Ravine Reveries: Following the Footprints of Nature Through the East End

Samu Subbarama

Ravine Reveries: Following the Footprints of Nature Through the East End

Toronto’s ravines are more than green corridors — they’re time capsules, etched with the city’s natural and cultural memory.

Beginning at Greenwood Station, we’ll amble through Monarch Park, once shaped by the lost waters of Smalls Creek, before meandering south through the layered landscapes of the East End where we will encounter Williamson Park Ravine — a landform over 13,000 years old — we’ll explore buried rivers and uncover stories spanning from Indigenous pathways to present-day climate resilience.

Along the way, we’ll wander among iconic urban trees and reflect on what it takes to protect and nurture green spaces in a changing city. We’ll touch on urban forestry, community stewardship, and the ties between ecology, design, and civic life — pausing at the former mouths of creeks that once flowed into Lake Ontario to consider how nature and human ambition continue to shape the shoreline.

This is a walk for anyone who loves trees, local history, or simply spending time in beautiful, meaningful places. Whether you're a nature nerd, a beach stroller, a park lover, or just curious about Toronto’s East End, come walk with us.

Wear comfortable shoes, bring water, and prepare for a thoughtful journey — from the heart of the Upper Beaches to the sandy edge of Lake Ontario.