Events and Outings

 Meetings

Forays

Special Events

UPCOMING MEETINGS for 2007-2008

Members of the public are welcome as guests to attend one meeting or one outing, prior to joining the Society.

ABOUT OUR MEETINGS

 MST meetings are  held in the Auditorium of the Toronto Botanical Garden (formerly the Civic Garden Centre), located at the southwest corner of Leslie St. and Lawrence Ave. East. 

  For General Meetings, meet at 7:45p.m. unless indicated otherwise. 

Monday, October 15, 2007  7:45p.m.

Speaker:  : Dr. Jack Hay

Presentation:  Shiitake Cultivation

Description: Dr. Hay has recently retired as Professor Emeritus, Dept. of Immunology, University of Toronto, and now grows Shiitake mushrooms at Moon River Bay on Georgian Bay.

 

 

Monday, November 19, 2007  7:45p.m.

Speaker:  David W. Fischer

Presentation:  "Golden Chanterelles and One-eyed Aliens: Mushroom Evolution 101"

Description: We will consider the implications of some of the most remarkable aspects of mushroom evolution and examine some of  the cool fungal organisms now at risk of extinction.

David Fischer is a nationally known expert on the ecology and identification of wild mushrooms. He is the co-author of "Edible Wild Mushrooms of North America" and "Mushrooms of Northeastern North America". His website, http://AmericanMushrooms.com reveals not only 1046 mushroom photos of some 482 species, but also his passion for educating and entertaining everyone on the marvels and delights of wild mushrooms. 
  

 

 

Monday, February 18, 2008  7:45p.m.

Speaker:  Dr. James Scott, Dept. of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto

Topic:  Understanding Mushroom Poisonings: What all MST members need to know

Description: If you collect and eat a wild mushroom, are you really 100% sure it will not harm you? If you eat a poisonous one, will you recognize how dire the consequences may be if you wrongly identify a specimen, or delay seeking medical treatment? Dr. Scott will help ensure that we, as MST members have the vital knowledge we all need.

 

 

Monday, March 17, 2008  7:45p.m.

Speaker:  Lorraine Brown

Topic: Underground Relationships - Probing the Mysteries of Mycorrhizal Fungi

Description:  Out-of-sight should not be out-of-mind. Our long-time club member from Leith explains what happens when a fungus holds hands with its tree partner.

 

 

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING FOR 2007-2008

  Monday, April 21, 2008  7:30 p.m.

Meet in the Auditorium at the Toronto Botanical Garden.

Presentation:  MST in Newfoundland

Topic: You may have wondered why several MST members have traipsed off to Newfoundland in the fall mushroom season; this visual presentation will bring us all closer to some of their experiences and nature on the Rock.

                     

 

NOTICE ABOUT MEETINGS  

INFORMATION ABOUT EACH MEETING WILL BE AVAILABLE AS SOON AS SPEAKERS  ARE CONFIRMED.  

Prior to joining the Society, members of the public are welcome as guests, to attend either one Meeting or one Foray. 

Refreshments are served following meetings.

ARCHIVE of PAST MEETINGS

 

Updated 01/07/08

 

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SPRING & FALL FORAYS

  

Important, Please Read!  

FORAY & etiquette NOTES

All foray participants meet by 9:45 a.m., then head for the foray location. Forays end at about 12:30-1:30 p.m. or later if you wish to stay for further identification of fungi.  Since we may drive some distance from the meeting place to the foray location, please be on time to avoid the disappointment of missing the group. 

"Forays are always held rain or shine!"

About Etiquette and how to prepare for the foray, please click on the red square for information

 Directions to foray meeting places are mailed to members only.  

Lost your copy? Members may request a replacement  from our Membership Director.

Non-members are welcome to attend one foray or one meeting as a guest, prior to joining the Society. For information about an upcoming foray and directions to the meeting place, please e-mail the Foray Director 

 

 

 SPRING FORAYS

 Our scheduled Spring forays usually take place from early May to the beginning of June. The complete schedule of forays, with directions to meeting places, is mailed  to members in April with the spring issue of "Mycelium", the newsletter of the Society.

               

2008 - Spring Forays Schedule

ALL FORAYS MEET AT 9:45 A.M. Please come early!

For Driving Directions To Meeting Place -- Non-Members to contact Foray Director first! (see Foray Notes above)

Foray #

Date

Leader

Foray Area
1

Saturday, May 10

 Umberto Pascali

Dufferin Forest
2

Sunday, May 11

 Vito Testa York  Forest
3 Wednesday, May 14 Umberto Pascali  Midhurst Area
4 Saturday, May 17  Tony Wright Dufferin Forest
5 Sunday, May 18 Alan Gan &    Andrew White York Forest
6 Saturday, May 24 Umberto Pascali  Palgrave Area 
7 Sunday, May 25 Peter Barclay & Andrew White York Forest
8 Saturday, May 31 Tom Yarmon &    Madi Piller York  Forest
9  Sunday, June 1  Andy Tanas Durham Regional Forest

 

 

 FALL FORAYS

 Our scheduled Fall forays take place from early September to the end of October. The complete schedule of forays, with directions to meeting places, is mailed to members in August usually with the summer issue of "Mycelium", the newsletter of the Society.

 2007 - Fall Forays Schedule

ALL FORAYS MEET AT 9:45 A.M.  PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY !

These forays will focus on collecting and identifying common mushrooms and other fungi, including some common edible species. Leaders will direct you to the foray location and help you with the identification of common species, but they are not necessarily experts.

Foray #

Date

 Leader

 Location

 1

Saturday, September 8

   Richard Aaron  &   Tony Wright        

Dufferin County Forest

  * 2

Sunday, September 9

Alan Gan &    Andrew White 

Rouge Park

 3 

Saturday, September 22

Howard Bogusat & Andy Tanas

Niagara Area

 4 		 Sunday, September 23 Umberto Pascali & Mike Dunaev

York Regional Forest

 
5		 Saturday, September 29

Kriss Gandier & Ernie Gallo 

Kitchener Area
6 Sunday, September 30  Peter Barclay & Mike Dunaev York Regional Forest
7 Sunday, October 7      Vito Testa &       Ernie Gallo Midhurst Area
8 Saturday, October 13    Richard Aaron &     Tony Wright         Dufferin County Forest
9  Sunday, October 14       Vito Testa &       Ernie Gallo York Regional Forest
10      Wednesday,      October 17 Umberto Pascali Midhurst Area
11 Saturday, October 20 Peter Barclay & Andy Tanas Durham Regional Forest
12 Sunday, October 21 Sonia Bukata &   Alan Gan   Erin Area
13 Saturday, October 27 Vello Soots Palgrave Area
*14 Sunday, October 28    Umberto Pascali & Andrew White     Albion Hills C. A.

*Forays #2 and #14 are intended for members interested in collecting species to observe fungal diversity so as to compile a species list for Toronto and Region Conservation. Picking that day is for identification purposes only and not for the pot!

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  SPECIAL EVENTS

  

2008 Members' Spring Gourmet Mushroom Feast

For menu and particulars, click here!

 

NOTE!

THE FUNGI FAIR WILL NOT BE HELD UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.  

  2004 Fungi Fair - A Special Event 

 Mycological Society of Toronto presents its 25th annual 

Fungi Fair

Monday, September 20, 2004
12 noon to 9 p.m.
 at the Toronto Botanical Garden, formerly Civic Garden Centre, 
777 Lawrence Avenue East (at Leslie)

Discover the Fascinating World of Wild Mushrooms! 

Over 200 species of identified mushrooms and other fungi will be displayed, together with other mushroom related exhibits. 

Bring your questions and bring your mushrooms for identification by the experts. 

Admission:  Non-members $3.00; Members and Children under 16 are admitted without charge.

Free parking is available. For further information contact us by email .
On Display:

*200+ Wild Mushrooms        *Books and Magazines      *Mushroom Stamp Collection        *Posters       *Photograhs and Art     *Mushroom Novelties  *Mushroom Cultivation               

For Sale:

* T-Shirts       *Books about Mushrooms and other  related subjects      * Mushroom Cultivated Logs          * Novelties      *One or two year Club Memberships - $30/yr. or $55/two yrs. 

Pick up free copies of various past issues of the Society's Newsletter.

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FUNGI FAIR – Held traditionally the 3rd Monday of September

 The Fungi Fair is an annual event which follows our annual Cain Foray in Muskoka. It is held at the Toronto Botanical Garden, in Toronto, from noon to 9:00 p.m. An collection of about 225- 250+ species of fungi are found by participants at the weekend foray and  identified by professional mycologists in attendance. Following the successful weekend foray, the mushrooms are carefully packed and brought back to Toronto for display at the Fungi Fair. The morning following the weekend Foray, each of the species with its respective label was gently unpacked, sorted and systematically arranged on long display tables by the enthusiastic and hardworking volunteers. At first glance, the large volume of mushrooms looks overwhelming, but this apprehension is soon laid to rest as everyone soon discovers that all the mushrooms are labelled and classified by their Family name, Genus and Specie.  Each of the species is identified by an accompanying identification card that gives all the necessary details of information about it. 

  In addition to the displayed fungi, the Society also has walls festooned with members’ original art of various fungi, stamp collections depicting mushrooms, colourful fungi photographs and posters. Artist-made models of fungi are displayed on tables, as are guide books on fungi. A sales table offers a variety of goods for purchase; such as, t-shirts, books about fungi, photos, and other smaller items. The membership table offers information to visitors about the benefits of joining the Society and gives visitors the opportunity to buy a one or two year membership. 

The event is very much appreciated by both our members and the many visitors who attend the Fair. People are simply amazed by the variety of species displayed, and delighted by the shapes and colours of the different mushrooms! Volunteer members are on hand to answer the many questions that are posed, and as well, to help identify the variety of mushrooms that are brought to the Fair for identification.

We always look forward to another bountiful year for mushrooms and to be able to display them for your viewing at the next Fungi Fair.