York Quay Neighbourhood Association covers Toronto’s iconic Central Waterfront, with members in every building. YQNA is actively engaged in what shapes our neighbourhood – traffic, transit, planning, cultural and social events, policing, environment, noise, businesses, and the great urban renewal transforming Queens Quay. YQNA welcomes all residents to participate, share their ideas and enjoy our events.
Join a Dragon Team!
Dream of summer — how about joining friends and neighbours in the first York Quay Dragon Boat Team? You don’t need any special skills or be young and musclebound, just have an adventurous spirit and a taste for the outdoors. Tim MacFarlane of the non-profit Rusty Dragons offers to coach a new team on the Waterfront. Here is a team he formed for the Harbord Village Residents Association.
If enough sign up to make a team, they will practice once a week for 7 weeks in May and June. At the end, the team will paddle in the fun Canada Day Dragon Race on the Islands. There is a single registration fee of $75 for the whole experience — practices and regatta. Tim will adjust the times of practice to fit the schedules of a York Quay team, so don’t hesitate to grab this opportunity. The dragon boat training starts at the Ashbridge’s Park near Lake Shore Blv. and Woodbine Park. To join the team, contact Tim MacFarlane at tim@rustydragons.ca. Registration is now OPEN! You can register here.
Another summer dream — join the Harbourfront Canoe & Kayak Centre right in our neighbourhood, at Queens Quay W. and Rees Street. It is a hub of canoeing and kayaking activities all summer. Beginners can sign up for the “Social Paddle” on Wed-Thur-Fri evenings all summer, with trained instructors taking the group for a leisurely paddle to the island lagoons and ending with a BBQ. Boats, paddle and equipment are provided for this unique Toronto experience for all age groups.The HCKC offers training, boats and events for all skill levels in this gorgeous setting. It is a treasured Toronto tradition not to be missed! Look at their website for details or call 416 203-2277, email: ask@paddletoronto.com.
New Walking Path
A new walking path called South Linear Park has just opened in our neighbourhood. It runs east-west from Spadina Avenue to Yonge Street just north of the Gardiner Expressway. Since most of the condo tower population move around the city without a car, this green and attractive path was created in partnership with Concord Adex to get people quickly and safely on foot to Union Station and other downtown locations. The Linear Park will eventually be expanded all the way to Bathurst Street. Our city planner Al Rezoski, who has guided this project, promises to look for a better name than South Linear Park. Ideas, anyone?