April 6th, 2024 · Comments Off on Grading our greenspace (Feb. 2024)
A plethora of parks in the Annex get judged
Compiled by Mia Keskinen
Each year the Annex Gleaner reviews the abundance of parks in our coverage area using a variety of criteria.
While there is no decisive “winner” of the grading, letter grades are assigned to convey the quality of the parks considering aspects such as upkeep, design, and amenities. Read more
New building plan clears hurdles at Committee of Adjustment
View, looking East from Madison Avenue, of the soon to be constructed Estonian Cultural Centre. The proposal has widespread support from the residents’ association and the city alike. COURTESY ALAR KONGATS
Residents and shoppers alike were surprised to see the Green P parking lot on Madison Avenue close in early January. The city had been leasing the space for Green P but that lease was not renewed by the property owners who also own the adjacent 11 Madison Ave. The owners plan to begin construction soon on the International Estonian Centre, a cultural and community space. In July of 2016, the Gleaner did a feature on that pending development. We include it again here as a reminder.Read more
October 8th, 2019 · Comments Off on NEWS: Bike lanes to extend to High Park (Sept. 2019)
Annex advocacy group wants to hold city to its promise
Bike lanes have an abrupt ending at Shaw Street westbound on Bloor. JUAN ROMERO/GLEANER NEWS
By Juan Romero
The City of Toronto has approved the extension of the bike lanes on Bloor Street from Shaw Street to High Park and a local activist group is trying to make sure the project gets fulfilled. Read more
October 8th, 2019 · Comments Off on FOCUS: Annex’s own little Italy (Sept. 2019)
Institute promotes Italian culture for all
Not just another former Annex mansion, this building located at 496 Huron Street (just north of Bloor) houses the Italian Cultural Institute of Toronto. Sponsored by the government of Italy, the centre offers a rich array of programming. JUAN ROMERO/GLEANER NEWS
September 2nd, 2019 · Comments Off on ON THE COVER: (August 2019)
A Different Booklist, located at 779 Bathurst St., has long been a repository of local history and recently initiated a unique time capsule project burying some of the culture of the present beneath the re-development of the Honest Ed’s site by Westbank Corp. at Bathurst and Bloor. For more on the project, please see click here. JUAN ROMERO/GLEANER?NEWS
September 2nd, 2019 · Comments Off on NEWS: CTS art programs cut (August 2019)
Classes cut in wake of funding changes
Examples of student work from the soon-to-be cancelled art sculpture program at CTS. JUAN ROMERO/GLEANER?NEWS
By Juan Romero
The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) has approved a budget reduction plan for the 2019-20 school year. The budget reduction comes as a result of the provincial government’s education cuts across Ontario in the past year. Read more
September 2nd, 2019 · Comments Off on CHATTER: Excavators discover giant rock off Bloor Street (August 2019)
Contractors excavating to create a BIA-sponsored parkette made a surprise discovery. BRIAN BURCHELL/GLEANER NEWS
Residents got a taste of the ice age in the form of a large boulder found at a construction site on Bloor Street at Major. Construction workers excavating the location of a new parkette dug up the boulder at the end of July. Read more
The prospect of a little time-travelling attracted a large gathering of residents to A Different Booklist on May 29. There was a definitely palpable sense of intrigue and excitement at the event as messages had been prepared to send to the future. Read more
September 2nd, 2019 · Comments Off on FOCUS: Police raid Café weed dispensary on Harbord (August 2019)
City installs concrete blockade of entrance
By Juan Romero
A shop belonging to the chain Cannabis and Fine Edibles on Harbord Street has been raided by police numerous times over the summer. Similarly to other Café locations raided by police, these raids have proved largely ineffective — with the shops managing to be up and running in less than 24 hours following each one. Read more
July 16th, 2019 · Comments Off on NEWS: Patio proposal moves ahead, tentatively (Summer 2019)
Layton helps forge a compromise for cheesecake purveyor
By Nabahat Hussain and Juan Romero
After a lengthy dispute with the Harbord Village Residents’ Association (HVRA), the recently opened “LeTao Sweets” bakery is up and running with tentative plans for a patio next summer. Read more
Aerial view of the proposed 3-storey Estonian Cultural Centre and the set to be built at 9 and 11 Madison Ave. in Toronto. The building will have an eye-catching rooftop garden for visitors to enjoy. COURTESY ALAR KONGATS
New building plan clears hurdles at Committee of Adjustment
July 16th, 2019 · Comments Off on GRADING OUR GREENSPACE: Open spaces in the heart of the Annex (Summer 2019)
Lots of places for ambling with a dog, playing sports, or watching the world go by
This is our first set of park reviews for 2019. The Annex and its surroundings are blessed with a rich array of green space — much of it under the umbrella of city parks. We grade them here, every year using many parameters. Many a venue to run your dog, laze away a day, grab a seat in the sunshine, or shade, push a child on the swing set, the Annex has it all.Read more
