YOU CAN’T SILENCE THE DREAMERS

There are moments where utopian projects meet up with state forms of capture. Where the government recognizing that their utility is not in provision but control tries to wrest back power from the people. Following weeks of police raids on our friends living in tents, if we needed any further indication that the City of Toronto is trying to reclaim Trinity Bellwoods Park from the beautiful anarchy, what Saidiya Hartman calls “waywardness” of joyful play, survival, and relationships of collaboration – it might be the replacement of the raggedy spray-painted sign that once read “SkyDome” with a City of Toronto approved indicator.  And of course, along with this formalizing of the informal, comes cops and other agents that seek to contain, restrain, and repress forms of activity outside of their purview.

This was the context that loomed ominously as the Field of Dreamers drifted into Week 2 of the 2021 season.  The warm weather, growing throngs of spectators, and uplifting playfulness of each batter’s walk-up songs created an inviting communal vibe that is and will continue to be the spirit of our league – and the project that we are co-creating with other park users in Bellwoods.

So, it was perhaps a perfect moment for the two revolutionary named clubs of the league – the Don River Don Don Revolution and Rouge River Rainbow Rebellion to make their dancing debut against one another.  Would the DDR up-down, right-left, jump, slide, bop its way to victory or would the Rebellion spread prisms of light across the field and capture the pot of gold that can only come from a red revolt?

If you wanna know the results…

READ MORE TO FIND OUT!

Photo Credit: Victoria Barnett

Continue reading “July 25th 2021” →

LIKE A LOADED BAKED POTATO AT WENDY’S, BASEBALL IS BACK!

With the false start of the pandemic-cancelled 2020 season in the rear-view mirror and the 5G microchips fuelling the veins of its players, the Field of Dreamers Cooperative Softball Association made its official debut on a hazy but temperate evening on our familiar confines of SkyDome at Trinity Bellwood Park.

Jim from Logo Magik, our jersey supplier, was on hand with a brand new box of glimmering gold “dreamers” logos adorned on the sleeves with the familiar colours of the five rivers. The Rouge River Rainbow Rebellion bore a familiar fire-engine red, the Credit River Cuties dawned a new Royal Blue, the Garrison Creek Gargoyles sported a fantastic Kelly Green, and the Humber River Habeneros flashed the classic Yellow Gold. We await the Violet jerseys of the Don River Don Don Revolution in Week 2.

In the opening game, the Humber River Habeneros hoped to outspice the defending champion Rouge River Rainbow Rebellion. In the evening matchup, the Credit River Cuties hoped to give the cooties to the stoic Garrison Creek Gargoyles, but could those gothic columns buttress their way to an opening night win?

If you wanna know the results…

READ MORE TO FIND OUT!

Photo Credit: Jenny Chan

Continue reading “July 18th 2021” →

We will be holding a Training Day prior to Opening Day to properly warm up those muscles and practice some softball skills (or learn new skills!) that may have gotten a little rusty over the past many months. We will have skill shares on batting, playing the infield and outfield, followed by two practice games. 

We play at Trinity Bellwoods Park, on the large diamond in the North East corner of the park, North of the skating rink. Just look for the “SkyDome” sign on the fence behind first base.

Please make note of our COVID-19 guidelines for this season.

Training Day Schedule

8:00-8:15pm Arrival – Group Warm Up 
8:15pm Explanation of practice stations
8:15-8:55pm Drop-in hitting, infield and outfield practice
9:00-9:05pm Team meet n’ greet – find your team around the dugout or in the stands!
9:05-9:50pm PRACTICE GAME 1: DON RIVER VS. ROUGE RIVER (with guests from HUMBER RIVER) 
10:00-10:50pm PRACTICE GAME 2: GARRISON CREEK VS. CREDIT RIVER (with guests from HUMBER RIVER)