November 8th, 2024 · Comments Off on CHATTER: Trinity-St. Paul’s blesses all creatures great and small (Oct./Nov. 2024)
The annual tradition pays tribute to the creatures we love. ROSE HABERER/GLEANER NEWS
If you happened to be at the Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre for Faith, Justice and the Arts this past Sunday, Oct. 6, you would have found the pews full of people replaced with a gaggle of pointy eared, furry friends, there for the annual Blessing of the Animals.
The Blessing of the Animals is celebrated each year on the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, who was a benefactor for all animals. Christians worldwide celebrate the feast of St. Francis with a blessing of animals and prayers for creation.
“St. Francis is a classic saint whose ministry is really marked by his love for animals,” said Rev. Dr. Cheri DiNovo, when asked about the significance of the blessing.
In remarks made during the service, Rev. Dr. DiNovo emphasized the ancient relationship between humans and other animals, especially dogs. But what are the biblical connections between these two? What do religious texts have to say about it?
“These are animals that have been with us since the very beginning and predate the bible by a long way. We were created, as heard in Genesis, the last, not the first. Humans came last. Humans came to look after the other creations, so I think that’s a very important spiritual lesson. That’s our purpose, to look after what has been given to us,” said Rev. Dr. DiNovo.
Following the words of welcome from Rev. Dr. DiNovo and a song from the choir and music director Deborah Park, called The Creatures We Love, the usual communion had an additional feature. Owners lined up with their pets to receive their blessings. Furry friends that couldn’t make it were represented by stuffed animals, pictures, prints on shirts, and other symbols that were blessed in their stead. Treats and certificates of blessing were handed out.
Rev. Dr. DiNovo tells me why this blessing is important and how it celebrates those who we often forget to celebrate: “They are also members of our family. They are beloved, and when we lose them, it causes incredible sorrow and heartache. I think we don’t recognize that, and it’s good to have a time to recognize how important they are.”
But how do pet owners feel about the blessing?
When asked about what the Blessing of the Animals meant to her, owner of cat Peanut-Marie-Crump had much to say: “The idea that every creation is special and important on this earth and that all creatures are equal and equally important. She’s an older girl now.” Glancing at Peanut-Marie-Crump she continued: “So we aren’t active in any religious community but I just thought lets go and get blessed and see everyone else in the community and have a nice morning.”
It seems that even those who are not particularly religious still have deep appreciation for the commemoration of animals that the blessing brings.
“The blessing is a recognition that we’re guardians for all of our pets. This is a blessing of their lives and the care that we are stewards for,” said Ashwyn, owner of dog Scarlett, who is two, and Olive, who is nine.
—Rose Haberer/Gleaner News
Comments Off on CHATTER: Trinity-St. Paul’s blesses all creatures great and small (Oct./Nov. 2024)Tags:Annex · News
November 8th, 2024 · Comments Off on EDITORIAL: Fact-checking Ford (Oct./Nov. 2024)
Premier Doug Ford, while apparently unable or unwilling to address urgent provincial crises in health care, education, and the ongoing existential threat of climate change, has instead told an Empire Club luncheon last week that he is planning to “rip out bike lanes on major roads such as Bloor Street.” The elites at the lunch were thrilled, a group whose praise Ford craves.
Ten years ago, Doug Ford ran to be mayor of Toronto; he lost, and he never let go of it. He has spent much of his time as premier trying to micromanage Toronto: Cutting the size of city council in half during the municipal election cycle; controlling city health budget spending; taking over the planning of new subways; closing the science centre; secretly creating a new waterfront redevelopment spa; issuing zoning orders that override the city; and giving any mayor that agrees with him extra powers.
Now he has turned his focus to attacking bike lanes. He has come to the view that they “cause” congestion and are “killing” business. He has no evidence of this, but in his gut, he knows its true. If bike lanes are removed, many cyclists will continue to use the roads, causing traffic mayhem, and some will be injured or killed. The other cyclists who opt to travel by car will of course only add to congestion.
How does Ford justify his intrusion into municipal governance and his attack on bike lanes?
Ford claim #1: “Talk to our first responders that are pulling their hair out, the fire trucks that can’t get across the road because there’s barriers or there’s bike lanes and they’re backed up. Talk to our police that are trying to get to a call or our paramedics. It’s an absolute disaster. It’s a nightmare.” The truth: The chiefs of Toronto Paramedics and Toronto Fire told the city’s infrastructure and works committee that there was no evidence of increased emergency response times as a result of bike lanes.
Ford claim #2: “Go on Bloor. There’s a petition just in Etobicoke for 50,000 people to get rid of these bike lanes.” The truth: The only thing that is true about this claim is that there was indeed a petition. It’s not clear where those that signed it are from as there is no control for that variable. The number of signatures is 13,000 not 50,000, and the petition actually recognizes the importance of providing a “right of way for bikes.”
Ford claim #3: “Believe it or not, my brother Rob [when he was Toronto’s mayor] put more bike lanes in than David Miller, but didn’t do it down the middle of University or Bloor.” The truth: This is a particularly pernicious claim. It rings like “some of my best friends ride bikes.” It is true that Rob Ford did have something to do with bike lanes. In 2010, before Rob Ford was mayor, the city installed bike lanes on Jarvis at a cost of $86,000. When Rob was elected, he called advocates for bike lanes “pinkos” and had the lanes removed from Jarvis at a cost to taxpayers of $270,000.
Ford claim #4: “Bike lanes are killing our businesses.” The truth: The Bloor Annex BIA and the Metcalf Foundation partnered with the Toronto Centre for Active Transportation (TCAT) who did an arms-length study of the economic impact of the then pilot bike lanes on Bloor. TCAT found that while most businesses felt that over half of their customers came by car, the reality, after interviews with 3000 customers, was that only 7 per cent did. Before deciding to make the bike lanes a permanent fixture on Bloor, the city commissioned Moneris, the payment terminal provider used by most establishments, to share data on sales. Moneris confirmed that sales had gone up by almost 3 per cent while the pilot bike lanes were installed. It seems that cyclists are more likely to stop and shop or dine than motorists.
Bike lanes are not just about safety; they are about giving people transportation choices, and using a few Trumped up excuses, Ford seeks to take some away.
I appreciated Albert Koehl’s excellent editorial piece regarding the serious hazards bike riders face as underlined by the recent death of a young female cyclist on Bloor Street.
Construction projects and aggressive motorists indeed present a serious challenge to bike safety especially in situations where there are merge points.
I absolutely agree that the safety of pedestrians and cyclists in those situations must be paramount as they are the most vulnerable. However, in the same way that cyclists are at risk from aggressive motorists, pedestrians are at risk from aggressive cyclists.
I live at the corner of St. George Street and Lowther Avenue and frequent the Annex neighbourhood as a pedestrian. I have to say that most of my near-death experiences have been related to cyclists rather than cars.
On St. George Street many cyclists interpret stop signs as mere roadside decoration as they whip through intersections with nary a pause.
At night one often encounters cyclists dressed in black with no lights or reflectors on their bikes.
My wife and I have both had close encounters with cyclists riding on sidewalks, the supposedly safe domain for pedestrians. Rarely do the cyclists dismount as they should.
Albert Koehl has also written in a recent newspaper article about the virtues but also the challenges of e-bikes. They are heavier and faster. A physician friend in her seventies was recently on holiday in Vancouver walking on a pedestrian path in Stanley Park when she was struck from behind by an e-bike.
She sustained serious injuries including a concussion, broken nose and kneecap, herniated disc, among others. There was a bicycle path beside the pedestrian path.
I have been a cyclist in this city and support the expanding cycling infrastructure. However, with opportunity comes responsibility.
The cycling community must make a serious effort to comply with the laws of the road and have more respect for the rights of pedestrians.
In addition, as Albert Koehl states in the aforementioned newspaper article, the government should introduce educational programs for cyclists as well as legislation governing the classification of e-bikes.
November 8th, 2024 · Comments Off on FORUM: A busy legislative agenda ahead (Oct./Nov. 2024)
TTC and safety initiatives dominate
By Dianne Saxe
Fall is a lovely time in University-Rosedale. Mornings are cool, summer gardens yield a few more delights (my cherry tomatoes are still ripening), and the leaves are starting to turn yellow, orange, and red. Fresh fall apples are crisp and tart; farmers’ markets are bursting with produce and looking ahead to Halloween. I always enjoy fall celebrations, such as the Annex Residents’ Association cornfest, BENA’s social and the HVRA fall fair’s auction and concert. Thank you to everyone who said hello.
Fall is also, of course, when the pace of work at city hall snaps back into high gear.
Having no council in August plus a limited scope for council in September, entails a heavy agenda every October. Flashpoints at this council will likely include: fixing the vacant home tax; Ports Toronto’s request to add safety buffers to the Toronto Island Airport; the perennial topics of congestion and housing; and whether to give up on an ambitious and long-awaited redevelopment of the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts.
Some of my own motions will also be on council’s agenda, including:
My compliance and enforcement strategy for transportation services
Much higher maximum fines for serious road obstructions
Zoning obstacles to home energy efficiency, energy storage, and renewable energy
Protecting tenants of older buildings from lead contamination in their drinking water
A promising building-based approach to curbside EV charging for garage orphans
Whether 16- and 17-year-olds should be able to vote in neighbourhood polls (not general elections)
Refusing greenwashing ads that conflict with Toronto’s climate commitments
I will also be making section 37 motions to fund mass timber affordable housing in Kensington Market and to beautify the forthcoming pedestrian space on Avenue Road between Davenport and Dupont.
At the TTC, I am progressing in two areas of critical importance: fare enforcement and the impact of road congestion on bus and streetcar reliability.
For the first time since COVID, the TTC is stepping up fare enforcement and closing off weak points where fare evasion is rampant. Legacy tickets/ tokens will no longer be accepted after December 31, and most crash gates are being closed.
Ticket issuance is up sharply to about 1000 tickets per month, halfway to what it was in 2019. On road congestion, I am coaxing TTC staff to work more effectively with city staff, and to document the worst pinch points.
In other TTC news:
We welcomed Greg Percy (former CEO of Metrolinx) as interim CEO. He is already making an excellent impression!
Hillcrest Yard celebrated its one hundredth anniversary with a popular open house.
Because of my swing vote, staff will give the board options for continuing free public WiFi after Rogers closes down the old, collapsing technology on December 31.
The TTC board adopted my motion to prescreen advocacy advertising from documented fossil fuel greenwashers like the Pathways Alliance and to not accept such advertising unless the advertiser proves their claims to be true. Thus, at long last, the TTC will stop lending its brand and credibility to false, misleading claims that the billionaire tar sands companies are compatible with our net-zero commitments and a liveable future. This decision, apparently the first of its kind in North America, was quickly adopted by Montreal’s transit system, which has been musing about such action for months. Thank you to CAPE and StandEarth for their inspiration and support.
It’s great to have my office team almost back in full force, with Tasneem, Sydney, Daniel and Anne joining William, Christian, Ben and Andrew, plus Cameron part-time for the school year. Holli, Jessica, Quinn and Teodoro are thriving in their new gigs and send everyone their best wishes.
Dianne Saxe is city councillor for Ward 11, University-Rosedale.
November 8th, 2024 · Comments Off on FORUM: Bike lanes are a solution to congestion, not the cause (Oct./Nov. 2024)
Ford adds fuel an to an ugly culture war of drivers versus cyclists
By Jessica Bell
Queen’s Park should be solving our biggest challenges, like climate change, homelessness, and fixing our public services, from health care to schools.
Doug Ford, however, is preparing for the next election, and making cynical and divisive political moves that won’t improve our lives, but will motivate his base.
That’s why the premier is attacking bike lanes.
The Conservatives are proposing new legislation that will require cities to get provincial approval to build a bike lane if it takes out a lane for vehicles. The government is also going to review every bike lane built in the past five years, including the Bloor Street and University Avenue bike lanes.
This is a terrible move. Removing bike lanes will make our roads more unsafe for cyclists, commute times won’t improve, and it will fuel an ugly culture war of drivers versus cyclists, suburbs versus downtown.
As I travel around our riding, I often reflect upon the people who have died cycling on our streets. I show my children the ghost bikes, marking those who have died, and urge them to bike as carefully as they can.
A 24-year old woman cycling on Bloor Street was killed earlier this summer when she veered out of a bike lane blocked by a dumpster for a construction project and was hit by a truck.
Local resident, beloved teacher and athlete, John Offut, was killed by a truck while cycling.
Alex Amaro, a 23-year-old journalism student was killed on Dufferin Street as she was taking a left hand turn in 2020. “All she was trying to do was come home,” said her friend at a council meeting.
These are preventable tragedies.
It is certainly true that getting around our rapidly growing region has never been more stressful and time consuming. Toronto is ranked the worst city in North America for traffic and commute times, beating out Mexico City, Los Angeles, and New York City. Commercial vehicles have difficulty delivering goods and services. Transit is often slow and unreliable.
It’s also true that the Conservatives have not taken our region’s serious transportation challenges seriously. The only positive move the Conservatives have made is to commit to building four new transit lines, including the Ontario Line and the Yonge Line Extension. This is an investment we support.
On the flip side, the Conservatives have flatly refused to help fund the maintenance and operation of the streetcar, bus, and subway lines to make the TTC faster, cheaper, and more reliable for 1.7 million angry, tired, and frustrated riders.
They’re doubling down on building highways, including this preposterous plan to build a tunnel under Highway 401 from Scarborough to Brampton.
They’re upending our planning laws to permit the construction of expensive low-density housing, which locks people into car use. This kind of outdated 1950s-style planning is terrible for congestion, terrible for the environment, and very expensive for municipalities to service.
If we’re serious about creating fast, reliable, and sustainable transportation patterns, then we need to pass rules that make it easier for people to walk, cycle, or take public transit more often.
To achieve this, the province needs to invest in transit so fares can be lowered and service levels can be rapidly increased, especially along bus routes.
Our planning rules need to encourage more density—not less—which means making it quicker and easier to build townhomes, fourplexes, apartments, and condos, in existing neighbourhoods so more people can afford to live near where they work, play, and study.
The province should adopt a Vision Zero strategy to reduce injuries and deaths on our roads to zero. This plan should include properly enforcing our road laws and protected bike lanes. Two major cities —Oslo, in Norway, and Helsinki, in Finland—had zero deaths of vulnerable road users by 2020 through implementing a Vision Zero approach. If they can do it, so can we.
Jessica Bell is the MPP for University-Rosedale and the Official Opposition’s Housing Critic. She can be reached at jbell@ndp.on.ca or 416-535-7206.
November 8th, 2024 · Comments Off on ON THE COVER: More fireworks for Dominico Field (Sept. 2024)
Toronto Maple Leafs Connor Lewis (L) and Jose Vinicio charge through smoke and fireworks during pregame player introductions at Christie Pits on August 24. The Leafs went down to defeat against the Barrie Baycats, bringing their 2024 season to an early end. CRAIG AIKIN/GLEANER NEWS
November 8th, 2024 · Comments Off on NEWS: City plans to convert Green P to housing (Sept. 2024)
Kensington Market parking lot set to become affordable housing
Artist rendering of the proposed new build at 35 Bellevue Ave. COURTESY MONTGOMERY SISAM ARCHITECTS
By Meredith Poirier
The parking lot at 35 Bellevue Ave. was filled with excitement and commotion on the morning of August 12 as an announcement was made by University-Rosedale councillor Dianne Saxe that the site would be the newest location of an affordable housing development. Mayor Olivia Chow as well as representatives from the Kensington Market Community Land Trust (KMCLT) and St. Clare’s Multifaith Housing Society (St. Clare’s) were all present during the press conference as they are all working in partnership on this exciting and ever necessary development.
The announcement comes at a dire time as just steps away from the parking lot is an encampment where unhoused individuals are residing. Many of these folks are likely on the list of the almost 90,000 active applicants for social housing in the city.
This development is a partnership between the City of Toronto, KMCLT and St. Clare’s. KMCLT is a non-profit corporation that works to “protect the social and economic diversity of the neighbourhood.” Currently they own and operate a mixed-use property in Kensington Market that has 12 affordable rental units. St. Clare’s is a non-profit that provides affordable housing in downtown Toronto.
Kevin Barrett, co-chair of the KMCLT board, explained that this project has been a long time coming. “Very early in the life of our organization, we identified that Green P parking lot on Bellevue as a really important piece of land of the neighborhood.” Early in 2018, they held a community visioning session to try to imagine what could happen at this site. Affordable housing was at the top of everyone’s minds.
KMCLT has been working tirelessly to get this project started. Since 2018, it has been advocating for the city to take the lead on this public housing project. Earlier this year the City of Toronto put out a call for proposals looking for community partners for the development of the parking lot at 35 Bellevue Ave., Barrett explained.
KMCLT and St. Clare’s were chosen and are now working very closely with the city on this important project. “I just want to emphasize how excited we are. I think this is a really, really great moment for the neighborhood of the city. We’re very appreciative of the leadership that Mayor Chow has offered,” said Barrett.
Construction is slated to start in the coming months with the hope of a completion date around the end of 2025.
The building itself will be a four-storey structure with at least 78 units. The units will be private apartments equipped with a bathroom and a kitchen, and the building itself will boast communal spaces such as a community kitchen and on-site laundry.
While this project’s main aim is to support the housing crisis in the city, it will also focus on the climate crisis and sustainability. Composite mass timber, a renewable resource, will be used in the construction, and the building will be designed to exceed Tier 2 of the Toronto Green Standard, which essentially means that voluntary efforts will be put in by the team to ensure the building has low emissions and is prepared for the future (and what the climate crisis may entail).
The City of Toronto’s communications advisor explained that the future residents of this building will be people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.
The city and St. Clare’s will select residents through the city’s coordinated access processes.
Once the building is complete, KMCLT will be the owner of the building. They will take on a long-term lease in partnership with the city to ensure that the land will not be sold. Day-to-day property management and support of residents will be managed by St. Clare’s.
November 8th, 2024 · Comments Off on FOCUS: Band of Storytellers tells a tale (Sept. 2024)
Brunswick House mural an Afrofuturistic tribute to Albert’s Hall
Pictured above (from left) are Neiland Brissenden from the Bloor Annex BIA, artist Komi Olafimihan, storyteller Norman Richmond, and filmmaker-interdisciplinary artist Saroja Ponnambalam. COURTESY AYESHA KHAN/STEPS PUBLIC ART
By Ammara Khan and Meredith Poirier
Recent pruning in the parkette on the southeast corner of Bloor and Brunswick has shed new light on the colourful Band of Storytellers mural. The art provides an immersive understanding of the musical history of Albert’s Hall.
The Band of Storytellers mural was installed in 2019 and is a perfect backdrop to the popular the Bloor Annex Business Improvement Area (BIA) parkette. It pays homage to Albert’s Hall in the Brunswick House which was popular in the 1970s and 80s and was active for decades.
Komi Olafimihan was the artist who designed and executed the piece, along with the assistance of his friend, Kalkidan Assefa.
“When the callout went out for a mural for the Brunswick House, I really felt drawn to the idea of the musical history because a lot of great blues and jazz musicians, and Canadian legends, played specifically in that location,” said Olafimihan.
The mural was dedicated to the venue which existed above the Brunswick House.
The fun and funky mural pays homage to the musicians who played for decades at Albert’s Hall. COURTESY AYESHA KHAN/STEPS PUBLIC ART
The upstairs room was known as Albert’s Hall after Albert Nightingale. It was a venue known for jazz and blues, and hosted many renowned artists like Blossom Dearie, Cab Calloway, Gordon Lightfoot, Oscar Peterson, Muddy Waters, Loretta Lynn, the Climax Jazz Band, Downchild, Blind John Davis, Dr. McJazz, Etta James, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy, Jeff Healey and k.d. lang.
While representing the rich history of an important local landmark, Olafimihan’s piece simultaneously includes many more aspects to unpack.
Themes of Afrofuturism can be observed in this piece of art. Olafimihan speaks of a “schism between different African cultures.”
The pianist in the mural can be seen with his lips being pulled apart by an invisible thread, pointing to the idea of “speaking out” on this schism.
“The Africans and African Americans in the diaspora, the Africans in the Caribbean, the Africans in Brazil. Our Africanness manifests in different ways, but there is a schism, you know, so when I say these guys are Afrofuturistic, in a way, it’s imagining that schism being healed.”
Additionally, hidden in the keys of the mural’s piano, Olafimihan planted little NFC chip stickers which android users can read using their phones.
Those chips were initially linked to “different kinds of songs or videos of people that have played in Albert’s Hall or people that contributed to the blues or something to tie in with the history.”
A plaque at the Brunswick Ave. parkette helps to interpret the mural along with an audio story accessible through a QR code. COURTESY AYESHA KHAN/STEPS PUBLIC ART
The sign which now accompanies the mural is a newer addition and makes the art more immersive, interactive, and accessible. The audio accompanies the visual images and helps to unravel the cartoonish style of the images.
“It’s kind of a separate project,” said Melanie Ramsey, project coordinator for the BIA about the sign. “So if you are visually impaired or can’t be there in person, you can actually hear Komi describe this mural in an accessible way, which is very cool.”
The Bloor Annex BIA was awarded a STEPS Public Art’s Innovative Award, for the audio project. Ramsey decided to work with Olafimihan again, but in a new way, which would bring his other artistic mediums to light, like poetry and writing.
The BIA also worked with Norman Richmond, who actually lived in the area and used to visit Albert’s Hall. Norman has a strong music background, so he was actually able to kind of relive some of the times he went to this source.
Richmond shares his personal experiences living in the Annex in the 1960s and the cross-cultural connections being made across immigrant groups at the time.
These audio stories are accessible through a QR code on the sign next to the mural. The recordings allow you to immerse yourself in the history of the space where you sit and around the mural. Not only are the engaging stories full of information but they are paired with background sounds and music allowing you to further breathe in and live the stories. The audio tours also give listeners an introduction to Afrofuturism as an art movement and Olaf’s cartoon art style.
The recordings also include Olafimihan reciting a poem that he wrote about Albert’s Hall. The audio stories are incredibly immersive, and with soft jazz playing in the background and Olaf’s keen storytelling, listeners can really picture themselves in the iconic Albert’s Hall.
The sign project also aligns with the Bloor Annex BIA’s new focus on accessibility.
“You’re not just painting a mural and walking away…these are really beautiful pieces. So just, you know, [we are] building on these very cool things which are promoting more engagement and obviously more accessibility,” said Ramsey.
The Annex has benefitted from these projects and the results are a decline in graffiti in the “improved and beautified places.”
The BIA appreciates feedback from the community on the developments of projects and how they can work on making the Annex more accessible for people with disabilities.
Listening to the audio stories while standing in front of the mural will provide the best experience and will give individuals insight into the artistic inspiration for the mural. Head over to 481 Bloor St. W. with your smart phone and take in the art and the history.
November 8th, 2024 · Comments Off on GRADING OUR GREENSPACE: A report card on our parks – part 2 (Sept. 2024)
Our annual review of Annex greenspaces continues
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 2024.
By Mia Keskinen
Margaret Fairley Park
Margaret Fairley Park, image taken at sunset, boasts many amenities including this splash bed with an embedded boulder. MIA KESKINEN/GLEANER NEWS
100 Brunswick Ave. Grade: A (last year A-) Time: 8:27 p.m. Margaret Fairley Park, located at Brunswick Avenue and Ulster Street, is an Elysium of child-like wonder. The park features several standout play structures, such as a rope climbing structure, a sandpit full of toys, a treehouse, a splash pad, and several park benches. There are also several benches for parents to watch their little ones run around to their hearts’ content. This park is often visited by residents in the surrounding neighbourhood, as it is generally quiet and not frequented as much by the general public. Overheard: A couple discussing the importance of staying close to nature. Did you know: This park was named after Margaret Fairley who is best known for her work on the history of Canadian women and the history of Canada itself. Her research helped shed light on underrepresented aspects of Canadian history.
Jean Sibelius Square
Jean Sibelius Park – a gem located in the heart of the Annex. MIA KESKINEN/GLEANER NEWS
50 Kendal Ave. Grade: A+ (last year A) Time: 7:00 p.m. Jean Sibelius Park, located near Bernard and Spadina provides a pleasant park-going experience. The cacophony of cars quickly dissolves into white noise when entering the historical neighbourhood surrounding the park. Given the variety of amenities, the park is suitable for all age groups. The park features a distinctive playground with a rock-climbing wall, a clean fountain, bike-sharing options, multiple park benches and picnic tables, and a large grassy area for pets and parents with little ones to enjoy. The park also boasts a vibrant mural on one of its walls, encouraging visitors to appreciate the beauty in life. Overheard: “You’ll never catch me!!” A little girl yells, running from her older brother. Did you know: It is named after Jean Sibelius, a renowned Finnish composer known for his symphonies and other classical music.The site is home to the Annex Residents’ Association’s annual Cornfest, this year scheduled for Sept 15.
BLOOR BEDFORD PARKETTE
Bloor Bedford Parkette is across the street from the Royal Conservatory of Music. MIA KESKINEN/GLEANER NEWS
245 Bloor Street W. Grade: B (last year B-) Time: 7:31 p.m. Located on Bloor, just west of Bedford, this greenspace is deeply entrenched within a cultural hub of Toronto, across the street from the Royal Conservatory of Music. This parkette is teeming with life; however, the park does lack the ability to lose yourself to nature, given its location near a busy intersection and its proximity to the University of Toronto. Construction is a constant within this area, so the view of the cityscape is often blocked by neon orange fences. Did you know: The area around Bloor Bedford Parkette is known for its historic homes and proximity to cultural landmarks, reflecting the diverse history and development of the Annex neighborhood. Overheard: U of T students talking about their classes as they sit down and take a break.
Matt Cohen Park
Matt Cohen Park – this space struggles given its proximity to Bloor and Spadina. Several benches and infor-
mational plaques though make it worth a try. MIA KESKINEN/GLEANER NEWS
393 Bloor St. West Grade: C- (Last year C-) Time: 7:41 p.m. Located at Bloor and Spadina, Matt Cohen Park is a cornerstone of green beside bustling city streets. Unfortunately, given its location, the noise is very disruptive. This park serves as a stop for commuters more so than a true park space as it lacks the quiet nature that creates a sense of respite. The greenspace is a part of the University of Toronto campus, named after Matt Cohen, a writer, who deemed his house in Spadina the “centre of the universe.” This park pays tribute to magic created by the fiction writer, with large black statues inscribed with leaves in amongst trees swaying in the summer breeze. Amenities include several park benches in both full sun and shade. This park offers the necessities but lacks a pull that creates a relaxing atmosphere. Overheard: Police sirens and passersby on their commute. Did you know: Matt Cohen Park boasts six memorial plaques featuring his life story and various excerpts from his literary works. Cohen earned the Governor General’s Award for his novel Elizabeth and After and was also recognized for his celebrated children’s books, short stories, and poetry.
Sally Bird Park
Sally Bird Parkette is a an oasis on Brunswick Ave., nestled between houses. A perfect place for a respite between Harbord Village/Little Italy and Bloor Street. MIA KESKINEN/GLEANER NEWS
194 Brunswick Ave. Grade: C+ (last year C) Time: 8:21 p.m. Sally Bird park is a hidden gem within the residential area of Brunswick Avenue and Powell Lane. Hidden between houses, this little alcove of nature is lined with trees and wildflowers. A mural of an astronaut gazing at space is illuminated by the setting sun in the middle of the park, enhancing the cozy feel of the greenspace. This park also features workout equipment for all to enjoy. Though this park is small in size and only features one bench for passersby to sit on, it is a perfect place to relax and enjoy nature. Overheard: Several men listening to music, chatting about life with smiles on their faces. Did you know: The concept of outdoor workouts originated during the Great Depression, a time when there was concern that economic hardship might lead to a decline in physical fitness. In response, the idea of creating walking trails and outdoor workout equipment emerged in Canada.
Euclid Avenue Parkette
The City appears to have given up on Euclid Avenue Parkette. MIA KESKINEN/GLEANER NEWS
711 Euclid Ave. Grade: F (last year: D-) Time: 8:21 p.m. Some things never change. If you are looking for a park to escape your worries, it is recommended to steer clear of Euclid Avenue Parkette, located near Christie Street and Bloor Street. As mentioned in last year’s park reviews, Euclid Avenue Parkette still bares more resemblance to a glorified strip of dirt than a park. For various reasons, including the view, noise pollution from cars, and the litter-lined streets, park goers will find that other parks on the list are more worth their time than this greenspace. The view is nothing to call home about, as the two park benches face a wall defaced by graffiti and the street covered in trash. The park’s only appeal is that it is sandwiched in an alleyway behind a cultural hub for Korean food and other restaurants on Bloor Street. The city appears to have given up on this greenspace. Overheard: Two girls speaking in Korean, smiles lining their faces. Did you know: The Line 2 subway is directly underneath and the ground shakes as trains pass.
Healey Willan Park
Healey Willan Park caters to local little ones. GLEANER NEWS FILE PHOTO
504 Euclid Ave. Grade: B+ (last review in 2020, grade: B) Healey Willan Park is a quiet, well-maintained greenspace tucked away within Ulster and Euclid avenues. This park caters to the little ones, with swings, a play structure, and a sandbox filled with toys. This park provides a sense of peace given its location within a residential neighbourhood. The only noise that can be heard is birdsong and the laughter of children running around. Overheard: A couple holding hands, chatting and enjoying the sunset, liquid gold dancing across their faces. Did you know: The park was named after Healey Willan, a notable figure in Canadian music, particularly known for his contributions to choral and organ music. The park is home to the Palmerston Area Residents’ Association annual Party in the Park.
November 8th, 2024 · Comments Off on CHATTER: Harbord Fair a success; Estonian future on Madison; Bloor Annex BIA stage (Sept. 2024)
Harbord Village Community Fair a success!
BRIAN BURCHELL/GLEANER NEWS
The Harbord Village Residents’ Association created another amazing gathering of neighbours on September 8 at Margaret Fairley Park.
Cementing Estonian future on Madison
A sea of rebar at 11 Madison Ave. awaiting the major concrete pour for the much anticipated Estonian Cultural Centre. BRIAN BURCHELL/GLEANER NEWS
As the Keskus International Estonian Centre build moves along at 11 Madison Ave the site is preparing for a major construction step forward.
The extensive forming and maze of rebar installed over the summer is being prepared for a very large concrete pour in mid-September. Concrete pours must be continuous. The general contractor will start the pour at 7:00 am on the appointed day and keep pouring, rain or shine, well into the evening if necessary.
According to the Keskus website “This will be the largest pour of the KESKUS project; estimated at 38 trucks of concrete. It is all the more an exciting milestone as it includes the floor of the KESKUS anchor tenant’s space, Northern Birch Credit Union.”
In a video posted to the their website at: https://www.estoniancentre.ca, one can see the steel tensioning cables threaded through the beams. Once the concrete has cured (likely by mid-October), the cables can be tensioned.
In the video, the post-tensioning cables can be seen as they are threaded through the beams. These cables will be tensioned once the beam’s concrete has reached full strength, currently anticipated for mid-October. Once the concrete mass is loaded from above the cables get tensioned once more.
In all 390 cubic metres of concrete will be poured in one day. This is all happening above Line 2 of the TTC. Once the concrete is fully cured steel beams are installed to support the rest of the structure and a crane will be mounted on the engineered pad of the western half of the subway tunnel to complete the build.
—Brian Burchell/Gleaner News
Summer Music on Bloor
On Friday, August 16, Ruby Fleet, also known as A glimmering girl, performed on the Bloor Annex BIA’s public stage as part of their Summer Music Series. Over the course of the summer the BIA welcomed over 30 musicians, groups, and ensembles to perform on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. NEILAND BRISSENDEN/GLEANER NEWS
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