NNNow News Blog
Monday, August 24, 2009
UPDATE on Breadcrumbs in Stanley Park
Update on the breadcrumbs in Stanley Park / around 15 Stafford: the matter has been investigated an there was no toxic substance found. Thank you to everyone who acted to keep park users informed and safe.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Update from Councillor Pantalone re: Last Council Meeting
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Union Station revitalization
Council endorsed an agreement with a private sector company that, as head lessee, will lease and operate all retail space in Union Station, including in a new lower retail concourse. With federal, provincial and municipal funding, the City will proceed with its plan to revitalize Union Station as a state-of-the-art transportation facility. The name of the successful proponent for head lessee will remain confidential until a lease agreement is signed, likely in the next four to six weeks. Construction work for the revitalization is scheduled to begin next year and be completed in 2015 at a total cost of $640 million. For more information and regular updates, visit http://www.toronto.ca/union_station/.
Appointment of Integrity Commissioner
Council appointed Janet Leiper the City's Integrity Commissioner, effective September 8. The Integrity Commissioner provides advice, complaint resolution and education to Council members (and appointees of most of the City's agencies, boards and commissions) on ethics issues. The role entails advising on the application of the Code of Conduct and various City of Toronto policies and legislation governing ethical behaviour. Please visit www.toronto.ca/integrity.
Social housing action plan
Council endorsed the Housing Opportunities Toronto (HOT) Action Plan 2010-2020 (www.toronto.ca/affordablehousing/hot). HOT proposes new investment over the next 10 years to help people struggling with high housing costs or inadequate accommodation. The Toronto Housing Charter, a component of HOT, states that all residents have the right to equal treatment in housing without discrimination, consistent with the Ontario Human Rights Code.
Future of east Gardiner Expressway
City Council authorized City officials to submit terms of reference to the Ontario government for an anticipated environmental assessment of options for the future of the eastern Gardiner Expressway and Lake Shore Boulevard in that area (east from Jarvis Street). Council directed that a cost-benefit study should be conducted as part of the environmental study. Council also specified that the environmental assessment should address the issue of the railway lands as a barrier to waterfront access. For details, see www.waterfrontoronto.ca/index.
Vision for Toronto's western waterfront
Council approved a 2009 Western Waterfront Master Plan (www.toronto.ca/waterfront/wwmp) which will guide decisions related to improvements to the public realm in the area over the next 20 years. The master plan provides a vision to improve parkland, beaches, trails, roads, bridges and recreational facilities in the western waterfront area between the Humber River and Exhibition Place, including Sunnyside Beach and Marilyn Bell Park. The area's beaches are to be expanded and enhanced, consistent with a vision that sees the lake and beach as the major recreational attractions of the western waterfront.
City-wide recreation service plan
Council approved a set of principles to guide the creation of a city-wide, multi-year Recreation Service Plan. The principles are equitable access, high quality programs and services, inclusion to recognize diversity and encourage participation by all, and capacity building to provide programs and services that benefit all participants and help create a sense of community, belonging and vitality. Development of the plan will help the City take stock of its current services/programs and use the four guiding principles in planning to meet existing and emerging recreational demands. For details, visit www.toronto.ca/parks/rsp.
Incentive for energy efficiency retrofits
Council agreed to establish a Home Energy Efficiency Incentive Program (www.toronto.ca/energy), giving the owners of low-rise residential properties in Toronto financial grants of as much as $1,000 for a selected set of energy efficiency retrofits. The City will take steps to integrate delivery of its program with the ecoENERGY program offered by Natural Resources Canada.
Union Station revitalization
Council endorsed an agreement with a private sector company that, as head lessee, will lease and operate all retail space in Union Station, including in a new lower retail concourse. With federal, provincial and municipal funding, the City will proceed with its plan to revitalize Union Station as a state-of-the-art transportation facility. The name of the successful proponent for head lessee will remain confidential until a lease agreement is signed, likely in the next four to six weeks. Construction work for the revitalization is scheduled to begin next year and be completed in 2015 at a total cost of $640 million. For more information and regular updates, visit http://www.toronto.ca/union_station/.
Appointment of Integrity Commissioner
Council appointed Janet Leiper the City's Integrity Commissioner, effective September 8. The Integrity Commissioner provides advice, complaint resolution and education to Council members (and appointees of most of the City's agencies, boards and commissions) on ethics issues. The role entails advising on the application of the Code of Conduct and various City of Toronto policies and legislation governing ethical behaviour. Please visit www.toronto.ca/integrity.
Social housing action plan
Council endorsed the Housing Opportunities Toronto (HOT) Action Plan 2010-2020 (www.toronto.ca/affordablehousing/hot). HOT proposes new investment over the next 10 years to help people struggling with high housing costs or inadequate accommodation. The Toronto Housing Charter, a component of HOT, states that all residents have the right to equal treatment in housing without discrimination, consistent with the Ontario Human Rights Code.
Future of east Gardiner Expressway
City Council authorized City officials to submit terms of reference to the Ontario government for an anticipated environmental assessment of options for the future of the eastern Gardiner Expressway and Lake Shore Boulevard in that area (east from Jarvis Street). Council directed that a cost-benefit study should be conducted as part of the environmental study. Council also specified that the environmental assessment should address the issue of the railway lands as a barrier to waterfront access. For details, see www.waterfrontoronto.ca/index.
Vision for Toronto's western waterfront
Council approved a 2009 Western Waterfront Master Plan (www.toronto.ca/waterfront/wwmp) which will guide decisions related to improvements to the public realm in the area over the next 20 years. The master plan provides a vision to improve parkland, beaches, trails, roads, bridges and recreational facilities in the western waterfront area between the Humber River and Exhibition Place, including Sunnyside Beach and Marilyn Bell Park. The area's beaches are to be expanded and enhanced, consistent with a vision that sees the lake and beach as the major recreational attractions of the western waterfront.
City-wide recreation service plan
Council approved a set of principles to guide the creation of a city-wide, multi-year Recreation Service Plan. The principles are equitable access, high quality programs and services, inclusion to recognize diversity and encourage participation by all, and capacity building to provide programs and services that benefit all participants and help create a sense of community, belonging and vitality. Development of the plan will help the City take stock of its current services/programs and use the four guiding principles in planning to meet existing and emerging recreational demands. For details, visit www.toronto.ca/parks/rsp.
Incentive for energy efficiency retrofits
Council agreed to establish a Home Energy Efficiency Incentive Program (www.toronto.ca/energy), giving the owners of low-rise residential properties in Toronto financial grants of as much as $1,000 for a selected set of energy efficiency retrofits. The City will take steps to integrate delivery of its program with the ecoENERGY program offered by Natural Resources Canada.
Theatre Performance at Fort York - "Great Voices" - Sept 1-6
Great Voices at Fort York catapults Canadian history into theatre spectacle
Nightly events begin September 1 to September 6
From September 1 through September 6, Festival at the Fort presents Great Voices; a 90 minute site-specific theatrical collage of historical figures, including Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe, Laura Second and Susanna Moodie combined with campfires, songs, fireworks and food animating Toronto where the city began - Fort York.
Written by nationally known playwrights Rick Salutin and Dale Hamilton, Great Voices features performances by Billy Merasty as Tecumseh and Simon Richards as General Brock. Original music was composed by prolific songwriter James Gordon (Frobisher Bay, Mining for Gold) who will be singing some of the songs alongside Fort York’s Honour Guard, and Fife and Drum Corps. Members of the Red Pepper Spectacle Theatre act as larger-than-life puppet guides within this epic Brechtian-style theatre experience produced and directed by Sid Bruyn.
Great Voices begins with the infamous brothers speech by Tecumseh, which brilliantly describes the Native colonial experience. Part of the audience watches and hears a dialogue between Tecumseh and General Brock heralding their alliance, a monologue by Laura Second conveying American troop positions, and a monologue by Dolly Madison surveying the aftermath of the burning of the White House by the British. At the same time, the rest of the audience witnesses a play within a play that mixes stories with historical songs and original songs composed and performed by James Gordon, accompanied by actors and members of the Fort York Honour Guard, and Fife and Drum Corps. These songs and stories will be set around two large campfires while the audience is served portions of Native corn soup and corn bread.
The theatre event moves indoors to some of Fort York's historic brick buildings where citizens will recount their stories of common life in the 19th century. The audience then moves back outdoors to take part in a finale parade and fireworks with the Red Pepper Spectacle Theatre puppets.
Great Voices is the second installment of the Festival at the Fort, produced in association with the Friends of Fort York and Fort York National Historical Site with funding provided by Heritage Canada. In the lead up to the War of 1812 bicentennial in 2012, the Festival at the Fort will present audiences the history of Fort York and Canada in a innovative and theatrical way. Artists and companies confirmed in subsequent years include Videocabaret, Mixed Company and Clay & Paper Theatre.
Great Voices is an Equity Production taking place at the Fort York National Historical Site located at 100 Garrison Road, North East of Exhibition Place and west of Bathurst St. via Fort York Blvd. Great Voices tickets are $20 and are available in advance at TOtix.ca and at the venue the night of each performance. For more information call Access Toronto at 416-338-0338 or visit www.festivalatthefort.ca
Media contact:
Shane Gerard, Senior Promotions & Communications Coordinator, SDF&A Communications Unit, 416-397-5711, sgerard@toronto.ca
Sid Bruyn, Great Voices Artistic Director and Producer, 416-530 4152, sbruyn@pathcom.net
Nightly events begin September 1 to September 6
From September 1 through September 6, Festival at the Fort presents Great Voices; a 90 minute site-specific theatrical collage of historical figures, including Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe, Laura Second and Susanna Moodie combined with campfires, songs, fireworks and food animating Toronto where the city began - Fort York.
Written by nationally known playwrights Rick Salutin and Dale Hamilton, Great Voices features performances by Billy Merasty as Tecumseh and Simon Richards as General Brock. Original music was composed by prolific songwriter James Gordon (Frobisher Bay, Mining for Gold) who will be singing some of the songs alongside Fort York’s Honour Guard, and Fife and Drum Corps. Members of the Red Pepper Spectacle Theatre act as larger-than-life puppet guides within this epic Brechtian-style theatre experience produced and directed by Sid Bruyn.
Great Voices begins with the infamous brothers speech by Tecumseh, which brilliantly describes the Native colonial experience. Part of the audience watches and hears a dialogue between Tecumseh and General Brock heralding their alliance, a monologue by Laura Second conveying American troop positions, and a monologue by Dolly Madison surveying the aftermath of the burning of the White House by the British. At the same time, the rest of the audience witnesses a play within a play that mixes stories with historical songs and original songs composed and performed by James Gordon, accompanied by actors and members of the Fort York Honour Guard, and Fife and Drum Corps. These songs and stories will be set around two large campfires while the audience is served portions of Native corn soup and corn bread.
The theatre event moves indoors to some of Fort York's historic brick buildings where citizens will recount their stories of common life in the 19th century. The audience then moves back outdoors to take part in a finale parade and fireworks with the Red Pepper Spectacle Theatre puppets.
Great Voices is the second installment of the Festival at the Fort, produced in association with the Friends of Fort York and Fort York National Historical Site with funding provided by Heritage Canada. In the lead up to the War of 1812 bicentennial in 2012, the Festival at the Fort will present audiences the history of Fort York and Canada in a innovative and theatrical way. Artists and companies confirmed in subsequent years include Videocabaret, Mixed Company and Clay & Paper Theatre.
Great Voices is an Equity Production taking place at the Fort York National Historical Site located at 100 Garrison Road, North East of Exhibition Place and west of Bathurst St. via Fort York Blvd. Great Voices tickets are $20 and are available in advance at TOtix.ca and at the venue the night of each performance. For more information call Access Toronto at 416-338-0338 or visit www.festivalatthefort.ca
Media contact:
Shane Gerard, Senior Promotions & Communications Coordinator, SDF&A Communications Unit, 416-397-5711, sgerard@toronto.ca
Sid Bruyn, Great Voices Artistic Director and Producer, 416-530 4152, sbruyn@pathcom.net
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Improvements to South Stanley Park - Public Meeting Sept 2
Improvements to South Stanley Park - Public Meeting
Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone and City of Toronto representatives will present a draft plan and implementation strategy for the improvement of South Stanley Park located at 845 King Street West between Walnut Avenue and Stanley Terrace.
Members of the comminity are invited to attend and provide comments on the proposed concept plan.
Date: Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Time: 6 – 8 p.m.
Location: 15 Stafford Street, Community Room.
For more information please contact:
Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone 416-392-4108
Barbara Carou, Parks Planner 416-392-8157
bcarou@toronto.ca
Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone and City of Toronto representatives will present a draft plan and implementation strategy for the improvement of South Stanley Park located at 845 King Street West between Walnut Avenue and Stanley Terrace.
Members of the comminity are invited to attend and provide comments on the proposed concept plan.
Date: Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Time: 6 – 8 p.m.
Location: 15 Stafford Street, Community Room.
For more information please contact:
Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone 416-392-4108
Barbara Carou, Parks Planner 416-392-8157
bcarou@toronto.ca
Thursday, May 28, 2009
A Victory on Strachan? And New Metrolinx Meeting Date
This week, Metrolinx and the city came to a compromise on the Strachan Avenue Overpass (further details below). We're very encouraged by this development, but still determined to support the campaigns working to make sure that any solution is the right one for our community.
Hoping for further details / images / engineering drawings for the new bridge, and Metrolinx has announced a new community consultation that all residents should attend:
Metrolinx’s Open House – unveiling the new proposal for Strachan
Historic Fort York - 100 Garrison Road
Tuesday June 16th
3-8pm
More details and images:
The existing roadway looking east on Douro / Wellington towards Strachan.
City mockup of the new compromise design. Note the roadway height change as indicated by the stop sign.
See more details and a chart of the various options presented here. See the original email from Joe's office and the letter from Rosario's office on this new plan.
Hoping for further details / images / engineering drawings for the new bridge, and Metrolinx has announced a new community consultation that all residents should attend:
Metrolinx’s Open House – unveiling the new proposal for Strachan
Historic Fort York - 100 Garrison Road
Tuesday June 16th
3-8pm
More details and images:
The existing roadway looking east on Douro / Wellington towards Strachan.
City mockup of the new compromise design. Note the roadway height change as indicated by the stop sign.
See more details and a chart of the various options presented here. See the original email from Joe's office and the letter from Rosario's office on this new plan.
Feral Cat Meeting
On Monday, June 15th (7-9 pm) at the Community Centre (700 Wellington Street West) Feral Toronto will be holding a gathering of feral cat caregivers and cat lovers to look at ways individuals and communities can come together to deal with the booming number of homeless outdoor cats in Toronto.
Topics include Feline Sex in the City (overpopulation) and a how-to on organized feral trapping.
Connect with fellow caregivers, and learn about how you can help.
Speakers include: Deborah Chalmers of the Toronto Feral Cat Project and Nataysha Sherbot, Toronto Cat Rescue Volunteer.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
deborah@feraltoronto.com
Topics include Feline Sex in the City (overpopulation) and a how-to on organized feral trapping.
Connect with fellow caregivers, and learn about how you can help.
Speakers include: Deborah Chalmers of the Toronto Feral Cat Project and Nataysha Sherbot, Toronto Cat Rescue Volunteer.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
deborah@feraltoronto.com
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Update on Parc Development
The Parc Developers have re-submitted their plans, and have made substantial changes. The height is now closer to 15 Stafford (the existing building alongside the park), there are stepbacks, visitor parking, access to the park from inside the building, internal shared space, the shadow impacts are greatly reduced… it’s not perfect, but it’s *much* better.
(Sorry for the giant gap below - bug with the blogging software).
The Steering Committee has reviewed the proposal, and is inclined to support the new design - and we want to hear from you.
(Sorry for the giant gap below - bug with the blogging software).
Current Zoning | 15 Stafford | Old PARC | New PARC | |
Units | - | 142 | 103 | 104 |
Height | 18 meters | 26 metres | 43 metres | 32.55 metres |
Stepbacks | - | 2, starting at ~20 | none | 2, starting at |
Setback | - | ~ 9 metres | ~4 metres | 4.3 metres |
Visitor Parking | 0.12 space per unit | 20 spaces | none | 7 spaces |
Resident Parking | number varies on | 141 spaces | 53 spaces | 50 spaces |
Common Area? | - | yes | no | yes |
Common Access to Park? | - | yes | no | yes |
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