Gleaner

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EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice (Feb. 2021)

March 5th, 2021 · Comments Off on EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice (Feb. 2021)

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Tags: Annex · Editorial · Opinion

EDITORIAL: Legislated dignity for the greater good (Feb. 2021)

March 5th, 2021 · Comments Off on EDITORIAL: Legislated dignity for the greater good (Feb. 2021)

COVID-19 case counts are way down from the peaks seen in January, and in response the economy is opening up in many places. However, Toronto’s Chief Medical Officer of Health (MOH) Dr. Eileen de Villa, and Peel’s MOH Dr. Lawrence Loh, have asked the province to continue lockdowns, stating their fear that the worst is yet to come. They also each advocate for mandatory paid sick days to encourage the symptomatic to stay home and stop the spread.

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Tags: Annex · Editorial · Opinion

FORUM: To curb COVID-19, Ontario must protect workers (Feb. 2021)

March 5th, 2021 · Comments Off on FORUM: To curb COVID-19, Ontario must protect workers (Feb. 2021)

Ontario lags behind other jurisdictions

By Jessica Bell

I am concerned the Ford government is opening the economy too fast, setting the stage for another round of illness, preventable death, overwhelmed hospitals and lockdowns. We must make decisions based on what’s best for our public health. When we reopen, we must reopen carefully and slowly, with safety first and foremost in mind. We must make Ontario’s workplaces more safe.

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Tags: Annex · Opinion

FORUM: Defund police gains traction (Feb. 2021)

March 5th, 2021 · Comments Off on FORUM: Defund police gains traction (Feb. 2021)

Pilot projects underway to fashion a better approach

By Mike Layton

By voting to fund the Community Crisis Support Service pilot this month, city council took the first step towards systemic change in how we approach 911 emergency response calls. This five year pilot will create a mental health primary first responder team that will answer mental health crisis calls in key areas of our city.

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Tags: Annex · Opinion

ARTS: Annex is still film set central (Feb. 2021)

March 5th, 2021 · Comments Off on ARTS: Annex is still film set central (Feb. 2021)

Strict COVID-19 protocols being followed

Rebecca Breeds, as the heroic Clarice Starling, and her fellow FBI Agents after catching a killer on Walmer Road in the TV series Clarice. COURTESY MGM TELEVISION AND CBS STUDIOS

By Nicole Stoffman

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Tags: Annex · Arts

OBITUARY: Bossons focused on city’s liveability (Jan. 2021)

January 27th, 2021 · 1 Comment

Former ARA Chair, Metro and City Councillor Ila Bossons passes at 83

By Nicole Stoffman

When big decisions hang in the balance at city hall, councillors often form predictable coalitions along the political spectrum. Ila Bossons was one councillor who bucked that trend. “The middle way is the best way,” the independent candidate declared in 1988, during her successful campaign to become Metro Councillor for the new ward of Midtown, which included the Annex. 

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Tags: Annex · News

NEWS: Carrying on a legacy (Jan. 2021)

January 27th, 2021 · Comments Off on NEWS: Carrying on a legacy (Jan. 2021)

Bringing chess to life after Chess Institute of Canada founder’s passing

Every June, when the Bloor Annex BIA closed the street for a festival, the Chess Institute would set-up their giant chess board with life-sized pieces. It was a very popular feature for attendees. BRIAN BURCHELL/GLEANER NEWS

By Tanya Ielyseieva

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Tags: Annex · News

NEWS: Estonian Centre gets green light (Jan. 2021)

January 27th, 2021 · 1 Comment

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.

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Tags: Annex · News

CHATTER: Huron St. Playground going leash-free (Jan. 2021)

January 27th, 2021 · Comments Off on CHATTER: Huron St. Playground going leash-free (Jan. 2021)

300 square metres of off-leash freedom is being implemented on the West side of the park. BRIAN BURCHELL/GLEANER NEWS

The Annex has just three designated off-leash dog park areas: Bickford Park, Ramsden Park, and Vermont Square Park. A 2018 motion to add a fourth off-leash area (OLA) in the neighbourhood is now underway at Huron Street Playground. Located just northwest of Bloor Street West and St. George Street, the park currently has a few playground structures including a rope climber, a sandbox, a swing set, and a small rock-climbing structure. 

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Tags: Annex · News

EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice (Jan. 2021)

January 27th, 2021 · Comments Off on EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice (Jan. 2021)

READ MORE ON COVID-19

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Tags: Annex · Editorial · Opinion

EDITORIAL: Ford’s half measures (Jan. 2021)

January 27th, 2021 · Comments Off on EDITORIAL: Ford’s half measures (Jan. 2021)

New projections warn that the new and more contagious variant of the coronavirus could result in Ontario seeing 40,000 new infections per day in February. Meanwhile, the province has announced a state of emergency allowing the government, with the support of cabinet, to introduce new public health orders more quickly. This could be a good thing, depending on how the powers are used. It’s hard to be hopeful, though, when the province is led by a premier who seems so determined to deliver mixed messages and sweeping regulations riddled with enormous loopholes.

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Tags: Annex · Editorial

FORUM: Vigilance is key, though the vaccine is here (Jan. 2021)

January 27th, 2021 · 1 Comment

Many reasons for optimism for the year ahead

By Mike Layton

As we enter the new year, I know the majority of us are still having to make big sacrifices to keep each other safe and healthy, but I also believe there is positive change in the air and I am hopeful for the coming year.

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Tags: Annex · Opinion

FORUM: St. George Community Living was a preventable tragedy (Jan. 2021)

January 27th, 2021 · 1 Comment

For-proft LTC home in University-Rosedale has Ontario’s largest COVID-19 outbreak

By Jessica Bell

St. George Community Living, which is located  in my riding of University-Rosedale, now has the largest COVID-19 outbreak in Ontario. As of January 5, 84 residents and 51 staff have COVID-19, and 6 residents have died. The staff and residents need help now, and we, as a society, need to change the laws of our province to stop these preventable tragedies from happening again.

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Tags: Annex · Opinion