E-Blast: Celebrating Summer in Don Valley North

There’s nothing quite like summer in Toronto. The parks are buzzing, patios fill up, and neighbourhoods come alive in a way that only happens this time of year. For many, the end of the school year is the official start of summer, but for me, summer truly begins with our annual Summer Celebration.

I’ve been hosting this event for years now, and long-time residents might still remember when we called it “Peanut Town,” a nod to its location in The Peanut. I started Summer Celebration with one simple goal: to bring our amazing community together and celebrate everything that makes Don Valley North so special.

For those who’ve never been, Summer Celebration is a free, joyful afternoon my team and I host for residents of Don Valley North. It’s our way to kick off the season with good food, great entertainment, and most importantly, each other.

Last year’s event was a huge success, and this year we’re building on everything that worked, with a few improvements to make your experience even smoother. Our signature barbecue and ice cream truck will be back, and we’re keeping the popular ticket system to help everything run efficiently. When you arrive, please head straight to the bright pink tent to check in. There, you’ll receive your tickets for both the BBQ and the ice cream truck.

To make things even easier this year, we’ll have two lines at the check-in tent, one for those who registered in advance, and another for guests signing up on the day of the event. If you didn’t register ahead of time, you can scan a QR code on-site to sign-in online and move through the line to pick up your tickets more quickly. And of course, if you prefer, you can still sign up in person with help from our friendly team.

Once you're inside, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. We’ll have a bouncy castle, basketball in the gym, face painting for the kids, and music to keep the energy high throughout the afternoon. Our local Toronto Fire Services team will stop by with a shiny red fire engine, and Toronto Police Service Division 33 will be on-site with cruisers and Neighbourhood Community Officers to meet with residents.

You’ll also have the chance to connect directly with City services and community partners. 311, Fairview Library, and the Toronto Newcomer Office will be set up and ready to chat, offering everything from service information to settlement supports.

And we’re excited to welcome an amazing group of community partners this year. If you’re looking to learn more about local programs and services, don’t miss your chance to chat with organizations like North York Harvest Food Bank, Willowdale Community Legal Services, North York Arts, North York Toronto Health Partners, Working Women Community Centre, Fairview Interagency Network, Wordswell, Flemingdon Health Centre, and Bodhi Meditation. These are the folks doing vital work right here in our neighbourhood, and they’ll be on hand to share what they do and how you can get involved or access support.

We’ll also be joined by some of our local representatives, including our new MP Maggie Chi, MP Jean Yip, MPP Jonathan Tsao, and TDSB Trustee James Li, all here to celebrate the community alongside us.

Whether you’re new to Don Valley North or you’ve called this neighbourhood home for decades, Summer Celebration is for you. It’s a celebration of who we are, what we’ve built together, and everything we continue to work toward as neighbours. So come out, bring your family, and enjoy an afternoon of free food, activities, and meaningful connection.

So mark your calendar for Saturday, July 5, and join us at Oriole Community Centre, 2975 Don Mills Rd, in the middle of The Peanut, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. I hope to see you there!