The public was encouraged to participate in Shoes That Line the Lane by donating and hanging shoes to celebrate an important memory or person. Created by Cyril Williams, this Nuit Blanche interactive installation outside the Bata Shoe Museum focused on the rite, ritual, and tradition of hanging shoes off wires in public spaces. Neiland Brissenden, Gleaner News

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Harbord Village will once again be transformed into a pumpkin patch when the Pumpkin Festival returns to Harbord Street on Nov. 1 from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. Almost one thousand elaborately-carved candle-lit pumpkins will line the street for four blocks west of Spadina Avenue in the annual event co-sponsored by the Harbord Street Business Improvement Area and the Harbord Village Residents’ Association. Brian Burchell, Gleaner News

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Madison Avenue is one step closer to becoming a Heritage Conservation District (HCD). On Sept. 8, the Toronto and East York Community Council endorsed a motion to designate Madison Avenue from Bloor to Dupont streets an HCD under the Ontario Heritage Act. The designation allows a municipality to protect and enhance the special character of a property or group of properties. The City of Toronto currently has 20 HCDs, three of which are in the Gleaner’s coverage area: Harbord Village Residents’ Association (HVRA) I and II, and the East Annex. Two more studies are also underway for HVRA III and the West Annex.  Read more

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The Liberal and New Democratic Party (NDP) candidates for Spadina-Fort York (the southern half of what was formerly Trinity-Spadina) have come out strongly against any plan to expand the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. Sitting member of Parliament (MP) Adam Vaughan, and former MP Olivia Chow, who are running in Spadina-Fort York, have both said the plan to bring jets to Billy Bishop would be grounded should either of their parties form a federal government after the election Oct. 19.  Read more

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I read the September Gleaner article “A haven for children’s literature”, on the 20^th anniversary of the Lillian H. Smith library, and I was instantly brought home to my old neighbourhood in Toronto. I remember fondly afternoons spent reading a book in the garden behind the library. Or wintry afternoons spent roaming through the stacks, looking for something of interest. Of particular interest to me was the mention that this library was a descendant of the first free-standing library in the Commonwealth. Living as I do in the UK right now, where we have seen swaths of libraries closed and boarded up due to cutbacks, it was especially delightful to note that Lillian H. Smith is doing so well. Congratulations to the dedicated staff who have created such a welcoming, warm space in Toronto.  Read more

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Thank you for your article in the August 2015 edition “Breaking bread with friends, Harbord Bakery marks 70 years”. It was a joy to be reminded of the rich history of the Harbord Bakery and how intertwined
it is with the neighbourhood.  Read more

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I lived above the Harbord Bakery (“Breaking bread with friends”, August 2015) in the early ‘60s. A newcomer to Toronto, I initially saw only space (furnished one-bedroom) and location (close to the U of T) that were right for me; however, I was soon to learn what a legendary roof I had found.  Read more

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Hundreds of University of Toronto students, faculty, and staff take to Bloor Street just east of Spadina Avenue on Sept. 14 after the university announced that online threats had been made against feminists.
Brian Burchell/Gleaner News

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Dupont Station will soon be fully accessible to all riders, regardless of mobility. It’s currently undergoing an upgrade under the Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) Easier Access Program, which aims to increase the accessibility of subway stations across the city. The station improvements – slated for completion in 2019 – include adding three elevators that will access all levels of the station, accessible fare gates, barrier-free paths to the subway platforms, improved signage, and the installation of CCTV security cameras.  Read more

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Construction, lane reductions, and bus diversions are here to stay at Spadina Road and Bloor Street, at least until December, and quite possibly well beyond.

Work is underway to excavate the northbound side of Spadina Road near Spadina Station to make necessary repairs to the roof of the subway below. The entire bus loop roadway is also being removed to expose the subway roof.  Read more

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Hidden treasures, baked goods, food, crafts, books, CDs, and more all return to the fall fair this Oct. 3 (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and 4 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) at St. Peter’s Church (659 Markham St.).  Read more

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Erica Balon’s mural, featured on the front page of July’s Annex Gleaner, has been tagged as much as five times in recent weeks. Much of her work, including this one at Aroma Café (500 Bloor St. W.), covers tags and other gang-related symbols. The repeated tagging begs the question of whether or not street art – traditionally seen as inviolate to taggers – remains something that vandals will respect. Brian Burchell, Gleaner News

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