Category: Community

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Summer Water Activities Worth Dipping Into!

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If you love the outdoors, take in the warm lake breeze and include Mississauga’s incredible waterfront this summer. To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of water activities to help beat the heat!

Learn to paddle – looking to up your outdoor game? Consider the Learn to Paddleprogram in partnership with the Mississauga Canoe Club. Taking place on the beautiful Credit River, this class covers basic skills, including water safety, to get you paddling in canoes and kayaks in no time. Bonus: the natural scenery is super picturesque and a must-see spot!

Daytrip at the beach – pack a blanket and picnic basket, it’s time for a family daytrip! Did you know that Mississauga is home to numerous local beaches? Offering a nice beachfront, Jack Darling Park, Richard’s Memorial Park, Lakeside and Lakefront Promenade Park are the perfect fit for anyone looking to enjoy Lake Ontario.

Combine pool time with sports – there’s lots of ways to have fun with family and friends at the pool. We offer a variety of lane, leisure and fun swims seven days a week. Why not keep active by registering for swimming lessons, Swim Water Sport camp or drop-in for a water exercise class.

Therapeutic pools – choose from a variety of exercise and therapeutic programs available at our pools designed for all ages, skill levels and abilities – allowing individuals to participate in safe, inclusive and appropriate activities led by certified instructors.

Make a splash in Mississauga this summer and stay cool! For more information, visit activemississauga.ca or follow @MississaugaRec on Twitter.

Go ahead try one of these budget-friendly ideas, before reaching for your wallet to pay for that adventure park pass!  Your family and friends  will enjoy some quality time!

Continue reading “Summer Water Activities Worth Dipping Into!”

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Math Support for Students!

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New Investments will Help Improve Math Skills for a Better Tomorrow!

Ontario’s government is launching efforts to strengthen math skills for all students in Ontario – especially for students in under-served communities. This initiative will help students develop the math skills they need to succeed and find good jobs when they enter the workforce. These programs will help students retain and build on the math knowledge and skills they have learned throughout the academic year.

“We are listening to parents and educators. Ontario students need greater support to strengthen their math skills to achieve success in school and into their careers. This investment provides our young people with access to the skills they need to enter the workforce with confidence, and further underscores our government’s focus on STEM in the classroom,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education.

In response to consistently declining math scores in elementary school, our commitment is to help improve math scores by investing more than $6 million for summer initiatives throughout the province, including:

  • Math-focused three-week Summer Learning Programs offered by school boards for students in Kindergarten to Grade 5 who need more support to minimize summer learning loss, build confidence, increase skills, and have greater success during the regular school year.
  • Frontier College programs that support the development of foundational literacy and numeracy skills of high-priority students who live in under-served communities, including First Nations and remote communities. These programs also engage parents, volunteers, educators and community organizers to better prepare them in support of these students.
  • Math at Home, a virtual summer learning refresher for students and parents. The online resource will help support student learning, Continue reading “Math Support for Students!”
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Toronto’s favourite foodie event #Summerlicious returns!

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At Miku Toronto, #Summerlicious 2019 had a media event, with opening remarks by Mayor John Tory. Samples of Miku’s Summerlicious prix fixe menu, including their signature Aburi Sushi was available to all media personnel.

Miku Toronto, Aburi Restaurant’s first East Coast location is situated in Toronto’s Harbour Front at Bay and Queen’s Quay. Corporate Executive Chef Kazuya Matsuoaka along with Chef de Cuisine Michael Acero and Head Sushi Chef Kazuki Uchigoshi bring Aburi Cuisine to Toronto combining traditional Japanese flavours and techniques with local, East Coast elements to create a truly unique dining experience.

#Summerlicious, created by the City of Toronto, runs from Juy 5 to 21 with delectable meals served at nearly 200 of Toronto’s favourite restaurants. Three-course prix fixe lunch menus are priced at $23, $28 and $33 and dinners are priced at $33, $43 and $53. Restaurants will start accepting reservations for the Prix Fixe Promotion on June 20.

Reservations are strongly recommended and are to be made directly with the participating dining establishments.  A complete list of participating restaurants is available at https://www.toronto.ca/summerlicious.

Haagen-Dazs Canada is the official ice cream sponsor of Summerlicious 2019. At select restaurants, Haagen-Dazs ice cream wll be the featured ingredient in signature dessert creations on Summerlicious menus in celebration of July as National Ice Cream Month and National Ice Cream Day on July 21. Continue reading “Toronto’s favourite foodie event #Summerlicious returns!”

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City Hall Live spotlights Toronto musicians with free summer music shows

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City Hall Live returns to outdoor stages this summer, with an impressive lineup of free performances that includes lunchtime shows at Nathan Phillips Square and Union Station. City Hall Live provides local artists with paid opportunities to perform across the city, showcasing the diverse musical sounds of Toronto.

Local live music will be presented at Nathan Phillips Square from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesdays (except August 7) until September 11, hosted by music and entertainment reporter Rudy Blair. Soul artist Aphrose will bring her soaring R&B vocal stylings to the stage today, followed next week by Keerat Kaur with her own distinct genre, combining Indian classical, Bollywood, blues and jazz.

The full City Hall Live performance schedule is available at http://bit.ly/2WEpIvp and social media users can follow #CityHallLive for schedule updates. On-site sponsors include Toronto Water, Live Green Toronto, Planet Fitness, Communauto and Pure Leaf.

While enjoying the music at Nathan Phillips Square on Wednesdays, you can “shop local” at the Farmers Market, which offers many fresh food options and runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Wednesday until October 16.

Preceding City Hall Live, the City of Toronto presents Yoga in the Square every Wednesday from noon to 12:30 p.m., weather permitting, until September 11. Led by instructor Charlotte Singmin, members of the public are invited to take a wellness lunch break with family, friends and co-workers. Participants should bring a yoga mat, water bottle and sunscreen protection to this free session.

Other City Hall Live performances include shows at Union Summer outside Union Station from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesdays until July 30 and at Cultura Festival at Mel Lastman Square, 6 p.m. every Friday in July. Continue reading “City Hall Live spotlights Toronto musicians with free summer music shows”

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Roxodus! Ontario’s Opus Rock Concert!

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–Lachman Balani

“Summer’s here and the time is right for dancing in the streets!”

Yes folks, there will be lots of dancing by mamas and papas as well as grandmas and grandpas this summer as Roxodus, Ontario’s most massive rock concert takes over from July 11-14.

At the launch party recently at Grace O’Malleys pub in the heart of the entertainment district of the mighty Toronto, Roxodus, Ontario’s superlative 4 day music concert, was announced.

Who’s headlining it? Well according to one attendee at the VIP kick-off party “Are you spitting me? Every last act on the roster is a headliner!”

And you better believe it. With names such as Aerosmith, Kid Rock, Peter Frampton, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Alice Cooper, Cheaptrick, Billy Idol and several more dynamite bands, this festival is going to be the experience of a lifetime!

The festival will take place in Edenvale , Ontario near Wasaga beach, world’s largest fresh water beach, about a 90 minute drive from Toronto.

The grapevine has it that this is the North’s answer to the 50th anniversary of Woodstock, featuring musicians more reminiscent of the Woodstock Nation than any other festival that has been announced to honour the Woodstock festival that took place 50 years ago in Bethel, New York where 500,000 fans gathered for peace, love and Woodstock!

For music entertainment at the launch party, Hell’s Bells, Canada’s premier tribute band to AC/DC, the world renowned music wizards from Oz, rocked the place! Continue reading “Roxodus! Ontario’s Opus Rock Concert!”

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#BollywoodMonster Launch Party & Comedy to kick off the monstrous festival

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The largest South Asian festival in Canada is kicking off this year with #BollywoodMonster Launch Party & Comedy on July 18. The Launch Party will be held at C Banquets inside the Mississauga Civic Centre, starting at 6 PM, and will feature a side-splitting comedy show, silent disco, and more.

#BollywoodMonster Launch Party & Comedy will be hosted by comedian Amish Patel, and will feature Faisal Butt – an award-winning stand-up comic, Jennifer Hsiung – the only female comedian to reach the finals of 2017 Hong Kong International Comedy Competition, Foad Hassanpoor of Just for Laughs in Montreal fame, Moe Ismail – an honest, raw & energetic comedian, Keesha Brownie – one of North America’s candid comedians and Toronto-based comedian Neema Nazeri, who has performed at venues across the GTA like the Corner Comedy Club.

  The #BollywoodMonster Launch Party & Comedy also presents the opportunity to meet and mingle with the 2019 #BollywoodMonster Mashup headliners, Yasser Desai (singer of the hit songs “Naino Ne Baandhi” and “Pallo Latke”) and Nikhita Gandhi (singer of the chartbusters “Raabta” and “Qaafirana”), as well as other performers from this year’s festival.

“We are excited to celebrate all our fantastic sponsors, funders, media partners, artists and collaborators at the #BollywoodMonster Launch Party & Comedy, for helping our team put together this great festival for the people of the GTA,” says Artistic Director of MonstrARTity, Vikas Kohli. “We are also particularly excited to not only provide attendees with the opportunity to meet and speak with movers and shakers but also remain committed to being an innovative, monstrous festival by presenting a silent disco for the first time ever. Join us on July 18th to be a part of it all!” Continue reading “#BollywoodMonster Launch Party & Comedy to kick off the monstrous festival”

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Albion Islington Square’s Signature Event Fusion Taste of Festival is Back!

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From an All-Day Fun Zone to live stage programming, Albion Islington Square BIA comes alive in July again with its signature event, 13th Annual Fusion of Taste Festival! It has been a niche multicultural festival in a diverse community since 2006 which caters to a wide range of people with its outdoor celebrations of culture and food. The festival itself is a showcase of ethnic dancing, performing artists and culinary offerings which range from Thai, Chinese to West Indian and South Asian.

This exciting street festival starts at 12:00pm with one of Toronto’s favourite bands, DNA project, performing the latest in Top 40 music. The fun continues with Toronto’s best percussion group, drumhand performing live at 2pm. The stage will be live all day with local and international performers including Caribbean band: N2, Canadian Bollywood singer, Parichay, UK Superstar Jaz
Dhami, and International Sensation: Dhira Gill. The festival also offers both fun and interactive activities for kids including: bouncy castles, art zone, stuffy riders, gaming rv, face painting, double’s eating competition, and free raffle draw prizes.

New to the festival this year is our first ever Emerging Star in Etobicoke. This project in partnership with the City of Toronto, Cultural Hotspot program, will showcase the finalists from our talent search at the upcoming festival. In addition, we will have two stages for audiences to enjoy more live entertainment.

The Fusion of Taste festival is brought to you by our proud sponsors and partners including: Province of Ontario, City of Toronto, Cultural Hotspot, Woodbine Toyota, Toronto Pearson Airport, Freedom Mobile, TD Canada Trust, & Zabiha Halal. Continue reading “Albion Islington Square’s Signature Event Fusion Taste of Festival is Back!”

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Carabram Pavilion of Cultures in Back in 2019

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Carabram, Brampton’s Multicultural Festival, continues to showcase additional cultures, music and food at our Pavilion of Cultures in 2019.

“Carabram’s Pavilion of Cultures allows us to invite a broader cross-section of cultures,” says Carabram President Angela Johnson. “These cultural communities may not have the resources to put together a traditional standalone pavilion, but are able to promote their culture through food, entertainment, cultural displays in a shared location .”

New this year is a cricket demonstration which will be held at Brampton Soccer Centre on July 13 and Chris Gibson Recreation Centre on July 14, between 2 and 5 p.m. each day.

Carabram, Canada’s second oldest cultural festival, will be held July 12, 13, 14 at five venues across the city. Our pavilions are located throughout the city. Caribbean, China and Africa are at Chris Gibson Recreation Centre, Eelam is at the Brampton Soccer Centre; India and Hawaii are at the Jim Archdekin Recreation Centre, Ireland is returning to Lions Hall on Avondale Rd., Philippines, Canada and Punjab are at Century Gardens Recreation
Centre, as well as the Pavilion of Cultures, featuring Pakistan, Nepal, Latin America, Vietnam and Portugal.

“We are so fortunate to have such a diverse community and Carabram allows our visitors to not only celebrate their own culture but to also appreciate and learn about other cultures that contribute to the diverse makeup of our city,” says Johnson. Continue reading “Carabram Pavilion of Cultures in Back in 2019”

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Ontario Field Strawberries are the Perfect Summer Treat

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First fruits of the season are now available at stores and farmers’ markets across the province Ontario field strawberries are now ripe, with Ontario’s berry growers saying this year’s cool spring is resulting in an exceptional crop.

“For most of us, Ontario strawberries are one of the great tastes of summer. You can enjoy these healthy and delicious fruits fresh on their own, baked in a dessert or made into jam,” says Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “This Canada Day weekend, I encourage you to kick off your summer by choosing Ontario field strawberries and celebrate the good things that grow in Ontario.”

Whether you pick them up at your local grocery store and farmers’ market, or visit a pick-your-own farm, Ontario’s hardworking farmers have harvested the first fruits of the season for you to share today and throughout the summer.

“Ontario’s cool spring has done wonders for strawberry plants,” said Tom Heeman, Chairman of the Berry Growers of Ontario. “There really is no comparison to the taste and flavour of a true local Ontario strawberry, and this year they will be in great supply. Enjoy the taste of summer with the first fruits of the season!”

More than 1,900 acres of field strawberries are harvested in Ontario each year. Strawberries are high in antioxidants and vitamin C, and can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Visit Foodland Ontario for recipes and suggestions for enjoying strawberries at every meal. For more than 40 years, Foodland Ontario has connected with families on how to recognize, prepare and enjoy locally grown foods. Continue reading “Ontario Field Strawberries are the Perfect Summer Treat”

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Global Passport Seva Program for Indian Citizens

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The Consulate General of India (CGI), Toronto, rolled out the Government of India’s flagship Passport Seva Program (PSP) on 12 June 2019 to cater to the Indian passport services to Indian citizens living under its consular jurisdiction. ConsulGeneral Mr. Dinesh Bhatia handed over first few passports printed on the new system to the applicants at a function organized at the Consulate in the presence of community members and media.

The new system will further streamline and expedite passport services with better automation and user-friendly interface combined with data integrity and information security. It will facilitateefficient delivery of
passport servicesby the Consulatewith effect from Thursday, 13 June 2019.  Indian citizens living under the consular jurisdiction of CGI Toronto are advised to henceforth use the new portal – https://embassy.passportindia.gov.in for availing passport services, including new passport, passport renewal, reissue, Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) and Surrender Certificate.

The link to the new portal will be available on Consulate’s website – https://www.cgitoronto.gov.in/ and
Consulate’s outsource agency’s website – http://www.blsindia-canada.com.

All the applications would need to be completed online only.  The PSP was launched by the Ministry of External Affairs in partnership with TATA Consultancy Services (TCS). It has completed 7 years of service in India and is now entering into the 8th year.

The consular jurisdiction of the CGI Toronto includes Ontario (Except applicants residing at Postal Code starting with letter K),Quebec (except applicants residing at Postal Codes starting with letters J,H, K),Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland Labrador. Continue reading “Global Passport Seva Program for Indian Citizens”