Convened Activities
Toronto Newcomers Club Convenors are individuals who are willing to host/sponsor an activity on behalf of the Toronto Newcomers Club. This includes arranging the date, time and place of the event. It also includes posting monthly updates in the newsletter. If members have an idea that they would like to convene, please let the 2nd VP know.
Current Activities
Board Games
“Acquire” fans join us for an evening of business strategy games practised with fun. The game allows for a maximum of 6 players. Snacks and non-alcoholic beverages are served. The cost per person is $10.
monthly third Friday
Book Club – Alternative
Do you enjoy reading but find the pressure of keeping up too much? Join our relaxed group to share, discuss, and swap books to read at your own pace. This is a no stress Book Club with no deadlines. Read as few or as many books as you like between meetings.
monthly last Thursday
Book Club – Day
This is a more formal Book Club. Ardent readers who are interested in literature from all over the world will enjoy participating in this club. A new book is chosen every month. The title of the book for discussion is posted in the Monthly Newsletter.
monthly fourth Wednesday
Bridge – Couples
Couples Bridge is a sociable evening of good fun over the ‘not-so-serious’ bridge table. While there are some excellent players in the group, we are all there for an enjoyable, albeit challenging evening for everyone. A fair knowledge of basic bridge would be a pre-requisite, but no newcomer should worry about bidding strategies since a ‘cheat sheet’ is available.
Hosts lend their house and provide evening snacks and beverages while couples bring a bottle of wine to add to the enjoyment of the evening.
monthly second Saturday
Bridge – Day
While this is not a beginners’ game, we are a very friendly group and always willing to assist new members get back into the game. A light lunch is usually provided.
meets every Tuesday
Bunco
Bunco is a very easy dice game; four players per table. We each put in a $5 stake and bring either wine or an appetizer/dessert to share. The aim of the evening is to socialize, eat and drink while remembering to take our turn at throwing the dice.
monthly second Tuesday
Foodies
Calling all members who love food and who doesn’t! Foodies events include meeting local chefs, dining out at some of Toronto’s up and coming eateries, visiting the farmers markets in the Spring, or partaking in an artisanal cheese tasting. Ideas to share for events are always welcome.
meeting dates vary
French Conversation
Would you like to improve your French (or your English)? Join us along with the Toronto Accueil Club for a chat in French and in English; one hour each. We also do field trips to different venues.
monthly – third Thursday
Gallery Hopping and Neighbourhood Walks
This activity gives you the opportunity to explore and learn more about Toronto. Whether it be walking trips or guided tours, there are many sights to be seen and it is especially fun to do it with your fellow Newcomers. Some of the trips taken include walks through Rosedale with tours of the grand mansions, a visit to Colborne Lodge in the High Park area, a guided tour of the Osgoode Hall, and a trip to the Art Gallery of Ontario. Sometimes we finish with a lunch or coffee. Some of the activities do charge a nominal fee which varies.
monthly – usually last Friday
monthly – first Friday
German Conversation
All levels of German speakers are welcome. We chat in German and English; one hour each. If you know any native speakers or those interested in brushing up on their German, please feel free to invite them.
Monthly - second Tuesday
Girl’s Night Out
Meeting times vary
Golf
During the golf season, we meet at Flemington Park Golf Club. This is a nine-hole executive course. This is a very friendly group of golfers and all levels are welcome. We play in the morning. Golf usually finishes around noon and there is a nice patio where the players usually have a snack and chat after the game. You are responsible for your greens fees.
Weekly on Thursday during golf season
Groupe Litteraire
This is a low-key group that meets over a pot-luck lunch to discuss, in French, the novel that the group has chosen. It is not necessary to speak flawless French but simply to be able to read the book and to converse in French. We usually read books 300 pages or less. Our group meets jointly with the book group from Toronto Accueil, and we alternate venues with their members.
monthly – first Monday
International Cooking Circle
We meet in each other’s homes where we take a turn demonstrating our recipes from scratch. Join us if you enjoy cooking and entertaining and love learning new recipes and techniques. We support each other in the food preparation before sitting down to sample the day’s menu.
meeting dates vary
Lunch Bunch
This group meets at various local eating establishments around Toronto. This gives one the opportunity to experience some of the wonderful restaurants and eateries in the area. Whether it be a trendy restaurant in Yorkville or Toronto’s own Greek Town, Lunch Bunch has goodies to delight your palate.
monthly – first Thursday
Mah Jongg
This is an enjoyable game. The Hostess supplies coffee and you bring your own lunch. This is a fun group and all players are welcome. We teach anyone willing to learn.
Weekly – Monday
Moms and Tots
Moms and Tots get together for play dates every other week on Friday morning and alternate Saturdays for working moms. Come and join us for informal get togethers.
Meeting times vary
Morning Break
Relax, let your hair down and socialize with your fellow Newcomers while exploring a variety of specialty tea and coffee houses in Toronto.
monthly – second Wednesday (may be changing to third Wednesday September 2010)
Movie Matinée
Join us for an afternoon at the cinema and coffee afterwards. You enjoy the companionship of other women while viewing a movie and, it is a good excuse to get out for an afternoon. We try to choose a matinée show around 1:00PM at a theatre which is accessible by TTC.
monthly – second Thursday
Need to Needle
Love wool, cotton, or even bamboo and soy, and the art of knitting or stitching it into a sweater, scarf, wrap, mittens, rug, primer and more? We sit, we stitch, and sometimes we bitch, as the saying goes, but mostly we lend each other support and chat. If you are new to knitting, instructions will be provided.
monthly – usually third Tuesday
Painting (proposed)
Calling all artists, come along and paint with your friends.
Subject to interest, venue and meeting dates to be determined
Pub Night
Bring your partners and meet your friends for a quiet little drink or dinner in the various Pubs on offer in Toronto. Very Casual drop in for a quick drink or stay the night – up to you.
Meeting dates vary
Skiing
Spend the winter skiing the slopes at Private ski hills around Toronto – Leave early in the morning to travel to different clubs with your newcomer friends before tumbling back into the bus to enjoy chatting about the day over a wine and snacks home.
Meets for 6 Wednesdays Jan to Feb
Scrapbooking
We work on creating attractive scrapbooks, get our photos into albums and just get our photos in order. Bring pictures, albums, supplies and any cutting tools you need. No previous skill required.
meeting dates vary
Spanish Portal
Learn some basic survival skills of Spanish. Whether it be ordering from a menu, giving directions, learning to sing a Spanish song. A fun way to practise vocabulary and develop conversational skills.
meeting dates vary
Volunteering
Volunteering is a great way to meet people and give back to the city you now call home. We try to volunteer at a different venue every month. Volunteer activities have included the Daily Bread and Food Bank, serving food at soup kitchens, and making cookies for the Ronald McDonald House. There are many good causes and it is a gratifying experience to help out in some way.
meeting dates vary
Walking for Fitness
Want to get fit and build up your stamina? Then this is the group for you. We try to organize weekly walks, (weather permitting), in the ravines and parks within the city. These walks are quite long; can be two hours. We try to choose days and locations to work around other Newcomer events, so put on your walking shoes and join us.
meeting dates vary
Wine Tasting
You do not have to be an expert to participate. Hosts will present a selection of wines, beers or cocktails from other countries for sampling. It is a good way to learn interesting facts about these beverages from other origins and mingle with a great group of people. There is a charge to participate in the Wine Tasting, and we ask that you bring either an appetizer or dessert to share.
The success of Wine Tasting depends on members volunteering to host
monthly meets on the third Saturday
World Wide Dinners
The purpose of World Wide Dinners is to enjoy great food and the company of wonderful people. World Wide Dinners gives you a chance to gather at different homes and meet some “old and new” Newcomers, but also experience the cuisines of other countries. A food theme is chosen every month, and members bring a dish to contribute to the dinner theme. Guests are also asked to bring whatever they would like to drink for the evening.
The success of World Wide Dinners depends on members volunteering to host
monthly last Saturday
Suspended Activities
The following activities have been popular but are not offered at present:
Ballet Biking Book Club – Evening Day Tripping Euchre Downhill Skiing FYI Gardening Gentlemen’s Poker Hiking the Waterfalls Italian Need to Needle Sunday Brunch Spanish Conversation Tennis Theatre X-Country Skiing
