Parkdale : In The News

Leaders in the 'locavore' movement

The New York Times Wednesday, January 09, 2013

It may be cold and snowy in Toronto, but that's not stopping anyone from firing up pizzas in Dufferin Grove Park's outdoor oven, noticed the New York Times. The NYT identifies Toronto as a leader in the "locavore" movement; a sustainability initiative that involves eating locally produced food. With more than 30 markets in the city and 90 in the region, Toronto has become a bona fide hub for locally produced food all year round.

"Toronto has embraced the trend with particular fervor," writes Sarah Wildman.

"Up until a few years ago we had hardly any markets in the city, but it has really exploded," John RichLeMonde, the director of Sorauren Park Farmers' Market, told the Times. He says markets inspire the growth of more markets, transforming neighbourhoods along the way.

Wildman writes that Dufferin Grove Park, "was once a postage stamp of green in a rough neighborhood that has vastly improved, some say because of the market's success since its arrival a decade ago. Dufferin Grove is a tremendous draw: on Friday nights, large communal dinners are cooked on site. The park has two giant outdoor wood-fired ovens where bread is baked and sold. It is also the site of a free ice skating rink."

RichLeMonde continued: "People are interested in buying more locally, and that's starting to become mainstream... There's a sense that we are building the future economy."

The Dufferin Grove Park farmer's market runs every Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. just south of Bloor and Dufferin.

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Original source: The New York Times

Toronto best Canadian city for artists

Katia Snukal,National Post Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Toronto in the best city in the country for artists, and Parkdale the best neighborhood according to the results of a recent study. As reported by The National Post the study, conducted by Hill Strategies Research group, in cooperation with the City of Toronto, found that Toronto's percentage of "cultural workers" surpassed that of every other over large city in the country.

"Toronto is Canada's top destination for artists, easily besting Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary, and Montreal, according to a new study. And in Toronto, Parkdale is top neighbourhood."

"About 22,300 artists lived in Toronto in 2006, according to a study released this week by the Hill Strategies Research group, in cooperation with the City of Toronto. Montreal was home to 13,400 artists; 8,200 in Vancouver; 5,100 in Calgary and 4,600 in Ottawa.

Toronto's most popular neighbourhood for both artists, 6%, and cultural workers, 16.3%, is Parkdale, moving up from sixth place in 2001.

Phil Henderson, a photographer and gallery director at Gallery 1313, said Parkdale has always had an artistic community.

"There's a very strong sense of community and it's almost like a small village on its own," Mr. Henderson said.

Toronto has long been trying to draw people to the city based on cultural and artistic projects, said Terry Nicholson, the city's manager of cultural affairs.

"This is not a new phenomenon. The city of Toronto, as well as the federal and provincial governments, have been investing in cultural activities for 25 years and this is the end result."

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original story National Post