November 8th, 2024 · Comments Off on EDITORIAL: An injection of ignorance (Sept. 2024)
The provincial government led by Premier Doug Ford has elected to shutter ten of the of province’s 23 safe injection sites based on a “gut feeling” they are not working. This, despite the government’s own experts telling him they are not only working, but that their work needs to be bolstered. The war on drugs is now part of the culture wars in Doug Ford’s Ontario.
The pretext for the closures is a prohibition of the sites being located within 200 metres of schools. Concurrently though, the government has indicated that no application outside that perimeter will be welcomed; so apparently, it’s not really about schools at all.
In 2023, 523 people died in Toronto from opioid toxicity according to Toronto Public Health, up 74 per cent from 2019. The unregulated drug supply is increasingly toxic because it is contaminated with dangerous substances including fentanyl. Safe drug injection sites save countless lives as users can get immediate help should they overdose. They can get clean needles, have their drugs tested, and receive treatment. The number of people who overdose because they are alone, at home or on the street, will only go up when these sites close.
Advocates add that safe injection sites are a far better use of health care resources than someone shooting up in a park, overdosing, and then requiring emergency hospital care. Providing clean needles reduces the spread of infectious diseases which the health care system also bears the burden of treating.
In announcing the closure, the province promised to spend $378 million on 19 new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) hubs. There will be no injections permitted at these sites, and no clean needles will be made available. Zoe Dodd, a harm reduction worker told CBC’s Metro Morning that she was critical of the plan because “they should really start with a pilot to demonstrate its efficacy at saving lives.” While the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) welcomed the HART hub announcement they were very critical of the safe injection site closures, saying that “they [the safe injection sites] are a necessary part of a comprehensive response to the drug toxicity crises.” Ford responded with: “The sites are a failed policy, simple as that.” Ford does like to keep things simple.
This announcement comes as the province has allowed any convenience store, regardless of how close it is to a school, to sell beer, wine, and alcoholic cocktails from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. No risks for kids there apparently. Same for Vape shops that can be next door to high schools. Students are a high-risk group, but the province is not actually thinking about the welfare of students, that’s just smoke.
Sylvia Jones is currently the province’s health minister. Her constant insincerity makes her perhaps the most obnoxious of Ford’s cabinet of flying monkeys, assuring a press conference “that no one will die as a result of the closure of safe injection sites.” Jones is the one who served as solicitor general, Ontario’s top cop, during COVID-19. She ordered police to arrest anyone who left their home without provincial consent. The police ignored the order as it was unlawful. She should have resigned then and crawled away somewhere. Her foray into the opioid addiction crisis sounds eerily similar to the Reagan-era war on drugs when Nancy Reagan offered the remedy to addicted users: “Just say no.” Apparently, as it turns out, it’s not that simple.
And if you think the federal government will come to the rescue, think again. Ontario has taken a page out of Alberta’s playbook and prohibited municipalities from accepting federal support for safe injection sites: It’s Ford’s job not to do apparently, and he wants to make sure no one else fills in the void he has created.
Some have argued that Ford simply has a different ideology when it comes to safe injection sites. That gives his motivation too much credit. He has no world view other than holding onto power, no coherent set of beliefs or guiding principles that underlie denying care to those in need and at risk of dying. It’s just mean spiritedness. We can imagine in the future from Ford: “Look we threw them a lifeline. It sucks they can’t swim to it cause their dead. They should make better choices next time.”
November 8th, 2024 · Comments Off on FORUM: City building and bracing for more storms (Sept. 2024)
Housing and flood mitigation are at the top of the list
By Dianne Saxe
Summer is such a wonderful time in University-Rosedale, and as it draws to a close, I’ve found myself reflecting on all there has been to enjoy. Whether it was taking advantage of free access to the ROM’s first floor, exploring a local market, savouring a fresh dessert in the Annex, or exploring the sounds and foods of Kensington, Koreatown, or Chinatown, there’s always something new to discover in familiar places.
Amidst the bustle of council business, I’ve made sure to take some time to be in nature, as well as catch up with friends in University-Rosedale. Thanks again to the residents of 250 Davenport for having me at their annual barbeque. I equally enjoyed meeting with members of our Indigenous community for a discussion and to review the Indigenous Placemaking designs for a new park at 51 Sussex Ave. I’m very excited for these and other projects to come to fruition!
As many of you are aware, I am an avid bike rider and have been hard at work improving accessibility and safety for this mode of travel. This isn’t just because it’s healthy and climate-friendly, but because cycling throughout Toronto opens up a whole different version of the city. It should be available for everyone to take advantage of, particularly young people. To this end, I am also very excited to report that my motion broadening Bike Share usage passed city council. The age for Bike Share usage has now been lowered to 16 for classic (non-electric bikes), and to 14 for those accompanied by a parent or guardian.
We are also progressing on making upgrades throughout the Ward. We’re closer to refurbishing tennis courts at Moore Park Tennis Club and Tom Riley Park and creating an arts space for a new theatre and rehearsal space at St. Clare’s Multifaith Housing. We are also designing a streetscape vision for Elm Street between Yonge and Bay streets, one that accommodates new development while maintaining its historic character.
Yet for all there has been to celebrate and enjoy, events this summer have laid bare the important work at hand to adapt our city to the effects of climate change. Many parts of the city, including City Hall itself, were damaged by the massive rainstorm, in what may have been the third “100-year storm” since 2013. Evergreen Brickworks, an indispensable institution in the life of our city, is recovering from flooding.
These events have underscored how important it is to continue the work on upgrading our city for future generations. I am happy that substantial progress has been made during the last sitting of city council.
The City of Toronto is continuing to make record investments in housing. Uploading the Gardiner and DVP to the province has freed up nearly $2 billion which we are using to invest in priority areas and projects throughout the city. These include infrastructure development, housing maintenance and repairs, TTC, parks, and additional funds for the Broadview Eastern Flood Protection.
We have passed legislation taking a hard look at Toronto’s stormwater mitigation infrastructure and how we can best address future flooding. Of course, your humble servant made sure that the city takes all available steps to ensure that all newly constructed buildings reduce flood risks by adhering to the new version of the Toronto Green Standards. I also passed a motion whereby the city will look into accessing ways to reduce stormwater runoff from nonresidential properties that are built in a way that drives up flooding, stormwater costs, and water pollution.
I am also excited that as part of our infrastructure upgrades, the city is exploring the construction of two fully electric ferries. This is an important development which will not only reduce our carbon emissions and make our waterfront cleaner, but will provide better service for Torontonians than the current fleet. The capacity of the newly proposed vessels is far more impressive, holding up to 1000 people at a time and virtually eliminating long, time-consuming queues at Jack Layton Ferry terminal!
Finally, I am very excited at all the events happening this fall. Be sure to check out the city’s website for all the latest happenings in University-Rosedale. Be sure to follow me on social media for more updates, including on the next episode of my new podcast – Saxe and the City!
Dianne Saxe is city councillor for Ward 11, University-Rosedale.
November 8th, 2024 · Comments Off on FORUM: Government ignores own experts, closes injection sites (Sept. 2024)
Doug Ford chooses political gain over public health
By Jessica Bell
In a cynical move, the Conservatives have announced they will shutter ten consumption and treatment sites in Ontario, including the Kensington Overdose Prevention Site operated by The Neighbourhood Group. Any site 200 meters from schools or daycares will be banned from operating.
The government also plans to restrict needle exchanges, so used needles cannot be replaced with clean ones, and ban municipalities from asking the Federal government to permit the regulated and controlled distribution of safe drugs to people who are addicted.
Ontario says they’re banning consumption sites near schools and daycares to reduce crime and stop needles from being near children. This is not true. If it were true, consumption sites would be permitted to relocate, but the Conservatives have banned new sites from opening anywhere.
Minister of Health Sylvia Jones was asked by reporter Jack Hauen from The Trillium if research had been done about “how many people will die as a result of this decision.”
“Jack, people are not going to die,” the minister replied, “they’re going to get access to service.”
The minister’s comment is as dangerous as encouraging a drowning person to learn how to swim, instead of throwing them a life jacket.
This government has made a political decision to win votes by scapegoating vulnerable people. This has nothing to do with evidence.
Municipalities, hospitals, nurses, public health experts, and even two provincial government commissioned reports recommend keeping consumption sites open. To address crime and cleanliness, staff recommended hiring more staff, including security, not closing sites altogether.
Consumption sites are about reducing harm and saving lives. A CTV News review of federal government data shows that the sites, on average, help more than three people survive overdoses each day in Toronto.
Since opening in 2019, the Kensington site provides a room for people to use substances with trained staff on hand to respond to overdoses, provide education and supplies, like clean needles, and connect people to healthcare, counselling and other essential services.
Given the toxicity of the drugs available on the street, evidence also supports permitting the distribution of a regulated safe supply as a method to reduce overdose deaths.
Drug use doesn’t just magically disappear if needle exchanges are banned and consumption and treatment sites are shut down. If consumption sites close, people will use drugs alone at home, in restaurant washrooms, on the street, and yes, in nearby school yards. There will be more needles discarded on the street. Diseases like HIV and Hepatitis C will spread. More people will end up in very busy emergency rooms, like Toronto Western. And far more people will die.
No one is saying consumption sites should operate in a vacuum. These sites are one part of a comprehensive evidence-based plan to address the hideously complicated challenge of drug use and addiction by keeping people alive and helping people with recovery.
When Premier Ford was asked why he was closing sites his government originally approved, the premier said it’s just his “personal opinion” that they don’t work. He said critics should be happy that he’s pouring $378 million into new treatment hubs—there will be 19 of them—and 375 supportive housing units.
This plan is like a little two-legged stool trying to support an elephant. The chair can’t do its job because it is missing a key plank, and it’s too little to deal with the enormity of Ontario’s drug addiction crisis. The statistics are horrific. According to Public Health Ontario, in 2022, 2531 people died of an overdose, there were 2044 hospitalizations, and 12,144 emergency room visits.
Ontario needs to meet people where they are and save lives in the short term while also investing far more in housing, treatment, and health care to help people recover and rebuild their lives in the medium and long-term. This is what health care experts are recommending. We all benefit from this compassionate and evidence-based approach. This is not the time for cheap politics.
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 GREENINGS: Flood impacts brought to you by low taxes (Sept. 2024)
Toronto lacks the leadership to address effects of climate change
Toronto had two “once in a century” storms this summer. If you are bothering to read my column, I can only assume you understand the cause—climate change. I know there are still corporate lap dogs licking oil men’s boots and denying its existence, but for the most part, the era of denial is over, except for the those whose money solidly depends on infinite oil and those suckers who believe them. Sadly, for us, the former group is highly influential, and the latter group is stubbornly numerous.
After two damaging storms in a summer, I’d like to think that the bulk of Torontonians have woken up to the fact that not only do we need to cut back on fossil fuel use, we need to think long and hard about our infrastructure and how we can reasonably survive the next “once in a century” storm next summer.
This will make me truly unpopular, but this is going to take money, and that money needs to come in the form of tax increases; nobody is coming to help us. We can’t have nice things if all we are worried about are imaginary gravy trains driven by drug-dealing political leaders. We will need higher taxes, more robust infrastructure, and free public transit. This will not fix our problems, but will make life far less miserable for a lot of people, including people who had to walk through sewage to get back to their flooded homes. I am sure they don’t want to do it again during the next “once in a century storm” next summer.
There’s a lot we can learn from our neighbours in Mississauga. While Toronto cowardly shelved their plans for a storm water charge, Mississauga went ahead with theirs. It funded projects to protect flood susceptible lands including projects that were key in mitigating the impact of all that flood water within the city.
Did anyone else notice how much worse residents in Etobicoke were compared to their neighbours in Mississauga? There was no magic involved. It was good planning and politicians with enough foresight to not cave to the few whiners about taxes. They actually did something.
While Mississauga has stormwater infrastructure worth an estimated $7.6 billion, we have constantly flooded streets and basements. In 2024, Mississauga allocated $33.7 million for stormwater improvements that include erosion control initiatives. Since 2016, they have invested over $231.5 million in stormwater infrastructure.
Their 10-year plan includes an additional $340 million for ongoing upgrades and maintenance to enhance their resilience against future storms. All of this is made possible because they had leadership that did the right thing and implemented a stormwater charge, something that Toronto still has not done nearly a decade later. We are an absolute embarrassment, and we will have no choice but to go crying to other levels of government because we insist on keeping taxes for those rich enough to own property. If this is starting to sound absurd, it’s because it is.
Next summer’s storms are coming whether we prepare for them or not. We can either do something, mitigate the risk and damage, or just whine about how terrible it was at the end of the summer. I would rather pay higher taxes than have us all get dysentery as our infrastructure fails bit by bit. Climate change is coming for us and we need real leadership that will do something about it.
Terri Chu is an engineer committed to practical environmentalism. This column is dedicated to helping the community reduce energy use, and help distinguish environmental truths from myths. Send questions, comments, and ideas for future columns to Terri at terri.chu@whyshouldicare.ca.
November 8th, 2024 · Comments Off on SPORTS: Christie Pits eyed as destination for baseball and more (Sept. 2024)
Maple Leafs owners seek bigger crowds in 2025 with food, music, and fun
By R.S. Konjek
It is the evening of Saturday, August 24, and smoke and flames engulf the outfield of Dominico Field at Christie Pits.
The scene is not the work of a brazen pyromaniac, but part of a pregame ceremony for the Toronto Maple Leafs baseball club.
The Leafs are hosting their first postseason game of the year, a quarterfinal matchup against the Barrie Baycats. Introduced as a group, the players charge through clouds of blue smoke to take their places on the diamond, with fireworks going off in their wake.
Keith Stein observes it through the outfield fence with a smile.
Stein is CEO of the group that took ownership of the Intercounty Baseball League franchise late last year. The purchase was announced with a pledge to keep the team in place at Christie Pits, the Leafs’ home since 1969.
“One of the reasons we bought the team is because of our commitment to the neighbourhood, the Annex, and surrounding area. It’s very important,” he said.
A corporate lawyer by trade, Stein’s footprint on the Toronto sports scene includes being one of the founders of the Toronto Phantoms indoor football team in 1997.
As CEO, he is one of the “guiding minds” of an ownership structure that resembles a corporate board.
“For this team to do as well as we want it to do, it’s got to be run like a successful business too,” he said.
Everyone likes to interact with the boss. During our conversation, Stein circulates the park, pausing to offer numerous hellos and introductions as acquaintances enter his orbit. There’s an energy throughout, not just because of the playoff atmosphere.
This year, one of the owners’ first objectives was to make Christie Pits a welcome place to play and to professionalize the whole operation. The ballpark was spruced up, a new sound system installed, and an eye-catching suite of new uniforms was unveiled.
The other priority was to create a new type of experience for fans. Stein gives a rapid-fire overview of the scene around the ballpark.
“If you look around tonight, there’s a DJ booth up next to the press box, there’s a merch tent, there’s a raffle tent, there’s a members’ tent. We have a full-time host who tries to animate things,” he said. “We’re also proud of what we’ve done on the food and beverage side. You never saw this….” (he gestures towards the customers at the concession stand, a lineup that snakes along the clubhouse).
Stein wants every Leafs game to be a party.
“We want this to be the type of experience that you can come and hang out even if you don’t like baseball,” he said. “We think this is a tremendous platform, every Sunday afternoon and Wednesday night, to provide an entertainment destination for people in Toronto.”
Another pledge the new owners made was to keep all games free of charge.
This promising new era has been hampered by one thing. The Leafs struggled mightily all season, finishing seventh in the standings. Every owner and fan knows that a winning team draws bigger crowds.
Improving the product on the diamond will be crucial.
“We’ve got a pretty good foundation here, but we’re always interested in building on that foundation,” Stein said.
Has there been any thought to reaching out to newly retired Major Leaguer Joey Votto’s agent?
“We have,” he said. “He lives around here. I’m sure everybody’s thinking about him, every baseball team in the country. We already have (former Toronto Blue Jay and current Leafs manager) Rob Butler. He’s done things no other Canadian has, so we’d like to have Joey Votto and Rob Butler.”
Whether that’s a hot scoop or a buzz-generating rumour, time will tell.
What can fans expect next year?
“Way more continuous improvement of the fan experience. This is just the beginning. I think you’re going to see something that is even night and day from what you’re seeing today.”
Fans will have to wait until May of 2025 to find out what the club has in the works.
The Leafs were defeated that Saturday night, and they were quickly eliminated from the postseason.
One sour note in the first movement of this promising new composition.
More information about the team can be found at www.mapleleafsbaseball.com.
The Maple Leafs’ complete 2024 season schedule can be found at www.mapleleafsbaseball.com.
October 15th, 2024 · Comments Off on ON THE COVER (Summer 2024)
On Aug. 2, the Lucky Pennies performed on the public stage at Bloor and Brunswick. To learn more about the Bloor Annex BIA’s public stage please visit www.bloorannex.ca/welcome-to-the-bloor-annex-bia-stage. NEILAND BRISSENDEN/GLEANER NEWS
October 15th, 2024 · Comments Off on NEWS: A plan to build above heritage apartments (Summer 2024)
Density on Spadina Road to expand in coming years
Rendering of 41-45 Spadina Rd. looking southeast. COURTESY WND ASSOCIATES
By Meredith Poirier
The intersection of Spadina Road and Lowther Avenue is no stranger to construction. Currently the corner hosts a work site to add elevators to the Spadina TTC station. In the coming years, residents of the Annex (in particular those who live near the intersection of Bloor Street West and Spadina Road) will continue to see construction of major developments which will lead to greater residential density in the neighbourhood. Many businesses will be forced out, although some of the developers are planning to incorporate the businesses on the main floors or lower levels of the new developments. Much of the construction happening is in conjunction with the Spadina subway station.
On the southeast corner of Spadina and Lowther is 41-45 Spadina Road, a modest four-storey apartment building known as Spadina Gardens. It is a heritage-designated building. The low rise was constructed in 1905-1906 and was built in response to the city’s growing population at the time. It was designed by the inventive Toronto architect, Arthur Richard Denison and was built in the Edwardian Classical style. Today, its exterior still meshes beautifully with other buildings in the Annex neighbourhood with buidlings of a similar vintage Spadina Gardens has great significance and was recognized on the City of Toronto’s Heritage Inventory in 1979.
A proposal for the redevelopment of Spadina Gardens has been submitted by ProWinko, a real estate development firm that builds high-end real estate in prime urban locations across the world. The proposal is a 10-storey residential building, containing 70 units, that will float overthe current apartment building at 41-45 Spadina Road.
The project was discussed with the Annex Residents’ Association (ARA) in October 2023. Following the meeting, a review of the proposal was done by the ARA, and a summary of the project and concerns were compiled in a Project Position Statement. According to Henry Wiercinski, of the ARA, one of the concerns is the safety of tenants, as tenants will remain living in their current dwellings as construction takes place, which could span two to three years. There is also concern over how the heritage building and its attributes will be meaningfully retained. According to the Planning Rationale Report, created by WND Associates, a consultant to the developer, there are plans to “maintain the prominence of the existing heritage building…while appropriately locating new construction above it with a sensitive and innovative massing, material, and design strategy.” However there does not appear to be more information available to the public on how this will be achieved and how the interior of the building will be maintained. Garbage collection, parking spots, and stormwater allocation are listed as significant concerns as well.
From the perspective of the developers and the city planners, this new building will be an important one. The Planning Rationale Report also states that the proposed development “is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement, 2020, as it provides for a mix of new market based housing, within a compact built form in an existing settlement area that is well served by transit, municipal infrastructure and public services.”
According to Dianne Saxe, councillor, University-Rosedale, there are still “many questions to be answered before a decision can be made.” Saxe explained that Heritage Planning is content with the proposal (which states that the entire heritage building will be kept in place). Local residents reached out to Saxe to request a meeting prior to the public meeting on July 31. As specified by Saxe, this developer has not built in the University-Rosedale ward before, and there are concerns around the construction of the 10-storey building on top of the pre-existing apartment building and how tenants’ lives will be disrupted and how the heritage building will be fully maintained.
October 15th, 2024 · Comments Off on NEWS: New Tactile Map in the Annex (Summer 2024)
Bloor Annex BIA and STEPS Public Art make the Annex more accessible
The team from STEPS Public Art and the Bloor Annex BIA that helped make the Tactile Map a reality. COURTESY AYESHA KHAN/STEPS PUBLIC ART
By Merideth Poirier
On Thursday, June 27, the Annex became a little more inclusive as it unveiled its new Tactile Map. The map sits on the corner of Bloor Street West and Robert Street, right next to Trinity-St. Paul’s Church at 427 Bloor St. W. The installation features braille writing and tactile symbols that allow for blind or low-vision individuals to read the map and navigate the neighbourhood more safely. Representatives from the Bloor-Annex Business Improvement Area (BIA) and STEPS Public Art, as well as local community members, were all present to reveal this novel guide. It is the first of its kind in North America and is a testament to the BIA’s focus on inclusivity and safety. Other accessible art spaces in the neighbourhood include the Bloor- Annex BIA stage (on the corner of Bloor Street and Brunswick Avenue) and Interconnections (an Indigenous mural) at Paul Martel Park. The bike lanes on Bloor were also a way to make the street more inclusive and safer, and the Bloor-Annex BIA was a major sponsor of them.
The Tactile Map project was years in the making. STEPS is a Canadian charity that connects artists to communities with an aim to make public spaces more welcoming and safer. In 2022, they approached the BIA to ask them to participate in an inclusive art project, as they had received funding to do so. “We’d worked with them [before] on a few other projects, so they thought of us and so we took on this accessibility [art project],” explained Melanie Ramsay, project coordinator for the BIA.
According to Madison Kennedy, project organizer for the Tactile Map initiative, they started by reaching out to Alex Bulmer (a blind Canadian artist) and ReDefine Arts about the process of creating a map with braille writing. This kind of map, to be installed outdoors, was a completely new concept for the organizers so they wanted to make sure that the proper approach was taken. After speaking with Bulmer and ReDefine Arts, Kennedy and Ramsay reached out to organizations that work with individuals with disabilities, as well as community members from various backgrounds. “We wanted to have a variety of different disabilities heard, but also a variety of different backgrounds. So, we had artists, we had urban planners, we had people from different disciplines come together to chat with Alex specifically,” explained Kennedy. Once these connections were made, Bulmer took individual walks with people, and they chatted on their walks and discussed challenges they encountered (as well as the positive aspects of the walk as well). These walks with Bulmer were recorded, and from them, audio tours of the walks were created. The audio tours can be accessed on the BIA’s website, and the hope is that they provide members of the neighbourhood with new ways to engage with the streets of the Annex. The audio tours are a part of Bulmer’s portfolio and are entitled May I Take Your Arm. The Tactile Map was a natural next step from the audio tours.
The creation of the map takes inspiration from Bulmer’s work and was created by artist Anna Camilleri. The map is a 48 by 32-inch exterior tactile map, mounted vertically on robust posts installed by the BIA. Featuring braille writing and tangible symbols for those who are blind or living with sight loss, the map assists individuals with navigating their neighbourhood safely.
Ramsay notes that the map is not perfect, and the BIA will continue to learn and improve it, as well as other accessible art features in the community. “Our Tactile Map is a pioneering prototype, the first of its kind for any business improvement area in North America. As a groundbreaking initiative, it represents an important step towards creating more accessible awareness in public spaces,” said Ramsay.
The BIA will continue to have conversations with community members, artists, and individuals with disabilities in order to make the guide more useful and as safe as it can be.
Comments Off on NEWS: New Tactile Map in the Annex (Summer 2024)Tags:Annex · News
October 15th, 2024 · Comments Off on GRADING OUR GREENSPACE: A report card on our parks (Summer 2024)
A plethora of Annex-area parks under scrutiny
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 first instalment of reviews for 2024.
By Mia Keskinen
The beautifully designed Robert Street Park is a quiet oasis away from the hustle and bustle of traffic and noise. MIA KESKINEN/GLEANER NEWS
Robert St. Park
50 Sussex Ave. Grade: A (last year’s grade A) Time of visit: 2:30 p.m. Reason to go: Located by Spadina Avenue and Bloor Street, Robert Street Park is a well-maintained park abundant with amenities. This park was originally called the Robert Street Field Project and was created by the University of Toronto as a multi-use greenspace for all ages to enjoy. The park features cottage-style chairs epitomizing summer comfort, mini pavilions built in the shape of trees, benches surrounded by hydrangeas, unique rope structures for little ones, as well as a butterfly garden. Like Paul Martel, this park features an Indigenous art piece on one of the walls. Robert Street Park is next to a large field that often hosts soccer games for teams of all ages. Overall, Robert Street Park is a wonderful place to relax during summer in the city. Overheard: Three men playing Caribbean music, dancing together, dimples carved into their cheeks from the smiles with which they sing. Did you know: In the Robert Street playing field to the north, the University of Toronto drilled 153 boreholes, each 850 feet deep, in order to extract geothermal energy to heat and cool the new Spadina-Sussex Student Residence as well as connect to the university on the other side of Spadina. In 2020, when it was built, it is the largest geothermal installation in the country, and it will ultimately lead to a 90 per cent reduction in carbon emissions from heating and cooling the university’s buildings. (See gleanernews.ca, March 2020, keywords: Robert Street geothermal).
Jesse Ketchum Park is a fabulous greenspace again earning a high grade. MIA KESKINEN/GLEANER NEWS
Jesse Ketchum Park
1310 Bay St. Grade: A+ (last year’s grade: A+) Time of visit: 10:00 a.m. Reason to go: Jesse Ketchum Park reminds city-goers of the innate charm of simplicity. The essentials are covered: pathways lined with benches, water fountains, and trees swaying in the summer breeze. Despite the greenspace’s location at the corner of Avenue Road and Davenport Road, the sound does not distract too much from the park’s ambiance, as the trees and expanse of the park absorb much of the oncoming traffic. Located near Jesse Ketchum School, the park is also close to a soccer field where children can often be seen playing sports in the sun. This park is a delightful stop for those who are looking to appreciate nature amongst an urban landscape. Overheard: Two dog owners laughing as their pups roughhouse. Did you know: This park was named after Jesse Ketchum, who was well-known for his philanthropic efforts towards education. One of his most notable contributions was his support for public education. He donated land for the first public school in Toronto which was named Jesse Ketchum School in his honor.
Paul Martel Park’s planting beds, paths, indigenous murals, audio tour, and ample seating make this a must-see destination. MIA KESKINEN/GLEANER NEWS
Paul Martel Park
10 Madison Ave. Grade: A (last year’s grade: A) Time of visit: 1:55 p.m. Reason to go: In 2022, Paul Martel Park was rated by the Gleaner as the most improved park going from a D- to an A within a year due to a transformative restoration. This greenspace, located near the intersection of Spadina Avenue and Bloor Street, continues to uphold its charming allure with several painted park benches, cottage-style chairs lining the paths, and abundant wildflowers. This park is pleasing to the eye. Along the back wall, which provides a level of privacy given that the park is right behind Spadina station, is a beautiful Indigenous mural of vibrant orange and blue hues which pays tribute to our innate connection with nature. There is a sign explaining Indigenous peoples’ profound worldviews and beliefs. This greenspace is perfect for those who wish to rest in the shade as the summer sun elucidates the cityscape. Overheard: Birdsong from robins hop through the bushes, taking mud baths to cleanse themselves. Did you know: The park is named after Paul Martel, a well-known local resident who was dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of urban greenspaces.
Vermont Square is a Seaton Village gem. MIA KESKINEN/GLEANER NEWS
Vermont Square Park
819 Palmerston Ave. Grade: A (reviewed last in 2022, grade then A+) Time of visit: 1:45 p.m. Reason to go: This park is a gem within Seaton Village. Despite being located close to Bathurst Street and Dupont Avenue, there is a pervasive calm and quiet that exists within this greenspace. As sunset rolls over the hills of Vermont Square Park, children can be seen chasing liquid gold until the sun falls asleep, playing into the hours of the night. Within its expansive grounds, lie various amenities: paths that linger through the park, various benches, as well as a playground built like a pirate ship. This park is often bustling from sunrise to sunset and draws in folks of all ages, be it the little ones who walk the plank, or the parents who gather to watch their little pirates. Given its expansive grounds and several amenities, this greenspace is the perfect place for all park-goers. Did you know: Vermont Square Park has a rich history, dating back to its establishment in the late 19th century. It has evolved over the years to become a beloved community gathering place.
Doctors’ Parkette features too much hardscaping. MIA KESKINEN/GLEANER NEWS
Doctors’ Parkette
15 Brunswick Ave. Grade: C- (last year c-) Time of visit: 3:05 p.m. Reason to go: It is easy to bypass Doctors’ Parkette on one’s commute. While other greenspaces on the list have plenty of trees to provide ample shade, Doctors’ Parkette, located at College Street and Brunswick Avenue, is sorely lacking shade. Additionally, this park is almost entirely paved, making it feel very urbanized, much like the rest of one’s experience of living downtown. Its benches are uncomfortable due to the direct sun, and surfaces are hot to the touch. While the extensive hardscaping is not desirable, the pavers do exhibit an attractive pattern Overall though, this park still has room for improvement. Overheard: “Apparently pigeons are entirely domesticated and reliant on people for survival because we used to use them as messenger pigeons,” a friend said to another friend, while feeding the pigeons. Did you know: The parkette’s name pays homage to the medical professionals who have historically been part of the community or contributed to the city’s development and to Doctor’s Hospital which was located just north of the space on Brunswick Ave until 1998.
Christie Pits Park
750 Bloor St. W. Grade: A+ (Last year A+) Time of visit: 2:09 p.m. Reason to go: Among one of the largest and most well-known parks in the city, Christie Pits is a favourite for those who need to escape to nature amid the fast-paced city life. Its convenient location next to Christie subway station, and its many amenities create a unique pull. Aside from the rolling hills and standard park amenities such as picnic benches and a clean washroom, Christie Pits offers various attractions including an outdoor swimming pool, basketball courts, baseball diamonds, and a skateboard park. The park truly comes alive during the summer, as there is always something to keep oneself entertained within the breadth of this greenspace, be it a weekly movie-night under the summer stars, pop-up vendors, or a picnic in celebration of pride month. This park teeming with life is worth visiting this summer. Overheard: A young woman lying on the grassy knoll humming to herself happily with a book in hand. Did you know: The park was originally known as Willowvale Park, but it was renamed Christie Pits in recognition of the Christie Sand Pits which were used for sand extraction in the early 1900s. The park is also named after the Christie Sand Company which owned the quarry.
Gwendolyn MacEwan Park is something of an island oasis offering ample seating and garden. MIA KESKINEN/GLEANER NEWS
Gwendolyn MacEwen Park
33 Walmer Rd. Time of visit: 12:01 p.m. Grade: B- (Last year’s grade: B-) Reason to go: Located at Walmer Road and Lowther Avenue, Gwendolyn MacEwen Park is a quaint, small greenspace featuring flower beds laden with lush purple hues. The park lies in front of Walmer Road Baptist Church where there is a beautiful Indigenous mural. Amenities include several park benches where park goers can relax. The park is in the middle of a roundabout, providing scenery for passersby on their commute. The only drawback of this park is the noise, given its location in the heart of a roundabout. Overheard: Dogs panting happily as they sniff the flowerbeds on their afternoon walk. Did you know: The park celebrates the life and work of Gwendolyn MacEwen who made significant contributions to Canadian literature. It serves as a reminder of her impact on the literary community and her connection to the Annex neighborhood.
Jesse Ketchum Park is a fabulous greenspace again earning a high grade. MIA KESKINEN/GLEANER NEWS
Jay MacPherson Green
255 Avenue Rd. Time of visit: 1:20 p.m. Grade: A- (Last year’s grade: A-) Reason to go: Jay Macpherson Green is a small park located at the bustling intersection of Avenue Road and Dupont Street and encircled by Victorian homes. Its amenities consist of several benches, amongst the tall sway of the trees under the warm summer sun. Unfortunately, due to its location on a main road, noise pollution makes this park harder to enjoy than others on the list; however, the park serves its purpose, given that it is well kept. The park is across from Sergeant Ryan Russell Parkette. Overheard: “C’mon boys!” says a dog walker walking with ten dogs in tow, relishing the warm summer sun. Did you know: The park is named after Jay Macpherson, a celebrated Canadian poet and academic known for her contributions to Canadian literature. She won the Governor General’s Award for Poetry in 1957 for her book The Boatman.
Sergeant Ryan Russell Parkette
Time of visit: 1:45 p.m. Rating: A (last year B+) Reason to go: Sergeant Ryan Russell Parkette, near Jay Macpherson Green, is also located at Avenue Road and Dupont Street. The park provides more of an escape from the din of traffic than Jay Macpherson Green because the trees block the view of the roadway, creating a better sense of privacy. This park is great for those with little ones as the parkette features a large enclosed playground for children to safely enjoy, as well as benches for parents to sit and chat. Overheard: “You’ll never catch me!” a little one yells to one of his friends, childlike wonder painted across his face as he runs from his friends during a game of tag. Did you know: This park was named after Sergeant Ryan Russell who died in the line of duty on Jan. 12, 2011 in the arms of his fellow officer, Sergeant Sarah Andrews. The tragedy took place nearby on Avenue Road.
The road ends here: bookending Boswell with greenery. MIA KESKINEN/GLEANER NEWS
Boswell Parkette
4 Boswell Ave. Time of visit: 1:25 p.m. Grade: B (last year’s grade: B) Reason to go: Boswell Parkette is a small pocket that can be easily missed while walking through the city. It provides a beautiful canopy of trees which form a passageway to a residential area along Boswell Avenue to Avenue Road. This greenery adds an additional level of privacy and serenity to a quaint neighbourhood, and it absorbs noise for those who live within the historical homes, located close to a main road. Finding this spot is a pleasant surprise for passersby amidst the hustle and bustle of the metropolis. The noises of the streets are unfortunately audible making this parkette less ambient than others on the list, but it can still be an enjoyable quick stop, nature amongst the urban landscape. Though its amenities are few, a single bench by a bus stop, Boswell Parkette is nonetheless an enjoyable place to pass through while waiting for the bus. Overheard: A group of girls giggling and laughing with each other, carrying a bouquet of flowers; a glimpse of girlhood within a fast-paced urban jungle. Did you know: Boswell Parkette was named after Toronto’s 24th mayor, Arthur Radcliffe Boswell, who is most remembered for hosting a renowned party in commemoration of Toronto’s 50th anniversary in 1884.
October 15th, 2024 · Comments Off on CHATTER (Summer 2024)
Cornfest returns; Koreatown’s inaugural street festival; street closure at Bloor and St. George streets
Cornfest returns to Jean Sibelius Park on Sept 15 (3-5pm)
COURTESY MIMI TOMPKINS/ARA
The Annex Residents’ Association is again hosting its annual Cornfest. All are welcome to this rain or shine event to enjoy the sweet seasonal treat together with baked goods, games, and live entertainment!
Koreatown Street Festival
The Korea Town BIA hosted its inaugural street festival on August 10 featuring food vendors, drumming performances, and a brass band. A portion of Euclid Avenue from Bloor St. W was closed for the Saturday evening event which drew a large gathering.
Bloor and St. George full closure
BRIAN BURCHELL/GLEANER NEWS
The city has announced that construction on Bloor Street West will require the full closure of the intersection at St. George for the week of August 19 to 26. No vehicle traffic, including cyclists, will be permitted passage. Cyclists will be expected to dismount. Pedestrian access will be maintained.
The city’s contractor anticipates substantial project completion by August 30 and to be off the street by the end of September after two years of roadwork.
—Brian Burchell/Gleaner News
Comments Off on CHATTER (Summer 2024)Tags:Annex · News
October 15th, 2024 · Comments Off on EDITORIAL: Road safety for some, sometimes (Summer 2024)
When Ontario Premier Bill Davis stopped the Spadina Expressway, the decision could have been a defining moment for Toronto. But over a half century later, it’s still not clear that we are “building a transportation system to serve people” instead of automobiles. Construction projects and heavy trucks that endanger vulnerable road users, along with politicians devoted to protecting the status quo, continue to block a more people-friendly way forward. The death of a young female cyclist on Bloor Street on July 25 offers additional, tragic evidence that we still live in a car-first reality.
It’s easy to find construction projects where the safety of people looks like an afterthought, beginning with the year-long road work on Bloor Street between Spadina and Avenue Roads.
When the Bloor work started in August 2023, the first casualty was the bike lane, obliging people on bikes to travel single file with cars and trucks in narrow lanes where some motorists were quick to assert their power advantage, especially at dangerous merge points. Among the over 5,000 daily Bloor cyclists, about 10 per cent predictably took refuge on sidewalks, potentially undermining the safety of pedestrians.
Meanwhile, where detour routes are indicated to get around a road construction site—instead of providing safe passage through it—some efforts verge on the absurd. On Queen’s Park Road, just south of Bloor, where an elevator is being installed for the TTC’s Museum station, a detour for southbound cyclists was so long (1.7 kilometres) and so challenging (including two left turns) that very few people could be expected to use it, given that the obstruction itself was a mere 50 metres long.
Heavy trucks are another well-known peril because of driver blind spots and the risk of a person being pulled under the rear wheels in a collision. Anguished community pleas for remedial action after these deaths are as predictable as they are futile. Since 2018, cement, dump, and flatbed trucks have been involved in four deaths at or near the Bloor and Avenue Road intersection alone. The government and industry response has been consistent, but only in trying to pass the buck or to fight improvements, including truck side guards twice recommended by Ontario coroners in comprehensive death reviews.
Illegal placement of construction materials in bike lanes is a variation of long-standing problems of illegal, poorly enforced rules against parking in bike lanes by motorists who often wave off their delict with: “l’ll just be a minute.” While we don’t yet know definitively why the young woman exited the bike lane on July 25 before she was struck and killed, we do know that a construction bin was illegally parked in her path.
Fortunately, solutions to the existing dangers are not hard to find.
First, we need clearly articulated, consistent rules for all construction sites, based on the paramount importance of human life in our Vision Zero Road Safety Plan.
Second, the city must follow a clear hierarchy—with pedestrians and cyclists at the top—in deciding how to use available road space to provide safe passage through construction sites. The parking of personal vehicles by construction workers will fall low on this scale. Maintaining bike lanes and sidewalks, even if it means closing a road to motor traffic, must come first.
Third, we need effective and routine monitoring of construction projects that intrude on public rights of way—and routine enforcement for noncompliance. In the aftermath of the July 25 tragedy, Mayor Olivia Chow spoke of instituting an urban “mobility squad,” similar to one in Montreal, to monitor streets for dangers. Whatever the name, such patrols can’t come soon enough, especially to deal with cavalier attitudes to obstructing bikeways and sidewalks. Would any company illegally obstruct a bikeway if it reasonably feared being caught and penalized?
It’s time to build a city for people as if our lives depended on it…because they do.
Albert Koehl is an environmental lawyer, coordinator of Community Bikeways, and author of Wheeling through Toronto: A History of the Bicycle and Its Riders.
