10 Jun
This week you’ll find events here that could bring together all kinds of people through a mutual love of art, books, family, food, health, language, music, sports, etc. Here’s what we have found so far that’s affordable in Multicultural Toronto. Sorry we couldn’t list them all. Just don’t forget June 18, Father’s Day. Kisses and hugs are free too.
Asia. East Asian Youth Mental Health and Annual General Meeting. June 18. 3pm – 5pm. Dorset Park Community Hub, 1911 Kennedy Road, Unit 105. To RSVP, please email Melissa Lai or call 416-596-0833 ext. 2. Chinese Canadian National Council. Is there any culture that doesn’t have mental health problems? At this meeting, East Asian Youth will discuss theirs. http://www.ccnctoronto.ca .
China. 29th Toronto International Dragon Boat Race. Usually around Jun 17-Jun 18. Free for spectators. Postponed alas because of floods on Centre Island to September 9 and 10. Marilyn Bell Park. 
First Nations. Four Directions Festival based on First Nations Medicine Wheel Teachings. Toronto Centre for the Arts. June 21. Free but tickets can be picked up at the box office. Reception 5:30pm. Film 7pm. “You Can’t Make the Same Mistake Twice.” This event also includes an indigenous drumming performance by Veronica Johnny and a discussion with Lee Maracle on Right Relations. Other events in this festival on June 16, 18 and 19 in different parts of Toronto. http://www.northyorkarts.org/project/4-directions-festival/
First Nations. Team 88: North American Indigenous Games. June 13. 6:30–8pm. Free. Northern District Library, Program Room, 40 Orchard View Boulevard. “The North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) being held in Toronto this July is expected be the largest sporting and cultural gathering of Indigenous Peoples in North America. Learn about the games, cool sports and Indigenous culture with a presentation by Team #88. Discover the positive impacts of sport and wellness within Indigenous communities with a focus to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s recommendations of recognizing sport as an important pathway to reconciliation… 5000 Indigenous youth… 14 sports… teams from Canada and the U.S…”
Call 416-393-7610 for more information. http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Nr=p_cat_branch_name:Northern%20District . About the Games: http://naig2017.to/en/team-88-2/
Ireland. “ 21nd Annual Celebration of BLOOMSDAY. June 16. 9am-12pm. Free. Kew Gardens and Beaches Library, 2161 Queen Street East. “Richard and the cast cordially invite you to join them in celebration of this daft Literary Holyday of a man that never existed on a day that never was, when the Beaches will become Dublin for a day… dramatized readings of James Joyce’s works, music, song, laughter, merriment and companionship in grand Dublin fashion is guaranteed.” http://torontobloomsday.com/
Image courtesy of www.torontobloomsday.com
Italy. Taste of Little Italy. June 16-18. Times vary. Free entry. Food sampling from the local restaurants, street entertainment and performances over the weekend. College between Bathurst and Shaw. http://tasteoflittleitaly.ca/ 
Multicultural. All Community Games. An Annual Canadian Multicultural Sport Event. Opening Ceremonies, 9am. June 10. Markham. See schedule for times and venue, June 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, 24: www.ACGames.ca
Sorry I didn’t know about this event until recently but it’s still going on. I’m including it because it used to be the “Asian Games” but now it’s all inclusive – a good development in Markham which has been called “Canada’s most culturally diverse city.” Do you agree with the name change? Ruth.
Multicultural. Italy, Portuguese and Spain. CHIN International Picnic. Coincides this year with Taste of Little Italy. June 17-18. Free. College Street and Markham Street. Multicultural entertainment including performances from the Italian, Portuguese & Spanish communities. http://festivalstoronto.com/events/chin-international-picnic/
Multicultural. Japan. Interfaith Nembutsu Chanting. June 18. 9:30am-10:30am. Free. ‘Interfaith Nembutsu Chanting is a practice in which we recite “Namu Amida”, “Namu Jesus,” Namu Allah” and “Namu Adonai.” Through this practice we heighten our spiritual awareness and help ourselves and others to heal.’ Tao Sangha Toronto, 375 Jane Street. http://taosangha-na.com/toronto-news-events/interfaith-nembutsu-chanting-toronto/
Multicultural. Luminato. June 14-25. Various times and venues. Opening Event on June 14 free: Tanya Tagaq, Tomson Highway, Cris Derksen, Northern Cree, etc. 6-11pm. Also free lunchtime concerts and a few other events (Brazil, Cuba, New Orleans, Africa, Muslim, Rumi, etc.). The Hub, David Pecaut Square, 55 John Street. 416-368-3100. https://luminatofestival.com/2017/Events.
Image of Tanya Tagaq from https://luminatofestival.com/2017/Events/Tributaries#artists
Muslim. Celebrate Ramadan Iftar 2017 – Building Bridges of Love and Compassion. Tuesday, June 13. 7-9:30pm. Free. Dinner, socializing and program. Mississauga Celebration Square, 300 City Centre Drive, Mississauga. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/celebrate-ramadan-iftar-2017-building-bridges-of-love-and-compassion-tickets-34663183515.
North America. Strawberry Festivals. July 17. 11am-3pm. Free Entry. Pay for food. Baby Point Gates, Jane and Dundas Street West. http://www.babypointgates.ca/new/charity-strawberry-festival-in-support-of-sickkids/ .
In addition to the Baby Point Gates event, there’s a Strawberry Tea after Festive Evensong on June 11. 4pm with Canadian music at St. Olave’s Church, Bloor and Windermere. 416-769-5686.
There’s a Strawberry Shortcake and Ice Cream Social on June 28. Noon – 2pm. $2 per person. Franklin Horner Community Centre at 432 Horner Avenue in Etobicoke. www.accessabilities.ca. There are probably churches and community centres in your neighbourhood too with locally-grown strawberries. Better still, go pick your own strawberries at Whittamores Farm in Markham.. http://www.whittamoresfarm.com/pyo-summer.html.
I remember strawberry festivals from my youth in Eastern Ontario. Suddenly they seem to be proliferating in Toronto. I don’t want to miss this bit of nostalgia. — Ruth.
http://www.babypointgates.ca/new/charity-strawberry-festival-in-support-of-sickkids/
Poland. Mississauga Polish Day. June 10. 12-11pm. Free. Mississauga Celebration Square, 300 City Centre Drive. https://www.modernmississauga.com/main/2017/5/25/experience-polish-culture-on-saturday-june-10-at-celebration-square. Another big Polish festival is in West Toronto on Roncesvalles in September. People in Mississauga don’t have to travel far for this one.
Image from: https://www.facebook.com/MississaugaPolishDay/
Russia. Taste of Russia. June 11. 11am-9pm. Free. Mel Lastman Square. http://www.cweek.ca/events/details/Taste-of-Russia-Festival
Image from Taste of Russia Festival.
Please send us posters and pictures about other upcoming affordable events that express Toronto’s exemplary cultural diversity. We don’t charge to post them and we don’t accept paid advertising. We will try to post as many as we can. Tell us about your adventures in multicultural Toronto. Subscribe to our mailing list above. Follow us on www.twitter.torontomulticul. Leave a Reply below or email us: ruthlormalloy@gmail.com. — Ruth
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