Gleaner

Serving Toronto's most liveable community with the Annex Gleaner

FORUM (FEBRUARY 2017): Tolls, taxes, and Toronto

March 5th, 2017 · Comments Off on FORUM (FEBRUARY 2017): Tolls, taxes, and Toronto

Canadian cities receive only 10 cents for each tax dollar they pay

By Mike Layton

With all the talk about tolls and taxes, I feel I need to admit something: I don’t mind paying taxes.

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Tags: Annex · Columns · Opinion

FORUM (DECEMBER 2016): Seeing our neighbourhood through new eyes

December 20th, 2016 · Comments Off on FORUM (DECEMBER 2016): Seeing our neighbourhood through new eyes

Travels with daughter enable fresh look at community

By Mike Layton

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Tags: Annex · Opinion

FORUM (DECEMBER 2016): How our politicians celebrate the holidays

December 20th, 2016 · Comments Off on FORUM (DECEMBER 2016): How our politicians celebrate the holidays

Favourites include carol singing, winter solstice

We asked our local representatives how they spend the holidays. Councillors Joe Cressy (Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina) and Mike Layton (Ward 19, Trinity-Spadina), Toronto District School Board Trustee Ausma Malik (Ward 10, Trinity-Spadina), and our MPP Han Dong (Trinity-Spadina) shared their favourite traditions, their proudest achievement of the year, and what they are looking forward to working on in 2017. Also, the book they’re looking forward to reading in 2017! Answers compiled by Noelle Defour.

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Tags: Annex · Opinion

CHATTER (OCTOBER 2016): Bells ring a perfect offering

October 28th, 2016 · Comments Off on CHATTER (OCTOBER 2016): Bells ring a perfect offering

PICTURE BY GEREMY BORDONARO/GLEANER NEWS Mike Layton (Ward 19, Trinity-Spadina) was among the speakers at a late September Bells on Bloor event celebrating the installation of bike lanes between Shaw Street and Avenue Road. Organizers characterized the communal ride during which cyclists — including activist Albert Koehl, Joe Cressy (Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina), Gideon Forman from the David Suzuki Foundation, and Jared Kolb from Cycle Toronto — rode a ring around Bloor Street, Sherbourne Street, and Queen’s Park Crescent, as a victory lap. For further information on Bells on Bloor, please visit www.bellsonbloor.org. —Annemarie Brissenden

PICTURE BY GEREMY BORDONARO/GLEANER NEWS
Mike Layton (Ward 19, Trinity-Spadina) was among the speakers at a late September Bells on Bloor event celebrating the installation of bike lanes between Shaw Street and Avenue Road. Organizers characterized the communal ride during which cyclists — including activist Albert Koehl, Joe Cressy (Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina), Gideon Forman from the David Suzuki Foundation, and Jared Kolb from Cycle Toronto — rode a ring around Bloor Street, Sherbourne Street, and Queen’s Park Crescent, as a victory lap. For further information on Bells on Bloor, please visit www.bellsonbloor.org. —Annemarie Brissenden

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Tags: Annex · News

FORUM (OCTOBER 2016) We can do better:

October 28th, 2016 · Comments Off on FORUM (OCTOBER 2016) We can do better:

Dangerous summer for Toronto pedestrians and cyclists

By Mike Layton

Recent statistics from the Toronto Police Service show a disturbing trend — collisions between vehicles and pedestrians and cyclists are on the rise.

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Tags: Annex · Columns · Opinion

CHATTER (AUGUST 2016): Ground-breaking bike lanes launch on Bloor Street

August 26th, 2016 · Comments Off on CHATTER (AUGUST 2016): Ground-breaking bike lanes launch on Bloor Street

PHOTO BY SUMMER REID/GLEANER NEWS: The Bloor Street pilot bike lane project was launched on Aug. 12.

PHOTO BY SUMMER REID/GLEANER NEWS: The Bloor Street pilot bike lane project was launched on Aug. 12.

The Annex’s cycling community celebrated the unveiling of the Bloor Street pilot bike lane project on Aug. 12.

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Tags: Annex · News

NEWS (AUGUST 2016): City approves safe injection sites, as council embraces a public health approach

August 26th, 2016 · Comments Off on NEWS (AUGUST 2016): City approves safe injection sites, as council embraces a public health approach

PHOTO COURTESY BRITISH COLUMBIA CENTRE FOR EXCELLENCE IN HIV/AIDS: After a spirited debate on July 14, city council voted 36 to 3 to establish three Supervised Injection Sites throughout the city. According to research from the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, supervised injection facilities can reduce public drug use and overdose deaths, as well as increase access to addiction treatment. People who use safe injection sites are 30 per cent more likely to enter detox programs and 70 per cent less likely to share needles.

PHOTO COURTESY BRITISH COLUMBIA CENTRE FOR EXCELLENCE IN HIV/AIDS: After a spirited debate on July 14, city council voted 36 to 3 to establish three Supervised Injection Sites throughout the city. According to research from the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, supervised injection facilities can reduce public drug use and overdose deaths, as well as increase access to addiction treatment. People who use safe injection sites are 30 per cent more likely to enter detox programs and 70 per cent less likely to share needles.

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Tags: Annex · News

FORUM (AUGUST 2016): Curious story of Christie Pits pool liner ends in extended hours at Alex Duff

August 25th, 2016 · Comments Off on FORUM (AUGUST 2016): Curious story of Christie Pits pool liner ends in extended hours at Alex Duff

By Mike Layton

The phone started ringing in my office almost immediately. Why is the Alex Duff Memorial Pool closed during the hottest days of summer? Why wasn’t the pool fixed earlier in the season? Why doesn’t it look like anyone is working on it?

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Tags: Annex · Columns · Opinion

NEWS: Second phase of park revitalization to begin

May 13th, 2016 · Comments Off on NEWS: Second phase of park revitalization to begin

Christie Pits to get new playground equipment

PHOTO BY GEREMY BORDONARO: Phase two of Christie Pits park’s revitalization continues as old playground equipment is removed from a fenced-in area. In the first phase, completed last fall, paths were replaced, lookouts were installed, and safety enhancements added.

PHOTO BY GEREMY BORDONARO: Phase two of Christie Pits park’s revitalization continues as old playground equipment is removed from a fenced-in area. In the first phase, completed last fall, paths were replaced, lookouts were installed, and safety enhancements added.

By Geremy Bordonaro

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Tags: Annex · News · Life

NEWS: Bloor Street goes green

April 7th, 2016 · Comments Off on NEWS: Bloor Street goes green

Plan to transform underutilized space

“This is a major greening initiative for the neighbourhood”—Jonathan Da Silva, Bloor-Annex BIA

By Annemarie Brissenden

Bloor Street West is about to get a whole lot greener, and it’s all thanks to the trees.

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Tags: General

NEWS: Rexall replaces Brunswick House

April 7th, 2016 · Comments Off on NEWS: Rexall replaces Brunswick House

Pharmacy drugstore chain says it will respect building’s heritage

“This will be a relief to the neighbourhood”—Sue Dexter, HVRA

By Annemarie Brissenden

After one last weekend-long blowout, the doors of the Brunswick House closed for good, leaving the neighbourhood eagerly anticipating the site’s next, presumably quieter and more agreeable, incarnation.

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Tags: Annex · News

NEWS: Huron Street Playground renewal

April 7th, 2016 · Comments Off on NEWS: Huron Street Playground renewal

City to break ground later this year

The City of Toronto’s Parks, Forestry and Recreation department is considering two layouts for the renewed Huron Street Playground. The first option (above) includes welcoming park entrances, a southest corner activated by destination play equipment, and the removal of the existing fence. In the second option (left), a perimeter path surrounding the play equipment will provide a circuit for racing or running. The existing fence will remain, complemented by the addition of new welcoming entrance options. Images courtesy of Forest and Field Landscape Architect and the City of Toronto.

The City of Toronto’s Parks, Forestry and Recreation department is considering two layouts for the renewed Huron Street Playground. The first option (above) includes welcoming park entrances, a southest corner activated by destination play equipment, and the removal of the existing fence. In the second option (below), a perimeter path surrounding the play equipment will provide a circuit for racing or running. The existing fence will remain, complemented by the addition of new welcoming entrance options. Images courtesy of Forest and Field Landscape Architect and the City of Toronto.

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Tags: Annex · News

CHATTER (April 2016): Annex Residents’ Association app tracks developments

April 7th, 2016 · Comments Off on CHATTER (April 2016): Annex Residents’ Association app tracks developments

The Annex Residents’ Association (ARA) has unveiled a new web application to track all the building developments in the areas on and north of Bloor Street.

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Tags: Annex · News