May 28th, 2019 · Comments Off on NEWS: Cities trump space (May 2019)
U of T School of Cities build to replace McLaughlin Planetarium
Architects’ rendering of the new U of T building to be erected on the site of the Planetarium. COURTESY DILLER SCOFIDIO + RENFRO
By Ahmed Hagar
The University of Toronto announced a new building project on 90 Queen’s Park Crescent to be named the Centre for Cities and Civilizations. The nine-storey building will provide a space for several departments in the Faculty of Arts and Science, such as the Near and Middle East Civilizations, the Faculty of Music, and the Faculty of Law. It will also be the permanent home for the School of Cities.
The building will have a music hall with a large window that presents the city skyline as a backdrop. There will also be a 400-seat auditorium on the next floor above with a similar view.
U of T chief of planning, design, and development Gilbert Delgado says that the project was created out of a desire to advance the thinking about how cities are made.
“With all new university projects, we have instructed our architects to create buildings are that are very open on the ground floor,” he said.
The McLaughlin Planetarium is currently located at 90 Queen’s Park Crescent, but has been closed since 1995. The university bought the planetarium from the ROM in 2009. Despite a popular petition to preserve the building as historic architecture, the university plans to demolish it. In November, U of T announced plans to build a new planetarium at 50 St. George St.
Delgado says that the university is currently in discussions with the ROM about having a floor in the building.
The building is designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, a New York architecture firm known for designing New York’s iconic High Line. The studio is also collaborating with the Toronto firm Architects Alliance, who worked on two other U of T buildings: the Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research and the Woodsworth College Residence. As well ERA Architects is working on the project as heritage consultants.
Delgado says that the project aims to preserve the historic Falconer Hall, a building for the Faculty of Law which dates back to 1901.
“The city has identified this building as a particularly valuable heritage resource,” says Delgado. “Its design responds to that in a very constructive and innovative way.”
Councillor Mike Layton says that he has communicated with Councillor Joe Cressy’s office in the past and has been in contact with U of T recently about their project.
“I have also hosted a meeting about the project with representatives of the neighbouring residents’ associations, as well as the assigned City Planners in Community Planning and Heritage Preservation Services to discuss the application and any concerns they have,” he said.
The building will have public spaces for the community. Layton says that he is “looking forward to working with all parties” to ensure that the project “meets the needs of the community”.
“On every project, I look to secure community benefits, and while it is still too early in the process to determine specific benefits,” he said, “I am looking forward to the discussions with the community to determine what is best.”
While Delgado says there is no completion date set, the Diller Scofidio + Renfro website states that groundbreaking for the project will start in 2020.
Comments Off on NEWS: Cities trump space (May 2019)Tags:Annex · News
May 28th, 2019 · Comments Off on NEWS: Wychwood Library aims to attract (May 2019)
Demolition of 1970s element makes way for modern addition
Architects’ rendering of what will be the main floor “Urban Living Room” in the new addition to Wychwood Library on Bathurst Street. COURTESY SHOALTS AND ZABACK ARCHITECTS
By Nabahat Hussain
When the Wychwood Public Library reopens its doors in 2020, the community will find a dramatic shift to the modern in this heritage building. The 1978 addition to the library has been demolished and will be replaced by a 9,000-square-foot space designed by Shoalts and Zaback Architects. Project architect Eric Riddel says the decision to demolish was not taken lightly, but the design intends to make library-goers feel at home while attracting new people to the building.
The library is almost identical to the Beaches and Hyde Park branches created in the same decade. Between 1907 and 1916, the Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie gave Toronto Public Libraries $487,500 to build ten new libraries. The libraries in the Beaches and Hyde Park are also Carnegie libraries and are nearly identical to the Wychwood branch.
The Wychwood Library’s standout piece is the front door on Bathurst Street, which will be reopened, restored, and made fully accessible.
Architects’ rendering of the 2nd floor lounge and terrace of the new addition. COURTESY SHOALTS AND ZABACK ARCHITECTS
“The 19th century public library was thought of as a refuge, a place away from the hustle and noise of daily life,” says Riddel. “Today libraries are more lively with more activities and community involvement. Wychwood will provide the values of the old and the new; the best of both worlds.”
In terms of environmental sustainability, there will be a green roof on the new addition to help conserve energy.
“The extra wing was built in the 1970s, but it doesn’t really fit into today’s accessibility standards,” says Sarah Bradley, library services manager. “There wasn’t any way to preserve it and have our goals met, which are to see an accessible, flexible, welcoming, open space.”
The Toronto Public Library system will see more renovations and expansions in branches across the city in order to meet their tagline: Activate something great. Bradley says the TPL’s goal is to be “More visible, more welcoming, more personal, and more engaging.”
The expansion and renovation will include many new services including a “kids-stop,” which will be a fun and interactive area for kids. There will be books as well as hands-on activities. Senior citizens will be welcomed with a new section devoted to them, which will include a dedicated quiet area for relaxation.
In the public consultations that took place prior to the library’s new design being finalized, community members expressed their wish for more space and some place to escape to find peace and quiet. Bradley says the new space will aim to meet the needs of the community by providing an exceptional customer experience, innovation, while remaining close to the library’s roots.
In terms of technology, people will be able print items from their phone through the print and scanning system in 2020. Wychwood Library hopes to make more robotics and coding equipment available to children and teens by adding on to their pop-up learning program that includes a 3-D printer. More e-books and e-audio books will be made available, as well as more online learning opportunities.
Davenport Library has offered extended hours on Mondays from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. to accommodate Wychwood Library patrons. Books cannot be dropped off during the library’s closure. In terms of picking up holds, people can go online and change their pickup location to any other Toronto Public Library; Deer Park, Davenport, and Oakwood libraries are nearby alternatives. For bedridden or physically disadvantaged community members, the Home Library Service is available to deliver books.
May 28th, 2019 · Comments Off on NEWS: Creating a friendlier Dupont (May 2019)
Creation of city square and Dupont greening to begin this summer
Designers’ rendering of the future square on Huron and Dupont streets. COURTESY OF PLANT ARCHITECT INC.
By Nabahat Hussain
Construction on a proposed square at the intersection of Huron and Dupont streets is expected to start late this summer. The development is part of the local business improvement association’s Streetscape Master Plan. The improvements will include benches, sidewalks, trees, perennial planting, and identity signage, in addition to preserving the four existing trees on either side of the street.
“It will be a little resting island in what is otherwise a very busy, bustling street. Dupont is going through a lot of changes, I am hopeful that this will make it more hospitable,”
—Councillor Mike Layton, Ward 11 (University-Rosedale)
The Dupont-by-the-Castle BIA includes Dupont Street from Avenue Road to the east and Bathurst Street to the west. Huron Street meets Dupont around the centre of the business improvement area, making it a new focal point for the area. Dupont-by-the-Castle spokesperson Stephen Boujikian says the BIA’s goal is “to have a safe, clean presentable place that will attract people”. They also hope to liven up the area, and see the project as the beginning phase of a 30-year development spree.
Pedestrian safety will also be prioritized by encouraging slower car turns. Huron Street will be narrowed down north of Dupont and the crossing distance will shortened.
In terms of making the look of the area more appealing, a mural will be painted on the north-east corner of the square. There will also be plantings on both sides to improve the green-scape of the area and make it more welcoming. The Annex Residents’ Association welcomed the idea, said chair David Harrison. “Any landscaping improvement to this area is welcome. This design should add positively to the streetscape.”
BIA coordinator Emilia Filippelli-Ochana says the history of the area was taken into great consideration while coming up with the plan.
“In order to maintain the original heritage of the area, the BIA has installed custom street name signs at Davenport Road and Spadina Road which have Indigenous names along with English names on each,” she says. “Wendat Square was proposed as a name for the development, but this is yet to be officially chosen. The Wendat tribe was the first to settle in the Dupont and Davenport area, most settlers know them as the Huron. This idea for the name was brought up at the public open house hosted by the BIA on March 20.”
The project will cost $300,000 and is being funded by the City of Toronto, the Dupont-by-the-Castle BIA, and two city councillors. The former councillor for the areas riding, Joe Cressy, pledged $50,000 in Section 37 money for the project which is being carried through by Mike Layton. Section 37 entails money for community development from the city as long as there is an Official Plan for the project.
The Section 37 money results from contributions paid by the developer of 740 Dupont Street, a mid-rise development.
“In this case the amount was secured for streetscape improvements. I don’t think there’s a better example of a streetscape improvement than taking a derelict, dead-end side of a street and turning it into something beautiful,” says Layton. “It will be a little resting island in what is otherwise a very busy, bustling street. Dupont is going through a lot of changes, I am hopeful that this will make it more hospitable.”
May 28th, 2019 · Comments Off on CHATTER: Community Builder of the Year: Neil Jain (May 2019)
The Annex Residents’ Association (ARA) presented Neil Jain with the Community Builder of the Year award during their meeting on April 25. “The award recognizes a good neighbour in the Annex community who has contributed in the areas of social justice, heritage, and environment,” according to the vice chair of the association, Albert Koehl.
This year’s winner was commemorated for his efforts to preserve a house deemed a heritage building according to the Ontario Heritage Act. Previous winners of the award were Chris Wright for working to help Syrian refugees and Peter Steen for making and maintaining an ice rink at Jean Sibelius Square. Koehl commented, “We are recognizing Neil for his determination in exhorting the city to take action on the deteriorating condition of properties at 6-8 Walmer Rd.” Jain resides beside 6 Walmer Road, which is how it caught his attention. The house was built in 1896 and was declared a heritage property in 2013.
The issue brought to the city’s attention was that the building was deteriorating with a hole in the roof. Some issues people in the neighbourhood had were that litter on the lawn was attracting pests and trespassing was taking place. There was graffiti on the building, and local residents expressed concerns that it could be used for drug dealing.
More than three hundred requests were directed at the city to preserve this property. “Over the years Neil has ensured that trash gets picked up to prevent vermin, graffiti gets cleaned up, and illegal entry is prevented,” said Koehl. Though Jain was out of town during the meeting, his parents accepted the award on his behalf. “I’m thrilled to have won the Community Builder of the Year award. It’s great recognition for a lot of work that a number of folks have done on this issue,” says Jain; “though the award is valuable, it would be more rewarding to see further action taken by the city.”
Jain stated, “The city should use its enforcement powers more vigorously to ensure owners comply with heritage legislation, meaningfully showcase heritage properties, and not let them deteriorate.”
May 28th, 2019 · Comments Off on CHATTER: St. Stephen’s safe-injection site loses provincial funding (May 2019
Funding cuts announced by the province in April will likely mean safe-injection sites such as St. Stephen’s (pictured above) may shutter. NABAHAT HUSSAIN/GLEANER NEWS
On April 1, the provincial government, led by Premier Doug Ford, announced they would keep funding fifteen overdose prevention sites in the province, while cutting funding for three. St. Stephen’s Community House in Kensington Market located on Augusta Avenue is one of the two sites at risk of closure in Toronto.
The sites are run with the permission of Health Canada but are not sustainable without funding. Executive director Bill Sinclair says St. Stephen’s will keep running six days a week until mid-July thanks to $65,000 in donations.
On April 18, the Toronto Overdose Prevention Society donated $20,000 to St. Stephen’s Community House and Street Health Community Nursing located on Dundas Street. However, Sinclair says St. Stephen’s will need $175,000 to keep running until next May.
Kensington Market residents gathered at a protest in front of the establishment on April 5 and many of them wrote in support of St. Stephen’s. “St. Stephen’s has made a positive impact on our community,” says Adam Clare, board member of the Kensington Market Action Committee. “We need this site in our community and we welcome it.”
Toronto medical officer of health Dr. Eileen de Villa says that too many people are dying of preventable deaths related to overdose. “The reality is that we need more of these evidence-based life-saving services, not fewer.” De Villa conducted a TED talk earlier this year, speaking about the opioid crisis.
Sinclair claimed St. Stephen’s staff were able to save 10 lives from overdose last year. He puts emphasis on a drug called Naloxone which can be used to save a person from an overdose death. People can come to St. Stephen’s to learn how to use it and are able buy it from any pharmacy. “We’re recommending that work places, public places, and schools all have it, everyone has the ability to prevent overdoses,” he says. Provincial minister of health spokesperson Hayley Chazan refused to comment on concerns about lives that might be lost due to the closure of overdose prevention sites.
St. Stephen’s has re-submitted their application for funding to the province. To support St. Stephen’s Community House, donations are welcome at www.sschto.ca.
May 28th, 2019 · Comments Off on EDITORIAL: Ford’s angry budget (May 2019)
The most recent Ontario budget targets Toronto for over $177 million in annual provincial funding cuts. The targeted cuts are to Toronto’s programs in healthcare, child care, legal aid, tourism, and transit. In exchange, Premier Ford’s province-wide base gets a few shiny trinkets, and as a whole the budget still fails to resemble the kind of plan that could lead our province in the direction of fiscal balance.
Let’s consider a few numbers:
$4.9 billion – that’s how much more the province of Ontario will spend this year, than it has ever spent before. Last year, the Wynne government spent $158.5 billion, a record number. This year, the budget will spend even more: $163.5 billion.
40.4 % – That’s the percentage of our current debt to GDP ratio, and that is likely to grow in the coming year and slow economic growth as it does so.
$11.7 billion – that’s the actual size of Ontario’s deficit, according to the budget document. Then again, that’s just a number to be twisted and manipulated by Ford and his cronies. While they were campaigning, they claimed the deficit was $15 billion; now they claim to have reduced it to $11.7 since taking power. Right.
One reason for the increased pressure on the budget is the cancellation of the province’s cap-and-trade plan. This plan had helped lower our carbon emissions and brought in $2 billion in net revenue. That revenue funded green initiatives, like providing incentives to generate electricity from wind and solar to feed back into the grid. As a result of the cancellation, the federal government has imposed a carbon tax. Ford is spending $30 million to fight the feds on this in court. Ford argues that their tax will kill jobs and and push Ontario into a new recession, yet his budget actually predicts increased economic growth and employment with the federal carbon tax in place. Which is it, Mr. Ford?
In a recent report to city council, city manager Chris Murray tallied $177.65 million in provincial cuts to Toronto this year alone. That’s equivalent, in Murray’s estimation, to a 6 per cent residential property tax hike. Is Ford banking on Toronto raising property taxes and then asking him to come to the rescue? Budget impacts include $24 million in a loss of provincial gas tax funding, money intended to offset anticipated TTC day-to-day maintenance expenses. Councillor Joe Cressy (Ward 10, Spadina-Fort York) called this a “vicious cycle by design. The province breaks the TTC by not funding the TTC, then they propose to upload the TTC to fix the system they broke.” Toronto Public Health is facing a $65 million cut. In addition, this will devastate the 200,000 children who rely upon the city’s school nutrition program on a daily basis. Toronto Paramedic Services can look forward to a $3.85 million cut. Children’s services face the largest single cut of $84.8 million.
“If you look through the budget, it mentions booze and gambling 63 times. It mentions climate change 15 times and it mentions poverty zero times,” observed Green Party leader Mike Schreiner. The budget promises corner store availability of beer and wine. To make up for this, the province will give hundreds of millions to the Beer Store, which is owned by a multinational corporation that has an iron-clad contract that allows them (and the LCBO) to virtually corner the beer market. It’s one of the strange trinkets that one might see in a pre-election budget, like the pie-in-the sky vastly expanded subway system, open drinking in city parks, bars open at 9 a.m., on-line gambling, tailgate parties in the parking lot of sports arenas, more speed on 400-series highways, and a circus for the site of Ontario Place.
It’s a budget that makes no fiscal sense, and takes no responsibility for the well-being of … Torontonians. Which, it seems, is the point. Sticking-it to the big city plays well with the base, and for Ford, it probably feels good too. The Ontario budget for 2019 is an ode to ugly politics: it’s not lean, just mean.
Since the province decided to cut Council in half, there has been a clear trend of decision making that aims to marginalize the City of Toronto and its residents’ voices on many critical issues. The trend continued this month as the province revealed details of their plan to try and steal our subway, and made life-and-death decisions about addiction treatment.
The announcement that the province will cut funding to two of Toronto’s overdose prevention sites, Street Health at Dundas and Sherbourne streets and St. Stephen’s Community House in Kensington Market, where 60% of their clients are women, was widely condemned by health professionals. These sites have saved hundreds of lives in Toronto. They are now at risk of closing completely as they require funding to continue operations.
Toronto Public Health has made it clear that the opioid crisis is far from over. Last month we saw a record 474 calls to Toronto Paramedic Services from overdose cases and a surge in overdose deaths. This is the second highest month on record since Toronto Public Health first began reporting on paramedics’ data in August 2017. The majority of these calls and cases continue to come from Toronto’s downtown core, but the issue is widespread.
The City’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, frontline workers, and those who use harm reduction services as a life line are all in agreement: we are in a dire situation that needs further attention and support, not cuts.
Overdose is the leading cause of death for young people in our province and supervised consumption sites are a proven life-saving healthcare tool. People on the frontlines of harm reduction models of service have been developing networks of support and programming based on the realities of addiction in Toronto for over 30 years. These sites are the direct evolution of Public Health-sanctioned and evidence-based programming.
Toronto Public Health needs to be trusted to do their job. Doctors should determine treatment, not politicians. Doug Ford and the Ministry of Health are turning a blind eye to the evidence and life experience of those who are closest to the issue.
The chief medical officer of health was unequivocal in stating that the closure of these sites will absolutely lead to more deaths and take us further from the solution to the opioid epidemic that our city needs.
This is the defining health crisis of our time and the mayor, councillors, and the city’s chief medical officer of health have all condemned the decision to cut funding. I will continue to advocate for its restoration and look for ways to maintain funding for these life-saving services.
While dealing with this public health emergency, we are also facing the threat of losing control of our transit planning and subways. I recently had the opportunity to canvass Christie Station and heard from many residents concerned about rising fares, with no tangible service increases.
The proposal by Doug Ford to steal our subway has zero evidence, zero consultation, zero funding, and therefore no plan. It is a core responsibility of a major city to plan its transit routes and to do that our ownership must be maintained. This intrusion into the planning of our transit routes will have serious economic and transportation impacts, and a negative impact on the future of transit riders across the city.
I passed a motion at the March city council meeting requesting the public disclosure of a value-for-money assessment for all transit projects that are currently under discussion. This information will provide all residents of Toronto with the real cost of the projects the province plans to prioritize and will help guide our decision making on this integral policy matter.
The decisions of the provincial government this past week are setting us on a dangerous course toward creating a Toronto that will lead to a decreased quality of life for many. We cannot stand for this. I will fight alongside you to ensure that the future of our city is one where we are prioritizing plans and services that meet the needs of all residents.
Mike Layton is city councillor for Ward 11 University-Rosedale.
May 28th, 2019 · Comments Off on FORUM: Taking a stand against Ford’s cuts to education (May 2019)
MPP decries slashing of school budgets province-wide
By Jessica Bell, MPP (University—Rosedale)
Every child in Ontario deserves a quality public school education.
Great public schools have reasonable class sizes so teachers can help every student. Great schools are properly maintained so they are safe and healthy places to work, learn, and play. Great schools have a curriculum that is academically rigorous, encourages critical thinking, and honours diversity. Great schools are those that have support available, including additional teachers, educational assistants, and social workers, to meet the needs of all students.
I’ve spoken to parents, students, and educators and we agree: cutting the budget on the backs of children is wrong
Premier Doug Ford isn’t working to build up our cherished public school system. Instead, he’s tearing it down by slashing the funding and support that our children need to be able to learn.
The Ford government is directing school boards to cut more than $1 billion from Ontario classrooms. Their plan includes raising caps on class sizes starting in Grade 4. The 2019 Ontario budget confirmed that education funding won’t keep up with inflation, much less need. School boards are warning that this will mean class sizes of up to 46 students, with fewer available courses and support for students.
All of this means that up to 10,000 teacher and educator jobs will be cut, leaving students in crowded classrooms where they can’t get the attention they need. Layoffs have already started: this year, surplus notices for high school teachers in Toronto quadrupled.
Adding insult to injury, the Ford Conservatives have slashed $100 million from school repairs. This comes at a time when our chronically underfunded schools need $16 billion in basic repairs. Central Technical School at Harbord and Bathurst, for example, has nearly 30 repairs deemed critically urgent in its backlog – everything from replacing windows to elevator maintenance and roof repair. Many of these are crucial to ensure our children’s safety. Clinton Street Junior Public School, which has a serious Facility Condition Index of 70%, is in urgent need of renewed fire alarm systems. These are investments that cannot be ignored.
The Ford Government has also cancelled therapy and supports for children with autism. Starting April 1, more children with autism will be entering the public school system. Many parents are terrified about their children’s safety and learning. School boards have not been provided with any support, funding, or information from the Ministry of Education to ensure a smooth transition for all.
In the face of all this destruction, we are taking a stand for our education system. Earlier this month, more than 100,000 students from over 700 schools across Ontario organized the largest student protest in Canadian history in response to Doug Ford’s education proposals. I joined students at Harbord Collegiate and Rosedale School of the Arts, and was inspired by the passion, leadership, and commitment of young people in our community who are demanding more educational opportunities.
Only days later, I saw 10,000 people come together at Queen’s Park to rally for high quality public education and against Ford’s callous cuts.
I’ve spoken to parents, students, and educators throughout University—Rosedale, and we agree: cutting the budget on the backs of children is wrong. That’s why I’m glad that Ontario’s NDP supports investing in our children and in their future – not taking opportunities away from them.
I want to hear your thoughts on how Ford’s education cuts will impact you and your family. You can call my Community Office at 416-535-7206 or drop by at 719 Bloor St. W., Unit 103. I also encourage you to sign our petition, which you can download and print, or sign electronically at: https://www.jessicabellmpp.ca/petitions.
Families in our community know what’s at stake. We know that kids deserve more help from their government, not less. That means more access to teachers, more educational opportunities, and more chances to learn and thrive.
Let’s work together and give our children the quality public education they deserve.
Jessica Bell is Member of Provinical Parliament for University-Rosedale.
May 28th, 2019 · Comments Off on ARTS: Culture Corridor adds members (May 2019)
Women’s Art Association and Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library join
The Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library is the newest member of the Bloor Street Cultural Corridor. Among their treasures is this decorative binding from the 1601 book Instructionis sacerdotum libri septem. It is covered with block-printed paper with an elaborate floral design, and is an example of the binding technique known as ‘drawn-on solid’. COURTESY THOMAS FISHER RARE BOOK LIBRARY
By Meribeth Deen
The Bloor Street Culture Corridor offers some of the richest and most diverse cultural opportunities anywhere in Toronto, all within a subway-accessible 1.5 kilometre strip. Each year, more than three million members of the public go to Corridor exhibitions, performances, and events.This spring we are pleased to welcome several new partners to the group.
The Women’s Art Association of Canada (WAAC) is one of these new partners. This not-for-profit has been supporting Canadian artists for more than 130 years by providing scholarships and a haven for writers, musicians, and visual artists. The Mary Dignam Gallery (23 Prince Arthur Ave.) hosts openings, receptions, and member exhibitions. During the month of May, the gallery will display the work of thirteen member photographers who find beauty in obscure places. The show is called Beauty is Where You Find It, and it is a part of the Scotiabank Contact Photography Festival.
Another Corridor newcomer is the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library. The library is the largest repository of publicly accessible rare books and manuscripts in Canada.
On May 21, the library will launch its latest exhibition, Uncovering the Book: An Exhibition in Honour of Greta Golick. Every book tells its story in its making. Books reflect their makers, their readers, and their users. This exhibition will feature the covers or the bindings of books as a reflection of their production and consumption – or, in other words, it will show the material book as witness to its manufacture, use, and survival.
More rare books will be on display at the Toronto Reference Library’s exhibit Retro Futures, which launches May 18. These books, alongside magazines, art work, and ephemera from the Merril Collection of Science Fiction, Speculation and Fantasy, will explore futures that might have been – inspired by the 50th anniversary of NASA’s first successful lunar landing. Guided tours will be available.
If you’ve got a Friday evening open, be sure to head over to the ROM for a Friday Night Live (#FNLROM). In the second half of May, you can enjoy the feature exhibition Treasures of a Desert Kingdom, alongside entertainment by DJ Parthobeatz and the Shiamak Toronto Dance Team. You can also just go to dance, and be inspired by forms of dance from around the world.
On the film front don’t forget about the Reel Abilities Film Festival (May 24 – June 2). This is Canada’s largest film festival showcasing disability and deaf cultures. Film screenings take place at the Al Green Theatre at the Miles Nadal JCC and Innis Town Hall at the University of Toronto. Buy your tickets at reelabilities.org.
May 28th, 2019 · Comments Off on GREENINGS: Plastic ban born of necessity (May 2019)
China done with being the world’s dumping ground
By Terri Chu
The Ontario government has announced it is mulling a ban on single-use plastics. As environmentalists rejoice at the small bone this gas guzzling loving government throws at us, we should all take a moment to thank China for this small miracle from the “red tape cutting” bandits.
Provincial rumblings about a ban on single-use plastics do not represent a sudden ideological shift on behalf of the current government. Premier Ford is still a climate change denier.
For decades China has taken in the world’s trash. Valuable bits, usually metals, are recycled, while less valuable bits are burned. Sometimes they end up in the oceans. However, a year ago China decided it was done with being the world’s dumping ground. The government decided there was enough internal garbage to deal with and shut its doors to recycling. Since then, landfills around the world have been scrambling to deal with the pile-up of plastic that was once shoved onto a boat bound for China. Some are burning it, some are burying it, but all are feeling the pain of suddenly having to confront their waste addiction.
Provincial rumblings about a ban on single-use plastics do not represent a sudden ideological shift on behalf of the current government. Premier Ford is still a climate change denier, and his cronies have not gotten suddenly passionate about clean water. The plastic pile-up is simply too big to manage. A solution is needed, and fast.
We’ve known for two years about this impending problem and have been grappling with its reality for more than a year. And now are we throwing open a “consultation” process.
Since Premier Ford took office, the political process has been moving at the speed of light. We can barely get our heads around the most recent devastation when the next cut hits us. It’s hard to keep up, but on this issue, we’ve got to step up.
We should definitely take advantage of China’s policy on imported waste and tell the Ontario government that yes, we want a ban on single-use plastics. We should tell them that all waste should be dealt with in the jurisdiction where it is produced. We should tell them we support measures like taking away flat municipal garbage collection fees and instead collecting those fees at the till with each cup of coffee sold, every television brought home, and every over-packaged box of individually wrapped candy. All waste collection fees should be line-items at the till so we know what every item costs to dispose of. Every bit of plastic needs to be charged by weight to the consumer so those of us who choose not to drink smelly water from bottles no longer subsidize those who do.
Opportunities like this do not come often. Those who manage waste are seeing their profits soar at the expense of those who produce waste. Normally, the environment is a loser with no dollar value attached. This time it’s different, and we have a chance to remind people that pollution is not, and should not, be free. We either pay for it now or force someone else to pay for it later.
We should be responsible adults and choose to pay for our own trash. Our children will be far better off for it than a handful of tax cuts.
Terri Chu is an engineer committed to practical environmentalism. This column is dedicated to helping the community reduce energy use, and help distinguish environmental truths from myths. Send questions, comments, and ideas for future columns to Terri at terri.chu@whyshouldicare.ca.
May 28th, 2019 · Comments Off on HISTORY: Plaque planned for track star Sam Richardson (May 2019)
CTS track star student attended Berlin Olympics on behalf of Canada
Sam Richardson passes the baton during the men’s 4×100 relay during the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. Like Jesse Owens, who became a friend, Richardson proudly represented his nation while facing the institutionalized racism of Nazi Germany. PHOTO COURTESY CENTRAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL ARCHIVES
By Nabahat Hussain
Alumni of Central Technical School (CTS) are raising funds for a plaque commemorating the late Sam Richardson. The former student came in 5th place in the 4×100 metre relay race alongside his teammates in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. The heritage plaque in his honour will be placed in front of the high school while plans for a new scholarship in Richardson’s name are underway.
Richardson attended Lord Lansdowne, King Edward, and Central Technical schools. At the age of 10, he set his first record, jumping a length of 7 feet 6 inches. As a 13-year-old, he set the Canadian outdoor long jump record of 24 feet 11 inches. That record was not broken until 1965.
As a 15-year-old, Richardson joined Canada’s Olympic team and set off for the Berlin Olympics.
The ruling Nazi party banned German Jews from participating in the games and saw them as an opportunity to promote their propaganda of racial superiority. While black athletes were not banned, their participation in the games was certainly not welcomed. US track and field star Jesse Owens smashed any claims to Aryan racial supremacy by winning four gold medals at the games. He also mentored his young African-Canadian rival, Sam Richardson.
Last February, CTS renamed the street facing the establishment Sam Richardson Way. The Ontario Black History Society supported the event as Richardson’s family, friends, and fans attended the opening on Feb. 15, 2018. Having attended the secondary school in his youth and been a part of the track and field team, Richardson would often go back with his son and practise the sport. Richardson passed away in 1989, but his memory lives on today and his accomplishments are continually celebrated by the Central Technical School Alumni Association.
Fernanda Pisini, a representative from the CTS Alumni Association, says the plaque to be made in Richardson’s honour will cost $3,500.
“We want people to know that the plaque is part of bringing awareness and pride not just at Central Tech but also to the community as a whole, because it’s a big part of Toronto history,” Pisani says. “Also we want to bring awareness to athletes who competed in circumstances that were quite adverse, but who succeeded despite the odds.”
In regard to their plans for a scholarship, she says the school wants to build a legacy for Sam Richardson in order to contribute to the education of future students.
“If we could get a bursary together that would be fantastic, if we could get an on-going endowment or a scholarship that would be even better,” she says. The CTS Alumni Association expressed their belief that Sam Richardson’s legacy deserves some long overdue recognition and praise.
The school aims to have the plaque ready by autumn 2019. Assistance in funding it in the form of donations is welcome. Online donations can be made at www.ctsalumni.ca or by mail in the form of a cheque to the school at 160 Springhurst Ave., Suite 208, Toronto, ON M6K 1C2.
