Gleaner

Serving Toronto's most liveable community with the Annex Gleaner

ON THE COVER: Keeping an eye on our greenspace (Aug. 2020)

September 9th, 2020 · Comments Off on ON THE COVER: Keeping an eye on our greenspace (Aug. 2020)

Sally Bird Park is located mid-block on Brunswick Ave. north of Harbord St. Long plagued by graffiti this mural has garnered the respect of taggers who leave it alone. See more about the area’s parks in our annual reviews. TANYA IELYSEIEVA/GLEANER NEWS

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Tags: Annex · News

NEWS: U of T’s unique laneway homes (Aug. 2020)

September 9th, 2020 · Comments Off on NEWS: U of T’s unique laneway homes (Aug. 2020)

Sustainable design was key to plan to build these and more

The University of Toronto has invested heavily into energy efficient laneway houses as part of a pilot project — as seen here in a laneway just east of Huron St. near Robarts Library. MARY AN/GLEANER NEWS

By Mary An 

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Tags: Annex · News

NEWS: Residents reject plans for Planetarium site (Aug. 2020)

September 9th, 2020 · Comments Off on NEWS: Residents reject plans for Planetarium site (Aug. 2020)

New plans fail to quell concerns

Residents and the University of Toronto continue to clash over the design of the building that will replace the planetarium. This is the latest rendering. COURTESY U OF T

By Tanya Ielyseieva

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Tags: Annex · News

CHATTER: “More than a farmers’ market” re-opens safely (Aug. 2020)

September 9th, 2020 · Comments Off on CHATTER: “More than a farmers’ market” re-opens safely (Aug. 2020)

Christopher Dunbar, owner of Dunbar Organic Farm, is excited to get back into the community and to share his harvest at the farmers’ market. MARY AN/GLEANER NEWS

After a long delay, the volunteer-run Bloor and Borden farmers’ market is open and ready for another season. The market takes place Wednesdays from 3-7 p.m. It’s located in the Green P parking lot off Borden Street just south of Bloor Street. 

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Tags: Annex · News

CHATTER: Spadina Road getting new pipes (Aug. 2020)

September 9th, 2020 · Comments Off on CHATTER: Spadina Road getting new pipes (Aug. 2020)

According to the City of Toronto, each year it replaces approximately 3000 substandard water service pipes during planned construction projects. This summer they are tackling the water main beneath Spadina Road between Bloor and Dupont Streets, which is more than 130 years old. 

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Tags: Annex · News

NEWS: Police Safety Scholarship winner (August 2020)

September 9th, 2020 · Comments Off on NEWS: Police Safety Scholarship winner (August 2020)

Harbord Collegiate student makes a difference, TPS takes notice

Emily Nguyen receives the Community Safety Scholarship Award from the Toronto Police. From left to right are Monica Yardley (Treasurer of the Community Police Liaison Committee), Emily Nguyen, Brian Burchell (Scholarship Chair and publisher of this newspaper), P.C. Alfred Adjei, P.C. David Shepard, and P.C. Amir Elias.
MARY AN/GLEANER NEWS

By Mary An


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Tags: Annex · News

GRADING OUR GREENSPACE: Grading the green (August 2020)

September 9th, 2020 · 1 Comment

Park it here

In this year’s installment of evaluating park spaces within the Gleaner’s catchment area, our observers noted the impressive revival of Queen’s Park North showing what a great city can do when it focuses its imagination and resources. The neglected Euclid Avenue Park, near Koreatown, shows what happens when these resources are withheld. Compiled by Mary An, Tanya Ielyseieva, and Nicole Stoffman.

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Tags: Annex · Life

EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice (Aug. 2020)

September 9th, 2020 · Comments Off on EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice (Aug. 2020)

READ MORE BY BRETT LAMB:

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Tags: Annex · Editorial · Opinion

EDITORIAL: When “expert” plans look more like a gamble (Aug. 2020)

September 9th, 2020 · Comments Off on EDITORIAL: When “expert” plans look more like a gamble (Aug. 2020)

It’s a plan created by experts, and teachers need to step-up. That’s what Premier Ford and his ministers are saying about their back-to-school plan for Ontario students. The plan, which deserves some praise for permitting some two dozen school boards across the province to have their high school students take half their courses online, effectively reduces class sizes. The elementary school strategy, however, has garnered a less than enthusiastic response from school boards, teachers, parents, and – experts. Five hundred new nurses, and thirteen hundred additional custodians are being hired, but this will do nothing to reduce direct transmission between students or between students and staff. Let’s take a closer look.

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Tags: Annex · Editorial · Opinion

FORUM: Making it green (Aug. 2020)

September 9th, 2020 · 1 Comment

Parks must grow with the city

By Mike Layton 

As summer slowly comes to a close, it is important to reflect on the ways that our city has developed during these challenging times. Our response to the pandemic has uniquely highlighted that investing in public green spaces and active transportation infrastructure means a better quality of life for Torontonians. 

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Tags: Annex · Columns · Opinion

FORUM: What can we do to fight for safe public education? (Aug. 2020)

September 9th, 2020 · Comments Off on FORUM: What can we do to fight for safe public education? (Aug. 2020)

Premier’s plan creates chaos, sows division

By Jessica Bell

Since school closed in March, our family has been struggling with the impossible job of full-time work and full-time parenting our two school-aged children. I, along with the parents of Ontario’s other two million school-age children, have been waiting for the Ontario government to release its back-to-school plan. However, its release — just weeks before school is scheduled to begin and without any serious consultation with the community — brought feelings of relief, anxiety, hopelessness, and rage.

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Tags: Annex · Opinion

ARTS: Takin’ it to the streets (Aug. 2020)

September 9th, 2020 · Comments Off on ARTS: Takin’ it to the streets (Aug. 2020)

A trio of neighbours pooled their money together to bring the Julie Michaels Trio to Walmer Rd. for a soulful driveway concert on Aug. 19. NICOLE STOFFMAN/GLEANER NEWS

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Tags: Annex · Arts

ARTS: The arts are open! (Almost) (Aug. 2020)

September 9th, 2020 · Comments Off on ARTS: The arts are open! (Almost) (Aug. 2020)

Come tread gently in the Culture Corridor

By Meribeth Deen

Are your eyes crossed yet? If you haven’t already, it’s time to shut the computer down. Yes, we are still in a global pandemic, but you can leave your house now and become re-acquainted with the city’s public spaces. Just be sure to check your venues’ COVID-19-policies so you can follow the rules of entry.

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Tags: Annex · Arts