September 2nd, 2019 · Comments Off on GREENINGS: Sing the same tune, PLEASE (August 2019)
No unity of purpose from arms of the city
By Terri Chu
Nearly a decade ago, a fire ravaged the beloved Children’s Storefront at 1079 Bathurst St. just south of Dupont. The lot has been sitting empty ever since, waiting for its next reincarnation. Now that Orchard Properties has a development proposal in the works that wait could be over. Like any development proposal there are problematic aspects, but the bigger problem is with the city and its lack of a coherency about climate change resiliency and how it is reflected in municipal decision-making.
Mayor John Tory likes to wax poetic about making the City of Toronto climate-resilient, but the city’s foot soldiers seem to be ignoring the memo. Trees are a vital part of climate change resiliency.
The proposal hopes to see a 5-storey mixed-use building with seven dwelling units, one commercial unit, and no parking spaces. It is a great spot to add more density, given the accessibility to public transit. However, if Orchard Properties gets the go-ahead to build as they wish – deeper and higher than what is currently allowed – a 75-year-old silver maple with three trunks which provides shade to six properties is more than likely to meet its end within the next decade.
The planned property design triggers rules for storm water retention and, in this case, involves the digging out of most of the root system of the tree. While we don’t know what the decision will be, we do know that the body that governs these decisions, the Committee of Adjustment, treats trees as neighbourhood nuisances.
Mayor John Tory likes to wax poetic about making the City of Toronto climate-resilient, but the city’s foot soldiers seem to be ignoring the memo. Trees are a vital part of climate change resiliency. They soak up excess rain water (this means less flooding), they clean the air, and they provide pockets of enriched oxygen. Their usefulness should not be understated. Reforestation is a vital part to solving our climate crisis. Urban trees are as important as heavily forested areas as they do double duty in polluted environments.
If the City of Toronto is serious about playing a role in the climate crisis, it needs to make sure that EVERY department in singing the same tune. It means that everyone needs to consider the climate crisis in decision-making, be it at the Committee of Adjustment or during sidewalk repairs. Taking the climate crisis seriously means that everyone who works for, represents, or makes decisions on behalf of the city, understands that Toronto will consider the impact of every decision, no matter how great or small, on our climate crisis and the ability of humans to continue living not just in the city but on the planet. Stop the speeches. Start the action. Every city employee and representative needs to start singing the same tune on climate to ensure Toronto moves forward on climate resiliency.
September 2nd, 2019 · Comments Off on FOCUS: Police raid Café weed dispensary on Harbord (August 2019)
City installs concrete blockade of entrance
By Juan Romero
A shop belonging to the chain Cannabis and Fine Edibles on Harbord Street has been raided by police numerous times over the summer. Similarly to other Café locations raided by police, these raids have proved largely ineffective — with the shops managing to be up and running in less than 24 hours following each one.
On July 9, Toronto police raided the Café location at 104 Harbord St., just off Spadina. In the operation they seized large amounts of marijuana and bags that presumably contained edibles. All the workers and a man who claimed to be a tenant from the second floor of the location were escorted out.
According to the director of investigation services for municipal licensing and standards Mark Sraga, the initial plan was to place concrete blocks in front of the entrance of the shop to prevent future break-ins; however, this did not happen as the overhead wires made it impossible for the crane to manoeuvre the blocks safely.
Soon after the raid a few black SUVs were spotted by residents and business owners in the area. Witnesses say these would frequently drop by the shop and pick up customers to presumably take them to different Café locations. On Wednesday, the Café location on Harbord was running like nothing happened.
Sraga was aware that it was very possible for re-entry to occur because of previous experiences with other Café shops that had been raided.
“We know they are not going to close up and go away, because they have done it in other locations where we’ve done closure orders and barring of entry,” he said following the raid.
Most of the raided locations have had tenants living above the shops. This prevents police from sealing the entrance by law, therefore making it easier for the workers to access the building and resume business once police officers are gone. It seems that the Café was using this strategy as a legal loophole.
However, this past June the provincial government passed amendments to patch the loophole. This caused the tenant at the Café on Harbord Jeff Brodie to be removed from the premises. He was very upset with the police and the city.
“I’ve lived above the Cafe for two years. I don’t have anything to do with downstairs, I work, I am a subcontractor, I get cheap rent here, I can’t find anywhere else to go tonight, I am sleeping on a park bench, I have nowhere else to go. And this is what the city has done to me? It’s not right,” said Brodie.
Residents of Harbord Street and surrounding areas have expressed mixed reactions to the situation. Café customers strongly support the establishment. A customer, who identified himself as Mark, said that it is a great place with excellent service.
“It’s a shame they want to shut this place down. I don’t get it, why is it legal for some and illegal for others? This whole thing just seems like persecution to me. I have been coming here for the last few months and I have nothing but praise for this place,” says Mark.
Harbord resident and former area business owner Sue Purvis expressed the belief that the dispensary is destroying the neighbourhood. In a statement sent to various councillors and to police, Purvis said that she is unimpressed by the authorities’ inability to close the Café down for good.
“During the few hours that they were closed they were able to regroup, and most importantly restock. How is this possible? Are police not stationed around the building to intercept these deliveries? Where is the stock coming from? They would not be able to source a legal grow op, so it must be illegal. Can these not then be seized?”
Mark Sraga told the press that they will continue to keep coming back to close Café locations if needed. He claims that the locations are selling an illegal product that poses a risk for people who are consuming it, as it is unclear as to what the products contain.
“We are making tremendous progress on the issue of compliance,” says Sraga. “And hopefully in the near future, when the new provincially licensed stores start opening, that will help.”
In early August the police raided the location again, placing concrete blocks at the entrance to prevent entry. Time will tell whether the closure will be permanent or not.
Comments Off on FOCUS: Police raid Café weed dispensary on Harbord (August 2019)Tags:Annex · News
September 2nd, 2019 · Comments Off on GRADING OUR GREENSPACE: Park it here (August 2019)
The best and the worst of our greenspaces
In this final instalment of this year’s Gleaner’s park evaluation once again Christie Pits score an A+ for its design, maintenance, and the sheer volume of activities and facilities there. Paul Martel Mark on Madison Avenue just north of Bloor can fall no further on our scale. It got an F because of the City’s utter neglect of the site.
Compiled by Juan Romero
Hillcrest Park
950 Davenport Rd.
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Grade: A+ (last year A+)
Reasons to go: Hillcrest Park is a sports-lovers paradise, there is always something fun to do. The park has a basketball court, a baseball field, four tennis courts, a tennis table made of stone, and an open area of grass where people can be found playing Frisbee. One side of the park is typically filled with sports activities, while there is lots of room for kids to play and for people to relax and sunbathe. Kids can enjoy the wading pool and park in their own little corner, while basketball is popular among teenagers. The park features an off-leash area for dogs securing its title as a park with variety.
Overheard: “Ohhhhhh!” A group of teenagers playing basketball, upon the ball falling in a puddle.
Did you know: The park was featured in the Toronto-set film Scott Pilgrim vs. The World in 2010.
Vermont Square Park
819 Palmerston Ave.
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Grade: A- (last year A)
Reasons to go: Nestled in the quiet and peaceful Seaton Village, this park has a lot of features to grab your attention. Some standout pieces include the playground, sandbox, chess board picnic tables, the wading pool, huge ornamental rocks, and the stage. There is a lot of space for dogs to run around, seating for those looking to relax, and pirate ship-themed playground equipment that is popular among children. The park could use some maintenance at this point, patches of grass in front of the stage having faded away over time. Nonetheless, it is really enjoyable for people of all ages. Additionally, the ice-skating arena and daycare centre make the park a community hub for everyone.
Overheard: “The sharks, they wanna eat us!” Two kids playing in the pirate ship-themed playground.
Did you know: The park was renovated in 2012; the new design included the wavy bench, the playground equipment, sandboxes, and stage.
Paul Martel Park
10 Madison Ave.
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Grade: F (last year D+)
Reasons to go: Paul Martel Park is more of a green space than a park, and one that requires more regular maintenance. For starters there is plenty of litter all over the area and the sign that usually sits at the front to point out the park’s name was taken down due to vandalism, but never replaced. This makes it look less appealing. On the plus side the location is pretty calm, not many cars pass by and, despite it being located right behind Spadina station, the sound of the buses isn’t too loud or disruptive. There are also plenty of benches to sit on. Overall this park seems to have been forgotten by the city.
Overheard: Buses leaving and arriving at Spadina station.
Did you know: Paul Martel is an architect who has volunteered throughout the years to build parks in the community.
St. Alban’s Square Park
90 Howland Ave.
Time: 12:30 p.m.
Grade: A (last year B+)
Reasons to go: We would highly recommend paying a visit to St. Alban’s Square this summer. The park is perfectly balanced in every sense. There is a good amount of green space as well as a sidewalk right through the middle of the park with both shady and sunny areas and lots of benches. The overall atmosphere is very relaxing as it is in the middle of a residential area, so not many cars pass by. The park is clean and also full of people as it is a very attractive place to take a break and enjoy the outdoors. Yet even when a lot of people are there, its large size offers plenty of open space.
Overheard: A man talking on the phone and dogs barking.
Did you know: St. Alban’s Square Park used to be owned by the historic St. Alban’s Cathedral.
Euclid Avenue Parkette
711 Euclid Ave.
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Grade: F (last year F)
Reasons to go: It’s hard to find reasons to go, so we’ll just suggest that you don’t bother. There are three benches beside a patch of dirt pretending to be a trail, and that’s it. The“parkette”sits right in-between a house and a building so there is no view of anything. You likely wouldn’t notice it unless you looked for it, or knew it was there already. Also you would think that being hidden, the place would be calm, right? Wrong, because there is a parking lot across the street from it. The only good thing I could find to say about this parkette is that if you are looking for a place to sit in the shade, you could find it here. However, it really only serves this purpose for people walking by to sit down and take a break.
Overheard: Birds chirping and cars passing by.
Did you know: There are plenty of good restaurants just steps away on Bloor Street. Go there and enjoy the food instead.
Christie Pits Park
750 Bloor St. West.
Christie Pits Park has courts and fields for all kinds of sports. With the Toronto Raptors coming off an exciting championship season, the basketball courts have been very popular recently. Raptors fever has caused many young aspiring ball players to come out with their friends to Christie Pits for small pickup games. JUAN ROMERO/GLEANER NEWS
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Grade: A+ (last year A+)
Reasons to go: Christie Pits is one of the best parks in the Annex with something for everyone to enjoy. The park has seating areas, a playground, basketball courts, baseball diamonds, and a pool. You can also walk across it using the many sidewalks that go across the park. It is just off Christie Station which makes accessibility very easy. It is a great spot to take your children to play, if you want to play sports, or if you just want to relax and enjoy the weather. Despite being beside Bloor Street, the park is deep enough for you to get away from the sound of traffic. Christie Pits Park is a must-go this summer.
Overheard: “Get Buckets!!” A teenager said while playing a game of 21 with his friend.
Did you know: Every Sunday night from June 30 to August 29, Christie Pits Park will host an outdoor film festival.
Jean Sibelius Park
50 Kendal Ave.
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Grade: A+ (last year B+)
Reasons to go: Jean Sibelius Park is a great spot to enjoy a picnic with the whole family. It has a big playground for children to enjoy, as well as washrooms and lots of places to sit including picnic tables. Most of the seating areas are in the shade, and they are well placed all over the area. The park is in a residential area so it has a pretty relaxing atmosphere as long as you are away from the playground. The park is clean and the benches, the playground, water fountains, and washrooms are all in good shape. The neat thing about the park is the balance between playground and green space.
Overheard: Children laughing and yelling on the playground.
Did you know: The park is named after Jean Sibelius, who was a highly influential Finnish composer in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Boswell Parkette
4 Boswell Ave.
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Grade: B (Last reviewed in 2017, B)
Reasons to go: Boswell Parkette sits at the dead end of Boswell Avenue. It is located where Boswell Avenue and Avenue Road meet, right behind a TTC stop. This parkette serves a good purpose for those waiting for their bus to arrive. There are plenty of places to sit despite its small size. Almost all of the parkette is well covered by massive trees which shade the area during the middle of the day. There are two walkways across the area which connect Boswell Avenue with Avenue Road, making it easier and faster for residents to cross between the two streets without having to go around. There is some litter by the actual bus stop but not in the parkette. This location can get a bit noisy due to traffic from Avenue Road.
Overheard: The sound of a TTC bus beeping as its platform lowered for a rider to exit.
Did you know: The parkette is named after Toronto’s 24th mayor, Arthur Radcliffe Boswell. He served one term from 1883 to 1884.
Jay Macpherson Green
255 Avenue Rd.
Time: 12:30 p.m.
Grade: A- (last year: N/A)
Reasons to go: Jay Macpherson Green is a great spot with lots of green space, trees, and a walkway across the park. It is easily accessible and you will find many birds and benches to sit on. It is very clean and this is a little surprising due to the fact that it sits beside a very busy street with a lot of pedestrian traffic. Jay Macpherson Green serves as a spot where you can sit and relax, as well as one where you can take your kids to play a game of catch. The level of noise coming off Dupont Street is the only thing that might make the Green unappealing. This park is located right in front of the Sergeant Russell Parkette which has been under renovation since last spring. Since Sergeant Russell is not currently open, Jay Macpherson can be a great alternative to go to this summer.
Overheard: “I’ve already done 3 km today…” A man told his jogging partner while crossing the park.
Did you know: Jay Macpherson was a well recognized Canadian poet, who received the Governor General’s Award for her poetry book The Boatman in 1958.
Jesse Ketchum Park
1310 Bay St.
The turf field at Jesse Ketchum Park is what really makes it unique compared to others. During the summer months the field is hardly ever empty. It is a huge attraction for those who practise the beautiful game. JUAN ROMERO/GLEANER NEWS
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Grade: A (last year: N/A)
Reasons to go: It is spacious, there is lots of shade, lots of seating, and a good balance of green space and sidewalk. The first thing you will notice is the art structure sitting right in the middle of it. It is eye-catching and it draws your attention to the park. Then you will see the vast green space on offer, with various trees and lots of beautiful flowers in some areas. The seating is one of the best things, as there are many benches and they are well balanced and scattered across the area. If you enjoy playing soccer, Jesse Ketchum Park has a very well maintained turf field right behind the park itself, as well as some picnic tables. The park also sits beside Jesse Ketchum public school so during recess time it will get a little bit loud. Yet despite sitting on Bay Street, the traffic is not as loud as you would imagine. Most benches sit deep enough into the park that it makes it far enough for you to not be too bothered by the cars. Overall the park is mostly clean; there is some litter but not too much.
Overheard: Children yelling and having fun during their lunch.
Did you know: Jessie Ketchum, who was a philanthropist in the early 1800s, was the first person to introduce sidewalks in Toronto.
Walmer Road Parkette
227 Walmer Rd.
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Grade: C+ (last year: N/A)
Reasons to go: There are positives and negatives to this parkette, some people will like it and some people won’t. It is located on Walmer Road very close to Casa Loma. In fact you can see part of Casa Loma from the benches at the parkette. The neighbourhood it sits in is extremely calm, I would say it is mostly local traffic that sporadically passes by. So if you are looking to just relax this is a great place. However, the parkette itself is very small, and it is even smaller this summer due to construction, which is taking up approximately one-third of an already small area. The parkette is somewhat hidden and it sits in the middle of the neighbourhood. There was a lot of litter, but the green space is quite nice and the flowers are very colourful.
Overheard: Birds chirping
Did you know: Casa Loma was originally built to serve as the residence of Canadian financer and soldier Sir Henry Pellat.
Wychwood Park
76 Wychwood Ave.
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Grade: A (last reviewed in 2012, A+)
Reasons to go: This is a great place to go with your kids. It has a huge playground with swings and even a splash pad. It has benches all around the playground for parents to look after their children. If you are just going by yourself and looking to relax then this park is also for you. There is a large green space on the other side of the park, which has benches, picnic tables, lots of trees and flowers, and is perfect to enjoy a relaxing time. The area as a whole is very clean and the green space is also great for dog owners, despite the fact that there is no official “off leash” area. The park is also home to Wychwood Barns, which hosts different events throughout the year, especially on weekends. Overall, it doesn’t matter what your plan is, Wychwood Park has something for everyone to enjoy.
Overheard: “Go get it… good boy!!!!!!!!” A woman said to her golden retriever as she threw a ball for the dog to fetch. Did you know: The park is named after a forest in Oxfordshire County in south-east England, the birthplace of the park’s designer, Marmaduke Matthews.
July 16th, 2019 · Comments Off on ON THE COVER Let it flow (Summer 2019)
Construction is well underway to replace the 142 year-old water mains running under Bloor Street. Expected completion end of 2019. BRIAN BURCHELL/GLEANER NEWS
Comments Off on ON THE COVER Let it flow (Summer 2019)Tags:Annex · News
July 16th, 2019 · Comments Off on NEWS: Patio proposal moves ahead, tentatively (Summer 2019)
Layton helps forge a compromise for cheesecake purveyor
By Nabahat Hussain and Juan Romero
After a lengthy dispute with the Harbord Village Residents’ Association (HVRA), the recently opened “LeTao Sweets” bakery is up and running with tentative plans for a patio next summer.
The bakery’s owner, Alex Lau, opened LeTao this past month at the north-west corner of Brunswick Avenue and College Street.
His initial proposal for a patio at LeTao was shut down by the HVRA. His second proposal got the city’s approval, with some compromise.
Lau says he still feels some uncertainty about the future of the patio and confusion about why the proposal was denied in the first place.
“It was frustrating and disappointing because we opened up the discussion with the HVRA by providing them with the hard copy of the plan, but we’ve been shut out,” Lau said. “We still don’t understand the reasoning behind their initial opposition.”
Lau was advised by councillor Mike Layton’s office to seek support from at least 60 per cent of the residents within immediate proximity of the restaurant. He claims to have gained 80 signatures as of May 7, and said that many neighbours have dropped by to voice their support for the patio.
The agreement finally came on May 22 at a community council meeting between councillor Mike Layton, the proponent (Lau), the Municipal Licensing Services (MLS), and the city’s transportation division which looks after assigning such spaces for commercial use.
Rory (Gus) Sinclair, the co-chair of the HVRA, said that the association was not involved directly in the agreement, but they did sign off on it. Sinclair also mentioned that the negotiation process was slowed down because the owner of LeTao was involved with the press.
“The councillor had been trying to negotiate with the proponent, and while we were in the middle of negotiations the proponent went to the press. We don’t negotiate in the press, so we waited to make the deal and then spoke about it,” says Sinclair.
There were sixteen conditions the city asked of the proponent including the design of the patio, the public space, and the inclusion of green spaces.
The patio’s design and shape must provide at least 2.13 metres of sidewalk clearance. Between Oct. 31 and Apr. 15, the patio will have to be opened and shared with the public, as an un-enclosed space. Finally, the owner of the establishment will have to come up with a landscaping plan for the patio, which must include the retention of the already existing healthy trees that are in front of the café.
Alex Lau has to implement the recommended landscaping plan no later than April 2020. However, the current patio can be operational until the deadline.
With regard to the back and forth arguments before coming to an agreement, Lau says that he understands the residents’ association just needs the neighbourhood a certain way. “There is no conflict or grudges, they came by for ice cream!” Lau said.
Comments Off on NEWS: Patio proposal moves ahead, tentatively (Summer 2019)Tags:Annex · News
July 16th, 2019 · Comments Off on NEWS: Chess for everyone (Summer 2019)
The legacy of Ted Winick
Ted presenting a trophy to Max England at Annex Chess Club in 2016. COURTESY MARCUS WILKER, CHESS INSTITUTE
By Meribeth Deen
You might not have ever met Ted Winick, but you’ve likely walked by the Bloor Street, and formerly Bathurst Street, location of his business, the Spirit of Math, and his passion project, the Chess Institute of Canada. As they mourned his passing in early June, Winick’s friends and colleagues reflected on his dedication to community as well as his use of chess as a tool to bring people together and teach life’s most important lessons.
“When he was playing with a kid, he’d always ask, are you willing to take responsibility for that move?” recalls his old friend and former city councillor Joe Mihevc. “Ted’s pedagogy and perspective of life all boiled down to what happened on the chess board: use your brain, take responsibility, and find a strategic way around the obstacles you encounter, because there are bound to be obstacles.”
As Marcus Wilker, the current director of operations at the Chess Institute of Canada recalls, Winick didn’t play in tournaments, didn’t actively try to improve his game, and wasn’t known for his skill as a player.
“He was great at welcoming people, he’d sit down and play with anyone,” says Wilker. “As Ted’s wife, Heidi, can confirm, he’d always pack a chess board with him on vacations. He’d wait for a game and inevitably find one. He’d get to know whoever he played. For Ted, chess was all about relationships.”
Winick’s involvement with kids and chess started at his son’s school chess club, and from there he went on to put together the Annex Chess Club. Wilker says that in 2010 there were no chess clubs in downtown Toronto. A planning committee came together to organize a club, and Ted volunteered to find a space and run it.
“One of his strengths was definitely bringing people together,” says Wilker. “He had a special talent for giving people ownership and involvement of a project, and making the work really satisfying. We were all really inspired by Ted’s dedication.”
Wilker adds that Winick was also set on making the club as diverse as possible.
“He’d say – chess is for everyone!” recalls Wilker. “Although Toronto is diverse, people often tend to get segregated. Ted went out of his way to make the club as welcoming as possible to newcomers, even if they didn’t speak the same language. Chess was the common language. Of course, if someone showed up who didn’t speak much English, Ted would find someone who spoke their language.”
Today, the Annex Chess Club has 40–50 tournament players who meet every week, plus a dozen or so adults and children taking classes.
Mihevc also has fond memories of Winick’s entrepreneurial spirit.
“He could really hustle and muscle, but it was never for himself,” says Mihevc. “If I was hosting an event where I needed lots of tables and lots of people, I would call Ted. He never said no, and he’d bring an almost life-sized chess board. He’d play with anyone, any kid, that came along.”
Mihevc recalls that Winick had a way of getting other people on board with his ideas.
“His kids went to Oakwood Collegiate, and at one point there was some kind of class trip coming up. Ted wanted to do something to make sure every kid could afford to go, so he bought a giant crate of oranges and got people to sell them to raise money. This is how he got a local councillor to become his agent selling oranges. Really, a lot of what drove him was a strong sense of public good.”
Megan Shaw met Winick when she applied for a job with his Spirit of Math schools.
“I didn’t get the job, but I hit it off with Ted and his wife, Heidi,” says Shaw. “I was new to the city, and I found it big and intimidating. Everyone kind of kept to themselves, except Ted. Ted seemed to interact with everyone. I was really awe-struck by that.”
Later on, after Shaw had attempted to launch her own business, Ted stepped in to help out.
“He said, why not start a non-profit? And he helped me put the pieces in place to make that happen,” recalls Shaw. “I had just finished up my Bachelor of Education when I met him, so I knew so many administrators and teachers, but Ted was by far the person who was most passionate about education. He was in love with community, and he believed that education should be tied to community. I think that’s why the Chess Institute was so important to him. He loved math and strategy games, language and words – education for education’s sake.”
While his business, the Spirit of Math, works mostly with kids already considered to be high-achieving, the Chess Institute was created to connect with students from the tougher neighbourhoods and backgrounds, and teach the life skills required to improve their circumstances.
“He was never looking for the next grandmaster,” says Wilker. “And he’s left us with a clear sense of his mission, which we will work hard to carry forward now that he’s gone.”
Comments Off on NEWS: Chess for everyone (Summer 2019)Tags:Annex · News
Aerial view of the proposed 3-storey Estonian Cultural Centre and the set to be built at 9 and 11 Madison Ave. in Toronto. The building will have an eye-catching rooftop garden for visitors to enjoy. COURTESY ALAR KONGATS
New building plan clears hurdles at Committee of Adjustment
By Juan Romero
The Committee of Adjustment at the City of Toronto and the Annex Residents’ Association (ARA) have approved the latest changes proposed for the New Estonian Cultural Centre. The new centre, to be located in the Annex, will replace the current building, located on Broadview Avenue.
The Estonian Centre’s project committee had submitted eight minor changes to the design of the building. These changes, which included adjustments to the building’s eight and parking, were well received by neighbours.
“In the latest proposal we liked the design and we were in favour of the changes. We think it will be really beneficial for the Estonian community,” says Sandra Shaul, the chair and director of the ARA.
The three-storey building will be located on Madison Avenue, where the Green P parking is located, which is very close to the Estonian Tartu College.
On the building’s third floor there will be a music hall which will be used for special Estonian celebrations, as well as by the Estonian Choir and schools. COURTESY ALAR KONGATS
The new centre will be used by the Estonian Credit Union, the Estonian Choir, and Estonian schools and it will be occasionally rented out to third parties as well. Public events such as Estonian events and celebrations will also take place there.
Despite the wide approval for the development of the centre, the Estonian Vice-Consul in Toronto, Tom Heinsoo, says the community is divided on the project.
“Some people in the community thought it would be better to spend the money on the existing house on Broadview and renovate the current building,” says Heinsoo, who adds that he is in favour of the creation of a new centre. “I do think the majority of people realize that it wouldn’t be financially logical to renovate the old building since it would cost a small fortune to bring it up tomodern standards.”
According to the Estonian Centre’s due diligence report, the Madison Avenue project is set to cost approximately $25 million. Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2020.
July 16th, 2019 · Comments Off on CHATTER: Clinic not spared by Ford’s reversal (Summer 2019)
Despite Premier Doug Ford’s announcement that some of his proposed funding cuts are being reversed, cuts to Kensington Market’s St. Stephen’s Community House remain intact.
The overdose prevention site in Kensington is still seeking approval for provincial funding because donations alone are not sustainable for the long-term operation of St. Stephen’s. There are now enough donations for the site to keep running until December 31 according to St. Stephen’s Executive Director, Bill Sinclair.
St. Stephen’s has added two hours of much-needed service recently due to generous donations. To support St. Stephen’s, donations are still welcome at www.sschto.ca.
—Nabahat Hussain/Gleaner News
Comments Off on CHATTER: Clinic not spared by Ford’s reversal (Summer 2019)Tags:Annex · News
July 16th, 2019 · Comments Off on CHATTER: The Bloor-Borden Farmers’ Market is back (Summer 2019)
The farmers’ market at Bloor and Borden returns to the Annex the first week of June and will be open every Wednesday from 3-7 pm until the last week of October. Look for the Green P parking lot just south of Bloor and you’ll catch sight of the action.
The farmers themselves bring their food to market every Wednesday. BRIAN BURCHELL/GLEANER NEWS
This year the market will feature some new prepared-food vendors and will also see a lot of returning vendors. Shoppers can expect to see strawberries mid-June, blueberries by the end of July, and peaches by August. The long winter of sad-looking imported fruits and veggies will soon come to an end!
The future is uncertain for farmers’ markets in the province as the model depends on provincial funding. Farmers’ markets bring fresh local produce to urban areas. They put more money into the pockets of farmers, and help city slickers connect to the food they eat. By supporting a local farmers’ market, patrons are sending a message that they care about the plight of farmers and about the environment, and want to put their money where their mouths are. This year, it is more important than ever to show support to farmers.
Did you know that all farmers must be vetted by Farmers’ Market Ontario? Every farmer has had their farm inspected and provided proof that they planted crops themselves. Re-sellers are not welcome at the Bloor Borden Market.
Cooked food vendors need to buy their produce (where possible) from farmers. Though Ontario doesn’t grow much wheat, when you buy a kale and squash pie you can be assured that the kale and squash came from an Ontario farmer.
—Terru Chu/Gleaner News
Comments Off on CHATTER: The Bloor-Borden Farmers’ Market is back (Summer 2019)Tags:Annex · News
July 16th, 2019 · Comments Off on EDITORIAL: Time for Ford to press “eject” (Summer 2019)
A recent poll confirms that Doug Ford’s favourability ratings are falling hard and fast. His level of support is lower than Kathleen Wynne’s was at the end of her tenure, lower, as the president of Mainstreet Research Quito Maggi says, than any incumbent premier has ever seen this soon after being elected.
Mainstreet asked voters what choice they would make if there were an election today and 39.9% (+13.9% since April) approved of interim Liberal leader John Fraser.
If Toronto Mayor John Tory were leading the party, the poll says the Liberals would do even better.
In response to the news of his government’s trouble and getting booed off stage at public events, Ford has axed his most prominent cabinet ministers. Just two months after delivering a miserly budget, Finance Minister Vic Fedeli is dumped.
After a series of blunt and insensitive efforts to push through an ill-conceived plan to change the way autism programming is delivered, Lisa McLeod finds herself demoted from the head of Children, Families and Social Services to minister of tourism.
Caroline Mulroney is relieved of her post as attorney general over cuts to Legal Aid Ontario which will, by definition, target the most vulnerable. Lisa Thompson loses the chair of education minister after clashing with school boards over cuts that will lead to larger classes sizes, saying it would make students more resilient. Nice.
It would be optimistic to think this shuffle indicated some kind of shift in the government’s approach, but are these ministers actually the problem? Ford’s government is deeply centralized, and its agenda is nothing short of insane.
We can’t blame the ministers for failing to carry out his edicts, but we can blame them for failing to stand up to their leader and his hand-picked team of staff.
Premier Ford must sense that his attempt to rebrand his government falls short, just a little.
He skipped all of the external appointment processes and recommended several insiders for lucrative jobs, including a 26-year-old named Tyler Albrecht to the post of Ontario’s agent-general in New York City. The position earns $185,000 plus expenses. Albrecht is a friend of Dean French’s son, a lacrosse buddy.
Fortunately the appointment has already been rescinded, but the take away from this bit of drama is that the new cabinet approved it uncritically.
Doug Ford is still Doug Ford. He’s hapless, inexperienced, and lacks understanding of the workings of government.
He has no interest in deep briefings. He likes to get into scrappy political fights and is quick to U-turn when there is a backlash or to fire people when things don’t go his way.
Ford’s sagging popularity has reached, in short order, a tipping point, recovery from which is extremely unlikely.
Avoiding public events for the next three years for fear of being booed is hardly a manifestation of “governing for the people”.
It’s time for Ford to consider a graceful resignation, even though grace might be hard to muster.
July 16th, 2019 · Comments Off on FORUM: Top takeaways for our community from Ontario’s 2019 budget (Summer 2019)
Education, health care, social services, legal aid, all on chopping block
By Jessica Bell, MPP (University—Rosedale)
On April 11, the Ford government presented their first budget called “Ontario’s Plan to Protect What Matters Most”. It’s an ironic title, considering how many cuts to key services are included. Below is a brief round-up of some of the biggest announcements and their impact on our community.
One of the biggest cuts in the budget is for Community and Social Services, which will lose a billion dollars over the next four years
Post-secondary education
The budget made it clear that the Conservatives are taking a stand against colleges and universities. The government has announced that funding for post-secondary educations will decline by $400 million, with a significant impact on student affordability. In addition, universities and colleges will now have their funding tied to “performance agreements”, requiring institutions to reach targets set by the government in order to access as much as 60 per cent of funding. Details on the targets and metrics that will be used have not been provided.
Thousands of students, faculty, administrators, and others that work and study at the University of Toronto live in University-Rosedale. I will continue to push for more, not less, funding for post-secondary institutions.
Education
The budget confirmed that, under Premier Ford, education funding for kindergarten to grade 12 will not keep pace with inflation. We’ve already seen what that means: larger classes, fewer available courses and teacher layoffs. School boards are warning that this level of funding will mean class sizes of up to 46 students, fewer courses, and thousands of fired teachers.
University-Rosedale is home to great public schools. Students at these schools have been standing up for their right to a quality education. I recently received a letter signed by hundreds of students at Rosedale Heights School of the Arts, asking me to stand up to Ford’s education cuts. I will continue to advocate for them and for all students in University-Rosedale.
Health care
Like education, the annual funding allocated for health care in the budget doesn’t keep pace with inflation. That means that as our population ages and needs go up, funding will be less in real terms than it is today. Hospitals have already warned that this level of funding will mean cuts to services and layoffs of frontline staff.
University-Rosedale is home to some of the best hospitals and health care facilities in Canada. I am deeply concerned about Premier Ford’s clear cut in health care spending, as well as the decision to slash $200 million by reducing the number of public health units to just 10, down from 35. Public health units help prevent diseases and injury, and this decrease has generated concern from experts including Ontario’s former chief medical officer of health.
Social services and legal aid
One of the biggest cuts in the budget is for Community and Social Services, which will lose a billion dollars over the next four years. The Conservatives have refused to tell us how this will impact people with disabilities and other vulnerable citizens. One thing we do know is that the Conservatives have cut legal aid funding by 30 per cent, including eliminating funding for legal services for immigrants and refugees.
In our community we have a range of legal clinics that help low-income people access essential legal services. Denying legal representation and advice to some of our most vulnerable residents is wrong. I support the petition put forward by the Refugee Lawyers Association of Ontario to reverse these harmful cuts, and will continue to push for a fair and accountable justice system where everyone’s rights are met.
Jessica Bell is Member of Provinical Parliament for University-Rosedale.
