September 29th, 2025 · Comments Off on ON THE COVER: By the Way to close on August 31 (Aug. 2025)
SORRY ! OUT OF CHICKEN !! A neighbourhood stalwart, By The Way at 400 Bloor St. W., is closing on August 31. When they first opened, their landlord insisted they keep the “Lick’n Chicken” sign—despite not serving any chicken. Please turn to page 2 for more. COURTESY BY THE WAY
A fixture on Bloor Street since 1978, By The Way will close its doors on August 31 for the last time.
The restaurant is remembered fondly by regulars for its quirky nomenclature, Levantine cuisine, and as an early adopter of vegan and vegetarian options as well as frozen yogurt treats.
In its early iteration as the Lick’n Chicken, it inherited the name and décor of the fried chicken joint that preceded it, even though it served up a vegetarian menu. To dispel confusion, they displayed a cheeky sign that read: “Sorry! out of chicken!!” When it was renamed By The Way, the chicken signs remained.
The restaurant’s presence on Bloor predates its owners. The Benedikts met on a kibbutz in Israel and were married in Mexico City. On their way back to Israel, they stopped in Canada to visit Amir Benedikt’s sister, Esti Filar. Esti was running the restaurant, then called the Lick’n Chicken, with her husband Dubi. She invited the newlyweds to join the venture.
“It was an opportunity to change my life. To try something completely different,” said Benedikt.
In 1980, the Benedikts immigrated and partnered with the family on their restaurants. In 1986, they split their holdings—the Filars took the Rosedale Diner, and the Benedikts took By The Way.
The work was gruelling. Benedikt often put in 15-hour days, seven days a week. “I cooked, I did dishes, I even served sometimes – I did everything,” he said.
But his hard work didn’t go unnoticed. By The Way quickly became a beloved neighbourhood haunt.
Everyone in the community is invited to stop in at By the Way for an open house on Sunday, August 31 at 6 p.m. to say goodbye.
Stay tuned for a full story on By the Way in the next issue of the Annex Gleaner.
—Gleaner News Staff
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September 29th, 2025 · Comments Off on NEWS: Self-driving delivery vehicles spark privacy concerns (Aug. 2025)
Province approves Magna pilot for several wards including University-Rosedale
Magna’s pilot program supports small-package deliveries like food, groceries, and retail items.COURTESY MAGNA
By Abigail Harris
Magna International, a global automative supplier and mobility tech company, launched their Automated Vehicle Pilot Program in May 2025.
The program is testing electric, self-driving delivery vehicles (SDVs) as part of a food delivery service, and the pilot area includes the Annex.
The Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO) approved the pilot in April, allowing the vehicles to operate in Ward 9 and in portions of Wards 4, 5, 11, and 12.
All vehicles will receive their own Ontario licence plates and will be subject to the same road rules as conventionally operated vehicles.
According to Magna’s website, sensors on the vehicle will collect data from the surrounding area which will “incidentally include personal information such as images of people and vehicle license plates.”
In June, Khasir Hean and Ilya Kreynin, members of the group Technologists for Democracy, wrote a letter to Magna along with four other members detailing their privacy concerns with the pilot.
Kreynin and Hean joined other Technologists for Democracy members at city hall in June to discuss their concerns with the city’s infrastructure and environment committee, and city councillors passed a motion on June 26 to investigate data privacy issues surrounding Magna.
Kreynin said that they became aware of the issue when fellow member JJ Fueser told them about the new self-driving vehicle pilot.
“When JJ [Fueser] first brought this to our attention, and we gave a brief read of the open privacy policy that Magna has, it was egregiously overstepping,” Kreynin said. “We realized that there was really low awareness of this and that there wasn’t anybody else who was speaking out about this directly.”
Hean said Magna is recording faces because they believe them to be useful in determining the gait of passersby in relation to their vehicles.
“Magna fully intends to record the faces of individuals that it passes by on the streets because it believes that faces are useful to help predict where people are walking,” Hean said. “Other self-driving vehicle companies don’t record people’s faces. They blur them.”
Magna states that they will retain this data for “as long as necessary,” which Kreynin says sets a dangerous precedent.
“That’s entirely vague. They can keep it however long they want,” Kreynin said. “This is a new level of privacy breach in terms of this type of storing and anonymization. This company is running their cameras and robots into our neighborhood where people did not choose and consent to this happening.”
The privacy policy also asserts that data will be shared with third parties such as insurance providers, law enforcement, and other officials when required by law.
Hean says this raises many questions about Magna’s process of sharing this information and its ethicality.
“Where’s the accountability in that?” Hean said. “How will we be informed if the police decide to use Magna as a live tracking device as well as a food delivery service? How do we and the public know this? There’s no mechanism to inform the public.”
Kreynin says Magna responded to their letter in July, not by addressing their concerns, but by inviting them to tour their facility.
“While they invited us to the facility, they have not responded to any of the clear and direct concerns laid out in the letter in writing,” Kreynin said. “We have not received any kind of satisfactory or clear response from Magna at this time.”
According to Kreynin, an important consideration in this emerging new technology is whether it is helping or hurting communities
“The point of the vehicles is to replace workers,” Kreynin said. “This industry is only set to expand in a way that is likely to hurt local businesses and communities. The question is, what is the effect that this has on our society? This pilot is not just a pilot technology; it’s a pilot of integration into our society.”
Magna International did not respond to the Gleaner’s request for an interview.
Comments Off on NEWS: Self-driving delivery vehicles spark privacy concerns (Aug. 2025)Tags:Annex · News
September 29th, 2025 · Comments Off on NEWS: Telling human history through footwear (Aug. 2025)
Bata Shoe Museum celebrates 30 years of innovative programming
As part of their 30th anniversary celebrations, the Bata Shoe Museum unveiled their Rough & Ready: A History of the Cowboy Boot exhibit which runs until October 2026. COURTESY BATA SHOE MUSEUM
Curated by Elizabeth Semmelhack, the director and senior curator at the BSM, the exhibition launched in May and traces the history of cowboy boots far beyond the Wild West, from the 10th century to today. Semmelhack chose this theme for the milestone celebration as its complex narrative represents the museum’s mission to illuminate human history through footwear.
“It’s not always known that the origins of the cowboy boot stretch far beyond the American West, including innovations developed in Asia, Spain, North Africa, and present-day Mexico. Since their invention in the late nineteenth century, cowboy boots have embodied contradiction,” said Semmelhack in a press release. “They have symbolized labour and leisure, freedom and domination, as well as resistance and reclamation. Whether worn in the saddle, on screen, or in the streets, cowboy boots are a cultural touchstone, embodying both tradition and transformation in a constantly changing world.”
The BSM was founded by Sonja Bata (née Wettstein), who was the wife of Thomas Bata, the head of the global shoe manufacturing company and retail store Bata Shoes. Sonja Bata acquired a large collection of footwear artefacts during her business travels around the world, and she founded the Bata Shoe Museum Foundation in 1979 which was dedicated to footwear collection and research. The BSM now holds 14,000 shoes and shoe-related artefacts from auctions, donations, and manufacturers. At any given time, the shoes on display account for only about three to four per cent of the collection.
The BSM officially opened on May 6, 1995 at 327 Bloor St. W. The building was designed by Canadian architect Raymond Moriyama who drew inspiration from a shoe box. That year, Moriyama received the City of Toronto’s Urban Design of Excellence.
Proximity to other major institutions such as the Royal Ontario Museum, the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Arts, the University of Toronto, and TTC subway stations was an important consideration when choosing the location of the museum because the collection is intended for both researchers and the general public.
Since opening, the museum has had a large impact on not only the neighbourhood but also the city and the province.
“The Bata Shoe Museum is a special delight. It’s truly a gift to have an iconic Moriyama building in our neighbourhood,” wrote Charlotte Mickie, a vice-chair of The Annex Residents’ Association. “The exhibits are often delightfully whimsical, but they always have an appropriately firm footing in everyday life and revealing connections to popular culture.”
The Ontario Cultural AttractionsFund (OCAF) supports the marketing and promotional costs for cultural organizations such as the BSM to “increase the cultural cachet of Ontario,” said Thomas Vaughan, the executive director.
“What they’re doing is really interesting programming,” said Vaughan, “Not only is it all based around footwear, so that’s unique in and of itself, but they do really innovative programming. It’s not just like, ‘Oh, this type of shoe, that type of shoe.’ They really go deeper into the cultural significance of footwear.”
OCAF has invested $780,000 in the BSM since its decennial, including $80,000 for the 30th anniversary celebrations.
“They’ve been a fantastic client of the fund,” explained Vaughan. “They really showcase a unique cultural attraction, and it’s a real gift of the Bata family to the province of Ontario.”
“For 30 years, the Bata Shoe Museum has illuminated the global history of footwear and explored its profound cultural significance through groundbreaking exhibitions, publications, and programming,” wrote Semmelhack. “As we honour the legacy of our past, we also look to the future, affirming our commitment to education, preservation, and impactful storytelling through the lens of shoes. With an unwavering commitment to community, we look forward to celebrating with you and creating new memories for decades to come.”
Rough & Ready will remain on display at the museum until October 2026, joining the permanent exhibition All About Shoes which traces not only the history of shoes but history through shoes.
Running concurrently until March 2026 is Art/Wear: Sneakers x Artists, which follows the history and impact of these collaborations. Exhibit A: Investigating Crime and Footwear will also be on display until September 28, and its varying and subversive interpretations of crime are not to be missed.
Tickets for the BSM are $16 for adults, $12 for seniors, $8 for post-secondary students, and $5 for children aged 5 to 17. Admission is free for everyone on Sundays, as well as for children under four, care and support workers, and Indigenous Peoples every day.
September 29th, 2025 · Comments Off on NEWS: Porch View Dances return (Aug. 2025)
150 residents attend 14th annual performance
Lucia Rojas performs I am who we are, choreographed by Pulga Muchochoma, at the opening night of the Porch View Dances on July 16. ABIGAIL HARRIS/GLEANER NEWS
By Abigail Harris
Contemporary dance studio Kaeja d’Dance hosted their annual Porch View Dances (PVD) in Seaton Village from July 16-20.
Audience members traveled as a group to watch choreographed dance works performed on the porches and lawns of local residents. The PVD concept was created by Karen Kaeja and has been co-developed alongside her husband, Allen Kaeja.
Kaeja told the Gleaner the idea was conceived in 2012 after she was inspired by watching interactions between her neighbors outside her front window.
“I noticed what was happening across the street and started dreaming about the gestures that were coming out of them while they were talking,” Kaeja said. “I started imagining that being put into choreography and teaming these everyday folks that live in these homes with professional choreographers.”
This year’s show featured three porch performances, three vignettes and one installation. The tour ended with a Flock Landing in Vermont Square Park, inviting audience members to participate in a choreographed group movement.
Roughly 150 residents came along for the opening night performance, with Councillor Dianne Saxe (Ward 11, University-Rosedale) and Councillor Josh Matlow (Ward 12, Toronto-St. Paul’s) in attendance.
Tour guides Kunji Ikeda and Allen Kaeja took on the personas of Amon and Emon, guiding the audience between houses, from London Street to Euclid Avenue to Manning Avenue.
Kaeja said that the festival aims to bring together not only dancers, but participants from across Toronto.
“There are diverse choreographers from all over the city from all different backgrounds, and they bring their colleagues, friends and people that they know in their lives,” Kaeja said. “So not only are the choreographers from all over the city, so are the participants.”
According to Kaeja, the festival is designed to keep the audience on their toes while also feeling bright and approachable.
“We add in these surprises and make sure that the choreographers are keeping work light and joyful,” Kaeja said. “Really, this festival is about joy.”
Those interested in making a donation to support Kaeja d’Dance and PVD can visit their website at kaeja.org.
September 29th, 2025 · Comments Off on GRADING OUR GREENSPACE: How do our parks measure up? (Aug. 2025)
Part 2 of grading our greenspaces
Each year the Annex Gleaner reviews the many parks and parkettes 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. The reviews accompanying the grades also let the reader know what makes each space unique. This is the second instalment of reviews for 2025.
Reviewed and compiled by Abigail Harris except where noted by Drew Glennie
Healy Willian is an ideal destination for young parkgoers.
Healey Willan Park 50 Sussex Ave. Time of visit: 1:30 p.m. Grade: A (last year’s grade: B+) Reason to go: Healey Willan Park, located at Euclid Avenue near Harbord Street, is an excellent greenspace for younger parkgoers. One of its most exciting features is the sandy playground area that includes a plethora of shared toys. In addition, there’s a lush children’s learning garden in the corner of the park and a wading pool for hot summer days. It’s a great spot to pair with a visit to Margaret Fairley Park which also boasts an impressive supply of children’s toys and is only a 10-minute walk east. There’s plenty of shade and benches around the perimeter of the park. The park’s residential location in Palmerston-Little Italy makes for a peaceful, uninterrupted atmosphere. Overheard: A dog chasing after a deflated soccer ball it’s owner just kicked. Did you know? Healey Willan was a celebrated Canadian organist and composer. For over 45 years, he served as the choir master of the Church of St. Mary Magdalene which is right next to the park.
Euclid Avenue Parkette By Drew Glennie 711 Euclid Ave. Time of visit: 12:57 p.m. Grade: F (last year’s Grade: D-) Reason to go: Euclid Avenue Parkette is at best a desire path and at worst an abandoned lot. The grass is sparse and yellowed, and it has begun to spread onto the rocky trail (and, in other areas of the path, vice versa). Signs and trash cans are covered in graffiti. Trash is strewn about, and not just food containers, cutlery, and straws, but also unbelievably a computer keyboard hidden in the shrubbery. There are three benches lining the walkway, but the tree canopy is so sparse that it does not provide adequate shade; plus, unlike other parkettes in the area, Euclid is too far from the main strip of Bloor to provide a convenient respite. Overheard: Folks helping a driver navigate the small back parking lot of the neighbouring Palmerston library branch. Did you know? The tree at the center of the parkette is not a willow but just a drooping ash.
Huron Street Playground 495 Huron St. Time of visit: 11:27 a.m. Grade: A- (Last year’s grade: A-) Reason to go: Huron Street Playground offers a versatile park experience for a variety of folks. A renovation in recent years added a small off-leash dog area with artificial turf, making it perfect for dog owners. A rope play structure, sandpit, artificial rock, and swing set provide a modest selection of entertainment for younger guests. The greenspace is nicely shaded with some picnic tables and benches to relax on while you watch your little ones play. Unfortunately, noise surrounding the park seems to be a constant, especially given the park’s proximity to Bloor Street West. Two towering apartment buildings line the perimeter, providing shade and a sense of privacy which is a plus. Overheard: A parking enforcement officer rides by on his bike surveying for violations. Did you know: Huron Street is named after the Wendat people who were given the name Huron by the French.
Philosopher’s Walk 78 Queen’s Park Cres. Time of visit: 1:57 p.m. Grade: A+ (Last year’s grade: A+) Reason to go: Nestled between The Royal Conservatory and The Royal Ontario Museum, Philosopher’s Walk is a beautiful footpath located in the city’s core. When entering the park through the northern entrance on Bloor Street West, you are welcomed by the Queen Alexandra Gates. They were donated to the city in 1901 to commemorate a visit from the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall. The path is lined by spruce trees and benches that make it the perfect spot to take a break from the busy city streets. The park’s topography includes dips and valleys which serve as a reminder of the historical Taddle Creek which was buried in the 1880s. Overheard: Two mothers walk by, and one asks, “Do your kids get enough sleep?” Did you know? In the 1860s, the portion of Taddle Creek that flowed through the University of Toronto was dammed to create McCaul’s pond. It was a popular spot among students until it was covered in 1884.
Queen’s Park North 47 Queen’s Park Cres. Time of visit: 12:48 p.m. Grade: A (Last year’s grade: A) Reason to go: Queen’s Park North is one of those places every Torontonian should visit at least once. The main spectacle here is an imposing equestrian statue of King Edward VII who opened Queen’s Park in 1860 when he was the Prince of Wales. Benches encircle the statue where you can sit and observe tourists and locals taking pictures with the monument. At the north end of the park is the 48th Highlanders Regimental Memorial which was erected in 1923 in memory of those in the 48th Highlander Regiment who lost their lives in the First World War. But the park has more to offer than just history. Tree fanatics will enjoy this greenspace, and there’s an infographic along the path that shows the variety of common Toronto trees you can find in the park, from Norway maples to Austrian pines. If you feel up to it, you can try to track down all 12 variety of trees in the park. Overheard: “Get closer than that!” says a visitor taking a picture next to the statue of King Edward VII. Did you know? Established in 1860, Queen’s Park is one of the oldest urban parks in Canada.
Queen’s Park is a must-see spot in the city core that’s rich with history.
Queen’s Park 110 Wellesley St. W. Time of visit: 1:37 p.m. Grade: A+ (Last year’s grade: A) Reason to go: Home to the Ontario legislature, Queen’s Park is another must-see park in the city core. You can choose to admire the stately Romanesque Revival architecture from a distance or book a free guided tour of the building online. Tours run every 30 minutes. The greenspace is home to 38 plaques and monuments, all central to Canadian history. A legend at the south end of the park shows you where to find them. The front entrance of the building is framed by two statues. One is Queen Elizabeth II, and the other is John Sandfield Macdonald, Ontario’s first premier. The landscaping is beautiful, and there are some lovely shaded areas which make the park not only a historical landmark but a great spot for a picnic. Overheard: “Excuse me, do you know where the John A. Macdonald statue is?” Did you know? This park is home to several eastern white pines which were declared Ontario’s official tree in 1984.
Taddle Creek Park 40 Bedford Rd. Time of visit: 12:14 p.m. Grade: A (Last year’s grade: A) Reason to go: The picturesque Taddle Creek Park is in the heart of the Annex at Bedford Road and Lowther Avenue. Although the park is near Bloor Street, it feels sheltered from the city noise and chaos. A large stainless steel sculpture of a pitcher, titled The Vessel, pays homage to the buried waterway of Taddle Creek that used to run through the neighborhood. Water from the fountain is stored underground and used to irrigate the park. Parkgoers can sit and watch as water drips from the top of the pitcher’s spout. There’s a playground area on the other side of the park with a sandbox and swing set. A plaque at the Lowther Avenue entrance of the park honours Beatrice Worsley who lived next to the park and was the first female Canadian computer scientist. Overheard: Sparrows chirp and flap their wings as they cool off at the base of the fountain. Did you know? The Vessel is made from four kilometres of stainless steel rods because this was the length of Taddle Creek when it ran from downtown Toronto to Lake Ontario.
Huron Washington Parkette 420 Huron St. Time of visit: 1:05 p.m. Grade: B (Last year’s grade: B+) Reason to go: Huron Washington Parkette is a charming miniature greenspace just south of Bloor Street. Most of the parkette is a fenced-off playground area with a lone picnic table outside for parents to keep a close watch. The parkette used to be located across the street next to the University of Toronto Schools. If you visit, you will be reminded of this because the sign is confusingly still at its old site. If you want to be immersed in nature, Huron Washington Parkette is probably not the park for you. However, it’s a great place to take your little ones if they want to blow off some steam. Overheard: Construction on Bloor Street. Did you know? This park was once on the north side of Sussex, but it was relocated temporarily to the south side during the University of Toronto Schools’ renovations. There appears to be no rush to move it back.
The landscaping and architecture of the Village of Yorkville Park represent the diversity of Canadian ecosystems.
Village of Yorkville Park 115 Cumberland St. Time of visit: 1:57 p.m. Grade: A- (last year’s grade: B) Reason to go: The Village of Yorkville Park is an innovative urban greenspace with many unique features and an interesting history. The site used to be a parking lot, but after years of protest, an international design competition was held in the ’90s to build the park. One of its most striking characteristics is a 700-ton rock, transplanted from the Canadian Shield. The top of the massive outcrop is a great place to sit and look out on Yorkville Village. There’s a stainless steel water curtain next to it that turns into an icicle display in the winter. The park is laid out in separate gardens that reflect a range of Canadian ecosystems. There’s a wetland garden, a cluster of serviceberry trees, beds of wildflowers and more. Plenty of moveable tables and chairs make this the perfect spot to stop for lunch. Overheard: Typical Yorkville activity such as loud cars driving by and shoppers hustling along. Did you know? In 2012, the park won the American Society of Landscape Architects Landmark Award.
Walmer Road Parkettte 227 Walmer Rd. Time of visit: 2:47 pm Grade: C (Last year’s grade: C+) Reason to go: This humble parkette is located among a row of townhouses just south of Davenport Road. It’s a nice place to sit and read or talk on the phone, but not much more. The space doesn’t have much to offer, other than four benches and a handful of trees. Casa Loma is conveniently located just steps away if you’re in the mood for sightseeing, but this park is not much to write home about. Overheard: Traffic on Davenport Road. Did you know? Casa Loma’s architect E. J. Lennox also designed Old City Hall and the Bank of Toronto.
Wychwood Park is the kind of greenspace you can spend hours in.
Wychwood Barns Park 76 Wychwood Ave. Time of visit: 2:16 p.m. Grade: A (Last year’s grade: A) Reason to go: Wychwood Park is a beautiful greenspace that provides something for every kind of parkgoer. It’s home to Artscape Wychwood Barns, a converted heritage building that was built in 1913 as a streetcar maintenance facility. Now, the space contains artist studios, a theatre, and office spaces for local community groups. Outside, there’s a greenhouse, a beach volleyball court, and a fenced-off dog park. The Stop Community Food Centre hosts a farmer’s market year-round on Saturdays, featuring over 35 farmers and prepared food vendors. There’s a playground area with a splash pad for children, as well as a grassy open field and ping pong table. Almost hidden in the corner of the park is a learning garden that showcases Toronto’s “best nature.” This park is the kind of place you can spend hours in as there’s a lot to discover. Overheard: “I got you, keep going!” as a father teaches his son how to ride a bike. Did you know? Those interested in volunteering at the learning garden can visit www.yourleaf.org/volunteer to get involved.
September 29th, 2025 · Comments Off on CHATTER: Watered-down version of Bathurst priority bus lanes approved (Aug. 2025)
A TTC bus navigates north on Bathurst Street earlier this summer. COURTESY ALBERT KOEHL
On Wednesday, July 16, Toronto city council approved the construction of priority bus lanes on Bathurst and Dufferin.
The proposal, titled RapidTO, was first endorsed by council in February of 2024 and is expected to improve transit travel times for the six FIFA World Cup games Toronto will be hosting in 2026.
Council voted 18 to 5 for RapidTO bus lanes on Bathurst Street, and 20 to 3 for RapidTO bus lanes on Dufferin Street.
Backlash from residents and business owners between Dupont and Bloor Street West resulted in the lanes being installed on a shortened stretch of Bathurst than was initially planned.
Protect Bathurst, a grassroots coalition of Toronto residents, local business owners, and accessibility advocates, hosted a press conference in June opposing the bus lanes.
Bathurst Street’s lanes will run from Bloor Street West to Lake Shore Boulevard West, excluding the stretch between Nassau Street and Dundas Street West. Dufferin Street’s lanes will run from Bloor Street West to King Street West.
Construction is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2025. City staff have been tasked by council to further study a RapidTO proposal between Bloor and Dupont which remains controversial. .
September 29th, 2025 · Comments Off on EDITORIAL:Fact over fiction: Ford’s Bill 212 fails on its merits (Aug. 2025)
In a scathing ruling, an Ontario court has found that sections of the provincial government’s Bill 212, the Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, violated the Charter of Rights and Freedoms by infringing on cyclists’ rights to life and security of person. The sections of Bill 212 empowering the province to rip out bike lanes on Yonge Street, University Avenue, and Bloor Street are now nullified under Section 7 of the Charter. The Ford government is appealing the decision to the Ontario Court of Appeal.
In his decision Superior Court Justice Paul Schabas found that “the government has led no evidence to rebut the applicants’ compelling position, supported by evidence, that removing the protected bike lanes will cause cyclists to ride in more dangerous mixed traffic…and that cyclists will be injured, and worse, if the protected target bike lanes are removed.” The government of course knows this, which is why it included in the legislation a perverse clause that prohibits anyone or anyone’s family from suing the government for damages should they be injured or killed because of the bike lane removal. That clause which self-indemnifies the province showed that the Ford government knows that it is a demonstrable, probable fact that removing bike lanes will sentence a certain number of citizens to death or serious injury. Does the government have the right to kill you? The court says it absolutely does not.
The government faces a hard pedal at appeal. It fully and completely lost the case. In discovery proceedings, the province had to reveal its own expert advice that stated that bike lane removal would not reduce congestion, would increase collisions between all road users, and would likely lead to injuries and deaths of cyclists. That makes Ford look like someone guilty of willful neglect. Schabas did not go that far but he did call Bill 212 “arbitrary” which takes the government onto thin ice constitutionally. Ford would simply say it’s all about “common sense.” For him, it’s about ideology, not about smart transportation planning. No amount of fact will dissuade him from the view that we could each hop in our individual cars and head down to the Rogers Centre for a ball game with ease if it were not for those pesky bike lanes.
Innumerable studies have found that safe bike infrastructure contributes not only to the safety of all road users, but it also contributes to the local economy. The Bloor Annex BIA reported an increase in sales, verified by Moneris Sales Terminal data, when it participated in a pilot bike lane project for Bloor Street. The BIA endorsed making those lanes permanent, and they are now part of a complete streetscape.
A leaked internal report from the provincial government acknowledges that “most research…suggests reducing road capacity by introducing bike lanes can encourage biking [no kidding?] and discourage car use, alleviating congestion.”
In their piece in The Globe and Mail last fall when Bill 212 was first introduced, University of Toronto academics Sarah Elton and Madeline Bonsma-Fisher rejected the notion that bike lanes are the latest salvo in the “war on the car.” Rather, they argued, “this bill is a war on the facts— on evidence and data—that we are witnessing spread across the continent. It’s an example of post-truth politics in Canada.” This is not just an issue south of the border; decision-making based on feelings versus facts knows no border.
The right to life and liberty in Section 7 of the Charter is not absolute. Issues of “fundamental justice” exception or “reasonable limits” under Charter 1 can thwart or diminish a person’s Section 7 rights. Evidence at trial showed the government was advised by numerous experts of two things: the measure would lead to more deaths, and the move would do nothing to reduce congestion and would likely have the opposite effect. There was no balance of rights for the courts to arbitrate.
This bid to rip out bike lanes is not only arbitrary in a legal sense; it is frivolous and mean- spirited. The Court of Appeal would be right to dismiss Ford’s bid to overturn the decision.
September 29th, 2025 · Comments Off on FORUM: Celebrating greenspaces, easing congestion (Aug. 2025)
Park revivals and Bathurst bus lanes dominate agenda
By Dianne Saxe
What a month July was! I’m thrilled that we had a very productive city council session, with real progress on RapidTO Bathurst and more shelter space for Toronto’s homeless.
Three top things this month:
1. The incredible new Biidaasige Park
After 35 years, it is exhilarating to celebrate the restored Don River and the first 50 acres of Biidaasige Park. This extraordinary transformation of industrial wasteland protects the Port Lands from flooding, reintroduces nature, and creates an inspiring new park: the playgrounds are Toronto’s best; the Indigenous art is moving and playful; the riverside walks are gorgeous; fish and kayaks have found the river; birds and butterflies have found the wetland; century-old seeds have sprouted. Join me there for our community tour and picnic at 5 p.m. on Aug. 17. You can get there by bike, transit, car, or kayak.
2. Faster transit on Bathurst
After intense consultations, data gathering, and door knocking, we are speeding up transit on Bathurst. July council approved three key steps:
Bathurst will get a dedicated streetcar lane from Lakeshore to Bloor, enhancing the reliability, speed, and frequency of the Bathurst streetcar, with a target of a six-minute headway this fall.
From Bloor to Eglinton, the northbound bus is trapped in traffic from about 2 p.m. every afternoon. On Sept. 18, staff will recommend to the Toronto East York community council which parking, turning, and signal changes will speed up the afternoon northbound bus, while leaving some parking to support local businesses. Most changes should be implemented this fall.
Staff may recommend temporary measures to improve transit during FIFA, including temporary bus lanes. Afterwards, city staff will recommend long-term next steps, which may include adjusting the time of day or implementing permanent bus lanes; by then, we will know whether my targeted measures have made enough of a difference for transit riders.
Special thanks to the five Bathurst/Dupont businesses that wrote in support of this targeted, data-based approach: Summerhill Markets, Flur, Tattoo People, and Qalat, She Said. Please give them your support.
3. Bringing back the Vale of Avoca
A century ago, the Vale of Avoca ravine, located near Yonge and St. Clair, was a popular park destination. The Vale remains an important refuge from the city’s noise and heat, but it is suffering badly from erosion and neglect. The rough trails are being eaten away with every storm; trees are falling as the slopes collapse; access stairs are broken. After all of Ford’s cuts, the city cannot afford more than an occasional Band-Aid solution, even though thousands of new condo units are expected nearby.
I am therefore delighted to partner with the Midtown Ravines Group to restore the Vale to a beautiful, accessible, walkable park that links the Don River trails to midtown. This coalition of residents’ associations has agreed to raise $40 million for capital and maintenance in the Vale, but first, they need a high-quality plan. I negotiated with Councillor Matlow and with staff to jointly fund a $1.5 million redesign to achieve ecological, recreational, and flood management objectives. The planning and consultation phase should be completed next year, with construction beginning in 2027.
Other community improvements I helped deliver this month include:
a) $200,000 in funding to build a signalized pedestrian crossing across Avenue Road at Ramsden Park;
b) $109,000 in funding to build a recording studio and accessible doors in the new performance centre at 877 Yonge;
c) $883,625 in funding to rebuild the Rosedale Valley Multiuse Trail and to plan a safe exit from it;
d) Changes to the Landlord and Tenant Board so that evicted tenants should get better information from the board;
e) Six suburban homeless shelters will now be built.
f) Noise exemptions have been tightened for loud events at Christie Pits.
g) The Dafoe Urn will be reinstalled at Craigleigh Gardens.
h) Kids’ baseball diamonds will be improved at Christie Pits.
i) The developer of 126 Avenue Road has committed to indoor garbage pickup and to allowing the flower shop to return.
j) The city will take small steps to discourage greenwashing in ads on city assets; and
k) The University of Toronto will install district clean energy pipes for its campus.
I hope you’re taking time for whatever makes summer joyful for you and your family. Have you tasted University-Rosedale’s best ice cream? Watched a play outdoors? Joined a neighbourhood potluck? Do let me know what summer treats you love best.
Dianne Saxe is city councillor for Ward 11, University-Rosedale.
September 29th, 2025 · Comments Off on FORUM: Coping with heat is the new norm (Aug. 2025)
Government needs to lead with solutions, not let people suffer
By Jessica Bell
What can Ontario do to address extreme heat?
We are enduring a summer of record-breaking heat, and it’s going to get worse. The Ontario government’s 2023 assessment of the impact of climate change on our province predicts the number of days above 30 degrees will soar to 60 days a year by the 2080s.
We have two massive tasks ahead of us. We need to continue to pressure the Conservative government to enact a serious plan to get to net-zero and build a sustainable economy, while also taking steps to ensure our survival.
Floods and fires get a lot of attention, but heat is responsible for more illness and deaths than most other extreme weather hazards combined. Here’s five steps the Ontario government should do to protect us from extreme heat.
Protect workers from heat stress
In 2001, a 44-year-old bakery worker named Kim Douglas Warner died at Weston Bakeries in Barrie. Kim had worked a 12-hour shift in 49-degree heat, on a 34-degree day. His temperature reached 42.5 degrees Celsius when he was found unconscious near the ovens.
Workers in schools, factories, mines, and kitchens are vulnerable to heat stress, as are low-wage workers who are active outdoors, such as farm workers, paramedics, delivery and postal workers, garbage workers, and workers in construction.
The Ontario government is consulting on new rules to protect workers from extreme heat, but the rules are weak and one-size-fits-all.
The Ontario Federation of Labour and the NDP are calling for far stronger measures, including a sector-specific approach, paid breaks to cool down, the installation of ventilation and air-conditioning, access to water, protective equipment, and schedule adjustments to avoid the hottest parts of the day.
Establish a maximum temperature standard for rental apartments
It is miserable to live in a boiling apartment during the summer months, and for our most vulnerable residents, it has become deadly. The devastating heat waves in British Columbia in 2021 killed 777 people, and most of the dead were elderly, sick, disabled, and alone in homes without air-conditioning.
To keep tenants safe from dangerous heat waves, the province should establish a maximum temperature bylaw for homes (public health agencies usually land on 26 degrees) and make window air-conditioning a vital service.
After a sustained public pressure campaign, the province passed legislation permitting tenants to install an air-conditioning window unit, however, the legislation isn’t in force. Toronto is studying bringing in a maximum temperature bylaw.
Ontario should upgrade and build climate-resilient infrastructure
Extreme heat puts incredible pressure on infrastructure; roads can buckle, and electricity usage skyrockets, leading to brownouts.
The Association of Municipalities in Ontario (AMO), which is the organization that represents Ontario’s municipalities, calculates that municipalities need up to $290 billion over the next 10 years to accommodate growth, manage climate change, and keep existing infrastructure in good repair, such as roads, water systems, and sewerage pipes. This is a good investment.
Instead of investing in municipalities, Ontario has cut municipal funding and made it harder for municipalities to raise money for infrastructure from development fees.
Improve the quality of existing and new homes.
New homes should be well-made, well-insulated, and energy efficient. These homes are cheaper to cool in summer, they are better able to withstand extreme heat, and they produce less greenhouse gas emissions.
Under the false guise of spurring housing construction, the Conservatives passed a law (Bill 17) which invalidates Toronto and 13 other municipalities’ green building policies. These policies required new buildings to meet higher environmental performance and energy efficiency benchmarks than the provincial standard. Bad move.
New construction alone isn’t enough to lower Canada’s carbon emissions. Ontario has established a fund at homerenovationsavings.ca to provide rebates to homeowners for insulation, heat pumps, better windows and doors, battery storage, and more, but the program will end this December. Ontario does not have a plan to incentivize or mandate the retrofitting of community housing and private-market rental buildings. It should.
Embrace nature
Trees are marvelous at providing shade and cooling homes and neighbourhoods down by as much as six degrees Celsius. The City of Toronto has a policy to protect and expand its tree canopy from 28 per cent coverage to 40 per cent by 2050. The province should help them.
Extreme heat is a serious and escalating challenge, and we will continue to push for solutions that help us protect ourselves while cutting down on climate pollution.
Jessica Bell is the MPP for University-Rosedale and the Shadow Minister for Finance and the Treasury Board. You can reach her office at jbell-co@ndp.on.ca or 416-535-7206.
September 29th, 2025 · Comments Off on FORUM: Bathurst Street: Not yet RapidTO (Aug. 2025)
Council caves and all lose to the precious car
By Albert Koehl
In the run up to the city hall debate about the proposed RapidTO busway on Bathurst Street, everyone played to script, and we all lost.
RapidTO would have created priority transit lanes on Bathurst and Dufferin Streets from the waterfront to the soon-to-be-completed Eglinton Crosstown LRT.
In a city where transit projects are measured in years of delay and billions of dollars in cost overruns, RapidTO offered a quick, inexpensive solution for long-suffering transit riders.
Indeed, there are few fixes in our toolbox that address a similar list of urgent problems: affordability, traffic congestion, and climate change. Even the Toronto Region Board of Trade supported the RapidTO lanes.
For these reasons—and solid public support—the project should have coasted through executive committee and city council. Instead, only the RapidTO lanes south of Bloor were approved.
What happened?
For starters, the media got excited about a loud group of merchants on Bathurst (between Bloor and Dupont Streets) who predicted doom and gloom from the loss of curbside parking. What else is new, except research that contradicts them?
The opponents actually used, until they were caught, fake, AI-generated “concerned residents.” The Toronto Star nonetheless characterised the RapidTO lanes as a “heated and politicized” debate.
Second, local councillor Dianne Saxe championed delay, a beloved approach among politicians who want to avoid making a decision.
Her “compromise” undermined her own pronouncements about the urgency of climate action: “The climate crisis is not a normal political negotiation between different interests, where solutions come from compromise. The climate crisis is a collision between human beings and physics. Physics, like gravity, doesn’t compromise.”
Urban affairs commentator John Lorinc ridiculed Saxe as having “caved spectacularly.”
Third, some merchants, true to an old script, championed parking spots over people.
When a bike lane was proposed on Harbord Street, the local business association said “no bike lanes, period.” That was in the 1990s; today the upgrade of the existing bike lanes got little attention.
More recently, merchants on downtown Yonge predicted “catastrophic consequences” from a pedestrianization initiative. City council ignored them. And, by contrast, the Bloor Annex BIA was among the first to fight back when Premier Doug Ford threatened to remove bike lanes on Bloor.
Ironically (or hypocritically), at their June protest, opponents to the Bathurst busway stood on sidewalk-level parking spots that the merchant had converted to a vibrant, permanent patio. Indeed, the city initiative should have been an opportunity to re-think—and to more rationally use—the extravagant amount of precious urban space that is devoted to parking, instead of to people (and trees, sidewalks, bikeways, and benches).
Finally, TTC riders, environmental groups, and local residents all rallied for the RapidTO busways. An overwhelming majority of the 60+ speakers at the executive committee supported complete busways.
For TTC patrons at bus stops, the recent scorching temperatures are certainly more than the “abstraction” described by opponents. In fact, the Bathurst busway would have delivered thousands of potential new shoppers—people who could hop off the bus and into a business.
A study partly funded by the Bloor Annex BIA showed that over 90 per cent of patrons at local shops arrive on foot, bikes, and transit.
It was left to Mayor Olivia Chow to offer a way forward without embarrassing Councillor Saxe. The mayor should have intervened more forcefully.
Instead, we got a project that will “explore” tried-and-failed options for the stretch north of Bloor to Eglinton, including HOV lanes that have never worked on nearby Bay Street. Councillor Saxe should have chosen her script from neighbouring Councillor Alejandra Bravo, who devoted herself to educating Dufferin residents about the vital importance of RapidTO and identifying feasible options for loading and access.
It’s no longer acceptable, given today’s urgent problems, to allow some groups to carve out exceptions for themselves, while others suffer.
We needed local merchants, the media, and politicians to show leadership. Instead, they simply kicked the can forward.
Albert Koehl is coordinator of Community Bikeways, author of Wheeling Through Toronto, and former vice-chair of the Annex Residents’ Association.
September 29th, 2025 · Comments Off on SPORTS: From Tokyo to Toronto: Sato’s season of surprises (Aug. 2025)
A sit-down with baseball sensation Ayami Sato
A sensation from day one, Ayami Sato is routinely sought out for autographs and photos whenever the Leafs play. CRAIG AIKEN/GLEANER NEWS
By R.S. Konjek
It’s a Friday night in July, an hour before game time at Christie Pits.
Ayami Sato seeks out a shady spot on a bench beside a tree. Speaking through interpreter Yoko Van Veen, she says the heatwave doesn’t bother her, that it’s even more humid in Japan. She only wants to get out of the sunlight while we talk.
Sato has just finished helping her Toronto Maple Leafs teammates at batting practice. As a pitcher, her duty was to retrieve baseballs. As one of the most accomplished female baseball players in the world, the task might have seemed beneath her, but it was not.
Last winter, the Leafs made international headlines when they signed Sato who helped her native country win five women’s world baseball championships. This spring she became not only the first woman to play for Toronto, but the first in Canadian pro baseball history.
A year ago, she never imagined she’d be sitting on this bench, not far from the kids’ splash pad.
“This is a very casual place to play baseball,” she says. “Everybody can just drop by and watch. I feel the players and fans are very close, and they can interact easily.”
Sato was an opening day sensation. Her presence attracted thousands of spectators. She started the game and pitched two perfect innings.
“Every moment here has been precious for me, but when I stood on the mound and made my first pitch, that was the most memorable moment,” she says.
Since opening day, Sato has settled into the bullpen. Like most ballplayers, she’s had her ups and downs over the course of the season.
After some games, Sato has posted long messages on social media, analysing her performance on the mound, being self-critical when necessary, and always looking forward to the next game determined to succeed. Not a common practice among North American athletes, it’s another thing that has made her stand out from her peers.
She routinely praises her teammates online and says she enjoys the collegial atmosphere of the Leafs’ clubhouse, a place filled with postgame music, pizza, and beer—three things that break down barriers in most places.
She appreciates the diversity of Toronto, and the Leafs’ roster reflects that diversity. Being the only Japanese player is not as isolating when her teammates here are Canadian, American, Dominican, Venezuelan and Korean.
“Playing with those guys, it’s very inspiring,” she says. She admits it was a huge leap from living near Tokyo and playing for a women’s team to competing against men in a foreign country. But I just jumped into the environment and tried to do my best to adjust.”
Prior to making the move to Toronto, Sato received messages of support from former Toronto Blue Jays Munenori Kawasaki and Yusei Kikuchi who encouraged her to enjoy her journey.
Support from her country followed her to Canada. Sato says she can pick out voices shouting in Japanese when she is on the mound.
“I hear a lot of supporting voices, and I know they are out there and I’m happy to receive that support,” she says.
In between game days, Sato has spent time visiting girls’ baseball teams, coaching, and speaking to younger players. She has also taken the opportunity to play tourist, visiting Niagara Falls, the CN Tower, Centre Island and Kensington Market.
She is impressed by Toronto’s Japanese food scene, praising Ikkousha Ramen and Taro’s Fish in particular. She is also amused by the creativity of Canadian sushi restaurants. She breaks into a wide smile as she describes how one place put cream cheese on top of salmon, something she’d never seen before.
As for Toronto’s greater food scene: “There are so many temptations when it comes to sweets. I like fried chicken and French fries, and I’d love to try [more] but since I have to perform, I restrict myself.”
She lives close to Christie Pits and has travelled around the city on all modes of transport. Asked to compare Toronto’s subway system to that of Tokyo, she goes politely silent.
“It’s small,” she concedes, “but I can access anywhere easily so I think it’s very convenient. I use it a lot.”
Some of Sato’s teammates begin to emerge from the clubhouse in uniform. First pitch is approaching.
Since arriving in April, Sato has loved her time in Toronto. However, she will return to Japan in September and rejoin her Saitama Seibu Lions women’s team for a big competition in October.
Looking ahead, she has her eyes on the nascent Women’s Pro Baseball League which will be the first of its kind in North America in over 70 years when it begins play in 2026.
For now, the present beckons. It’s time to suit up for this evening’s game. The Maple Leafs are hosting the Guelph Royals as they battle for playoff contention.
Sato is fully committed to doing her part to help the Leafs succeed. Modest to a fault, she doesn’t dwell on her place in Toronto sports history. Having achieved that by spending the summer here, her focus is on the collective goal.
“We play as a team, so every player has to do their best in their positions,” she says. “That’s the beauty of baseball. I have to play my role and focus on what I have to do. I’ve started to figure it out, and by the end of the season I hope I can say I did my best and it was a great season.”
More information and a schedule can be found at www.mapleleafsbaseball.com.
