Gleaner

Serving Toronto's most liveable community with the Annex Gleaner

FORUM: Many achievements despite the pandemic (Jan. 2022)

February 4th, 2022 · Comments Off on FORUM: Many achievements despite the pandemic (Jan. 2022)

Moving into 2022, and as hard as things are right now, I am incredibly grateful to represent a community that is full of people who work so hard to take care of their families, their neighbours, and everyone in our city. As I write this, I know that many of you are facing the stress of another hard winter season with rising COVID-19 cases and frequently changing plans when we were all really looking forward to time in the New Year with loved ones after another long year.

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Tags: Annex · Columns · Opinion

FORUM: Tackling the climate crisis at a city level (Dec. 2021)

December 17th, 2021 · Comments Off on FORUM: Tackling the climate crisis at a city level (Dec. 2021)

All levels of government must be engaged in a solution By Mike Layton Years ago, I moved a motion asking the city to begin its work to tackle climate change and the request for this report became TransformTO. The first report was received in 2016 with regular report-backs scheduled in the years ahead, but never […]

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Tags: Annex · Opinion

NEWS: City fails to move forward as Avenue Road plans evolve (Fall 2021)

November 11th, 2021 · Comments Off on NEWS: City fails to move forward as Avenue Road plans evolve (Fall 2021)

After the city added a temporary bike lane on Bloor Street this year, Brown & Storey added a bi-directional bike lane to its plans for the east side of Avenue Road. This new design would consist of two 1.5-metre bike lanes separated from pedestrians by trees and lighting.

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Tags: Annex · News

CHATTER: Access to winterized washrooms set to improve (Fall 2021)

November 11th, 2021 · Comments Off on CHATTER: Access to winterized washrooms set to improve (Fall 2021)

To build and improve upon this project, the city’s parks department wants to make five more washrooms operational and increase the number of park pathways and trails that get ploughed following a snowfall. High traffic areas and pathways that link parks and community centres to major roadways and TTC stations will be prioritized by this plan.

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Tags: Annex · News

FORUM: Status quo streets unsustainable (Fall 2021)

November 11th, 2021 · Comments Off on FORUM: Status quo streets unsustainable (Fall 2021)

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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Tags: Annex · Opinion

FORUM: Looking to the feds to save cities (Aug. 2021)

September 8th, 2021 · Comments Off on FORUM: Looking to the feds to save cities (Aug. 2021)

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

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Tags: Annex · Opinion

FORUM: Excessive force will not solve a housing crisis (July 2021)

August 16th, 2021 · Comments Off on FORUM: Excessive force will not solve a housing crisis (July 2021)

The violence and tactics on display by the City of Toronto in Trinity Bellwoods Park, Alexandra Park and Lamport Park this month is a deeply troubling use of resources and force. The number of armed police present to forcefully remove handfuls of residents experiencing homelessness is disgraceful. idn’t have to be this way and we cannot police our way out of poverty.

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Tags: Annex · Opinion

NEWS: PARA AGM talks revitalization (June 2021)

July 15th, 2021 · Comments Off on NEWS: PARA AGM talks revitalization (June 2021)

After months of lockdowns, revitalization was at the top of the agenda for the Palmerston Area Residents Association’s (PARA) annual general meeting on June 2. A sustainable and green neighbourhood was second on the agenda for the Association whose boundaries are Bloor, Bathurst, College and Grace.

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Tags: Annex · News

CHATTER: Annex Residents’ Association holds virtual AGM (June 2021)

July 15th, 2021 · Comments Off on CHATTER: Annex Residents’ Association holds virtual AGM (June 2021)

Over 40 people were in virtual attendance at the Annex Residents’ Association’s (ARA) Annual General Meeting on April 22. Because of the pandemic, it was the first AGM in two years, but participation was up thanks to Zoom.

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Tags: Annex · News

FORUM: It’s time to walk the walk (June 2021)

July 15th, 2021 · Comments Off on FORUM: It’s time to walk the walk (June 2021)

The discovery of several burial sites of Indigenous children killed in residential schools across Canada must move our country and our governments beyond words of condolences and toward actions that advance truth, reconciliation, and justice. As flags are lowered across the country, and vigils and moments of silence are observed, we need to recognize that these symbolic measures are important, but not nearly enough.

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Tags: Annex · Opinion

FORUM: Exclusionary planning must stop (May 2021)

June 15th, 2021 · Comments Off on FORUM: Exclusionary planning must stop (May 2021)

With the power that the current provincial government gives to developers, our ability to require that new developments include community benefits, such as affordable housing, is extremely limited. But now is the moment to change that.

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Tags: Annex · Opinion

FOCUS: New park imbued with nostalgia (Apr. 2021)

May 12th, 2021 · Comments Off on FOCUS: New park imbued with nostalgia (Apr. 2021)

The City of Toronto announced the latest addition to the Westbank development at the corner of Bloor and Bathurst this month – a park to accompany the mixed-use residential development.

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Tags: Annex · News