July was a big month! It was a long time coming but we are proud to announce the successful delivery of 41 ramps that were a part of our Danforth Community Ramp Project. It was an incredible undertaking involving more than 30 volunteers and support from various organizations - but we did it! There are now 30 businesses along the Danforth between Broadview and Donlands, and 11 businesses along Queen Street between Broadview and Carlaw that have been made much easier to access regardless of ability. Volunteers helped canvas the neighbourhood in search of interested businesses, measured steps, rounded up food donations, constructed and painted ramps, and helped with ramp deliveries. All of these participating businesses received their ramp at no cost thanks to the volunteer efforts from the following people:
Martha and Sarah Miller - dynamic mother daughter duo and captains of green ramp painting division Veronica Lukacs - inappropriate jokes dropper and master painter Henna Tuohimaa - zen surveyor, ramp painter, ramp deliverer and rocket fuel provider Tim and Rush the dog - head of advertising, cheerleading, and surveying Natalie Rose - lead motivator, ramp painter, ramp deliverer Jennifer Hiseler - rope handle sculptor and head food coordinator Bill and Chris Anderson - veterans of 6 community ramp projects, lead support crew Diane Aubie Sanborn - captain of blue ramp painting division Kate Peters - captain of red ramp painting division Melissa Fortune - ramp painting queen Russell Winkelaar - stencil ninja Bill Kealey and Max the dog - overseers of chaos Zoey Onn - anti-slip treatment master Feliz Tupe - cinematographer and video editor extraordinaire
A special thanks to the following local businesses for their participation in what is one of our most successful community ramp projects yet:
The whole crew, partners, and friends from Greening Homes - returning to help us out on a second community ramp project these guys took on the construction of the ramps with a vengeance, 41 ramps in two days could never have been accomplished without the Greening Homes crew.
Dixon Hall and The Mill Centre - we are forever grateful for our partnership with Dixon Hall and their woodworking skills program that is run out of The Mill Centre, a fully outfitted woodworking shop on Carlaw just north of Queen. We look forward to the creation of many more ramps through both these skills program as well as projects like the recently completed Danforth project.
Canadian Tire Express on the Danforth - donation of rocker guard (protective paint applied to the ramp prior to finish painting).
Danforth Lumber - partial donation of all building materials.
Steam Whistle Brewery - donation of two cases of beer that were thoroughly enjoyed after each of the two big huge days of ramp building.
Lerners LLP - $5000 donation used partially to cover the cost of building materials and food.
Von Doughnuts - donation of delicious gourmet doughnuts to get the volunteers engines revving at the beginning of big build day number two.
The Meat Department - donation of award-winning ribs.
Si Espresso Bar - donation of tasty treats and coffee.
The Court Jester - donation of delicious chicken wings.
Henry's - donation of rental costs for the GoPro camera used to take time lapse footage of the entire two days of ramp building.
And here it is! This time lapse video is a compilation of photos taken over the course of the two-day ramp building extravaganza. Enjoy!