All posts by Ric Amis

West Toronto Railpath Extension Drop-in – Sept. 13

Announcement, Community, Local Interest

The City of Toronto is working on the design details for extending the West Toronto Railpath multi-use trail South, from Dundas Street West and Sterling Road to Abell Street and Sudbury Street, offering Parkdalians and others another active transportation/ movement option.

Learn more about the progress of this project, discuss and provide feedback on design elements of the trail, view information material and speak to the project team. To find out more click HERE or contact Maogosha Pyjor at 416-338-2850, westrailpath@toronto.ca.

Date: Thursday, September 13th, 2018
 Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Place: 1140 Bloor St. West at Dufferin (New Horizons Tower, Auditorium)

EXcluded – Exhibition Place & Ontario Place

Announcement, Community, Local Interest

Exhibition Place is 192 acres of City-owned lakeside land, whose historical mandate was for public parks and exhibition grounds, and Ontario Place comprises another 155 acres of Province-owned lakeside land and water. Toronto, desperate for public green space, could sure take advantage of these already-owned lands.

But recently, under-the-radar initiatives have been operating to put these public lands in private hands.

In 2006, most of Exhibition Place was converted from ‘Parks and Open Space’ lands to ‘Regeneration’ lands, encouraging private development and allowing leases of longer than 21 years.

And in 2010, a memorandum of agreement between the City and the Exhibition Place Board of Governors directed the Board to ‘maximize revenue from all sources’; and similarly for Ontario Place.

A community group—the West Side Community Council, comprising ten community associations—has launched a public education and advocacy campaign to call on local government to act immediately to stop the effective privatization of these lands, and rather direct resources to fulfilling the potential of these lands as public and community parkland assets.

Find out more at www.EXcluded.ca, a website dedicated to raising awareness about this issue.

The campaign will be launching at the Princes’ Gates on August 17th at 10am.

Want Parkdale to be the Greenest Neighbourhood in Canada?

Announcement, Community, Local Interest

Having an energy efficient home is not only better for the environment, but it can save you thousands of dollars in heating costs. The city of Toronto has incentives you can use to improve the efficiency of your home.

Your home could be losing more heat than you think.

Use the interactive heat map to find out how much heat your home is losing. Find out more information on steps you can take to lessen your heat loss at http://www.greenparkdale.org/cool-down/  for more information.

Greenest City is having TWO workshops in the next month:

Date: Monday, August 20th, 2018
 Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Place: 228 Roncesvalles Ave, (High Park Library auditorium)

Date: Wednesday, September 19th, 2018
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Place: 201 Cowan Ave., (Basement – Church of the Epiphany and St. Mark)

Parkdale Tibetan Momo Crawl TO – July 29

Announcement, Community

Momo Crawl TO 2018 is back to Little Tibet and it’s bigger and better than ever!

This July 29th in Little Tibet (AKA Parkdale), Students for a Free Tibet Canada is pleased to host Toronto foodies on a steamy savoury crawl for the top momos.

What’s a Momo you ask? Momos are delicious Tibetan (and Himalayan) dumplings (meat or veg) mixed with a balanced blend of herbs and spices, hand-wrapped in dough and steamed to perfection.

Buy a Momo passport for Little Tibet for $25. You may think the passport is just a document that authorizes travel or authenticates the bearers’ identity, but it grants you a total of 10 Momos from 10 different Tibetan and Nepalese restaurants in Parkdale. This year will introduce three NEW Tibetan restaurants mentioned below. All participating momos will have meat and vegetarian options!

Order your momo passport ticket(s) HERE or the day of at the headquarters tent in front of Tsampa Restaurant (non-participant) at Queen West and Fuller Ave.

Participating Restaurants:
Daiko Indian and Nepali Street Food
Garleek – NEW!
Himalayan Kitchen
Little Tibet – NEW!
Loga’s Momo Corner
Om Restaurant
Shangrila Restaurant
Tashi Delek Cafe
Tibet Kitchen
Yak Cafe – NEW!

Date: Sunday, July 29th, 2018
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Place: Queen St. W., (Little Tibet AKA Parkdale)

Toronto’s Great Streets

Announcement, Community

 

Toronto is a city of neighbourhoods, which are often defined by main streets. But these streets are not just for moving cars, bikes, and transit. Beyond their transportation functions, main streets lined by storefronts, patios, and public spaces lend a unique character to a community. Streets connect places, and they also connect people. A great street redesign can transform a neighbourhood for the better.

Ryerson City Building Institute’s report “Toronto’s Great Streets” profiles five recently redesigned Great Streets in Toronto and uncovers some of their ingredients for success. Click HERE FOR REPORT

The need for proven strategies to improve safety and build cooperation on our streets has never been greater. Smart street redesigns can support our Vision Zero commitments, and potentially save lives.

Would love to see WEST Queen West added to the The Ones to Watch list. Check out Getting to Great page 40.

Zero Waste Action Planning for Parkdale – June 19

Announcement, Local Interest

The 1st Zero Waste Community Action Planning session will help build a shared vision of zero waste for Parkdale.

Here are some of the topics:

  • Community Sharing & Creative Reuse
  • e-Waste, Repair & Cycling
  • Ecoparents
  • Ecofashion & Household Goods
  • Community Cleanups
  • Communications: Outreach, Education & Advocacy
  • Food: gleaning, growing, planning, prep, compost & MORE!

Connect and get involved with neighbours and organizations in reducing waste in Parkdale. To register click HERE or call 647-438-0038 (Greenest City).

Date: Tuesday, June 19th, 2018
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Place: 1303 Queen St. W., (Parkdale Library auditorium)

Roncy Rocks! Music & Arts Fest West – June 9

Announcement, Community

Join your neighbours and friends for Roncy Rocks! Music and Arts Fest West.

Roncesvalles Village abounds with creative talent. Artists, entrepreneurs, inspired community leaders and volunteers make marvelous things happen. Roncy Rocks celebrates this spirit by showcasing accomplished and rising local talent along Roncesvalles Avenue.

The day will feature 10 hours of live music, an art party, an art show and sale, kids’ activities, a dog show and a sidewalk sale. Check out the 2018 activities and featured musicians!

Date: Saturday, June 9th, 2018
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Place: all along Roncesvalles Ave. (Marion St. to Howard Park Rd.)

COWANATION Street Sale – June 2

Announcement, Community, Local Interest

Parkdale’s Biggest Treasure Trove – The Annual COWANATION Street Sale!

Cowan Ave. closes off to traffic at 9 am – 4 pm, or thereabouts, so people can stroll the sidewalks and avenue for this annual street sale of goods – used, new, antique, household, yard and whatchamacallits. Sunday, June 3rd is the rain date. You will find Parkdale has as a whole has picked up on the spirit of Cowanation with residents on Dunn, Springhurst and Spencer setting up yard sales as well. Come one, Come all!

Laneway Suites meeting hosted by RMRA – May 29

Announcement, Community, Local Interest

The Roncesvalles-Macdonell Residents’ Association (RMRA) is sponsoring a meeting for residents to hear from City planners and laneway experts about this approach to additional neighbourhood housing – Laneway Suites. Toronto City Council will be voting in early June to possibly allow as-of-right secondary or Laneway Suites in Toronto. Let our Councillor and City staff know your thoughts on this topic.

Laneway Suites can provide:
• new rental housing opportunities
• ageing in place for seniors
• multi-generational family living

Date: Tuesday, May 29th, 2018
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Place: 128 Fern Ave. (Fern Ave. PS auditorium)

Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust AGM – May 26

Announcement, Community, Local Interest

Come out to the back-to-back Annual Members Meetings (AGMs) for the Neighbourhood Land Trust (NLT) and Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust (PNLT). The AGM is an opportunity to participate in the decisions that the NLT & PNLT are making on your behalf.

At PNLT’s AGM members will consider new by-laws and elect new members of the board of directors, the decision making body of this community controlled organization.

To vote at this meeting you must first become a member of PNLT by registering in advance or at registration on the day. Membership is open to anyone who lives or works in Parkdale. Sign up online at PNLT.CA. If you are interested in joining the Board of Directors of either the NLT (charity) or PNLT (not-for-profit) please contact info@pnlt.ca. Proof of membership will be required. Please bring photo ID.

The NLT and PNLT are organizations that seeks to build a just, healthy, and inclusive neighbourhood. The NLT and PNLT acquires and manages land under the unique community ownership model of a community Land Trust (CLT), promoting long-term community benefits, affordability, and enabling democratic local planning.

• Food & Childcare Provided.
• Tibetan interpretation.

Date: Saturday, May 26th, 2018
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (doors open 2:30 p.m.)
Place: 201 Cowan Ave. (Church of the Epiphany & St. Mark)