Community groups

Weekend of theatre and music

Shakespeare in Action is bringing a number of really great events to the Little Avenue Memorial Park on the August 1 long weekend. It sounds like it will be really fantastic.

Musicians from the Weston Silver Band (100 years old this year!) will be playing on Thursday, July 29 starting at 7 p.m..

A Weston Weekend of Music & Theatre image

On Friday and Saturday,

The Weston Weekend of Music and Theatre program will include two danceworks choreographed by Neshama Nashman, one of which, a setting of J. S. Bach’s “Erbarme Dich” from St. Matthew Passion, was premiered last month to great acclaim by Ballett am Rhein in Düsseldorf, Germany. The Rebanks Fellows performing in this event are: Jillian Bonner, mezzo-soprano; Michael Bridge, accordion; River Guard, tenor; Jessy Je Young Kim, violin.

Finally, on Sunday, August 1 at 3 p.m., Wajdi Mouawad will reprise his role in the very excellent one-man play Alphonse.

Alphonse is lost and walking along a country road, weaving an intricate web of stories, while everyone is searching for him: parents, friends, teachers, the police. What they find is the thing we often give up in order to grow up.

Tickets are free, but donations are accepted.

COVID clinics this week

There will be a number of COVID clinics at the Community Place Hub (1765 Weston Road) over the coming days.

One will be on the first day of Eid al-Adha—Tuesday, July 20.

On July 24 and 31, Harvey’s will be giving out free beef or veggie vouchers redeemable at the Harvey’s RV that will be just up the street at the UP Express lot.

Pink Alley opens

It was a colourful and lively celebration at The Pink Alley on Wednesday, when Frontlines opened their new outdoor space at 1804 Weston Rd.

I was excited to see this new public space come alive. There were activities for kids out back, and I had a chance to meet some of the impressive youth outreach staff and tour the new restaurant space and the teen lounge. I also enjoyed the free tropical ice cream.

Well done Noami Frederick, Harley Valentine of Castlepoint Numa, and your teams!

Frontlines having summer camp

Frontlines will be hosting an in-erson summer camp this year for kids 6–12. It’s affordable, too—only $20 a week. This being Frontlines, the kids will be well fed of course, too, with provided meals.

If you can support the camp, Frontlines is accepting donations.

Do you want to give parents a break this summer!!!!?For just a small gift of $4, you can send one at-risk child to Summer Camp for a day, with THREE healthy meals and a SAFE space to have fun because every child deserves an opportunity to “just be a child.”YOU can make this POSSIBLE. Thank you for keeping our kids safe!

Pink Alley coming to Weston

An overlooked and forgotten alley at 1804 Weston Rd is getting a makeover this month. It will transform into an inclusive, innovative, and fun space called PINK ALLEY.

All of Weston is invited to the kick-off event, the Weston Ice Cream Party, on Wednesday, June 30th, 4-6 pm. There will be free tropical ice creams and samples of baked goods for everyone! The latter will be served by ‘Culinary Creations’—the new social enterprise catering facility operated by Frontlines (donations are welcome). Be sure to tour the new Frontlines Centre that day; it’s immediately next door.

“The launch will coincide with Frontlines’ Youth Summer Camp starting in July. They’ll make great use of the space,” says Harley Valentine of Castlepoint Numa Developments, funding the PINK ALLEY initiative. Harley added that Urban Arts and Weston’s Community Place Hub are supporters and will continue the transformation of the PINK ALLEY in the days to come. Visual artist Krystal Ball is working with the team to add eye-catching graphic design. The finishing touch will be the energy and laughter of the young people of Weston.

Upcoming events

There’s lots to do this ~~March~~ April Break. The York Weston Pelham Cluster of local community groups has a whole week of activities planned. You can sign up online.