1 FREE Events/Festivals Wellness, Education & Sports Groups And many other fun activities In the GTA January 2020 Created by: Amber – Recreation Therapist 4-5 CAMH 2 • Please check with event coordinators to ensure the event is taking place. • This booklet is designed to offer general information of events taking place in Toronto that are free. • Events are subject to change. Created by: Amber – Recreation Therapist 4-5 CAMH 3 Sections in the Guide Daily Events and Groups that take place throughout the city Coming Up Events taking place the following month Multi-day Events Events taking place for more than 1 day Ongoing Events Events or groups that take place on a regular basis throughout 2017 Community Centres that are Free Listing of all the community centres in Toronto that offer free programming Welcome Policy Information on the Welcome Policy available at recreation and community centres in the City of Toronto Other Free Resources and Free to Join Groups in the community to check out on your own & Recreation and Leisure based community groups that are free to join Resources To find more events and groups in the city Where to borrow music instruments, book a writing space, etc Created by: Amber – Recreation Therapist 4-5 CAMH 4 Created by: Amber – Recreation Therapist 4-5 CAMH 5 Single Day Events January 03 2020 (Friday) Flute Street: Toronto's Professional Flute Choir Join us at Toronto Reference Library for a Holiday performance by Flute Street! Toronto's Professional Flute Choir is an ensemble of talented musicians who play eight different sizes of the modern Boehm flute, from the tiny piccolo, through the treble flute in G, the standard flute in C, the alto flute in G, the bass flute in C, the contr'alto flute in G, the contrabass flute in C, to the deep-voiced double contrabass flute in C. This performance will included selected members of the choir, including 2 of the largest flutes in existence! All are welcome. Drop in. No registration required. At: 789 Yonge St (north of Bloor St) Toronto Reference Library – Atrium Time: 2pm – 3:15pm Phone: 416-395-5577 January 03 2020 (Friday) Family Game Afternoon Let's kick off Family Literacy Month with a fun afternoon of games and post-holiday merriment. We will have the classics like Scrabble, Boggle, Battleship and Life as well as some of the newer "designer" board games such as Ticket to Ride and Catan Jr. There will be something for everyone! Adults and children of all ages are welcome! Drop in. No registration required. At: 370 Broadview Ave (@ Gerrard St E) Riverdale Library – Adult Program Room Time: 2pm – 4pm Phone: 416-393-7720 January 04 2020 (Saturday) Stress Relief Through Meditation Some easy, stress-relieving stretches and deep breathing, followed by a relaxing and rejuvenating meditation session. No yoga mat required. Drop in. (Reoccurs: Feb 01, Mar 07, Apr 04) At: 120 Trowell Ave (east of Keele St) Evelyn Gregory Library - Auditorium Time: 11am – 12pm Phone: 416-394-1006 January 04 2020 (Saturday) Stress Relief thru Restorative Meditation In these classes you will learn three simple and enjoyable methods of meditation. The class will begin with some deep breathing to calm the mind and body followed by an ancient form of yoga meditation known as mantra meditation. By focusing on these ancient transcendental sounds one experiences relief from stress and anxiety a feeling of real happiness. (Occurs: Feb 29, Mar 14) At: 170 Memorial Park Ave (west of Coxwell Ave) S. Walter Stewart Library Time: 2pm – 3pm Phone: 416-396-3975 January 04 2020 (Saturday) Phoenix Poetry Workshop The group invites new and experienced poets of all ages to bring their work to our monthly meetings! Bring a poem with six to ten copies for review by other attendees. The group will listen to you read your poem and offer constructive comments to enable improvement and growth. Enjoy the works of others as well as growing as a poet! Drop in. No registration required. For more information, visit the group's website at www.phoenixpoetryworkshop.ca or call 416-393-7668. (Reoccurs: Feb 01) At: 766 College St (@ Shaw St) College/Shaw Library – Program Room Time: 2:30pm – 4:30pm Phone: 416-393-7668 Created by: Amber – Recreation Therapist 4-5 CAMH 6 January 06 2020 (Monday) Job Search in Toronto Maximize your job search potential and uncover the hidden job market. Learn effective techniques to connect with employers, expand your professional network, and access hidden jobs. Presented by the Centre for Education and Training. Presented by the Centre for Education and Training. To register, please call Don Mills branch at 416-395-5710. (Reoccurs: Feb 03, Mar 02) At: 888 Lawrence Ave E (west of Don Mills Rd) Don Mills Library - Auditorium Time: 2pm – 4pm Phone: 416-395-5710 January 06 2020 (Monday) Marathoning Woman Susan Sommers started to jog/walk in 2002 at age 58. In 2005 and 2007 she completed two marathons. Since 2003, she has completed 30 races, from 5 km to 42 km. Join her as she shares the obstacles and successes she encountered while fulfilling her dreams. At: 789 Yonge St (north of Bloor St) Toronto Reference Library – Beeton Hall Time: 6pm – 8pm Phone: 416-395-5577 January 07 2020 (Tuesday) Adult Afternoon Movies: The Bookshop (2017) Join us for a free afternoon movie, every first and last Tuesday of each month. England 1959. In a small East Anglian town, free-spirited widow Florence Green (Emily Mortimer) decides, against polite but ruthless local opposition (Patricia Clarkson), to open a bookshop. and the support and affection of a reclusive book loving widower (Bill Nighy). As Florence's obstacles amass and bear suspicious signs of a local power struggle, she is forced to ask: is there a place for a bookshop in a town that may not want one? Length: 113 minutes Rating: PG At: 370 Broadview Ave (@ Gerrard St E) Riverdale Library – Children's Program Room Time: 2pm – 4pm Phone: 416-393-7720 January 07 2020 (Tuesday) Board Games Night Come join us for a fun afternoon playing some card games and board games. We will provide all the games and potential friends you need for an enjoyable time gaming at the library! For all ages. Drop in. No registration required. (Reoccurs: Jan 21) At: 2178 Bloor St W (east of Runnymede Rd) Runnymede Library Time: 4pm – 5:30pm Phone: 416-393-7697 January 07 2020 (Tuesday) Etobicoke Centennial Choir Open Rehearsal Experience the fun of choral singing in our welcoming choir. Work with professional musicians, improve your vocal skills and perform a diverse repertoire ranging from classical masterpieces to contemporary and popular music. Interested singers are invited to attend an Open Rehearsal of ECC. Prior choral experience and ability to read music are a definite asset. All singers welcome, especially tenors, baritones and basses. At: 76 Anglesey Blvd (east of Islington Ave) Humber Valley United Church Time: 7:30pm – 10pm Website: www.etobicokecentennialchoir.ca Created by: Amber – Recreation Therapist 4-5 CAMH 7 January 07 2020 (Tuesday) The Newest Trick in the Book The Newest Trick in the Book is back for a 4th season on the first Tuesday of every month! We're making the show bigger and better than ever. We have 8 performers on every show performing brand new magic that they've never tried before! Every show is different and they all feature performers from around the world and brand new illusions. Reserve a ticket @ www.eventbrite.ca search “The Newest Trick in the Book” At: 347 Keele St (south of Dundas St W) See-Scape Time: 8pm – 10pm Website: https://www.torontomagiccompany.com/ January 08 2020 (Wednesday) Young Adult Series: Managing Stress through Holistic Nutrition This workshop will explore the connection between food and mood and how nutrition can help you manage your stress/anxiety levels. This interactive wellness program encourages participants to take ownership of their health through diet and lifestyle modifications. Led by Certified Nutritional Practitioner, Lucy Frankel. This event is part of Barbara Frum's Young Adult series. The skill-building and information is aimed at a younger audience who may be learning "adulting" skills for the first time. However, all are welcome. Register on www.eventbrite.ca, call 416-395-5465, or email [email protected] At: 20 Covington Rd (west of Bathurst St & north of Lawrence Ave W) Barbara Frum Library Time: 6:30pm – 8pm Phone: 416-395-5440 January 08 2020 (Wednesday) Graphic Novel Book Club Discuss a selected graphic novel or comic book with fellow graphic novel and comic book readers! Books will be available at the Pape/Danforth Branch or can be placed on hold. January 8: In Real Life by Cory Doctorow and Jen Wang February 5: Fatherland by Nina Bunjevac March 4: Batman: The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller April 1: March: Book One by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell May 6: Black Hole by Charles Burns The book club meets the first Wednesday of the month. Register by calling the Pape/Danforth Branch at 416-393-7727. At: 701 Pape Ave (@ Danforth Ave) Pape/Danforth Library – Program Room Time: 7pm – 8pm Phone: 416-393-7727 January 09 2020 (Thursday) Trick or Treaty? This feature documentary by acclaimed filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin profiles Indigenous leaders in their quest for justice as they seek to establish dialogue with the Canadian government. By tracing the history of their ancestors since the signing of Treaty No. 9, these leaders aim to raise awareness about issues vital to First Nations in Canada: respect for and protection of their lands and their natural resources, and the right to hunt and fish so that their societies can prosper.