Volume IX No. VIII
Saturday, May 25, 2013
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Local News
Saturday in the Park' painting party

Pups lay down sideways for their outlines while kiddies lay on their backs,  side by side, to form a 'daisy chain' as if they were holding hands. Fun day. Too bad the gaggles of kids did not get into the sidewalk outline shots.Starting out as our own Group of Seven, our seven Friends of Berczy Park ... Full Story

Jets are not appropriate Downtown

The recent announcement by Robert Deluce of the desire to operate jets at the Island Airport not only poses numerous problems but also highlights the serious issues surrounding the airport. I am very disappointed that the “dialogue” on these issues has only taken the form of public relations spin an... Full Story

Local banker wins body-building competition

Bodybuilder and St. Lawrence Neighbourhood resident Eoin Carroll has taken a major physique competition title and is in line to compete for more honours June 1, at the Metro Convention Centre.Eoin Works as a Financial Engineer in a Tier 1 Bank Downtown near his condo and is currently involved in a p... Full Story

Tribunal frees up TREB from accusations

The Competition Tribunal announced that it has dismissed an application initiated by the Commissioner of Competition against the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB), and ordered costs payable by the Commissioner of Competition to TREB. The Competition Tribunal stated that its decision is based on its f... Full Story

CUPE says NO casino...again

The union president representing Toronto's inside city workers is reminding Council today that City workers have said no to a new casino in Toronto. "Council should listen to the resounding 'no' that Toronto residents, community groups and workers have given to the idea of a mega-casino being b... Full Story

Smoked fish product dangerous at Hooked stores

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume the smoked fish products described below because they may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. Toxins produced by these bacteria may cause botulism, a life-threatening illness. The following vacuum-packed products... Full Story

CUPE & OCAP seek 55% boost in social assistance

Anti-poverty activists visited the office of Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa today to bring him and Premier Kathleen Wynne a message: raise social assistance rates by 55% in the 2013 budget. "Today we're handing Charles Sousa a bill for real social justice in Ontario," says Liisa Sc... Full Story

Ward 27 community report and coming events

Your voices have been very important in the City's discussions on the issue of casinos. You came out in large numbers to the consultations at City Hall and the Metro Reference Library. Your emails, calls, and letters to me have been passionate and reasoned. This coming week, you will have another op... Full Story

Porter's purchase of CS100 jets is mighty curious

As Alice in Wonderland said, “This is getting curiouser and curiouser.” We are talking, of course, about the Porter Airlines announcement that they are going to buy a fleet of CS100 jets from Bombardier. Porter’s home base is the Island Airport (called the “Billy Bishop City Centre Airport.”) At the... Full Story

Anti-GMO alfalfa demo at St. Lawrence Market

The Day of Action to Stop GM Alfalfa was called by the National Farmers Union-Ontario. The Toronto event was hosted by The Big Carrot Natural Food Market, No More GMOs Toronto, Kids Right to Know March, Millions Against Monsanto Toronto, Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, Canadian Organic Grower... Full Story

Toronto Port Authority tax dodge stalled—for now

Toronto city council has narrowly defeated a move by the Toronto Port Authority (TPA) to duck tax fees it should pay for its primo position on our lakeshore. But the battle isn’t over. TPA is a body that many think shouldn’t exist because it is a boondoggle that was promoted by ex-MP Dennis Mills (L... Full Story

Harbourfront skating ends Mar. 17 p.m.

Harbourfront Centre’s Natrel Rink will close for the season Sunday, March 17, 2013 at 10 p.m. Over the winter months, it was the hub for all SKATE CULTURE activities at Harbourfront Centre—hosting to more than 150,000 visitors on one of the largest and most popular outdoor rinks in the city!It was a... Full Story

Lakeshore Souvenirs: Welcome to Our Neighborhood

Lakeshore Souvenirs is a visual journey along Toronto's Waterfront, following Lake Ontario from the beaches to Harbourfront Centre, and continuing to the Humber Bridge.This is a loving look at Toronto Island and the islands of culture surrounding it, focusing on Toronto's Bayfront, Harbourfront Cent... Full Story

TPA expresses glee over proposed city tax settlement

We’ve watched the tortured progress of the City’s efforts to force the Toronto Port Authority to pay up its tax arrears, for years now. Now, after successfully intervening in two similar cases in the Supreme Court of Canada, and, based on those wins, winning its own appeal in the Federal Court, The ... Full Story

St. Lawrence Neighbourhood activist dies

Longtime St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association (SLNA) member and community advocate Joan Campbell, 83, passed away peacefully on March 3, 2013 at St. Michael's Hospital after complications following neurosurgery. A memorial service for friends and family will be held at a later date. Johanna Stolpe... Full Story

Toronto Shelter Providers: A Short Survey Preliminary Results

At the end of February 2013, Social Planning Toronto initiated a short survey to better understand the experiences and perspectives of Toronto shelter providers regarding access to shelter for people who are homeless. We have contacted 55 shelters from the City of Toronto’s website. This bulletin pr... Full Story

Canada's early hockey history to be commemorated during Toronto Maple Leafs' game

At the time of its construction in 1912, Arena Gardens (since demolished) was the largest indoor rink in the country with a capacity of 7,500. Many professional hockey teams called the arena their home, including the franchise that eventually became the Toronto Maple Leafs. Legendary broadcaster Fos... Full Story

$143 pencil sharpener wins Teddy Waste Award

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) held its 15th annual Teddy Waste Awards in Ottawa March 3 and the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) walked away with the top local prize for its outrageous contract with the Maintenance and Skilled Trades Council.Over a two-year period the union charged $15... Full Story

St. Lawrence to get slashed into 2 ridings

The new federal riding distribution has been released and the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood should feel blindsided as it will now be split across The Esplanade into two federal ridings—Toronto Centre to the north and Spadina Fort York to the south.On Feb. 25, the Federal Boundaries Commission submitted... Full Story

Toronto Dollar is comotose

Years ago, when June Callwood was in her prime, some of us gathered mirrors with words written by her, Margaret Atwood and other celebrities (didn't know any football heroes.) The idea was that the mirrors would be used for a Toronto Dollar fundraiser. That never happened and the mirrors sit in my l... Full Story

Should illegal immigrants have automatic status?

Over one hundred Torontonians, including undocumented immigrants denied city services, are expected to be in City Hall dressed in yellow t-shirts emblazoned with “Access Not Fear” on February 21, 2013, to see Toronto vote on ensuring accessible services to people without full immigration status or p... Full Story

Laneway animation study is available

Toronto Public Space Initiative Completes Research and Guidelines On Laneway AnimationOver 2012 and 2013 Toronto Public Space Initiative (TPSI) worked with Ryerson University Master Students to investigate how to best implement and develop animated laneways in Toronto’s Downtown through an analysis ... Full Story

Transformation Through Participation – Internship Matching Launch

This pilot project, Transformation Through Participation, developed by planning consultants (Josephine Cusumano and Justin Shin) and our own TPSI staff, matches senior and graduate urban planning students with community groups (Residents Associations, BIAs, and NGOs) undertaking important public spa... Full Story

CUPE to leaflet at subways

Members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) will leaflet at subway stations surrounding Queen's Park on Tuesday, in advance of the provincial Throne Speech. "Collective bargaining and independent contract arbitration are important not just to union members, but to all Ontarians,&qu... Full Story

Report card on Toronto elementary schools is coming

The Fraser Institute's Report Card on Ontario's Elementary Schools 2013, the go-to source for measuring school improvement, will be released Sunday, February 17 at 6:30 a.m. (Eastern).The report card provides parents with information they can't easily get anywhere else. In addition to five years of ... Full Story

Rotary to give Seeds of Hope $100,000

The Rotary Club of Toronto Centennial Award of $100,000 is granted to  Seeds of Hope for its innovative program:” Lazarus House-First Step” The 2013 Centennial award of $100,000 to Seeds of Hope (SOH) has contributed to making the Committee’s 2005 vision a reality. Seeds of Hope, “Lazarus House, Fir... Full Story

Toronto Real Estate Board seeks to phase out Land Transfer Tax

On behalf of it's over 36,000 REALTOR(R) Members, the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) congratulates Councillor Frank Di Giorgio on his appointment as Chair of the City of Toronto's Budget Committee. TREB looks forward to working with Councillor Di Giorgio in this critical position as he moves the C... Full Story

$1 billion garage for $50 million casino host fee?

With a council vote on the controversial Downtown casino proposal expected in the next few months, the question faced by the public is an incredibly simple one, says Councillor Adam Vaughan.“The only thing in front of us is one question and one question only: Do you want a casino? Yes or no?” said V... Full Story

Condo on historic Ontario Street site nears approval

A 21-storey mixed-use building proposed for 25 Ontario St. at Adelaide St. E. will have to meet some conditions before the city will consider a zoning amendment application to allow it. The city wants a noise and emissions impact study regarding the SAS Building next door at 280 King St. E. before g... Full Story

Butt out on Yonge Street

As part of our dedication to keeping your streets clean the Downtown Yonge BIA has launched a pilot project, installing 12 cigarette receptacle ashtrays on Yonge Street.The goal is to encourage the public to change their behaviour disposing of cigarettes in the receptacles rather than on the street.... Full Story

52 Divison Traffic plan Jan 22

On Tuesday, January 22, 2013, at 7 a.m., 52 Division's Traffic Response Unit officers will run "Operation: Keep It Moving Toronto" at the corner of York Street/Adelaide Street West. Special attention will be paid to no−stopping zones, gridlock and other traffic offences that hinder th... Full Story

New city budget not perfect, but goes a long way

City Council passed Toronto's 2013 budget. It was not a perfect budget, but I am tremendously proud of what Council accomplished with a number of important amendments that reflected the values of Torontonians. Several important programs were saved and early plans were laid to prepare for the 2014 bu... Full Story

Group promotes student nutrition

Toronto Foundation for Student Success (TFSS) is calling on City Council to put the fundamental needs of children first and support a $1.48m budget request for Student Nutrition Programs. More than 144,000 children rely on breakfast, snack and lunch programs to make it through each school day.One in... Full Story

Doug Ford delivers Rob's mayoral message

By Rob Ford as told to Doug Ford:Two years ago, I was elected to reduce the size and cost of government.  And that's what we've done. This budget represents a turning point – a turning point in our administration – and a turning point in the history of this great city. For a decade, Toronto relied o... Full Story

Porter might lose landing slots for NYC travellers

In a report Jan 3, the Dallas Morning News says American Airlines is asking the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to let it lease 15 takeoff and landing slots at Newark Liberty International Airport to Virgin America starting on April 2.Four of those slots (each slot is a daily right to land or take off from th... Full Story

Fight Winter Chills While Helping the Environment and Saving Money

The start of a new year is the perfect time to introduce new routines into our daily energy use. “Small actions can go a long way in helping Ontario families manage electricity use and cut energy costs,” says Ontario Minister of Energy, Chris Bentley.  “It’s important to remember that the least ex... Full Story

Trillium Grants in Downtown Toronto

Many of the grants  support community organizations that are responding to local needs and forging stronger communities. OTF funding will be used to expand programs for people of all ages and abilities, and to increase public participation in community activities and programs. These initiatives wo... Full Story

Hear Dr. David S. Goldbloom speak

Follow @TheBulletinca !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); Invitation to hear...Dr. David S. Goldbloom C... Full Story

Legally reduce your rent if you get this letter

Almost 30 per cent of Toronto tenant households will receive notices this week that mean they can automatically reduce their rents. All tenants should check their daily mail. If there is a rent reduction notice, tenants should take action.Addressed to the Current Tenant, clearly marked Rent Reductio... Full Story

Liberty Village to host Midnite New Year’s Eve Run

As the organizers of Canada’s first-ever Midnite Run we are preparing for all weather scenarios to accommodate the 300 runners and walkers expected. I'm the owner of MyNextRace.com, Title Sponsor of the Event and Race Director. I'm excited to follow up on last year’s debut run, and looking forward t... Full Story

Help save Karen and other kids from the streets

As Christmas approaches and the winter weather continues, I find it harder and harder to imagine being out in the cold on the streets every night. Karen doesn't have to imagine — she lived it.Please make your most generous gift to Covenant House today. A generous donor has agreed to match all donati... Full Story

Santa Claus Parade 2012

It was a bright, mild day for the Santa Claus Parade,renowned as the largest children's parade in North America

CityPlace Farmers Market at Canoe Landing Park?

This winter CityPlace residents and Farmers’ Markets Ontario will discuss setting up a permanent Farmers Market at Canoe Landing Park after two successful test-runs this fall.“The farmers have been very positive about it. As long as people are shopping the farmers are happy,” says Market Supervisor ... Full Story

Fight on for School House Shelter

A staff report being brought to the November meeting of the CommunityDevelopment and Recreation Committee of City Council calls for theSchool House Shelter to remain open for the present.  "While OCAP isheartened by this development and realizes it could not have happenedwithout the community t... Full Story

Remembrance Day ceremonies

Ontario Commemorates Remembrance DayClick here for complete detailsNovember 9, 2012On behalf of all Ontarians, the official Queen's Park Remembrance Day ceremony will honour the men and women who have served, and continue to serve Canada, in war, conflict and peace.Nov. 11, 201210:45 a.m.  - rai... Full Story

Library Board approves 0.4% increase to budget request

After a lengthy and thorough debate, the Toronto Public Library Board approved a modest 0.4% increase in its 2013 operating budget request at its meeting Monday night.The Board approved a $165.17 million operating budget request for 2013 which represents a 0.4% or $680,000 increase over 2012. The in... Full Story

Wellesley bike lanes get green light

Representatives from the city’s transportation services office hosted a public meeting at Trinity College on Sept. 11 to consult with stakeholders on proposed design variations for the projected Wellesley–Hoskin–Harbord bicycle lanes.The meeting followed up on the initial public consultation from Ju... Full Story

Good Shepherd Centre Boxing Day meal

Good Shepherd Centre is preparing a roast beef dinner with all the trimmings for 1,600 people. 70 volunteers will help serve roast beef with gravy, real mashed potatoes, vegetables, dinner rolls with apple pies and chocolates for dessert. Volunteers will also distribute a gift to each guest, and oth... Full Story

Enoch Turner Schoolhouse indoor Christmas Tree event

Bring family and friends for an afternoon of holiday spirit at this historic schoolhouse. Visit our indoor Christmas tree forest, featuring trees decorated with traditional Victorian ornaments. Live entertainment, carol singing, art displays, crafts for kids and Victorian crafting demonstrations wil... Full Story

Regent Park Aquatic Centre opens

Politicians and community members gathered for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the Regent Park Aquatic Centre. With public and private investment, including from Donald Trump, this is one step to Regent Park revitalization. What does billionaire real-estate mogul Donald Trump have in co... Full Story

Calgarians plan to ride a horse through Royal York lobby Nov. 22.

During the Grey Cup Festivities in 1948 a group of fanatic Calgary Stampeder fans devised a scheme to ride a horse into the lobby of The Royal York Hotel in Toronto. This event launched the Calgary Grey Cup Committee, and we are going back to Toronto for the 100th Grey Cup to do it all over again, m... Full Story

Official Groundbreaking for Queens Quay Revitalization

Waterfront Toronto and government partners have officially broke ground on a major revitalization project that is transforming Toronto’s main waterfront street into a world-class boulevard.Construction along the 1.7-kilometre stretch of Queens Quay from just west of Lower Spadina Avenue to just east... Full Story

The 108th Santa Claus Parade schedule this Sunday

The Santa Claus Parade is celebrating its 108th year and is sure to inspire even more priceless memories. Santa Claus himself announced this year’s magical Parade details, including amazing new floats, interactive fun and an opportunity to be one of Santa’s Special Helpers, to help ring in the holid... Full Story

Future of Casa Loma and a Museum of Toronto

The City of Toronto is moving forward with a plan to ensure the long-term viability of Casa Loma and the potential for a Museum of Toronto as part of the site’s future. The Casa Loma Corporation Board together with Councillors Joe Mihevc, Ward 21 and Josh Matlow, Ward 22, invite the public to attend... Full Story

Free dental services in St. James Town

 FREE DENTAL SERVICESTHE ST. JAMES TOWN MOBILE DENTAL CLINICThe Toronto Public Health Mobile Dental Clinic visits St. James Town regularly for:·       examinations·       x-rays·       fillings·       cleaning·       root canal treatment ·       extractions·       emergency and urgent dental care to... Full Story

Jewish war vets' memorial to be restored

The federal government announced a contribution of up to $5,300 to restore the Canadian Jewish War Veterans Memorial, which is erected in memory of Jewish Canadians who fought during the Second World War and later conflicts.“Our Government is committed to encouraging Canadians, young and old, to rem... Full Story

Making Berczy Park even better

If you have walked by or through Berczy Park lately, you would have noticed a few changes—for the better.During the Labour Day weekend, volunteers from the community group Friends of Berczy Park introduced vibrant green bistro table-and-chair sets to the area of the park adjacent to the fountain.The... Full Story

Fair voting advocates organize Oct. 2 ‘second ballot’ meeting

An active committee of Downtown residents has been organizing a town hall meeting to promote possible adjustments to how Canadians vote in their national governments.The committee is called Canadian Electoral Alliance (CEA) and includes Cabbagetowner and former MP Lynn McDonald. The CEA’s membership... Full Story

Local men honoured with Queen's Diamond Jubilee medals

Downtown advocates Michael Shapcott and the Rev. Dr. John Joseph Mastandrea have been honoured with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal.Shapcott, who works as the director of affordable housing and social innovation at the Wellesley Institute,  was awarded the medal in recognition of his exceptional c... Full Story

CWNA introduces new vision for Yonge St.

Yonge St. is special.It was Upper Canada’s first street. It’s the longest street in Canada. It was the commercial heart of 19th century Toronto. It contains the best remaining examples of commercial architecture from that era. It’s Toronto’s street for celebrations and parades. It’s “Toronto’s Main ... Full Story

Changes only temporary for Martin Goodman Trail

Waterfront Toronto convened a meeting on Aug. 30 for stakeholders along the Central Waterfront and East Bayfront from Parliament to York streets to review the construction schedule for the Martin Goodman Trail.The trail will be rebuilt in a temporary fashion between now and March 31, 2013. The final... Full Story

Monster condos threaten Queens Quay

Two massive proposals for 70+ storey towers on Toronto's Central Waterfront threaten this iconic recreational area: Tridel's 75-storey tower at 10 York Street and Menkes' Harbour Plaza across the street at 90 Harbour Street with two 70-storey towers and an office building. Both would be twice the he... Full Story

'Clamshells,' clear food containers join recycle schedule

More recycling for Toronto!Starting this fall, clear food containers, the ubiquitous 'clamshells' used for egg cartons, fruit and vegetables, and baked goods, will be recyclable in the Toronto's Blue Box. This will divert 2000 tonnes of waste per year from landfill!Some major retail chains recently ... Full Story

Chess men get new table: Dick

In front of Metropolitan United Church on Queen St. between Jarvis and Church, they gather every day to play chess.A diverse crowd, all male, brought together by their life on the margins of society in Toronto—some homeless, some physically disabled, some with emotional issues, some just down on the... Full Story

Bathurst Quay silos may be next for redevelopment

A final verdict about what to do with the crumbling Canadian Malting silos and how the surrounding grounds will be developed is still a ways off, but with Build Toronto now at the helm, things should start moving ahead.The city’s real estate services office appointed Build Toronto to oversee the pro... Full Story

Downtown west study to assess development threat

Trinity-Spadina councillor Mike Layton is calling for a study of Bathurst St. between Queen and the Dupont train tracks to determine what kinds of development and heights would be appropriate along that stretch.His call comes while property developer RioCan is amassing several adjacent properties (t... Full Story

Centreville saviour a mixed blessing for Island farm: matching funds

Things are looking up for Far Enough Farm.The Toronto Island attraction, which was set to close at the end of June, was granted an extension by council until the end of the year, giving supporters time they say they need to find a long-term solution.“It doesn’t solve the problem, but it buys some ti... Full Story

Local heroes sought for PJ Nicholson honour: submit by Aug. 14

Nominate a local hero. They are being sought by the St. Lawrence Neighbourhoood Community Recreation Centre (SLCRC) Advisory Committee and the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Assoc. (SLNA) to receive the newly created P.J. Nicholson Award for Community Inspiration.Nicholson was an early St. Lawrence Neig... Full Story

City saves historic First Parliament Site

On Thursday, July 12, 2012, Toronto City Council unanimously adopted a staff report moved by Councillor Pam McConnell that confirmed intent to expropriate the remaining privately owned properties that make up the First Parliament site.  The site of Canada's First Parliament buildings is located betw... Full Story

Serve Toronto kids tackle tough chores for Downtown mission week

On July 27, the grounds of the Little Trinity Church at King and Parliament were absolutely swarming with teens wearing brightly-coloured tees and armed with paintbrushes, rollers and implements of construction, beavering away madly at the outside steps and wheelchair ramp.It’s the culmination of Se... Full Story

City recycles bike lane barrier idea along Wellesley-Hoskin corridor

Physically separated bike lanes on Wellesley St. can’t come soon enough for Downtown cyclist Brandin O’Connor.“I’m often doored by cars because there’s no separation between people getting out of their cars (and moving traffic). I have a bell and I ring it all the time,” says the Osgoode student.O’C... Full Story

Toronto Disaster Relief Committee Folds

The homelessness disaster unfoldsMass homelessness became common in Canada starting in the 1980s. As the market economy de-industrialized creating more low wage jobs, senior levels of government retreated from social spending, instead pursuing American-style practices of dealing with social issues.I... Full Story

Centreville Amusement Park aids Far Enough Farm

Centreville Amusement Park is joining with residents in raising money to help keep Far Enough Farm operating through the year, says Councillor Pam McConnell. "There has been a great deal of support in saving Far Enough Farm. We have received petitions with thousands of signatures from across th... Full Story

Co-op turns 25

Windward Co-operative Homes at 34 Little Norway Crescent will celebrate a landmark 25th anniversary on June 2.Perched on the north shore of the Western Gap, the co-op is surrounded by green parks and sparkling water. Member-tended gardens have won awards for their beauty year after year.The celebrat... Full Story

Calmer community hears latest port lands plans

A cautious approach, but no casino, was the watchword in the third public consultation meeting on the Port Lands held by Waterfront Toronto on May 24.“We don’t want Ferris wheels, we don’t want monorails, we don’t want strip malls, and we don’t want casinos!” Ward 30 councillor Paula Fletcher told a... Full Story

Food, fun & families at farm fete

A picnic fundraiser to support Riverdale Farm and its programs will be held June 21 from 5:30 to 10 p.m. at the farm. There will be games for kids, tables for dining, and music.The Riverdale Farm Coalition, chaired by Toronto Centre-Rosedale councilor Pam McConnell, wants to raise $100,000 this year... Full Story

Corktown group’s numbers up: conduct code debuts

At the Corktown Residents and Business Association’s May public meeting, some Corktowners found themselves in fascinating seats: pews. Yes, church pews.In the dusty back room of the Dominion on Queen beer parlour, there are chairs, booths and benches fit for the altar. Simply peculiar at first, one ... Full Story

The disadvantages of a Sherbourne St. bike lane

I'm not against bike lanes per se, but part of the installation requires "No Stopping" (anytime) regulations, which of course rules out parking; one is subject to a ticket for merely stopping to pick up a passenger or to drop one off, even in front of their residence or business!This is th... Full Story

Leslieville Tree Festival Returns to Leslie Grove Park

The Leslieville Tree Festival is back for another year to celebrate the urban canopy with the community and families. The Festival will feature performances, eco-friendly vendors, activities for children and local food. Performers will include songwriter Robert Priest, local dance group Eastview Dan... Full Story

Online tool to check your trees

LEAF (Local Enhancement & Appreciation of Forests) launched the Ontario Residential Tree Benefits Estimator (ORTBE), an online tool designed to estimate the energy savings and other environmental benefits provided by trees.  The Estimator is housed on LEAF's website www.yourleaf.org .  Research ... Full Story

BIA, cathedral plan summer concert series in park

A new free concert series premieres in St. James Park on June 21.Hosted by the St. Lawrence Market Neighbourhood BIA, the series will celebrate a new spirit of revival in this beautiful oasis of calm for residents, office workers, dog walkers, tourists, street people and garden lovers alike.Accordin... Full Story

Mixed feelings over airport dominate Bathurst Quay AGM discussion

Condo development and the Island Airport topped the agenda at the Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood’s (BQNA) annual general meeting on May 24.The organization—which aims to improve the quality of individual and community life for residents from Stadium Rd. to Spadina, Lake Shore Blvd. to Lake Ontario—meet... Full Story

History show to come to condos

The Town of York Historical Society wants to hit the road later this year and give history lessons to people who live in Downtown condominiums.“We want to put together, I guess for lack of a better word, a road show,” says society president and Garden District resident Jennifer McIlroy.The society p... Full Story

Planning talk turns heated for Murray at Church-Wellesley meeting

Meet Emma and Sophie, Toronto’s two most intrepid volunteers.On May 7, at the 519 Church Street Community Centre, they were assigned to co-ordinate responses at the community action plan meeting organized by councilor Kristyn Wong-Tam and Toronto Centre MPP Glen Murray.The two elected worthies descr... Full Story

Action plan requires city, provincial collaboration

At the May 1 meeting at the Dominion on Queen, Toronto Centre MPP Glen Murray updated the CRBA on the status of the area’s community action plan.The CRBA’s four main priorities were heritage preservation, the First Parliament site interpretation centre, a better north/south TTC line, and better heal... Full Story

CBC proposal to attract tenants ignores streetscape

In the face of recent federal government cutbacks, the CBC has put forward a planning application that will make it easier to generate revenue from its real estate holdings.On May 1, Frank Lewinberg from Urban Strategies, a planning and urban design firm representing the CBC, presented an applicatio... Full Story

Affordable housing top priority for core neighbourhoods: Murray

Toronto Centre MPP Glen Murray sees the availability of affordable rental housing as a current major challenge in Downtown Toronto, and believes strongly in the system of neighbourhood consultations he and Ward 27 and 28 councillors McConnell and Wong-Tam have set up as an effective way to addre... Full Story

Cherry St., Don River park closed until 2013: Waterfront Toronto

During the April meeting of the West Don Lands Committee (WDLC), members of Waterfront Toronto provided an updated timetable for several projects tied to the 2015 Pan Am games. Cherry St. between Eastern Ave. and Lakeshore will be closed until Dec. 31, while Cherry from Eastern to Queen will... Full Story

Residents state “no vacancy” for hotel site plan

Plans for low-rise residential accommodation at 620 Church St. have added to the existing controversy over the future of land surrounding Toronto’s Town Inn Suites hotel. Weeks after permission was secured for the expansion of the apartment block at 66 Isabella St.—at the expense of adjacent gre... Full Story

Shelters, safety top Moss Park, Garden District to-do list

Residents of Moss Park and the Garden District met with local politicians on April 23 to provide feedback and suggestions for the future of their community. The meeting, held by city councilor Kristyn Wong-Tam and Toronto Centre MPP Glen Murray, is one of five follow-ups to initial meetings he... Full Story

Trio of agencies lay groundwork for land trust: urban farming

Turning Parkdale backyards into food production could yield two things—one, lots of fresh vegetables for low-income residents, and two, the pairing of marginalized people with the general public to work in the backyard “farms.” One Parkdale worker sees the pairing aspect as an opportunity to ... Full Story

Funding won’t go far enough for Island farm

Baye Hunter remembers taking her young daughters to Far Enough Farm on Centre Island, where they would feed the animals, collect eggs, and even carry manure home for their garden.Now, she is fighting to save the farm.The Toronto attraction will close on June 30—another victim of municipal budget cut... Full Story

City in conflict of interest over Harbour St. skyscraper: residents demand cancellation

At a recent community information meeting concerns were raised with regards to a conflict of interest surrounding a Tridel 75-storey development at 120 Harbour St., west of York, and Build Toronto.Approximately 100 area residents attended an information meeting on April 3 at Paws Way Pet Discovery C... Full Story

Murray's community action plan set to launch: funding unsure

Glen Murray’s community action plan is a go.Since his 2010 byelection win, the Liberal Toronto-Centre MPP developed neighbourhood improvement strategies with stakeholders in his riding, from regular citizens to health officials. Making these plans reality, however, was held in the lurch of what look... Full Story

King-Spadina towers set precedent for new applications

Precedent has become the plan when it comes to Downtown development, from the looks of three new tower proposals in the King-Spadina area.At a recent community planning meeting held by area councilor Adam Vaughan, a trio of applications were basing their pitches on exceptions that have already been ... Full Story

Waterfront watchers 'stay the course'

The surge of interest in the fate of the Port Lands was on full display at the Toronto Reference Library on Dec. 12 for the first public consultation meeting since council’s unanimous Sept. 21 endorsement of Waterfront Toronto (WT).Over 500 of curious and concerned Torontonians packed into the meeti... Full Story

East Bayside project to benefit from lessons learned from past planning failures

If all goes well in the tortuous process of development approvals for Toronto’s Waterfront, the year 2015 to 2021 could well see a new mixed-use neighbourhood of 1800 or so housing units coming into existence on the Harbourfront between Sherbourne Common Park and the Parliament St. slip, the land no... Full Story

Liberty Village committes tackle condo design, attracting business

One of the four committees in the new Liberty Village Residents Association (LVRA) will be looking at ways to help attract new businesses to the community, says association president Todd Hofley.The design and business development committee “is tasked with working with [the Liberty Village BIA], try... Full Story

Crown attorney helps youth, newcomers understand legal system

There are many ways to get involved with the Canadian criminal justice system, and most of them don’t involve getting charged with a crime. Most commonly, you might be called as a witness or empanelled as a juror. Or you could be a victim or complainant.It can be a hideously confusing experience. Fo... Full Story

CBC disses Woodsworth Co-op

CBC’s local news crew and reporter Steven D’Souza got it seriously wrong in a story Dec. 13 about Toronto Community Housing Corp. (TCHC). In the process Woodsworth Housing Co-operative was shown on screen as D’Souza’s interviewee, a TCHC resident, complained that TCHC was setting up a snitch line so... Full Story

Film recalls Bleecker St. battle of early '70s

The fight over the future of a large part of Cabbagetown occurred in the early 1970s, and the world has changed so significantly since then, that it is hard to believe what actually occurred. A window on this extraordinary time is available on Sunday evening May 6, when the Hugh Garner Housing Co-op... Full Story

McGuinty's crew keeps snapping at turtles

Despite submitting a petition to the Ontario Legislative Assembly signed by 11,000 people calling for an end to the snapping turtle hunt, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) has decided that hunting a once common species, now listed under the Endangered Species Act, may continue."We... Full Story

Second injury at Island airport intersection in 2 weeks

                                               A young woman was struck by a car at Bathurst and Queens Quay about 1:50 p.m. April 23. She was hit by the silver car stopped in the middle of the crossing lane. She didn't appear to be seriously hurt. It took some time, but she was eventually able to w... Full Story

Buick topped 2012 Toronto Auto Show

Buick wins the audience at the 2012 Toronto Auto Show.  There is curious similarity in the displays of the many competing car companies.  It maybe driven by show organizers, or the logistical dynamics but most of the cars are rotated, displayed, lit and polished basically the same way.  Unless you a... Full Story

Councilors find spines to stop library cuts

Dozens of downtown library hours, including all Sundays hours for Parliament St., were potentially salvaged by the Toronto’s library board’s December rejection of city demands for a 10 per cent budget slash.What synthesized was a potential $164.5 million budget 5.9 per cent lower than 2011’s. While ... Full Story

Taller towers raise the stakes for Harbourfront

A proposal to build a 70-storey tower in the central waterfront is gaining its footings, but some area residents think the proposed height is a new low for a community that is already at capacity.Menkes Developments are proposing an office building and two condo towers on the site of the former Work... Full Story

New street could create business opportunity while easing Liberty Village traffic woes

A new east-west road planned for the extreme south end of Liberty Village between Dufferin St. and Strachan Ave. will provide much-needed traffic relief within the village, but it’s giving villagers and city planners a headache as to what to do with it at Strachan.City planners prefer a direct conne... Full Story

Campus to maximize space via virutal library, online learning

Classrooms and the library at the new George Brown waterfront campus are going to look a lot different from what older generations would remember from their schooldays.There’re won’t be neat rows of desks in the 25 classrooms at the $175 million eight-storey Centre for Health Sciences on Queen’s Qua... Full Story

Major water main work may only make minor disruption

The New Year will bring optimistic resolutions, midnight kisses, and the commencement of a two-year, $80-million construction project to replace a 70-year-old water main under D’Arcy, Elm and Gerrard streets.Planned to start in January, six shaft sites for “tunneling” will gradually be opened and cl... Full Story

Occupy park being re-sodded by volunteers

The grass on St. James Park will be better by far than what was there before Occupy Toronto camped out in November. The grass was well trampled by general use and by slack maintenance by city staff. However, with some donations from several organizations, things will be greener than ever in the park... Full Story

Cabbagetown co-op turns 30 in century building

The Three Streets housing co-op in upper Cabbagetown is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year in tandem with the 100th anniversary of the three-storey building (called Hampton Mansions) it occupies at the southeast corner of Winchester and Metcalfe streets.On Dec. 11, building residents will ga... Full Story

St. Lawrence Neighbourhood development news

Autumn brought a few more business openings, closings and more construction advances in Old Town Toronto. Immediately west of St. Lawrence Market across Market Lane, a formerly empty building that had been home of the old Fish Market restaurant has been revitalized in a way very respectful of the si... Full Story

Founder's dinner at Corktown schoolhouse to honour Crombie

His brewery burned down and he went bankrupt. But that didn’t keep Englishman Enoch Turner from bouncing back and establishing a school for Toronto’s poor children in Corktown 162 years ago.That one-room school on Trinity St. near King still stands, and on Dec. 2 it’ll be the venue for the annual fo... Full Story

Toronto's First Post Office was a gift to us

The meticulously restored 19th-century post office at 260 Adelaide St. East was a gift to the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood, delivered on December 15, 1983. Few if any Canadian communities ever received a gift on the same scale from a private donor; in the light of 2011 realities it seems magical. Yet ... Full Story

Occupy St. James' Park ends peacefully

Occupy Toronto, which has made a muddy mess of much of St. James' Park, is finally over. To their credit there has been no violence in the eviction and they have certainly made their more reasonable points such as the rape of civilization by investment bankers and monster corporations; the purchase ... Full Story

Toronto poisons your water

From the Alex Jones interview:infowars.com<br /></body> </html>Following a successful anti-fluoride campaign in Canada, Dr. Paul Connett, Professor of Chemistry at St. Lawrence University in New York, visited Austin, Texas, to make appear on the Alex Jones ... Full Story

Robert Lloyd fugitive on the run

The Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement (ROPE) Squad is requesting the public's assistance in locating a Federal Offender wanted on a Canada Wide Warrant as result of his breach of Parole.Robert LLOYD is described as a 40 year old white male, 6'1" (185 cm's). 170 lbs,( 77 kgs.) hazel eyes and sh... Full Story

Dump OMB vote passes city committee

Toronto council's Planning and Growth Management Committee meeting passed an amended motion to abolish the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) and begin a process to set up an internal appeals board. Under the current system, developers had little incentive to negotiate in good faith with the city, a proc... Full Story

Occupiers at St. James' Park behaving responsibly

The City has not given permission for these protesters to occupy the park, set up tents, or engage in any other activities on the site. There is no applicable permit category for this type of activity.The Occupy Toronto protest is part of a worldwide network of similar occupations, and unfortunately... Full Story

Do St. James' Park protesters know what's beneath them?

One of the biggest mysteries in Toronto started when James Lesslie, a respected druggist and in later life an alderman, wrote the following in his journal dated June 8, 1832, “The steamship The Great Britain arrives (in York) with 600 passengers on board—1 or 2 sick had been put on shore at Cobourg—... Full Story

Boondoggle tunnel wins Tory approval

The Toronto Port Authority’s (TPA) long-delayed tunnel is now legal – the Harper government has amended the law that prohibited its construction.This is not a surprise – the Harper government has never shown any regard for the people of Toronto. It listens only to its friends on Bay Street, who own ... Full Story

Police Accountability Forum

We can improve Toronto policing!A public forum about 8 ideas for changeTuesday October 18, 7 pmInnis College, St George and Sussex StreetsToronto Police Accountability Coalition has called this public forum for Tuesday October 18, 2011, Innis College Town Hall (Sussex and St. George Street), at 7pm.... Full Story

Commuter bicyclists get to keep Trinity Bellwoods as thoroughfare

Commuter cyclists can continue to use bike paths in Trinity Bellwoods Park to get to and from their Downtown workplaces, but the city is going to use a few tricks to try to slow them down.While the Friends of Trinity Bellwoods Park (FTBP) support recreational cycling in the park, speedy commuter bik... Full Story

Leslieville lady plays good cop with city over traffic concerns

As drivers continue attempting to save time wherever possible in an increasingly congested city, some quiet residential streets are feeling the negative effects.Two of the casualties are Brooklyn Ave. and Pape Ave., two strictly residential and parallel streets between Queen St. E. and Dundas St. E.... Full Story

Cityzen plans for 154 Front St. E. meet renewed opposition

Cityzen’s proposal for a 34-storey building to replace the Greyhound depot at 154 Front St. E. met with ready opposition at the community consultation on June 28.A hostile crowd poured into the Nathan Cohen Studio Theatre at 165 Front St. E., eager to denounce the proposal of architects for a propos... Full Story

City Place group marks first year by inviting new members

Steve KeeIt takes years for a community to take shape—but one group of local residents hopes they can effectively steer and speed up this process.While the year-old City Place Residents’ Association (CPRA) may not be well-known right now, the members intend to be a driving force for initiatives in t... Full Story

Parkdale food bank could close next month

The Parkdale Community Food Bank is facing a major financial shortfall and is now at risk of closing next month.Currently the need is far outpacing the food bank's very limited resources, with financial donations coming up short. The food bank is now appealing to the community for any help possible ... Full Story

Pan Am plan brings dirt, noise to site

A critical time is approaching for the development of the athlete’s village for the 2015 Pan Am Games—and residents of the West Don Lands are nothing if not vigilant about the fate of the development. But as they wait for the official announcement of the lead developer of the village, which is expec... Full Story

Planners must flag potential heritage properties: roundtable

Staff in city departments should “flag” buildings and landscapes they think might be potential heritage sites because Toronto’s Heritage Preservation Services (HPS) is too understaffed to build a comprehensive inventory of them, and that has caused the loss of some heritage properties for good.That’... Full Story

Queens Quay plan shaping up: fall 2011 construction target

The choking combination of gridlock and exhaust fumes along central Queens Quay will be a thing of the past as Waterfront Toronto transforms the area into a pedestrian, car friendly, street.At the June 9 community update meeting at Harbourfront Centre’s Lakeside Terrace, the agency shared its vision... Full Story

Off-leash ok for Clarence Park

In Clarence Park—half a kilometer and directly east of Victoria Park—the entire south portion will be transformed into a dog run in the hopes it will entice area pet owners to come to the pet friendly area.“We have a significant challenge in this neighbourhood...for some reason dogs are abundantly p... Full Story

Dufferin bridge plan not in line with residents' vision for streetscape

A proposal to raise the Dufferin Street bridge where it enters Exhibition Place will ruin a long-cherished view of Lake Ontario, the city’s public works and infrastructure committee heard on May 26.The part of the bridge that crosses the railway tracks is 100 years old. It needs to be rebuilt—and wh... Full Story

No off-leash for Victoria Square pups

Just as the words left his mouth lamenting the irresponsibility of some dog owners and park-goers, councilor Adam Vaughan paused to watch what looked liked a Boston Terrier race untethered across the delicate soil on Victoria Memorial Square.“We need to create awareness amongst dog owners that this ... Full Story

Dixon Hall poll closed

A long-standing polling place has had its Elections Ontario (EO) status revoked thanks to new provincial accessibility standards.Ironically, the removal of the Dixon Hall polling place at 58 Sumach from the list of voting locations has forced voters to a location that is currently inaccessible due t... Full Story

Demand for full investigation of G20 atrocities

The Auditor General’s final report into the G20-G8 summit reveals a gross abuse of the public purse, with overspending, overestimates of costs, lack of proper approval processes, and misleading categorization of expenses. “The Harper government was clearly not diligent or transparent with public fun... Full Story

Mixed use towers planned to fill Queen, Adelaide gaps

Development of the Entertainment District continues as one residential building squeezes in beside the CIBC on Queen St. west of Simcoe and another converts a heritage site on Adelaide west of John into a new destination for businesses.Property owners of a previously approved 16-storey office tower ... Full Story

Tutors needed to help kids get back to school

The Scadding Court Community Centre is hoping to recruit volunteer academic tutors for its free community course for young people who have become disconnected from the education system.In partnership with Ryerson University, volunteers will help provide support for class assignments, exam prep, and ... Full Story

YQNA scores meeting over York-Bay park

Following a public outcry over what one group called a “secretive process,” Toronto’s transportation services has called a public meeting to discuss the possibility of revamping the Gardiner’s York-Bay-Yonge interchange and creating a local street from Harbour St. to Queens Quay between York and Bay... Full Story

Sleepless nights continue for CityPlace: GO noise continues

CityPlace residents fed up with the constant construction of the rail lines running through their back yard lashed out at Metrolinx officials at the March 3 residents association meeting.Updating the corridor between Bathurst and Spadina is causing sleepless nights for many of the residents whose co... Full Story

Ryerson program studies Corktown

If there was ever any Pan Am envy rising from the residents of Corktown, a project by an enthusiastic group of Ryerson students will likely quell it.While the West Don Lands are abuzz with development and redevelopment projects, these students are creating their own noise around a plan for short and... Full Story

Old Town group seeks allies for crosstown bus

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) does not see any need to enhance services on Parliament St.—but the Old Town Toronto Network (OTTN) hasn’t exhausted their bus dreams yet.The OTTN is gearing up for an effort to lobby neighbourhood associations to support the idea of a summer bus service to the Q... Full Story

Survey, meetings paint a portrait of riding for Murray

A curiously low-profile multi-level community consultation and planning process that has been underway in Toronto Centre for the past year or so made a stop in Cabbagetown on March 24.The brainchild of Toronto Centre MPP Glen Murray, the initiative is a partnership with ward 27 and 28 councillors Kr... Full Story

Survey, meetings paint a portrait of riding for Murray

 

Church St. residents win temporary reprieve from development fight

The Church St. community may have scored a temporary win in their fight against the Gloucester Mansions development at 580-596 Church St. and 67-71 Gloucester St.In a letter to city hall, lawyers for the developer (Church 18 Holdings Inc.) requested that the rezoning application, which had originall... Full Story

Dirt, danger may plague Martin Goodman Trail during TTC construction

Starting in April, pedestrians on the Martin Goodman Waterfront Trail along Leslie St. south of Lake Shore will see an increase in vehicular traffic as the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) starts to move out soil from their new Ashbridges Bay storage facility.Once development begins, debris—such as ... Full Story

Youth, mental health, gala on 51 Div. CPLC agenda

The 51 Division community police liaison committee (CPLC) met on March 9.The meeting kicked off with a presentation on Toronto’s mobile crisis intervention team, or MCIT, units by nurse Ellen Marchildon from St. Michael’s hospital and P.C. Erin Carter.The mobile crisis intervention team is a partner... Full Story

Paul Oberman dies: A great friend of historic preservation

By Lloyd AlterPaul was killed the night of March 7, while flying from Halifax to Quebec City.It was an honour last fall to stand with Paul Oberman as the ACO gave him an award for his tireless work trying to save the hangars at Downsview Airport. In fact, whenever there was a heritage issue during m... Full Story

Buses over parkland?

Parkland is precious in Downtown Toronto—especially to groups like the York Quay Neighbourhood Association (YQNA), which is preparing to defend some of its turf.The YQNA predicted that the city-owned park inside the circular ramp at York St. and Queen’s Quay would be wanted for development once a Ga... Full Story

WDLC readies for Pan Am planning challenges

There is no excuse for Downtown residents not to be aware of what will descend in the West Don Lands in the summer of 2015 during the Pan-Am Games. At the same time, there will be no escaping broken promises by those groups in charge of creating lasting, thriving legacy in the area.At the Feb. 28 me... Full Story

Bathurst Quay heritage site to be removed

After waiting for more than a decade, residents living near Bathurst and Lake Shore will finally get a neighbourhood Loblaws grocery store—in 2014.More than 100 residents spilled out of a meeting room and into the hallways at the Harbourfront Community Centre on Jan. 31, eager to hear the plans for ... Full Story

First Parliament, Pan Am Village top Old Town planning peeves

The First Parliament site, transit, and planning—especially planning for the future of the Pan Am athletes’ village—remain top of mind with the Toronto Centre residents who attended a community round table hosted by Glen Murray and Pam McConnell in February.Chris Drew, community planner with Murray’... Full Story

East end charity joins century club: anniversary events planned

Central Neighbourhood House in South Cabbagetown is 100 years old this year.Founded in an era when social support for poor people was either faith-based or non-existent, CNH was envisioned as a true social centre, where people of all ages and origins could find respite from the daily struggle of lif... Full Story

Scadding Court planning major site makeover

A mid-March architect’s report will suggest ways to improve Scadding Court Community Centre, the Sanderson library next door, and perhaps boost the neighbourhood economy at the same time.“We want to make this an exciting place that people want to come to,” says Alina Chatterjee, director of developm... Full Story

No small talk required at film maker’s silent dating fundraiser

Independent writer and director, Tricia Lee, in need of money for a new feature film, will try a new form of fundraising on March 5 when she launches her nonverbal speed dating event.Lee, the Toronto-born 28-year-old producer, is taking away the awkwardness of clumsily talking your way through a fir... Full Story

Perennial concerns raised at Garden District meeting

The garden district—it just looks beautiful. This was the motto for district signs and plaques suggested at a Nov. 29 meeting attended by members of the Garden District residents’ association and ward 27 councillor-elect Kristyn Wong-Tam. The group’s president Eva Curlanis-Bart, took the councillor ... Full Story

Residence, residents come to club land

City planners are expected to hold a community consultation meeting early in 2011 regarding a proposal to construct a building at Peter and Adelaide streets that would be 100 metres taller that what zoning allows.The plan calls for the demolition of existing buildings at 328-340 Adelaide St. W. and ... Full Story

Panel seeks external and community input on Pride

For the first time in Pride Toronto history, a community advisory panel (CAP) has been created with a mandate to consult with numerous groups, politicians, stakeholders and the city to create recommendations for Pride on how they should define their objectives.Target meetings are also included where... Full Story

New CityPlace association represents 'significant voting block'

The Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Association, York Quay Neighbourhood Association and the Annex Residents’ Association are getting a new neighbour as the CityPlace Residents Association (CPRA) makes its official launch in the New Year.Concord CityPlace currently consists of 6,500 suites in 20 high-ri... Full Story

Local honours fallen friend with sustainable school

In 2008, Church and Front St. resident Jessica Chaikowsky watched a newscast of two aid workers killed in Afghanistan and as she watched the bodies being loaded into coffins she wondered if her friend Shirley Case, an aid worker, knew them.She learned later that one of the bodies was Case.“I remembe... Full Story

Innovative learning centre invites community collaborators

Regent Park for many years has had a consistent reputation of a “no go zone”—but with the help of projects like Regent Park Centre for Learning, the downtrodden area is slowly being gentrified and transformed into a family, friendly, residential area.Officially opened on Dec. 1, the centre will act ... Full Story

Reducing the size of Toronto police force

This Bulletin is published by the Toronto Police Accountability Coalition, a group of individuals and organizations in Toronto interested in police policies and procedures, and in making police more accountable to the community they are committed to serving. Our website is http://www.tpac.ca***In th... Full Story

Christmas Pancakes at Toronto's St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Rec Centre

Cheerful Chef Bashir prepares his "Perfect Organic Pancakes" with real maple syrup or other gourmet toppings and Starbuck's coffee at the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Community Recreation Centre in Downtown Toronto.About 100 local residents enjoyed the chef’s healthful whole-grain pancakes D... Full Story

Regent Park Learning Centre opens

The Regent Park Centre of Learning was inaugurated Nov. 1 in crowded room filled with area residents and the city’s edu-cratic elites, including Anne Sado, president of George Brown College, Sheldon Levy, president of Ryerson University and University of Toronto Prof. Cheryl Regehr, Vice Provost: Ac... Full Story

Health care, heritage planning top Murray's findings

Glen Murray and his staff have recently concluded the first in a series of community meetings aimed at producing community action plans for Toronto Centre.Throughout the month of November, Murray’s office conducted meetings in five Downtown neighbourhoods including St. Lawrence Market and Cabbagetow... Full Story

Consumers source of modern-day Lake Ontario contamination

Industry has greatly reduced the amount of pollution it puts into the Great Lakes, including Lake Ontario. But there are everyday things consumers can do to reduce water pollution even more.“How consumers dispose of their products is very important,” says Paul Helm, who monitors the Great Lakes as a... Full Story

Corktown committee 'not anti-development' in lead-up to 2015 housing projects

The residents of Corktown will not let an opportunity pass without seeing it to the fullest potential.This was the message of the latest public meeting of the Corktown Residents’ and Business Association (CRBA) in regard to the Toronto 2015 Pan-Am Games. The lead-up to the event will bring about a m... Full Story

Toronto Island land claim settlement paid: Mississaugas plan Downtown presence

It’s 205 years late, but the Mississauga Indians have received $145 million for the Toronto Islands and the land on which Toronto now stands.That’s better than the ten shillings the British paid them for it in 1805. The updated payment was made to the Mississaugas near Hagersville (outside Hamilton)... Full Story

Dad, YQNA shocked by park removal

Daniel Torchia, the father of two young children, was shocked last month when he strolled by the Harbourfront Centre at the bottom of Simcoe St. and found that the tree-lined children’s play area had been removed and that the posted plans showed no signs of replacement.The frustrated Yonge and Queen... Full Story

Big plans for Little Trinity: parish shows plans for major redevelopment

In days of yore in Old Toronto, when only the affluent elite were able to afford pew fees at the magnificent St. James cathedral, such prominent citizens as Bishop Strachan, William Gooderham and Enoch Turner helped finance the little church for the common man.A century and a half later, at a recent... Full Story

High rise opponents rally supporters for Dec. 6 public meeting

An impassioned group of residents will make their case protesting a planned high rise to be built on Church St. at an evening meeting on Dec. 6.As previously reported in The Bulletin, a 25-storey residential building proposed earlier this year is to be situated on the southeast corner of Gloucester ... Full Story

Path to Riverdale paved with good donations

“Precedent is wonderful,” says Randy Brown.Brown heads up a citizen’s initiative to raise money for new pathway paving in Riverdale Park. He has co-opted another park’s successful brick-naming campaign for the Cabbagetown greenspace. With the support of the city, people will be able to “buy” their o... Full Story

Leslieville birder prints calendar

Pat Anderson might be a cat owner but her love for birds has inspired her to make a colourful 2011 calendar featuring her feathered friends found in the Leslieville area.Anderson, after posting her bird photographs online, received a number of positive comments along with the suggestion for a calend... Full Story

Auction house unearths 1837 rebellion document

Sean Quinn, estimator for Waddington’s auction house, expecting to see another Deed or Will, was surprised when a significant 1837 political proclamation—signed in Toronto—arrived in his office.The document was drafted Dec. 11, 1837, and on Dec. 12 was signed by various government officials includin... Full Story

Community planner thanks student activism for current role

Community planner and Church-Wellesley Village resident Chris Drew maintains that if it weren’t for one email and a special phone call, “I could have ended up spending the rest of my summers in university working in a warehouse in Etobicoke.”Long before there was Facebook and Twitter, there was the ... Full Story

MPP Murray schedules community planning meetings

Toronto Centre MPP Glen Murray has organized a cluster of neighbourhood community planning meetings throughout the riding this month. The goal of the series is to create a better community by getting participants involved in the Toronto Centre Community Action plan, which proposes to “hear wha... Full Story

Water safety, not smuggling, remains focus of marine unit

Constable Gary Gibson has concise advice for people heading to Lake Ontario for a day by the water—“never go near the water by yourself.”Gibson’s a 34-year veteran of Toronto Police Services. He’s been with its marine unit 14 years, half that time with the dive team, so he knows water can be fun but... Full Story

Flood plain requirements stymie West Don Lands developers

A curious geological situation will make for an interesting set of residences popping up in the West Don Lands.Four lots where King St. meets Queen are the future site of a group of residences—totaling 900 units—that will be built carefully on the flood protection landform (FPL) that prohibits anyth... Full Story

Corktown mourns cancellation of annual fete due to permit fees

Another community festival has bitten the dust because its organizers can’t afford to pay the city fees to hold it in a park.As it has done for years, the Corktown Residents and Business Association (CRBA) planned to hold its annual barbeque and Octoberfest fundraiser in Sackville Park on King St. E... Full Story

Tower Power to hear about Green Phoenix on Nov. 23

Tower Power Toronto, the all-volunteer group that helps those in condos and co-ops to “green” their buildings, will meet at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 23 at Windward Co-operative, 34 Little Norway Crescent (at the southwest corner of Bathurst and Queen’s Quay).The meeting will feature presentations by Rod La... Full Story

Youth group targets drug awareness

Scadding Court Community Centre has started a new youth-led drug awareness and healthy living youth group.Project 1234 consists of young people, ages 15 to 18 from different schools, racial backgrounds, age groups, and genders.The group, formed and led by youth with funding from Health Canada, plans... Full Story

MP Rae to host town hall and agency fair Nov. 5

Toronto Centre MP Bob Rae is hosting a community town hall and information fair for agencies that serve the on Nov. 5 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at 519 Church St.  

51 Div. party planned for Nov. 16

The 51 Division community police liaison committee’s second annual Building Bridges gala will be held on Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. at St. Lawrence Hall at King and Jarvis streets.The benefit will feature fashion, art, a silent auction, culinary delights and a complimentary beverage. This year’s celebration ... Full Story

Spectacular plan for Toronto’s most significant site

The return to the public of the site of Upper Canada’s First Parliament Buildings, 1798, is now under active pursuit—even hyperactive pursuit. Detailed plans for a stunning interpretation centre, park, library and pilgrimage centre that have been praised by a wide array of citizen, business, politic... Full Story

St. Lawrence Market invites Toronto residents to exchange incandescent holiday lights for LED lights

St. Lawrence Market is inviting Toronto residents to the Market on Saturday, November 27 (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.), when residents can exchange two sets of incandescent seasonal lights and receive a free set of more efficient LED lights - while enjoying a complimentary hot chocolate or coffee at the histo... Full Story

New arts centre shows school board can collaborate with community

Lots of exciting things have been happening in the Toronto District School Board and locally within the ward. Recently board director Chris Spence announced the appointment of the board’s first marketing director, Barbara Brown, who will be instrumental in enhancing the board’s marketing str... Full Story

Short-sighted Metrolinx plan provokes residents to confront McGuinty

People living near the rail lands were encouraged by Trinity-Spadina MPP Rosario Marchese to go face-to-face with Dalton McGuinty for allowing diesel trains to be used instead of electric on the proposed Air Rail Link (ARL) to Pearson International Airport.Approximately 25 concerned area residents g... Full Story

Top scholar plans to study and smell the roses too

Ricky Rodrigues found a way to make high school homework fun.That’s probably why the Queen West student finished Grade 12 this year as the Toronto Catholic school board’s top scholar in what used to be the old city of Toronto.His grade average at Bishop Marrocco-Thomas Merton secondary school was 97... Full Story

Ad hoc garden group plants bulbs to prevent crime

Prospect St. is a small residential avenue in Cabbagetown, running westward from Parliament just south of Wellesley Avenue, and opposite Amelia, which runs eastward toward the Don.On the north and south corners of Parliament and Prospect streets stand respectively Pizza Pizza and the Butter Chicken ... Full Story

Transit improvements offer hope for King route riders

If waiting for the King streetcar can at times seem to take forever, then waiting for TTC service changes can seem to take even longer.The overcrowded and poorly timed King St. transit, a future Downtown relief line, the Georgetown South corridor for GO Transit, and the diesel versus electric train ... Full Story

Sony Centre fog-and-light art competition offers $1.4 million to international artists

A shortlist of 15 well-known international artists has been selected to compete for a $1.4 million chunk of Old Town real estate.The artists are being considered to develop a proposal for a fog-and-light art installation in the new plaza at Yonge and Front streets adjacent to the Sony Centre L tower... Full Story

Church/Gloucester developers set for rough ride

Plans for a 25-storey residential development on 592-596 Church and 67-71 Gloucester will meet with continuous hostility, judging by the opinions expressed at a recent community meeting, where what was intended to be a dialogue between residents and the project design team turned onto a series of di... Full Story

Youth leaders win Boys' and Girls' club scholarships

Two local youth were presented with Future Shop Future Leaders scholarships during a special celebration on Aug. 14 at the Future Shop store at 325 Yonge St.The scholarships, which are offered to help recipients fund post-secondary education, are presented in cooperation with local Boys and Girls cl... Full Story

City proposes maximum size for heritage area shops

The Queen West business community is taking the lead in a study that may determine the fate of heritage shopping districts throughout the Downtown core.The city’s official plan requires the zoning bylaw to “provide for a maximum store or commercial unit size in commercial heritage conservation distr... Full Story

Aquarium public art contest includes local artists, judges

Toronto artists Michael Awad and David Rokeby have been named to compete with artists from Montreal and New York to provide an art installation at the 14,000 square-metre Ripley’s aquarium next to the CN Tower.In a presentation to the Toronto Public Art Commission in July, consultants said a prelimi... Full Story

Planners decline Adelaide W. tower proposal

Toronto’s community planning office sent a scathing report to community council recommending they refuse the current development proposal for 290 Adelaide St. W. The proposal, as described in the planning office report dated July 20, far exceeds high-rise development plans for the area and pr... Full Story

Esplanade home to new activist group

Any one who has complained about the political apathy of Toronto’s youth has not heard of the Esplanade Community Group (ECG), or one of its founders, U of T student Farshad Azadian.The organization started in 2009 with a focus on a wide range of political and socio-economic issues affecting residen... Full Story

Queen’s Quay groups, hotel to host sale

Every once in a while something surprising happens that brings a warm and fuzzy feeling all over—it may be getting a surprise birthday party or receiving a letter from an old friend. This is how Andrea Jackson of the Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Association felt when a long-time neighbour made a comm... Full Story

Condo squabble shadows Queen’s Park

Trinity-Spadina MPP Rosario Marchese has launched a crusade against the construction of high-rise towers in an arc that would obstruct the skyline behind the Ontario Legislature as seen from University Ave. to the south of Queen’s Park.In approving the construction of a twin-tower condo on the Four ... Full Story

Council deems Don Lands proposal ready for environmental assessment

Under a plan endorsed by city council in July, the mouth of the Don River will be re-routed and take on a more natural, winding appearance in between the Keating Channel and the Ship Channel and will have large areas of parkland on both banks. As well, around the mouth and on the north side o... Full Story

Summer misery for Queens Quay residents

How can Councillor Vaughan, who was in integral part of CommunityAIR, an organization dealing with the expansion of the Island Airport and it's the impact of air pollution, noise, and traffic on the health of Toronto residents can now justify the noisy deconstruction of the Malting Silos in the midd... Full Story

CALM compassion club in second pot raid

Toronto's Cannabis As Living Medicine (C.A.L.M.) Compassion Club, the embattled medical marijuana dispensary raided by police last March, was raided again Wednesday at about 4pm."This time they were a lot more polite and didn't punch anyone in the face," C.A.L.M.'s attorney Ron Marzel told... Full Story

Gosling bench project changed to tree: council declines to approve bench

Two steps forward, one step back. That is the best way to describe Peter Crawford’s ongoing quest to have the late Al Gosling memorialized in one of Toronto’s city parks.Crawford has been making progress despite a number of setbacks. The Leslieville resident and local activist has been lobbying city... Full Story

Block 31 opponents score planning victory, G20 looms

Community planning volunteers have scored their first victory of the 2010 construction season as a controversial community housing project is sent back to the drawing board.A letter to Ward 20 Coun. Adam Vaughan from an official with the Toronto Community Housing Corp.(TCHC) says the corporation has... Full Story

Exciting new developments in East Bayfront

The recently announced Parkside development will bring a residential and commercial complex to an important East Bayfront gateway site. Located east of Sherbourne Park and north of Queens Quay, Parkside is the first private sector development in the precinct.   Acclaimed architect Moshe Safdi... Full Story

Winchester improvements

The Donvale Cabbagetown Residents Association is working on a new project to improve the corner at Winchester and Parliament.   The  site has been the focus of a lot of controversy last summer. Now the DVCRA has broken through those arguments and they’re launching a process that po... Full Story

Sewage, rain tunnel study for Don River

Citizens and consultants continue to battle the problem of raw sewage flowing straight from residential and business toilets into storm sewers that then flow into the Don River and Lake Ontario.It’s a problem called combined sewer overflow (CSO), and it happens when a heavy rainfall pours down sewer... Full Story

Activist seeks support for bench to commemorate homeless man's passing

The tragic death of Al Gosling last October opened the eyes of many Torontonians to a very serious problem with the social housing system.The 82 year old man was evicted from his bachelor apartment at 11 Arleta Ave. by the Toronto Community Housing Corp. in June 2009. The reason? Gosling had failed ... Full Story

West Don Lands committee to meet June 28

The West Don Lands committee will meet on June 28 from 7 to 9 p.m. at 39 Parliament St. on the 11th floor.The agenda includes the Waterfront Toronto Employment Initiative with presenters Bryan Dale of Toronto Employment & Social Services and Jeff Ross of Waterfront Toronto.The Lower Don Lands fr... Full Story

St. George to be a sacrifice?

St. George the Martyr Anglican Church’s calendar should be filled with events celebrating their 165 years in the community but the shadow of change hangs over the festivities as decisions are made on how to pay off its large outstanding deb Next month parishioners will be told about the dioce... Full Story

Rookie MPP demands Distillery connection to Corktown as a result of Pan Am plans

In one of his first public appearances since winning the by-election last month, Toronto-Centre MPP Glen Murray spoke about the future of the area and importance of local community groups to the West Don Lands Committee on a cold Monday in March at 39 Parliament St.The former mayor of Winnipeg, a ma... Full Story

CRBA picks battles following off-leash victory, methadone, streetscape losses

Residents of historic Corktown have been expressing their fears for the future of their neighbourhood. Their unease arises from a number of recent—and highly diverse—developments.   Most controversial in terms of health and well-being are the lingering consequences of the methadone treatm... Full Story

Dixon Hall wins awards at the Toronto Challenge

For the third year, St. Lawrence's Dixon Hall Community Centre won the award for most participants in the Toronto Challenge, an annual Walk/Run supporting many Downtown seniors' organizations.  This year's event took place on June 13, with celebrations before and after the event at Metro Hall. For t... Full Story

Canada Day picnic

The St. Lawrence Neighbourhood’s sixth annual Canada Day celebration will take place on July 1 at 11:30 a.m. The annual event includes a parade—which may be cancelled if the weather is poor—and a picnic with music, cake, a barbecue and children’s activities. In case of rain, the celebration will... Full Story

Spadina WaveDeck recognized by national urban design awards

The Spadina WaveDeck received a Certificate of Merit as part of the National Urban Design Awards – its fifth design or construction related award since opening in September 2008.The National Urban Design Awards, sponsored by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, the Canadian Institute of Plan... Full Story

Front St. consultation scheduled for July 5

A public information "centre" regarding the changes to Front Street at Union Station will take place on July 5 from 3 to 7 p.m. at Union Station, 65 Front St. W., on the west side of the main floor towards the Skywalk.The "centre" will include information about the commencement o... Full Story

Earthquake after noon in Toronto

In our initial assessment, there has been no major damage to City infrastructure. Further investigations are taking place to confirm. The Toronto Transit Commission and Transportation Services have reported that there has been no damage to their infrastructure or interruptions to service. The City’s... Full Story

Leslieville loses longtime advocate, activist

Leslieville resident and community leader Brian Mcinnis died peacefully on March 20, the first day of spring, at age 55.Professionally, McInnis is best known for leaking a document that connected CSIS with the white supremacist Heritage Front. This document led to his being charged under the Officia... Full Story

Church St. corridor reports less violent crime, Blair

The Church St. corridor is safer now than it’s been in the past, according to reports from 51 Division. On May 4, Chief William Blair joined 51 Division superintendent John Tanouye at a meeting of the TPS/LGBT community consultative committee (CCC). Blair cited that the task force assigned t... Full Story

Traffic calming issue a balancing act in Leslieville

Valarie Brown-Dufour thinks the traffic situation in Leslieville has gotten out of hand and she is taking it upon herself to see that something is done. “At rush hour there is easily 100 cars backed up at the light to make a left turn from Lakeshore Blvd. E. onto Carlaw Ave.” Brown-Dufour ... Full Story

Community wants email about waterfront works

Implementation of the waterfront projects will require continual coordination of construction, vehicular and pedestrian traffic, Waterfront Toronto told more than 100 area residents at the Radisson Admiral Hotel on May 12. The projects form part of Waterfront Toronto’s vision of how it will t... Full Story

Community impact, giving back important to local youth scholarship winners

Toronto Community Housing and Scadding Court Community Centre have announced the names of 10 Downtown high school students who will receive scholarships for post-secondary education. The Investing in Our Diversity scholarship program, now in its ninth year, awards $4,000 to youth leaders act... Full Story

Roundhouse park whistles up a museum

For the past 40 years Grant Kingsland has volunteered to keep a 68-year-old CN steam locomotive named 6213 mechanically sound and in cosmetically good order. Today that locomotive is the crown jewel attraction at Roundhouse Park located south of the CN Tower. “It’s the complexity and the ... Full Story

Fluoride in water a danger?

Analysis of data from Statistics Canada has fueled a conclusion that the addition of fluoride to the drinking water in Ontario may have no positive impact on dental health. The data compare Ontario—the province with the highest amount of fluoridation—to Quebec, which greatly limits the addition o... Full Story

New community association formed in northwest Cabbagetown

Residents of a northwest Cabbagetown neighbourhood are throwing a party on May 8, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., celebrating the birth of the BOWW Neighbourhood Association in the area bounded by Bleecker, Ontario, Wellesley, and Winchester streets. The idea of forming the association was born out of inform... Full Story

Ontario is recognizing 2010 as the Year of the Métis

The Métis in Ontario were a vital part of the economy of early Ontario. The Métis, their families and the communities they built were instrumental in the fur trade, as well as other parts of the economy, such as forestry and fishing.  The year 2010 marks the 125th anniversary of the end of the North... Full Story

June 4 voted to be Tom Longboat Day by Ontario Assembly

Tom Longboat Day ResolutionThat, in the opinion of this House, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario should proclaim June 4th of each year Tom Longboat Day in the Province of Ontario. Born on June 4th, 1887, in the Six Nations Reserve near Brantford, Ontario, Tom Longboat was one of the most celebrate... Full Story

12 TAX TIPS for Canadians

Tax Tip 1 of 12    Online access to your tax information   Stop waiting for the mail! You can now review your tax accounts online.“The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has electronic services that let individuals access their tax and other financial information online,” explains Chartered Accountant Byro... Full Story

20 TAX TIPS for Canadians

Tax Tip 1 of 20Are extra payroll deductions the answer to taxes?Are you savings-challenged? If so, you might think that asking your company’s payroll department to increase your regular income tax deductions is a good strategy to avoid the possibility of extra taxes at year-end. “Not necessarily,” s... Full Story

Survey shows cycling on the rise in Toronto

More people are cycling in Toronto than ever before, says a survey conducted for the city of Toronto. In fact, a majority of Toronto residents age 15 years and older are riding bicycles (54 per cent) and, increasingly, they are using them for more than just recreation.   The survey, conducte... Full Story

Biased Toronto media ignore blind Man with a Vision

    J.P. Pampena, a blind public-relations man/limosine-service operator and mayoral candidate who terms himself the Man with A Vision, seeks media attention by  accusing "some of the media of being biased as demonstrated by their choosing to cover only and only certain 'favourite' candidates t... Full Story

Murray carries Toronto Centre for Liberals

Toronto Liberals celebrated their by-election victory during a packed reception at the Downtown Jack Astor's restaurant at Yonge and Dundas square on the evening of Feb. 4th.   Premiere Dalton McGuinty was on hand to congratulate the winning candidate, Glen Murray, as was outgoing Toronto Ce... Full Story

Corporate Knights tilt toward Toronto

The city that can’t keep its streets and parks clean, its century-old water pipes from bursting, its transit moving people efficiently…and all the other failings the megacity has wrought its denizens…is now called the top sustainable big city in Canada.Give a cheer! Toronto has achieved political co... Full Story

No prorogue rally invades Yonge-Dundas square

Thousands of Torontonians attended a rally march on Jan. 23rd, that started at Yonge-Dundas Square with speeches and entertainment, then made its way south along Yonge.   A recent phenomenon, the non-partisan, grassroots movement, Canadians Against Proroguing Parliam... Full Story

Solar electricity for your high rise?

At Tower Power Toronto’s Jan. 13 evening meeting, Dennis Bartels presented his ”solar electricity 101”—all you need to know about adding photovoltaic panels to the roof of your multi-unit building. He described the system components, the costs and revenues from such systems, the legal details, and h... Full Story

Growing community by growing food

On Nov. 29, I shared in the November Feast at Sketch, a place for young people who are homeless, at risk of being homeless or street-involved that offers a creative, safe space to engage in community life. The potluck and talent showcase of Sketch participants was held in their space on King West ne... Full Story

City goes with plan ‘A’ for Fort York visitor centre

For many years Fort York, almost the only military complex from the actual War of 1812 era that remains intact, has been effectively sealed off from the waterfront and the rest of the city by a noman’s- land of the Gardiner Expressway to the south and the railroad tracks to the north.   Acco... Full Story

Taylor's Wharf Lane gets a name and a sign

With a flourish and a yank on a golden rope, a previously unnamed and rather anonymous one-way laneway just south of Front St. E. and between George St. South and Frederick St., was dubbed Taylor's Wharf Lane with a new city street sign proclaiming it.It was a chilly event. The speeches were mercifu... Full Story

New garbage bins holiday gifts from the city

The long awaited new garbage bins are now arriving along Downtown streets. They’re tubby and silver with a special foot pedal that opens the slots where your litter is deposited.    Opinions about their beauty and svelte shape vary across a range of reactions. There is one intriguing qu... Full Story

Local city street named in honour of Ted Rogers

Councilor Kyle Rae of Ward 27 Toronto Centre-Rosedale and family and business associates of the late Ted Rogers unveiled a street sign to honour the Canadian business titan and communications industry pioneer. The ceremony took place on Wednesday, December 2 at the northeast corner of Jarvis and Cha... Full Story

A new era begins for St. Lawrence Market

The search is officially on with an international architectural design competition for the St. Lawrence Market’s north building launched Nov. 12. According to officials, the north building at 92 Front St. E. no longer meets the needs of Market vendors, shoppers and the community, due to its lack of ... Full Story

Waterfront playground wins reno grant

Little Norway Park has received $100,000 through a government funding grant for upgrades to the children’s play area under the condition that the upgrades must be completed by March 2011 or the money returned.The announcement was made by the Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Association (BQNA) at a commun... Full Story

New publishing effort tells Cabbagetown stories

Cabbagetown is becoming a source and setting for biographical fiction. John McAree’s biographical novel Cabbagetown Store, which launched at the Ben Wicks Pub on Parliament St. last summer, now has a charming prequel.Polly of Bridgewater Farm: An Unknown Irish Story (Cabbagetown Press, 2009) by Cath... Full Story

A new statue for Old Town

Just inside the courtyard of King George Square at 160 King East is a just recently unveiled and exquisitely designed statue to a man very few Torontonians are aware of.   In 1834 the year of Incorporation when the Town of York becomes the City of Toronto one of the City's most influential ci... Full Story

Computer literacy program marks 10 years of training

Many excited young students packed the auditorium at Lord Dufferin public school Nov. 25 to receive computers for their efforts in graduating from courses at the TD Securities Computer Literacy Centre. 71 graduating students, aged from five to 16, and primarily from the Cabbagetown and Regent Park n... Full Story

Another parking garage for Old Town?

A proposed six-level parking garage across the road from the L Tower is “a GO” but questions remain. The treed site at the southeast corner of Yonge St. includes a small GO Transit parking lot and retaining wall capped by a wrought iron fence (matching the railway underpass beside it).The garage wil... Full Story

West Don Lands projects secure funding, support

Work is moving forward in the West Don Lands, Toronto's newest community.  New developments at the site promise to provide some exciting new changes to the old Corktown neighbourhood. Plans are underway for the first residential development, a flood-protection landform, an eastern gateway to the com... Full Story

Bylaw project gives residents a ‘hammer’ to fight clubs

A handful of residents and business representatives attended an informal meeting at city hall on Oct. 28 to hear how the city is working on a draft zoning bylaw to consolidate the 43 different ones it inherited from the six municipalities that existed before amalgamation.City staff refers to the pro... Full Story

Adelaide St. resident celebrates success

Salwa Aleem and 14 other young women celebrated the finale of the Opportunities Unlimited (OUL) program on Nov. 19 at the Institute of Chartered Accountants Building on Bloor St. The event wrapped up an intense six months of mentoring and paid skills enhancement training and internships.The new Cana... Full Story

Mayor of Cabbagetown, Carl Orbach passes away

Carl Orbach, QC, mayor of Cabbagetown, passed away on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 after a brief battle with cancer, in his 80th year. A hallmark of Cabbagetown as he served the community for 52 years through his legal practice and his involvement in the Cabbagetown Youth Club and the local B... Full Story

Pandemonium at Yonge and Bloor

Thousands of people spilled out into the streets at rush hour November 18, due to a shutdown of the subway system.  Police erected barriers and tried to contain the sea of people emanating from the underground.  Traffic was stopped and officials estimated that several thousand people were stranded ... Full Story

PAL Christmas Bazaar: an annual event

On November 28, the Annual Christmas Bazaar held at 110 The Esplanade by the Performing Arts Lodge Residents' Association featured a bake sale this year, along with residents' arts and crafts, collectibles and tiny treasures. 

Retired red rocket recall

There was something special on the Harbourfront line of the TTC this past summer—an original “Red Rocket” (No. 4500) from the middle of the last century, running regular service between Union Station and the Exhibition every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.The old Rockets, properly known as the PCC (Pr... Full Story

CityPlace owners shocked by 42-storey TCHC plans

Fear of increased crime rates, lower property values and transforming a prestige community into slums sparked heated debate over a new Toronto Community Housing Corp. (TCHC) project planned for City Place.More than 130 neighbours, some saying they were blindsided about the rezoning of a 7-storey bui... Full Story

Historic play and an historic meal

It’s a celebration of Canada’s Rite of Passage into nationhood and you’re invited to the party. The War of 1812, in which Canada handed the new United States its first taste of military defeat, will be celebrated in an historic structure in Old Town Toronto: St. Lawrence Hall.Some famous historic ch... Full Story

Portlands soil contaminated, experts

Contaminated soil in the Port Lands will have to be treated or removed before development of the area can begin, said a senior environmental geoscientist during an open house to discuss the project.“It’s a manageable issue when we stockpile it,” Steve Desrocher, the senior environmental geoscientist... Full Story

Walkathon a success thanks to sponsors

Despite stormy skies, the rain held off for Harbourfront Community Centre’s (HCC) first annual 5K family walkathon Oct. 2 (see photo at right).This new fundraising event was developed to raise public awareness and funds in support of HCC’s family programs. HCC’s organizing committee set a “dream goa... Full Story

Smelly setback for Sony Centre restoration: contamination?

Trucks began appearing again at the loading docks of the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts Oct. 19—but not to bring in sets for some new pre-Broadway show.This time they were liquid bulk carriers, there to pump sanitary wastes out of parts of the theatre complex ravaged by a sewage system failure ... Full Story

Silos once again draw city, developers’ attention

Plans for the future of the crumbling Canada Malting Silos remained uncertain even has fences went up and Phase I work started on the demolition of adjacent buildings.More than 50 Bathurst and Queens Quay area residents listened intently as a representative from the Heritage Preservation Service of ... Full Story

Painting the city red... and blue... and green

Downtown just got a shot of colour! The Bay Corridor Community Association (BCCA) has spearheaded a community-based project designed to bring art directly to the streets. With funds from a City of Toronto “Clean and Beautiful City” grant, a total of eight Bell Canada utility boxes have been beautifu... Full Story

CPLC hosts benefit for ‘The Little Scholarship That Could’

Recent reports from the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario found students in lower income neighbourhoods are less likely to apply to university than those where household incomes top $75K.  Couple that with a lack of expectations, and a “that’s all they’ll ever amount to” attitude and we ha... Full Story

Choristers, students find time for community work

St. Michael’s Choir School is right in the heart of Toronto. Our students have very intense school days; full academics plus approximately 80 minutes per day of choral classes not including their piano, organ or other instrumental lessons.Despite their intense schedules, they find time to serve one ... Full Story

Local projects win Heritage Toronto honours

The McGregor Hosiery Mills project at  401 Wellington Street West received an honourable mention for the William Greer Architectural Conservation and Craftsmanship category at the 2009 Heritage Toronto Awards on Oct. 14.The award, which honours projects that have restored or adapted buildings or str... Full Story

West Don Lands group meets

A meeting of the West Don Lands Committee (WDLC) was held on Oct. 26 at 39 Parliament St.Guest presentations included an update from Urban Capital Development on the first phase of the River City at King and lower River St. sites.This was followed by an update from the Toronto Community Housing Corp... Full Story

St. Lawrence Works still working despite name change: OTTN members share plans

In a meeting of the Old Town Toronto Network (formerly known as St. Lawrence Works) on Oct. 8, area resident Connie Yang announced the formation of a new St. Lawrence Market Art Club, which will provide 20 studio spaces for aspiring artists at the St. Lawrence Market North Market on Tuesdays, Wednes... Full Story

Oak St. co-op marks silver anniversary with party

On Oct. 17, the Oak Street Housing Co-operative at 120 Cornwall St. celebrated its 25th anniversary.The theme of the celebration was “25 Years of Success” at providing attractive affordable housing to Downtown residents. Co-op members and guests enjoyed entertainment, a cocktail party, and dinner.Ac... Full Story

Sword St. community celebrates streetscape

During the Cabbagetown Festival on Sept. 12, Sword Street. residents celebrated the streetscape revitalization of their community with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony and party.The ribbon was symbolically cut by a wooden sword hand-carved by a Cabbagetown resident, which was lent to Sword St. fo... Full Story

Redesigned Martin Goodman trail opens

The waterfront revitalization continued to take shape as the newest 1.3 kilometre stretch of the Martin Goodman Trail opened in front of Ontario Place on Sept. 19. Lead by mayor David Miller, government dignitaries appropriately arrived to the celebrations riding bicycles.Included in the pack were l... Full Story

Met United team raises spirits and funds at AIDS walk

This year there was a fresh spirit and a vibrant energy as planning for the 2009 AIDS Walk began in the spring. A groundswell of enthusiasm surged in the summer, so when September arrived, the Metropolitan United Church team was ready to hit the road for the Sept. 13 stroll.The team was led by Jim N... Full Story

Simcoe St. ribbon cutting

Members of the York Quay Neighbourhood Association, Adam Vaughan, and area developers took part in a ribbon-cutting for the opening of Simcoe St. on Sep. 22. This new artery connects Downtown to the Waterfront and includes bike lanes.

Church seeks food, socks

The Churchwardens of St. Bartholomew’s Church at 509 Dundas St. E. are seeking gifts for the church’s food ministries for a “Harvest Thanksgiving.”“We will be grateful to receive gifts such as peanut butter; canned fish; olive oil; and warm clean socks,” asks Robert Conway. The congregation holds Su... Full Story

Party with the police

The 52 Division Community Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) volunteers present “Invest In Our Youth: Our Future” fourth annual scholarship event on Oct. 26 at Montana at 145 John St. The event includes a reception at 6 p.m., followed by a fashion show at 7 p.m. with the “Fearless 52 Models” and youth ... Full Story

Life Downtown is getting even more interesting

Getting around Downtown—from the Harbourfront to the Financial District and the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood—is getting more pleasant in some ways but less so in others. There are noteworthy improvements thanks to efforts by established and new investors, neighbourhood and business associations, and t... Full Story

Ribbon cutting for Yonge Street Pedestrian Promenade

Good planning does happen in Toronto. The new Yonge Street Pedestrian Promenade was officially opened on September 29th with City Councillor Pam McConnell and Downtown Manager of Planning, Al Rezoski, giving a tour of the new, attractive streetscape.The densely populated neighbourhood put great dema... Full Story

Regiment to leave Fort York armoury

A storied regiment of the Toronto Garrison is leaving its Downtown home of 77 years for Etobicoke.On Sept. 12 at 11:30 a.m., led by its pipe band, the Toronto Scottish Regiment will march out of Fort York Armoury for the last time. Lining the parade route will be soldiers in their regimental ceremon... Full Story

New Rees wave deck makes a splash

Under sunny skies, clowns, jugglers, magicians and the band The Tynes Family Funk helped celebrate the opening of the third wavedeck along Toronto’s waterfront. The Rees WaveDeck, the third in a series of four, officially opened Aug. 8 at Rees and Queens Quay. “We started late fall last year and fin... Full Story

Summertime graffiti project tags three more mural sites

On Aug. 27, project co-ordinator and Room 13 Toronto artist-in-residence Michael Brown and four local youths from the Harbourfront Community Centre’s mural project led a 30-minute walking tour taking in three Downtown buildings they transformed with original works of art over the past eight weeks.“F... Full Story

GWNA Street Sale Sept. 12

The Gooderham and Worts Neighbourhood Association will hold its annual street sale on Sept. 12 from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at Trinity and Mill streets. There will be a barbecue from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.The tables will include new and old treasures. One of the tables will sell baked goods to raise... Full Story

Foundation donates $100k to Cabbagetown youth centre

On Aug. 27, kids from the Cabbagetown Youth Centre’s Performing Arts Camp held their end of summer concert. Over 1200 kids from St James Town and Cabbagetown participated in the event titled ICONIC, “a night of dance, drama, music & art displays” organized by program coordinator Monique Caine. T... Full Story

Renamed Tower Power Toronto solar group meets Sept. 16

Rosario Marchese and Nick Morgan are the guest speakers at the Sept. 16 meeting of Tower Power Toronto, formerly the Downtown West Multi-Unit Solar Energy Project from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at 21 Nassau St. Marchese seeks support for his private members bill to increase the protections for condo purchas... Full Story

Neighbourhood Plans Achieve LEED Gold

Waterfront Toronto's East Bayfront, West Don Lands and North Keating in the Lower Don Lands have achieved Stage 1 LEED ND GOLD (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighbourhood Development) certification under the pilot program established by the U.S. Green Building Council.As the mas... Full Story

Guerilla ‘gangs’ refused to let strikers foul their ‘hoods

No, Toronto doesn’t have a team of Cinderella’s mice. Nor does it have a group of elves. But for a strike that had left the city without garbage pickup for over a month, Downtown is operating remarkably unfazed.This is no happenstance; it is due to vigilante grassroots efforts of neighbours teaming ... Full Story

BQNA and YQNA trash talk

“On July 18, the York Quay and the Bathurst Quay neighbourhood associations organised a waterfront community clean up. Close to 20 volunteers worked from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. cleaning out 21 overflowing garbage bins along 2 km from Queen's Quay to Bay to Stadium Rd. All together we filled 52 garbage bag... Full Story

Groups rally for Jarvis CI aquatics

St. Jamestown agency Community Matters Toronto is hoping to save swimming programs at the Jarvis Collegiate institute from drowning due to the Toronto District School board’s budget crisis.The group’s Margaret Coshan and Chris Hallett issued an appeal to Dowtown residents and users of the pool to di... Full Story

Portrait of a community advocate

Cabbagetown artist Gina Dineen captured the late Peggy Kurtin on canvas just before her passing on July 13. The heritage activist was dedicated to the preservation and improvement of the Downtown core communities. Donations may be made in her memory to the Cabbagetown Preservation Association.

Sisters earn service awards

Three sisters from the Hydro Block neighbourhood in 52 Division were each awarded for their volunteer and leadership roles at the 2009 Toronto Police Services ProAction awards ceremony. Pamela Tahir (the youngest) received the Junior 2008 Youth Award. Stephanie Tahir was selected to attend Leadershi... Full Story

Leslieville runner slows his pace to walk for orphans

Even after a close call between her bicycle and a bus 10-year-old Teka was determined to travel the 10 km to school for her exams.Teka, whose family was tragically affected by AIDS, was one of the many children with heart breaking stories that greeted Leslieville resident Ian Ross as he walked into ... Full Story

Cabbagetown seating issue still not benched by BIA

The great Cabbagetown bench brouhaha continues to roil through the month of July.On July 16, a meeting took place convened by the Old Cabbagetown Business Improvement Area (OCBIA) in response to a petition signed by forty BIA members and Cabbagetown residents. The petition protested the concept of p... Full Story

Local briefs: off-leash, craft show

Plans for an off-leash dog park at 51 Power St. that had been sidelined during the strike may be moving forward quickly. Pam McConnell’s office reports that event though the mandatory June public meeting had to be cancelled, an informal meeting of residents was very positive. Parks will reschedule a... Full Story

Documentarian seeks Brick Works stories for film about site

Award-winning Canadian director Catherine Annau has been tapped to direct a documentary about the $55-million reclamation project whose aim is to build a national centre for urban sustainability at Toronto’s former Don Valley Brick Works.The documentary is seeking individuals who have worked, walked... Full Story

Waterfront sound warriors gear up

With summer at hand, members of the York Quay Neighbourhood Association (YQNA) are once again gearing up for their annual war against excessive noise.“A coalition of residents, city councillors and provincial and city agencies has been formed and is already making great strides,” YQNA chair Ulla Col... Full Story

Corktown dogs to get own park

Long-suffering Corktown dog owners are soon to have their off-leash park, says area Coun. Pam McConnell. So, in fact, are others throughout the city. But Corktowners will hear about theirs first in a public meeting scheduled June 23 from 7 - 9 p.m. in Enoch Turner Schoolhouse. And their dog park wil... Full Story

Art at Distillery revulses residents

People may love them or hate them, but absolutely everybody seems to have an opinion on them. They are the new artistic installations in the Distillery Sculpture Park. They are definitely large and metallic in the way of much modern sculpture, but what seems to be stirring unease among a fair number... Full Story

Cab cluster endangers public at Eireann Quay

I would like to bring to your attention the untenable situation on Eireann Quay.Specifically, the ridiculous and dangerous situation of taxi cabs overcrowding Eireann Quay hoping to service the Island Airport. Basically, the area has become too crowded by taxi jockeys trying to service the airport. ... Full Story

Dog owners seek Roundhouse Park area

Dozens of dogs and owners use Roundhouse Park to socialize every day. People come from theInifinity, Waterclub, Riviera, City Place, and other condo buildings as far West as Yonge St. There arealso owners who come from the Soho area. We usually stay in the area closest to the Steam Whistlebrewery be... Full Story

AGM features youth blog, Room 13

The Harbourfront Community Centre at 627 Queen’s Quay West is hosting its annual general meeting on June 18 at 5:30 p.m.The annual report and financials will be presented, followed by awards. The innovated Room 13 children’s art studio will make a presentation, followed by the launch of the new   Ha... Full Story

Leslieville kids meet up

A new parenting group will host their first meeting under the trees at the south end of the Lesliegrove Park on June 3 at noon. The group is open to parents with children in all age groups. Rain date is June 10 at noon.

Keating Channel set for residential makeover

Revitalization plans for the Keating Channel and the Lower Don Lands will transform current industrial wastelands into a vibrant community with water edge promenades, bridges and small watercraft access.Plans for the revitalization and urbanization of the easternmost Harbourfront area were revealed ... Full Story

Market Lane students select national book award winners

This spring, Market Lane public and senior school students had a very special chance to learn about Canadian literature and publishing, as they were invited by the Ontario Arts Council to field the juries for the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz children’s book awards. The winners were announced on May 20 a... Full Story

Greener government

Toronto Centre MPP George Smitherman announced the signature green retrofit of 222 Jarvis St. on May 20 along with Ontario Realty Corp. president Dave Glass and Strategic Asset Management veep Lori Robinson. “This iconic building will soon stand as a model for greener government buildings and a cata... Full Story

Hop to nightclub noise reporting site

The King-Spadina Residents’ Association is taking their battle against noisy nightclubs online.The group, known to locals as the KSRA, has set up a web-based complaint submission system on their site at www.king-spadina.com that automatically forwards noise disturbance reports to Adam Vaughan’s offi... Full Story

Garment District market project seeks authentic farmers for June opening

The St. Andrew’s Farmer’s Market is ready to set up shop on Maud St. this June—but only if enough “real farmers” can be secured to sell their popular fresh produce.About 40 area residents applauded farmers who attended a community information meeting at the Factory Theatre on April 14, hoping they w... Full Story

Skaters find safe haven at Market ‘til 10

Local skateboarders will soon be looking for their second new home in as many years when Toronto’s only free indoor skate park at the North St. Lawrence Market is set to close it doors on Wednesday nights.The location has become an essential stop for Neighbourhood skaters like Sullivan, a 14-year-ol... Full Story

Albino raccoon found Downtown

At 11:00 AM on Monday May 11th, 2009, Steve Parish of Gates Wildlife Control responded to a seemingly routine emergency call to remove a mother raccoon and babies from a construction site at Yonge and Eglinton. Steve was amazed to find an albino baby raccoon among the litter of 5 babies. The albino ... Full Story

‘Worst waterfront in the world’ to be transformed by 2012

City planners won praise from area residents for a plan to transform the Downtown waterfront—once voted one of worst in the world—into one of the 10 best.More than 300 Queen’s Quay neighbourhood residents liked what they heard at the presentation by Waterfront Toronto, the city  and the Toronto Tran... Full Story

Off-leash parks meeting planned

A date is soon to be set for the long-awaited public meeting to discuss allowing dogs off-leash in St. James Park and Power St. park, Pam McConnell’s office confirms.Once a meeting is scheduled, notice will be sent to buildings within a certain radius of the park. In addition, notice will be sent vi... Full Story

BQNA group cools things down

Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Association (BQNA) area residents decided make no rush decision on the controversial Little Norway off-leash park.They’ll meet in two weeks at the Harbourfront Community Centre to put differences aside and focus on a solution. The exact date for the community meeting can ... Full Story

Fury unleashed in Little Norway Park dogs vs. kids feud

Tensions and tempers continue to flare between dog owners and worried parents, angry that the city is putting pets ahead of their children’s safety by setting up an off-leash area at Little Norway Park.In recent weeks, confrontations between upset parents and fuming dog owners over the off-leash des... Full Story

West Don Lands named as Pan Am Games village site

The development site south of King St. E. and east of Cherry St., better known as the West Don Lands, has been selected as the proposed Athletes’ Village for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan Games bid currently being advanced by the GTA and Golden Horseshoe region.The site’s selection was announced... Full Story

Crumbling silos to be demolished

The future of the Canada Malting Complex could see the wrecking ball as the crumbling silos may be too expensive to save.There were plenty of questions and some emotion, but few answers as Coun. Adam Vaughan described the many problems facing the decaying structure at the Waterfront Community Centre... Full Story

Porter announces expansion of Island Airport presence

Federal finance minister Jim Flaherty, transport minister John Baird, Ontario economic development minister Michael Bryant, Toronto Port Authority chairman Mark McQueen and Porter founder and CEO Robert Deluce were all in attendance at the Toronto Island airport on April 27 to herald the airline’s g... Full Story

Trinity-Spadina condo residents’ association to fight for owners’ rights

Trinity-Spadina MPP Rosario Marchese hosted the founding meeting of the Trinity-Spadina Condo Residents Association at the Harbourfront Community Centre on April 22.“We have over 30,000 condo residents in our riding and that number is on the rise,” Marchese notes on his constituency site. “With the ... Full Story

Expressway plans continue to move at snail’s pace

After 20 years of studies and evaluations, the city and Waterfront Toronto took what seems to some to be a step sideways instead of toward making a final recommendation about whether and how to tear down the Gardiner Expressway. A public forum held at the Harbourfront Community Centre on April 2 pro... Full Story

King-Spadina residents demand proof of study results

Worried that their neighbourhood is turning into sunless, windswept caverns, King-Spadina area residents were left unimpressed as city planners presented their future recommendations for balancing local needs against the ongoing highrise development in the district.Planners presented the East Precin... Full Story

Chief to speak at 51 Div. town hall

Community Police Liaison Committee co-chair and Distillery District resident Debbie Devgan hopes that attendance will be high at this year’s 51 Division town hall meeting on May 14 from 7 to 9 p.m. at 80 Gould St., second floor, room RCC 204, on the Ryerson campus.Chief William Blair will be on hand... Full Story

Volunteer wanted for needle work

Dixon Hall is looking for a volunteer to teach crochet to seniors on Tuesdays from 1 to 3 p.m. The volunteer needs to know how to read crochet patterns. If interested, please call Carmen Benoit at (416) 863-0499 ext. 223 or e-mail carmen.benoit@dixonhall.org.

Composters come out for May dates

Residents of Ward 20 are invited to top up their plots and planters  via the city’s annual delivery of free compost.Coun. Adam Vaughan’s office has issued an invitation for all Downtown west side residents to bring their buckets, barrels and shovels to the Vermont Square Park at 819 Palmerston Ave. ... Full Story

CRU sgt. to speak at May CRBA meeting

Staff Sgt. Bruce Kennedy of the 51 Division community response unit will speak about dealing with community complaints and other local issues at the May 5 meeting of the Corktown Residents and Business Association on May 5 at 7 p.m. at the Dominion on Queen, at Queen St. E. and Sumach. 

Rec centre warns of pool closure

Due to renovations, the city-managed Jimmie Simpson Recreation Centre pool will close on June 15. The entire centre, located at 870 Queen St. E., will close in August.“The closure is required to complete the upgrades that are necessary to enhance the operation and environment of the centre,” confirm... Full Story

BIA solicits streetscape sentiments

The Old Cabbagetown BIA invites public comments on the new streetscape proposals being advanced for the business improvement area.The long-awaited proposals are the result of a study that was funded in part by the city. The goal of the streetscape improvement projects is to “build on the strength an... Full Story

Police action on The Esplanade

A dozen or more patrol cars from 51 Division and others nearby last night (Mar 18) converged on The Esplanade between George Street South and Frederick Street following a call from an officer that his partner was chasing a man up George.The suspect was black with a goatee. The pursuit officer didn’t... Full Story

You can win the war over city’s big bins

It’s rather like the weather. Everybody complains about the garbage bins but nobody ever does anything. Since the Day of the Bins hit the Downtown neighbourhoods, there has been a storm of complaints about the aesthetic disfigurement of streetscapes and the inconvenience caused to elderly, infirm or... Full Story

Railway stalls CityPlace puts condo buyers in limbo

A long delay in the construction of a pedestrian bridge over the railway lands is “a nightmare,”  says Adam Vaughan.The Trinity-Spadina councillor lashed out at railway companies during a community information meeting in February, arguing that a prolonged delay in construction of the pedestrian brid... Full Story

Rugby player takes on Miss World pageant for charity: needs gown

Miss World Canada finalist Gwen Elliot doesn’t just want to be a beauty queen, she wants to be a national role model.That’s why the 20-year-old Downtown resident is trying to raise a record amount of money for Miss World Canada’s choice charity: SOS Children’s Villages Canada. It’s an international ... Full Story

Make your point about Corktown point tower on April 2

City staff presented a preliminary report for the most recent rezoning application to be put forward for 126 Berkeley St. at community council on March 26.The application requests permission to build a 21-storey residential rental point tower containing 238 dwelling units, with two levels of below-g... Full Story

Old Town poster shows city as it once was

The Old Town Toronto Promotional Alliance has produced a number of poster replicas of an 1834 map of York, as the city first was called by European settlers. It was hand drawn  and, says OTTPA President Mike Comstock, “The map is like a “find Waldo” drawing full of detail and numerous intriguing his... Full Story

Soccer club kicks off inaugural season

The lines are painted, the goals and nets in place, all that’s missing at the Cherry St. soccer fields are boys and girls playing what club organizers call the world’s beautiful game.The Cherry Beach Soccer Club (CBSC) is ready to kick off its first season at the new waterfront soccer facility on Ch... Full Story

Bruce Bell leads skyscraper tour

Jane’s Walks return in May with five Downtown tours. On May 2, Jane Farrow  and Gerald Hannon lead a walk titled “Yonge Street is Flaming,” and Frank Lewinberg leads a walk through the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood. A Lower Don Lands walk guided by former city staffer Ken Greenberg is planned for May 3... Full Story

Gala word game event to jump-start fundraising for PAL assisted living program

Performing Arts Lodge, or PAL, resident Vivienne Muhling, chair of the annual Scrabble with the Stars event, can't believe how far her event has come.Muhling expects to host over 200 guests at the April 6 fund-raiser. “We'll have to say sorry after that,” she jokes.“Our first year, five years ago, w... Full Story

Local kids tackle regional mathematics competition

Who would get up early on a Saturday morning to do math?Our Lady of Lourdes (OLOL) students Goutham Narendiran and Charmaine De Castro will!The 12-year-old grade 7 student and 13-year old grade 8 student from St. Jamestown attended the Toronto Educators Association for Mathematics (TEAMS) Olympics o... Full Story

Second Mile club seeks help

The Second Mile Club of Toronto, a multi-purpose social service agency providing community support services for seniors and disabled Downtown adults since 1937, is urgently seeking mature volunteers to work as friendly visitors, medical escorts, interpreters, and transportation assistants.  Scheduli... Full Story

Heart walk teaches family prevention

Queen and Strachan resident Danielle Fiedler is ready to walk.On April 26, Fiedler, who leads her office's team for Tridel, will step out with thousands of other walkers to raise money for the Cardiac Health Foundation's 25th annual Walk of Life.The event has become an annual one for her family. “Th... Full Story

Youth employment program thrives in tough times

The Yonge Street Mission’s Evergreen Centre celebrated the largest graduating class from its Connecting Youth to Work (CYTW)program on March 12.Eleven street-involved youth who had worked through all three phases of this 8-month program received their certificates and were awarded a reconditioned la... Full Story

Yellow Door is hidden gem

Tucked away at 6 St. Joseph St. near Yonge and Wellesley lies a little-known secret called the Yellow Door Learning Centre (YDLC).YDLC is a creative resource centre where people share their talents and support one another on their journey. The centre’s goal is to develop more creative and compassion... Full Story

Tower climb coming up

The World Wildlife Federation-Canada's biggest fundraising event, the nineteenth annual Canada Life CN Tower Climb, will be held on April 16 and 18.“We expect over 6,000 climbers to come out to climb the tower and fundraise to support WWF-Canada and our work fighting climate change,” says communicat... Full Story

Garden tour honours Fulton

Sixteen or more private gardens will be open to the public and the gardeners will be on hand to answer your questions as part of the late spring Toronto Island garden tour on May 30 and 31 from 1 to 5 p.m.The Ward's Island ferry departs from the foot of Bay St. on the hour and half hour.  From the W... Full Story

Sustenance, services at west end church

The Toronto Christian Worship Center hosts services (all welcome) at St. Stephen's at 365 College St. every Sunday afternoon at 1:30 pm. Also, the TCWC provides a hot meal (free and open to the community) every Sunday evening followed by the 6:30 service. Visit www.torontocwc.org or call (416) 863.1... Full Story

Hydro wall gets ‘spruced’ up on May 2

Hydro One’s plans to beautify the utilitarian new barrier wall in David Crombie Park along Frederick and Sherbourne streets will be presented to the community during Pam McConnell’s annual environment day on May 2.While the final landscape plan, including some final wall and streetscape details, is ... Full Story

OPP busts its own lady dick and impounds its own car

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Intelligence Officer Heidi Fischer is probably having her brain-waves tested. Or at least pounding her head against a wall after getting busted for speeding in an OPP car by another OPP officer in an OPP car.But before you think OPP is a Keystone Kops agency just beca... Full Story

Island Airport could have serious crash like NYC

Given the apparent cause of today's US Air crash in to the Hudson River in NYC was a bird strike, this excerpt from our lengthy letter setting out Island Airport safety concerns (attached) might be helpful in "localizing" this story.According to the Bird Strike Committee, established by th... Full Story

Regent Park kids Dance with the Stars

On Monday night at the ACC, two kids from Regent Park will be competing in the The Samsung Eternity Dancing with the Stars Tour - Kids Ballroom Challenge!Both Peldon Tenzin and Klodian Lumaj have only been dancing together for 7 months in the Joy of Dance Scholarship program - Junior Dancing Stars. ... Full Story

Adopt a cat. Pleeeeze!

Despite a successful Adoption Blitz in mid-May, the Toronto Humane Society is once again filled nearly to capacity. As scores of kittens move from the nursery to the regular adoption rooms daily, the pressure on the shelter mounts by the hour.Cat modules spill out into the hallways and cats are bunk... Full Story

Hot dog! Finally some real food on our sidewalks

Say goodbye to Toronto’s strictly tube-steak sidewalk cart vendors. Hot dogs will be joined by some ethnic offerings that, while far short of the sidewalk fare offered in most big North American cities, still brings some of Toronto’s fabulous resto scene to curbside. The bureaucrats and city council... Full Story

Kids soccer kicks off at Cherry Beach

The lines are painted, the goals and nets in place, all that’s missing at Cherry Street soccer fields are the boys and girls to play the world’s beautiful game. The Cherry Beach Soccer Club is ready to kick off its first season at the new waterfront soccer facility at Cherry Street just s... Full Story

Corktown caterer going for gold in Beijing

Kelly Jackson, local caterer to the Corktown and Cabbagetown areas since 1995 takes off to Beijing, China on July 21, 2008.   Jackson’s mission is to cook for the U.S. olympic team and coaches at the high performance training centre located at the Beijing normal university complex.   A... Full Story

Harris Institute names new registrar

Kathleen Farley, Harris Institute top Honours Graduate of the Producing/Engineering Program in 1998 with 92.89%, has been appointed Registrar. She was most recently the Executive Director of the Toronto Vegetarian Association and oversaw the growth of North America’s largest vegetarian f... Full Story

Cabbagetown BIA approves landscaping study, graffiti cleanup

At the Cabbagetown Business Improvement Area's March meeting, their board of management approved several new ideas that will help them create big changes along Gerrard, Parliament and Carlton.   First, the Board approved a landscaping and design study for local shopping areas. A request for p... Full Story

Bad timing over Smart!Centres kiboshes Leslieville BIA plans

Attendance was sparse at an initial meeting organized by Mary Ann Grainger to discuss forming a new business improvement area for Leslieville. One local resident comments that “out of the many, many stores, only a few showed up for a BIA introduction meeting a few weeks ago. I counted six. Most I ta... Full Story

Homebuying plans surge despite slump

In spite of the economic downturn, most Canadians still believe it is a homebuyer's market, with more first timers planning on purchasing their own homes, according to a study released Wednesday by the Royal Bank of Canada."The current economic environment does not appear to have dampened Canad... Full Story

SmartCentres smarting at OMB loss

All the voices have been heard, and we lost. Whiledisappointed, we respect the process and the decision of the Board.At this time, we have no immediate plans for other development or use ofthe property and will assess all available options to us.

Leslieville wins against Big Box invasion

Leslieville residents have won the Battle of the Big Boxes. The employment lands that would have hosted Wal-Mart and the like, killing off small Leslieville retailers, will be used to provide quality jobs.The City of Toronto successfully defended its Official Plan policiestoday as the Ontario Munici... Full Story

Provincial plaque commemorates Sacré-Coeur Roman Catholic Church

Join the Ontario Heritage Trust and the Sacré-Coeur Roman Catholic Church for the unveiling of a provincial plaque commemorating the Sacré-Coeur Parish.Toronto saw a surge in its francophone population in the mid- to late-19th century as French-Canadians began arriving due to the booming manufacturi... Full Story

How about a Multimillionaire tax?

There's a way for the government to finance economic recovery without creating a huge deficit, with a Multimillionaires Tax.  It's better to take 10% of a multi-millionaire's wealth than to raise taxes for people who are losing jobs and could lose their homes. Billionaires can afford to revive the e... Full Story

Happy Food Freedom Day!

On February 12, 2009, the average Canadian will have earned enough income to pay his or her individual grocery bill for the entire year.In observing Food Freedom Day, farmers in Ontario and across the country will celebrate their role in providing consumers with one of the safest and most affordable... Full Story

Catholic school trustees still in disgrace

Background by Frank Touby: Last year many trustees of the Catholic school board disgraced themselves in a number of ways, including wrongly spending tax money on themselves. The chairwoman of the board, Christine LeBlanc-Miller who represents Downtown, double-dipped from school board money to take c... Full Story

Anti-bottled water tour floods the city

The Council of Canadians and CUPE Ontario are holding a province-wide tour to encourage bans on bottled water in municipal and provincial facilities. The 15-city speaking tour, which arrives in Toronto today, features Maude Barlow, National Chairwoman of the Council of Canadians and Senior Advisor o... Full Story

Tory thugs stack Island Airpork

Brutish John Baird, Stephen Harper’s transportation minister, has blessed a tobacco industry mouthpiece with a saddle on Toronto taxpayers’ backs as part of the disgraced Toronto Port Authority’s (TPA) board of directors.Lobbyist Jeremy Adams, 36, a former insider in the disastrous Mike Harris provi... Full Story

Visit museums, galleries on library card

The Toronto Public Library has an amazing new item in circulation: the Museum and Arts Pass, or MAP.The MAP, which can be borrowed using a valid adult library card at any Toronto Public Library branch, grants family access to Downtown favourites like the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Bata Shoe Museum,... Full Story

Waterfront Toronto plans meetings

The  third and final public meeting has been scheduled to discuss the Queens Quay revitalization project’s environmentral assessment on March 25. Waterfront Toronto’s board of directors will meet on March 25 and May 13, while the design review panels will meet on March 11 and April 8. Details of all... Full Story

Shear decision generates donations

St. Michael’s Choir School business manager Katheryn Trainor  raised over $5,000 for ShareLife: Hair for Life. “I feel very blessed. Thank you for your generosity!”

Literary ‘feast’ at North Market April 2

On April 2 from 6 to 8:30 p.m., Downtown book lovers will get face-time with local authors.Dozens of Toronto authors will sell and sign their books, mingle with readers and conduct talks and interviews. Joy Kogawa and The Bulletin’s Bruce Bell will participate. More are being added each day. Kogawa,... Full Story

Cabbagetown gallery opens

Gordon Daniel’s, a new art gallery at 460 Parliament St. and currently the first in Cabbagetown, has opened its doors with “Duotones” by young photographer Sai Sivanesan. The opening was a packed house graced by  Sivanesan’s mentor, famed Canadian and internationally renowned photographer Yuri Dojc.

Harbourfront holds March Break camps for youngsters

An exciting March Break session of Harbourfront Centre Camps awaits campers ages 4 to 16! Harbourfront Centre has built its reputation on a tradition of enriching the lives of children through diverse arts-based programming in the heart of Toronto’s waterfront with the best counsellors in the city. ... Full Story

St. Lawrence Forum may close this year

The 39-year-old St. Lawrence forum may not make it to 40. The fate of the institution at St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts on Front St. E. lies in the determination of a meeting to be held this month.Forum director Carolyn Langdon, in an email, announced that she is leaving her post there and relocat... Full Story

Recession Relief Coalition formed Downtown

The Recession Relief Coalition, a network of agencies, foundations and business people, is calling for the Federal Government to create a Recession Relief Fund, which will provide support for agencies, such as food banks, drop-ins, shelters and employment centres, providing essential services to Can... Full Story

Historic Don Rail Station moves to a new home in Roundhouse Park

The historic Don Rail Station that stood on the grounds of TodmordenMills Heritage Museum and Arts Centre for 40 years has been moved byflatbed trucks to a new permanent location in Roundhouse Park, adjacentto the John Street Roundhouse National Historic Site. Prior to its installation at Todmorden ... Full Story

Lights still on at Golden Griddle on Jarvis

Contrary to a report in The Bulletin, Golden Griddle at 77 Lower Jarvis remains in business. There had been a deal with O. Noir restaurant in Montréal to take over the site and open a unique upper-end restaurant featuring dining in pitch dark and served by a blind wait staff. After December issue of... Full Story

Another New Ferry! What are they Thinking?

The Toronto Port Authority has advertised a "Request for Expressions ofInterest" for a new 200 passenger ferry – see the attached, from the Globeand Mail last week.The Port Authority is poised to spend more public money for another newferry for Porter Air. Less than three years ago, the Po... Full Story

Ex-US soldier battles deportation order

Iraq war resister and Bathurst Quay resident Patrick Hart, his wife Jill, and his son Rian have received a deferral of the deportation order that would have had them leave Canada by Oct. 30. The family had been notified on Oct. 8 that they had to voluntarily leave the country by the end of the mon... Full Story

Coffee, cops, and holiday carols

A cup of coffee and a little carolling marked the beginning of the holiday season in the Church and Wellesley Sts. neighbourhood. Despite a temperature below freezing, over 100 people – including 15 Community Response Unit officers from 51, 52 and 53 Divisions – gathered in Cawthra Square Park on No... Full Story

Recognizing our young leaders

Our community focus for the past six weeks has been on political leaders. So now let’s turn our attention to the young leaders of Downtown Toronto and the neighbourhoods The Bulletin serves: Cabbagetown, Corktown, Liberty Village, Leslieville, Garden District, Queen’s Quay, Bathurst Quay, The Kings ... Full Story

Noun named top 10 hero

St. Lawrence resident and Cambodian antipoverty activist Phymean Noun has been chosen as one of ten finalists in the running to be named Hero of the Year by US news network CNN.Noun, who was profiled by The Bulletin in July, was selected for the honour out of over 4,000 submissions. She has been gra... Full Story

OWN resident earns provincial award

St. Lawrence Neighbourhood resident and activist Connie Yang was honoured for her service to the community last month by the Ontario government.Yang, who lives in Older Women’s Network (OWN), is well known in the neighbourhood for her community work.Born in Shanghai, at age 13 in 1946 she moved to B... Full Story

Dog owners to bylaw officers: Bite me!

Dog walkers are sending up a howl: the puppy police are coming.A single e-mail was all it took to incite dog walkers to civil disobedience at St. James Park. For months, proponents of an off-leash area or off-leash hours in the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood green space have been waiting for Pam McConne... Full Story

Hispanic awards honour Leslievillian

Leslieville resident and opera impresario Guillermo Silva-Marin was named one of Canada’s 10 most influential Hispanic Canadians in a gala ceremony on Nov. 19.In what was described as a “Dancing with the Stars” style competition, Silva-Marin was one of 20 nominees selected by a panel of journalists ... Full Story

Corktown talks turkey Dec. 6

The Corktown Residents and Business Association is hosting a turkey dinner on Dec. 6 at 6:30 p.m . at the Dominion on Queen, 500 Queen St. E. at Sumach. Tickets are $5 and are available at the door. Beverages are not included.In addition to the meal, there will be live music and a fundraising auctio... Full Story

Cabbagetown corner pilots returns program

The Beer Store on Gerrard (at Ontario) has “hi-tech in its search for more and more green solutions to modern living,” reports Doug Fisher of the Old Cabbagetown BIA.The Gerrard St. location is one of three Toronto stores to be chosen to pilot what Beer Store communications manager Sara Taylor calls... Full Story

Dedicated volunteer honoured with YMCA medal

St. James Town resident and community leader Ali Moallim was awarded the 2008 YMCA Peace Medallion on Nov. 18.The award recognizes individuals who have shown a commitment to peace through personal contributions made within their community on a voluntary basis. This year, Moallim was one of 14 honour... Full Story

Cyclists, drivers split hairs over split lanes

The ongoing struggle for space between drivers and cyclists is revving up in the southeast Downtown, leaving some cyclists concerned for their safety.In November, council decided to install bike lanes on Annette Rd. in the west end, due in part to the fact that they felt that the alternative, “sharr... Full Story

Lights out for Jarvis St. Golden Griddle, also for it’s likely replacement: O.Noir

There will be dining in the dark by February Downtown and perhaps in the spot being vacated by Golden Griddle at 77 Lower Jarvis (formerly Casa di Giorgio). That chain is closing there and the Montreal O.Noir Restaurant is on the brink of taking that  spot or another Downtown site.Either way, the fi... Full Story

Spit park master plan includes ‘invisible’ structures, solar power: no dogs allowed

The Port Lands Action Committee met on Nov. 20 at the Ralph Thornton community centre to hear park manager Ralph Toninger deliver a presentation on the master plan for Tommy Thompson Park.Toninger described the planned park as a “public urban wilderness”—and indeed it is becoming just that under the... Full Story

'Father Socks' seeks stockings

Robert Conway, pastor at St. Bartholomew's at 509 Dundas East in Regent Park, really does want socks for Christmas. Conway reports that one of the most valuable resources for the homeless and most vulnerable during the winter months is a fresh pair of socks. “For several years, I have encouraged bus... Full Story

'Can' you contribute?

For the past 15 years, Helen Coltrinari and her neighbours have gone out “caroling for cans” in Cabbagetown. “It started way back, when CBC radio was still on Parliament and started its first food drive,” she reports. “The tradition continues and though our route is short we collect about 500 pounds... Full Story

Chow hosts Dickens tale

St. George the Martyr Church Anglican Church at 197 John St. is hosting a celebrity reading of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol on Dec. 7.The event begins at 2:15 p.m. with local artist Charles Pachter reading from his new children's book M is for Moose (copies will be available and can be autographed). T... Full Story

Flood fund leaves Downtown homowners high and dry

Residents of Downtown neighbourhoods are disappointed that little of a promised $195 million basement flooding prevention plan will be going to them.Lou Di Gironimo, Toronto Water’s general manager, says that the city “simply can’t afford” to fund fixes city-wide. Instead, Di Gironimo is proposing t... Full Story

Centre honours Hyman for work

Rabbi Tina Grimberg of the Darchei Noam Congregation, Valerie Hyman and Lisa Cherandoff attended Fred Victor Centre's annual fundraising gala on Oct. 23 at the Arcadian Court. Hyman was the recipient of the first annual Mary Sheffield Award for her distinguished and spirited advocacy for homeless an... Full Story

Cosmic pole gets facelift

A group of youth artists have revitalized a waterfront landmark in Little Norway park at Queen’s Quay and Bathurst. Led by the Harbourfront Community Centre’s graffiti transformation project, the artists, including Ben Barclay who took the photo at left, carved and restored the maypole. Pictured fro... Full Story

Crime Report: East end shooting confirms ‘resurgence’

Leslieville residents are not surprised after a shooting left one innocent bystander dead and four others injured outside the Duke of York in the wee hours of Oct. 25. Det.-Sgt. Gary Giroux called the incident a “brazen, cowardly act,” and likened it to the murders of Jane Creba and Ephraim Brown. ... Full Story

Venerable lady celebrates 190 years

The Metropolitan United Church at 56 Queen St. E, celebrated 190 years in Downtown Toronto on Nov. 2. The congregation took its first steps when Methodists came to Muddy York in 1795, when the Rev. Elijah Woolsey conducted services in the frontier settlement. The church boasts what was once the larg... Full Story

Nuclear energy activists target Toronto Centre

What has been described as a major new campaign by a local environmental organization has been launched this fall.The Ontario Clean Air Alliance, working from an office at Church and Charles, has been going door-to-door to promote the Ontario’s Green Future program and to solicit signatures for a pe... Full Story

Don't cut us back, librarians plead

In response to Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan’s economic statement last week and his call for restraint in government spending during this period, the Federation of Ontario Public Libraries reports that utilization of public libraries escalates in uncertain economic times.  “In today’s conte... Full Story

Crime Report: Police warn of potential predator

51 Division officers would like to make the public aware of a potential sex offender operating in the area.   On Oct. 21, 2008, police responded to a call for a suspicious incident. It is reported that on Friday, Oct. 17, 2008, between noon and 1 p.m., two boys, 9 and ten, were playing in the... Full Story

Shootout in Leslieville leaves young woman dead

Another tragic Toronto shooting took the life of an innocent bystander, this time in Leslieville in the early hours of Oct. 25. The victim has been identified as Bailey Zaveda, 23, of Toronto.   On that Saturday morning at 12:50 a.m., police received a call for a shooting ... Full Story

Toronto’s First Post Office exhibition at the Market gallery

Over Any Distance Imaginable: The Royal Mail from York will be presented through the market gallery program, from October 25, 2008 to March 1, 2009. This exhibition, courtesy of Toronto’s First Post Office, offers insight into a tumultuous period of our history, the 1830s, and one in which letters w... Full Story

Distress centre seeks volunteers for rewarding experience

Here is a chance for local residents to truly make a difference in the lives of those in need in the community. The Distress Centres team is seeking volunteers to provide emotional support, crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to those in need of life-sustaining emotional support. The... Full Story

BIA helps create jobs for homeless

Joe MacDonald wants to put cash into the hands of panhandlers in an unusual way. MacDonald, public affairs manager of the Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area (BIA), wants to put panhandlers to work through the city’s enhanced Streets to Homes employment project. Panhandlers have infested the Do... Full Story

Mission accomplished: New youth room at venerable agency

The Yonge Street Mission, serving Torontonians in need since 1896 and located at the corner of Gerrard and Parliament since the 1960s, is dedicating a new suite of rooms for its youth and children’s programs. According to community services director Claire Barcik, the facility will serve about 60 y... Full Story

Waiting for Queen’s Quay

The York Quay Neighbourhood Association (YQNA) recently welcomed the new WaveDeck at Spadina and Queen’s Quay—the first of three of elegantly curved wooden slips that connect the sidewalk with the water’s edge.This gem of a slip is like icing on the cake, but the neighbourhood is still waiting for p... Full Story

Leslieville action group seeks volunteers for fundraiser

The ETCC is looking for a handful of volunteers to help organize a wine-tasting event for Thursday, December 4th. With the Smart!Centres OMB case scheduled to end next month, the ETCC will need all of the help it can get to pay for the mounting expenses related to the case.   Anyone intereste... Full Story

WoodGreen calls on Torontonians to embrace Can-Do attitude

WoodGreen Community Services held its 71st AGM and marked the occasion by calling on all Torontonians to join together in a spirit of collaboration to solve the city's challenges.   "Community service organizations like WoodGreen are working hard to be innovative, looking for ways to offer pr... Full Story

Shot fired on Yonge and Alexander at height of busy rush hour

A single shot was fired by an unidentified shooter at the height of rush hour on Sept. 24.  The gunman fled past the Courtyard Marriott hotel after ditching the handgun.  Two people were reported fleeing west of Yonge onto Grosvenor, and were believed to be th... Full Story

Toronto's concrete slab apartments to get green retrofit

The environment and residents in Toronto's thousand, decades-old concrete slab apartment towers will be the beneficiaries of Mayor's Tower Renewal, an ambitious new project unveiled by Mayor David Miller.   Selected for the pilot project are 200 Wellesley St. E. and 275 Bleecker St.... Full Story

Technology: Wireless internet project to connect Corktown

If you have have a wireless card in your computer, chances are you see the names of your neighbours' WiFi networks from time to time. Does "default" or "linksys" or "One Zone_High Speed Internet" sound familiar?   From my apartment at Queen and Parliament, I can see at least 12 different nea... Full Story

Prepare for ‘war’

Local volunteers and supporters are drawing up the front lines in a multi-year battle to raise funds for the War of 1812 bicentennial celebrations planned for 2012.The 2012 celebrations will mark the last time Canada was invaded and U.S. soldiers sacked this city in the Battle of York.“It takes thre... Full Story

Toronto Island trip brings officers closer to kids

A trip to the Toronto Islands made positive waves in the South and West Asian community, with police officers coming together with youth.   The Toronto Police Service South and West Asian Consultative Committee (S&WCC) hosted a BBQ at Long Pond on Centre Island late August, to recognize y... Full Story

Yonge and Dundas gets 'scramble crosswalk'

The City of Toronto is signalling a new direction in traffic management with a pedestrian priority phase implemented at the intersection of Yonge and Dundas Sts. With the introduction of this new initiative, the city is giving priority status to pedestrians by allowing walkers to cross in any d... Full Story

TTC and EMS team up for subway paramedic pilot project

The Toronto Transit Commission and Toronto Emergency Medical Services are teaming up to provide an EMS paramedic in the subway system during the busy morning and afternoon rush hour periods. The paramedic will be accompanied at all times by a TTC supervisor.   The 19-week pilot project will r... Full Story

Toronto welcomes solar taxi at Nathan Phillips Square

Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone welcomed Swiss-citizen Louis Palmer to Toronto and took a ride in the solar taxi he’s driving around the world to raise awareness about global climate change and promote the use of solar energy.   Mr. Palmer’s world tour began in July 2007 and will see him cross fiv... Full Story

Shopsy's restos had no Listeria-tainted meats

No listeriosis-contaminated meats are or have been served at Shopsy’s Restaurants, says owner Gavin Quinn. “We share a brand with Maple Leaf Meats,” Quinn says, “but our restaurants serve meats from another supplier.”By “sharing a brand,” Quinn means that Maple Leaf produces products under the Shops... Full Story

Local water experts team up to protect Toronto drinking water

The CTC Source Protection Committee represents the municipal, business, general public and interest group sectors across the Toronto, Credit Valley, and central Lake Ontario source protection areas. The committee has developed a draft terms of reference, which will guide the region's four-year plann... Full Story

Dangerous listeria found in ready-to-eat deli meats

Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health is advising the public that there is an outbreak of Listeriosis in the province. Listeriosis is a rare but potentially serious food-borne illness that can severely affect the elderly, pregnant women and individuals with weakened immune systems. It is caused... Full Story

Demolition makes way for new aquatics complex in Regent Park

The demolition of townhouses and an apartment complex at 230 Sumach St. is in progress to make way for the city of Toronto to construct an indoor aquatics complex in Regent Park, which will be located in a new central park being planned for the community. Toronto Community Housing (TCHC), which is u... Full Story

Kids CAN-BIKE program teaches bike safety to young people

With more and more people choosing to ride bikes for their health and the environment, it’s important to get a good start.  The city of Toronto’s Kids CAN-BIKE Camp provides a bike camp experience for children ages 9-13 years who want to develop and increase their cycling skills. Young people ... Full Story

51 Division 'street sweepers' operate in Regent Park

In the third week of the Focused Neighbourhood TAVIS Deployment (FNTD) plan, officers concentrated their efforts on the recovery of stolen vehicles in the Regent Park area. In 51 Division, Supt. Kimberley Greenwood said many partners within the Service have stepped up to the plate to aid the communi... Full Story

Summer heat prompts first activation of OPA's peaksaver plan

With peaksaver, participating homeowners and small businesses volunteer to have a device installed to allow a wireless signal to temporarily cycle air conditioning on and off with minimal impact on comfort levels. Participants receive $25 to have the device installed and the overall system saves mon... Full Story

Marine unit praised for party patrollers

The Waterfront welcomes large crowds that sail the lake on over 20 tour boats. Many of the boats are beautiful and decorated with lights and flags. Their only drawback is the thunderous music that is often pumped out of speakers, bounces around the bay and into people’s homes. YQNA gets many emails ... Full Story

Harbourfront Centre rocks way too hard?

Frustrated Harbourfront residents have taken the loud by the speakers by launching a noise survey and campaign to force action from the city’s noise control office.   The campaign is spearheaded by the York Quay Neighbourhood Association (YQNA) which represents the more than 10,000 people res... Full Story

Friends for Life bike rally departs Toronto

Once again, the Friends For Life Bike Rally rolled out on Sunday, July 27, 2008. That morning, over 300 cyclists departed on a six-day journey to Montreal in support of the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation.   This year marks the tenth anniversary of the bike rally, which has grown fro... Full Story

New mammoth blue bins boost recycling rates

Toronto neighbourhoods that have been using the city's new blue bins for several months are recycling from 10 to 15 per cent more, according to solid waste management services.   The larger sizes of the new blue bins are also a boon when it comes to adding potential new materials to be recycl... Full Story

George Brown College to open campus on the waterfront

George Brown College has received funding from the Provincial Government to proceed with a new state-of-the art campus in the heart of Waterfront Toronto’s new East Bayfront development. The new facility will help address skills shortages in a variety of industries and provide new opportunities for ... Full Story

Constable Smith speaks about safe and secure communities

With recent newspaper headlines screaming about violent incidents in Toronto, Constable Joseph Smith from 51 Division stood in front of the depressing descriptions on June 23 and spoke to a gathering of residents from the Esplanade and Sherborne community addressing their concerns for the safety and... Full Story

The 5th science centre world congress takes place in Toronto

On Tuesday, June 17th when the keynote speaker at an international conference said: "When the President of the United States changes, the world can have some hope again," and is roundly applauded for his remark by an audience of several hundred science centre administrators and trustees, one suspect... Full Story

St. Lawrence neighbourhood celebrates Canada Day

The St. Lawrence Community celebrated Canada's 141st birthday with a neighbourhood parade led by a dixieland band followed by George Smitherman, MPP for Toronto Centre, Pam McConnell, councilor and supporters of Bob Rae, MP for Toronto Centre.   The parade route ended at St. James Park for a ... Full Story

Downtown Yonge completes Phase I of streetscape project

Downtown Yonge has completed the first phase of a multi-year streetscape master plan, enhancing the look and feel of the area and improving pedestrian safety and comfort.   Downtown Yonge now has 12 new street light poles, 16 light attachments to traffic poles displaying the Downtown Yonge br... Full Story

New museum will focus on spirit of Toronto

Toronto city council approved a report that recommends the continued development of the Toronto Museum Project, an initiative that chronicles the story of Toronto’s of social, cultural and economic diversity with a strong emphasis on the city’s post-second world war development. The report recommend... Full Story

150 alleged drug dealers arrested Downtown

Plainclothes Units from 14 and 51 Divisions, together with the Toronto drug squad, joined forces to address community concerns of street level drug dealing in the Downtown residential area and community parks, with Project Blue Diamond and Project Deed (Drug Enforcement Everywhere Downtown) respecti... Full Story

Brick strikes officer from 16 storeys near Dundas Square

Const. David Byun was about to turn on his lights to pull over a vehicle at Dundas Square when a brick fell 16 storeys, shattering his windshield and striking him in the lower chest and stomach – under the protection of his kevlar vest. “My front windshield just exploded,” said the 52 Division offi... Full Story

Christian Resource Centre to build affordable housing

Toronto city council approved funding for 87 affordable housing units for people that are currently homeless or living in substandard housing. The housing will be developed by the Toronto Christian Resource Centre as the foundation of a mixed-use building which will include community programs and se... Full Story

New TTC bus route to Evergreen brick works

Starting June 7, 2008, new public transit will begin from Davisville station to Evergreen brick works (and all stops in between). Bus route 28A Davisville will operate every 30 minutes between 7:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. every Saturday throughout the summer. This new service offers visitors a sustainabl... Full Story

CommunityAIR: Aircraft noise complaint form

If you are affected by noise of planes using the Toronto Island Airport, (Toronto City Centre Airport), CommunityAIR draws your attention to part of the contract governing the airport. It foresaw many more people using the waterfront and built in a complaint mechanism to keep us from having to suffe... Full Story

OWN co-op faces human rights complaint over tile flooring

OWN Housing Co-op beside the St. Lawrence Market will face a human rights complaint over new flooring plans, says the mother of a woman who often falls during epileptic seizures. (OWN Co-op is not to be confused with a tenant, the non-profit Older Womens Network, which advocates for women over 50.) ... Full Story

St. Michael's ordains 7 new priests

On Saturday, May 10, the Archdiocese of Toronto celebrated the ordination of seven new priests for service to the community. His Grace, Thomas Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, presided at the ceremony, in St. Michael's Cathedral before 1,000 guests.The Class of 2008 includes a former mechanic, a Ryer... Full Story

Corktowners 'bitching' about lack of dog park

Corktowners have been having a bitch of a time getting an off-leash park for their dogs. And they're accusing city bylaw enforcement officers of behaving like S.O.B.s in stomping down on them when they unleash their pets in Sackville Park on Queen St. E.One resident who wouldn't identify himself say... Full Story

BQNA Earth Day neighbourhood clean up event

On Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008, the Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Association (BQNA) held its first annual Earth Day neighbourhood clean up event. Several enthusiastic residents showed from 6:30 to 7:30 pm to help clean up the Bathurst Quay neighbourhood, which includes the area south of Lake Shore Boul... Full Story

Vaughan: Island Airport can’t handle an emergency landing

Toronto Ward 20 City Councilor Adam Vaughan has issued a statement in response to the April 16th incident at the Toronto Island Airport.   The incident involved the emergency landing of a small aircraft that took off from the Toronto Island Airport after its landing gear failed. The plane cir... Full Story

Yonge and Dundas Square soon to connect to PATH

The newly renovated public space at Yonge and Dundas, now known as Toronto Life Square, will soon have a new connection to Dundas subway station as well as the PATH, Toronto's downtown walkway. The estimated completion date for this new entrance is April 8. For more information visit http://www.toro... Full Story

Ontario Heritage Trust to operate Enoch Turner Schoolhouse

The Honourable Lincoln M. Alexander, chairman of the Ontario Heritage Trust, and Lynne Kurylo, chair of the Enoch Turner Schoolhouse Foundation, announced the transfer of the Enoch Turner Schoolhouse to the Ontario Heritage Trust. “The Ontario Heritage Trust and the Enoch Turner Schoolhouse Foundati... Full Story

The Rotary Club is calling you

Want to pitch in for a good cause? Get involved with the Toronto Sunrise Rotary Club, which has helped build homes with Habitat for Humanity, raise money for worthwhile causes and much more. Call Wayne MacDougall at 416-733-4578 extension 228 or John Wilson at 416-968-0585.

Community improvements for St. Lawrence neighbourhood

City council has recently approved a community improvement plan for the St. Lawrence neighbourhood. The plan is quite comprehensive and is the result of many volunteers working with Kyle Knoeck, senior city planner for the downtown section. Projects are to include streetscapes, street furniture, sub... Full Story

21st annual Toronto St. Patrick's Day parade

Once again, it's that time of year when we don our green attire and take to the streets in celebration. This year's parade made it's way down Yonge St. with perfect, albeit chilly weather. Sean Murphy, 2008 parade Grand Marshall was selected as the official 2007 Irish Person of the Year. The... Full Story

Aftermath of Queen St. fire

It was ominously quiet along Queen St. east of Bathurst, as the street was closed to traffic after the fire that razed almost a whole block of heritage shops and homes to the ground in the early morning of Feb. 20.   City officials erected a fence across the north side of Queen to s... Full Story

Clean air coming to Toronto

A settlement in the lawsuit against American Electric Power (AEP) in the United States (U.S.) will significantly reduce transboundary air pollution in Toronto and improve the health of local residents, reports the city's media centre.A report forwarded to the Board of Health today notes that as a re... Full Story

Island airport crash threat

CommunityAIR today released a copy of a letter it has sent to Minister of Transport Lawrence Cannon detailing a number of serious safety concerns at the Toronto Island Airport, including the substandard length of the runway, the frequency of hazardous bird strikes and the airport's proximity to a de... Full Story

'Spiritual Maze' celebrates snowfall

From the 6th floor of Harmony Court Co-op, Parliament St./150  Longboat Ave. - shows that snow shoveling can be fun if done by  volunteering members with imagination and sense of humor .... this  beautiful picture was taken by Zuzana Novotna who also helped with  the  "spiri... Full Story

51 Division patrol snowstorm in Garden District

On the eve of the biggest, record-breaking snowstorm of the year, officers from 51 division were out patrolling Yonge St. in the Garden District Feb. 6.   They were out on their regular foot patrols to keep things running and safe.   Traffic was moving slowly and Carlton... Full Story

Children in low-income neighbourhoods suffering

Children from low-income families are more likely to suffer from health problems such as asthma, tooth decay and obesity, said a report released by Toronto Health.“The majority of Toronto’s young children are healthy, safe and developing normally,” said Medical Officer of Health Dr. David McKeown. “... Full Story

Charges laid in connection to local homicide

Christopher Lewis, 23, of Ajax has been charged with first degree murder in the death of Jermaine Osbourne, 19.Lewis was arrested by members of the Guns and Gangs Unit on November 15, 2007.On Tuesday, June 6, 2006, police were called to the Albert Frank Place/George Street South area for a shooting.... Full Story

Praise youth and it will prosper

There’s an old Irish proverb that says: “Praise youth and it will prosper.” So often the accomplishments and good deeds young individuals perform are overlooked and under acknowledged. We are so quick to dismiss the young as frivolous. The Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Awards are here to ensur... Full Story

Going to the dogs: New off-leash rules passed, walkers to be licensed

There are over 250,000 registered dogs in the city of Toronto, and not enough off-leash parks to exercise them, according to Leslieville councilor Paula Fletcher.Off-leash areas in the city encourage community interaction and happy dogs, but it’s not always a walk in the park trying to create a harm... Full Story

Study: Tent City residents still housed

More than 80 per cent of Toronto's "Tent City" dwellers—94 of the original 116—have overcome homelessness thanks to rent supplements and other community supports, according to a study commissioned earlier this year by WoodGreen Community Services and funded by Human Resources and Social De... Full Story

Cabbagetown objects to Army occupation of storefront

The Salvation Army is working with community members to find an alternative to a planned mission on Parliament St., a spokesman for the group confirms. “We sensed from the BIA that there is a strategy to how faith groups like the Salvation Army are rooted in the community,” Cpt. John Murray sai... Full Story

Distillery community spirits low over Clear Spirits highrise

A final meeting of the Distillery District working group on Sept. 10 has ended in frustration over the fate of the Clear Spirits condominium project looming large in the heritage community.According to Lester Brown and other area representatives of the working group, compromise has not resulted from... Full Story

Leslieville, their eyes are on you

Leslieville is becoming a safer place for residents thanks to a neighbourhood watch group.Local resident Kathy Korimsek has revived the Leslieville neighbourhood watch chapter. The reason, she says, is to bring people in the community together and talk about important issues and how they can resolve... Full Story

Little Trinity, city commit to restoration, preservation of houses

Torontonians, still in shock over the loss of 1850s Walnut Hall, will be pleased to learn that Little Trinity Church, the owner of those remaining historic mid-19th-century buildings at 399 and 403 King St. E., has long-term plans to restore their respective front elevations as part of a new pastora... Full Story

WoodGreen continues to green facility with solar array

Mondial Energy Inc. has installed Ontario's largest, most powerful solar thermal heating system at one of WoodGreen's affordable housing sites on Toronto's Queen St. East. The installation is a partnership between WoodGreen Community Services and Mondial Energy, which builds and owns solar sites on ... Full Story

Third generation do-gooder does it all

Fresh-faced Siobhan Bonisteel sits amid the organic market on a sweltering Tuesday afternoon in Riverdale Park. Her father, Cabbagetown's country-blues musician Johnny Pearl, has just finished helping her to set up her tent and pulls away in his bright turquoise pickup truck.Women dancing their Nia ... Full Story

Ladies' volunteer group looks for recruits

The Junior League of Toronto (JLT) is hosting and information evening on Aug. 21 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the new Young Centre for the Performing Arts, located in the Distillery District.“This event is an exciting way to meet women who are interested in learning about and joining our organization. The... Full Story

Cleanup crew pulls pigeons, pigs from harbour slips

The city's perennial battle with the constant accumulation of garbage in the waters of the inner harbour is being waged by Jason Smith, Brad Potter, and Kurt Nielson.The three waste warriors from Harbourfront are keeping busy cleaning Queen's Quay Sailing's boat slips. During the season to date they... Full Story

Needles puncture drug strategy rhetoric

It was part of a daily routine for Corktown resident Joanne Nelson, walking her Jack Russell terrier in Sackville Park,  except she certainly didn’t expect what was about to happen next.She was throwing a ball to her dog Jack, when he came back limping.“I lifted him up and a needle was all the way i... Full Story

Pave through a park? Port bunch may do that

The Downtown community council of Toronto city council recently voted to reduce traffic to the Island airport’s ferry dock from Queen’s Quay West to the water from five lanes to just two to improve neighbourhood pedestrian safety. There are two schools across from huge Little Norway Park and child s... Full Story

Thousands bid ‘failte’ to new waterfront park

The hard work of a decade has finally paid off with the opening of Ireland Park on June 21. Thousands gathered at Toronto’s waterfront to mark the official opening of the 300’x70’ memorial at the foot of Bathurst St.Mary McAleese, the president of Ireland, was the guest of honor and performed the cu... Full Story

Cell phone records suggest fundraiser

The suicide of a close friend and co-worker served as the catalyst for the upcoming Soulpact fundraiser said the event organizer.“When you witness someone spiral with mental illness you realize how much it’s a bigger problem that all people feel pretty close to,” said Chanel Croker. “I think a lot o... Full Story

Hotel, foundation hatch webcam plan to keep chicks safe

What was once an urban phenomenon is now an annual tradition thanks to the Canadian Peregrine foundation.On June 12, two peregrine falcon chicks were banded at the Toronto Sheraton Centre Hotel.The fledglings, which nest on the forty-third floor of the hotel, were named Kevin and Dina after CITY-TV ... Full Story

Yonge St. signage process is transparent, bureaucrat vows

Louise Marie has broken her silence. Now, this small business owner at Yonge and Wellesley has issued a challenge in the ongoing sign war.“I dare the city to hit the whole street at once,” she declares. “I run a business and yet I’m an outlaw. Do all of them and there’ll be an uprising.”Marie, the o... Full Story

Cops on two wheels more responsive, claims bike patroller

Toronto Police serve and protect. And essential to their role of making Downtown a safe place to live is the bike patrol.Constable Charles Stern, a bike patrol officer at 51 Division, wheels out all the benefits of policing the city on bikes.“One advantage of using bikes is the sheer accessibility f... Full Story

HTO park opens

Harbourfront Centre celebrated the opening of the HTO park with comments from Adam Vaughan. David Miller and Joe Pantalone also attended (seated at right).

Chastang departs Fletcher's office

Paula Fletcher is losing one of her biggest assets.Constituency assistant Pat Chastang, who was profiled by The Bulletin last year, is moving over to Adam Giambrone's office at city hall. She will start as his executive assistant on June 20."The decision was very hard to make," states Chas... Full Story

Notice of Public Workshop #2 for the East Bayfront Waterfront Transit EA

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and Waterfront Toronto invite the public to attend the second workshop for the EA Phase of the TTC-TWRC Waterfront Transit Environmental Assessment - East Bayfront. The purpose of this study is to identify the required transit infrastructure to serve future wate... Full Story

Little changes for Little Trinity restoration

Little Trinity Church at King and Trinity Streets celebrated its 170th anniversary this month draped in scaffolding, as it undergoes a restoration to its woodwork and windows that will see it returned to its classic pre-1940 appearance. The Church was built in 1843 with the assistance of funding fro... Full Story

Strap in the kids: seat clinic

As part of fire safety week, residents are invited to join staff from Toronto Fire Services, the Toronto Police Service, and the Ministry of Transportation ata free car seat clinic. The clinic will be held on Friday, June 15, at the Radisson Admiral Hotel, 249 Queens Quay W. at the foot of Bathurst ... Full Story

Dredging no drudge job for Island

Manitou Beach on the Toronto Islands may be losing some of its spirit this week as the city performs minor dredging to improve water quality.Park manager Warren Hoselton reports that the dredging, set to start June 12, will allow for greater water flow and exchange be decreasing the probability of w... Full Story

Jet noise may drown out waterfront concerts

For some, the sound of an airplane is music to the ears, but for Tamara Bernstein it definitely isn’t.Bernstein is Harbourfront’s artistic director of Summer Music in the Garden, a series of free concerts running Jun. 24 to Sept. 16 at the Toronto Music Garden between Bathurst and Spadina. She’s con... Full Story

AGCO hears Fiona's case

Chun Bo Wang may have a hard road ahead, with concerned residents and police one side, and drug dealers and prostitutes on the other. On May 17, the owner of Fiona’s CC Restaurant and Bar at Queen Street East and Pape Avenue pleaded her case for a liquor license at an Alcohol and Gaming Commission o... Full Story

Toronto's first public school celebrates 200 years

In 1807, a one-room shed became Toronto’s first public school. When it opened schooling was only for the privileged few. Now, Jarvis Collegiate will celebrate its bicentennial, and a history that’s seen the changing face of education in Canada. Queen West Gwendolyn Julien-Medeiros, the project mana... Full Story

Don watershed regeneration group seeks members

Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA) is seeking members for a two-year renewable term for the Don Watershed Regeneration Council (DWRC), a volunteer committee established to achieve TRCA's vision for The Living City within the Don watershed. The Don River flows from the Oak Ridges Moraine through ... Full Story

Bathurst Quay co-op considered for hydro makeover

The Windward Co-op on Bathurst Quay is at the top of a very short list of buildings being considered for a radical makeover as part of the Downtown West Multi-Unit Solar Energy project, a working group of volunteers examining ways to finance and implement urban solar energy projects.Windward, like m... Full Story

WDL report: Cherry St. charette points to transit mall

The third and final meeting of the community urban planning charette on the future of Cherry St. was held on March 17 at 70 Mill St.Five plans had been drafted and presented to community members in February. Local groups, residents, and business owners had time to study the possible configurations f... Full Story

Cherry St.: The next stage

The final session of the community consultation on the future of Cherry St. will be on Saturday, 17 March, from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at 70 Mill St.At this meeting we will discuss the five street designs that have resulted from the charette on 17 February and hope, as a result, to forward two possibilities... Full Story

Island ice reveals wreck

Beneath the amazingly transparent ice of the skating rink on the lagoon toward the west end of Algonquin Island lie eternally entombed (except during spring, summer, and autumn of course!) the shivered timbers of one of the more unlikely marine residents of the Islands – the Baltic Belle. As the sto... Full Story

Porkers' Popsicle Pride

The Pride of Pork (otherwise known as the Toronto Port Authority Fast Ferry across the Western Gap) proved not to be so fast Feb. 19; the ferry wedged itself into its Island side ferry slip at about 10 a.m. What was supposed to be an uneventful (though not furiously fast) trip across the Western Gap... Full Story

Bike lockers offer low-cost waterfront parking

The city of Toronto unveiled a new bike locker location at the Toronto ferry docks on Feb. 22. Ted Tyndorf, chief planner and executive director of city planning, was on hand to cut the ribbon.The city’s bicycle locker project provides secure parking at various sites around Toronto, with future loca... Full Story

WDL report: Cherry St. charette bears fruit

Are streets just ways to get somewhere else or can they sometimes be attractive public spaces? Members of the groups affiliated with the West Don Lands committee plumped for the latter when they staged a two-part community urban planning charette on Feb. 1 and 17.The issue was three blocks of Cherry... Full Story

Addiction treatment centre torments Corktowners

Don’t get them wrong. They’re not NIMBYs. Corktown residents gathered last month in antique Enoch Turner Schoolhouse in a promise kept by their MPP, Health Minister George Smitherman to add a third Methadone Task Force hearing specifically for them. He spoke briefly, pledging to make the task force ... Full Story

Community events in Trinity-Spadina: Chow

Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Association Annual General MeeetingMay 17th 20077:30pmHarboufront Community Centre (Corner of Queens Quay and the foot of Bathurst Street)For more information visit www.bqna.orgDowntown West Solar Energy Project: Information SessionsThe volunteer run Downtown West Solar E... Full Story

Prostitution sweep nets 40 men, 51 Division

From Monday, April 30, 2007, to Thursday, May 3, 2007, members of 51 Division Plainclothes Unit conducted a „john‰ sweep along Shuter Street and River Street in response to community complaints of prostitution.As a result, 40 men were arrested for the offence of Communicate for the Purpose of Obtain... Full Story

Power line meeting sheds little light on proposed Leslieville route

The mood was tense at the Matty Eckler centre on Gerrard St., during a standing-room-only community meeting Apr. 24, as local residents arrived to voice their concerns about the proposed hydro transmission line that may or may not run through Leslieville.Peter Tabuns, MPP Toronto-Danforth opened the... Full Story

Nelson Mandela Park PS students to fly to South Africa

Cate Dempsey-Galle has a dream. By the first week of July, she hopes to be able to raise enough funds to be able to fly across the globe to South Africa for three weeks. At age eleven, she is the youngest of a small group of children at Nelson Mandela Park Public School hoping to embark on a first-t... Full Story

Controversial Cabbagetown liquor license denied

It’s a double whammy for the Cabbagetown Restaurant and Bar.Despite rallies by local supporters, free legal representation, and the backing of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, the Cabbagetown Restaurant and Bar failed to get back its liquor license in court last week.In addition, at the hearin... Full Story

Con artist targets Queen East retailers

There’s a skillful new artist in Leslieville. The problem is he’s not a painter, a sculptor, or a potter. He’s a slick con artist, and he’s taken area retailers for over $300 in the last six months.A man pretending to be making deliveries has been convincing unsuspecting shopkeepers to give him cash... Full Story

Jilly's will keep jiggling along Queen East

Jilly will keep taking it all off instead of taking off.Jilly’s Adult Entertainment, a strip club and Toronto landmark, leases space on the ground floor of the New Broadview Hotel at Queen St. E. and Broadview Ave. in Riverside.Recent exotic rumours dancing around the city claimed that Margie Zeidle... Full Story

John Sewell leads inaugural Jane's Walk tour

In honour of the late Jane Jacobs, the walking series features speakers like Sewell, mayor of Toronto from 1978 to 1980, speaking knowledgably about the neighbourhoods, and will highlight the people, places, and public spaces that make that particular community interesting and unique. Sewell's tour... Full Story

Downtown mourns Callwood

June Callwood's granddaughters Emma, Marie and Lucy head a candlelight procession of more than a thousand people from Jessica's on Parliament Street to Casey House on Huntley Street in celebration of June's life and leadership on April 17.Callwood passed away on April 14 at the age of 92 after a lif... Full Story

Windward co-op celebrates 20 years

Twenty years ago the first residents moved into Windward Cooperative Homes situated at 34 Little Norway Crescent.Planning for this co-op began soon after 1981 when The Harbroufront Corporation proposed that a co-op to be built on the west side of Bathurst Quay Park (now Little Norway Park). Lantana... Full Story

Local Trillium 'winners' announced

Ontario's Minister of Culture, Caroline Di Cocco, announced that 64 community organizations in neighbourhoods across Toronto will receive $4,754,700 in community grants from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). Many of these grants invest in people and expand opportunities in communities through i... Full Story

Reform, warns judge

A young Toronto man who spent roughly four of his 24 years in prison received a severe lecture from a judge on March 29 about reforming his life.“Think about the math for a second. Four of 24. That’s a complete and utter waste,” said Justice Arthur Gans of the Superior Court of Justice to the defend... Full Story

Blaze interrupts shopping at Richmond & Bay

A transformer fire in an underground electrical room near city hall forced Toronto Hydro to cut power to the downtown financial district on March 24.The blaze broke out about 1:15 p.m., sending acrid black smoke billowing from sidewalk grates on Richmond St. W. near Bay St.Smoke entered The Bay depa... Full Story

Women of Promise effort extends to Africa

The Women of Promise team is going to Africa and the spirit of the St. Lawrence Market Neighbourhood is going with them.Women of Promise support services is committed to helping women “one by one.” The group has strived for six years to improve the lives of women through learning opportunities, clot... Full Story

Harboufront Centre nets sound, video funding from feds

The Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, announced funding of up to $389,000 for Harbourfront Centre on March 16.These funds will be used to update seating and purchase specialized video monitoring and sound equipment for three of the Harbourfront Centre's p... Full Story

Ryerson plan, like quadrangle, opening up to public

One of “best kept secrets in the world” is on its way to being unveiled to Toronto pedestrians, says architect Bruce Kuwabara.  Preliminary designs for Ryerson University’s new master plan—the multi-million dollar campus renovation—will finally allow pedestrians to see the Kerr Hall quadrangle, one ... Full Story

Smitherman launches new wait times web site

Ontario Minister of Health George Smitherman has a shiny new website and he wants everyone to see it.Ontariowaittimes.com is one public face of the Ontario Wait Time Strategy. It allows the public to go online and find out how long they’ll have to wait in this province order to get any of five elect... Full Story

St. Pat's parade bomb scare on Yonge

A suspicious package prompted police to close off a section of Yonge St. and divert the tail-end of the St. Patrick’s day parade down Bay St. on March 18. A section of the Yonge St. subway line was shut down as well.At about 1PM, an employee of the Courtyard Marriott hotel witnessed a man and woman ... Full Story

Second Mile Club seeks Downtown volunteers

The Second Mile Club of Toronto is a multi-purpose social service agency providing community support services for the multi-ethnic seniors in Downtown area of the City of Toronto.We are urgently looking for matured volunteers in the following area:friendly visitorsmedical escorts & interpreterst... Full Story

Police poseur snatching nightclub purses

The Toronto Police Service is investigating a man allegedly stealing personal belongings in the club/Entertainment District area of downtown Toronto.It is alleged that the suspect:- targets women who leave their personal belongings unattended, stealing their purses and cellphones,- is using imitatio... Full Story

Agora concept takes Nathan Phillips Square prize

Nathan Phillips Square will never be the same. And it’s all thanks to two local architecture firms with a green, sustainable vision.An international design competition was held to solicit submissions for revitalizing the square outside city hall. Mayor David Miller announced March 8 that the winning... Full Story

RU ready for mega signs?

Billboards and advertisements dominate the Yonge and Dundas skyline. Soon, Ryerson University will unveil signs that can compete with the big boys.Next fall, ten “RU” signs will be branded onto key campus buildings. They will be hard to miss. The signs, three metres long and four metres high, will b... Full Story

Chow: Conservatives break promise to new Canadians

IIn the face of urgent need to integrate skilled and qualified new immigrants into Canada's workforce, the Conservative Government has again postponed concrete action and instead announced a study as a stalling tactic. In commenting on an announcement of a $3 million study by HRSD Minister Monte S... Full Story

Coat check results in weapons arrest

On Thursday, March 1, 2007, at approximately 2:30 p.m., police were called to a restaurant in the Richmond Street West/York Street area.It is alleged that:a man attended the restaurant,he checked in his coat, at which time an employee located a loaded firearm in the coat pocket.police attended and t... Full Story

Time marches on for heritage military institute

The Royal Canadian Military Institute (RCMI) and Heritage Toronto celebrated Heritage Day by unveiling a new plaque commemorating the historic RCMI building at 426 University Ave. on Feb. 19.“One of the few remaining early buildings on University, the RCMI has long been a distinctive Toronto landmar... Full Story

SickKids’ women’s auxiliary kicks off ‘CareWear’ campaign

Downtown resident Janis Weenen is hoping to set a new fashion trend with the launch of CareWear, a five-month fund raising campaign by the Women’s Auxiliary of The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) dedicated to supporting care programs for the patients and their families, The campaign, which... Full Story

New Corktown board elected

The board of the Corktown Residents and Business Association was selected on Feb. 6. The board consists of Joanne Nelson, David Lloyd, Louise Parent, John Libby, Bill Eadie, Ann Summers and Steve Behal.More information about the association can be found at www.corktown.ca.

University Settlement celebrates the Chinese New Year

Saturday, February 24, 200712:30pm-3:30pmUniversity Settlement GymFree!On February 24th, 2007, University Settlement is celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year. This celebration has become a valued tradition at University Settlement throughout the years. The agency would like to welcome Toronto’s ver... Full Story

St. Lawrence community saves 120 tonnes of greenhouse emissions

The smartliving St. Lawrence (slSL) project will launch an ambitious energy efficiency campaign on Feb. 20 thanks to the generous support of the Ontario Ministry of Energy, the Trillium Foundation of Ontario and the Toronto Atmospheric Fund. The program will launch at 2 p.m. at Old York Tower, 85 T... Full Story

Search for young talent in national GMAC Great Canadian Writing Contest

Canadian students in grades five and six have the chance to see their short stories published, thanks to the launch of this year’s GMAC Great Canadian Writing Contest, a national, annual, bilingual contest made possible by Founding Sponsor General Motors Acceptance Corporation of Canada, Limited (GM... Full Story

Leslieville limits liquor license renewal

After final arguments on Feb. 14, the Liquor Control Board delivered its decision and ordered the immediate revocation of the liquor license of Cuong Ve Dang, the licensee of Dang Restaurant.The revocation resulted from the efforts of Leslieville residents and councillor Paula Fletcher to oppose the... Full Story

Grade 7-8 students looking for community placement

The staff and parents of City View Alternative School are planning the annual Community Service Week work placements.The students are looking for work places that serve the community or have a social component. Food banks, day cares, arts groups, politicians' and charities' offices etc have all been... Full Story

Pam McConnell's community newsletter Feb. 12

In this editionCity Council HighlightsCommunity HighlightsUpcoming Meetings & EventsContact InformationCity Council HighlightsLobbyist RegistryCouncil has appointed Marilyn Abraham as the new Lobbyist Registrar, and she will implement a lobbyist registry, develop and enforce a lobbyist code of c... Full Story

West Queen West triangle gains new ally against OMB

Mayor David Miller announced Feb. 2 that he would introduce a notice of motion at council directing staff to pursue all available options to appeal the Ontario Municipal Board's approval of three high-rise condo developments in the Queen West Triangle.The Mayor is focusing on the importance of creat... Full Story

Public meeting re: future of All Saints cancelled

The Toronto Disaster Relief Committee (TDRC) and the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) had called a public meeting about the need for All Saints Church to leave their drop-in/day shelter open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. weekdays. All Saints has now agreed to leave the service open weekdays un... Full Story

'Worst' bus terminal to get a facelift

The Elizabeth St. entrance to the Toronto Bus Terminal is getting a face-lift. It needs one. Bus drivers say Toronto has one of the most dangerous stations in Canada.David Crow, who operates between Ottawa and Toronto, wishes pedestrians would use the designated hallway that leads to the departures ... Full Story

Garden District blaze stops traffic

A two-alarm blaze on Yonge St. shuts down traffic for 3 city blocks Feb. 1.The fire started in a block of stores on the east side of Yonge, just north of Dundonald at about 2.30 p.m. Toronto Emergency Medical Service said there were numerous people in the building when fire broke out, but all manage... Full Story

What is the future of the All Saints Church?

Public Meeting (Community Consultation)Time: Tuesday, February 6, 2007 at 3:00 p.m. Location: Outside All Saints Church (Dundas and Sherbourne)Toronto Disaster Relief Committee (TDRC) and the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) are inviting users of the All Saints drop-in/day shelter to a publi... Full Story

Toronto less trashy in 2006

The State of Michigan today released their 2006 annual summary of waste from Canada. Overall, tonnage has increased from 5.6 million tonnes to 5.7 million tonnes. This includes all municipal and industrial/commercial waste from across Ontario.It is important to note, however, that waste exclusively ... Full Story

Vaughan tops Harbourfront AGM agenda

The Harbourfront Community Association will hold their annual general meeting on Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. at the Harbourfront Community Centre.Adam Vaughan, newly minted Councillor for Ward 20 Trinity Spadina, will be the special keynote speaker discussing ideas and issues important to Harbourfront residen... Full Story

NDP renews Chow's candidacy in Trinity-Spadina

Olivia Chow, NDP Member of Parliament in Trinity-Spadina, was unanimously acclaimed as the NDP's candidate in the next election at a nomination meeting held on Jan. 21. "Thanks to you, the NDP is alive and well in Trinity-Spadina. And the NDP is alive and well in Ottawa, with the leadership of ... Full Story

Nathan Phillips Square rink closed for skating

The ice rink at Nathan Phillips Square will be closed Jan. 24 to accommodate "Paintings Below Zero"—part of Toronto's upcoming WinterCity Festival. Artist Gordon Halloran of British Columbia will create an ice painting directly on the rink surface, allowing skaters to glide across his desi... Full Story

GWNA, West Don Lands committees plan Cherry St. meetings

Mark your calendars for two important community meetings on the future of Cherry St.On Feb. 1 speakers Joe Lobko and John Hillier will be having a public discussion of street design and the options for Cherry St. The meeting will be held at 70 Mill St. from 6 to 9 p.m.On Feb. 17 a one-day planning w... Full Story

Regent Park to get snazzy new manhole covers

Mayor David Miller, Executive Director of Toronto Culture, Rita Davies, and Adonis Huggins, Director of Regent Park Focus, tonight announced the winners of the Grounds For Art public art competition at the launch of a special exhibition of all 30 short-listed proposals.The winning designers by categ... Full Story

Sherbourne Health Centre study shows Toronto’s LGBTTQ people twice as likely to smoke cigarettes

People in Toronto’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgender and queer (LGBTTQ) communities are twice as likely to smoke cigarettes as the city’s general population.According to a report released today 36% of LGBTTQ participants reported current smoking, while the latest figures from the Rap... Full Story

smartLiving St. Lawrence January newsletter

Happy new year, everyone! This promises to be an exciting year for smartliving St. Lawrence as we launch some new initiatives, celebrate some past achievements and continue to build a movement based on a conservation culture.Keep reading to find out more about some great upcoming events and how you ... Full Story

Submit your vision for Toronto's Lower Don Lands

Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation (TWRC), in cooperation with Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA) and the City of Toronto, has launched an Innovative Design Competition seeking input from the world's most talented and creative design and engineering professionals in developing bold ne... Full Story

Wilkins Ave. auto break-in suspect spotted

After a rash of overnight auto break-ins in Corktown, residents now have a description of a possible perpetrator.On Jan. 13, an area resident was walking his dog in the vicinity of the Wilkins Ave. parking lot when he spotted a man attempting to break into parked cars. The thief was confronted and t... Full Story

Catholic board offers info session on SK immersion program

The Toronto Catholic District School Board invites parents to learn more about the French Immersion Senior Kindergarten program by attending an information evening on Feb. 22, 6:30 p.m. at St. Cecilia Catholic School, 355 Annette St.Registration for French Immersion at the five schools listed above,... Full Story

Entertainment District shooting suspect sought

On Sunday Jan. 14, at approximately 2:45 a.m., police received a call for a shooting in the Entertainment District.It is alleged that:a group of men were inside the "Union Night Club" at 240 Richmond St. W.,a fight took place, and continued outside onto the sidewalk,a man produced a handgu... Full Story

New cash for Ryerson research: McGuinty

The McGuinty government is investing $150,000 to help local researchers at Ryerson University, in Toronto Centre-Rosedale MPP George Smitherman announced today. “Supporting the leading-edge research at Ryerson University is one way the McGuinty government is helping to foster an innovative economy i... Full Story

Heritage painting stolen from OCAD

The Ontario College of Art & Design (OCAD) regrets to report the theft of a painting by J.W. Beatty, titled Winter Sunshine, Bellefountain (Cabin at River’s Edge in Winter). The piece is an oil on canvas, 50.8 x 61 cm, and is signed on the lower left: J.W. Beatty.  The painting was discovered mi... Full Story

No council committee agendas online?

Despite kicking off a busy round of meetings next week, the city hall web site has yet to post agendas for most council committee meetings.The web site at www.toronto.ca is usually updated with meeting agendas as .pdf files well in advance of meetings in an attempt to meet the statutory notice requi... Full Story

Police accountability special issue: complaints process

This bulletin is published monthly by the Toronto Police Accountability Coalition, a group of individuals and organizations in Toronto interested in police policies and procedures, and in making police more accountable to the community they are committed to serving. Our website is http://www.tpac.ca... Full Story

CRBA meets Jan 9

The January Corktown Residents and Business Association meeting, has been scheduled for Tuesday Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. at The Dominion on Queen St. E.

SLNA’s 2006 Volunteer Awards recipients

The heart of the evening of Dec. 14 at The Kitchen in St. Lawrence Market was the presentation of the 2006 SLNA Volunteer Award Recipients. Edward Nixon officiated as emcee and Coun. Pam McConnell and Ben Marans of smartliving St. Lawrence helped to congratulate the winners.For 2006 the winners are:... Full Story

New skates donated to Moss Park program

Every Wednesday until March 14 George Smitherman hosts a free family skate program at Moss Park Arena. The arena is open to the public free of charge from 4 to 5 p.m. Free family skating parties on Jan. 3 and during March break March 14 are also part of the program activities.It is through the conti... Full Story

King West area art school announces major gifts from CTV, Rogers

The Toronto School of Art announced two corporate gifts from major corporations at its Christmas open house event on Dec. 14. Over 400 students gathered to view new works on display throughout the school.  Students, faculty and friends of TSA were delighted to learn of these exciting new partnership... Full Story

$20 million for Evergreen at the Brick Works

The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance and Minister Responsible for the Greater Toronto Area, announced that Canada’s New Government would invest up to $20 million to support the creation of an innov... Full Story

CWNA comments on waterfront transit assessment

The Central Waterfront Neighbourhood Association (CWNA) has released its comments from the Dec 22. meetings regarding the TTC-TWRC East Bayfront and West Don Lands Environmental Assessments at http://www3.sympatico.ca/msamuel/CWNATTCTWRCEBFWDLEACommentsDec2106.pdf.The documents from the Nov. 28 and ... Full Story

Policing the police

Toronto Police Accountability Bulletin No. 32,December 20, 2006*****In this issue: 1. Bill 103, a new police complaintscommission; 2. A new police program: 25 and out; 3.Corruption charges within the Toronto Police Force: 4.2007 police budget; 5. Policing the RCMP*****1. Bill 103, a new police compl... Full Story

Church St. TCHC resident not feeling secure

A tenant in one of the buildings maintained by the Toronto Community Housing Commission says that she is worried that building security is not providing a safe environment.“It just seems like they are being paid for nothing in a way you know,” said Pat Duck, tenant of the 1 Church St. address. “I ha... Full Story

Cherry Beach trees ripe for the picking?

A group of local activists called Save Cherry Beach is circulating a petition to stop the proposed partial redevelopment of an area of Cherry Beach on the southwest corner of Unwin Ave. and Regatta Rd.. The petition, to be found at the group’s website http://savecherrybeach.ca, asserts that much of ... Full Story

Lower Jarvis St. shooting

On Jan. 2, at approximately 3:10 a.m., police were called to a nightclub in the Queens Quay East/Lower Jarvis Street area for a shooting.Police located two men nearby suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.Both were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.It is alleged that:- an alterca... Full Story

Island Airport, minimum wage, green buildings top Chow’s federal agenda

Despite slowing down for the holidays, Trinity-Spadina MP Olivia Chow is forwarding many local issues in Ottawa.One of her important issues is the Island Aiport. Chow reports that Tasse report will be in front of the transport committee for review. She also has put forward a private members bill to ... Full Story

Union Station project: The worst (noise) is yet to come

Toronto has recently seen several revitalization projects aiming to make the city more welcoming to both tourists and residents. Regent Park, Dundas Square, Nathan Phillips Square and Union Station are just a few Toronto landmarks getting makeovers.But the largest-scale project has yet to come.Along... Full Story

Marine unit issues ice warning

During the past week, the cooler temperatures have caused ice to start forming on ponds, small lakes and slow-moving rivers in Toronto and area.This ice is very unstable and not strong enough to support any kind of weight. The public is strongly advised not to walk on ice and remain on shore. Please... Full Story

Smitherman, Mcguinty government invest in commmunity projects to help victims of crime

The McGuinty government is strengthening the community and helping victims of crime in the Toronto area by investing in programs that enhance victim services, including Literature for Life that is receiving a grant of $84,904 and Le Centre des jeunes francophones de Toronto that is receiving a grant... Full Story

Island airport boycott rallies continue

On Friday, Dec. 15  2006, Bathurst Quay Residents, their neighbours from across Toronto, and members the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation will be at the bottom of Bathurst St. rallying in support of the boycott of the Island Airport.These rallies have been going strong every Friday since ... Full Story

Have you seen Niblet?

Niblet, a prickly, sock-drawer-attacking, Banana-batting (Banana's my other cat), standoffish but intensely lovable cat who disappeared from my life sometime on Wednesday. My apartment opens out onto the rooftop of 25 Henry Lane Terrace, where various cats wander and interact with no chance (I thoug... Full Story

51 div seeks public help in Dundas & Parliament assault

Police are seeking the public’s assistance with a Sexual Assault investigation.It is alleged that:on Sunday, December 10, 2006, at approximately 3:15 a.m., the victim, a 20-year-old woman, got into a taxi near the intersection of Peter Street and Richmond Street.the suspect (a male taxi driver), dro... Full Story

Community AIR raps BoT pro-Island airport propaganda

The Toronto Board of Trade has released a one-sided report on the Toronto Island Airport that seeks to convince its members and supporters that the airport has a legitimate role to play in the city. This report is a great sales pitch but falls short on background and objectivity.The Board of Trade a... Full Story

Western Gap seawall collapses opposite Island airport

A 50-foot wide portion of the seawall at the Western Gap promenade opposite the Island airport has fallen into Lake Ontario, adjacent to the National Yacht Club, posing hazards to pedestrians and children playing along the waterfront.Councilor Adam Vaughan on has notified city staff about the hazard... Full Story

Finalists named in Nathan Phillips Square revitalization design competition

Four outstanding design teams have been selected as finalists to compete in Stage II of the international competition to revitalize Nathan Phillips Square.The four teams short-listed by the competition jury to proceed to Stage II of the competition are:Baird Sampson Neuert Architects, Toronto, with ... Full Story

Snow clearing for seniors

If you are a senior or disabled resident of Toronto, the City of Toronto will clear snow from the sidewalk in front of your home in those areas where the service is not provided by machine.The Toronto Government provides sidewalk snow clearing in most of Toronto, however, there are a few areas where... Full Story

Do window-breakers plague Cabbagetown?

Which came first, police overwhelmed with complaints to the point of inaction, or citizens not informing the cops when crimes are committed?Or is it either?Here’s an example of broken-windows theory Toronto style:When M.J. Suhonos saw that his girlfriend’s car had been vandalized twice in as many we... Full Story

City Council is looking for more than a few good men and women

The City is asking residents of Toronto to step forward and take advantage of opportunities to make a difference. Civic-minded volunteers are being asked to serve on challenging and interesting quasi-judicial bodies and City boards of directors that deliver key City services.The newly-elected Toront... Full Story

Downtown OTF grants announced

Community organizations in neighbourhoods across Toronto will receive $5,137,200 in community grants from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). The 44 grants announced today by Caroline Di Cocco, Ontario’s Minister of Culture, will help organizations make a difference in their communities.“Ontarian... Full Story

Downtown bar meningitis scare

Toronto Public Health today issued a Meningitis C alert in response to the recent death of a 23 year old male resident and the possible exposure of patrons at a downtown bar.Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Director of Communicable Disease Control, announced a vaccine clinic will be held tomorrow, Dec. 1, for tho... Full Story

A powerful network for Chinese Canadian domestic violence survivors

Up to 70 % of female murder victims are killed by their male partners! This accounts for more death and ill-health than cancer or traffic accidents.According to our experience on working with Chinese Canadian community, the biggest barrier for Chinese Canadian abused women to get help from police an... Full Story

Distillery students land in the middle of the “nation” debate

At Voice Intermediate School, the bi-annual trip to Ottawa for students in grades five to seven is a regularly scheduled event. But nobody could have foreseen that last week’s trip would provide students with a very special experience.The trip to visit historical, cultural and political sites in Ot... Full Story

Olivia Chow's December E-Newsletter

Dear neighbours,Today is World AIDS Day. Every day 11,000 people lose their lives to AIDS. The Government has the power to help, yet as I write this update of what is happening in the House of Commons, Mr. Harper continues to neglect Canada’s responsibility. I know from speaking to so many of you th... Full Story

ETS founders' dinner and dancing Dec. 1

This year's Founder's Day Dinner for Enoch Turner Schoolhouse will take place on Dec. 1.The cocktail reception begins at 6:30, the dinner at 7:00 and entertainment and dancing at 9:00. This year's entertainment is "Swing Rosie," a three-part harmony swing sensation.Tickets are $70 for ETS ... Full Story

Local mom stirs up a cookbook for her adopted son’s orphanage

Nicole Nel-Maynard decided to adopt a little boy from South Africa in Sept. 2005 and now, with contributions from family members other adoptive parents, she has released a cookbook to raise funds for the home where her son Zoen was first cared for.The cookbook, titled “Mnandi: Zulu for Delicious!” c... Full Story

TCDSB encourages community budget consultation

As the board prepares for the release of a report from the Ministry-assigned special assistance team regarding the board’s $34.6 million deficit, the Toronto Catholic District School Board invites parents and other stakeholders in Catholic education to participate in a community consultation regardi... Full Story

Ongoing rallies to Boycott Island Airport

The boycott of the Toronto Island Airport campaign continues with a poster campaign and weekly rallies at the foot of Bathurst St.These occur on Fridays between 5 and 7pm.  Joining these gatherings are band members of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation.  The energy is terrific at these ... Full Story

52 Div town hall: Emergency preparedness – engaging the community

Do you know what to do during a disaster? Do you know who is responsible for what service when you have an emergency? At the beginning of November, the 52 Division Community Police Liaison Committee hosted a public Town Hall meeting about the subject of Emergency Preparedness. Hosted by community pa... Full Story

Agreement will kick-start Green Corridor within Proposed Commissioners park

The Toronto Economic Development Corporation (TEDCO) has entered into an agreement with CP Express & Transport Ltd. (CPET) to purchase approximately 7 acres of land and settle an outstanding environmental claim initiated by TEDCO.CPET has agreed to transfer the lands located at the corner of Com... Full Story

Lakeshore streetcar to go west?

The City of Toronto and Toronto Transit Commission are hosting two public meetings/open houses to examine plans to extend streetcar service from Exhibition Place, west to the existing tracks at the Roncesvalles Ave. and Queen St. W. intersection.The meetings/open houses take place on Monday, Novembe... Full Story

St. Michael's students help with provincial announcement

The McGuinty government is launching equalityrules.ca, a groundbreaking public education campaign to educate youth, aged eight to 14, about the importance of healthy, equal and respectful relationships, Sandra Pupatello, Minister Responsible for Women's Issues, announced today. "This pioneering... Full Story

RBC financial group donates $30,000 to help youth transform graffiti into mural art

RBC Financial Group and RBC Insurance will celebrate the November 22ND grand opening of their new co-location at 207 Queen’s Quay with a $30,000 donation to support the Harbourfront Community Centre’s Mural Transformation Project and local youth at risk.Youth in the project work with local business ... Full Story

Cavalcade lights up downtown BIA's

The 40th annual Cavalcade of Lights presented by Scotiabank, Toronto's multi-award-winning holiday celebration, illuminates 19 Toronto neighbourhoods with a series of magnificent new energy-efficient LED lighting displays. From flowing fountains of light to shimmering Christmas Trees, these brilli... Full Story

Bruce Bell hauled in to 51 div headquarters for history work

The Bulletin's history columist Bruce Bell has been bestowed the title "Honourary Historian of 51 Division's Heritage Building" by Toronto Police Services for his work as a historian in the St Lawrence neighbourhood.The former Consumers' Gas purifying house at Parliament and Front Streets ... Full Story

Hydro One dig on hold for Santa

Hydro One contract Dibco Underground will not be working in the vicinity of the Flatiron building on the weekend of the Santa Claus parade, confirms Hydro One's senior advisor of corporate relations Carrie-Lynn Ognibene."We'll ensure that our shaft location near the Flatiron (the 'boob tube') i... Full Story

Santa stops traffic: downtown road closures Sunday

A series of road and lane closures and intermittent delays will take place this weekend to accommodate the Santa Claus Parade on Sunday, November 19.Sunday closures and intermittent delays (between 6:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.):Bloor Street, from Christie Street to Ossington Avenue, will be closed Sunday... Full Story

St. James' Remembrance Day
51 Div: Missing woman requires daily dose

The Toronto Police Service is seeking the public's assistance locating a missing woman.Marietta Muponda, 24, is missing from the Sackville Street/Gerrard Street East area. She was last seen on Tuesday, November 13, 2006, at 6 a.m., getting on a westbound TTC streetcar in the area.She is described as... Full Story

Homeless memorial hits 500 names

Homelessness worsens every day in Toronto and across Canada. There isn't enough affordable housing, and waiting lists continue to grow. SCPI programs are at risk across the country. And people are dying on the streets every week.Tomorrow's Homeless Memorial Vigil will see the addition of the 500th n... Full Story

56 new citizens sworn in at St. Lawrence Hall
Province boosts Sherbourne Health Centre

MPP George Smitherman, Ontario’s deputy premier, wore his health and long-term care minister hat Nov. 9 to announce a major provincial increase in funding for the Sherbourne Health Centre at 333 Sherbourne St. Next year the province will allocate over $2 million in new money to hire new staff and ad... Full Story

Tree a memorial to local youth leader

A memorial tree has been planted in Crombie Park by the St. Lawrence Community Recreation Centre to honour the memory of Amman Tesfaldet, whose accidental death in April of 2005 at age 20 saddened the entire community.Amman was the oldest of four brothers and a resident with them of Woodsworth Co-op... Full Story

Porter Air skips Island, flies in & out of Pearson

The few passengers taking scheduled flights from Ottawa to the Island Airport and Porter Airlines’ new ferry had a quite an unexpected rough ride on a foggy Nov. 8. They were flying in and out of Pearson Airport. It’s reported that the U.S. ambassador, David Wilkins, was also among the hapless crowd... Full Story

Rush hour fundraiser needs volunteers

The bells of 6 St Joseph House ring loud for volunteers!On Dec. 7 and 8, 6 St Joseph House will be holding its second festive rush-hour fundraiser in several TTC subway stations. The organizers are seeking volunteers to help take donations from the public in support of programs for Toronto’s disadva... Full Story

Eco-design presentation Nov. 13

Eco-Design for Healthy InteriorsMonday, November 13, 2006 at 6:00 PMOn a day-to-day basis, we spend a lot of time at home – eating meals, relaxing, spending time with friends and family. More and more Canadian homeowners today are searching for ways to create healthy indoor environments to protect t... Full Story

Olivia Chow's e-newsletter Nov. 12

Special Events:Join NDP Leader Jack Layton and MP Olivia Chow at U of T -- discuss climate change and our principled stand on the search and kill mission in Afghanistan on Nov. 14 at  7 p.m. at Hart House (7 Hart House Circle).Get the latest update on early learning and childcare from Olivia on No... Full Story

Waterfront Revitalization Nov. newsletter

Martin Goodman Trail Improvements UpdateWork is now underway on trail improvements between Marilyn Bell Park and Ontario Place. The trail here is being widened to 4.5 metres, the Bailey Bridge which connects Exhibition Place to the waterfront, is being improved and more than 60 new trees are being p... Full Story

Cathy Crowe's newsletter on homelessness

1. Bring the Troops HOME Now! War and Housing ˆ making the connections.Beric German is a long-time anti-war and anti-poverty activist. We have worked together on many homeless issues - the inhumane shelter conditions, tuberculosis and disease outbreaks, homeless deaths, and Tent City which was the l... Full Story

Kick up your heels for world record

Help the Nutcracker Neighbourhood break a Guinness world record for the world's longest single line of dancers with the world-famous Radio City Rockettes and receive a free ticket.Join us on Nov.  9 from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Hummingbird Centre for the Performing Arts at 1 Front St. E.For more ... Full Story

Market's 203rd birthday takes the cake

St. Lawrence Market celebrated its 203rd birthday on Nov. 4 with a low-key ceremony and a high-key chocolate birthday cake backed by Eve's Temptations in the lower level.The cake-cutting ceremony was held on stage at the North Market and a large number of lucky shoppers got to taste the cake. The ch... Full Story

Tories can’t resist Island airpork

You could tell when Steve Harper’s loose Cannon, Larry, populated the Toronto Port Authority (TPA) with appointees, how this was going to read.The long-awaited Roger Tassé report on the prospects for the Island airport and the spending of $35 million to compensate for the canceling of a $25 million ... Full Story

SLNA reports very positive results

The St. Lawrence Market Neighbourhood BIA is holding its Annual General meeting on November 14th, 2006 at 4 p.m. in the newly renovated Kitchen at the South St. Lawrence Market, (mezzanine South Market, entrance beside main doors). The meeting has been scheduled to approve a new Board of Directors a... Full Story

Volunteers needed for smartliving work

greenTalk Promotions – October 31, 2006On Monday, November 6, 2006, smartliving St. Lawrence and greenTbiz will be hosting a workshop for local business owners to engage them about energy conservation strategies and emerging technologies that can help them lower their energy bills. The topic of this... Full Story

Lakeshore & Spadina closure continues

One eastbound lane of Lakeshore Blvd. W. (at Spadina Ave.) is closed due to a watermain break.Crews are working to repair the break as quickly as possible. The closure is expected to be in place until the end of the week.

Ongiara Island ferry out of service

Island Parks staff reports that the Ongiara ferry is going to be out of service for 2 weeks from Nov 6 to Nov 20 due to extensive work required on the engines.The William Inglis will service the Ward's Island winter schedule. Only emergency vehicles will be routed through the Airport during this tim... Full Story

Enviro alliance council news available

Toronto Environmental Alliance's Councilwatch new edition is now online.In this edition:16th Annual Ecobunk Awards!TEA releases municipal election brochureEnvironmental Nightmares Come Back to Haunt the McGuinty LiberalsTo read Councilwatch, go to: http://www.torontoenvironment.org/cwatchoct06

Cyclists can fuel up with java jolt Friday

Cyclists will be happy to know that the third monthly BikeFriday is happening again this week.BikeFriday's goal is to make the last Friday of every month a celebration of cycling in Toronto.In addition to the Group Commutes (http://www.bikingtoronto.com/bikefriday/commute.html) in August and Septemb... Full Story

NYC has nothing to teach about homelessness

Toronto ~ Several homeless advocates travelled to NYC last week at the invitation of the Coalition for the Homeless to investigate the conditions for homeless people. They found that despite rumours to the contrary, homelessness exists and continues to grow.The team will present their initial findin... Full Story

Ontario Paint & Wallpaper store burned out

At about 2 a.m. Oct. 20 firefighters converged on three blazing 3-storey historic building on Queen East. Because it housed paints, the fire was especially strong and the call rapidly became a 7-alarm fire, bringing in 40 fire department units from across Toronto.After four hours, the fire was under... Full Story

Reg Hartt: Obituary of Gino Empry

Gino Empry, a dear friend, passed away Saturday morning. His funeral takes place Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Michael's Cathedral, with a burial to follow at Prospect Cemetery near Rogers Rd. and Caledonia Rd.Gino Empry was a very sweet man. He was unrivalled in his field which, if you do not know... Full Story

Fort York to host seminar for owners of older homes

Join Christopher Cooper, editor-in-chief of Edifice Old Home Magazine, as he leads a full day seminar and forum for old home owners, contractors and conservators on Nov. 12  from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Participants will discover ways to maintain, restore and rehabilitate an old house as well as discover h... Full Story

Former roommates Ignatieff, Rae spat over foreign policy

The Liberal leadership candidates faced off in an afternoon of debates that took place at Roy Thompson Hall on Sunday.The two hour televised event began with some awkward moments. An address by Interim Liberal Leader Bill Graham was briefly interrupted by a bikini-clad protestor and shortly after, ... Full Story

Port authority runs amok on Lower Bathurst St.

Who is in charge of lower Bathurst Street? Judging by the approach to safety, it looks like it‚s the same crowd that’s running the new ferry system to the island airport. Minus the smoke screen and panic attacks it’s an accident waiting to happen.For all intents and purposes the Port Authority has t... Full Story

Loose Larry Cannon sloughs off concerns

Don’t expect anything more from the Tassé “study” about the reprehensible Island airport than an attack on the evils of Paul Martin’s handling of the unnecessary and wasteful Toronto Port Authority.Steve Harper’s man in the transportation folio, Larry Cannon, used a weasel-worded piece of bunkum to ... Full Story

Central waterfront assoc. invites public responses to zero-emissions survey

You are invited to visit www.cwnasurvey.com for a survey on air quality and for a chance to win a hydrogen powered fuel-cell model car or a $100 Second Cup gift certificate!Air Quality - a survey on beautification & revitalizationSmog and air pollution is the single biggest contributor to downto... Full Story

Nominate a woman you believe in

The search is on for six women and one young woman to be the 2007 Women of Distinction.The awards honour six women and one young woman between 17 and 24 who have improved the lives of other women and girls.  For the first time this year the Young Woman of Distinction recipient will receive a $3000 g... Full Story

Ballet takes successful 'next step' to future

David Banks, Board Chair of The National Ballet of Canada, announced the successful completion of the $3.5 million Next Stage Campaign led by board member David Tory.  Banks said the board owed an enormous debt of gratitude to David Tory for his vigorous leadership of the fundraising campaign.Launch... Full Story

Porkers' ferryland crashes

On its maiden launch, filled with celebs and media, the spanking new Pride of Pork passenger ferry crashed into the dock on the land side, ruining a smoke-and-fire extravaganza the TPA had planned to showcase their ferry dream. It went in circles and at one point was headed west toward Hamilton, whe... Full Story

Chow to press Tories over pork flipflop

Ottawa – A document leaked to the Globe & Mail lays bare a highly unsavoury and suspect secret deal forged between the former Liberal Government, the unaccountable Toronto Port Authority and private interests connected with Porter Airlines. This leaked document was reported by the Globe just ho... Full Story

Public Forum: What is really happening in Trinity-Spadina schools?

For the past three years the McGuinty government has taken advantage of the perception that they are kinder, gentler and better than the Harris Tories. Nowhere is this more evident than in the education sector. It is time to assess the real progress that has been made in school repairs, special educ... Full Story

Bike sharing program out of steam

BikeShare, a multiple award-winning bike lending program run by the Community Bicycle Network, must find a new source of funding or the popular program will shut down. BikeShare is Canada’s longest-running and largest community bike lending initiative.This week, the program received a Bicycle Friend... Full Story

Yonge St. sign blitz demands compliance

Confusion continues to reign at Yonge and Wellesley where at least one business owner has been told to remove street-level signage.Despite calls from The Bulletin to clarify the nature of compliance action taken by by-law enforcement officers in late September, clarification from the Municipal Licen... Full Story

Harbourfront harvest fest reaps kids' fun

HarvestFest is Harbourfront Centre's way of ushering in the crisp autumn season to the city. HarvestFest Sunday, October 8 and Monday, October 9 with host Tricia Williams offers Torontonians and waterfront visitors a chance to celebrate our Canadian Thanksgiving weekend in a traditionally current an... Full Story

By-law force targets Yonge & Wellesley

A small crew of by-law enforcement officers hit the pavement on Sept. 27, one long-time Yonge and Wellesley business owner reports.The officers wrote up signage-related tickets for at least one second-story business.The Bulletin is interested in hearing from other businesses that may have been affec... Full Story

'Super Weekend' for Liberals?

Federal Liberal interim leader Bill Graham and wife Kathy wait to vote Sunday October 1 at the Toronto Centre riding election of delegates for the Liberal leadership convention in December. Graham, who accepted the post of interim leader following Paul Martin's resignation in January, represents Tor... Full Story

52 Div bursary fundraiser tonight

The Community Police Liaison Committee is a group of volunteers working in partnership with the Toronto Police Service to be proactive in community relations and to serve as a resource to the police and the community.The Community Police Liaison Committee of 52 Division is proud to sponsor its fi rs... Full Story

Toronto Police Accountability Bulletin No. 31, September 29, 2006

This bulletin is published monthly by the Toronto Police Accountability Coalition, a group of individuals and organizations in Toronto interested in police policies and procedures, and in making police more accountable to the community they are committed to serving. Our website is http://www.tpac.c... Full Story

Pathways graduates see success

It’s a bit early for commencement season but this isn’t your typical graduating class.On Sept. 22, 92 “at-risk” students were honoured by the Pathways to Education program for completion of the four-year program.Pathways, housed in the Regent Park Community Health Centre, provides participating stud... Full Story

Mill St. gains green space

Gooderham and Worts residents Yvonne Parti, George Hume,Bruna Rota, Archie MacDonald, and Councillor Pam McConnell (second from right) celebrate the opening of the Mill St Parkette on September 16, with a granite boulder found on the site of the Pure Spirits Tower and inscribed with the names of don... Full Story

Downtown basilica paintings newly resplendent

St Paul’s Basilica at Queen and Power Streets is the Mother Church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto, established in 1822.The present Basilica constructed in Italian Romanesque style and constructed in 1887-1889 with the addition of the bell-tower (campanile) in 1905, replaced an earlier ... Full Story

City hopes to gull waterfowl with new netting

There will be a public meeting to discuss the proposed gull netting project at Centre Island Beach on Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ward's Island Association.There is a 7:15 Boat leaving the city to Ward's Dock.The project involves installing multiple poles along the rock break wall from the pier wes... Full Story

Expo team develops environmental framework

As a part of the pre-bid phase for Expo 2015, Toronto 2015 World Expo Corporation undertook a number of feasibility studies to determine whether an Expo would be right for Toronto. From the onset of the evaluation of the potential of Toronto bidding for a World Expo, environmental and sustainability... Full Story

Percy St. park gets a makeover

For residents of Percy Street, a 14-foot wide laneway in Corktown containing 11 narrow townhouses dating to Victorian times, Christmas came early this year. It came the day Tricon Films, producers of Green Force, an upcoming HGTV reno show, began searching for an inner city space to transform, for o... Full Story

SLNA wins funding to makeover a 'Princess'

The neglected and overgrown space on the west side of Princess Ave. will be getting a makeover this fall thanks to $1500 in funding won by the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association.The grant awarded by the city's Clean and Beautiful Program will be used to enhance the area between The Esplanade and... Full Story

Cabbagetown co-op roof goes green

Residents of the 8-storey Hugh Garner Co-op building, joined by Architect Monica Kuhn and Alex Waugh, and the chair of the Ontario Trillium Foundation local Grant Review Team, marked a milestone Sept. 21 with the completion of Phase 1 of Canada's largest residential green roof, and the beginning of ... Full Story

Safe walk saved?

Since releaseing details of the Safe Walk program's possible cancellation in The Bulletin in September, the Toronto Kiwanis Boys and Girls Club has some better news to report.Club spokeswoman Constance Nobes details, "Since the Press Release on the TKBGC Safe Walk Program requiring funding to c... Full Story

Metropolis finally rising on Yonge-Dundas

After years of inactivity downtown Toronto’s long-awaited and much-delayed Metropolis Entertainment Complex is finally taking shape. The gaping whole in the ground that stood idle for the better part of six years now has been filled by a structure of steel girders and concrete that has reached 10 ... Full Story

Irish eyes smiling about new waterfront park

Next summer, a slice of stark brownfield along the Toronto waterfront will be transformed into Ireland Park, a serene corner dedicated to the penury and survival of the Irish Famine Immigrants of 1847. Robert Kearns, Chairman of the Ireland Park Foundation explains that the process began during  a 1... Full Story

Smitherman appointed deputy premier

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty announced Sept. 22 that George Smitherman, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, will serve as Deputy Premier."Minister Smitherman has helped our government make tremendous progress in bringing down wait times, ensuring we have more doctors and nurses and in pro... Full Story

Liberty Village picnic kick starts new community group

MP Olivia Chow hosted a community picnic at Stanley Park on Sept. 16.The picnic was in aid of forming a new neighbourhood association for the growing Liberty residential and business community.For more information about the association, or to volunteer as an organizer, contact Sojie Tate-McQuaid at ... Full Story

Babe Ruth honoured at Island installation

On September 5, 1914, at the old Maple Leaf Stadium on Hanlan's Point, a young rookie with the Providence Grays minor-league baseball team connected with a pitch from Ellis Johnson of the Toronto Maple Leafs and knocked it out of the park. It was the first home run ever hit in the pros by Babe Ruth,... Full Story

Register for Corktown community sale by Friday

The Corktown Residents & Business Assoc. will be holding a community yard sale in Sackville Park on Sept. 30 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The rain date for the event is Oct. 1. CRBA will provide publicity and advertising and will set up and dismantle the tables for you.A 6-ft table costs only $15.Deadl... Full Story

Grade 8 open house at TCDSB schools

Grade 8 students and their parents/guardians are welcome to attend one of the scheduled open houses at Toronto Catholic District School Board secondary schools this fall. Learn more about the various programs, services and activities as you prepare for Catholic secondary school education. Open house... Full Story

City approves landfill purchase

Toronto City Council today approved a major component of a long-term strategy for managing Toronto's waste through the approval of a letter of intent to purchase the Green Lane Landfill in southwestern Ontario. City officials have been directed to negotiate the final terms of the sale within 90 days... Full Story

Island bridge closing

Island parks staff have announced the closure of the Snake Island foot bridge, effective immediately.A new bridge and reconstructed footing are being installed. Repairs will take approximately six weeks.

Blotter: Weekend swarmings plaque 51 Division

A 24 year old female reports that on September 16, 2006 at approximately 4:47 a.m., she was walking in the vicinity of Gerrard Street East and Yonge Street, when two female suspects approached her. The suspects made a demand for her purse and the victim refused. A struggle ensued and one of the su... Full Story

Venting on the 'Boob Tube'

The childlike painted Boob Tube was place beside the Flatiron building by Toronto Hydro months ago, as a temporary measure.No consultation was made with anyone in the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood or the councilor’s office for this implant that sticks up on Front St. E. at Berczy Park.It's a ventilatio... Full Story

Chow endorses CommunityAIR weekend tour

Dear friends,Here's a really interesting and rare opportunity to tour Toronto Island Homes with the proceeds going to a cause that directly affects our neighbourhood.  The tour costs $45 and includes music, off-beat stories, art and food.  That's on Sunday September 17; 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.This a ... Full Story

$223,000 delivered to underserved kids through Growing Active Kids program

Toronto Community Foundation (TCF) today announced it will distribute $223,000 in grants so hundreds of youth in Toronto’s underserved areas can take part in summer and after-school sports and recreation programs. The funding, provided through donations to TCF’s Growing Active Kids program, means ch... Full Story

First human case of West Nile strikes in Etobicoke

Toronto Public Health is reporting the City's first human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) in 2006.Toronto Public Health was advised of a 45-year-old female resident of Etobicoke diagnosed with WNV. The individual was hospitalized for two weeks, and is now recovering at home.In 2005, the first human ca... Full Story

Public comment until Sept 1: West Don Lands

The Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation in cooperation with the City of Toronto, has completed an Addendum to the approved West Don Lands Class Environmenta Assessment (EA) Master Plan. The Addendum addresses two road links in the WDL – the River Street Extension from King Street to Bayvie... Full Story

Toronto 2015 to have huge cultural impact

Toronto’s World Expo will take place over a six-month period, but its impact on culture will be felt years before and long after the event.“Cultural events will be featured in the city and across the GTA well in advance of 2015,” said mayor David Miller. “They will be an important part of the build ... Full Story

Toronto’s Catholic and Public School Boards present “Back to School Safely” campaign

The Student Transportation Services Departments for the Toronto Catholic District School Board and the Toronto District School Board are pleased to present the annual “Back to School Safely” campaign.Mall displays are being set up around the City of Toronto to remind parents and children that a new ... Full Story

Pedestrian struck at Queen & Jameson

On Tuesday, August 22, 2006, at approximately 10:50 a.m., a 65-year-old pedestrian was walking westbound on the south sidewalk of Queen Street West at the intersection of Jameson Avenue.It is alleged that the victim stepped out into the path of a vehicle that was turning from northbound Jameson Aven... Full Story

Police seek identity of woman found in Lake Ontario

On Sunday, August 13, 2006 at about 9:20 a.m., police and emergency medical services responded to a call regarding the discovery of a body in the water at the foot of York Street.The deceased was recovered from the water, and was vital signs absent at that time. She was taken to hospital and pronoun... Full Story

These “losers” have something to brag about

Yes, the members of this group are all proud of losing… losing weight, that is.A new local support group has sprung up in the St Lawrence Neighbourhood–the St Lawrence Losers. Here, in Toronto’s best fresh market and fine dining area, these spirited neighbours help each other make culinary choices t... Full Story

Pitfield tours east Downtown

The city's heart is bleedingBy Mark BonokoskiIf all goes according to plan, Toronto mayoral candidate Jane Pitfield will take a walk on the wild side tomorrow with a tour of the epicentre of a ghetto in this city that is saturated with illegal rooming houses, homeless shelters, derelict buildings, c... Full Story

Ex hopes new solar cells set shining example for city rooftops

City of Toronto Councillor Pam McConnell, representing the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' (FCM) National Board of Directors, and the Honourable Bev Oda, MP (Durham) representing the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources Canada, announced on Aug. 22 the funding of $250,000 from ... Full Story

Tree climbers scramble for top spot

Some people climb trees for a living! And some of the best tree climbers from across Ontario will be competing for the coveted title of Ontario Tree Climbing Champion. You can watch the climbers demonstrate their skill and professionalism at the 18th Annual Ontario Tree Climbing Championship at Cent... Full Story

Neighbourhood to welcome new Sobey's

Construction is underway for a new Sobey's grocery store at the intersection of Front and Princess streets.While little is currently known about the size of the store or the number of new jobs it will bring to the Neighbourhood, Sobeys spokeswoman Kelly Norgate expects that the grand opening may be ... Full Story

Cherry St. closed until 2007

Cherry Street, from Lake Shore Boulevard to Villiers Street, will be closed in both directions from Friday, September 1 to January 2007 to accommodate repairs to the bridge over the Keating Channel.During this time, a detour route will be set up to assist traffic in the area. Vehicles travelling eas... Full Story

Boys & Girls Club open house Sept 9

On Saturday September 9, 2006 the Toronto Kiwanis Boys & Girls Club at 101 Spruce Street will open their doors to the community to see first hand, what the Club offers children and youth, aged 6 - 18.There will be scheduled tours, games for the children, face painting, and a BBQ from 12 - 6 pm. ... Full Story

Police games return to Rogers Centre

The 124th annual Police Games, featuring athletic competitions such as bicycle races, obstacle courses, police dogs and tug-of-war contests between divisions of emergency services personnel, returns to the Rogers Centre on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2006, from 2pm to 5pm in benefit of the Toronto Police Wido... Full Story

GWNA garage sale set for Sept 16

The Gooderham and Worts Neighbourhood Association will be holding its annual community garage sale on Sept 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.Residents of 39 Parliament St. and 70 and 80 Mill St. will offer "anything and everything new and old" along both sides of Trinity St. at Mill St. Offerings sh... Full Story

Feds delay Port Authority ruling another 6 weeks

Federal Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon announced Aug. 24 that the long-awaited review of the Toronto Port Authority, due out on Sept. 1, has been delayed until Oct. 15.NDP Waterfront Critic Olivia Chow responded to the delay in the Tassé review of the TPA today by calling on Cannon to put an imm... Full Story

Dying Regent Park program jeopardizes youngsters

Community agencies say the award-winning Regent Park Safe Walk Program is being cancelled due to a lack of funding.The Regent Park Safe Walk Program was founded in response to community safety concerns after nine young men died due to shootings which occurred in daylight hours in 2001. It has for ... Full Story

Students in Toronto Catholic Schools show tremendous improvement in 2005-2006 assessment of reading, writing and mathematics

Students across the Toronto Catholic District School Board have made tremendous gains in literacy and numeracy in recent years, with the latest EQAO assessment results showing improvements of between 3 and 10 per cent over the previous year. Board gains are consistently above the provincial gains f... Full Story

Old stories of Old Town sought

The Enoch Turner Schoolhouse is doing a research project on Old Town Toronto.Curator Shirley Hartt reports, "I would like to talk with current residents and former ones who remember [the area's] past... We did a bit of work on this a few years ago for the Old Town Toronto: Images of Past and Pr... Full Story

SQPR transforms Queen & John alleyway

Local artist Ryan MacKeen is making a big difference in his community.McKeen's company, Plates Animation, is located at 372 Richmond St. W. in the Entertainment District's Spadina Queen Peter Richmond, or SQPR, corridor. Earlier this year, he was asked to design and execute a mural in the grubby al... Full Story

Improvements continue for Victoria Memorial Square

Work continues at Victoria Memorial Square, site of the military burial ground associated with Fort York's earliest casualties.The Wellington and Niagara area parkette has been undergoing renovations since 2003, after a community group raised funds to restore and enhance the tiny green space and its... Full Story

Vital agency celebrates 95 years in the `hood

The Central Neighbourhood House is turning 95 and to celebrate are inviting their neighbours to a birthday barbeque on Sept. 9.The festivities start at 11 a.m. at 349 Ontario St. and include raffles, an obstacle course, face painting and sno-cones.The official unveiling of the new Central Neighbourh... Full Story

A parkette grows in the Distillery

The Gooderham and Worts Neighbourhood Association (GWNA) Inc. will be dedicating a garden and public space developed along the north side of Mill St. between Parliament and Trinity on Sept. 16 at 1 p.m.The garden has been created through the initiative of numerous community members in conjunction wi... Full Story

Grassroots right-to-know toxic chemical group started

The Toronto Environmental Alliance announced the implementation of a Community Right-to-Know list serve in August.Members of the list are "a growing list of concerned citizens who want the City of Toronto to enact a Community Right-to-Know (CRTK) By-law." Toxic campaigns coordinator Lina ... Full Story

Liberty neighbourhood association to form

MP Olivia Chow is hosting a barbecue on Sept. 16 at Stanley Park from 2 to 5 p.m. in support of the formation of a neighbourhood association for the growing Liberty residential and business community.Although there is a local BIA, Chow observes, "There is no residents' association yet. We're tr... Full Story

Downtown Trillium grants announced

Community organizations in neighbourhoods across Toronto will receive $4,905,500 in grants from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). Many of the 39 grants announced in August by Caroline Di Cocco, Ontario‚s Minister of Culture, will support healthy living and increased physical activity in Toronto... Full Story

Kiwanis kids have summer fun

Kiwanis Club of Toronto hosted the Annual-Fun-Day-At-The-Park for the children in the Toronto Kiwanis Boys & Girls Clubs and Salvation Army Day Camps.It was a beautiful sunny day, with not a cloud in the sky. The 120 children had a fun-filled day of water sliding, playing games, eating snow con... Full Story

Distillery residents updated on Expo bid

On July 13, Gooderham & Worts residents listened to representatives from the Toronto 2015 World Expo Corporation describe the city’s bid to host the 2015 World Expo.Lance Alexander, project director for the Toronto 2015 World Expo Corporation, explained the purpose of a world fair. “World fairs ... Full Story

Barrier-free decision ramps up accessibility

Advocates for barrier-free access took a step forward last month when chief commissioner and Cabbagetown resident Barbara Hall of the Ontario Human Rights Commission released “Moving Towards Barrier-Free Services,” the commission’s final report into restaurant accessibility.The report is a victory f... Full Story

SLNA seeks participants

The St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Assn. invites all residents to attend its meetings on the final Wednesday of each month (excpet Aug. & Dec.) at the Older Women’s Network, 115 The Esplanade. Or leave message at 416-368-2794. Consider representing your housing group at SLNA.

Celebration and recognition from Boys & Girls Clubs

The Toronto Kiwanis Boys & Girls Clubs, 101 Spruce St. and 68A Claremont Ave., held their Annual General Meeting on June 27.Ian Edward, executive director, hosted the evening with dinner for the 100 guests, including many members and their families.It was a heart warming evening of recognition a... Full Story

St. Lawrence Seniors bus trip announced

The St. Lawrence Seniors Club invites area seniors to join them for its annual summer bus excursion.This year’s trip will head north to Georgian Bay and take in the Black History Tour at Sheffield Park Museum. The full day event is free and sponsored by the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association C... Full Story

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