September 29th, 2025 · Comments Off on GRADING OUR GREENSPACE: How do our parks measure up? (Aug. 2025)
Part 2 of grading our greenspaces
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 2025.
Reviewed and compiled by Abigail Harris except where noted by Drew Glennie
Healy Willian is an ideal destination for young parkgoers.
Healey Willan Park 50 Sussex Ave. Time of visit: 1:30 p.m. Grade: A (last year’s grade: B+) Reason to go: Healey Willan Park, located at Euclid Avenue near Harbord Street, is an excellent greenspace for younger parkgoers. One of its most exciting features is the sandy playground area that includes a plethora of shared toys. In addition, there’s a lush children’s learning garden in the corner of the park and a wading pool for hot summer days. It’s a great spot to pair with a visit to Margaret Fairley Park which also boasts an impressive supply of children’s toys and is only a 10-minute walk east. There’s plenty of shade and benches around the perimeter of the park. The park’s residential location in Palmerston-Little Italy makes for a peaceful, uninterrupted atmosphere. Overheard: A dog chasing after a deflated soccer ball it’s owner just kicked. Did you know? Healey Willan was a celebrated Canadian organist and composer. For over 45 years, he served as the choir master of the Church of St. Mary Magdalene which is right next to the park.
Euclid Avenue Parkette By Drew Glennie 711 Euclid Ave. Time of visit: 12:57 p.m. Grade: F (last year’s Grade: D-) Reason to go: Euclid Avenue Parkette is at best a desire path and at worst an abandoned lot. The grass is sparse and yellowed, and it has begun to spread onto the rocky trail (and, in other areas of the path, vice versa). Signs and trash cans are covered in graffiti. Trash is strewn about, and not just food containers, cutlery, and straws, but also unbelievably a computer keyboard hidden in the shrubbery. There are three benches lining the walkway, but the tree canopy is so sparse that it does not provide adequate shade; plus, unlike other parkettes in the area, Euclid is too far from the main strip of Bloor to provide a convenient respite. Overheard: Folks helping a driver navigate the small back parking lot of the neighbouring Palmerston library branch. Did you know? The tree at the center of the parkette is not a willow but just a drooping ash.
Huron Street Playground 495 Huron St. Time of visit: 11:27 a.m. Grade: A- (Last year’s grade: A-) Reason to go: Huron Street Playground offers a versatile park experience for a variety of folks. A renovation in recent years added a small off-leash dog area with artificial turf, making it perfect for dog owners. A rope play structure, sandpit, artificial rock, and swing set provide a modest selection of entertainment for younger guests. The greenspace is nicely shaded with some picnic tables and benches to relax on while you watch your little ones play. Unfortunately, noise surrounding the park seems to be a constant, especially given the park’s proximity to Bloor Street West. Two towering apartment buildings line the perimeter, providing shade and a sense of privacy which is a plus. Overheard: A parking enforcement officer rides by on his bike surveying for violations. Did you know: Huron Street is named after the Wendat people who were given the name Huron by the French.
Philosopher’s Walk 78 Queen’s Park Cres. Time of visit: 1:57 p.m. Grade: A+ (Last year’s grade: A+) Reason to go: Nestled between The Royal Conservatory and The Royal Ontario Museum, Philosopher’s Walk is a beautiful footpath located in the city’s core. When entering the park through the northern entrance on Bloor Street West, you are welcomed by the Queen Alexandra Gates. They were donated to the city in 1901 to commemorate a visit from the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall. The path is lined by spruce trees and benches that make it the perfect spot to take a break from the busy city streets. The park’s topography includes dips and valleys which serve as a reminder of the historical Taddle Creek which was buried in the 1880s. Overheard: Two mothers walk by, and one asks, “Do your kids get enough sleep?” Did you know? In the 1860s, the portion of Taddle Creek that flowed through the University of Toronto was dammed to create McCaul’s pond. It was a popular spot among students until it was covered in 1884.
Queen’s Park North 47 Queen’s Park Cres. Time of visit: 12:48 p.m. Grade: A (Last year’s grade: A) Reason to go: Queen’s Park North is one of those places every Torontonian should visit at least once. The main spectacle here is an imposing equestrian statue of King Edward VII who opened Queen’s Park in 1860 when he was the Prince of Wales. Benches encircle the statue where you can sit and observe tourists and locals taking pictures with the monument. At the north end of the park is the 48th Highlanders Regimental Memorial which was erected in 1923 in memory of those in the 48th Highlander Regiment who lost their lives in the First World War. But the park has more to offer than just history. Tree fanatics will enjoy this greenspace, and there’s an infographic along the path that shows the variety of common Toronto trees you can find in the park, from Norway maples to Austrian pines. If you feel up to it, you can try to track down all 12 variety of trees in the park. Overheard: “Get closer than that!” says a visitor taking a picture next to the statue of King Edward VII. Did you know? Established in 1860, Queen’s Park is one of the oldest urban parks in Canada.
Queen’s Park is a must-see spot in the city core that’s rich with history.
Queen’s Park 110 Wellesley St. W. Time of visit: 1:37 p.m. Grade: A+ (Last year’s grade: A) Reason to go: Home to the Ontario legislature, Queen’s Park is another must-see park in the city core. You can choose to admire the stately Romanesque Revival architecture from a distance or book a free guided tour of the building online. Tours run every 30 minutes. The greenspace is home to 38 plaques and monuments, all central to Canadian history. A legend at the south end of the park shows you where to find them. The front entrance of the building is framed by two statues. One is Queen Elizabeth II, and the other is John Sandfield Macdonald, Ontario’s first premier. The landscaping is beautiful, and there are some lovely shaded areas which make the park not only a historical landmark but a great spot for a picnic. Overheard: “Excuse me, do you know where the John A. Macdonald statue is?” Did you know? This park is home to several eastern white pines which were declared Ontario’s official tree in 1984.
Taddle Creek Park 40 Bedford Rd. Time of visit: 12:14 p.m. Grade: A (Last year’s grade: A) Reason to go: The picturesque Taddle Creek Park is in the heart of the Annex at Bedford Road and Lowther Avenue. Although the park is near Bloor Street, it feels sheltered from the city noise and chaos. A large stainless steel sculpture of a pitcher, titled The Vessel, pays homage to the buried waterway of Taddle Creek that used to run through the neighborhood. Water from the fountain is stored underground and used to irrigate the park. Parkgoers can sit and watch as water drips from the top of the pitcher’s spout. There’s a playground area on the other side of the park with a sandbox and swing set. A plaque at the Lowther Avenue entrance of the park honours Beatrice Worsley who lived next to the park and was the first female Canadian computer scientist. Overheard: Sparrows chirp and flap their wings as they cool off at the base of the fountain. Did you know? The Vessel is made from four kilometres of stainless steel rods because this was the length of Taddle Creek when it ran from downtown Toronto to Lake Ontario.
Huron Washington Parkette 420 Huron St. Time of visit: 1:05 p.m. Grade: B (Last year’s grade: B+) Reason to go: Huron Washington Parkette is a charming miniature greenspace just south of Bloor Street. Most of the parkette is a fenced-off playground area with a lone picnic table outside for parents to keep a close watch. The parkette used to be located across the street next to the University of Toronto Schools. If you visit, you will be reminded of this because the sign is confusingly still at its old site. If you want to be immersed in nature, Huron Washington Parkette is probably not the park for you. However, it’s a great place to take your little ones if they want to blow off some steam. Overheard: Construction on Bloor Street. Did you know? This park was once on the north side of Sussex, but it was relocated temporarily to the south side during the University of Toronto Schools’ renovations. There appears to be no rush to move it back.
The landscaping and architecture of the Village of Yorkville Park represent the diversity of Canadian ecosystems.
Village of Yorkville Park 115 Cumberland St. Time of visit: 1:57 p.m. Grade: A- (last year’s grade: B) Reason to go: The Village of Yorkville Park is an innovative urban greenspace with many unique features and an interesting history. The site used to be a parking lot, but after years of protest, an international design competition was held in the ’90s to build the park. One of its most striking characteristics is a 700-ton rock, transplanted from the Canadian Shield. The top of the massive outcrop is a great place to sit and look out on Yorkville Village. There’s a stainless steel water curtain next to it that turns into an icicle display in the winter. The park is laid out in separate gardens that reflect a range of Canadian ecosystems. There’s a wetland garden, a cluster of serviceberry trees, beds of wildflowers and more. Plenty of moveable tables and chairs make this the perfect spot to stop for lunch. Overheard: Typical Yorkville activity such as loud cars driving by and shoppers hustling along. Did you know? In 2012, the park won the American Society of Landscape Architects Landmark Award.
Walmer Road Parkettte 227 Walmer Rd. Time of visit: 2:47 pm Grade: C (Last year’s grade: C+) Reason to go: This humble parkette is located among a row of townhouses just south of Davenport Road. It’s a nice place to sit and read or talk on the phone, but not much more. The space doesn’t have much to offer, other than four benches and a handful of trees. Casa Loma is conveniently located just steps away if you’re in the mood for sightseeing, but this park is not much to write home about. Overheard: Traffic on Davenport Road. Did you know? Casa Loma’s architect E. J. Lennox also designed Old City Hall and the Bank of Toronto.
Wychwood Park is the kind of greenspace you can spend hours in.
Wychwood Barns Park 76 Wychwood Ave. Time of visit: 2:16 p.m. Grade: A (Last year’s grade: A) Reason to go: Wychwood Park is a beautiful greenspace that provides something for every kind of parkgoer. It’s home to Artscape Wychwood Barns, a converted heritage building that was built in 1913 as a streetcar maintenance facility. Now, the space contains artist studios, a theatre, and office spaces for local community groups. Outside, there’s a greenhouse, a beach volleyball court, and a fenced-off dog park. The Stop Community Food Centre hosts a farmer’s market year-round on Saturdays, featuring over 35 farmers and prepared food vendors. There’s a playground area with a splash pad for children, as well as a grassy open field and ping pong table. Almost hidden in the corner of the park is a learning garden that showcases Toronto’s “best nature.” This park is the kind of place you can spend hours in as there’s a lot to discover. Overheard: “I got you, keep going!” as a father teaches his son how to ride a bike. Did you know? Those interested in volunteering at the learning garden can visit www.yourleaf.org/volunteer to get involved.
September 29th, 2025 · Comments Off on CHATTER: Watered-down version of Bathurst priority bus lanes approved (Aug. 2025)
A TTC bus navigates north on Bathurst Street earlier this summer. COURTESY ALBERT KOEHL
On Wednesday, July 16, Toronto city council approved the construction of priority bus lanes on Bathurst and Dufferin.
The proposal, titled RapidTO, was first endorsed by council in February of 2024 and is expected to improve transit travel times for the six FIFA World Cup games Toronto will be hosting in 2026.
Council voted 18 to 5 for RapidTO bus lanes on Bathurst Street, and 20 to 3 for RapidTO bus lanes on Dufferin Street.
Backlash from residents and business owners between Dupont and Bloor Street West resulted in the lanes being installed on a shortened stretch of Bathurst than was initially planned.
Protect Bathurst, a grassroots coalition of Toronto residents, local business owners, and accessibility advocates, hosted a press conference in June opposing the bus lanes.
Bathurst Street’s lanes will run from Bloor Street West to Lake Shore Boulevard West, excluding the stretch between Nassau Street and Dundas Street West. Dufferin Street’s lanes will run from Bloor Street West to King Street West.
Construction is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2025. City staff have been tasked by council to further study a RapidTO proposal between Bloor and Dupont which remains controversial. .
September 29th, 2025 · Comments Off on EDITORIAL:Fact over fiction: Ford’s Bill 212 fails on its merits (Aug. 2025)
In a scathing ruling, an Ontario court has found that sections of the provincial government’s Bill 212, the Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, violated the Charter of Rights and Freedoms by infringing on cyclists’ rights to life and security of person. The sections of Bill 212 empowering the province to rip out bike lanes on Yonge Street, University Avenue, and Bloor Street are now nullified under Section 7 of the Charter. The Ford government is appealing the decision to the Ontario Court of Appeal.
In his decision Superior Court Justice Paul Schabas found that “the government has led no evidence to rebut the applicants’ compelling position, supported by evidence, that removing the protected bike lanes will cause cyclists to ride in more dangerous mixed traffic…and that cyclists will be injured, and worse, if the protected target bike lanes are removed.” The government of course knows this, which is why it included in the legislation a perverse clause that prohibits anyone or anyone’s family from suing the government for damages should they be injured or killed because of the bike lane removal. That clause which self-indemnifies the province showed that the Ford government knows that it is a demonstrable, probable fact that removing bike lanes will sentence a certain number of citizens to death or serious injury. Does the government have the right to kill you? The court says it absolutely does not.
The government faces a hard pedal at appeal. It fully and completely lost the case. In discovery proceedings, the province had to reveal its own expert advice that stated that bike lane removal would not reduce congestion, would increase collisions between all road users, and would likely lead to injuries and deaths of cyclists. That makes Ford look like someone guilty of willful neglect. Schabas did not go that far but he did call Bill 212 “arbitrary” which takes the government onto thin ice constitutionally. Ford would simply say it’s all about “common sense.” For him, it’s about ideology, not about smart transportation planning. No amount of fact will dissuade him from the view that we could each hop in our individual cars and head down to the Rogers Centre for a ball game with ease if it were not for those pesky bike lanes.
Innumerable studies have found that safe bike infrastructure contributes not only to the safety of all road users, but it also contributes to the local economy. The Bloor Annex BIA reported an increase in sales, verified by Moneris Sales Terminal data, when it participated in a pilot bike lane project for Bloor Street. The BIA endorsed making those lanes permanent, and they are now part of a complete streetscape.
A leaked internal report from the provincial government acknowledges that “most research…suggests reducing road capacity by introducing bike lanes can encourage biking [no kidding?] and discourage car use, alleviating congestion.”
In their piece in The Globe and Mail last fall when Bill 212 was first introduced, University of Toronto academics Sarah Elton and Madeline Bonsma-Fisher rejected the notion that bike lanes are the latest salvo in the “war on the car.” Rather, they argued, “this bill is a war on the facts— on evidence and data—that we are witnessing spread across the continent. It’s an example of post-truth politics in Canada.” This is not just an issue south of the border; decision-making based on feelings versus facts knows no border.
The right to life and liberty in Section 7 of the Charter is not absolute. Issues of “fundamental justice” exception or “reasonable limits” under Charter 1 can thwart or diminish a person’s Section 7 rights. Evidence at trial showed the government was advised by numerous experts of two things: the measure would lead to more deaths, and the move would do nothing to reduce congestion and would likely have the opposite effect. There was no balance of rights for the courts to arbitrate.
This bid to rip out bike lanes is not only arbitrary in a legal sense; it is frivolous and mean- spirited. The Court of Appeal would be right to dismiss Ford’s bid to overturn the decision.
September 29th, 2025 · Comments Off on FORUM: Celebrating greenspaces, easing congestion (Aug. 2025)
Park revivals and Bathurst bus lanes dominate agenda
By Dianne Saxe
What a month July was! I’m thrilled that we had a very productive city council session, with real progress on RapidTO Bathurst and more shelter space for Toronto’s homeless.
Three top things this month:
1. The incredible new Biidaasige Park
After 35 years, it is exhilarating to celebrate the restored Don River and the first 50 acres of Biidaasige Park. This extraordinary transformation of industrial wasteland protects the Port Lands from flooding, reintroduces nature, and creates an inspiring new park: the playgrounds are Toronto’s best; the Indigenous art is moving and playful; the riverside walks are gorgeous; fish and kayaks have found the river; birds and butterflies have found the wetland; century-old seeds have sprouted. Join me there for our community tour and picnic at 5 p.m. on Aug. 17. You can get there by bike, transit, car, or kayak.
2. Faster transit on Bathurst
After intense consultations, data gathering, and door knocking, we are speeding up transit on Bathurst. July council approved three key steps:
Bathurst will get a dedicated streetcar lane from Lakeshore to Bloor, enhancing the reliability, speed, and frequency of the Bathurst streetcar, with a target of a six-minute headway this fall.
From Bloor to Eglinton, the northbound bus is trapped in traffic from about 2 p.m. every afternoon. On Sept. 18, staff will recommend to the Toronto East York community council which parking, turning, and signal changes will speed up the afternoon northbound bus, while leaving some parking to support local businesses. Most changes should be implemented this fall.
Staff may recommend temporary measures to improve transit during FIFA, including temporary bus lanes. Afterwards, city staff will recommend long-term next steps, which may include adjusting the time of day or implementing permanent bus lanes; by then, we will know whether my targeted measures have made enough of a difference for transit riders.
Special thanks to the five Bathurst/Dupont businesses that wrote in support of this targeted, data-based approach: Summerhill Markets, Flur, Tattoo People, and Qalat, She Said. Please give them your support.
3. Bringing back the Vale of Avoca
A century ago, the Vale of Avoca ravine, located near Yonge and St. Clair, was a popular park destination. The Vale remains an important refuge from the city’s noise and heat, but it is suffering badly from erosion and neglect. The rough trails are being eaten away with every storm; trees are falling as the slopes collapse; access stairs are broken. After all of Ford’s cuts, the city cannot afford more than an occasional Band-Aid solution, even though thousands of new condo units are expected nearby.
I am therefore delighted to partner with the Midtown Ravines Group to restore the Vale to a beautiful, accessible, walkable park that links the Don River trails to midtown. This coalition of residents’ associations has agreed to raise $40 million for capital and maintenance in the Vale, but first, they need a high-quality plan. I negotiated with Councillor Matlow and with staff to jointly fund a $1.5 million redesign to achieve ecological, recreational, and flood management objectives. The planning and consultation phase should be completed next year, with construction beginning in 2027.
Other community improvements I helped deliver this month include:
a) $200,000 in funding to build a signalized pedestrian crossing across Avenue Road at Ramsden Park;
b) $109,000 in funding to build a recording studio and accessible doors in the new performance centre at 877 Yonge;
c) $883,625 in funding to rebuild the Rosedale Valley Multiuse Trail and to plan a safe exit from it;
d) Changes to the Landlord and Tenant Board so that evicted tenants should get better information from the board;
e) Six suburban homeless shelters will now be built.
f) Noise exemptions have been tightened for loud events at Christie Pits.
g) The Dafoe Urn will be reinstalled at Craigleigh Gardens.
h) Kids’ baseball diamonds will be improved at Christie Pits.
i) The developer of 126 Avenue Road has committed to indoor garbage pickup and to allowing the flower shop to return.
j) The city will take small steps to discourage greenwashing in ads on city assets; and
k) The University of Toronto will install district clean energy pipes for its campus.
I hope you’re taking time for whatever makes summer joyful for you and your family. Have you tasted University-Rosedale’s best ice cream? Watched a play outdoors? Joined a neighbourhood potluck? Do let me know what summer treats you love best.
Dianne Saxe is city councillor for Ward 11, University-Rosedale.
September 29th, 2025 · Comments Off on FORUM: Coping with heat is the new norm (Aug. 2025)
Government needs to lead with solutions, not let people suffer
By Jessica Bell
What can Ontario do to address extreme heat?
We are enduring a summer of record-breaking heat, and it’s going to get worse. The Ontario government’s 2023 assessment of the impact of climate change on our province predicts the number of days above 30 degrees will soar to 60 days a year by the 2080s.
We have two massive tasks ahead of us. We need to continue to pressure the Conservative government to enact a serious plan to get to net-zero and build a sustainable economy, while also taking steps to ensure our survival.
Floods and fires get a lot of attention, but heat is responsible for more illness and deaths than most other extreme weather hazards combined. Here’s five steps the Ontario government should do to protect us from extreme heat.
Protect workers from heat stress
In 2001, a 44-year-old bakery worker named Kim Douglas Warner died at Weston Bakeries in Barrie. Kim had worked a 12-hour shift in 49-degree heat, on a 34-degree day. His temperature reached 42.5 degrees Celsius when he was found unconscious near the ovens.
Workers in schools, factories, mines, and kitchens are vulnerable to heat stress, as are low-wage workers who are active outdoors, such as farm workers, paramedics, delivery and postal workers, garbage workers, and workers in construction.
The Ontario government is consulting on new rules to protect workers from extreme heat, but the rules are weak and one-size-fits-all.
The Ontario Federation of Labour and the NDP are calling for far stronger measures, including a sector-specific approach, paid breaks to cool down, the installation of ventilation and air-conditioning, access to water, protective equipment, and schedule adjustments to avoid the hottest parts of the day.
Establish a maximum temperature standard for rental apartments
It is miserable to live in a boiling apartment during the summer months, and for our most vulnerable residents, it has become deadly. The devastating heat waves in British Columbia in 2021 killed 777 people, and most of the dead were elderly, sick, disabled, and alone in homes without air-conditioning.
To keep tenants safe from dangerous heat waves, the province should establish a maximum temperature bylaw for homes (public health agencies usually land on 26 degrees) and make window air-conditioning a vital service.
After a sustained public pressure campaign, the province passed legislation permitting tenants to install an air-conditioning window unit, however, the legislation isn’t in force. Toronto is studying bringing in a maximum temperature bylaw.
Ontario should upgrade and build climate-resilient infrastructure
Extreme heat puts incredible pressure on infrastructure; roads can buckle, and electricity usage skyrockets, leading to brownouts.
The Association of Municipalities in Ontario (AMO), which is the organization that represents Ontario’s municipalities, calculates that municipalities need up to $290 billion over the next 10 years to accommodate growth, manage climate change, and keep existing infrastructure in good repair, such as roads, water systems, and sewerage pipes. This is a good investment.
Instead of investing in municipalities, Ontario has cut municipal funding and made it harder for municipalities to raise money for infrastructure from development fees.
Improve the quality of existing and new homes.
New homes should be well-made, well-insulated, and energy efficient. These homes are cheaper to cool in summer, they are better able to withstand extreme heat, and they produce less greenhouse gas emissions.
Under the false guise of spurring housing construction, the Conservatives passed a law (Bill 17) which invalidates Toronto and 13 other municipalities’ green building policies. These policies required new buildings to meet higher environmental performance and energy efficiency benchmarks than the provincial standard. Bad move.
New construction alone isn’t enough to lower Canada’s carbon emissions. Ontario has established a fund at homerenovationsavings.ca to provide rebates to homeowners for insulation, heat pumps, better windows and doors, battery storage, and more, but the program will end this December. Ontario does not have a plan to incentivize or mandate the retrofitting of community housing and private-market rental buildings. It should.
Embrace nature
Trees are marvelous at providing shade and cooling homes and neighbourhoods down by as much as six degrees Celsius. The City of Toronto has a policy to protect and expand its tree canopy from 28 per cent coverage to 40 per cent by 2050. The province should help them.
Extreme heat is a serious and escalating challenge, and we will continue to push for solutions that help us protect ourselves while cutting down on climate pollution.
Jessica Bell is the MPP for University-Rosedale and the Shadow Minister for Finance and the Treasury Board. You can reach her office at jbell-co@ndp.on.ca or 416-535-7206.
September 29th, 2025 · Comments Off on FORUM: Bathurst Street: Not yet RapidTO (Aug. 2025)
Council caves and all lose to the precious car
By Albert Koehl
In the run up to the city hall debate about the proposed RapidTO busway on Bathurst Street, everyone played to script, and we all lost.
RapidTO would have created priority transit lanes on Bathurst and Dufferin Streets from the waterfront to the soon-to-be-completed Eglinton Crosstown LRT.
In a city where transit projects are measured in years of delay and billions of dollars in cost overruns, RapidTO offered a quick, inexpensive solution for long-suffering transit riders.
Indeed, there are few fixes in our toolbox that address a similar list of urgent problems: affordability, traffic congestion, and climate change. Even the Toronto Region Board of Trade supported the RapidTO lanes.
For these reasons—and solid public support—the project should have coasted through executive committee and city council. Instead, only the RapidTO lanes south of Bloor were approved.
What happened?
For starters, the media got excited about a loud group of merchants on Bathurst (between Bloor and Dupont Streets) who predicted doom and gloom from the loss of curbside parking. What else is new, except research that contradicts them?
The opponents actually used, until they were caught, fake, AI-generated “concerned residents.” The Toronto Star nonetheless characterised the RapidTO lanes as a “heated and politicized” debate.
Second, local councillor Dianne Saxe championed delay, a beloved approach among politicians who want to avoid making a decision.
Her “compromise” undermined her own pronouncements about the urgency of climate action: “The climate crisis is not a normal political negotiation between different interests, where solutions come from compromise. The climate crisis is a collision between human beings and physics. Physics, like gravity, doesn’t compromise.”
Urban affairs commentator John Lorinc ridiculed Saxe as having “caved spectacularly.”
Third, some merchants, true to an old script, championed parking spots over people.
When a bike lane was proposed on Harbord Street, the local business association said “no bike lanes, period.” That was in the 1990s; today the upgrade of the existing bike lanes got little attention.
More recently, merchants on downtown Yonge predicted “catastrophic consequences” from a pedestrianization initiative. City council ignored them. And, by contrast, the Bloor Annex BIA was among the first to fight back when Premier Doug Ford threatened to remove bike lanes on Bloor.
Ironically (or hypocritically), at their June protest, opponents to the Bathurst busway stood on sidewalk-level parking spots that the merchant had converted to a vibrant, permanent patio. Indeed, the city initiative should have been an opportunity to re-think—and to more rationally use—the extravagant amount of precious urban space that is devoted to parking, instead of to people (and trees, sidewalks, bikeways, and benches).
Finally, TTC riders, environmental groups, and local residents all rallied for the RapidTO busways. An overwhelming majority of the 60+ speakers at the executive committee supported complete busways.
For TTC patrons at bus stops, the recent scorching temperatures are certainly more than the “abstraction” described by opponents. In fact, the Bathurst busway would have delivered thousands of potential new shoppers—people who could hop off the bus and into a business.
A study partly funded by the Bloor Annex BIA showed that over 90 per cent of patrons at local shops arrive on foot, bikes, and transit.
It was left to Mayor Olivia Chow to offer a way forward without embarrassing Councillor Saxe. The mayor should have intervened more forcefully.
Instead, we got a project that will “explore” tried-and-failed options for the stretch north of Bloor to Eglinton, including HOV lanes that have never worked on nearby Bay Street. Councillor Saxe should have chosen her script from neighbouring Councillor Alejandra Bravo, who devoted herself to educating Dufferin residents about the vital importance of RapidTO and identifying feasible options for loading and access.
It’s no longer acceptable, given today’s urgent problems, to allow some groups to carve out exceptions for themselves, while others suffer.
We needed local merchants, the media, and politicians to show leadership. Instead, they simply kicked the can forward.
Albert Koehl is coordinator of Community Bikeways, author of Wheeling Through Toronto, and former vice-chair of the Annex Residents’ Association.
September 29th, 2025 · Comments Off on SPORTS: From Tokyo to Toronto: Sato’s season of surprises (Aug. 2025)
A sit-down with baseball sensation Ayami Sato
A sensation from day one, Ayami Sato is routinely sought out for autographs and photos whenever the Leafs play. CRAIG AIKEN/GLEANER NEWS
By R.S. Konjek
It’s a Friday night in July, an hour before game time at Christie Pits.
Ayami Sato seeks out a shady spot on a bench beside a tree. Speaking through interpreter Yoko Van Veen, she says the heatwave doesn’t bother her, that it’s even more humid in Japan. She only wants to get out of the sunlight while we talk.
Sato has just finished helping her Toronto Maple Leafs teammates at batting practice. As a pitcher, her duty was to retrieve baseballs. As one of the most accomplished female baseball players in the world, the task might have seemed beneath her, but it was not.
Last winter, the Leafs made international headlines when they signed Sato who helped her native country win five women’s world baseball championships. This spring she became not only the first woman to play for Toronto, but the first in Canadian pro baseball history.
A year ago, she never imagined she’d be sitting on this bench, not far from the kids’ splash pad.
“This is a very casual place to play baseball,” she says. “Everybody can just drop by and watch. I feel the players and fans are very close, and they can interact easily.”
Sato was an opening day sensation. Her presence attracted thousands of spectators. She started the game and pitched two perfect innings.
“Every moment here has been precious for me, but when I stood on the mound and made my first pitch, that was the most memorable moment,” she says.
Since opening day, Sato has settled into the bullpen. Like most ballplayers, she’s had her ups and downs over the course of the season.
After some games, Sato has posted long messages on social media, analysing her performance on the mound, being self-critical when necessary, and always looking forward to the next game determined to succeed. Not a common practice among North American athletes, it’s another thing that has made her stand out from her peers.
She routinely praises her teammates online and says she enjoys the collegial atmosphere of the Leafs’ clubhouse, a place filled with postgame music, pizza, and beer—three things that break down barriers in most places.
She appreciates the diversity of Toronto, and the Leafs’ roster reflects that diversity. Being the only Japanese player is not as isolating when her teammates here are Canadian, American, Dominican, Venezuelan and Korean.
“Playing with those guys, it’s very inspiring,” she says. She admits it was a huge leap from living near Tokyo and playing for a women’s team to competing against men in a foreign country. But I just jumped into the environment and tried to do my best to adjust.”
Prior to making the move to Toronto, Sato received messages of support from former Toronto Blue Jays Munenori Kawasaki and Yusei Kikuchi who encouraged her to enjoy her journey.
Support from her country followed her to Canada. Sato says she can pick out voices shouting in Japanese when she is on the mound.
“I hear a lot of supporting voices, and I know they are out there and I’m happy to receive that support,” she says.
In between game days, Sato has spent time visiting girls’ baseball teams, coaching, and speaking to younger players. She has also taken the opportunity to play tourist, visiting Niagara Falls, the CN Tower, Centre Island and Kensington Market.
She is impressed by Toronto’s Japanese food scene, praising Ikkousha Ramen and Taro’s Fish in particular. She is also amused by the creativity of Canadian sushi restaurants. She breaks into a wide smile as she describes how one place put cream cheese on top of salmon, something she’d never seen before.
As for Toronto’s greater food scene: “There are so many temptations when it comes to sweets. I like fried chicken and French fries, and I’d love to try [more] but since I have to perform, I restrict myself.”
She lives close to Christie Pits and has travelled around the city on all modes of transport. Asked to compare Toronto’s subway system to that of Tokyo, she goes politely silent.
“It’s small,” she concedes, “but I can access anywhere easily so I think it’s very convenient. I use it a lot.”
Some of Sato’s teammates begin to emerge from the clubhouse in uniform. First pitch is approaching.
Since arriving in April, Sato has loved her time in Toronto. However, she will return to Japan in September and rejoin her Saitama Seibu Lions women’s team for a big competition in October.
Looking ahead, she has her eyes on the nascent Women’s Pro Baseball League which will be the first of its kind in North America in over 70 years when it begins play in 2026.
For now, the present beckons. It’s time to suit up for this evening’s game. The Maple Leafs are hosting the Guelph Royals as they battle for playoff contention.
Sato is fully committed to doing her part to help the Leafs succeed. Modest to a fault, she doesn’t dwell on her place in Toronto sports history. Having achieved that by spending the summer here, her focus is on the collective goal.
“We play as a team, so every player has to do their best in their positions,” she says. “That’s the beauty of baseball. I have to play my role and focus on what I have to do. I’ve started to figure it out, and by the end of the season I hope I can say I did my best and it was a great season.”
More information and a schedule can be found at www.mapleleafsbaseball.com.
September 5th, 2025 · Comments Off on ON THE COVER Found a penny (July 2025)
Harbord Village’s Gus Sinclair (2nd from left) joined The Lucky Pennies as they peformed for the Bloor Annex BIA’s Summer Music Series on July 4. Throughout the summer, enjoy free live music at Bloor Street and Brunswick Avenue on Fridays from 6 to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Sundays from 12 to 2 p.m. NEILAND BRISSENDEN/GLEANER NEWS
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Press conference at Kos Café highlights local opposition to RapidTO
By Abigail Harris
On Wednesday June 11, over a hundred residents and small business owners gathered on the patio of Kos Café at Bathurst and Dupont to call on the city to pause the proposed RapidTO transit corridor expansion north of Bloor.
The event was hosted by Protect Bathurst, a grassroots coalition of Toronto residents, local business owners, accessibility advocates, and community leaders who argue that their lifestyles and livelihoods will be negatively impacted by the city’s plan.
The proposed design includes installing priority bus lanes in the north and southbound curb lanes on a 7.5-kilometre stretch of Bathurst from Eglinton Avenue West to Bloor Street West and implementing priority streetcar lanes from Bloor Street West to Lake Shore Boulevard.
All curb-lane access to parking, loading, unloading, deliveries, and service vehicles would be removed, eliminating 138 on-street paid parking spaces, according to the city.
The project’s development was authorized in July 2024 by city council to improve the efficiency and convenience of public transportation ahead of next summer’s FIFA World Cup 26™, but also to provide more reliable bus and streetcar transit in the long term.
Various speakers took the stage, voicing their concerns about what the proposed plan would do to the area’s safety, accessibility, and economic health.
Paul Macchiusi, local resident, owner of Minerva Cannabis, and host of the event, told the audience that the RapidTO plan will improve public transport at the expense of residents and local business owners.
“RapidTO is proposing to change our streets from mixed use neighborhood arteries into 24/7 high speed bus and emergency vehicle corridors,” Macchiusi said. “There will be nowhere for someone to stop and help an aging parent, nowhere for children to get dropped off and go to daycare, nowhere for residents to unload groceries.”
Macchiusi said the city has not taken enough time or the right steps to address perceived issues with the plan and has not participated in larger discussions with the community.
“The RapidTO plan is flawed, and it’s being rushed,” Macchiusi said. “Residents and business owners have repeatedly raised concerns about the safety, traffic divergence, business liability, and basic accessibility, and every time that we have, the answers have been vague, dismissive, or simply absent.”
Michelle Morgan, owner of Annex Art, expressed her concerns about the impact of the priority TTC lanes on her business.
“A large part of my business is children’s programming, including after school art classes, summer camps, workshops, and special events,” Morgan said. “The only access to my storefront is on Bathurst Street, and I fear that I’ll lose a large part of my business to those who rely on parking access to the studio.”
The day before the press conference, Dianne Saxe, city councillor and TTC board member, offered a compromise to the issue, proposing that the installation of the TTC priority lanes between Bathurst Station and Dupont be halted until the next municipal election.
During a Q&A period, Macchisui addressed Saxe’s proposed solution to the complex issue.
“She’s provided us with a compromise, which is a great first step into working into a better plan,” Macchisui said. “Hopefully that will be better than what RapidTO has presented.”
Andrew Greene, chief of staff at Councillor Saxe’s office, was in attendance and addressed concerns from community members after the event.
“Councillor Saxe supports the idea of having a holistic approach and not doing anything rash in the neighborhood,” Greene said. “No one wants to do anything to damage this community. We want to make better transit; we don’t want to destroy communities to do it.”
The comment period for this project has closed. The proposal will be considered by the executive committee on July 16.
To sign up for email updates or to learn more about the project, visit www.toronto.ca, search for RapidTO, and select Bathurst Street under “Projects.”
September 5th, 2025 · Comments Off on NEWS: Harbord Bakery celebrates 80 years (July 2025)
A legacy business marks a milestone
Members of the band Kishke perform at the anniversary celebration. BRIAN BURCHELL/GLEANER NEWS
By Rose Harbener
In 1945, Golda and Albert Kosower fulfilled their dream by purchasing the little bakery next to the fish market at the corner of Major and Harbord.
Harbord Bakery quickly became a hub for the Jewish community. Many brought their own cakes and savoury sabbath meals to bake in the bakery’s brick oven.
Eighty years later, on June 13, 2025, that dream was celebrated with a joyful gathering of the community at the bakery. Visitors were treated to free confections, drinks, music, and dancing to mark the momentous milestone.
The Kosowers immigrated to Toronto from Poland and raised three children while running the bakery.
“I remember they would give free sprinkle cookies to any kid that walked in,” said a celebration-goer in the pastry lineup.
“We’re celebrating that my mom and dad bought Harbord Bakery in 1945,” said Susan Wisniewski, one of the bakery-born children.
“Eighty years is a long time, and it felt like there needed to be a bit of celebration—especially with the world like it is. It’s nice to celebrate with our customers and family at the same time,” she added.
Wisniewski has worked at the bakery since she was a young girl sitting at the counter and helping her mother serve customers. She vividly recalls one of her first memories: learning how to tie up a pastry box.
“A saleswoman, Mrs. Weinstein, taught me how to do it,” she said. “I can do it in my sleep. Very few people tie up boxes now.”
Another aspect that makes the bakery unique is its staff culture. The staff at Harbord Bakery aren’t just the people handing out the famous sprinkle cookies—they are more like family.
“We’re always very close and celebrate lots of things together,” said Wisniewski.
Most of the staff have been at the bakery for at least 25 years.
“My first day here is my favourite memory of it. They’re very nice, and I felt welcome right away,” said a staff member.
The sense of camaraderie and warmth in the bakery originates from the lessons taught by Goldie and Albert Kosower which have been passed down through generations.
Susan and her siblings were raised to connect with customers, not just through transactions, but with kindness, familiarity, and care.
“I have been coming here for 70 years. The first time I went to Harbord Bakery, I was 17. They were the only place open on Sundays that was near us.
I consider it to be a place of not just memory, but also a place of food; wonderful, great food,” said Adrienne Clarkson, former Governor General of Canada and Harbord Bakery regular.
Harbord Bakery has a spirit of belonging that no grocery store can offer. Councillor Dianne Saxe (Ward 11, University-Rosedale), who was in attendance at the celebration, made it clear that if we want local businesses such as Harbord Bakery to continue, they need local support.
“We’re so lucky that after 80 years of difficulties, they are still here and thriving. There’s a real heart here you’re never going to find at a commercial grocery store,” said Saxe.
Part of that heart lives in the recipes themselves. Step into the bakery and the smell of rugelach, challah, and fresh loaves reels you in—their scents unchanged by time.
“These recipes were his. They’re still his,” Wisniewski said, referring to her father.
“You taste the challah, and it’s the same challah. The same taste from years ago when my father first started baking it.”
But how does the time-honoured bakery continue in an ever-changing world? “It is a challenge, but we have wonderful customers, and they are what makes us want to go on,” Wisniewski said.
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September 5th, 2025 · Comments Off on GRADING OUR GREENSPACE: Grading the green (July 2025)
The first instalment of our annual report card on area parks
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. Last year’s grade is provided allowing comparison. The reviews accompanying the assessment also let the reader know what makes each space unique. This is the first instalment of reviews for 2025.
Compiled and photographed by Abigail Harris
Robert Street Park’s extensive amenities and quiet atmosphere provide a feeling of seclusion.
Robert Street Park 50 Sussex Ave. Time of visit: 1:30 p.m. Grade: A (Last year’s grade: A) Reason to go: While Robert Street Park is located just a stone’s throw from the hectic intersection of Spadina Avenue and Bloor Street, its extensive amenities and quiet atmosphere provide a feeling of seclusion. The park was created as a part of the Robert Street Field Project by the University of Toronto. The project not only built this greenspace but installed a geoexchange system under the soccer field next to it, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Muskoka chairs provide comfortable seating, mini pavilions built in the shape of trees supply shade, and long benches surround the perimeter of the greenspace. There is also a rope playground structure for children to play on and a butterfly garden. An Indigenous art piece on the back wall of the park provides a beautiful backdrop to the space. Overall, Robert Street Park is a great place for kids and adults to relax in the city. Overheard: Children playing touch football shout “one steamboat, two steamboat, three steamboat, four steamboat…” Did you know: Geothermal energy uses the natural heating and cooling properties of the earth to regulate temperature in the surrounding buildings connected to the system which is constructed of deep pipes filed with circulating water. In colder months, ground heat is transferred and distributed for heating. In the summer months, this process is reversed, for cooling.
Jesse Ketchum Park 1310 Bay St. Time of visit: 2:50 p.m. Grade: A (Last year’s grade: A+) Reason to go: Jesse Ketchum Park is a small but inviting greenspace at the intersection of Davenport Road and Bay Street. The park features big, draping trees which provide shade during the hot summer months. A few benches and water filling stations make it a pleasant and comfortable refuge from the bustle of the city. It is located next to Jesse Ketchum School where children are often playing on the soccer field or playground. Construction on a high-rise across the street, however, disrupts what could be a quiet, relaxed ambience. All in all, Jesse Ketchum Park is great stop for those looking for a quick escape from the busy city streets. Overheard: The shouts of children playing at the Jesse Ketchum Early Learning & Child Care Centre a few doors over. Did you know: Jesse Ketchum School was established around 1831, three years before the founding of the City of Toronto. The current building at 61 Davenport Road dates back to 1914.
Paul Martel Park has an incredibly beautiful quality to it, with vibrant Muskoka chairs for seating and benches painted the colours of the medicine wheel.
Paul Martel Park 10 Madison Ave. Time of visit: 11:18 a.m. Grade: A- (Last year’s grade: A) Reason to go: This greenspace, located near the intersection of Spadina Avenue and Bloor Street, underwent a significant revitalization in the past few years thanks to a collaboration between Indigenous tradespeople, artists, and Elders known as Aki Wiidookaagewin (Earth Helpers). The revitalization facilitated Indigenous participant horticultural training, as wells as gardening and cultural programming at the park. As a result, this park has an incredibly beautiful quality to it, with vibrant Muskoka chairs for seating and benches painted the colours of the medicine wheel. An Indigenous mural titled Interconnections frames the back wall. The mural depicts the Indigenous creation story and features important figures such as the Muskrat and Thunderbird. Unfortunately, construction across the street on Spadina interrupts the serenity of the space. But overall, Paul Martel is a beautiful park to take a break from the city and admire the artistic talent of the local community. Overheard: A jackhammer from the construction of the new Estonian Cultural Centre across the street. Did you know: In Indigenous culture, thunderbirds are supernatural, bird-like spirits that can create wind, rain, and thunderstorms.
Vermont Square Park 819 Palmerston Ave. Time of visit: 12:15 p.m. Grade: A (Reviewed last in 2022. Grade then: A+) Reason to go: Vermont Square Park is a charming greenspace located near Bathurst Street and Dupont Avenue. This park is a gem within Seaton Village. Despite being located close to Bathurst Street and Dupont Avenue, the park feels very serene and peaceful. The extensive grounds allow for all kinds of park-goers to use the space. There is an off-leash dog area for furry friends and a fenced off playground for little ones with a pirate ship-inspired play structure, swing sets, and a wading pool. The park also features three bocce courts, a European ball game. William H. Bolton Arena is located on the east side of the park, and St. Alban’s Boys and Girls Club, which features an indoor pool, community centre, and daycare, is on the north side. Overheard: Children screech, “Higher!” as their caretakers push them on the swings. Did you know? The Bill Bolton Arena is home to three adult hockey leagues in the summer as well as youth recreational hockey leagues.
Christie Pits Park 750 Bloor St. W. Time of visit: 1:20 p.m. Grade: A+ (Last year’s grade: A+) Reason to go: Christie Pits is beloved by many Toronto residents and is one of the largest and most popular parks in the city. This greenspace is home to amenities that draw in all sorts of members from the surrounding community, including an outdoor pool, three baseball diamonds, basketball courts, outdoor table tennis, picnic sites, skate park, a playground, and a splash pad. It’s conveniently located next to Christie subway station, making it a must-visit destination every summer. Throughout July and August, the Toronto Outdoor Picture Show hosts weekly movie nights. One can always be entertained here in the summer, as various fairs and festivals are always taking place. If you’re a sports fan, the semi-pro baseball team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, play their home games on Dominico Field in Christe Pits. This park has something for everyone and is worth checking out this summer. Overheard: A frustrated dog owner shouts, “Waffles, get over here!” Did you know: The Intercounty Toronto Maple Leafs signed Ayami Sato this season, one of the world’s greatest female baseball players. Sato is the first woman to play in the Intercounty Baseball League and the first in Canadian pro baseball history. (See gleanernews.ca, April 2025).
Gwendolyn MacEwen Parkette is a small but charming greenspace.
Gwendolyn MacEwen Parkette 33 Walmer Rd. Time of visit: 12:00 p.m. Grade: B- (Last year’s grade: B-) Reason to go: Gwendolyn MacEwen Parkette is a small but charming greenspace located at Walmer Road and Lowther Avenue. Crab apple trees overhang benches, and yellow and purple flower beds line the pathways. Across the street at Walmer Road Baptist Church there is a beautiful Indigenous mural. The park is in the middle of a roundabout; unfortunately, this means it is a high traffic area with a significant amount of noise. Overheard: The sound of children playing during recess at a school located on Walmer Road. Did you know? Gwendolyn McEwen was a Canadian poet and novelist who began writing and publishing in her teens. She published over 20 books in her lifetime and passed away in 1987 in Toronto.
Norway Maples frame Sergeant Ryan Russell Parkette.
Sergeant Ryan Russell Parkette 250 Avenue Rd. Time of visit: 2:32 p.m. Grade: A (Grade last year: B+) Reason to go: Sergeant Ryan Russell Parkette is across from Jay Macpherson Green and is located at Avenue Road and Dupont Street. Norway Maples frame this greenspace and provide ample shade and privacy from the busy city streets. There is an enclosed playground area for children and shaded benches. The noise, given the park’s location at a busy intersection, can be a bit pervasive. Overheard: A bird chirping and cars passing by. Did you know: The Norway Maple is one of the most common trees in Canada and is native to Europe and West Asia. The leaves are bright green in the summer and turn yellow or red in autumn.
Boswell Parkette provides a brief passageway into the charming residential area west of Avenue Road.
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 tiny greenspace located along the hectic stretch of Avenue Road between Davenport and Bloor. The parkette provides a brief passageway into the charming residential area of Boswell Avenue. In the spring the lack of a tree canopy leads to a lack of privacy and shade for park-goers. As a result, not much of the noise from Avenue Road is absorbed, making the space feel quite exposed to the elements. The spot is convenient, however, for passersby who need a breather. Although there is only one bench, the parkette is conveniently located next to the Boswell Avenue bus stop which provides shelter. Despite the traffic noise, Boswell Parkette is still a pleasant place to pass through and make a quick stop if you feel inclined to do so. Overheard: Cars and bikes zipping by. 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.
The Doctors’ Parkette 15 Brunswick Ave. Time: 2:32 p.m. Grade: D+ (Last year’s grade: C-) Reasons to go: The Doctors’ Parkette feels like an exercise in hostility—and it’s not just the armrests dividing up the benches. The bushes are overgrown and yellowing, and grass pokes up between the cobblestones that cover nearly the entire parkette. The tree canopy is such that only a third of the benches will ever get shade, and even then, it depends on the time of day. In short, it is nearly impossible to stay and relax here for any substantial period of time. Overheard: Sparrows chirping over College Street traffic. Did you know? It is perfect for when you’re 5-10 minutes early for an appointment at Kensington Health and you feel kind of awkward about bothering the receptionist with your earliness. What other health centre offers that? — By Drew Glennie
Jay Macpherson Green 255 Avenue Rd. Time: 3:35 p.m. Grade: B+ (Last year’s grade: A-) Reasons to go: Nestled at the eastern end of Dupont (and the Annex as a whole) is Jay Macpherson Green, where the tree canopy makes the entire area a shady haven from the summer sun. The green includes a walkway to shorten the pedestrian journey from Avenue Road to Macpherson Avenue with a bench on each side. The park is perhaps not worth a commute from more westerly parts of the Annex, but residents of Yorkville are lucky to have this cozy stopover nearby. The rating for this park is somewhat affected by Sergeant Ryan Russell Parkette across the street which has the same amount of shade and benches but also a play structure. Looks like they’re having fun over there. Overheard: Footsteps on the walking path, both human and canine. Did you know? The Macpherson Avenue Parkette that comes up on Apple Maps when you search Jay Macpherson Green is a totally different place. Don’t ask me how I know. — By Drew Glennie
Bring your little ones to enjoy the splash pad, sand pit, rope play structure, and the abundance of toys scattered around Margaret Fairley Park.
Margaret Fairley Park 100 Brunswick Ave. Time: 11:58 a.m. Grade: A (Last year’s grade: A) Reasons to go: Margaret Fairley Park is a charming greenspace located in the heart of Harbord Village. It is named after the renowned Canadian writer and activist Margaret Fairley. Bring your little ones here to enjoy the splash pad, sand pit, rope play structure, and the abundance of toys scattered around. Natural wooden benches and picnic tables add a rustic feel, as if you just happened upon a peaceful clearing in the middle of a forest. The park feels quiet and secluded, making it easy to forget you’re just one block from the construction and chaos of Harbord Street. Overheard: A mother and her child playing together in the sandpit. Did you know? One unique feature of this park is an installation of musical instruments called Thunder Drums. They are percussion instruments that resemble stools for children 18 months to 12 years.
Jean Sibelius Square 50 Kendal Ave. Time: 2:15 p.m. Grade: A+ (Last year’s grade: A+) Reasons to go: Jean Sibelius Square is a beloved destination in the Annex that’s rich with amenities for all age groups. The park has an outdoor fitness gym which parkgoers can use during the warmer months to get a workout in. For little ones, there’s a large playground area with a sandpit, rock-climbing wall, and rope play structure. With plenty of shady trees and picnic tables, Jean Sibelius Square is a great spot to host a gathering. The hustle and bustle of Bloor Street feels far away, and there is a general feeling of peace and quiet in the square. During the winter, the park’s large grassy area turns into an ice rink, making it the perfect place for community members to connect over a game of hockey. Overheard: An exasperated dog walker asks her pack to “Sit, please!” as she struggles to take a photo of all five of them. Did you know? Jean Sibelius was a Finnish composer of the late Romantic period. The park was originally called Kendal Square. It was renamed Jean Sibelius Square in 1959 when Toronto’s Finnish community donated a memorial to Jean Sibelius to the city.
Bloor-Bedford Parkette 245 Bloor Street W. Time: 1:11 p.m. Grade: B+ (Last year’s grade: B) Reason to go: Bloor-Bedford Parkette is a nice shady spot along Bloor Street to stop and sit for a while. With the parkette being right across from the University of Toronto Varsity Centre and steps from the Royal Conservatory, you feel as if you’re right in the middle of all the action of the city. Plus, on clear days, you have a perfect view of the CN Tower in the distance. Unfortunately, it’s easy to get distracted by the noise and construction of the surrounding area. Overheard: Traffic and cyclists buzzing by and a sporting event across the road at Varsity Centre. Did you know? For 32 years, the CN Tower held the record for the world’s tallest freestanding structure.
Matt Cohen Park is an endearing space located at the intersection of Bloor and Spadina.
Matt Cohen Park 393 Bloor St. West Time: 12:05 p.m. Grade: C- (Last year’s grade: C-) Reason to go: Located at the intersection of Bloor and Spadina, Matt Cohen Park is an endearing space positioned right in the city’s core. It features some benches and shady trees but has heavy foot traffic and is more of a quick stop for commuters than a serene destination. Flocks of pigeons seem to love frequenting this park and are not afraid to approach you and ask for food. The park struggles to provide much of an escape from the city given its location and the noise. But what Matt Cohen lacks in lush greenscaping it makes up for in Canadian culture. Parkgoers can stop and read one of the six memorial plaques that detail the life story of esteemed Canadian writer Matt Cohen. Cohen received the Governor General’s Award for his novel Elizabeth and After and has been recognized for his children’s books and short stories. Overheard: Pigeons coo as they fight over a piece of bread while firetruck sirens sound in the distance. Did you know: Matt Cohen published children’s literature under the pseudonym Teddy Jam.
Sally Bird Park is easy to miss if you’re not paying attention.
Sally Bird Park 194 Brunswick Ave. Grade: C+ (Last year’s grade: C+) Time: 11:41 a.m. Reason to go: Sally Bird Park is a quaint greenspace tucked away in Harbord Village. The park is sandwiched between houses on Brunswick Avenue; it can be easy to miss if you’re not paying attention. Its discrete entrance makes it feel like a hidden passage, not so much a park to linger in. There are a few benches, but the park isn’t exactly inviting and functions more like a pleasant way of cutting through to the parallel street Alan Powell Lane. A unique feature of Sally Bird are the three outdoor fitness machines. Although it is small, the park serves its purpose of being a quiet enclave amid busy city streets. Overheard: Dogs panting as they trot through the park alongside their owners. Did you know? This park used to be called Brunswick Parkette, but was renamed in 2004 to honour local resident Sally Bird.
