A Home. A Job. A Friend. A Neighbourhood. | | |
Hi Neighbour,
My name is Kerry, and I’m PARC’s Director of Communications and Development. I’m a long time Parkdale resident who loves meeting people and building relationships through the stories we share. I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself, in the hope of getting to know our neighbours and supporters an bit more. So please feel free to reach out to me and introduce yourself anytime. I would love the opportunity to get to know you.
Since PARC last connected with you, we’ve hosted our Halloween festivities, taken a group of members out to the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, and were honoured to partner with the Dale Ministries to memorialize PARC members.
We’re also gearing up for the holiday season and preparing for winter. That means more hot meals, warm clothing, and extended drop-in hours from December through April to help keep our community safe and supported during the colder months.
Thank you for being a part of PARC. Your support means a lot to us. If you’d like to get more involved, have any questions, or just want to introduce yourself, feel free to reach out at info@parc.on.ca.
So let’s cozy up with a hot drink and get into our November updates!
Kerry from PARC 🌳
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Halloween in the Drop-In
PARC members got into the spirit of Halloween with a week full of frightfully fun activities! Members showed off their creativity in our Pumpkin Carving Contest where ten pumpkins were submitted to see which of our members had the best carving skills.
Our Movie Night featured a screening of the cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show, complete with singing, snacks, and audience call-outs. And on Halloween day, members did The Monster Mash and came out to our Friday Music drop-in, celebrating the season together.
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PARC Memorial - November 2025
On November 4, the PARC community came together to remember and honour our members who have passed. The PARC Memorial was a long-standing tradition placed on hold during the pandemic, and this year, members and staff expressed how deeply they wished to see it return. Thanks to the partnership of The Dale Ministries, our drop-in staff hosted a heartfelt service filled with music, food, and shared memories.
We were also joined by Vivian Recollet from Niiwin Wendaanimak (Four Winds) Indigenous Wellness Program, who reminded us that though our loved ones may have passed, our conversations with them need not end. The drop-in saw many past members who took the day to return to PARC and celebrate the lives of their friends and family.
We are honoured to continue this tradition and will share details about future memorial gatherings. Everyone in the community, who would like to pay their respects, is welcome to join.
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Agricultural Winter Fair Outing
Our members took a trip to the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, and honestly, this friendly goat may qualify as one of our best memories from the fall.
This is exactly why PARC puts so much emphasis on recreation. For a lot of our members, events like this can be challenging to access. That may be due to cost, transportation, ability, or any other reason! We’re so proud to get to support our community through affordable housing programs, harm reduction, and food access. But at the heart of PARC is providing access to the experiences that make life feel full to our members: friendship, nature, movement, laughter, and fun!
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Extended Hours Begin December 1st
When the weather outside is frightful, PARC keeps their doors open longer. From December 1st, 2025 to April 15th, 2026 - PARC will be operating under our extended drop-in hours.
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Monday – Thursday: 9:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.
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Friday: 12:30 P.M. to 4:30 P.M.
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Weekends & Holidays: 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.
This will also include an additional meals from Monday to Thursday! Free meals for the community will be served at 9:30 AM, 11:30 AM, and 4:30 PM.
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PARC 'Supportive Housing Fund' Catalogue
December is a big month for charities, and we know it can feel like there’s a lot of noise, with not a lot of transparency as to where your donation is going.
That’s why PARC created the 'Supportive Housing Fund' (SHF) Catalogue. It highlights some of the most urgent repairs needed across our geared-to-income units. But these fixes aren't covered by our government funding. And unlike corporate landlords, we refuse to pass these costs on to our low-income community members. So we’re turning to you for support.
PARC’s affordable housing is a big project, and big projects come with big goals. Since September, we’ve raised $10,446 for the Supportive Housing Fund. For Giving Tuesday, we’re aiming to double that.
You’ll see a few more emails from us in the next month as we share stories, updates, and ways to get involved. Please know how much your support impacts the lives of our members!
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Join PARC Holiday Marketplace on Dec. 5th
PARC has thrived for decades thanks to a network of partners who believe in strong, caring communities. United Way Greater Toronto has been one of those incredible partners, and we want to give back.
On Friday, December 5, 2025, join us for the PARC Marketplace, a community fundraiser in support of United Way. Our member bakers are preparing a table full of homemade treats for sale, with all proceeds going to United Way. PARC’s knitting group will also be offering handcrafted items perfect for winter gifting!
Interested in putting your baking skills to work for a good cause?
Email info@parc.on.ca to get involved!
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PARC's Hockey Season has begun! Games take place every Monday, 1:30 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. at McCormick Arena! Do you have adult-sized hockey gear or winter clothing items to donate? Send us an email at donations@parc.on.ca.
Items can be brought in during our drop-in hours, or you can email to arrange a time outside of the hours below. During drop-in hours, a receptionist will be able to take the donation. 🏒
Mon–Thurs: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Fri: 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Sat, Sun & Holidays: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
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