBAGE PROBLEMS AT COL. SAM: Discarded drug paraphernalia and
litter are on-going detriments in the park, particularly in the North Creek
area. Visitors are asked to notify the police at 416 808-2200 for drug
infractions and 311 for trash build-up. Any problems reported to 311 are
greatly strengthened when accompanied with a photo.
Saturday, May 4, 2019
LAKESHORE GROUNDS (HUMBER COLLEGE'S INTERPRETIVE CENTRE) UPCOMING EVENTS
To register for Lakeshore Grounds Sam Smith Park walks, click here.
To see their upcoming events, click here.
SUMMARY: MINUTES FOSS STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING - APRIL 29TH, 2019
Summary: FOSS Steering Committee Meeting
APRIL
29th, 2019
7:00PM,
LAMP, 185 5th Street, Etobicoke
SPRING BIRD FESTIVAL: 10th
Annual festival will be held on May 25th from 10AM-2PM in Col. Sam
Park. Children’s activities, guided walk in Swallow Field, FOSS hat, t-shirt and membership sales. Prizes and much more. Volunteers needed. No experience necessary. See blog for details.
NORTH CREEK POLLINATOR MEADOW: FOSS is
working with the City of Toronto to design and plant a pollinator meadow in the
park. Students from Sir Sandford Fleming College (supervised by Janette Harvey,
City of Toronto) have completed a design for the garden and have offered
suggestions as to the nature of the plantings. Work began on May 2. See blog for details.
DRONE PROBLEMS IN COL. SAM: Drone
operators have aggressively buzzed both people and wildlife (swallows, owls,
grebes) in the park. Harassment of
wildlife is against the law. If you observe such harassment, contact the
Municipal Standards By-law Enforcement Officer responsible for Col Sam
Park—Gary Borges, Cell # 647 460-4270. Office # 416 338-5706 OR call 311, OR e-mail
311@toronto.ca,
OR contact Ward 3 Councillor Mark Grimes.
See blog for more detail.
BURDOCK REMOVAL: The TRCA plans to set up
a burdock eradication test site on Whimbrel Point.
GREBE PLATFORMS: FOSS President, Brian Keaveney, has been busy
repairing/building/installing platforms with the aid of Mr. Joe Calico
(originator of the platforms) of the Yacht Club.
OWL HARASSMENT: A few thoughtless
birders/photographers have been harassing Col. Sam’s owls of late. In addition
to disturbing the birds, these individuals tramp down trails and damage
vegetation. Caution: it is illegal to
harass wildlife.
NAMING PARK ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AND
NATURAL HERITAGE AREAS: A FOSS
mapping project to assign names to significant areas of the park (such as the
already-designated “Whimbrel Point”) in order to provide consistency when
communicating info about Col. Sam. For more details, check the blog. Names are
being collected and a map will be published in the blog when completed.
PARKING LOT TICKETING BLITZ: The city has
recently been conducting parking ticket blitzes at Col. Sam. There is a two
hour parking limit for the south lot. Please report any parking problems to
311.
FOSS SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS: Check out
FOSS on both Instagram and Facebook. No personal Facebook account? You may still
view the contents, but you will be unable to post comments. Keep watch for
nature photos highlighting your park.
DRUG/GARBAGE PROBLEMS AT COL. SAM: Discarded drug paraphernalia and
litter are on-going detriments in the park, particularly in the North Creek
area. Visitors are asked to notify the police at 416 808-2200 for drug
infractions and 311 for trash build-up. Any problems reported to 311 are
greatly strengthened when accompanied with a photo.
ONTARIO GOVERNMENT ABOUT TO CHANGE THE "ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT" - URGENT ACTION NEEDED!
10th Year Review of Ontario’s Endangered Species Act: Proposed Changes
In a move that will prove devastating to species at risk, the
Ontario government has unveiled plans to severely undermine the
Endangered Species Act. The government has given the public just 30 days
to comment on the proposed changes to the law. The deadline for comments is May 18.
For more details and actions you can take, visit the Toronto Field Naturalists
See also: ProtectNatureTO discussion paper
"FRIENDS OF HUMBER BAY PARK" PHOTO EXHIBIT OPENS - "WILDLIFE OASIS"
Check it out!
Exhibit runs until May 18th. Hours 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Exhibit runs until May 18th. Hours 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday, May 3, 2019
DRONES AND THE HARASSMENT OF WILDLIFE IN SAM SMITH PARK
There have been some recent altercations between drone operators and park users over the harassment of wildlife.
The City of Toronto's Park bylaw that does not allow the operation of "powered models of aircraft and rockets" in City parks does not include flying drones per se as prohibited and we are told that this is currently a grey area when it comes to successful prosecution in court. The City is pursuing a definitive policy on this matter and it will be cleared up, hopefully sooner than later.
However, the City's Park bylaws are unequivocal when it comes to the harassment of wildlife - "disturbing wildlife" is definitely prohibited.
So, drone operators who are observed buzzing the birds in the Swallow Field or the grebe nesting platforms, as well as the Snowy Owl out on the dock last winter, or, indeed, any other instance of wildlife harassment are to be reported immediately.
An official complaint has been launched by FOSS with the City's Bylaw Standards due to recent incidents and an investigation, as well as increased vigilance, has been assured.
The Municipal Standards Bylaw Enforcement officer responsible for Sam Smith Park is Gary Borges. His cell phone number is 647 460 4270 (office 416 338 5706) and he has given us permission to give out his phone number so that a quicker response to an incident is possible.
Calling the City at 311 and/or emailing 311@toronto.ca, as well as letting our Ward 3 Councillor Mark Grimes know, are all to be encouraged. By law enforcement is for the most part complaint driven.
The City's Park bylaws can be seen here. #608 - 37 covers wildlife harassment.
"NORTH CREEK MEADOW" POLLINATOR HABITAT - WORK BEGINS
 |
| Pollinator Meadow location |
Yesterday
heralded the beginning of an exciting new project for Sam Smith Park.
FOSS members, along with Janette Harvey, Natural
Environment Specialist for the City of Toronto, laid down the first tarpaulin
in order to “smother” an area of the park to begin the preparation for a meadow
restoration that will provide a high quality pollinator habitat. It will be called the “North Creek Meadow”
and is located south of the large pond/wetland near the lake culvert.
FOSS
has long advocated for pollinator habitat improvements in the park and we have
expressed an interest in participating in all phases of any restoration plan.
The
project design is the result of collaboration between Janette Harvey and
students from the School of Environmental
& Natural Resource Sciences at Sir Sandford Fleming College.
Site
preparation includes tarping, or smothering, and light tilling. The implementation
phase involves mulching around the plot sites, followed by seeding, and
planting of carefully selected and desired vegetation. Stewardship and
monitoring activities will monitor the overall health of the site, native
plants, pollinator presence/absence, and the removal of invasive and/or
encroacher species. Friends of Sam Smith
will be involved in multiple steps of the North Creek Meadow Restoration
process and the plan offers volunteer opportunities for locals to become
engaged.
The
project will take four years to complete with different plots established at
different times during that period. The
current year will involve no more than signposting and the tarping and checking
of the first plot from April to November.
Three more plots will follow.
If anyone is interested in reading the complete design specifications, let us know at friendsofsamsmithpark@gmail.com
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