The reviews accompanying the grades also let the reader know what makes each space unique. This is the third instalment of reviews for 2024.

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This collection of park reviews is the third and final instalment of the 2023 series and contains ten park reviews, with more gradings to come this summer. 

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The Ford government is passing damaging legislation in the middle of the summer while attention on politics is low. Here’s what’s happening.

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Environment, evictions, schools dominate final days of Queen’s Park 2020 Session By Jessica Bell Queen’s Park closed for the year on December 8. Here are the legislative highlights from the final few weeks: The Ford government continued trampling on Ontario’s natural environment. Government Bill 229 stripped the power of local conservation authorities to protect water […]

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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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Back at Queen’s Park, Ford resumes his agenda By Jessica Bell After ordering the longest break in almost 25 years, Doug Ford finally let Queen’s Park get back to business last month. While the government signalled they would take a more tempered approach, the legislation the government has introduced shows the premier is continuing his […]

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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 […]

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Vote progressive on election day By Jessica Bell Doug Ford has hurt Toronto. Ford slashed Toronto’s wards from 47 to 25 in the middle of an election, and threatened to suspend our Charter rights and freedoms by invoking the notwithstanding clause for the first time in Ontario’s history. Why did Ford trample on Toronto? Because […]

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  More how nice! EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice (Summer 2018) EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice (July 2018) EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice (Election Special 2018) EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice (May 2018) EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice (Spring 2018) EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice (Mar. 2018) EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice (Dec. 2017) EDITORIAL CARTOON How nice! (August 2017) EDITORIAL CARTOON How […]

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From Christie Pits to Robert Street Park In this year’s final series of park reviews, we discover the best and the worst of our local green spaces. The best, exemplified by Christie Pits, feature wide open spaces, fields and courts, playgrounds and swimming pools, all of which are well maintained. The worst can be summed […]

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A case for inclusivity and fairness By Jessica Bell I’ve been a community organizer and an executive director of non-profits for nearly 20 years, winning real change for human rights and the environment. In Toronto, I co-founded a transit advocacy organization, TTCriders, because Toronto needs an affordable world-class public transit system. I was inspired to […]

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Lots of places for ambling with a dog, playing sports, or watching the world go by Where are the best bathrooms, the best spots to laze away a day, or the best place to run a dog? It’s all here in the second instalment of our annual parks review. We’ll run the third and final […]

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