Blog

Invitations will be going out to local businesses by the end of January for the First Annual Riverside District BIA Bonspiel on March 25 at the Royal Canadian Curling Club.

More than 60 BIA business owners and employees played in the inaugural bonspiel last year that was promoted as a way for BIA members to get acquainted with the curling club tucked away behind a row of houses on Broadview Ave. just north of Queen St. E.

Historic Royal Canadian Curling Patch

The 700-member curling club is one of the oldest active organizations in the Riverside District neighbourhood. Its history dates back to the Royal Canadian Volunteers, a 750-member militia regiment recruited from across Upper Canada and disbanded in 1802.

It started with the Royal Canadian Athletic Club, a group of about 100 men that evolved into the Royal Canadian Bicycle Club in 1891.

The bicycle club was located in a portion of Dingman Hall at 112 Broadview Ave., better known today as “Jilly’s.” The Toronto Evening Star wrote: “The club parlours are upholstered and furnished in the best of style and the pictures of the winning teams decorate the walls. A padded boxing room, a pool room, a card room, a smoking room, a reading room and a first class gymnasium are among the attractions.”

In 1907, the bicycle club built a new clubhouse at 131 Broadview Ave. They added an arena for curling, skating and hockey to the back of the clubhouse in 1929 and changed the name to the Royal Canadian Bicycle and Curling Club. The ice house runs north behind the row houses on Broadview Ave. to the alley beside the St. John’s Bakery.

Curling has been the sole sport played at the club since 1953.

Royals Dunlop Race

Inside the curling club lobby stands one of the world’s largest athletic trophies. The silver and ebony Dunlop Challenge Cup – seven-feet tall and named for the bicycle tire manufacturer – was won by the Royal Canadian Bicycle Club in 1895 and 1896. The 20-mile race started with four laps around the defunct Greenwood Racetrack on Queen St. East before heading out Kingston Road and back for another four laps around the track in front of the horse racing grandstand packed with spectators.

By Brian McAndrew

Brian McAndrew is a long-time curler at the Royal Canadian Curling Club and is a member of its board of directors and history committee. He can be reached at bmcandr@gmail.com

This winter, the Riverside BIA has been extremely lucky to have on board two volunteer interns from George Brown College.  We would like to welcome Alysha Ford and Ai Kobayashi, who are the newest east-enders to be walking the streets of Riverside.

Alysha Ford

Alysha will be with us for 7 weeks and is currently a second year George Brown College student studying in Special Event Planning, with much experience in fashion merchandising, the world of Bridal, and event coordination. When Alysha is not helping out with an event you can find her sipping tea and reading many bridal magazines. Alysha comes from the small city of Stratford ON, but has always thought of herself as a true upper East-Sider girl. Alysha hopes to one day have her own Event Company, but as for right now, glad to be giving back to you Riverside!

Ai Kobayashi

Ai will be with us for 14 weeks and is a first year student at George Brown College studying Strategic Relationship Marketing. She is looking forward to getting experience in marketing, event coordination, and streetscape as well as getting acquainted in admin tasks. Ai is very excited to work for Riverside District and is really looking forward to meeting the interesting people who have businesses in the Riverside BIA!

We are thrilled to start the New Year with these two talented interns. If you see them around be sure to say hi.

This morning, I went shopping with Dale Sonier from Riverside’s macFAB to purchase a trunk load of food for the CARE Food Drive, which  Linda Sargeant from Core Realty (747 Queen E – in Riverside) has been running for 12 years.  Linda’s aim it to help people who are beyond the reach of the food bank.  For whatever reason, they are in need, and can’t reach out – Linda is reaching out to them.   This really is a grass-roots drive, and started with Linda wanting to do something.  The first year, she and her friends donated, wrapped and delivered 50 gift baskets of food – and today, they are at over 500 baskets that will be delivered.

Dale Sonier from macFAB purchasing a truckload of food for Care Food Drive

There is a wide range of recipients from refugees new to Canada,spending their first Holiday Season here; to Seniors who are in need; to 1st Nations Families and more.  Recepient organizations include:  Nellie’s, Ernestine’s, Red Door Shelter, Woodgreen Community Centre, MCC Refugee Program and more)

The Care Food Drive really is a voice for people that want to help those who aren’t able or willing to use their voice.  This is the 2nd year macFAB’s Dale Sonier has put a bin in his store, and he has more than doubled the donations from last year.  Dale, says that this drive speaks to him.  As a child, Dale was raised by a single mother along with his 3 other siblings, and they had very little.  The only gift he ever got under his tree came from a toy drive.  Dale knows first hand how these drives make a difference.

Linda’s support crew is small, but mighty.  She works with local East End public schools – Pape Avenue Public School, Jackman Public School and Riverdale Collegiate.  Plus local businesses have set up donation bins including macFAB, Pape Market Foodland, , TD Bank (Logan), Baby on the Hip and several Queen West Shops.

Linda’s workshop is run right out of her Core Realty Offices in Riverside’s Queen East – her staff and friends are busy sorting and wrapping and coordinating deliveries.  Each gift is beautifully wrapped and hand delivered to the person/family in need.

Linda Sargeant and her team sorting and wrapping at Core Realty Offices (747 Queen E)

Initially Linda was concerned with the situation in the public schools, and the ability to get their support – but the Community in rallying, and food donations are coming in…There are always more in need…Please give – there is still time – donations are being accepted until Sunday Dec 23rd.  Please click  here for more details

Linda Sargeant from Core Realty, ready to deliver Holiday Food Hampers

Thanks Linda for helping make a difference!

Just another great reason why Riverside is the Best Neighbourhood in Toronto!!