All posts by Ric Amis

Right to be Consulted – Ontario Place

Announcement, Community, Local Interest

We are at a critical point for the future of Ontario Place. The Ford government has instituted a bit of a pause in its plans to develop the precious lakeside park and heritage site. It’s asked the three finalists to rework their proposals and has reached out to the Mayor of Toronto, promising that the City of Toronto will have a major say in what happens to Ontario Place.

Make sure Premier Ford, Minister MacLeod and Mayor Tory hear your voice. Send them a letter, your own or the one available below, demanding an open and transparent consultation process for the future of Ontario Place.

One of the lessons we have all learned from the Covid-19 pandemic is the importance of open public space where people can gather safely. It is clear that Toronto does not have enough park space, especially in the downtown, and cannot afford to lose any of what it now has to a private developer.

Now, more than ever, we need both the City and the province to consult with the public, open and transparently, about what they would like to see at a revitalized Ontario Place. The public owns the 155-acre site, and we should have a say in its future additions to the site.

  • Ontario Place must be for ALL and kept publicly accessible.
  • Before any changes, there must be a thoughtful, comprehensive public review, with a full and robust public consultation.
  • Public interest, not commercial interest must drive the new vision

WRITE A LETTER

Laneway PLAY

Community, Local Interest

Since the City’s Street PLAY program is cancelled how about using our laneways to program activities? Here is a handy guide to organizing a laneway activity that can have a particular purpose or just be for fun.

You do NOT need a road closure permit for a laneway event, because you cannot put any fixed set-up in the laneway.  Keep it temporary and be ready to move it (car coming!) or use the non-right-of-way areas (parking pads, backyards, etc.).

Street PLAY – deadline July 1 (CANCELLED)

Announcement, Community, Local Interest

Turn Your Street Into a Playground This Fall – deadline July 1
With so many playgrounds still closed due to COVID-19, children need a place to play outside now more than ever. Consider signing up for Street PLAY, a city program that allows residents to shut down their streets for certain hours, allowing children to play safely and freely right outside their homes. (It has been a popular initiative in Seaton Village: read about the benefits at the Street PLAY site here.)

It’s FREE, but you must act fast: Apply by Wednesday, July 1 to temporarily close off your street to traffic this fall from September 1 through October 31. Learn more here and apply for your permit here.

Parkdale Racism

Announcement, Community, Local Interest

Parkdale Neighbours – it saddens us to have to draw attention to this incident of racism in our community. Amico’s Pizza is a neighbourhood establishment and they must know we will not overlook or condone their harmful silence, nor the alleged wrongful dismissal of Tyler Daniel. We urge them to take further action to make amends for the damages done and assure the community that customers and employees will be treated with respect. We don’t want to see harmful retaliation against the establishment, we would like to express solidarity in how Parkdale can move forward with meaningful change. Concerned residents can offer support by donating to the Black Legal Action Centre – https://www.blacklegalactioncentre.ca/

https://www.instagram.com/chefboytd/
https://www.instagram.com/amicospizzato/

Live Discussion on Anti-Black Racism – June 5

Announcement, Community, Local Interest

Parkdale–High Park MP Arif Virani invites you to join him TONIGHT at 7 p.m. for a Facebook Live discussion on Anti-Black Racism – He will be joined by an incredible panel of guests including:

  • Shawn Richard, Past President of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers and lawyer and partner at Lenkinski, Carr & Richard LLP
  • Debbie King, member of the Queen Victoria Public School (QVPS) Black Student Success Committee and athlete/writer/connector
  • Alexa Gilmour, Reverend at the Windermere United Church and interfaith advocate

You can follow Arif on his Facebook Page HERE.

 

Small Business Conversation with MP Arif Virani – June 3

Announcement, Community, Local Interest

You are invited to join our MP Arif Virani’s next Facebook Live Ask Me Anything: special edition for SMALL BUSINESS on Wednesday, June 3 at 7 p.m.

The event is reserved for small business owners living and/or working in the Parkdale-High Park riding. The hope is to ensure as many small businesses and small business owners here in Parkdale–High Park have the opportunity to participate and ask questions about federal government support programs directly to MP Virani.

You can tune in on MP Virani’s Facebook Page HERE.
Follow MP Virani to receive a notification when he goes Live!

DATE: Wednesday, June 3rd, 2020
TIME: 7 p.m.
PLACE: Facebook

Use Ontario Place to Help Fight COVID

Announcement, Community

Ontario Place for All says, in light of the COVID outbreak, the provincial government should reconsider its plans to redevelop Ontario Place.

“One thing became crystal clear over the past weekend,” says Ken Greenberg, urban designer and member of the Steering Committee of Ontario Place for All (OP4A). “The overcrowding at Trinity-Bellwoods showed Toronto needs more park space. Unfortunately, a lot of the greenspace currently at Ontario Place could be lost under the government’s redevelopment plans.”

Ontario Place should be integrated with the revitalization of Exhibition Place.

To find out more click HERE.