With spring fast upon us dog owners will be more inclined to brave the elements offered by our great outdoors. Besides, what’s a little rain and wind when compared to the snow, ice and freezing cold temperatures we’ve just endured?

There is nothing more exhilarating than watching your canine tear up the earth as he bounds through the air. And there’s no better way to let hounds fly than by setting them free. The city appreciates this, too, and allows for space in certain parks where dogs can roam off leash. Be warned, however, that dogs in city parks must be licensed and wearing a tag.

If you’re a little rusty in the dog-walking department or you’re new to the city, here’s our unofficial guide to some of the area’s best parks for strolling off-leash with your pooch.

Bickford Park

Located south of Bloor and Christie Pits is this 2.8-hectare green space in the heart of Little Italy. In addition to its off-leash area, the park also features two ball diamonds and two bocce courts.

Cedarvale Park

At 1611 Bathurst Street is a huge urban green space that cuts a diagonal swath through the Cedarvale neighbourhood which is located west of Bathurst Street between St. Clair Avenue and Eglinton Avenue. The park features an enclosed off-leash area for dogs in addition to tennis courts, a skating rink and an innovative environmental education program.

Clarence Square Park

Is a small, shady park located at Spadina and Wellington that offer dogs and their masters a decent size area to run or stroll leash free.

High Park

As the city’s crown jewel of green spaces, High Park is not only Toronto’s biggest park but one of its most scenic. Its off-leash section is known as Dog Hill and it boasts lots of seating, washrooms and pet drinking fountains. While there check out the High Park Zoo, Grenadier Café and some of the park’s historical landmarks. Don’t forget to enjoy the views.

Pawsway

The PawsWay at 245 Queens Quay West is Canada’s first pets-allowed indoor eatery. Dogs can dine and then meander about indoors and unencumbered in their very own 3,700 square feet of space. Now that’s doggy heaven.

Sir Winston Churchill Park

Sir Winston Churchill Park is an enormous park north of the Annex, where the off-leash area is part of a nice nature walk between the north and south ends.

Soaureren Avenue Park

Soaureren Avenue Park in Toronto’s Roncesvalles neighbourhood is situated on a former bus garage that was slated to become a storage facility for city vehicles. Thanks to vocal residents, who objected to the plan, the park is home to an off-leash area for dogs as well as a farmer’s market and a field house for community gatherings.

Trinity Bellwoods Park

     Trinity Bellwoods Park’s off-leash area, which is known as         the Dog Bowl, is secluded in a ravine in the middle of the park. The bowl offers a sort of separation from the rest of this large urban    park and good sight lines to keep an eye on your pets.

Vermont Square Park

Vermont Square Park at 819 Palmerston Ave. offers Annex dog owners a little piece of unfenced grass tucked away from busy street traffic.

Wychwood Barns Park

Wychwood Barns Park provides a safe fenced area to protect pups from busy traffic. The small, off-leash area offers picnic tables and a drinking fountain. Bring your dogs on weekends and enjoy the farmer’s market.

Revive Your Home’s Curb Appeal

Whether you’re thinking of selling your house or staying put, creating curb appeal is something every home owner seems to aspire to. Having an admiration worthy home is something many of us yearn for and some of us spend serious time and money trying to achieve.

There’s no better time than now to dust off the cobwebs, pack up winter gear and roll out springtime. Here is our must-do checklist for adding a bit of curb appeal:

The Front Door

As the home’s focal point, your front door should be inviting and attractive. It should say, ‘You’re welcome here.’ Make sure it’s clean for starters. Paint it a pretty, eye-catching colour. Think of changing the hardware or adding an attractive door knocker. Finally, consider adorning it with an attractive spring wreath or door decoration.

What’s Your Number?

Is your house number clear and easy to read? Walk across the street to see yours. You don’t want the numbers blocked by shrubs or trees and it’s best if they’re placed near an outside light so the pizza delivery person can find you in the dark. Also, try to position the numbers horizontally because they are easier to read than if laid out vertically.

Garden in a Pot

Adding to that welcoming feeling is a grouping of spring plants near your front door. Depending on your space place one great big pot or three various sized ones on your porch or the walkway near your front door. Providing your steps are wide enough, you can also use the sides of your front stairs to arrange pots bursting with spring blooms. Hanging pots of plants also lend curb appeal.

Pretty Up Your Porch

Many older city houses have a front porch ideal for watching the world go by or just being a nosy neighbour. Regardless, your porch can be an extension of your summertime living space so throw down an outdoor rug, a table and some patio furniture. Decorate your space with favourite colours and tchotchkes such as lanterns, pillows and candles. You’ll never want to go indoors.

Grass & Flower Beds

Is your lawn looking a little tired after winter’s abuse? You may need to reseed your grass or replace patches of it. Cover your flower beds with natural mulch such as leaves, sawdust or shredded bark so they retain moisture longer and look even and finished.

Wash Windows & Siding

There’s nothing like clean windows and spotless siding to draw the eye. Try using a power washer or simply a regular hose with a washing attachment.

Look Up

Your roof should get a once over. Curling shingles or those that are crumbling should be looked at by a professional.

Come the warmer temperatures, our longing for renewal, shine, even a little spit and polish grows stronger with each passing day.

Spring cleaning is somehow more tolerable than regular cleaning simply because, well, it’s springtime. Add to that ways to clean that don’t pollute or waste valuable resources and you have an activity that’s practically heaven-sent.  So let’s get to it. 

Start by opening up your windows and letting all that fresh air inside your home. You’ll likely need to clean your windows so using a mixture of water and vinegar is a good green way to start. Wipe them clean with newspaper for a lint-free shine. Wash curtains and sheers. Dust shades and blinds. If yours are really grimy you may want to soak them in the bathtub or laundry sink. As the eyes of a home, the windows play an important role in maintaining its appeal. Don’t forget to clean your interior windows and window ledges as well.

The entryway or hallway of your home suffers a fair bit of abuse with the comings and goings of family members, friends and pets. Use an all-natural all-purpose cleaner to wipe away mud, salt stains and grime. Vacuum out your closet and de-clutter. Hang something fresh and spring like on the outside of your door.

Vinegar is a great cleaner for most floors. Mix it with some rubbing alcohol and a few drops of dishwashing detergent. Area rugs will need a good going over after winter’s assault. Sprinkle baking soda on your rugs to eliminate odors. Be sure to vacuum both side of your rug.

Use old athletic socks turned inside out to dust your home. Just cover your hand with the sock and start dusting.

Springtime is the right time to get rid of clothes you haven’t worn and other household items that have been left to collect dust. Consider donating gently used items to charity, where they can get another life. Opt for tearing up old absorbent articles of clothing and towels to add to your rag bag. Think of the money you’ll save on paper towels. 

Remember to go easy on the toxic chemicals. Many household cleaning supplies, while safe in small doses, may have longer term side effects. Volatile organic compounds, phosphates, petrochemicals and chlorine bleach have been linked to various health concerns. Instead, stock up on kitchen essentials that with a little finesse on your part do a beautiful job of making your home sparkle. Vinegar, baking soda, lemon, borax and essential oils either on their own or in various combinations make great eco-friendly cleaners that easily match or exceed store-bought products.

There’s no need to choke back noxious fumes or waste gobs of paper and water when spring cleaning. And while old habits die hard, it’s not a bad idea to stop and think can I clean in a way that’s safer, less toxic and generally kinder to the planet.

Come celebrate spring by taking part in an historic walking tour of the West Annex on Sunday, April 26.
Freeman Real Estate is again hosting one of its free neighbourhood tours that will take participants on a trip down memory lane thanks to local history buff and retired school teacher Marilyn Spearin. As a resident of the West Annex, Marilyn will point out significant historic sites and buildings in addition to noting the homes of illustrious historic figures and the origins of the neighbourhood’s street names.

The walk begins at 1 p.m. and participants are asked to meet outside of Freeman Real Estate at 988 Bathurst St. just before that time. It runs about one hour and explores the area between Bloor Street West to the CPR tracks north of Dupont Street and from Bathurst on the west to Kendal/Dalton to the east.

The historic homes in Toronto’s Annex were built largely from the 1880s to early 1900s and they are great examples of a wide assortment of architectural styles including Victorian, Queen Anne, Edwardian, Georgian, English cottage and Romanesque.

Expect to learn about the former Cathedral of St. Alban-the-Martyr on Howland Ave. The construction of this magnificent Neo Gothic structure began in 1884 but certain events such as the death of its architect, the Boer War, WW I and the depression slowed enthusiasm and fundraising efforts. Today the church is home to St. George’s College, a private boys’ school.

Marilyn will share information about the Walmer Road Baptist Church. Built in 1889, the church at one time was the largest Baptist congregation in Canada.

We’ll see the house in which Timothy Eaton, the founder of Canada’s largest privately owned department store, lived. It’s at the corner of Lowther Ave. and Spadina.

And we’ll view the site of a gruesome murder that took place in 1915, when Charles Bert Massey was shot to death by a domestic servant, Carrie Davies. The scandal involving one of Canada’s most powerful families made international news. Davies was found not guilty of the murder.

Jane Jacobs was also a resident of the West Annex. A journalist, author and activist who influenced urban planning, she was a leader in the fight against the planned construction of the Spadina Expressway. Jacobs died in 2006 at the age of 89, but her sway on matters affecting how cities are planned and built still lives on.

The tour ends at Jean Sibelius Square at 50 Kendal Ave., where participants are invited to sit down, rest a bit and ask questions about the neighbourhood.

Those interested in taking the tour should register with Freeman Real Estate at 416-535-3103 or email us at frontdesk@freemanrealty.com.

One of the things people most love about Toronto is the ridiculous amount of fun the city has for all ages. From activities, events and museums to galleries, theatre and sports, the city offers up a wide range of family friendly things to do.  With the March Break fast approaching we thought we’d look at a few can’t-miss activities.

Wizard World Fun Park, March 15 – 22, at the Better Living Centre. This outdoor fun park includes over 20 mechanical and inflatable rides, a little tots area for children under five, arts and crafts, a large exotic petting zoo, daily shows, pony rides and more. See http://www.wizardworld.ca/ for more information.

March Break at Ontario’s Legislative Building, March 16 – 20. This free event is for families with children aged 6 – 10. Explore the historic building through a scavenger hunt, dress-up in the traditional black robes worn by Parliament and enjoy some craft time. Pre-registration is required. See http://educationportal.ontla.on.ca/en/visit-us/programs/march-break-program.

Toronto ComicCon, March 20 – 22, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Celebrating all things pop culture, ComicCon is your place if you love comic books, anime, science fiction, gaming and horror. Meet your favourite celebrities, artist and writers. Enjoy panels and workshops. And, showcase your costumes and cosplay. Get more info at http://www.comicontoronto.com/2012/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/KIDS-PROGRAMMING.pdf

Pinocchio, March 3 – 21, at Young People’s Theatre. This children’s classic comes to life in a wildly inventive new production. Recommended for kids six and up. See http://www.youngpeoplestheatre.ca/shows-tickets/pinocchio/ for more details.

Disney presents Frozen, March 18 – 22, at Rogers Centre. Join Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Kristoff and his reindeer, Sven, hosts Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and many more of your favourite Disney characters. See more at: http://www.toronto-theatre.com/theaters/rogers-centre/disney-on-ice-frozen.php#sthash.vJtNAiak.dpuf

Sing-a-Long-a Grease Friday, March 20, at the Living Arts Centre. Have you ever been to a musical and had the uncontrollable urge to burst into song? Well, now is your chance to don those pink jackets, grease up those quiffs and let your inhibitions go for an evening where you are the stars. For more info seehttp://www.singalonga.net/worldwide/canada/grease/

AGO: Art Gallery of Ontario, March 14 – 22. Enjoy nine fun-filled days of creative exploration. Enjoy beat box and drumming performances, see the amazing SOAR Rope Skipping and Brampton Acro Ropers and learn how to ‘double dutch.’ Create your own graffiti name “tags” for our tag wall, watch kid-friendly films in Jackman Hall, take a guided tour, visit the brand new Kids Gallery exhibition Pets & Me, and enjoy Drop-In creative playtime for young children. Visit http://www.ago.net/march-break-2015-drop-in-family-fun.

The Toronto Zoo, March 14 – 22. Find out how the Toronto Zoo uses Enrichment to engage animals including polar bears, otters and meerkats. Join in on the daily featured animal enrichment activity in the Education Auditorium and make an enrichment item for one of the animals. The Zoo will also host a craft area, special Keeper Talks, Enrichment demonstrations, animal encounters and more. See http://www.torontozoo.com/events/

Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, March 16 – 20.  Immerse your family in a world of 16,000 aquatic animals and discover your own underwater adventure. The Aquarium features North America’s longest underwater viewing tunnel with more than 5.7 million litres of water and over 100 interactive opportunities. Get up close and personal with three touch exhibits featuring horseshoe crabs, sharks, and rays as well as daily dive shows every 2 hours. Doors open at 8am. Arrive before 9am and receive free coffee and a snack. Visit https://www.ripleyaquariums.com/canada/marchbreak/

Kings Court at Casa Loma March 14 – 22. Discover your inner hero! Challenging gallant games, solving princely puzzles, experiencing interactive medieval theatre, making creative crafts and more. Complete the Hero’s Quest and receive your regal reward from the King’s Court. Go to http://www.libertygroup.com/casaloma/casafeature1.html for more info.

Aga Khan Museum March 14 – 22. Pick up your Family Exploration Kit at the front desk and launch your own expedition of the galleries. Go on a creature hunt, complete a pattern, or write your own adventure story (designed for children 5-12). And, don’t miss Sunday Family Days. Drop into the classrooms to participate in art games, solve puzzles, or make a fantastic animal mask. For more info see https://www.facebook.com/agakhanmuseumtoronto.

In real estate the mantra of location, location, location exists because it’s pretty much dead on. The same rule also applies to businesses. Locating in a family-friendly neighbourhood marked by ethnic and religious diversity, amazing arts and culture institutions, brisk commerce, great restaurants and lively coffee shops doesn’t automatically earn your company a formula for success. But let’s face it, given the ballyhoo a neighbourhood like that can generate, it certainly can’t hurt. 

Of course, we’re talking about the Freeman Real Estate neighbourhood, known more broadly as the Annex but more specifically as Seaton Village or the West Annex. Toronto is known as the City of Neighbourhoods with good reason. It has 140 of them. Those are official. The unofficial number of Toronto neighbourhoods is in the neighbourhood of about 240.

Award-winning Canadian novelist, playwright, actor and broadcaster Ann-Marie MacDonald uses the Annex neighbourhood as the backdrop to a number of scenes in her latest book Adult Onset. We’re proud to point out that Freeman Real Estate gets a mention twice in her latest novel as the main characters wend their way in and around Bathurst and Bloor streets.

MacDonald’s book is peppered with references to familiar haunts near our location at 988 Bathurst, which is on the west side between Bloor and Dupont. Honest Ed’s, Fiesta Farms, Secrets From Your Sister, Stephen’s Groceries (cited as Archie’s Variety in the book) and coffee shops all rate a mention.

MacDonald tells Canadian Press recently why she decided to name real-life businesses in her latest work:

“I thought: ‘Gee I’m going for it here. I’m really going to set it here, here’s Bathurst and Bloor and this may or may not fly with people,”‘  she said. “Because everyone likes to kick Toronto around. Like, internationally we’re known for some very important things but we’re not known for our neighbourhoods. And the rest of Canada likes to resent us for some fantasy of what they think Toronto is.”

We like Ann-Marie’s explanation. Thanks for giving our neighbourhood the attention it deserves.

As a nation, we’re still growing accustomed to that mid-February national holiday known as Family Day. It sort of sneaks up on us and suddenly here we are waist-deep in snow and freezing temperatures wondering what to do with an extra day off.

From the Toronto Zoo and the Ontario Science Centre to the AGO and the many great tobogganing hills in and around the city, you need not look far for exciting and interesting things to do in a city the size of Toronto. So without further delay, here are some suggestions of fun activities and events for you and your family to enjoy this weekend.

Stay Indoors

Had enough of the white stuff? If you have teen film buffs in your household suggest The Next Wave, a TIFF festival for young movie fans. The best in film from around the globe, this festival includes special guests, interactive workshops and a film challenge for young filmmakers.

If live theatre is more your thing, there is plenty to choose from. Try introducing your little ones to the delights of Snow Angel, a play for young audiences presented on the YPT Mainstage from February 10 to 19 with a special Family Day performance on February 16. Or perhaps The Heart of Robin Hood, an inventive retelling of this classic story, may be more to your liking.

If your family enjoys engines and sleek automobiles, you will want to head on down to the Canadian International AutoShow this weekend. Ooh and aah as you admire must-see vehicles on display at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. 

 Casa Loma is hosting a family-day-weekend event that honours the Pan Am Games. Team Canada athletes will be on hand to meet and greet in addition to spearheading fun activities such as gymnastics demonstrations and boxing workshops. Join in the cultural activities that include mask making, cultural dance workshops, face painting and appearances by the official Pan Am mascot Pachi.

Kids are free at the Hockey Hall of Fame this Family Day. Play simulation games, check out theatres, the greatest collection of hockey artifacts anywhere in the world, and as the crowning glory, hands-on access to the Stanley Cup. New this year is a game in which you can face-off against life-size, animated versions of today’s top players in this revitalized model rink.

History Beckons

For those who enjoy examining our past, there are a number of activities in and around the city. History buffs will thrill to participate in baking workshops in the historic kitchen at Black Creek Pioneer Village. Or sample some baking from Fort York’s historic kitchen. Children are also encouraged to try an 1812 drill class, Officers’ Sword Drill and old-fashioned games. Mackenzie House celebrates Black History Month. Learn about the Black Victorians and their publishers and newspaper journalists. Or you can experience the life of the Austin family at the Spadina Museum, where you learn what life was like in the 1920s and 1930s through music, toys and games.

Outdoorsy Family Events

Whether you’re there for a brisk free skate or nature play in the children’s garden, a clay-making workshop or to design your own bird feeder, the Evergreen Brick Works is an awesome spot that inspires sustainability and love of community for the whole family.

East enders will celebrate their eighth annual Family Day in the Beach on February 15 from noon to 4 pm. Snow and ice might rule this weekend but that makes this event all the more fun and helps to accommodate a life-size snow globe, exciting lumberjack shows, figure skating performers, live ice carving demonstrations, music and so much more. The event is free.

Another awesome free event is the HabourKIDS Skating Festival at Harbourfront. From free skating to building snow structures to cozying up with little ones during story time, this two-day festival is a must for all.

If a drive doesn’t bother you, you may want to check out the Vanishing Ice Festival at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinburg, about 45 kilometres north of Toronto. The Vanishing Ice Festival offers a series of school and community events focused on the importance of winter and ice to the environment. Participate in snowshoe hikes led by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, see live animal presentations and view the Melting Ice Sculpture.

The Danforth turns up the volume with the Winterfolk XIII Blues and Roots Festival, a combination of paid and free concerts for all ages. More than 150 artists will be performing at four venues and five stages over three days of the long Family Day weekend.

For those hearty folks who love braving the cold don’t forget the abundance of places where you can tube sled, ice skate, snowshoe, ski and snowmobile to your heart’s content.

Happy Family Day!

Kimchi is just one of the many flavours of Koreatown, a vibrant commercial strip located in the family-friendly neighbourhood of Seaton Village.

Koreatown – also known as Little Korea or K-town – is located on Bloor, just west of the Annex, between Bathurst and Christie Streets. Characterized by a combination of good Korean restaurants, high-end fashion stores, acupuncture clinics and aesthetic boutiques, Koreatown is a magnet for the city’s Korean immigrants, students and explorers who wish to discover the sights and sounds of Korean culture.

Established in 2004, Koreatown offers visitors a vast arra y of flavours, from pork bone soup and bibimbaps to walnut cake and Korean BBQ. The city’s foodie elite have been making Koreatown their favourite go-to dining destination as Korean food has earned a top spot on trending culinary lists for a number of years now.

The Korean Grill House, Arisu, Sunrise H ouse and Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu are all great options. Don’t forget to sample bulgogi, a marinated beef dish, or bibimbap, an assortment of rice, veggies, raw beef, fried egg and spices. Getting used to kimchi can be something of a test because its strong smell puts people off. But many say once you get over the initial aversion you can become addicted to the stuff. Kimchi is cabbage that has been fermented in salt then spiced up with a strong chili powder mixture so it tastes kind of salty, garlicky, spicy and sweet all at the same time.

If K-town’s kimchi doesn’t grab you, maybe the karaoke will. Nestled away in the basements of many retail shops, Koreatown is known for its lively assortment of karaoke bars, some of which operate into the wee hours. But if your vocal strains aren’t on par with Adele or Sam Smith you can still sing to your heart’s content minus the embarrassment of doing so in front of an audience. That’s right. You can hire your own private karaoke room. BMB Karaoke and Music Studio on Bloor West is one of the largest karaoke bars in the city. Get a private room and sing your heart out. They’ll also serve you noodles if you ask.

Of course, Koreatown is a relatively new Toronto neighbourhood with roots that trace back about 50 years thanks, in part, to more liberal immigration policies the Canadian government helped pave the way for an influx of Korean immigrants to Toronto. According to the 2011 Canada Census, Toronto has the country’s largest concentration of Koreans, numbering nearly 65,000.

The past hundred years have not been kind to Korea, which was annexed by Japan in 1910 and later divided by civil war in the 1950s. Today the country is split by the communist north and a republic democracy in the south, which is where nearly all Korean immigrants come from.

Christie Pits Park is home to the DANO Spring Festival, an annual Koreatown signature event that features martial arts demonstrations, exotic dancing and music and attracts as many as 200,000 visitors. The 22^nd DANO festival will take place on the first weekend of June.

Interested in moving to the Koreatown area? Check out some of the current homes and condos for sale near Koreatown!

If you want to experience life in far off places without boarding a plane the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema is the place for you.

The space at 506 Bloor West has housed a theatre for more than a century and todayacts as a beacon for the city’s documentary films, providing audiences with an up close and often personal window to the world around us. From punk music to Chinese food to Royal Ballet performances and stories about aging beauties, the Bloor Cinema, as it was most recently known, has something for everyone.

Opened in 1913 the theatre, which is located in the heart of the Annex, was originally named the Madison Picture Palace. As one of Toronto’s first picture palaces, the theatre would soon be joined by Allen’s Bloor Theatre (later Lee’s Palace) and the Alhambra Theatre, which both opened in 1919 near Bloor and Bathurst.

In 1940 the theatre was rebuilt and all that was left of the original building were two side walls. The following year the theatre opened as the Midtown and would become a popular movie house throughout the ‘40s and ‘50s, known for matinees and horror flicks.

With the advent of television, the number of movie goers began dwindling by the mid 1960s. The theatre would change hands several times over the years, from Famous Players’ naming it the Capri in 1967 to it being rechristened a few years later as the Eden, which ran mainly adult films.

In 1979, the theatre was renamed the Bloor Theatre. It offered first-run movies to appeal to the tastes of the families who were increasingly calling the Annex home. By 1980, Carm Bordonaro and his partners would take over the theatre, which eventually led to the Bordonaro family purchasing the building in 2010 to ensure the theatre’s survival.

The fate of the cinema was paramount for the Bordonaros, who turned away a number of property developers for the much-coveted land before finding a simpatico buyer in Toronto-based Blue Ice Group, a film financing and production company, and its partner, Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival.

Following renovations in 2012 that upgraded the cinema’s projection and sound capabilities, seating, restrooms and lobby facilities, the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema reopened in March 2012. Today, the cinema is home to first-run Canadian and international documentaries in addition to special documentary presentations such as the Doc Soup screening series. It also hosts many of the city’s independent film festivals and offers audiences some repertory and specialized fiction film programming.

Grassroots community organizations such as the St. Alban’s Boys and Girls Club are a big part of what makes Toronto neighbourhoods such great places to call home. 

The club, which is headquartered in Vermont Square Park near Bathurst and Bloor, adheres to the values of inclusion, compassion, caring and safety for the thousands of children and young adults who have entered its doors. The organization’s mission statement kind of says it all: We provide a safe, supportive place where children and youth can experience new opportunities, overcome barriers, build positive relationships and develop confidence and skills for life.

“I think it’s a key component to the community and that it has a positive impact,” says Anna Sturino, the club’s director of operations. “I believe for some families it has probably saved them and, for some children, it has been their only form of family.”

What began as a recreational group for boys in 1949 thanks to Toronto police inspector Bill Bolton would eventually be renamed the St. Alban’s Boys and Girls Club in 1978. This, of course, was long after girls started using the club’s programs and services as early as 1960.

In 1999, the club merged with the Jane and Finch Boys and Girls Club, which allowed it to grow and offer outreach, programs and services at 18 locations in the Jane and Finch, Weston-Mount Dennis, Lawrence Heights and Bathurst and Dupont communities.

For a nominal membership fee, members get access to the building and its programs and services, which are many. The club, which is open seven days a week, offers programs for toddlers, pre-schoolers, school-aged children, youth and young adults.

Is your little Donatella Versace dying to design her own Grade 8 grad dress? She might want to check out Fashion Class. Got a wee Shaquille O’Neal on your hands? Sign up for basketball at St. Alban’s.  Got a miniature Bill Nye the Science Guy in your home? Let them see how science helps in the unfolding of magic tricks and mentalism.

Aquatic programs are available in addition to nutrition and wellness, various sports such as soccer and volleyball, skateboarding and ball hockey.  The club offers an early years program free of charge to the public as well as a preschool daycare program, an after-school program for children six to 12 and youth programs for those 13 and up.

A creative arts department is available for those interested in dance, theatre and drama, animation, photography and music.

St. Alban’s also offers programs and services geared to at-risk youth such as Roger’s Raising the Grade, a program that pairs youth with adult mentors. In addition, there is also a homework assistance club.

Many of the programs’ facilitators, mentors and frontline staff are former club members or college and university students who are working toward careers as youth workers, teachers, recreationists or social workers.

“It feels like a family here,” says Sturino. “Everyone belongs and is accepted and we do anything we can for people. I think we’re only successful because of companies like Freeman Real Estate, who have supported us and come on board to help with fundraising events in support of this community.”