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Bringing Blooms and Butterflies to Regent Park
By Dawar Naeem
(Dawar is a journalist with the Focus Media Arts Centre)
Regent Park is going through a revitalization process. The revitalization is transforming Regent Park into a mixed income neighbourhood. New buildings, retail, public spaces, community facilities and parks have been popping up since the revitalization began. Since the revitalization started, residents and stakeholders of Regent Park have been coming together to begin initiatives that help build Regent Park into a better and safer neighbourhood – one which is safe, socially inclusive, cohesive and physically beautiful. One of the latest groups involved in this work is the Blooms and Butterflies in Regent Park.
The Blooms and Butterflies in Regent Park, is a group of Regent Park residents who have come together to bring butterflies to Regent Park through planting plants and flowers. Together with Centre for Social Innovation and a long-standing resident group called the Friends of Regent Park, the Blooms and Butterflies has begun the Dundas East Beautification Project. Ann Kirkland and Sue Ellis are residents of Regent Park and are two of the founding members of the group. According to Ann and Sue, there are multiple aims of the Dundas East Beautification Project. Not only does the project serve to attract butterflies, but it also aims to beautify Regent Park and bring families and neighbours together for the purposes of planting and caring for flowers.
The inaugural event of the Blooms and Butterflies in Regent Park was held on Saturday June 11, between 10 am and 1 pm. During this time, Regent Park community member began the work of planting seeds and flowers along the South side of Dundas Street East, between Sumach Street and Pashler Avenue. During the event plants and seeds were distributed to residents provided by the City of Toronto. Daniels Corporation also financially supported the event through funds and help with logistics. These logistics included artist stalls, live music, snacks and roving entertainment for kids, supplied by a costumed superhero known as the Regent Park Ranger...no other than community resident, Leonard Swartz!
To know more about the event watch the RPTV video at:
https://youtu.be/I0V2LI7v3BU
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FOCUS Media Arts Centre (FOCUS) is a not-for-profit organization that was established in 1990 to counter negative media stereotypes of low income communities and provide relevant information to residents living in the Regent Park area and surrounding communities.
We seek to empower marginalized individuals and under represented communities to have a voice, through the use of professional training, mentorships and participatory based media practices that enable the sharing of stories, experiences and perspectives on relevant matters and issues. In brief our mandate is to empower marginalized individuals and under-serviced communities to have a voice and tell their own stories.
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