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NEWS (JULY 2017): New vision for Bloor Street United

August 1st, 2017 · 1 Comment

Conserving church a priority

PHOTO COURTESY TORONTO PUBLIC LIBRARY: Bloor Street United Church in 1888. The church lost its steps and main entrance when it was truncated in 1927 to make way for the widening of Bloor Street West.

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Tags: Annex · News

GRADING OUR GREENSPACE (JULY 2017): Open spaces in the heart of the Annex

August 1st, 2017 · Comments Off on GRADING OUR GREENSPACE (JULY 2017): Open spaces in the heart of the Annex

Lots of places for ambling with a dog, playing sports, or watching the world go by

PHOTO BY GEREMY BORDONARO/GLEANER NEWS: There’s lots for kids to do at the recently renovated Margaret Fairley Park, where the installation of a new wading pool and seating area is almost complete. The revitalized park has a determined Muskoka feel to it that might strike some as a bit too sterile.

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Tags: Annex · Life

FORUM (JULY 2017): Recognize and reconcile Canada at 150

August 1st, 2017 · 1 Comment

Take personal actions to work towards reconciliation

By Mike Layton

As festivities wind down from Canada’s 150th birthday, we are granted an important opportunity to look back at where we have been as a nation and chart our course for the nation we want to become.

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Tags: Annex · Columns · Opinion

FORUM (JULY 2017): Butter tarts, tourtière, and raisin maple donuts

August 1st, 2017 · Comments Off on FORUM (JULY 2017): Butter tarts, tourtière, and raisin maple donuts

Local politicians celebrate Canada at 150

As the nation celebrated the big 150 this month, we wondered how our local politicians marked our big day. Member of Provincial Parliament Han Dong (Trinity-Spadina), councillors Joe Cressy (Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina) and Mike Layton (Ward 19, Trinity-Spadina), and Toronto Catholic District School Board trustee Catholic School Board Jo-Ann Davis (Ward 9, Spadina-Fort York) shared their Canada Day plans, and some of their favourite Canadian facts, books, and treats!

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Tags: Annex · Opinion

NEWS (JUNE 2017): Affordable housing on the agenda

June 30th, 2017 · Comments Off on NEWS (JUNE 2017): Affordable housing on the agenda

PARA AGM focused on Mirvish Village development

By Geremy Bordonaro

Westbank Projects Corp.’s Mirvish Village development was the focus of the Palmerston Area Residents’ Association (PARA) annual general meeting last month.

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Tags: Annex · News

NEWS (JUNE 2017): Karma marks 45 years

June 30th, 2017 · Comments Off on NEWS (JUNE 2017): Karma marks 45 years

PHOTO BY EMILIE JONES/GLEANER NEWS: Seaton Village’s Karma Co-op celebrates 45 years on June 24.

Co-op creates community through food

By Emilie Jones

In our fast-paced, busy world, Karma Co-op has managed to stay true to its philosophy of creating a tight-knit community built around sustainable food. Although there have been changes since it was founded 45 years ago, Karma’s ideals continue to revolve around the people: their wants, their needs, and their produce.

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Tags: Annex · News

NEWS (JUNE 2017): Boon or bane?

June 30th, 2017 · Comments Off on NEWS (JUNE 2017): Boon or bane?

PHOTO BY GEREMY BORDONARO/GLEANER NEWS: Attendees at the third public consultation on the Bloor Street Pilot Bike Lanes annotated a map with comments on the pilot project. The annotations devolved into a war of words, in which one resident found himself battling another over the viability of businesses and bikes.

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Tags: Annex · News

CHATTER (JUNE 2017): Building business on Bloor Street

June 30th, 2017 · Comments Off on CHATTER (JUNE 2017): Building business on Bloor Street

Cycle Toronto has launched a new program aimed at boosting business on Bloor Street. Pick up a “Bike and Buy: Tour de Bloor Passport” from Cycle Toronto and have it stamped every time you eat or shop at one of 73 participating businesses between Avenue Road and Shaw Street. Passport-holders will be entered in a draw for discounts and prizes, including a Simcoe Bike valued at $850 from Curbside Cycle. The program will run until the end of the September. Passports are available at Curbside Cycle, Sweet Pete’s B-Side (Annex), and bloorlovesbikes.ca.

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Tags: Annex · News

FORUM (JUNE 2017): Address affordable housing

June 30th, 2017 · Comments Off on FORUM (JUNE 2017): Address affordable housing

All levels of government must take responsibility

By Joe Cressy

Some people measure the progress of a city by the speed of its transit systems or the quality of its public parks, by the number of schools in a neighbourhood, or by the number of potholes filled each year.

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Tags: Annex · Columns · Opinion

NEWS (MAY 2017): Restored Brunswick House reopens

May 26th, 2017 · Comments Off on NEWS (MAY 2017): Restored Brunswick House reopens

Exhibition features musical memorabilia

PHOTO BY GEREMY BORDONARO/GLEANER NEWS: Rexall Brunswick features many nods to history and community, such as this street sign.

By Annemarie Brissenden

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Tags: Annex · News

NEWS (MAY 2017): Development dominates discussion

May 26th, 2017 · Comments Off on NEWS (MAY 2017): Development dominates discussion

ARA holds annual general meeting

By Geremy Bordonaro

Development dominated the Annex Residents’ Association (ARA) annual general meeting on April 27.

The area has seen an increase in developments over the last few years, most notably the Westbank Projects Corp.’s Mirvish Village development, and that coloured every topic of discussion, from bike lanes to community housing.

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Tags: Annex · News

NEWS (APRIL 2017): U of T seeks to expand planning exemption

April 10th, 2017 · Comments Off on NEWS (APRIL 2017): U of T seeks to expand planning exemption

Proposal designates character areas

PHOTO BY BRIAN BURCHELL/GLEANER NEWS: Audience members at a community meeting fear that extending the University of Toronto’s Planning Act exemptions for its St. George campus would lead to additional new development in the area.

By Brian Burchell

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Tags: Annex · News

EDITORIAL (APRIL 2017): Westbank’s positive precedent

April 10th, 2017 · 1 Comment

The Toronto and East York Community Council unanimously endorsed a planning staff recommendation to approve Westbank Projects Corp.’s application to redevelop the southwest corner of Bloor and Bathurst streets on April 4. It’s a significant milestone that comes after three years of community consultations and collaborative work between the Vancouver-based developer, planning staff, and community representatives.

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Tags: Annex · Editorial