September 14th, 2023 · Comments Off on EDITORIAL: Ford exploits housing crisis (Summer 2023)
Ontario’s auditor general, Bonnie Lysyk, and now, protests across the province, have the Ford government playing their best defensive game. In a scathing investigative report released in August, Lysyk showed more of the same in terms of the Ford government’s approach to decision-making and democracy. For those of us who have been paying attention, none of it comes as a surprise, but we can only hope that this spells the end of a corrupt regime, and that these Greenbelt decisions won’t move forward. Read more
September 14th, 2023 · Comments Off on FORUM: Fighting on five fronts (Summer 2023)
No sleepy summer in University-Rosedale
By Dianne Saxe
I hope you’ve had a good summer, even if it has been the hottest in at least 120,000 years. Here are a few of the issues we have been working on for you. Read more
September 14th, 2023 · Comments Off on FORUM: Shelters overwhelmed by refugee seekers (Summer 2023)
Crisis underscores a larger housing crisis that Ford refuses to help fix
By Jessica Bell
Refugees and asylum seekers who arrive in Canada have been forced to flee their homes for many reasons, including war, violence, and natural disasters made worse by the climate crises. Read more
August 8th, 2023 · Comments Off on ON THE COVER (May/June 2023)
Olivia Chow’s campaign office on Bloor St. stands closed as she prepares to move to city hall as mayor. Chow previously served the Annex area as city councillor for 13 years, and then 8 as a member of parliament. BRIAN BURCHELL/GLEANER NEWS
August 8th, 2023 · Comments Off on NEWS: Retail suffers as developments loom (May/June 2023)
Goodness Me!, formerly Noah’s, closes after 39 years
By Fox Oliver
On Saturday, May 20, Goodness Me! Natural Food Market (formerly Noah’s Natural Food), located at 322 Bloor St. W, closed their doors for good. The store opened in 1984, but as large chunks of Bloor and Spadina are set to be demolished to make way for condominium towers, existing retail is being pushed out. Read more
August 8th, 2023 · Comments Off on NEWS: Annex honoured for pioneering Bloor bike lanes (May/June 2023)
BIA selected by advocacy group for foundational work
Brian Burchell received the Business Road Safety Champion award for his work advancing bike safety on a busy mainstreet along with the Bloor Annex BIA. NEILAND BRISSENDEN/BLOOR ANNEX BIA
August 8th, 2023 · Comments Off on ARTS: Diorama Dramas displayed at photography exhibition (May/June 2023)
The light box pictured here in Martha Davis’ garden allows children to discuss difficult subjects with trusted adults. COURTESY MARTHA DAVIS
Since retiring from her career teaching elementary school five years ago, photo artist and independent filmmaker, Martha Davis, has found opportunities to work with children outside the classroom. This May, she joined the Scotiabank Contact Photography Festival with her Diorama Dramas. Read more
August 8th, 2023 · Comments Off on EDITORIAL: Ford’s poor planning will hurt us all (May/June 2023)
Back in 1973, when Ontario Premier Doug Ford was just nine years old, Conservative Premier Bill Davis brought in the Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act. This was the foundational legislation for what we now call the Greenbelt—2 million acres of farmland, forest, wetlands and watersheds in southern Ontario. Every premier since then, of every political stripe, has fought to protect that—until now. Premier Doug Ford is bent on tearing the area apart despite whatever promises he made in the last election, and that destruction is justified by a false premise. Read more
August 8th, 2023 · Comments Off on FORUM: Addressing a housing shortage (May/June 2023)
Building a greener, safer city
By Dianne Saxe
If you’re anything like me, June means enjoying fine weather with fine people, and I hope that all of you are able to enjoy the summer to its fullest. Read more
