Got a closet full of shoes? Here’s your chance to make a difference. Ron White Shoes is hosting their annual Shoe Drive until Feb 4th, accepting gently used shoes in support of CAMH and New Circles.

Make a positive impact on mental health and families in need by clearing out your closet — drop off your shoes at 1553 Bayview Ave (or any other participating Ron White Shoes location) and receive $50 off your next regular-priced purchase – it’s a win-win!

Learn more about New Circles here and CAMH here.

We’ve been captivated by the ongoing changes captured in the Port Lands construction progress videos shared on the Waterfront Toronto YouTube account.

Once completed, this ambitious project should eliminate the flooding that takes place at the bottom of the Bayview Extension and DVP during major storms.

Witness the transformation unfold in a selection of videos below:

A canoe-eye view of the dry river valley in the Port Lands (Jan 10, 2024)

Flooding the Don Greenway (November 2023)

Read more →

Alan Redway, Leaside resident, former politician & lawyer, and published author of East York 1924-1997: Toronto’s Garden of Eden, has passed away.

All Government of Canada buildings and establishments in the City of Toronto will fly their flags at half-mast until sunset on January 10th, 2024 to pay tribute to the Honourable Alan Redway, P.C., K.C.

• Alan Redway, former Mayor of East York and MP for York East, remembered for his service to community
• www.alanredway.com
• leasidelife.com/author/alan-redway
• wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Redway

The City of Toronto is gearing up to host the biggest fireworks display in Canada to ring in 2024. On Sunday, December 31 at midnight, residents and visitors to Toronto are invited to countdown to the New Year and witness a free 10-minute, high-altitude fireworks show synchronized to music, visible from anywhere with a view of the city’s inner harbour and also livestreamed online.

Designated viewing areas for the fireworks include:
• Sherbourne Common, 61 Dockside Dr.
• Toronto Music Garden, 476 Queens Quay W.
• Harbour Square Park, 25 Queens Quay W.
• Sugar Beach Park, 11 Dockside Dr.
• Little Norway Park, 659 Queens Quay W.
• HTO Park, 339 Queens Quay W.
• Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W.

For those unable to attend in-person, the live webcast begins at 10 p.m. with DJ sets until 11:30 p.m. The New Year’s Eve countdown begins at 11:30 p.m., which will culminate in the fireworks display. The webcast will feature ASL and Closed Captioning and be available on the City’s CultureTO YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/Culture_TO.

Read more →

Planning to kickstart your fitness journey in the New Year? Dive into this guest article by Poul Nielsen, President and Owner of Nielsen Fitness, to learn key strategies for setting achievable fitness resolutions that will last beyond the holiday season.

How to set a smart fitness goal
A goal is a dream with a plan, as they say. But setting a goal isn’t as simple as you may think – if you want to achieve it, that is. Here’s our formula for setting fitness goals that stick. It is based upon the widely-used SMART goals model, and we use it with our clients all the time.

A SMART fitness goal is:

1. Specific
2. Measurable
3. Action-oriented
4. Realistic, and
5. Timeline-based

Specific
Not vague. ‘I want to be fitter’ isn’t going to cut it. Think about how you want to look and feel, and what you want to be able to do.
Measurable
Figure out how you’re going to measure it. Body measurements, number of workouts per week, how long you can hold a plank, or how many push-ups you can do.
Action-oriented
What steps (actions) are you going to take to reach your goal? In this case, how often will you work out? What will you do? What other dietary or lifestyle habits will you implement to support your fitness goal?
Realistic
In terms of timing and what’s possible. Be realistic – but that doesn’t mean don’t be ambitious! Don’t be afraid to have a big goal! You CAN see big results, but be realistic about the timing (next point). At the same time, doing too much too fast, or in an unsafe way is a no-go. If you need clarity on what’s realistic for you, we’re happy to help you figure that out.
Timeline-based
Set a deadline. One of the reasons we check-in with clients for assessments on a regular basis is to evaluate progress towards goals and set new ones. Even if you have one big overarching goal, it works really well to set smaller ones and build upon them.

The SMART Goal Setter is the perfect tool for setting measurable and realistic goals. This tool is meant to be printed and used daily to help you stay on track – and motivated – as you move towards a new, healthier you.

So there you go. Using this formula will give you a much higher likelihood of success – and it works just as well for non-fitness related goals so use it freely!

---

Need some help? That’s what we are here for! At Nielsen Fitness, we’re here to lift you up. Work with us in our private training studio in Leaside for a top-notch workout. Learn about Leaside studio training. And if home is where your heart is, our in-home personal training across Toronto has you covered. See our in-home training in Toronto.

Poul Nielsen is the President and Owner of Nielsen Fitness, Toronto’s leading provider of in-home personal training. Visit www.nielsenfitness.com for more information or to book a complimentary consultation and fitness assessment.