You’re Invited: Celebrate the Glen Stewart Ravine Reopening May 26, 2012

You're Invited: Celebrate the Glen Stewart Ravine Reopening May 26, 2012
You're Invited: Celebrate the Glen Stewart Ravine Reopening May 26, 2012

You are invited to the following FREE event:

Glen Stewart Ravine Reopening Celebration

Saturday, May 26

11 a.m.

at Glen Manor Entrance to the Glen Stewart Ravine

285 Glen Manor Dr. E. (North of Queen Street East)

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

City of Toronto Urban Forestry staff will conduct tours of the Glen Stewart Ravine after the official remarks.

Glen Stewart Ravine is one of the City’s twelve Discovery Walks:

Toronto's Discovery Walk Map of Eastern Ravines and Beaches
Toronto's Discovery Walk Map of Eastern Ravines and Beaches
  • THE ROUTE
    • Although you can begin this Discovery Walk at any point along the route,
      • a good starting point is the northern end of the enchanting Glen Stewart Ravine (see # 1 at top of map)
      • follow this ravine down to the Lake Ontario shore
        • explore the Eastern Beaches and its boardwalk
        • along the way, you’ll visit an Art Deco water treatment plant
        • and a charming Beaches neighbourhood
  •  This Discovery Walk of Eastern Ravines and Beaches:
    • is approximately 9.1km long
    • has a walking time of about 3 hours (minimum) wherein
      • the Discovery walk path of the Glen Stewart Ravine has a walking time of about 25 minutes
    • If you walk the route of the Discovery Walk of Eastern Ravines and Beaches at a brisk pace, you will burn approximately 600 calories!
  •  THE HIKERS’ CODE:
    • Stay on the trails
      • Do not disturb wildlife
      • Keep dogs on a leash
      • Be cautious when crossing roads
      • Leave flowers and plants for others to enjoy
      • Wear suitable clothing
      • Walk with a someone — it’s safer and more fun
      • Be aware of other trail users
  • REMEMBER
    • All walks involve stairs and/or slopes
    • Walking surfaces vary and can include hard pavement, woodchips, grass, limestones fines, sand and/or bare earth
    • Steps and paths are not lighted and not cleared of ice and snow
    • Use at your own risk

Please note that park washrooms on the Glen Stewart Ravine’s Discovery Walk path are open from May to October.

The Glen Stewart Ravine is characterised by:

  • City’s Official Plan as an Environmentally Significant Area
  • a total size of 8.5 hectares for both Glen Stewart Ravine and Glen Stewart Park
    • archaeologists have found artifacts near here that date from about 4000 years ago
  • mature oak forest
    • a rare and sensitive red oak forest
  • a ground water- fed creek, Ames Creek
    • which flows through the ravine
    • is one of the few remaining natural streams in the city
  • many native plants
    • many species are rare in Toronto
  • highly sensitive features such as:
    • “storehouses of water and vegetation
    • so, when the topography – water flow or the natural plant community – is altered in any way, the ecology and function of the natural feature are also affected
    • this, in turn, impacts on forest health, water quality, flood control, wildlife habitat and natural linkages”

Today, municipal by-laws protect this ravine and the City is restoring much of the vegetation:

  • Toronto enforces protection by-laws and limit development proposals in and adjacent to ravine and natural feature areas
  • They also initiate projects, and work with community groups to restore native species and forest cover to areas currently denuded.
  • For more information on ravine areas please call 311.
  • The City of Toronto Ravine and Natural Feature Protection By-law provides for better management of public and private natural areas within the City.
    • In the areas protected by the by-law you may not, without a permit:
      • injure or destroy any tree
      • change the natural land topography, by excavation or adding soil or other materials on slopes
      • dump or place any type of debris including garden waste, leaves and branches
      • construct new or replacement structures or retaining walls

Please click here to read a great description of the Toronto Parks Department ‘s  interpretive nature trail through the Glen Stewart Ravine.

City of Toronto Contact Info:

Phone within Toronto city limits: 311

Phone outside city limits: 416-392-CITY (2489)
(can be used within Toronto if you can’t reach 311)

TTY customers: 416-338-0TTY (0889)
Fax: 416-338-0685
E-mail: 311@toronto.ca

If your matter is urgent, please call them. They are open 24/7.

Always call 911 for emergencies.

Enjoy!

ADVISORY

May 23, 2012

Glen Stewart Ravine officially reopens

Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon (Ward 32 Beaches-East York) and members of the community will celebrate the reopening of the Glen Stewart Ravine, which supports a rare and sensitive red oak forest. City of Toronto Urban Forestry staff will conduct tours of the ravine after the official remarks.

Date: Saturday, May 26
Time: 11 a.m.
Location: Glen Manor entrance to the Glen Stewart Ravine, 285 Glen Manor Dr. E, north of Queen Street East.

Toronto is Canada’s largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.7 million people. Toronto’s government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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