2007 Summer Sensation
  2007 Summer Sensation – Best of Toronto From Around the World, In support of Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre (PARC)

This summer is an exceptional summer for Toronto. The City will welcome visitors from around the world coming for World Cup Soccer, 40th Anniversary of Caribana, and other world-class events.

We invite you to have an unforgettable summer in Toronto in 2007. Make sure to make room for 2007 Summer Sensation. Start your summer excitement early at two free exceptional events at Metro Square, June 20 – 22, 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. and Yonge-Dundas Square, July 12, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. It’s a summer sensation in the heart of the City.

We are welcoming all of Toronto and our international visitors to feel the sizzling rhythms of top international and local Caribbean and Latin-roots bands. Take in mesmerizing ancient Egyptian dancers and dynamic international performers. Enjoy world cuisine; discover new and delicious treats. Travel through a craft-lovers playground. Meet a new friend from around the world and leave with an authentic souvenir from a country you may never visit.

These two exceptional events are in support of Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre (PARC). PARC is a registered charitable not-for-profit organization that works with psychiatric survivors and adults experiencing multiple barriers to adequate basic needs: housing, food, income/and or employment; the organization exists to help these individuals rebuild their lives. To learn more about PARC, please see PARC’s Profile for a brief description. PARC will be making a contribution to the SOS Children’s Villages Canada (SOS) 2007 Let’s Play, Let’s Build fundraising campaign. SOS is working to build families for orphaned and abandoned children in southern Africa. PARC happily lends support to the life-altering work of SOS. Please visit SOS Children’s Villages Canada on this web site to find out more about 2007 Let’s Play, Let’s Build. To learn more about SOS Children’s Villages Canada, please visit www.soschildrensvillages.ca.

We invite you to surf our 2007 Summer Sensation web site; visit our entertainment section for the 2007 Entertainment Program and view biographies of our consummate entertainment artists. You are also welcome to visit our vendors market to find our specialty craft vendors and food vendors.

2007 Summer Sensation is made possible through the essential support and assistance from many sectors: community business, community cultural partners, government, international consulates, corporations, and volunteers and we greatly appreciate the essential support we continue to receive across sectors. Please visit our Partners section to see our valued partners. If you would like to become an event partner, we invite you to please contact us to receive a partnership information package.

We greatly value the support of our volunteers; we will be recognizing their vital work at our events. We warmly express our appreciation to all who support PARC, and who support the community businesses and not-for-profit organizations uniting at these special events to raise awareness of PARC’s role as an important community service provider and lend support to PARC’s initiatives. We encourage you tos support them, as well. If you would like to get involved, please visit the Support Us section, to learn how you can join the team or donate.

Thank you for visiting 2007 Summer Sensation’s web site. We’ve put a lot of love and passion into this event. It’s important that you have an enjoyable experience of being part of something very special this summer. During your visits to Metro Square and Yonge-Dundas Square feel free to stop by, say Hi, and let us know how you’re enjoying the Best of Toronto From Around the World. We look forward to seeing you at 2007 Summer Sensation, this exceptional summer in Toronto.

Anne-Marie Ross
2007 Summer Sensation
Event Organizer


The Parkdale Activity – Recreation Centre:
A community where people rebuild their lives.

1499 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M6R 1A3
Telephone: (416) 537-2591/2262
Facsimile: (416) 537-4159

Charitable registration # 12967 8231 RR 0001

The Parkdale Activity - Recreation Centre or PARC as we are known, is a charitable not for profit organization with a drop-in that provides friendship, social opportunities, group and individual creative expression opportunities. Members can have a shower, receive clothing from our clothing bank, a daily meal prepared by our member volunteers, a warm place to sit, people to talk to, internet access, computer assistance and training from other members, volunteer support, art supply subsidies, emergency housing/shelter referral and assistance, outings to local cinema, and many other activities.

We are always grateful for adult clothing for men and women especially: coats, shoes and boots, socks and underwear. We also need towels, non-perishable food and sleeping bags.

PARC Outreach Program
Individual assistance and support to members who are homeless, under-housed or have limited community support.

Healing Centre
Primary healthcare outreach and support to isolated and homeless adults who are unconnected or have significant barriers to mainstream healthcare services. This program is provided by a partnership with the Parkdale Community Health Centre.

PARC Housing Program
There are ten residential units on the third floor of our building, which provide permanent, supportive and affordable housing for twelve PARC members who have been homeless and have a psychiatric history.

PARC Employment Program
The PARC employment program provides employment opportunities to members – many who have not worked in years. This program is supported by a partnership with the Ontario Council of Alternative Businesses.

We could not survive without the generous giving of time and donations – Thank-you to all who have supported PARC over the years.

Late breaking news:
PARC submitted a proposal to develop an abandoned property (194 Dowling Ave. aka 1495 Queen St. West) adjacent to our building. We have learned that our proposal has been recommended by an independent review panel for development. The proposal calls for the development of 29 units of affordable & supportive housing. The project has an anticipated start of March 2008 and completion of March 2009.