Parkdale Activity-Recreation Centre (PARC) | October 2026 | View as Webpage | | |
A Home. A Job. A Friend. A Neighbourhood.
Hi Neighbour,
This newsletter is full of reminders of what makes our community special. From members having a say in how PARC is run, to a week away at camp, to preparing for 42 new tenants at 11 Brock, so much of what we do is centred on making sure people have a place to belong, opportunities to connect, and the support they need to move forward.
You’ll also find a recap of our evening with Ward 4 candidates and our partners at The Green Line, a reminder to vote this Monday, October 26, and a chance to share your thoughts on Parkdale through the Youth CivicCorps survey. And if you’re out on Halloween, come find our member artists at the Parkdalien Night Market, presented by our friends at Project Parkdale.
Thanks for being part of our community.
- Kerry
| | Greg brings his love of food to PARC | |
Greg has spent decades in the food industry, from butcher shops to trade shows. He found PARC in a little red booklet listing places to eat across Toronto and stayed for what he found: “a small, village-type community.”
He’s been at the Drop-In every day since early summer. Now he’s talking with our team about how he fits in at PARC.
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42 neighbours moving into 11 Brock
This winter, 42 people will move into permanent homes at 11 Brock Avenue, a new supportive housing building owned by the City of Toronto and operated by PARC. Each apartment has its own kitchen and bathroom; rent is geared to income, and on-site supports are available to help tenants thrive in their new homes.
| | A committee of 20 Parkdale volunteers meets every month to help get things ready for our new tenants. The committee has been organizing community activities, creating a neighbourhood walking tour and resource guide, partnering with local businesses on household basics for welcome baskets, and planning a welcome event for tenants once they’ve moved in. Thank you to Canadian Down & Feather, who are working with the Welcome Committee to provide pillows and duvets for our tenants! | | |
We are working to make sure that every tenant will arrive to their new home with a welcome package with things they’ll need as they exit homelessness, like towels, bed linens, pots and pans, and cleaning supplies. Each welcome package costs $200 and includes essential household items to help tenants settle into their new homes.
Our goal is to raise $8,400 to prepare all 42 homes, and every donation brings us closer to making that possible.
| | A week of lakefront days, and campfire nights | | |
This month 34 PARC members and 8 staff took a coach four hours north for our annual camping trip at Camp Cedar Ridge, a lakefront lodge with 150 acres of trails to explore for the week.
Members took part in all the camp has to offer including archery, rock climbing, the high ropes course, canoeing, kayaking and guided nature hikes. PARC staff organized special activities for members like creative writing on the waterfront, fishing, arts and crafts, spa night and musical campfire circles. As is tradition, we closed the week with our annual Talent Show and Camp Awards Banquet, to recognize the talents, contributions and care that our members bring to the PARC community.
“For the first time in 40-something years, I put a fishing line in the water. And I caught the biggest perch I’ve ever seen.” – PARC member
Camp is free for members, and spots are filled by lottery each year. Many of our campers live on fixed incomes that make a trip out of the city difficult to afford. With five days of fresh air, new experiences and time with friends, camp captures the spirit of PARC’s recreation programs, making meaningful experiences accessible to members.
| | Members have their say at PARC’s AGM | | |
On September 24, members and neighbours joined our Board of Directors in the Drop-In for PARC’s 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM).
PARC’s Board of Directors is made up of 50% member directors and 50% community directors, bringing together lived experience and community expertise. From the beginning, PARC has called the people who access our services members rather than clients, recognizing their role in shaping the organization. Voting at the AGM gives members a voice in PARC’s governance, including choosing member representatives on the Board and sharing what matters most to them.
At this year’s AGM, we welcomed new Community Director, Maria Martinez, elected to a first term and serving as PARC’s new Treasurer. Maria has built her career in mission-driven organizations, where her focus has always been making sure strong, transparent finances translate into better support for the people those organizations serve. We also thanked outgoing directors Beryl-Ann Jacinta Mark, Board Co-Chair, and Andrea Hatala, Member at Large.
| | A big thank you goes to our kitchen team for the incredible AGM spread for our guests. The meal was a lovely reminder of the important role food plays in bringing our community together. PARC has 13 member employees working in our kitchen, helping to prepare the two free meals a day we provide to members. Last year they served 93,337 meals, nearly 10% higher than what we served the year prior. | | | Take a look at what we were able to achieve last year, thanks to your support. | | |
Parkdale gets ready to vote
On October 22, PARC welcomed local residents and our community partners at The Green Line for an evening of discussion and activities ahead of Toronto’s municipal election this Monday, October 26.
Residents heard from Ward 4 (Parkdale–High Park) candidates Diana Chan McNally, Nadia Guerrera, Debbie King and Vanessa Raponi, took part in a Build Your Toronto budgeting activity, and joined Story Circles to discuss how decisions at City Hall affect everyday life.
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The Youth CivicCorps also attended to share more about Civic Action, a project exploring how local Parkdale residents experience social services and what could make the neighbourhood work better for everyone.
Share your perspective on Parkdale through the Civic Action survey, and find your voting location before Monday.
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The Parkdaliens are invading on Halloween
On Saturday, October 31, from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., the Parkdalien Hallowe’en Night Market takes over Elm Grove Avenue at Queen West. Expect vintage clothing and local vendors, DJs into the night, and a Thriller dance at 9 p.m.
Come in costume! There will be Best Costume contests for pets, kids, adults and families, so now’s the time to plan that matching outfit with your dog.
PARC will have a couple of tables at the market, where some of our member artists will be selling their original work. Before the market opens, we’ll have a Halloween art sale in the Drop-In at 1499 Queen St. W. from 2 to 4:30 p.m.
Thank you to Project Parkdale and Heart Market for presenting this community event. It’s a great chance to see the neighbourhood come together.
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