Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Great Toronto Star Article City councillors form their own committees, task forces — without Rob Ford

[caption id="attachment_7812" align="aligncenter" width="475" caption="snap from the paper - great reporting by the star on this issue"][/caption]

This author hopes our local rep joins them.

 

Full story from Star site - story by David RiderUrban Affairs Bureau Chief

Mayor Rob Ford’s tight but apparently slipping grip on the city agenda faces a new challenge — councillors launching their own committees and task forces.

Mike Layton, an ardent cyclist, is forming an ad hoc body to replace the cycling advisory committee, which is among the city’s 20 citizen groups Ford is trying to scrap.

The committees, offering input on everything from cleaning up the Don River to child care, are in limbo but council recently voted to have Ford take another look at several, and report back by July. It was one of a handful of recent votes the mayor has lost.

Layton (Ward 19, Trinity-Spadina) got the idea from his father, federal NDP Leader Jack Layton, who countered frustration at the loss of the cycling committee by asking: “Why don’t you just start your own?”

Layton plans to be the committee’s voice at council, asking questions of city staff and passing on input on the plan for separated downtown bike lanes to be unveiled by public works chair Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong in June.

The new committee will use the terms of reference of the old one as a starting point, Layton said, adding he still must sort out membership but hopes to have representation from the Toronto Cyclists Union.

Josh Colle (Ward 15, Eglinton Lawrence) also wants to get cyclists on a task force — with drivers, pedestrians, transit users, cabbies and business representatives — to work on solutions to Toronto’s costly and frustrating traffic gridlock.

Colle, one of council’s rookie centrists, hopes to get colleagues’ support to make the committee official, bringing players together to curb the “cyclists versus motorists” dynamic. Ford is fond of talking about “the war on the car.”

“We have all the (players) in silos but really their interests are aligned — getting around more efficiently, more quickly and more safely,” he said.

John Filion recently resigned from the government management committee, angry that Ford’s office ignored his requests to return to the planning and transportation committee that he chaired when David Miller was mayor.

Filion (Ward 23 Willowdale) said he’ll continue participating in planning committee meetings as a visiting councillor, without a vote, but he’s also thinking about taking a page from Layton and starting his own planning committee.

“It could involve a lot of citizens,” he said. “I just might do that.”

 

link to story on Toronto Star site

Monday, May 30, 2011

Massif exterior. Changes to Runnymede industrial building taking place


Over a period of days recently and continuing today the exterior of former furniture manufacturing plant has been undergoing renovations which have included closing in the storefront windows and raising a false bulkhead at the south west corner of the building - probably for a Sign.

Former user of building

Early Canadian Furniture
731 Runnymede Rd, Toronto, ON M6N 3V7
Bus: Runnymede Road at St Clair Avenue West Farside

- iph

@quebec and Dundas St west north side







Lots street concrete breaking by what appear to be city teams, quite exciting as city crews move in with such authority. Unlike private city contractors who put up a lot more barriers

- iph

This blog should now work on most mobile gear

 



Hi everyone

 

The blog should now work on most mobile gear, and adjust its format as required for smartphones and tablets.

 

...so far i have tested it on a iphone 4 and both ipads

 

i will test it on a Android™ phone this evening.

Please use junctioneer.ca to bookmark the site, as I  plan to move the blog to its own hosting plan and off my project domain later this year, after the Junction Arts Festival.

 

 

Friday, May 27, 2011

Mom2Mom Sale Wise Daughters Craft Market

 

TOMORROW MORNING!   SATURDAY

Mom2Mom Sale for those who would like to buy second-hand maternity/kids' clothing and equipment, the $2 admission will be donated IN FULL to the Redwood Women's Shelter in our neighbourhood, this shelter houses moms and their children who are fleeing domestic abuse.

If you do not need to buy anything but would still like to donate your $2, please come on by from 9:30 am to the Wise Daughters Craft Market (address below), and THANK YOU in advance.

The http://www.facebook.com/l/17c816S8-M_1GSlyHeK80KY4-WA/junctionparents.cagroup came up with $250 and our mom-sellers came up with $40, we're hoping to raise much more. I am a mom of 2 little girls, I don't know what's it like to live in a shelter with my kids, I know that Redwood needs money for basic necessities, like food, clothing, art supplies, counsellors, even school supplies for kids who had to leave everything behind... I can't even imagine, let's help them out.



 

 

Thursday, May 26, 2011

This I don 't understand

They are taking down the diamond, yet the parks grounds keepers are grooming the baseball area ground as that have for years of baseball use.

I know about image posting from phone working in it




- iph

Annette fun fair this weekend

[caption id="attachment_7760" align="aligncenter" width="475" caption="Annette PS fun Fair this weekend"][/caption]

Skate park for Vine Ave Parkette?

As talk about a skatepark at the parkette continues...

Here our some snaps of the current Skateboard Park at Coxwell Ave and Lake-shore Blvd east. In addition to the skateboarders you can see a non skate boarding couple walking though.

UPDATE: had commenter go all heated in the posts just after posting this - urging me to talk to the skaters. (read his comments in the comments sections) Although I wonder why he got so mad at my posting of an exciting skate boarding event.  Although seems he didn't have the time to care to go to the event and support these skaters. Note: if you have trouble with a post on thus blog, before yelling at me put your mind to action and feet to ground.



for world class small park skate yards...see

http://www.rhino-ramps.com/2004/uk/index.php?sub=about_outside



 

 

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Heritage Roundtable at City Hall + Doors Open 2011


Councillor Peter Milczyn, in partnership with Heritage Toronto, will be hosting a public heritage roundtable on Monday, June 6th at City Hall.

The roundtable is a follow up to the release of Heritage Voices, Heritage Toronto report on the state of heritage which was drawn from issues brought to our attention by the heritage community. The roundtable will provide further recommendations on how to improve heritage management in Toronto.

The discussion will be open to the public, although presentations will be limited to invited speakers who will represent a broad spectrum of the heritage community.
All are welcome.

Date: Monday, June 6th

Time: 1:30 - 5:30pm

Location: Committee Room 2, City Hall, 100 Queen St. West

To see the attached invitation, please click here.

Please click here for the agenda.

 

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Massive sign (back) at Roncesvalles Ave king St - Queen St intersection





Currently a Howard Johnson Inn this building with an ever changing hotel franchise over the decades, has massive sign on its roof.

Directed for viewing eastbound traffic on the expressway to the south.

When looking at the intersection today I became aware of how much the back helps define deep inner-city character of this part if Parkdale.




Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Vine Ave parkette baseball diamond coming down.. if the crew returns Wednesday the 18th it will be completely gone.

[caption id="attachment_7693" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The west fence wall"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_7694" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="note the chain link fencing material missing from the structure"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_7696" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="a last night for the probably 1972 installed diamond, it replaced 6 Sur Gain grain silos"][/caption]



UPDATED

The blog has  a image of what was planned, although I do not what changes have been made since this image was distributed.

A commenter's stated he had spoken to the  parks personal dismantling the diamond and was told it was to be a new play structure.

So I thought I would post the image

I know the Junction Residents Association held info sessions about this, which I was unable to attend and they may (probably) had more up to date plans. The  City of  Toronto has narrowly defined suppliers and type list for playground structures. This limited choice is probably and risk management  driven plan, rather than a disengagement of the the parks designers with what Toronto communities what.

 

the image...

[caption id="attachment_7720" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Toronto Parks Image"][/caption]

 

An idea so great I cannot stop thinking about it bringing a farmers' market to Ward 13 of Toronto

 

 

 



 

 

so so happy this is happening and its a resident lead project.

a number of people have send in a request to post this and the blog thanks you all, I used Chris's text because it gave so much info...

 

from their site

About


The Ward 13 Farmers' Market Initiative is a group of local residents who are interested in bringing a Farmers' Market to Ward 13. With guidance from a community animator from LiveGreen Toronto, the group has been meeting regularly to develop and implement a strategy to have a market in the area as soon as possible. Committees include Market Models, Governance, Community Outreach, Location, Permits & Logistics. If you are interested on joining our efforts, please contact Whitney Crooks at 647-409-9448 or whitney@ecospark.ca or email us at ward13market@gmail.com.

 

An overview and survey info  from Chris a member of the initiative

 

An initiative that is working on bringing a farmers'
market to Ward 13 of Toronto. We believe that farmers’ markets work best
when they’re situated close to those who shop there. Local and fresh
produce, farmed in Ontario should be available to everyone without having
to make a lengthy journey outside of their own neighbourhood.

We’re currently in the planning stages of the initiative and need
community input into what kind of farmers’ market they would like to have
in their neighbourhood. I encourage you to fill out the survey below and
forward this email to your constituents. We’re trying to reach as many
people as possible and groups like yours are the perfect channel for
spreading the word locally.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions at all.

It's farmers market season again! Wouldn't you love to shop at a farmers
market in your own neighborhood? The Ward 13 Farmers Market Initiative is
working on bringing that vision to reality.

Please take a few minutes and share your thoughts with us by taking our
short survey. Please go to our website at www.ward13market.com or click on
the link below:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CTTNJNB





Tuesday, May 10, 2011

A view of St. Joesph Hospitial

 

 

 


The hospital is the horizon. What amazed this author is the assembled buildings of the hospital having such a long north to south footprint.

Location:Sunnyside Ave,Toronto,Canada

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

6 Lloyd Avenue upcoming meeting Thursday May 12, 2011 7:00 pm at George Bell Arena

Manny a commenter brought this too the blogs attention.

[caption id="attachment_7670" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="circle defines lot area"][/caption]



You can call the Councillors Frances Nunziata office for info if needed.

http://www.toronto.ca/councillors/nunziata1.htm
Phone: 416-392-4091

Meeting is Confirmed for the following date.

Thursday May 12, 2011 7:00 pm at George Bell Arena

 

 

A post of the entire Junction residents Association Newsletter for those of you not on the list

CONTACT Photography in the Junction

Condo Development

Jane’s Walk on Sunday, May 8

Green 13 presents a free film screening

The Junction Ribfest

 

CONTACT photography in the Junction May 1 to May 31

It’s CONTACT photography time again and once again the Junction is featuring a great arrangement of art.  Follow this link to the JRA website and the Junction BIA poster.

Other local galleries, in the Junction but outside the BIA boundaries, are also featuring photograph so take a stroll and keep an eye out for the CONTACT signs.

Condo Development - Community consultation meeting May 4 , 7 pm

The boarded-up houses on Bloor across from High Park are about to become a condo.  Have your say on the development on Wednesday May 4 at the Annette Street Junior and Senior Public School Cafeteria 265 Annette Street, Lower Level (entry on Jennings Avenue)

Our friends from the High Park Residents Association to the south have a good write-up about the development on their website.  Follow this link to view it.

Jane’s Walk Sunday, May 8

This year the Jane’s Walk turns five, and there are dozens of great walks throughout Toronto.  Below are links to two Junction walking tours this weekend.

Junction of the Canadian Dream: Real Facts & Neil Facts, 3:30 pm

Stockyards: Making Toronto’s Streets, 1 pm

Jane’s Walk Vision: Walkable neighbourhoods, urban literacy, cities planned for and by people.

Green 13 presents a Free Film Screening  Monday, May 9  6:30 pm

Free Film Screening and discussion of TOXIC TRESPASS with special guest Dorothy Goldin Rosenberg, Executive Producer
In Toxic Trespass, intrepid filmmaker Barri Cohen launches an investigation into the effects of the chemical soup around us. She starts with her 10-year-old daughter, whose blood carries carcinogens like benzene and the long-banned DDT. Then, Cohen heads to Windsor and Sarnia - Canadian toxic hotspots, with startling clusters of deadly diseases....She meets passionate activists...doctors and scientists who see evidence of links between environmental pollution and health problems. And she learns how quickly barriers can go up when anyone tries to even ask questions about the connection between toxins and serious health problems

Monday, May 9 - 6:30 pm Annette Branch Library   145 Annette St.

The Junction Ribfest for MS fundraiser on May 14th, 11 am

The First Annual Junction MS Rib Fest will be held to raise awareness about MS, its impact on those afflicted with the disease, and their family and friends. All proceeds from the event will go to the MS Society of Canada.

Visit junctionmsribfest.com for details.

JRA Members Meeting Thursday, May 12

Your next JRA Meeting will be on Thursday, May 12 at 7 pm.

The meeting is at the West Toronto Baptist Church, 3049 Dundas Street West.  Come out, meet your neighbours and help shape the Junction by getting involved.

 

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Election - How ward population voted



UPDATED with info from commenter Ryan, in green thanks

 


  • Population: 102,142




  • 71,954 are eligible voters




 

  • Population density: 6,384/square kilometre

  • Most common mother tongues: English (58.7%); Polish (5.2%); Chinese—all (3.1%)

  • Household income: $77,169 (average); $49,127 (median)

  • Work trips: transit (44.5%); car (43.2%); walking (6.8%); bicycle (4.4%)

  • Voter turnout in 2008: 66%


 

Wonder laneway

 



 


This lane way which begins were Symes Rd was split and blocked just under two years ago, is a striking walk. On the left, walking east you can view  the unique form of the curved steel uprights and perpendicular wood slating.  Constructed when the new development to the left was built to block noise from a train track siding and probably the factory noise, the wall has weathered  wonderfully in colour and texture.

Attached along it's length  from Symes Rd. to Gunns Rd are a number of basketball hoops which seem to connect the wall to the back of the homes across the way.

Try walking it on a bright sunny weekend afternoon its wonderful.