Spring Festival Attractions: Comic Books, Roadrunners, Growing Veggies, Drums & Lanterns!

Posted on April 21, 2016 by Parkdale Village

WOW 2.2 weeks to go till our May 7th Spring into Parkdale Sidewalk Festival – this year we promise to be bigger & more colorful with added family activities & exciting promotions taking place along Queen Street West. We’ll be announcing activities, performers and deals on a weekly basis. We hope you’ll be enticed to re-explore, re-discover and support over 100 participating community organizations, artists, musicians & shops.

MYseum on the Move!: B.A.N.D and Myseum of Toronto want you to share personal photos, objects and memorabilia that represent what Toronto means to you.

Parkdale Roadrunners: Parkdales running club wants to make little art with you! Drop by their booth to screen your own award and tell them what makes you #1. Snag a photo on the podium with your award and let’s celebrate everyone that makes up the goodness that we call Parkdale!

Free Comic Book Day!: May 7th marks the 15th Anniversary of Free Comic Book Day and what better way to celebrate then by checking out West End Comics!

Spring Art: Join the Skeir Gallery & The Queen West Art Crawl for community chalk painting and fresh lemonade! Plus check out their spring themed art for sale!

Making Room Community Arts: Join this radically inclusive, multi-disciplinary arts company as they use blueprint designs to create lanterns that will help them further imagine what to do in Masaryk Park.

Eat Grow Share: Have you ever wanted to learn how to grow your own vegetables, then join Greenest City and learn how to plant using super efficient growing containers – let’s get growing Parkdale!

Saboumando: Enjoy this drum and dance collective which celebrates the music, dance and culture of Guinea, West Africa.

Musical Bike: Hop aboard this Interactive travelling Art Exhibit and drum your heart out!

Yummy Stuff: Enjoy cupcake & cookie decorating, plus lots of Mother’s Day cupcake specials!

Spring into Parkdale – Call for Volunteers & Team Leaders

Posted on April 19, 2016 by Parkdale Village

Do you Love Parkdale, if so, the Parkdale Village BIA needs your help in lending a friendly hand during our outdoor community event on Saturday May 7^th, 2016 – The Spring into Parkdale Sidewalk Festival!

If you’re friendly and excited to support the community and local businesses, please email Estuardo Ibarra at info@parkdalevillagebia.com and briefly share your availability, past volunteer work and duties you think you would be suitable for.

Up to 40 Volunteer positions are available for a series of four (4) to six (6) hour shifts, happening between 9:00am & 8:00pm as well as some paid Team Leader positions.

Duties may include:

Face Painting
Assisting at the Photo Booth
Assisting Event Photographer
Assisting Performers
Booth set up and tear down (must be able to lift 40 pounds)
Helium Tank/Balloon Operator
Cotton Candy Operator
Craft Workshops
Promotional Product Distribution
Cleanup crew
Survey Outreach

Volunteers may be required to participate in a training session.

We look forward to working with you!

Spring into Parkdale Sidewalk Festival

The Parkdale Village Business Improvement Area (PVBIA) invites you to Spring into Parkdale Sidewalk Festival on Saturday May 7^th, 2016!

Time to shake off those winter blues and visit Parkdale Village’s Queen Street West this spring for a weekend filled with sidewalk sale deals and free fun for the family.

Come out and meet shop owners, crafters, artists and community groups that make up our thriving neighbourhood! Throughout the day enjoy some special attractions such as live performances, free craft workshops, Markets and surprise giveaways!

Spring Festival Attractions – 200 Foot Quilt, Tibetan dance, Tread on it & Volunteers Needed!

Posted on April 14, 2016 by Parkdale Village

The countdown has started – only 3.5 weeks to go till our May 7th Spring into Parkdale Sidewalk Festival – this year we promise to be bigger & more colorful with added family activities & exciting promotions taking place along Queen Street West. To kick things off we’ll be announcing activities, performers and deals on a weekly basis. We hope you’ll be enticed to re-explore, re-discover and support over 100 participating community organizations, artists, musicians & shops.

Tread on it & 18blocks: Take part in an interactive t shirt making workshop with artist Jeff Mann by treading patterns on shirts using recycled car parts, tires and paint! Do you have new, unwanted shirts you would like to donate to this activity, then contact 18blocks today and help us reuse & recycle!

Stitching Our Own Safety Net – What does a 200 foot quilt look like? Come check out this art piece made by over 500 individuals and groups which advocates for issues effecting low income Ontarians.

Tibetan Dance: Enjoy traditional dances and songs performed by the Tibetan Canadian Cultural Centre Opera Group.

Creating Together Family Resource Centre – Explore Family services while your little ones enjoy kids crafts, the sand table and a photo opp with the centre’s adored Frog & Elephant mascot!

This Little Piggy: Join our west end baby boutique for face painting and an outdoor Pop Up shop featuring gently used items by ‘Little White Sneakers’!

Volunteers: Interest in volunteering at our Spring Sidewalk Festival, Call for Volunteers – Spring into Parkdale – 2016

Spring Festival Attractions – Art with Linda, The Pan Piper & Parkdale Flea

Posted on April 8, 2016 by Parkdale Village

The countdown has started – only 4 weeks to go till our May 7th Spring into Parkdale Sidewalk Festival – this year we promise to be bigger & more colorful with added family activities & exciting promotions taking place along Queen Street West. To kick things off we’ll be announcing activities, performers and deals on a weekly basis. We hope you’ll be enticed to re-explore, re-discover and support over 100 participating community organizations, artists, musicians & shops.

Art with Linda: Painting Parkdale – Environmental Art Educator Extraordinaire Linda Naccarato invites children, families and community members of all ages to add their mark to a sidewalk/street mural mapping our neighbourhood. Using natural, terracotta-based paint, participants will paint their how they see the community, their favorite spots, and dreams for the future of Parkdale!

Parkdale Flea: Browse this special Spring Festival edition of the Parkdale Flea Market, bringing together some of the best and most unique products from Antiques, Vintage, Collectables, Local Artisans and Designers. 1266 Queen St W @ Noble

Parkdale Animal Hospital: Baked goods & prizes! Come out to support the Farley Foundation and you could win some wonderful raffle items for you and your furry friend. 1654 Queen St W @ Triller

The Pan Piper: Parkdales very own Pan Piper Hameed Shaq brings us the sounds of Trinidad and Tobago.

Stay tuned for weekly updates, official schedules and locations!

May 7th Spring into Parkdale with us for our annual Sidewalk Festival!

Posted on March 29, 2016 by Parkdale Village

We’re so excited to start sharing details about our 4th annual Spring into Parkdale Sidewalk Festival on Sat May 7th! This season we hope to introduce you to new businesses and re-discover some of the old gems; offering special deals, discounts, gift with purchases, come out & support our thriving business community. Step into places you’ve read about and never had a chance to discover like; Old Trunk Antiques & Contrast Living, Love & Greed and Passion for the Past, Glory of India and Himalayan Kitchen, BAND Gallery, West End Comics and Cadillac Lounge, Mata and Mother India, Parkdale Flea and 4 Your Hair Extensions, The Well, PARC and so many more!

Parkdale has so many incredible community organization’s, artists and crafters, and we’re excited to share the stage with them. Stay tuned for exciting local artisans presenting interactive fun for the whole family and weekly attraction and partner announcements. Plus, this year we hope to bring a few side road closures with added community activities – Stay posted via #springintoparkdale on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!

We hope your Parkdale family will join ours on May 7!

Spring into Parkdale Sidewalk Festival – Call for Artists & Entertainers

Posted on March 10, 2016 by Parkdale Village

Planning has kicked off for the 4th Annual Spring into Parkdale Sidewalk Festival on Sat May 7th from 11am-6pm!!! If you’re a local artist, crafter, performer, musician or busker and want to share your talent with the community, we would love to hear from you. We have a few spots remaining within the ‘FUN’ zones created along Queen Street West for the Spring into Parkdale Sidewalk Festival and you may just be the perfect fit.

Please submit the following details by Friday April 1 via email to director@parkdalevillagebia.com

Name of Applicant
Name of Band/Artist
Describe your act/medium (abstract dance, kids performer, visual art)
Short artist bio (140 characters)
Contact information: contact name, cell, email, and website
Have you recently shared your performance, crafts, art at an event?
List any equipment and/or space you would require (table, technical needs, wall for mounting)

View photos from last years event here.

Commercial Façade Improvement Grant

Posted on March 9, 2016 by Parkdale Village

The Commercial Façade Improvement Program provides funding to commercial and private property owners to redesign, renovate or restore commercial or industrial building façades. The eligible improvements include, but are not limited to, brick cleaning, restoration, wheelchair accessibility, doors, signage, windows, lighting and masonry.

The submission deadline is Thursday, May 19, 2016 or when all 2016 funds have been allocated.

What are the benefits?

Improving the appearance of your building’s façade shows that you care about your property. In addition, your neighborhood streetscape is improved. This provides a more welcoming environment to work, shop and live.

How is funding calculated?

Half of the cost of eligible improvements to commercial or industrial building façades is covered and will be based on the lowest contractor estimate submitted with the application. The minimum funding is $2,500 with a maximum of $10,000 for non-corner properties. A corner property is eligible for maximum funding of $12,500.

Who is eligible?

- You must be the property owner or have the permission of the property owner
- Your building must be located in a Business Improvement Area (BIA) that has been in existence for five (5) or more years
- You must not owe outstanding taxes to the City
- You must not start your improvement project before the funding application is approved
- You must have not received the maximum façade improvement funding for your property in previous years.

How do I apply?

Applicant contacts the City’s BIA Office to determine eligibility
Phone 416-392-1005
Fax: 416-392-1380
E-mail: msaunder@toronto.ca
Applicant completes application form
City reviews the application. Funding review committees are composed of local architects, business owners, historical experts and other community representatives and make recommendations to City Council
City approves or declines the application
City issues funding cheques to successful applicants upon completion of the agreed-upon work.

Graffiti Maintenance Program: Request for Quote

Posted on February 24, 2016 by Parkdale Village

The Parkdale Village BIA seeks a contractor to facilitate Graffiti Removal at various locations throughout the Parkdale Village Business Improvement Area for a nine (9) month period, starting April 8, 2016 and ending December 31, 2016.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE

All RFQ documents are to be submitted electronically by Friday March 18^th, 5:00pm to director@parkdalevillagebia.com. Please direct all inquiries concerning this RFQ document via email to Anna Bartula at director@parkdalevillagebia.com or by phone (416) 536-6918.

Download RFQ and related document here:

February Newsletter: Parkdale Love, MPAC & Digital Main Street

Posted on February 2, 2016 by Parkdale Village BIA

Our February Newsletter is out and covers items such as:

Parkdale Love: Thank you to everyone who supported the Parkdale Village 137th Year Anniversary campaign & reception! Photos from our community reception are now on Facebook & Website courtesy of photographer Kendra Marjerrison. Our campaign saw over 100 community leaders, shops & residents get together to celebrate our rich history and make connections. Additionally, we saw great imitative from the many shops offering incentives during the campaign and a big thank you to the shop owners who provided door prizes for the reception. We encourage you to continue the Parkdale Love, meet your neighbors, promote each others businesses, work together and help build another 137 years of Parkdale!
2016 Event & Marketing Snapshot:A reminder that the 2016 Event & Marketing snapshot has been distributed, please check your mailboxes, additionally our website for details. We have started to receive inquiries about participating in upcoming events or requesting support in promoting your marketing/promotions, remember we are here to help so please reach out to us.
Vandalism: We have seen increased damage and vandalism to our winter floral plants within the planters this season. If you see any vandalism please contact us, likewise if the planters are damaged or need to be cleaned out.
Graffiti Removal Contract: In the coming weeks we will be posting a Request for Estimate regarding the extended maintenance contract for Graffiti Removal within our BIA. The RFE will be available online, once a vendor is awarded the contract we will notify members about the extended Graffiti removal service and how this may benefit your business even more.

Digital Main Street: We’re excited to announce that the Parkdale BIA is taking part in a City of Toronto & TABIA pilot project ‘Digital Main Street Portal’. Free to BIA members, the Digital Main Street Portal helps small businesses navigate the often confusing and overwhelming online universe. From helping set up a Facebook business page to deciding what Point of Sale system is the right choice, the Digital Main Street Portal is Toronto small businesses guide to all things digital.A select group of BIA businesses & organizations have been chosen for the pilot phase and will be contacted within the next few weeks. If you have any questions about this program please contact us today.

MPAC Property Assessment Session: As always, MPP Cheri DiNovo will be hosting a residential MPAC information Session to assist residents with questions they may have about their assessment, how it works and what to do if they disagree with the assessment.
Tuesday February 9th @ 7:00pm
Runnymede Library (2178 Bloor St W)

Check out our Photos from the Parkdale Village 137th Year Anniversary Reception!

Posted on January 28, 2016 by Parkdale Village BIA

The Parkdale Village BIA thanks all the shop owners, community leaders and residents for joining us at last weeks 137th Year Anniversary Reception and for shopping the hood throughout the weekend! Thank you to all the shops who offered deals and provided door prizes!

More photos are up on our Facebook!

Photos: Kendra Marjerrison

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