2017 Roncesvalles Polish Festival – Sept. 16-17

Announcement, Community

Enjoy great local and international music, including Polish folklore, Polka and Euro dance bands, and entertainment from near and far on multiple stages. Saturday night enjoy the ever-popular Dance Under The Stars polka party. Come out and sample fantastic cuisine from over 40 renowned restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and bistros, along Roncesvalles, and of course, lots of traditional Polish fare, including pierogi, kielbasa, bigos, cabbage rolls, and much much more!

Cześć! Join the festivities on Saturday September 16th and Sunday September 17th for North America’s largest celebration of Polish culture in Toronto.

For more info click here.

Community Benefits Workshops for Parkdale – Aug. 30 & Sept. 7

Announcement, Community, Local Interest

The Parkdale Community Economic Development (PCED) is hosting a series of Community Benefits Workshops for Parkdale on Wednesday August 30th and Thursday September 7th*.

Come learn about new developments arriving in Parkdale, discuss how they will impact the neighbourhood, and collectively develop ideas for how these developments can be best leveraged to benefit our community.

Building on workshops held earlier this summer with ESL students and the PARC Ambassador and Co-op Cred program, these workshops will provide a platform for community members to express their thoughts and suggestions on how to ensure that new developments in Parkdale benefit the local community and strengthen its four overarching values: Inclusiveness, Affordability, Diversity and Equity. The workshops will help to establish a set of community demands that developers must adhere to when building in Parkdale.

Food and refreshments will be provided. Please note that the library is wheelchair accessible. Contact mzayas@parc.on.ca for childcare and/or translation needs.

Spaces are limited. RSVP encouraged but not required: https://parkdale-community-benefits-workshops.eventbrite.ca

*Please note that these workshops are identical and participants need only sign up for one workshop.

Date: Wednesday, Aug. 30th
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Place: 1303 Queen St W. – Parkdale Library (basement)

Date: Thursday, Sept.. 7th
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Place: 1303 Queen St W. – Parkdale Library (basement)

Bonnie Briggs passing

Announcement

Bonnie Briggs, a housing activist and poet who was 64, died suddenly Friday at her Parkdale home.

Bonnie worked tirelessly on homelessness and affordable housing in Parkdale and beyond. She was a member of the Parkdale Residents Association Executive for the past 2 years; along with chairing the Tiny Houses project and as a board member of the Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust.

Her generosity and compassion is cherished by all the people who met and worked with her.

Laneway Housing Information Session by PRA

Announcement, Community, Local Interest

The City of Toronto is considering Laneway Suites (housing). A laneway house is a smaller, detached home located where the garage would normally go on a single-family lot.

Join us at an information session to learn more about laneway housing and how it can affect Parkdale!

Sign up HERE.

Please read the following links:

Lanescape – A laneway housing advocacy group
http://lanescape.ca/

Toronto Star – Laneway suites could open up new Toronto housing possibilities
https://www.thestar.com/…/laneway-suites-could-open-up-new-…

CBC News – Laneway housing a step closer to reality after community consultations
http://www.cbc.ca/…/metrom…/laneway-housing-report-1.4029590

City is Welcoming Your Comments Re Short-Term Rentals

Announcement, Community

On June 19, 2017, the City of Toronto Executive Committee directed Municipal Licensing & Standards (ML&S) and City Planning to consult the public on proposed zoning bylaw amendments and licensing and registration framework. The proposed regulations are to:

  •  Amend the City’s zoning bylaws to create a new land use called “short-term rental” that is permitted in principal residences across the city;
  •  Prohibit short-term rentals that are not in a person’s principal residence;
  • License companies that facilitate short-term rental activity, like Airbnb; and
  • Create a registry for anyone who operates a short-term rental in their home.

If you have concerns or interests about these proposed rules for short-term rentals (e.g. Airbnb) in the neighbourhood, the City invites you to express those concerns in an online survey. It takes about ten minutes to complete. The survey will be available online until August 18, 2017.  The input that you provide will inform the final recommendations that staff will report to City Council in the fourth quarter of 2017.

For more information, please visit toronto.ca/mlshaveyoursay. Please note that public consultation meeting dates will be made available online once they are finalized.

Sunnyside (Roncy) Pedestrian Bridge Mural Launch Party – July 27th

Announcement, Community, Local Interest

Chicago artist Justus Roe, his local Public Art Assistants, as well as members of the Parkdale – High Park community have been hard at work transforming the Sunnyside (Roncesvalles) Pedestrian Bridge to commemorate Canada’s 150th birthday and the “Year of Public Art” taking place in Chicago and Toronto (sister Cities).

Join them for “Building Bridges of Flavour”, a locally inspired menu by Palais Royale Chef Steffan Howard, along with local musicians, artist Justus Roe, and John Tory – Mayor, City of Toronto.

We look forward to celebrating the completion of this new artwork with you – and ask that you RSVP by Monday, July 24th for this community event!

Date: Thursday, July 27th
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Place: Palais Royale (1601 Lake Shore Blvd West, Suite 100)

Women Paint transforms Parkdale Laneway – July 16

Announcement, Community, Local Interest

A talented mix of emerging and established Toronto-based artists will transform the laneway that runs north behind 1468-1486 Queen Street West — between Lansdowne Avenue and Macdonell Avenue — into an outdoor art gallery. Working side by side, the collective of all female artists will paint approximately 2,000 square feet of murals that respond to the theme of “Intersectional Feminism: Representing Diverse Experiences”.

Women Paint – As a closing celebration, community members, mural enthusiasts and interested Torontonians / Parkdalians are invited to meet the artists and be inspired by the murals.

Date: Sunday, July 16th
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Place: the laneway that runs north behind 1468-1486 Queen Street West—between Lansdowne Avenue and Macdonell Avenue.

Community Control over Development in Parkdale – June 29

Announcement, Community, Local Interest

COME LEARN ABOUT HOW TO GAIN GREATER COMMUNITY CONTROL OVER DEVELOPMENT IN PARKDALE

The Parkdale Community Economic Development (PCED) and Atkinson Foundation are organizing the first in a series of lectures – ON COMMUNITY BENEFITS.

COMMUNITY BENEFITS 101 – Come learn about using Community Benefit Agreements as tools for gaining greater community control over development.

THE PANEL
Rosemarie Powell – Toronto Community Benefit Network
Mariam Paul – East Scarborough Storefront
Michelle Francis – Community Action Planning Group
Moderated by Jenn Miller – Atkinson Foundation

Date: Thursday, June 29th
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Place: 1303 Queen St W. – Parkdale Library (basement)

WQW Planning Study & Heritage District Report Meeting – June 26

Announcement, Community, Local Interest

This Town Hall meeting will present the final report recommendations of the West Queen West Heritage Conservation District (HCD) Study. The Study reviewed all the properties on Queen Street West between Bathurst Street and Roncesvalles Avenue.

The WQW HCD is but a component of a much larger WQW Planning Study started in 2015. This meeting is the kickoff and start of a conversation about the Parkdale and West Queen West areas can change and grow over time.

The evening will begin with an Open House from 6:30-7:00pm, followed by:
•   A brief summary by City Staff on the WQW Heritage Study;
•   Background on the Planning Study;
•   Planning policies, building guidelines;
•   Approaches to main street development.
•   The type of development that may be possible in Parkdale / West Queen West; and,
•   Next steps in the Planning Study process.

This presentation is followed by a discussion facilitated by the project team. This is where YOU can ask questions and share your comments. For more information contact Councillor Perks Councillor_Perks@toronto.ca or City Planner Graig Uens guens@toronto.ca, 416-397-4647.

Date: Monday, June 26th
Time: 6:30 p.m. – Open House,
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Presentation &  Discussion
Place: 1115 Queen St W. – The Theatre Centre