Toronto Delivers

So Fall is upon and the fun, events, social activities, and parties in Toronto continue on! With Facebook's Toronto membership soaring at 862,651 (as of this minute), I'm going to be giving you my top Toronto group choices per week so you can participate and join in the events.

My first group this week is Addicted to Nutella. Are you? I am. What's Nutella? It's a Hazelnut Spread With Skim Milk And Cocoa. Healthy, really. Ok maybe not but who cares.

Next stop - You know you take the TTC when...You cry of happiness at the sight of an empty bus... You get mad when you go to the back of the bus and someone ruins the empty seat, occupied seat, empty seat alternation and "have" to stand... Torontoans love a good laugh and your 13,523 member friends would love to hear from you about your experience with the TTC. With 39 officers running this group, it's no wonder that its one of the most vibrant Facebook groups this side of the GTA.

Last stop - Every First Friday. This 266 member Facebook group is an exciting networking and socialising affair that occurs on the first Friday of every month (That's this Friday! Mark your calendars). The atmosphere at these events is laid back and fun, attracting a variety of entrepreneurs, professionals, and organizations. Founded in 1994, Toronto's First Fridays is hosted by Black Board International and co-hosted by XCLuSV.com. ~ Rob

Facebook Mondays checks out three groups for the week.

This week I joined two Facebook groups - PhotoCamp Toronto - A Facebook sister group of PhotoCamp.org. This is a community event for people who are passionate about photography. The idea is to inspire, to share and to learn from one another through presentations and discussions. The first PhotoCamp was a blast the at Whippersnapper Gallery on College. With 193 members, this group is growing strong.
Rannie Turingan runs this Facebook group.

Then I joined SCREWW Retro Queer Party - Launched in 2003, SCREWW is a super fun retro party. A fundraiser for Buddies In Bad Times Theatre, SCREWW plays classics from the 70s, 80s and 90s, and features a Dating Board, a Request Chart, a live performance, and the Interactive Male Battle of the Bands. Held the 1st and 3rd Friday of each month. 10:30pm to 2:30am. $6 cover. If you join this facebook group, you can even get in for FREE with a printout of their regular email blasts. Its a great start with 94 members.Ralph Hamelmann runs this group. ~ Rob

Directly from the Facebook group's description ~ On February 14, 2008 just after 3:00pm, a lone unknown gunman entered into a Introduction to Oceanography class in Cole hall near the center of the campus and began shooting with two handguns and one shotgun. While on his rampage the shooter shot a total of 21 people, hospitalizing 16 with gunshot wounds, and killing 5. The death toll has risen to 5 now, including the killer. 5 Students were killed and all 5 students have been identified.

Eyewitnesses described hearing a door to the right rear of the stage slam open and seeing the gunman, wearing a knit cap and sweat shirt, wielding a shotgun. He stayed within 10 feet of the door and started shooting—first with the shotgun and then with the handguns. Witnesses also say that he shot randomly into the crowd and that it didn't look like he was aiming at anyone in particular (Chicago Tribune).

The gunman has been identified as Stephen Kazmierczak. It has been confirmed that he was not a student at the university at the time. He was a graduate of NIU that majored in Sociology.

While attending the college, Kazmierczak was honored and awarded with a dean's award for his work in sociology. It was confirmed that he was attending graduate school at University of Illinois in Urbana/Champaign; the same town where he purchased his weapons.

Vigils have been gathering together all over the country to pray for the victims and their families.

Do join the Facebook Group or any of the many social networks out there on this tragedy.