City unveils Sharon, Lois & Bram Playground

A playground named for beloved children’s performers Sharon, Lois & Bram officially opened Saturday.

The playground in June Rowlands Park is now known as the Sharon, Lois & Bram Playground, announced by the city’s only elephant-shaped sign.

 

“I decided it would be a fitting tribute to a music trio that many of us loved so much growing up to name the park in their honour,” said Coun. Josh Matlow, who introduced the renaming motion.

“I’ve heard from so many parents, like myself, who are really excited to introduce Sharon, Lois & Bram to their kids.”

Sharon Hampson, Lois Lillenstein and Bram Morrison formed their act in Toronto in 1978 and began touring. A television show followed in 1984 and The Elephant Show ran on the CBC until 1988, and was seen on reruns in Canada and the United States until the mid-90s. Lillenstein left the group in 2000.

Matlow told CityNews in June that he worked with Morrison on the proposal. Morrison lives about 10 minutes from the park, near Mount Pleasant Road and Davisville Avenue. Lillenstein and Hampson also live in midtown Toronto.

There was one major hurdle in renaming the playground: Before December 2013, parks and other areas — like streets — were named posthumously.

That policy changed to “allow recently deceased individuals” as well as the “naming of living persons that have historical, cultural or social significance to be recognized.”

In the winter, volunteers built a natural ice rink in the park called the “Skinnamarink,” after the trio’s famous song and late-90s television show.

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