June 14th, 2024 · Comments Off on LIFE: Dupont Street’s “Dynamo on Ice” (May 2024)
Petra Burka reminded of her skating career that started in the Annex
By Mia Keskinen
Following the article A Forgotten Skating Venue on Dupont in the December issue of the Annex Gleaner, the Gleaner received a letter from Astra Burka. Astra reminisced about her experiences at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club, watching her sister, Petra Burka, dance on the ice when they were children. No one at the time could have known the success that Petra would achieve. Petra Burka, an Olympic bronze medalist, and world champion of figure skating, became known as the “Dynamo on Ice,” and she began her journey at the Toronto Curling, Skating and Cricket club.
Petra Burka won a bronze medal for Canada at the 1964 Winter Olympics. COURTESY ASTRA BURKA
Petra Burka was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands on Nov. 7, 1946. Petra’s mother and coach, Ellen Burka, was a Dutch national champion of the sport and a visionary of her time. She was made a Member of the Order of Canada “for elevating skating to an art form and for imaginative choreography on the ice.” She was the first to introduce ballet and modern dance onto the ice. Petra became the first of Ellen’s international students, and together, the two learned the ropes and found global success.
The family emigrated from the Netherlands to Canada in 1951. At 14 years old, Petra began to practise skating at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling club. When asked about how the skating club contributed to her later success, Petra mentioned that once she became a competitive skater, she would take months off school to train at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling club for competitions. This club was the perfect place for her to practise because it was open all day and had much more versatile hours compared to other skating clubs at the time, which only opened in the afternoon.
Petra also mentioned that she enjoyed the competitive environment fostered within the skating club. Many skaters who later became world champions practised at the club alongside her. Because she was surrounded by competition, Petra was inspired to become “the best of the best.”
Petra said that she always had a “fighting spirit” which she attributes to growing up as a Jewish immigrant in Canada. As an immigrant, Petra always felt different. In her words, “my voice was silent, but my story was told through my craft.” She fought her way to the figures, as her career took flight at the 1962 Canadian Championships. At the national championships, Burka became the first woman to land a triple Salchow and left with a silver medal in hand. In the same year, she debuted in the World Championship in Prague, and achieved fourth place.
Burka swept the figures, as she won the first of three senior national titles in 1964. She went on to represent Canada at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, and won the bronze medal. Her performance was described as “dazzling.”
Burka’s success would continue after the Olympics as she won bronze at the 1964 World Championships in Dortmund. She went on to pioneer many firsts in the world of Canadian figure skating. She became the first Canadian skater to perform in the Soviet Union when she toured Moscow and Kyiv. Petra became the first Canadian woman to stand at the top of the pedestal as gold champion in the 1965 World Championship in Colorado Springs, Colorado, since Barbara Ann Scott in 1947. She also became the first woman to complete the triple salchow at the World Championship. She won Canada’s Outstanding Athlete of the Year in 1964 and Canada’s Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year for two consecutive years, 1964 and 1965.
She retired from competition in 1966, but her impact on the ice became immortalised in Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1965, the Canadian Olympic Association Hall of Fame in 1972, and the Ontario Sport Legends Hall of Fame in 1995.
Though Burka retired from competition, her passion for figure skating would not die, as she returned to her roots in Toronto as a coach, following in the footsteps of her mother. Both Petra and her mother were made honorary members of the Toronto Cricket, Skating, and Curling club. Petra became her mother’s assistant, coaching at the Toronto Skating, Cricket, and Curling Club in 1980s. She became a full-time coach with the club during the 1990s, until Skate Canada hired her as a coach consultant for several years. Upon retiring from Skate Canada, Petra returned to the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling club as a coach from 2016 until 2020. Petra Burka dedicated her life to skating and then to coaching those who shared her passion as they learned to perfect the craft of figure skating under her guidance.
June 14th, 2024 · Comments Off on GREENINGS: Greater density along transit hubs is good for all of us (May 2024)
Mandating no cars under new builds is the way forward
It is very exciting to see the development of the old Honest Ed’s site almost come online. It means there will be more people in this city living close to transit. It means there will be more people in this neighbourhood to sustain the small businesses that make this neighbourhood liveable. We need to support high-density housing projects in this neighbourhood, but we have to make sure that these new projects come with zero new parking spots. We want walkers, cyclists, and transit users. We don’t want to be home to more polluting drivers who make the city dirty and dangerous.
In case you haven’t noticed, cars make cities terrible places. You would not fear for your kids running around outside if it weren’t for cars potentially mowing them over any minute. Cars make us miserable people. Study after study shows us that cars induce anti-social behaviours and make us horrible people. Why do we keep doing this to ourselves? It’s self-punishment of the highest order.
The Annex has four subway stations in the area; if we can’t build a car-free community, nobody can. Sadly, cars still dominate our otherwise amazing neighbourhood. Our community suffers so much from the ’70s-era legacy of prioritizing seconds of vehicular travel time over the health and safety of our children. We do not want to be a drive-through zone for people trying to get to a Jays game fast. We want this neighbourhood to be safe for kids to play ball hockey and throw a frisbee: that is what should be prioritized. Who cares if cars take an extra minute to get to the game? They should take 60 extra minutes to get to game. Drivers should be incentivized to get out of their cars and onto transit, and aside from making the cost of transit cheaper than parking, (right now it isn’t) driving should also be slower and a pain in the rear.
Making all this happen requires tremendous political will. The most pro-climate action you can take at this point is to get politically active at every level. A few things you can do for starters is to write to our city councillor, Dianne Saxe (councillor_saxe@toronto.ca) and let her know that you support high-density neighbourhoods but demand no new parking spots. Also, let her know you want to see all beg buttons a thing of the past. Beg buttons are what advocates call the crosswalk buttons that pedestrians push to beg for a light change to get across the street. They also force cyclists onto the sidewalk as the sensors never work. Let her know that lights should change for cyclists and pedestrians as a matter of course, and they, not car traffic, should be prioritized.
Write to our MPP Jessica Bell (jbell-co@ndp.on.ca) and let her know that it’s unacceptable that the province neither funds transit properly, nor do they toll roads into the city. Street parking for two hours should cost no less than a family of 4 taking transit two ways (about $28 for two hours). If it’s cheaper to drive, people will always choose that option.
Write to our Federal MP Chrystia Freeland (chrystia.freeland@parl.gc.ca) and let her know that not only do you support a carbon tax, but it should get higher, faster. Let her know that you also want to see the federal government regulate the amount of toxic dust coming off car tires that ourchildren end up breathing.
Simply getting in touch with your representative is a gateway drug to other forms of environmental action. I wish us all success in making this community a safer, better place to live.
Hopefully, we have not forgotten the horrendous wildfire smoke from last summer. Canada will face even more wildfires this year. The record-smashing heat is already in a vicious cycle. We no longer have time for political baby steps. Let’s make sure our politicians hear us.
Terri Chu is an engineer committed to practical environmentalism. This column is dedicated to helping the community reduce energy and distinguish environmental truths from myths.
May 7th, 2024 · Comments Off on ON THE COVER: Wychwood Pond (Apr. 2024)
Kids frolic in what was a tributary of Taddle Creek on June 17, 1916. The tributary was later dammed to create Wychwood Pond. Read more. COURTESY CITY OF TORONTO ARCHIVES
May 7th, 2024 · Comments Off on NEWS: Annex heritage properties at risk (Apr. 2024)
Deadline for designation is end of the year
260 St. George St. 262 St. George St.
By James Bullanoff
A large number of heritage properties are at risk of losing their status in the Bloor-Annex area and across Toronto. The pictures in this story are examples of the many “listed” but not “designated” heritage properties.
This comes after the city’s heritage meeting on Feb. 26 discussed plans in the face of recent amendments to the Ontario Heritage Act. According to these amendments, properties on the heritage register that are designated remain untouched; however, listed properties will lose their status after two years if they have not been researched and determined eligible for designation.
The deadline for the first batch of listed properties to be removed is Jan. 1, 2025.
In 2023, the Ontario government prioritized building more homes by passing Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act. This changed the Heritage Act and has had a major effect on the future of Toronto’s historical buildings. Areas dense with historical properties—such as the Annex—are at risk of ending up in the hands of developers.
In an email to the Gleaner, Prentiss Dantzler, assistant professor of sociology at the University of Toronto, discussed the effects this will have on the communities.
17 and 19 Admiral Rd.14 Admiral Rd.9-13 Admiral Rd.
“Removing properties from the heritage register is likely to decrease the number of properties listed over the next couple of years. In response to these amendments, municipalities will have to consider more properties for full designation within a shorter amount of time,” said Dantzler.
The heritage register currently lists houses in three different ways. First, there are two types of designations. Designation part IV means that one may require permission for work that involves altering, demolishing/removing or erecting a building or structure on the property. Designation part V allows you to submit drawings or specifications to alter or demolish a building or structure on a property.
83 and 85 Walmer Rd. 81 Walmer Rd.
According to data collected from heritage planning, the city planning division for heritage properties, that for Ward 11, University-Rosedale there are 2743 properties designated under part V, 287 properties designated under part IV, and 593 listed properties. It is the latter, the 593 listed properties that Bill 23 will no longer protect from redevelopment.
“Most people would probably agree that the preservation of buildings that have historical and cultural value are worth saving. The beauty of the city rests in the charm of old neighbourhoods, many of which were the first destinationof immigrant communities who have cultivated their own local institutions and reputations,” said Dantzler.
According to the heritage planning map, the listed properties include major stretches of neighbourhoods, such as 9 to 19 Admiral Road, 81 to 85 Walmer Road, and 260 to 264 St. George St.
Dantzler explained that municipalities typically allow about 60 days to consider a property for full designation. He added the intention behind these amendments seems to be focused on reducing the time for properties to remain on the list, forcing municipalities to make a concrete decision on preservation.
“The actual impacts of these amendments are unclear; however, this approach does put older properties at risk for demolition. And given the relationship between older properties and lower rental rates and higher rates of visible minority households, these impacts are likely to not be felt by all residents of the city, at least not immediately.”
One example of how long it takes for properties to become designated is the West Annex Heritage Conservation District Phase One—Madison Avenue. It was approved for study in 2004 as a community-led project. It was completed in 2015 but only came into force in 2019, four years later.
“Historic communities will be at risk of losing some of their local institutions, which stand as symbols of their long-term efforts to claim a place for themselves within the city. ” said Dantzler.
The city hired consultants to develop a set of guidelines that assess the risks in prioritizing designations. A significant concern was houses situated in major transit station areas (MTSAs), specifically properties that are 500–800 meters away or a 10-minute walk from a subway station, or just about the entire Gleaner coverage area from College Street in the south to Dupont Street in the north, Avenue Road to the east and Christie to the west.
According to a map collected from the Annex Residents’ Association, the area of Spadina station makes almost the entire Annex an MTSA. St. George and Dupont stations add to the area being subject to MTSA planning guidelines.
“In the governments’ efforts to address the housing affordability crisis, we cannot forget about the importance of community,” said Dantzler.
May 7th, 2024 · Comments Off on NEWS: Magic mushroom dispensary opens on Bloor (Apr. 2024)
Shroomyz chain store faces police raid and vandalism
By Ammara Khan
A Shroomyz mushroom dispensary recently opened at 497 Bloor St. W., replacing a nail salon. Since its opening, Shroomyz has experienced a police raid, a staff arrest, as well as significant vandalism. Despite these challenges, it continues to conduct business.
The Shroomyz Annex location is not difficult to spot. The store’s exterior displays bright and colorful posters of mushrooms asking customers to “walk into a new reality.” The exterior is now partially covered by large wooden panels due to the recent vandalism.
The interior reflects the colors of the exterior with graffiti-style art and screens depicting the different products sold. Some of the products, such as magic mushroom-infused gummies and chocolate bars, are displayed on glass shelves.
In order to enter, customers must wait for an employee to buzz them in, and when purchasing the products, customers are asked to sign a waiver stating they understand the risks. In the waiver, Shroomyz also recommends that the product be used in microdoses to treat individual conditions and not used when engaging with “potentially hazardous activities.”
Individuals using magic mushrooms may experience hallucinations or altered states of consciousness, according to the Government of Canada’s website about controlled and illegal drugs; however, the effects will vary from person to person, the site says.
Simultaneously, the government of Canada is investing nearly $3 million in studying the possible benefits of magic mushrooms when used as part of psychotherapy. Results show they do have therapeutic benefits when paired with psychotherapy, however more research needs to be conducted.
An employee at the Annex location, who identified as Super, says the products are popular among customers of various ages. Some who do not have access to a diagnosis for mental health issues use the products to self medicate.
Super spends his free time at the Shroomyz checkout counter reading the New York Times bestseller How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us about Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence. He is an advocate for, and consumer of, magic mushrooms.
Super shares his own experiences with the more therapeutic effects of magic mushrooms.
“The way that I think mushrooms work their magic is that they do dissolve your ego a little bit,” he said. “There’s a little more recognition of yourself as part or something. I think it’s that sort of connection, this idea of unity, this feeling of togetherness, the feeling that we are the same.”
“The feeling of connection feels amazing,” he continued. “It’s great to feel connected.” He explains that the best moments in our lives are the ones where we feel deep connections, even when we are on our own. That is how he describes the feeling of microdosing magic mushrooms.
While the store appears to be functioning, there are some concerns about its legality.
On March 5, witnesses saw a Toronto Police raid at the Shroomyz Annex location and arrested the store manager. Despite the raid, the store was able to reopen only two to three days later, and the manager was moved to a different location.
The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act states that obtaining, possessing, and trafficking (selling) controlled substances can be punishable by law unless authorized by Health Canada. The products sold by Shroomyz are controlled substances. Psilocybin is listed as a Schedule III drug under the legislation, hence the police raid.
“Magic mushrooms just generally refers to psilocybin-containing mushrooms. And there’s over 200 known identified species, like different genetic variations of mushrooms that contain psilocybin found all over the world. And we sell 13 of them that are professionally grown and dried,” shared Super.
In a comment made to the National Post on Aug. 31, the Toronto Public Service stated that “in terms of priorities, enforcement by TPS is largely focused on the trafficking of illegal drugs that are resulting in overdose deaths and having a traumatic and devastating impact on our communities.”
Despite the questions surrounding the legality of the business, neighbouring stores have nothing bad to say about Shroomyz.
Howard Pressburger is the manager at the hardware store Wiener’s, across the street from Shroomyz. He has been living in the Annex for 20 years. Pressburger calls Wiener’s the “unofficial hub of what happens in the neighborhood” due to being around for over 100 years. It appears the arrival of the store has brought both curiosity and an overall shrug from passersby.
Pressburger reported that aside from noticing a new store opening, none of Wiener’s customers have anything to say about the store.
He encourages pushing for more research on the use of mushrooms. He put money into an ETF (exchange-traded fund) that dealt with using hallucinogenic drugs in the medical field. “I mean, they exist, they’ve got a storefront, they’ve got signs up, they operate like any other regular ritual store of the strip. So I think the stigma just comes with what they’re selling. I think there’s a lot of preconceived prejudices towards that,” said Pressburger.
He also reflected that the community has not changed after the addition of Shroomyz to the neighborhood, “I don’t see them as being detrimental or more positive or, you know, they’re just like anybody else who’s selling stuff.”
Despite the storefront appearing to be well received by Annex locals, vandals brought hammers to the windows of both the Bloor and Queen location on April 5 without committing any theft.
Spokespeople for Shroomyz, authorized to speak to the media, were not responsive when asked to comment on the article. Toronto Police also did not reply to requests for comment.
Comments Off on NEWS: Magic mushroom dispensary opens on Bloor (Apr. 2024)Tags:Annex · News
May 7th, 2024 · Comments Off on NEWS: Rediscovering Wychwood Pond (Apr. 2024)
One of the last visible remnants of Taddle Creek
MIA KESKINEN/GLEANER NEWS
By Mia Keskinen
Wychwood Pond is a hidden gem within the Annex waiting to be discovered. The pond is in Wychwood Park, located near Bathurst Street and Davenport Road. The park is a picturesque enclave with English-style homes tucked away in a pocket of forest. Although the park is hidden in a residential area, it is open to the public to enjoy.
Upon entering the gates of Wychwood Park, a plaque explains the history of the area and the pond. According to the Wychwood Park Historical Society, the residential area was named after Wychwood Forest in Oxfordshire, England. The first home was built in 1847 by the landscape artist Marmaduke Matthews who intended to start an artists’ colony.
The pond was artificially created by damming Taddle Creek. A spring in the pond from the now underground creek still provides water in the heart of Wychwood Park to this day. Taddle Creek was once referred to as “poverty pond’’ by the Toronto Historical Association because much of the creek was akin to the muddy swamp conditions in some of the lower income areas of the city. The creek once flowed in a southeasterly direction for about six kilometres from St. Clair Avenue West and down through Wychwood Park and the University of Toronto. It emptied into the harbour near the Distillery District. Taddle Creek was buried and became an underground sewer system during the 19th century. Wychwood Park is now one of the few places in Toronto where Taddle Creek is still visible.
Over the years, residents of the park have stayed committed to preserving the park’s natural beauty. In the 1980s, this enclave was close to being demolished as developers wanted to redevelop one of the larger houses. This prompted the park trustees and residents to seek designation for the area as a Heritage Conservation District under the Ontario Heritage Act. During the 1990s, the pond became so shallow that it was on the precipice of becoming a swamp, instead of the beautiful pond it was meant to be in the heart of the artists’ enclave. Residents pooled $90,000 to dredge the pond and conserve its beauty. The pond was soon restored to its original beauty, and nature prevailed. In the 1990s, a Gleaner reporter witnessed a snapping turtle sitting on a log by the pond, a testament to an ecosystem that was once part of Taddle Creek.
Today, the pond remains an important part of the neighbourhood’s beauty. Residents of Wychwood Park are no longer solely artists, but also CEOS, lawyers, and architects; however, the heart and soul of the neighbourhood remains. Wychwood Pond changes with the seasons and brings community members together all year round. When it freezes over in the winter, hockey nets are on the ice and children and parents play together. It’s not clear if the snapping turtle, which could live over 100 years, is still in residence.
Comments Off on NEWS: Rediscovering Wychwood Pond (Apr. 2024)Tags:Annex · News · Life
May 7th, 2024 · Comments Off on NEWS: Karma’s free bike repair cafe (Apr. 2024)
Wildly popular repair cafes from last year now include bicycles
Karma Co-op member Nathalie Remond thrilled with her ready to roll wheels. COURTESY KARMA CO-OP
By Brian Burchell
This year, Karma Co-op is hosting its first spring Bicycle Repair Cafe on Saturday, April 27, 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. in Karma’s parking lot. The co-op is located at the rear of 739 Palmerston Ave. (off Karma Lane).
Residents are encouraged to bring their bikes to get a free diagnostic and tune-up to be ready for riding this year. In addition, the repair cafe will share some core skills to get your trusty stead road worthy. If parts are needed, technicians will specify what you need to go purchase.
“We aim to provide a mentoring relationship and enable community members to mend and fix items in their own lives and divert things from landfill, ” said Andrea Dawber, a Karma Co-op volunteer and event organizer.
All repair cafes are open to the public, and they aim to teach people bike repair skills. Bring whatever you need fixed and stay and learn a few repair skills from the volunteer fixers. Last year the repair cafes were so popular that Karma has decided to host three this year. At the next two events, one in late June and the other in late September, community members are encouraged to bring clothing and fabric items that need mending, small appliances, and electronics for repairs and/or diagnostics. If you need to replace a part, the fixer will let you know.
These free repair events are an extension of Karma Co-op’s mission to sell locally sourced food in bulk, where possible. The bicycle repair cafes provide community members with access to affordable and sustainable transportation, and diverting repairable products from landfills is consistent with Karma’s goals.
If necessary, the rain date for the bike repair event is Sunday April 28.
May 7th, 2024 · Comments Off on EDITORIAL: The Vacant Home Tax: A multi-mayor failure (Apr. 2024)
The Vacant Home Tax (VHT) is an unabashed debacle. The City of Toronto just sent 167,000 homeowners tax bills that include a one per cent VHT levy based on the values of their properties. If, for example, their Municipal Property Assessment Corporation valuation is $800,000, then the city just added a surcharge to their tax bill of $8000. Payable when? Now.
The VHT applies to individual homeowners, including condo owners, who failed to declare their residences occupied. The assumption is that if homeowners did not make this declaration, then the premises are vacant. The onus is on the taxpayer.
Imagine seniors with language barriers or people who were in Florida for the winter and missed the deadline or did not even understand it. And how about that increasing cohort of people who don’t open their mail as everything is done automatically through their banks. All these people are upset, and rightfully so. How many still don’t know that the city is just docking their bank accounts and enriching city coffers?
At the heart of the failings of the VHT is negative option billing which is deeply unethical. Using this approach, a company (or in this case the government ostensibly working for you) adds new charges without your consent and assumes you accept them unless you decline.
Rogers Communications started charging for a new cable TV package in the late 1990s when customers failed to “declare” they did not want an expanded package of channels. Customers were so incensed that the federal government enacted legislation in 1999 to stop the practice. Who was in charge at Rogers at the time? You guessed it, the now former, City of Toronto Mayor, John Tory. It was on his watch that Rogers pursued negative option billing and on his watch that Toronto enacted its “opt out or pay plan” with the VHT. It was wrong then, and remains so, and we have Tory to thank for that. That is Mayor Number One to blame. Tory is back on the Rogers board of directors, by the way, hmmm….
At the root of the VHT policy is the housing crisis that in theory could be partly solved by encouraging property owners to rent their premises, resulting in people occupying now vacant spaces. The goal is laudable; it’s the execution that sucks. The VHT has been around since 2022 but the city has not supplied any evidence that it has actually changed things in the vacancy ledger. It seems they don’t really care as they are salivating at the dividends that accrue to the city when the policy fails: Oops, you failed to declare occupancy; please pay the city; do not pass GO.
Chow likes to evade responsibility for the program’s failures: “The person who designed the program is no longer with the city.” She’s intimating that she found the will to take charge and fire someone? The city manager says no one lost their job; that myth busted. So, we are left to infer that the person is John Tory, who resigned for other reasons. This vague suggestion that someone was actually reprimanded for poor performance is not convincing. The mayor has stated, “How could anyone justify the send button on 165,000 bills?” It’s your staff Mayor Chow. It’s your organization, and the mayor is the lead; this is not church and state. The first rule of leadership is “everything is your fault.” This is the first leadership role for Chow, having spent a lifetime on political backbenches throwing snowballs at the government bus. Now, you are in charge, act like it.
Councillor Brad Bradford stated in a recent column in the Toronto Sun that Chow herself had fallen victim to the VHT tax for her own home. In the eight months that have since elapsed she has failed to have a single meeting with city staff about the program failures. Mayor Olivia Chow has projected in her city budget that $200 million will come from this program in 2025 and 2026, and she has already earmarked the money. She is counting on the program to have victims. The sham is the plan thanks to Tory and Chow.
May 7th, 2024 · Comments Off on FORUM: A busy agenda at city council (Apr. 2024)
Many environmental initiatives getting the green light
By Dianne Saxe
Spring has arrived. Flowers are pushing up and there are so many ways to enjoy beautiful University-Rosedale. This spring we want to highlight great local music venues, festivals, parks, and environmental events. Hot Docs, Fringe, Jazz Fest—these and other Toronto arts organizations need your support if they are to survive.
My team and I have been out in the spring sunshine canvassing Annex residents on their concerns. I was pleased to rally in support of the Science Centre at Christie Pits in April.
I also paid a visit to Innis College for a debate on the future of affordable housing in Canada.
I have positive news on the noise issues many of you have raised: council will improve enforcement of motor vehicle noise, work with residents’ associations (RA) and community groups to monitor it, and report back on whether the new measures adequately protect human health.
Auto thefts have been another top-of-mind issue for ward residents. We had a strong turnout for our town hall on the subject at the beginning of the year. I continue to monitor reports from the Toronto Police Service and city officials, including enforcement actions taken in the city and at Canadian ports.
I was glad to see that city council has endorsed a number of my initiatives this spring.
At the top of this list is news that staff will report back this year on using the Toronto Green Standards (TGS) to ensure that all newly approved buildings will be designed for net-zero operations by 2040.
Also on the environmental front, council has instructed city staff to lobby against the additional fossil fuel subsidies in Doug Ford’s Bill 165. The Bill overrides the Ontario Energy Board and forces existing gas customers to subsidize new gas pipelines outside Toronto. How big are the subsidies that the province forced Toronto taxpayers to give to the billionaire for-profit utility Enbridge Gas? And what can we do about it? Because of my motion, staff will finally tell us.
There are some other improvements to report in and around Ward 11 thanks to motions I have seen through council.
Much-needed upgrades are coming to Paul Martel Park, including possibly renaming it as an Indigenous Botanical Garden.
The city will also get on with building the new Huron Washington playground and new benches and picnic tables in Ramsden Park. Working with the Toronto District School Board, there will also be a new running track at Jesse Ketchum Public School.
I am also pleased to have secured community benefits for heritage plaques to honour noted local architect Uno Prii near 35 Walmer Rd. and social justice advocate and senator, David Croll near 341 Bloor St. W. David Croll was the author of the landmark Report of the Special Senate Committee on Poverty and Canada’s first Jewish senator.
I also let the residents’ associations know that there is a new, streamlined process to request speed humps from the city.
First, consult with other residents affected by the road in question, and then send our office the results through your RA, including detailed drawings.
We must continue to scrutinize whether the city made a good deal for the FIFA World Cup in 2026. But we are also determined to make the best of the exciting opportunities.
Council is working hard to contain the games’ costs and to maximize their community benefits; for example, I successfully moved to use the games to pursue TransformTO’s Climate Strategy, including a high-value RapidTO (bus lane) on Dufferin Street to the CNE.
Annex residents should circle a few days on the calendar this spring. On May 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the city will host the first community environment day at Central Technical School. This program helps reduce the amount of reusable or recyclable waste going to landfill and allows for safe disposal of household hazardous waste.
The second will occur on June 23 at Fred Hamilton Park, with the same timings.
Watch my newsletter and social feeds for a spring community event being planned for Christie Pits on May 26.
Watch my newsletter and dianne saxe.ca for other spring events. Remember to subscribe at councillor_saxe@toronto.ca to keep updated on happenings around the ward.
Have a wonderful and prosperous spring!
Dianne Saxe is city councillor for Ward 11, University-Rosedale.
May 7th, 2024 · Comments Off on FORUM: Ford’s gross mismanagement of the land use files (Apr. 2024)
New housing bills encourage sprawl and thwart democracy
By Jessica Bell
The Conservatives have introduced another housing bill and revamped the Provincial Policy Statement which sets planning rules for the province. Here’s what you should know about the Conservatives’ latest moves.
Third-party appeals to the lands tribunal will be banned. Residents will not be able to go to the lands tribunal to contest a development, be it a condo or a quarry. This is concerning.
Municipalities should have official plans that encourage density and ensure we meet our housing targets—which Toronto is doing. The lands tribunal should be a tool of last resort—not first resort—for projects that clearly violate provincial law.
Municipalities will be able to bring in “use-it-or-lose-it” rules to compel a developer to build a development once they’ve been given the approval to do so. We’ve been calling for this change for some time because municipalities approve far more projects than are built.
Developments near transit stations are exempt from meeting parking minimums, although they can build parking if they choose.
In a move we have long called for, the government will bring in standardized pre-approved home designs. This proposal will help Ontario spur the construction of more affordable homes built in factories off-site and then shipped to their final location. To spur good job creation, we’re calling for these homes to be built by unionized workers in Ontario factories.
The government is putting some more transparency on the controversial ministerial zoning orders (MZOs) process, which allows the province to quickly exempt a development from local and provincial planning rules.
This latest rewrite requires the developer to explain why a development needs to be exempt from planning rules and how it meets provincial priorities or local municipal approval.
In a win for residents and municipalities, the government is rolling back some of its drastic cuts to developer fees in previous bills and allocating more funding to municipal infrastructure. Until this announcement, municipalities were hiking property taxes and delaying infrastructure investment to cover the loss of developer fee revenue. This is a good move and a hard-fought victory.
Student housing is now exempt from the Planning Act, which will mean the University of Toronto can build more housing, more quickly. While we certainly need more student housing and rental housing in our riding, we need affordable student housing.
Students at the University of Toronto are spending about $2300 a month to live in a dorm room, and they often must move out after first year.
Student housing is also exempt from the Residential Tenancies Act, which means students don’t have protection from eviction, and they’re not protected by rent control. Students should have the same provincial protections as any other renter.
Like a multi-headed hydra that just keeps coming back, the government is moving ahead, once again, on permitting sprawl.
The new Provincial Policy Statement eliminates firm density requirements for municipalities. Municipalities are now merely encouraged to meet a target of 50 people per hectare which is the density in the Trinity Bellwoods neighbourhood.
The government is also making it easier for municipalities and developers to change urban boundaries and approve sprawl on nearby farmland. Changes to urban boundaries can now be made at any time, not just through a careful five-year review. If a municipality approves a new development, no one can appeal the decision to the lands tribunal, but if a municipality denies the approval, the developer can appeal. So, it’s sprawl either way.
Everyone in Ontario should have a home they can afford to rent or buy. We’ll be calling for improvements in this bill to encourage farmland and Greenbelt preservation, the construction of more homes in towns and cities, especially affordable homes, along with stronger rent control. I welcome your feedback.
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.
May 7th, 2024 · Comments Off on SPORTS: A whole new ball game (Apr. 2024)
Club promises new features and new excitement for Leafs baseball
Fresh coats of paint are being applied to the announcer’s booth and concession stand. R.S. KONJEK/GLEANER NEWS
By R.S. Konjek
A new season of Toronto Maple Leafs baseball will soon get underway at Christie Pits.
The familiar sights and sounds of baseball, a staple of summers at the Pits since 1969, will be joined by some new ones.
Over the winter, a group of local investors purchased the club from the estate of former owner, the late Jack Dominico.
Former TSN sportscaster Rod Black is one of the faces of the Leafs’ new ownership group. In December, he and Leafs’ manager Rob Butler hosted a fan gathering at Christie Pits and offered a preview of what to expect in 2024.
Black sees the club having a bigger presence and bigger draw in Toronto’s sporting landscape. He hinted that his vision could include more game-day activities around home ballgames, more promotions and celebrity guests, more excitement, and definitely more kids at the ballpark.
“Parents don’t drive kids to games; kids drive parents to games,” Black said.
Since then, the club has confirmed several new features that will greet fans at the Pits this summer.
They are installing a brand new $30,000 sound system, replacing the crackly, semi-reliable one that was on its last legs.
The announcer’s booth and concession stand are being spruced up with fresh licks of paint.
Food and drink will be made available at the concession stand by new partner Left Field Brewery.
The club is also taking advantage of the City of Toronto’s recent liberalization of beer consumption in certain parks, a move that included Christie Pits. Fans can expect to see vendors roaming the hillsides offering the chance to purchase food and drinks— including beer—while taking in the game below.
Black’s vision of a more exciting and inviting ballpark experience will be unveiled at the Leafs’ home opener on Sunday, May 12. Special guests including hockey Leafs legend Wendel Clark will be present. The hoopla of opening day will include in-game entertainment like hot dog races and a seventh-inning stretch led by sponsorship partner Innovative Fitness.
New Leafs merchandizing will be unveiled in time for the season. Already introduced is a membership program for hardcore fans. Available in two tiers, the purchase of a membership will provide fans with team clothing, souvenirs, discounts, and other goodies.
One of the most striking new sights at the Pits will be redesigned uniforms sported by the home nine. Earlier this spring, the club unveiled three new jerseys on social media: white, royal blue, and powder blue. All three feature the word “Leafs” in bold script across the chest.
The uniforms will be new, but many of the players wearing them will be familiar.
Jeff Lounsbury says he was “slightly surprised” when the new owners invited him to return as the club’s general manager: “But I am glad to be back.”
Lounsbury will continue his project of building a championship team while adding young talent to the roster.
Several Toronto-born and -raised players have been signed to play for the Leafs, a deliberate move by Lounsbury to make the team more truly local.
“Sometimes guys have to leave [and play elsewhere],” he said. “But if they want to come home to the Leafs, we will try to find a way.”
Lounsbury’s locals will join a veteran core that is returning for another run at the Intercounty Baseball League title.
Popular third baseman Johnathan Solazzo returns for a ninth season with the Leafs.
He will be reunited with infielders Jordan Castaldo, Dan Marra, Jose Vinicio, Jesse Hodges and Justin Marra. Outfielders Greg Carrington, Ryan Dos Santos, Marcus Knecht and Connor Lewis are back.
On the mound, the trio of Wilgenis Alvarado, Angel Castro and Daniel Procopio will pick up where they left off.
Solazzo says that once the club’s ownership situation was settled, the veteran players confirmed their return, one by one.
“We all know we’re a great baseball team and always there until the last out,” Solazzo said. “That one thing we’re missing is to win a championship with this core. It’ll be the cherry on top for a lot of our careers.”
