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COURTESY KPMB ARCHITECTS An artist’s rendering of the proposed redevelopment of Bloor Street United Church. The heritage aspects of the church will be restored, and a 38-storey mixed-use tower added to the church grounds.
By Geremy Bordonaro
Cheri DiNovo leaves politics for ministry at Trinity-St. Paul’s
GEREMY BORDONARO/GLEANER NEWS After 11 years in provincial politics, Cheri DiNovo is returning to the Annex and her ministerial roots. She performed the first legalized same-sex marriage in North America when she was a minister at Emmanuel Howard Park United Church.
MATT JAMES/GLEANER NEWS FILE PHOTO
City Manager Peter Wallace tried again, in vain, to alert members of city council to the threat posed by hedging the city’s budget against the apparent unrelenting strength of Toronto’s real estate market. The city has enjoyed explosive growth in revenue from the land transfer tax over the last ten years, and projections for next year suggest that Toronto will get $808 million, four times what it got when the tax was first introduced.
The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee (PWIC) of city council has been asked to help reduce the number of “doorings” — when a car door is opened into the path of an oncoming cyclist — in Toronto. Although this falls under the provincial jurisdiction of the Highway Traffic Act, one advocate believes the city needs to act.
By Tim Grant
Why is the idea of charging drivers for the use of roads something that provincial politicians steadfastly avoid?
BRIAN BURCHELL/GLEANER NEWS Deals fell to the floor as the Honest Ed’s demolition continued with the dismantling of masonry, lumber, and steel. Originally divided by a city-owned alley called Honest Ed’s Way, the store’s sections were constructed very differently. Pictured here is the west annex, which was built on the houses that once stood there and featured crooked floors, because the houses were not built to the same elevations.
Tags: General
In 1995, Quebec sought independence from Canada through a referendum, the second time since confederation. It failed by the narrowest of margins — 54,288 votes. The leader of the independence movement, the late Parti Québécois leader and premier Jacques Parizeau, upon learning the news of defeat gave a revealing and memorable speech in which he said “Battu par l’argent et le vote ethnique” (we were beat by money and the ethnic vote).
By Joe Cressy
It wouldn’t surprise you that we’ve had a busy year together in Ward 20. We’ve made critical strides as we work to build our communities and a city that is more equitable and sustainable for all. We’ve worked hard on the dozens and dozens of development files that populate downtown, creating new green spaces, and building livable communities. And as we look back on another year, we have a lot to be proud of.
Tags: Annex · Columns · Opinion
GEREMY BORDONARO/GLEANER NEWS Ten Editions Bookstore (698 Spadina Ave.) is at the centre of tension between town and gown. Heritage Preservation Services has recommended adding the building to the city’s protected list of heritage sites, but the university wants to tear it down to make way for a new student residence at Spadina and Sussex avenues.
Tags: Annex
COURTESY BLOOR STREET CULTURE CORRIDOR Tickets for a Calypso Rose and Kobo Town show at the Royal Conservatory of Music make a great gift.
By Heather Kelly
By Terri Chu
If it’s nobody’s problem, does it really need to be solved?
Scientists are once again sounding the alarm about the untenable amount of plastic in the world’s oceans. It is estimated that there will soon be more plastic in the ocean than fish. This is a problem. But whose problem is it anyway?