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How park-goers are taking advantage of Toronto’s early spring

By Shannon Baldwin
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How park-goers are taking advantage of Toronto's early spring
(Images: Giordano Ciampini)

On Saturday, Toronto’s temperature cracked the 17-degree mark, setting a record high for the day. For some, it was a harbinger of planet-destroying climate change; for others, it was a cue to dust off their frisbees and tennis rackets a month or two ahead of schedule. We paid a visit to Trinity Bellwoods Park, always ground zero for warm-weather keeners, to ask people how they’re taking advantage of winter’s early departure.

How park-goers are taking advantage of Toronto's early spring
(Image: Giordano Ciampini)

Josh Weisfeld, 22, business consultant “Last weekend I went skiing, and this weekend there’s no snow at all. So it’s a nice shift.”

How park-goers are taking advantage of Toronto's early spring
(Image: Giordano Ciampini)

Paul Heakes, 34, actuary “I play tennis about once a week as soon as the weather gets nice.”

How park-goers are taking advantage of Toronto's early spring
(Image: Giordano Ciampini)

Sandeep Kembhavi, 32, sports management “I brought a few more layers, because I thought I might need them. But it’s perfect shorts and t-shirt weather, and once we get moving it will be even better.”

How park-goers are taking advantage of Toronto's early spring
(Image: Giordano Ciampini)

Julian Karst, 38, software developer “I walked from Parkdale to my office downtown and back. It’s about a 40-minute walk each way, and it was only about four or five degrees at the time. My nose was running pretty seriously by the end.”

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How park-goers are taking advantage of Toronto's early spring
(Image: Giordano Ciampini)

Laurissa Barnes-Roberts, 30, graphic designer “I went for my first run on the boardwalk last week. The temperature was in the teens, so I wore my summer running gear—capris and a tank. I was just so excited that it was finally dry enough for me to do that.”

How park-goers are taking advantage of Toronto's early spring
(Image: Giordano Ciampini)

James Dowrick, 36, contractor—with P.J. (child) and Archie (dog) “Today is the first day I haven’t needed a jacket. It’s a little chilly right now, but it looks like it’s going to be a pretty spectacular day later on.”

How park-goers are taking advantage of Toronto's early spring
(Image: Giordano Ciampini)

Yvonne Diep, 25, pastry chef at Nadège Patisserie “Hanging out in the park has been the most spring-like thing I’ve done so far. We’re allowed to come here on our breaks.”

How park-goers are taking advantage of Toronto's early spring
(Image: Giordano Ciampini)

Myron Jones, 66, retired “I started cleaning out the backyard and setting up the outdoor furniture. It’s what I do every spring as soon as the weather gets nice—that and take the snow tires off the car. If it does snow again, I’ve decided that I just won’t drive.”

How park-goers are taking advantage of Toronto's early spring
(Image: Giordano Ciampini)

Michael Nye, 29, insurance broker “I’m torturing myself with a juice cleanse this weekend, so I can’t even go sit on a patio and have a beer. But the juice isn’t all that bad.”

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How park-goers are taking advantage of Toronto's early spring
(Image: Giordano Ciampini)

Amanda D’Ascenzo, 27, project manager “I’ve started to do some spring cleaning. It’s all about downsizing the clutter now.”

How park-goers are taking advantage of Toronto's early spring
(Image: Giordano Ciampini)

Ashley Triance-Haldane, 34, administrator “I’ll walk to work if the weather is nice enough. It’s about a 35-minute walk, so I always have a pretty good sweat going on by the time I get there.”

How park-goers are taking advantage of Toronto's early spring
(Image: Giordano Ciampini)

Felix Beaudry, 24, PhD student “Today is the first day I’ve taken my shoes off outside. I just had a big test yesterday, so today I’m taking the day off and letting my feet out. I was hoping it would be a little bit warmer. But it’s worth it.”

How park-goers are taking advantage of Toronto's early spring
(Image: Giordano Ciampini)

Keillor Macleod, 23, industrial design student at OCAD “The most spring-like thing I’ve done so far is biking down here, grabbing a coffee and meeting friends. I’ll probably have patio beers later. I have to.”

How park-goers are taking advantage of Toronto's early spring
(Image: Giordano Ciampini)

Jennifer Dam, 25, project accountant “Riding my bike along the lakeshore. It’s really nice when it’s sunny. I’ve done that three times this year.”

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