The Scarborough Mirror

Scarborough Village residents get a rare chance this Saturday to learn from an expert about plants and trees in the area and some of the issues facing them.

Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests (LEAF) arborist Todd Irvine is leading a tree tour from the Scarborough Village Recreation Centre, 3600 Kingston Rd. at Markham Road.

The village does not have as much tree cover as the city’s wealthier areas but “there are some real gems” and more can be done for trees the neighbourhood has, Irvine said this week.

The walk from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (details at www.treetours.to) includes the historic Campbell family farmhouse and the sugar maple woodlot around it.

A suggested donation for the tour is $5.

A free day of celebrations this Saturday in Scarborough pays tribute to Tamil culture in Canada.

It also heralds the approaching completion of years of work by young volunteers to build what devotees say will be the first North American temple to the Hindu deity Ayyappan.

Canada Sri Ayyappan Samajam of Ontario hosts the annual festivities, called Joythi, from 11 a.m. to midnight, at the temple site, 635 Middlefield Rd. north of Finch Avenue.

Traditional foods such as rotis, dosas and appams will be served as on-stage entertainment continues in the form of music, dance and educational drama.

Ayyappan (also called Ayyappa) is a combination of the Hindu deities Shiva and Vishnu whose worship is strongest in South India. But in 1994, starting from a home in Scarborough, Tamil devotees have built a base to support a future temple.

Work on that temple, costing about $7 million, is underway and may be completed in December after years of fundraising.

The fact that more than 100 youths have worked for months to prepare for the festival is itself an accomplishment, the organization said in a statement.

“The youths have taken an active role in reintroducing and reinforcing our cultural values into the Canadian Tamil Society,” it added last week.

The goal of this year's marathon is to raise $1 million for more than 60 small Toronto charities including Invest in Kids, the Assaulted Women's Helpline and Fort York Food Bank.

The marathon (42 kilometres), which also offers a half marathon (21 kilometres) and five-kilometre run has become one of the premier sporting events in Toronto and across North America, according to organizers.

"This race is Toronto's race and there is truly a way for everyone in our city to participate," said Alan Brookes, race director, in a press release.

This year there are three ways for Torontonians to get involved. People who aren't running can participate by pledging a runner or by coming out to cheer along the race route or at one of Scotia Toronto Waterfront's 10 official Neighbourhood Cheering and Entertainment Centres from the Humber to the Beaches.

This year's marathon starts and finishes at Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen St. W. beginning at 7:30 a.m. Visit www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com for the full race route.

The free service recently moved to a new, more accessible location where its clients can pick out necessary items themselves.

The bank, which opens mainly for new Canadians and people being housed after time in a shelter, is running especially short of tables and chairs, single and double beds, dressers and couches.

"Things are going in and out very quickly," Heather Urbansky, a manager at West Hill Community Services said this week.

The bank - one of only two in Toronto - offers pick up and delivery but stresses donated furniture must be "gently used," not items that would otherwise be considered trash.

If a button is missing on your couch or the pattern is starting to fade, that's fine, Urbansky said. "If there's structural damage or an animal has lived on it for 15 years, that's pretty much a goner."

Call 416-847-4142 to donate or for more information.

A free information session on how to the job market has changed and what prospective employees need to do to make sure their skills are up to date will be hosted by the Scarborough Centre for Employment Accessibility.

The workshop takes place Friday, Aug. 22 from 1 to 3 p.m. at 3478 Lawrence Ave., E., Unit C006.

Participants will learn new job search tools and also be directed to services to help them in their quest for employment.

Registration is required as space is limited.

Call 416-396-8100 or visit www.accessibleerc.com for more information.