East End Family Explorer 🧭 December 15-21
December with little ones is a special kind of busy. Between holiday markets, festive drop-ins, winter crafts, and trying to soak up the season without overdoing it, it can feel like you’re always on the move - snacks, mittens, and all. You’re definitely not alone if it feels like a lot some days.
Whether you’re heading to a winter village, catching a family movie, joining a cozy class, or sticking to familiar storytimes and playgroups, there are plenty of ways to make the week feel meaningful without packing in everything. If your holiday plans lean more local than hectic, this newsletter and the full calendar are here to help you choose what fits.
EAST END MOM FRIENDS
🥂 Last Tots & Taps + diaper drive
Fri Dec 19 | 11am-2pm | Reid’s Distillery
Come join us for the last Tots & Taps of the year, celebrating the holidays as well as East End Mom Friends’ 3rd birthday!
Once again, we’ll be collecting diapers for the Nourish East End food bank at Glen Rhodes Church. Donations will be matched up to $500 by both Turnpenney Milne LLP AND local real estate agent Ameera Rajwani. Let’s make every diaper count! Open packages welcome.
🎁 Local gift guides for kids
Our East End Holiday Gift Guides series is now complete, with local gift ideas perfect for kids of all ages and families of all budget ranges:
COMMUNITY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
🎄 Distillery Winter Village | Distillery District
Until Jan 4 | Tickets req’d Fri-Sun after 4pm
🎶 Soul-Nourishing Song Circle + Soup
Tues Dec 16 | 10:30am-12:30pm | Bain Co-op Community Centre | Register here
🍬 Gingerbread House Workshop | BOK Play Cafe
Tues Dec 16 | 4-6pm | Tickets
🎁 Winter Market | St. Lawrence Market
Wed-Sun until Dec 22
✝️ Busy Bees Drop-In | St Aidan’s in the Beach
Thursdays | 10-11:30am
🍿 Free Screening of Elf | Fox Theatre
Thurs Dec 18 | 6:30-8pm | Tickets
🎅 Santa’s Little Party | BOK Play Cafe
Fri Dec 19 | 10am-12pm + 1-3pm | Tickets
🎄 Special Event – Ornament Painting | Michaels
Sat Dec 20 | 1-3pm
🐶 Craft Corner | FURRR
Sat Dec 20 | 1-5pm
Farmers markets 🥕
Evergreen’s Saturday Farmers Market | Sat 8am-1pm
Allen Gardens Farmers’ Market | Sat 10am-2pm
Leslieville Farmers’ Market | Sun 9am-2pm (now indoors)
A long-time member of our community is facing the unthinkable: the loss of her husband, the loving father of their three young children, while on maternity leave. Please consider donating to the GoFundMe and keeping their family in your thoughts as they navigate an incredibly difficult situation. Let’s show Dorothy and her littles all the love and support! 🖤
EARLYON CHILD & FAMILY CENTRES (0-6y)
Beyond circle time highlights
🩺 TPH Nurse Visit | EYET Sackville
Mon Dec 15 | 11am-12pm
🧘 Family Yoga | EYET Danforth
Mon Dec 15 | 2-3pm
📚 Circle Time with Literacy Specialist | Abiona
Mon Dec 15 | 2-3pm
👨🏽🍼 Dad's Drop-In | Family Resources
Mon Dec 15 | 1:30-3pm
🌊 Swimming | West Scarborough
Tues Dec 16 | 10-11am
💡 Surrey Place Early Year Clinical Team Visit | Parent Resources
Tues Dec 16 | 10-12:30pm
📚 Family Literacy Drop-in | EYET Cosburn
Tuesdays | 1-4pm | Free book!
❄️ Jingle and Mingle Holiday Celebration | Birchmount
Wed Dec 17 | 9:30-11am
🎅 Pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus | Abiona
Wed Dec 17 | 10-10:30am
🧘 Yoga with Ayat | EYET Cosburn
Wed Dec 17 | 10-11
🤟🏼 Baby Sign Language Circle Time | Parent Resources
Wed Dec 17 | 11-11:30am
🏳️🌈 Glitterbug: 2SLGBTQ+ Program | EYET Danforth
Wed Dec 17 | 3:30-5:30pm
📚 Reading Club | Parent Resources
Wednesdays | 3:30-4:30pm | 3y+
🏳️🌈 Rainbow Family Time | Birchmount
Thursdays | 9am-12pm
🎄 Christmas Celebration! | Parent Resources
Thurs Dec 18 | 9am-12:30pm
🎁 Christmas Party | West Scarborough
Fri Dec 19 | 11am-2pm
🧸 Play & Learn Drop-In | Family Resources
Sat Dec 20 | 9:00am-1pm
🧸 Drop-in | Eastview
Sun Dec 21 | 9:30am-1pm
You can find many more EarlyON activities on our full calendar.
TORONTO PUBLIC LIBRARY
Family-friendly activities
🎄 Elf Academy | Danforth/Coxwell
Mon Dec 15 | 10:30-11am
🩺 TPH Health: Safety and Q&A/Drop-in | Parliament
Mon Dec 15 | 11am-12pm
🦮 Therapy Dog Visits | S Walter Stewart
Mon Dec 15 | 4-5pm
🇫🇷 French Storytime | S Walter Stewart
Tues Dec 16 | 10:30-11am
🖍️ Family Colouring Hour | St. Lawrence
Tuesdays | 4-6pm
⛄ Winter Crafts| Beaches
Wed Dec 17 | 4-5pm |
🧱 LEGO Club | Jones
Wednesdays | 3:30-5pm
🧱 LEGO Club | Queen/Saulter
Thurs Dec 18 | 4-5pm
🎁 Christmas Card Crafting | St. Lawrence
Fri Dec 19 | 3-4pm
🤖 Robotics Club | Parliament
Fri Dec 19 | 4-5pm | 6-12y
🎨 Crafturday | Jones
Saturdays | 9:30am-4:30pm
🍿 Family Movies: Home Alone | Cliffcrest
Sat Dec 20 | 11am-1pm
🎭 Puppet Freeplay | St. Lawrence
Sat Dec 20 | 11am-3pm
🎁 Holiday Craft | Thorncliffe
Sat Dec 20 | 1-2pm
🎅 Puppet Show: Clarissa Claus's Very Merriest Christmas | S Walter Stewart
Sat Dec 20 | 1:30-2:15
❄️ Winter Craft | Queen/Saulter
Sat Dec 20 | 2-3pm
🎤 Holiday Sing-Along | Gerrard/Ashdale
Sat Dec 20 | 2-3pm
🎨 Sunday Crafternoon | Jones
Sun Dec 21 | 12-4:30pm
💡Sunday Snap Circuits | Thorncliffe
Sun Dec 21 | 2-3pm | 6-12y
😛 Sunday Funday | Cliffcrest
Sun Dec 21 | 2-3pm
You can find many more Toronto Public Library activities on our full calendar.
NEW PARTNERSHIP: EXCLUSIVE LEGAL SUPPORT
Turnpenney Milne LLP
We’re proud to announce a partnership with Turnpenney Milne LLP, also a sponsor of our December Diaper Drive.
Turnpenney Milne LLP is a proudly female-led employment law firm in Toronto’s East End, led in part by long-time EEMF member and trusted advocate Ozlem Yucel!
Known for championing employees - and especially working mothers - Turnpenney Milne LLP provides clear, strategic guidance during life’s most challenging workplace moments.
As part of our partnership, EEMF members can access the following exclusive support from Turnpenney Milne LLP (using the code EEMF):
Free legal consultations for anyone terminated during maternity/parental leave or within six months of returning to work;
Free legal consultations for those who believe they were terminated or discriminated against because of pregnancy or sex;
A special, reduced-rate consultation of $200 (flat fee) for up to one hour - including document review.
If you or someone you know could benefit from knowledgeable, compassionate employment law support, connect with Turnpenney Milne LLP or Ozlem Yucel (ozlem@tmllp.ca).
Learn more by visiting their website: turnpenneymilne.ca
