Last Tuesday Walk – Riverdale and Surrounding Area

On the morning of  Tuesday Sept. 3rd, the last of the Tuesday Academy Walks of the Season,  I was delighted to greet 17 Academy members & friends at Pape TTC station to lead them on my very personal tour of Riverdale and its environs.  Pointing out highlights directly across the TTC station, including the Seniors Rental Apartment tower w. associated 'Retirement' residences and  the twice-daily Fallsview Casino bus pick-up across the station, we progressed across the Danforth past the Century-old  Riverdale Presbyterian Church, recently partially re-purposed to lux condos, and  the neighbouring social housing complex, participants were invited for a walk-through of our  80's renovated Riverdale Semi-detached home and urban garden.

From here heading West along Withrow Park with highlights of recent real-estate multi-Million-dollar offerings, passing  memorial benches dedicated to beloved  family members, both human and feline ,  we stopped at the entrance to the historic 'Bain Ave. Co-op' where we lucked into a resting-on-a-bench, large-hatted co-op resident more than happy to provide century-old history...and current issues.  The rest- stop at Bridgepoint Hospital's 10th floor patio-garden was highlighted by a visit of hospital resident, Karen Snelson, who seemed delighted to see our group.

Leaving the hospital past the sculpture garden of the amazing 20 large works by artist William Lishma, winding  through the Riverdale  Farm  and Cabbagetown,  we ended our tour at the much-loved 'Pear Tree Caf?' where 15 of of us had a delightful lucheon in the open back terrace.  Looking forward to as many of the Monday morning September walks as TIFF-fever will will allow.

Happy Trails!  Rene