News Briefs

Community Centre 55 is hosting its annual Silent Auction fundraiser on Friday, March 27. A selection of products and services donated by community residents and businesses will be auctioned between 6 and 8 p.m. For more information, or to find out how to donate, call Justice or Cameron at 416-691-1113.

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The centre will hold its annual Breakfast with the Easter Bunny on Saturday, March 28, from 8 to 10 a.m. Join the centre’s mascot, Hamper, and the Easter Bunny for a delicious plate of pancakes and maple syrup ($3 per person) or stop in for kids’ crafts and Easter egg hunts, the first at 8:30 a.m. and the second at 9:30 a.m. (bring your own basket). For more information call 416-691-1113 or visit centre55.com. Community Centre 55 is located at 97 Main St., at the corner of Swanwick Avenue.

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The annual Beaches Lions Easter Parade will take over Queen Street East on Easter Sunday, April 5. Starting at 2 p.m., the Beach tradition – a year shy of its 50th birthday – will run from Nursewood Road to Woodbine Avenue. Traffic will not be allowed on or across Queen Street east of Woodbine for the two-hour duration of the parade. For more information, visit beacheslions.com.

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Paper lanterns are set to illuminate the third annual Earth Hour Lights Out! Celebration in Kew Gardens on Saturday, March 28, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Dance and sing along to live music during the internationally-observed Earth Hour, with music by AnimalKyngdom, Dale K. Jones, and Muhtadi drummers.

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The annual Beaches Spring Sprint returns to the boardwalk on Saturday, April 11. Registration for the event will be held at the Beaches Recreation Centre, 6 Williamson Rd., from March 31 to April 1 and April 7 and 8 from 7 to 9 p.m. The race consists of a 5 km run or walk for adults and seniors, a 2 km run for children, and a 2 km walk for seniors, beginning and ending just east of the Balmy Beach Club. Start time is 9:30 a.m. for adults and 10:30 for the kids’ race. For more information call 416-392-0740 or visit the event page on Facebook.

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The Bowmore Make It! Fair is back by popular demand, returning to Bowmore Public School’s senior gym on Saturday, March 28. For  pay-what-you-can admission (suggested amount $2 per person or $5 per family), do-it-yourself enthusiasts can make cardboard creations, build with Lego, join a multi player Minecraft game on networked Raspberry Pi mini computers, take part in interactive demonstrations, and lots more. When hunger pangs threaten to interfere with the creative process, grab a quick bite at the snack table. The event, sponsored by the Bowmore School Council, runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 80 Bowmore Rd. For more information visit facebook.com/bowmoremakeitfair.

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Volunteers are needed at two Beach locations to help out with the Canadian Cancer Society’s Daffodil Campaign in April. If you are able to donate a few hours to sell fresh daffodils or daffodil pins, your help would be greatly appreciated at Loblaws Victoria Park Market and Beach Valu-Mart. Funds raised during Daffodil Month go to research and support services for local patients and their families. To sign up to help or for more information, visit myccsschedule.ca.

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Upper Beach residents have just a few days to submit their favourite name for the ‘No Name’ park north of Gerrard Street and William Hancox Avenue, unofficially known as William Hancox Park. Local city councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon is inviting residents to email ideas to councillor_mcmahon@toronto.ca by Friday, March 27 and to contact her if they would like to help organize a naming vote.

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A jury of local artists has selected a winning design for the International Mother Language Day monument that a non-profit group hopes to install in Taylor Creek Park this year. Featuring a trio of columns decorated with words from the 170 languages spoken in Toronto, the concept design was prepared by Monir Hussain, Apurba Bhaumik, and Tariq Mahbub Khan.

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True Davidson Meals on Wheels is looking for drivers and delivery people who can help start a new route south of Danforth Avenue. Working in pairs, volunteers deliver hot or frozen meals to local seniors and people with disabilities. For info, call Neighbourhood Link at 416-691-7407.