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Food-Friendly Neighbourhood Plan: Don Mills-Sheppard
Neighbourhood profile
About this neighbourhood
Population: 37,930
Area: 6.7 km2
% low-income after tax: 23.9%
% recent immigrants: 28.1%
Don Mills-Sheppard is located in the north-central part of the city and is comprised of The Peanut, Henry Farm, Parkway Forest, and four social
housing communities (see reverse for enlarged map). The mix of low-density suburban housing and high-rise apartment buildings is home to
many newcomers to Canada and with its proximity to two major highways as well as local and regional transit connections, condo development
along Sheppard Ave is booming. Key landmarks include Fairview Mall and, on its periphery, Seneca College and North York General Hospital.
Retail
Opportunity:
The re-urbanization of the Parkway Forest neighbourhood will create new
commercial spaces, particularly along Sheppard Ave E and Consumers Road.
This will have a significant impact on local food options, including potential
for new retail food outlets.
Councilor Carroll’s office has pushed all new developers to consider creating
space for grocery stores, but there is nothing in the planning guidelines
that govern new development that would require such a thing (there are
provisions for schools, utility infrastructure, etc). Residents can get organized
and be vocal about the types of food retail that they would like to see in the
neighbourhood.
There are ten supermarkets including three discount chains and three ethnic
supermarkets. There are also a number of small grocers which sell a variety
of foods. Many residents said that prices are reasonable and there is a wide
selection of produce, particularly at some of the larger ethnic supermarkets.
Several years ago the Loblaws in Fairview Mall closed, an absence that has been
felt by residents. Additionally, the west section of the neighbourhood, along
Leslie, does not have any nearby retailers.
There is significant interest with TDSB teachers at both Dallington Public
School and the schools near The Peanut Multicultural Garden (see reverse) to
involve more gardening activities in their curriculum. Further connections
between the schools and gardens should be developed, as well as developing
a neighbourhood gardening network.
Also, the new Parkway Forest Community Centre (scheduled to open in
2014) will have a green roof and a commercial kitchen. The Fairview Food
Security Network (see reverse) should explore how these spaces can be used
for programming and linkages to the Oriole Food Space activities. A Parkway
Forest community garden is also a possibility.
Who should be involved:
• Ward 33 Councillor Carroll
• Fairview Food Security Network
• City of Toronto
• Toronto District School Board
Grade
B
Produce markets
A farmer’s market operates at Fairview Mall on Fridays between June and
October. In addition to Ontario-grown produce, there is a variety of other local
food products such as cheese, eggs, and meats. However, many community
members feel that prices are too high.
Who should be involved:
• Ward 33 Councillor Carroll
• Don Valley East MPP Coteau
• Fairview Food Security Network
Recommendation:
There are many city parks that could provide additional growing space.
In fact, the Dallington Pollinators group is working to open a community
garden in Dallington Park, adjacent to Dallington Public School.
Findings
A Good Food Market which offered low-cost fresh produce previously ran but
closed due to poor attendance. However, many residents recently expressed an
interest in having a service like this return to the neighbourhood.
C
Food assistance
Prior to the Oriole Community Food Bank opening at the Oriole Food Space
in February 2013, community members had to travel five kilometres to their
nearest food bank. The new community food bank runs three-times per week, but
growing attendance is stretching the limits of the space and creating long lines.
The Seneca Students Federation also runs a small-scale food bank that is
available to students. There are no drop-in meal programs, but residents did not
identify this as a priority for the neighbourhood.
C
Food skills and growing
There are a wealth of community cooking programs and educational programs
in this neighbourhood. Many of these are offered by Fairview Community Health
(a satellite of Flemingdon Community Health Centre) in the Oriole Food Space.
Adventure Place offers prenatal nutrition and early parenting programs.
Although there aren’t many gardens in the neighbourhood, the Peanut MultiCultural Community Garden is one of the largest in the city. It engages local
newcomer residents with a community development approach.
B
Opportunity:
The Oriole Food Space has
been wildly successful
in its first few months of
operations. The community
food bank and cooking
programs have been filled
close to capacity with
enthusiastic residents. This
resounding community
response indicates that
a larger space should be
sought to expand the project
after its pilot phase.
Who needs to hear it:
• Ward 33 Councillor
Carroll
• Fairview Food Security
Network
• Local community
organizations
VICTORIA PARK AVE
Don Mills-Sheppard Food-Friendly Highlights
The Peanut Multicultural Community Garden
The Peanut Multicutural Community Garden was started in
2005 as a collaboration between Working Women Community
Centre and Advent Lutheran Church. With 100 plots availalble
for use, the garden is one of the largest in the city and
primarily engages local newcomer and immigrant residents
in the area.
HWY 404
LESLIE ST
FINCH AVE E
The Fairview Food Security Network is a coalition of service
providers, faith-based groups, and local residents that
functions as a subcommittee of the Fairview Interagency
Network.
SHEPPARD AVE E
Since 2009, this group has taken a leadership role
in responding to food programming gaps in the
neighbourhood. The recently-opened Oriole Food
Space, a 500 square foot multi-purpose room in the
Oriole Community Centre, is a direct result of local
advocacy efforts and collaboration that began through
this network. Opened in partnership with North York
Harvest, Flemingdon Health Centre, and Working Women
Community Centre, the space offers a drop-in food bank
program, community kitchens, garden workshops, and
other food-related activities.
HWY 401
DON
The Peanut Multicultural Garden has also connected with
the Oriole Food Space – two communal plots have been used
to engage participants through regular workshops including
cooking demos which utilize freshly picked produce.
DVP
MILL
S RD
Working Women Community Centre lends support by
facilitating community meetings, potlucks, gatherings, and
youth leadership trainings. An Arts in the Garden series
offers programming for youth.
YORK MILLS RD
Legend
About this document
Published by
This Food-Friendly Neighbourhood Food Plan is the
Retail
Major Arterial Street
product of a year-long consultation process with City of
Produce Market
Priority Area
Toronto research departments, community organizations
Food Assistance
1 km Buffer (15 minute walk)
and local residents.
Food Skills and Growing
Park or Greenspace
Catalogue of primary food assets
Retail
ABC Euro Delicatessen
Buon Appetite Fine Foods Limited
Christina's Fruit Market
Fine India Grocers
Food Basics
Food Basics
Foodland
Galati Market Fresh
Galleria Supermarket
Fairview Food Security Network
3115 Sheppard Ave E
2764 Victoria Park Ave
2792 Victoria Park Ave
3040 Don Mills Rd E
1277 York Mills Rd
2452 Sheppard Ave E
107 Parkway Forest Dr
5845 Leslie St
865 York Mills Rd
Hong Tai Supermarket
Longos
M&M Meat Shops
Marcy Fine Foods
Mercator Euro Mini Mart
No Frills
Sunny Supermarket
Tone Tai Supermarket
2555 Victoria Park Ave
808 York Mills Rd
734 Sheppard Ave E
2064 Sheppard Ave E
2046 Sheppard Ave E
3555 Don Mills Rd
115 Ravel Road
3030 Don Mills Rd E
Produce Markets
Fairview Mall Farmer's Market
1800 Sheppard Ave E
0
0.25
0.5
0.75
1
Km
Copyright
Copyright(c)
(c)2013,
2011 City
City of
of Toronto.
Toronto.All
AllRights
RightsReserved
Reserved.
Published,
Published:August
August2013
2011
Prepared
Food Strategy,
Public Health
Preparedby:
by:Toronto
Social Policy
Analysis Toronto
& Research
Contact:
Contact:[email protected]
[email protected]
Reprintedwith
withpermission
permission
Reprinted
Food Assistance
Cathedral of Hope Villaways Supplementary
Oriole Food Space:
North York Harvest Oriole Community Food Bank
Seneca Students Federation
Food Skills and Growing
Adventure Place BB Now Parenting Program
Adventure Place BB Now Prenatal Program
Dallington Pollinators Garden
Duncan Mills Housing Co-operative Garden
Flemingdon HC Diabetes Education program
20 Adra Villaway
2975 Don Mills Rd W
1750 Finch Ave E
2 Brahms Ave
2975 Don Mills Rd W
39 Glentworth Rd
2040 Don Mills Rd
various locations
Special thanks to City of Toronto, Social Policy Analysis
& Research, Toronto Public Health Food Strategy, UofT
Faculty of Medicine, and Don Mills-Sheppard residents
who participated in neighbourhood consultations.
This project was made possible
through funding from the Heart and
Stroke Foundation of Ontario.
Flemingdon HC Farm Trips
Flemingdon HC South Asian Diabetes Prevention Prgm
Flemingdon HC Youth Garden
Immanuel Baptist Community Garden
Oriole Food Space:
Flemingdon HC Adult Community Kitchen
Flemingdon HC Children’s Community Kitchen
Flemingdon HC Families’ Community Kitchen
Flemingdon HC Men’s Community Kitchen
Flemingnon HC Peer-led Community Kitchen
Working Women CC Kitchen & Conversation Group
The Peanut Mutlicultural Garden
various locations
various locations
2800 Don Mills Rd
1100 Finch Avenue East
2975 Don Mills Rd
2800 Don Mills Rd