Riverdale Share is known for its annual charity holiday concert in December, and on Tuesday, May 31 – the hottest day of the year in Toronto thus far, when the temperature finally cracked the 30-mark, it held its annual spring ceremony to award grants from the money raised.
The ceremony, which distributed $28,000, was held at Whistler’s Grille, 995 Broadview Ave. (at Mortimer) and attended by grateful local charity officials, sponsors and supporters.
Susan Baker, the event’s longtime volunteer executive director, pointed out that this year’s show will mark a notable milestone - the 20th anniversary. Work and planning has already begun on this year’s show - already pencilled in for Saturday, Dec. 10 - and, of course, any and all support would be appreciated, including those who wish to help through volunteering or sponsorship which covers the cost of producing the show.
Over the past 19 years, the Riverdale Share community concert has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars and truckloads of food for families in crisis in the Riverdale community. The show has attracted an impressive list of stars, many of them local, who join fellow local artists on stage, such as former Barenaked Ladies’ frontman Steve Page, the Tragically Hip’s Gord Downey, Blue Rodeo’s Jim Cuddy, rock music’s cult heroine Mary Margaret O’Hara, country legend Russell deCarle (Prairie Oyster), Great Big Sea’s baritone Murray Foster, pop-group Moxy Früvous, comedian Luba Goy, CBC personality Jian Ghomeshi, the Bebop Cowboys, Gregg Lawless and many more.
Riverdale Share Community Association is a registered non-profit, volunteer-driven organization whose mandate is to produce a large, inclusive, festive celebration while raising money for families in crisis within the Riverdale community.
The Tuesday event paid tribute to one of its long-time volunteers, Rick Hand, who died in 2009.
“For as many years as we can remember, Rick was responsible for converting the Danforth Music Hall into a magical Christmas wonderland for the Riverdale Share Concert,” Baker said of the “much-loved” volunteer.
“Although the concert always took place during Rick’s busiest season, we could always count on him and his daughter Quinn to show up bright and early with big smiles and warm hugs for everyone. “We were extremely touched that Rick’s family – (wife) Diane, (and kids) Quinn and Tyler – requested that donations to Riverdale Share be made in Rick’s name.”
And that donation was also handed over by the family May 31 to the Blake Boultbee Youth Outreach Service. Quinn, in a moving speech, outlined how they had benefited from their father’s love and attention throughout their lives and how the family wanted to support a group helping less fortunate youth.
Riverdale Share also announced that the Thundercloud Fund, which was started in 2008 in memory of another beloved volunteer Helen Thundercloud who passed away was also put to good use in 2010.
“This year, there was a single mom and her two children who lost everything when their apartment burnt down,” said Baker. “With monies from the Thundercloud Fund, we were able to help this family start to get back on their feet again by providing them some of the daily essentials like new clothes and toiletries, furniture and kitchenware.
Meanwhile here’s a list of this year’s recipients which were presented their grants at the Tuesday event, followed by a brief outline of the work they do in the community:
BLAKE BOULTBEE YOUTH OUTREACH SERVICE (BBYOS): a community-based agency established in 1989 to provide comprehensive services to high-risk youth and their families in the Blake Boultbee community, a high density, low income area of east Toronto. BBYOS provides intensive individual, group and family counselling and therapy, community outreach, life skills training and crisis intervention that offers options to these at-risk young people and their families. Visit http://www.bbyos.org/;
BLAKE BOULTBEE YOUTH OUTREACH SERVICE - BOYS AND GIRLS GROUP: this is a weekly group for boys and girls between 10 and 13 years in a community of various racial and ethnic backgrounds. It focuses on group counselling, self-esteem, self-worth and image, health/nutrition, peer support, violence and abuse (physical, emotional and mental). The goal is that these children develop non-violent communication and conflict resolution skills, a healthy sense of self and feel a sense of empowerment and control in their lives. Visit http://www.bbyos.org/;
BOOK BAG AND READING CLUB - PARENT RESOURCES DROP-IN CENTRE: a community program initiated in 2006 by literacy teacher and children’s author Seilah Currie, for newcomer families in the Gerrard Street East area of Toronto. Children read engaging books that are tailored to their individual skill levels to ensure that reading attempts are enjoyable and successful. Volunteers from the community work one-on-one to help with any challenging vocabulary before the books are sent home for extra practice. Picture books for pre-schoolers and chapter books for proficient readers are also available to borrow.
BROADVIEW COMMUNITY YOUTH GROUP (BCYG): this charity created in 2007 provides summer and holiday camps, as well as specialty programs on weekends and will soon provide after-school programming for children between the ages of four and 12 in east Toronto. Programs are offered in one of three streams - health and fitness; creative and performing arts; and fun educational. The BCYG is the only youth-oriented group of its kind within this community, and as a result, fills a large void by providing programs and services geared towards children and youth. Visit http://www.bcyg.ca/;
NELLIE’S - ENDING VIOLENCE: since 1973, Nellie’s has been operating programs and services for women and children who have and are experiencing oppressions such as violence, poverty and homelessness. Nellie’s is a community-based feminist organization which operates within an anti-racist, anti-oppression framework. Its Ending Violence Support Group exemplifies its dedication to using education and advocacy to affect social change when working with survivors of abuse, as well as learn and discuss different ways to end violence in their lives. Visit http://www.nellies.org/
RALPH THORNTON CENTRE - CHILDREN AND YOUTH AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM: this program was developed in order to respond to the need for safe, educational and enjoyable activities for South Riverdale Children, especially those who face challenges due to school problems, family income and social marginalization. This program runs five days a week and matches primary school children with trained volunteers to help with homework, and participate in a variety of social, artistic, recreational and environmental activities. Visit http://ralphthornton.org/
RALPH THORNTON CENTRE - RIVERDALE YOUTH CHILDREN MENTOR PROGRAM: this program helps newcomer children from the Chinese community adjust and adapt to their new Canadian culture. One-on-one support is provided as students are given English language work that is catered to their individual needs and abilities. Cultural adaptation and social skills are developed through various interactive group activities. Visit http://ralphthornton.org/
SOUTH RIVERDALE CHILD-PARENT CENTRE: a family support program that offers a parent-child drop-in, parenting workshops and a book and toy lending library. Open five days a week and Saturdays in the winter, the centre is open to families with children from birth to six years. The staff offers referral services and informal counselling to all families. Visit http://webhome.idirect.com/~srcpc/
The above YouTube video is from this past year with Steven Page leading a wonderful version of War is Over from the concert. You can check out many more concert videos and more information at the Riverdale Share website at http://www.riverdaleshare.com