This Tuesday, September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and Orange Shirt Day.

Whether you are a newcomer to Canada or your ancestors colonized this land generations ago, please join us in continuing to learn about and recognize the ongoing trauma caused by residential schools, and remember those who never returned home, survivors, and their families - including the many First Nations, Inuit, and Métis families who are an important part of the East End Mom Friends community today. 🧡

Still need to get an orange shirt? Visit Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre at Dundas and Parliament, or Old’s Cool General Store at Westlake and Lumsden (while supplies last).

You can find family-friendly activities featuring Indigenous cultures, languages, music, authors, and more on our Community Events Calendar throughout the year by looking for the 🪶 feather emoji, but here are a few highlights for the next week:

🪶 Indigenous Legacy Gathering | Nathan Phillips Square
Mon Sept 29-Tues Sept 30

🪶 Indigenous Circle Time | Applegrove EarlyON
Mon Sept 29 | 10:30am

🪶 Truth and Reconciliation Day | Toronto Zoo
Tues Sept 30 | 9:30am-4:30pm | Free admission for Indigenous peoples

🪶 Orange Shirt Day Storytime & Craft | Parliament Street Library
Thurs Oct 2 | 4-5pm

🪶 Native Child & Family Services Community Pow Wow | Dufferin Grove Park (outing with South Riverdale EarlyON)
Sat Oct 4 | Grand entry 12pm

🪶 Mobile Indigenous EarlyON | Riverdale Library
Wed Oct 8 | 10-10:45am

EAST END MOM FRIENDS

❄️ Playgroup waitlists now open

Winter is coming. Waitlists for November-December playgroups are now open! There are 40+ playgroups on the schedule from St. Lawrence/Distillery to Birchcliff, O’Connor-Parkview to Leslieville, and every neighbourhood in between.

Please join the waitlist for your preferred group(s) so we know where there is enough interest to run a group and where we need to open new groups because there is more demand.

Learn more about playgroups | Reviews

COMMUNITY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

✝️ Busy Bees Drop-In | St. Aidan’s in the Beach
Thursdays | 10-11:30am

🍿 Movies for Mommies | Cineplex Beaches
Thurs Oct 2 | Doors 12pm, movie 1pm | Fall photo shoot

📆 Menopause Collective Launch Party | wellbe Beaches
Fri Oct 3 | 7-9pm | Register

🍂 Fall Market | St. Paul’s United Church
Sat Oct 4 | 9am-1pm

Farmers markets 🥕

EARLYON CHILD & FAMILY CENTRES (0-6y)

Beyond circle time highlights

🩺 TPH Nurse Visit | Parent Resources
Mon Sept 29 | 10am

👨🏽‍🍼 Dad's Drop-In | Family Resource Centre
Mondays | 1:30pm

💃🏻 Zumba | Access Alliance
Tues Sept 30 | 1:30-2:30pm | Register

🐮 Outing to Riverdale Farm | South Riverdale
Wed Oct 1 | 10am-1pm | Email to register

🤟🏼 Baby Sign Language Circle Time | Parent Resources
Wed Oct 1 | 11am

🧪 STEM For Kids | Kimbourne
Fridays in October | 9-11am | 3-4y | Register

🏳️‍🌈 Glitterbug: 2SLGBTQ+ Mobile Program | EYET Danforth
Wednesdays | 3:30-5:30pm

🏳️‍🌈 Rainbow Family Time | Birchmount
Thursdays | 9am-12pm

You can find many more EarlyON activities on our full calendar, however please note that most EarlyONs have not yet published their October schedules.

COMMUNITY PARTNER: WELLBE BEACHES

🐝 Baby & Me Strength classes

Gather your little ones and join Eileen at wellbe Beaches for an invigorating movement session that caters to every body. The “Baby & Me Strength” classes are thoughtfully designed to incorporate elements of strength training, cardiovascular exercises, core work, and stretching - ensuring a well-rounded experience.

Tuesdays | 11am-12pm | $30

Register for a drop-in class

TORONTO PUBLIC LIBRARY

Family-friendly activities

🐱 Puppet Show: The Fat Cat | Danforth/Coxwell
Mon Sept 29 | 10:30am

🦮 Therapy Dog Visits | S. Walter Stewart
Mon Sept 29 | 4-5pm | 6y+ | Register

📐 After School Origami | Riverdale
Mon Sept 29 | 4-5pm | 4y+

🎨 Birdhouse Painting | Danforth/Coxwell
Tues Sept 30 | 3:45pm | Register

⏳ Sand Art | Jones
Thurs Oct 2 | 3:30-4:30pm

🐱 Puppet Show: The Fat Cat | Danforth/Coxwell
Thurs Oct 2 | 3:45-4:45pm

✂️ Textured Tissue Art | Danforth/Coxwell
Fri Oct 3 | 3:30-4:30pm | Register

🎃 Make a Digital Halloween Postcard | Leaside
Sat Oct 4 | 2-3pm | 8-12y | Register

🍿 Saturday Afternoon Family Movie | Thorncliffe
Sat Oct 4 | 2-4pm | The Princess & The Frog (G)

You can find many more Toronto Public Library activities on our full calendar.

CITY OF TORONTO COMMUNITY CENTRES

CC Spotlight: Warden Hilltop

One block from Warden subway station, Warden Hilltop Community Centre has tons of free drop-in play times for families with young children.

During Recreation Fun and Open Gym times, the WHCC gym transforms into a play zone full of balls, kid’s push cars, floor mats, sports equipment, and more - perfect for entertaining kids indoors on those bad weather days when you just don’t want to play outside. It also has a playground outside!

⚽ Recreation Fun and Play with Caregiver (0-5y)
9-11:30 am | Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun
1-3pm | Mon-Fri (Preschool Room)
5-8pm | Mon-Thurs

⚽ Open Gym with Family (6-12y)
3:30-5pm | Saturdays

⚽ Recreation Fun and Play with Caregiver (6-12y)
9-11:30am | Sundays

You can find many more City of Toronto community centre activities on our full calendar.

EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT: CAROUSEL COSTUMES

👻 Halloween costume rentals

Carousel Costumes is a new east-end business renting high-quality kids’ costumes for Halloween, school plays, and everyday dress-up. They are offering the East End Mom Friends community an early-bird discount on rentals booked before Monday, October 5.

Contact Sophia for more information

East End Family Explorer 🧭 September 29-October 5