Get in touch!

We are excited to announce the return of Wexford Blooms to the Wexford Heights Business Improvement Area (BIA) in 2024!

From June 15 – September 15, 2024, our 3 sites will be open for everyday hangs and programmed events.
See below for upcoming events!

Locations for 0ur 2024 sites:
Ghadir (1848 Lawrence Ave E)
The Wexford Residence (1860 Lawrence Ave E)
Colony Plaza (2020 Lawrence Ave E)
See photos/diagrams below!

Wexford Blooms 2gether is built on the success of our 2023
pop ups. We have created a new site, expanded the most successful from 2023, and are investing in more programming and relationships.

This summer, the vibrancy of Wexford Heights and Scarborough is going to be shining in full force along Lawrence Ave E!

Wexford Blooms 2gether Sites!

Wexford Blooms 2gether Hub Site – 2020 Lawrence Ave E
Taking up just 7 parking spaces in the Colony Plaza, our hub site is full of seating options
The “Wexford Blooms” Zig Zag sign and bench at our hub site seen from Lawrence Ave E
Wexford Blooms 2gether at Ghadir – 1848 Lawrence Ave E
Booths along the street provide comfortable places to sit, eat, and meet friends at this Scarborough institution
A natural gathering place at Ghadir!
Wexford Blooms 2gether at the Wexford Residence – 1860 Lawrence Ave E
A small seating area brings plazaPOPS to the doorstep of residents of the Wexford who cited mobility concerns when trying to access plazaPOPS last year – so we brought it to them!

Events at this POP

Wexford Dhaba 2.0

Sep 13, 6:00pm

We are SO excited to invite you to the next
。・:˚:✧。𝐖𝐄𝐗𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐃 𝐃𝐇𝐀𝐁𝐀。✧:˚:・。
a FREE Desi-inspired night market and mela featuring local vendors, restaurants, and musicians!

Pickles and Peeps

Sep 14, 6:00pm

Get ready to join us for a pickle party Saturday September 14th from 6-7:30pm! Keep an eye out for more details and tickets 👀 Let’s relish this fun!

Walking Tour: OALA

Sep 12, 5:30pm

plazaPOPS is hosting a walking tour of our sites as part of a continuing education event hosted by the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects, and anyone is welcome to join.

Scarborough Landmarks

Sep 6, 6:00pm

Scarborough Landmarks is an art workshop that invites you to reflect on your not-so-glamorous daily journeys and honour the mundane, everyday landmarks that make up the places we call home. Let’s gather and rethink how we decide what a landmark is – what heritage is.

Art Showcase and Market

Aug 30, 6:00pm

A FREE artistic exploration-focused night featuring local artists and vendors with great music and light refreshments!

Community Voices for Safer Streets

Aug 25, 1:00pm

The Green Line is partnering with plazaPOPS (for the third time!) and Temple University to host a community meal and Story Circle focused on pedestrian safety in Wexford/Maryvale!

Urban Sketching Workshop + Chill

Aug 24, 12:00pm

Discover the art of sketching en-plein-air! This workshop is FREE and open to artists of ALL skill levels (including absolute beginners)! 🎨 Basic art materials will be provided but if you have some, you are encouraged to bring your own supplies 😆✨

Introduction to Indian Classical Dance

Aug 16, 6:00pm

“SMRTI”: Lets dive into the ocean of Indian classical dance together. Your instructor, Raga Aadi, is looking forward to some fun discussions and lots of dancing 💃

Islamic Art and Gardens

Aug 11, 4:00pm

Muslims in Public Space is hosting a sidewalk chalk activation on site. Join our workshop on Islamic geometric shapes and learn about Islamic gardens and the plants within them by Global Sustainable Foods.

Wexford Dhaba

Jul 27, 6:30pm

We are so excited to invite you to our first
。・:*˚:✧。𝐖𝐄𝐗𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐃 𝐃𝐇𝐀𝐁𝐀。✧:˚*:・。
a FREE Desi-inspired night market and mela featuring local vendors, restaurants, and musicians!

Slow Roll: Food Edition

Jul 13, 4:30pm

Join us for a 12 km ride to visit some of Scarborough’s tastiest takeout spots in Wexford Heights! Grab some takeout, have a seat, and enjoy “Wexford Blooms 2gether’, this year’s plazaPOPS installation!

Arabic Calligraphy Workshop

Jul 9, 4:30pm

We are excited to announce a special Arabic Calligraphy Workshop hosted by LunaLight Creations in collaboration with plazaPOPS! Whether you’re a beginner or have some experience, this workshop is perfect for anyone looking to explore the beautiful art of Arabic calligraphy.

Seed Planting Workshop

Jun 22, 2:00pm

On June 22nd join Plaza Pops x GSF for a planting workshop for the beginning of summer!

jaana

Jun 22, 1:00pm

Scarborough has a special spot in our hearts and minds.

We’ve been planning a print and digital series focused on cartography and wayfinding. This is us mapping it out, together.

Presented with planner/professor/local-homie ajeev bhatia.

Focusing on the south west, we will end sharing a meal together.

ps. Jaana (jaa-na) means going.

Wexford Blooms 2gether Opening Party and Community Planting Day!

Jun 15, 12:00pm

Join us for an opening day celebratory party at our hub site (2020 Lawrence Ave E) where we’ll be launching our 2024 season with a community planting day – many hands make light work and we need YOUR help greening the parking lots with native plants from Native Plants in Claremont!

plazaPOPS 2024 Open House

Apr 18, 5:00pm

💡Have ideas on how we can make this year’s Lawrence Avenue East plazaPOPS the best ever? 🙌 Join us at our drop-in OPEN HOUSE, Thursday April 18th, 5:00 pm -8:30 pm, at Precious Blood Church (1737 Lawrence Ave E)!

plazaPOPS community Iftaar

Mar 28, 7:00pm

We hosted a Community Iftaar at Sahan Restaurant in Wexford Heights to break bread together, commemorate the month of Ramadan, and honour our community members, neighbours and community organizations.

Engagement process

While our engagement for our 2024 sites is complete, we’d love to hear from you if you have ideas about programming, and any way we can improve the sites this year and the future!

Email us at hello@plazaPOPS.ca

Site & neighbourhood context

The Wexford Heights BIA, known for its creativity and its annual ‘Taste of Lawrence’ street festival, is home to over 60 diverse restaurants within its two-kilometer jurisdiction.

Host land owners & collaborators

Ghadir Meats
1848 Lawrence Ave E

Colony Plaza
202 Lawrence Ave E

The Wexford Residence
1860 Lawrence Ave E

Project team & collaborators

None of this would be possible without our vast network of collaborators

Daniel Rotsztain
Executive Director, plazaPOPS

Naziha Nasrin
Program Director, plazaPOPS

Brendan Stewart
Director of Design and Research, plazaPOPS

Michael Belley
Building Up

Fiona Persaud
Wexford Heights BIA

Bryan Peart
Working Women Community Centre

Noor Khan
plazaPOPS Curator

Mehedi Khan
Muslims in Public Space

Igor Samardzic
Muslims in Public Space

Echo Railton
Lead Garden Steward

Ryan Harris
Building Volunteer

Maria Taylor
Building Volunteer

Michael Mathis
Researcher

Vanessa Marshall
Researcher

Wanda Howard
Project Manager

Jacob Pullman
Project Manager

Warren Russell
Building Volunteer

Keith Fraser
Event Planner

Victoria Chapman
Researcher

Thomas Lee
Project Manager

Warren Taylor
Public Relations

Victor Knox
Event Planner

Mary Bond
Project Manager

Benjamin Lawrence
Community Coordinator

Ryan Harris
Building Volunteer

Maria Taylor
Building Volunteer

Michael Mathis
Researcher

Vanessa Marshall
Researcher

Funders

Wexford Blooms 2024 is made possible by our funders

City of Toronto

Funders

plazaPOPS is supported by the City of Toronto, Economic Development and Culture’s Main Street Recovery and Rebuild Initiative, with support from the City of Toronto’s Planning Division

Federal Development Agency for Southern Ontario

Funders

The City of Toronto’s Main Street Recovery and Rebuild Initiative is funded by the Federal Development Agency for Southern Ontario

University of Guelph

Funders

The University of Guelph is plazaPOPS’ research partner, and is pursuing a multi-disciplinary research initiative funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council