In 2009 the Annex Residents Association (ARA) took on the impressive task of cataloging over 10,000 trees in the Annex neighbourhood. A team of forestry students and numerous volunteers worked over the course of four summers logging the trees’ species, age, varieties and their ownership. Now, 12 years later, they’re looking to do it all over again.

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SEE MORE BY BRETT LAMB: EDITORIAL CARTOON Fourth wave funnies! (Aug. 2021) EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice (Jul. 2021) EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice (Apr. 2021) EDITORIAL CARTOON: Pandemic Response (Mar. 2021) EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice (Feb. 2021) EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice (Jan. 2021) EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice! (Dec. 2020) EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice (Nov. 2020) EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice (Oct. 2020) EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice (Aug. 2020) EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice (July 2020) EDITORIAL CARTOON: How Nice (Apr. […]

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Our premier likes to talk about how he’s the one looking out for the “little guy,” but this pandemic has proved that to be patently false as restaurants have been forced to wait at least two weeks before their pandemic restrictions were lifted while concert halls, sports venues, big box stores and theatres were allowed to open to 100 per cent capacity.

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Government must be proactive to protect cyclists, pedestrians  By Mike Layton As kids are finally settled into a new school year, road safety continues to be a priority for me. On one of my rides home this past month, I crossed paths with someone not older than 12 using the bike lane on Bloor Street […]

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Canada’s 44th election is over. The election cost $660 million, and delivered the same results as before, give or take a few seats. The Liberals got the minority they deserved.

Despite the status quo outcome, the political moment has changed. Here’s what I’m noticing.

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In an interview with the Gleaner, Bell said the pandemic has been challenging especially when the community engagement work that a politician would typically do like in-person events, door-to-door canvassing, and having people to testify at Queen’s Park, has been banned for a year-and-a-half.

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Gleaner asks University-Rosedale hopefuls five key questions

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This federal election, the focus for cities must be on social justice and the recovery. 

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With the provincial election coming fast and COVID in resurgence, this fall session at Queen’s Park will be impactful. Here are five issues to follow.

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The Annex is facing intense pressure, with 25 major development projects currently underway. Can the neighbourhood grow without losing its unique character? Heritage consultants will be defining that character over the next seven months as they scour the neighbourhood to document 1,007 properties within the boundaries of Dupont, Bloor, Bedford and Bathurst streets.  The goal is for the city to declare the “West Annex”—defined as the area west of Bedford— a Heritage Conservation District (HCD) so that future development takes heritage into consideration.

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The improving pandemic situation has led to some of the parks that were locked up last year to be set free again. Huron Washington Parkette and Margaret Fairley Park have been restored to their former glory. But, neglect and lack of resources have persisted in others like Sally Bird Park and Euclid Avenue Parkette.

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Ontario parents have been eagerly awaiting the “robust” plan for a safe re-entry back to classrooms Premier Doug Ford promised in June. The past year has been brutal for both the education and mental health of Ontario students, as they have spent more time out of classroom than young people in any other part of the country. However, the 26 page document outlining how the government intends to keep student’s safe does them no favours: it late (coming out less than a month before the start of school) and is little more than a carbon copy of last year’s failed plan.

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