Its once again that time of year when we all get to don creative costumes, make jack-o'-lanterns and enjoy tasty treats. I hope everyone has a fun, safe and happy halloween!
The Toronto Police have prepared a Halloween Safety Tips pamphlet that you may want to review with your family before heading out trick-or-treating. You can access the pamphlet here:
www.torontopolice.on.ca/media/text/20071025-halloween_safety_tips_pamphlet.pdf
I wanted to write and remind you that the new garbage bin program will formally take effect on November 1st.
This means that the City will start enforcing the program and garbage that is not either in a bin or in a bag with a yellow or pink tag attached will not be picked up. It also means that the new fees will start appearing on your next water bill.
At this point, over ninety per cent of households have received their new blue or grey bins. Some people are still waiting for their grey bin, and a large part of the reason why is because so many more people than expected ordered the medium size garbage bin that the supplier has not been able to produce them fast enough to keep up with the demand.
It’s amazing and wonderful that so many Torontonians have made this sort of commitment to reducing the amount of garbage they produce by requested the small or medium size garbage bin. Together, through these sorts of decisions, we can all make such a huge difference to our environment, leaving the world a cleaner and better place for our children and our grandchildren. I want to thank all those who have made this decision to reduce your environmental footprint and lead more sustainable lives.
If you have any questions about the program, or are having any problems, basic information on how everything works is found on the front page of my website, as well as the key contacts you can follow up with for assistance.
Here are some of my reflections on art and architecture as I took a walk through the ward recently. The article will be published in a BIA (Busines Improvement Area) newsletter.
Change and the Art of Living in a City
By Adam Giambrone
I often like to spend time on the weekends walking around our neighbourhood, so I get to see all the new and exciting projects people are working on, as well as note areas where there are problems or improvements are needed. During these walks I’m often reminded how dynamic urban life is. It’s usually not too hard to tell when you’ve arrived in a part of the city that works well; one can often sense a vibrancy and sense of community in these areas that’s great to experience. Figuring out the reasons why these areas work well is much more difficult, but this is a crucial question as we try to plan for our city’s future. As the local City Councillor, I want to see our neighbourhood thrive, with vibrant streetscapes and public spaces, architecture and art, culture and community, all working together to create synergies that improve the quality of life for us all.
On a recent walk down College Street, I was pleased to see that new businesses have moved in and they are making the best of the existing architecture. The new arrivals are taking the facades of the old storefronts which once housed appliance shops or convenience stores and making them beautiful again by adding accents like awnings, new paint jobs, large windows and flower pots. As well there are places (at least three between Dovercourt and Dufferin) to sit out front—just simple lawn chairs—and enjoy a coffee and chat with a good friend. Residents here also do their part and one can see that many of these old homes are lovingly maintained, with wooden tiles, stained glass with floral designs in the windows, fountains and art in the front courtyards. It’s pleasant and very comfortable here and it’s nice to see how things are improving.
Later on that day, I was walking on Queen West and stopped in briefly at the Gladstone Hotel to take shelter from a passing thunderstorm. I’ve always thought this hotel was an interesting example of urban renewal and what can be achieved when we respect our architectural heritage. When it first opened in 1889 as a stop for the railways, the Gladstone was considered a trendy inn, but as the years flew by and the rail station moved, the Gladstone began to lose its lustre. Eventually the building deteriorated so badly that not so long ago many people thought it would be condemned and demolished.
Fortunately, the new owners decided to restore the building rather than rebuild. The renovations are fantastic and I especially love the rich hard wood floors and that they restored Toronto’s distinctive red bricks.
It was with mixed feelings that I stared out the window at the construction starting on the south side of Queen Street. The Ontario Muncipal Board had approved new buildings much taller than what I had wanted and I am sad that we will soon lose the historic building at 48 Abell Street. On a brighter note, we had managed to secure many concessions from the developers, such as some affordable housing and artist live/work spaces, a pedestrian mews and lots of retail spaces on Queen, funding for a new art and theatre centre, and a new park on Lisgar Street. The key thing now is to ensure that the vibrant community along Queen is preserved and I hope that these new developments will still provide “fertile ground for the plans of thousands of people.”
As our lifestyles change in response to the challenges of the 21st century, more and more Torontonians will choose to live in the city versus the suburbs. That change means there will be higher density in the downtown core, but if we do things right, by allowing appropriate development along major arteries, while preserving our residential neighbourhoods, the potential benefits are cleaner air, a stronger sense of community and a higher quality of life for all of us. To make that happen in Toronto, we need to plan our streets, communities, neighbourhoods and the city as a whole in a way that allows every neighbourhood to be successful, with high quality architecture, revitalized public and green spaces, a transportation system that allows every mode of travel to be viable, reduced energy use, and public art that reflects the character and contributions of each community. This city is the place where we and our children spend most of our time—quite simply, it’s our home. It’s important that we all take care of it and invest in ourselves, our neighbourhoods, and our city’s future.
I was honoured to be asked to be the Mayor's designate to open this year’s Caribana parade.
The day started with a breakfast, followed by opening ceremonies at 10:00am. I gave a short welcome and greeting on behalf on Mayor Miller and helped to cut the ribbon which officially began the parade.
This year an estimated 1 million revellers came out from across the GTA, Canada, the U.S., the Caribbean, Europe and all over the world to join Toronto in dancing and celebrating Caribbean culture and music. If any of you were at the parade I’m sure you experienced the morning downpour and the blazing sun. Still it was worth it. The costumes were resplendent and I’m truly amazed by the grace of the performers- being able to dance in the heat and rain while wearing a delicate outfit which probably weighs at least 30 to 40 lbs.
My job was great. I was able to hear great music, see some old friends and greet visitors to Toronto. I would be more than happy to host Caribana again and encourage all of you to attend next year. Please send me an email and let me know about your Caribana experiences.
All the best,
Now that it's spring, I've been doing some "Spring Cleaning". At the same time I've been thinking about my environmental impact on Toronto. I recycle, compost, take the TTC (I really do!), conserve paper (I'm digital) and heat. Still, I feel compelled to do more. To help, our mayor, David Miller, has unveiled a new program that will encourage all of us to do our part and a little bit more. Here's his message about Live Green Toronto:
Mayor's Message
Living green. Here in Toronto, it’s more than a trend; it’s becoming a way of life.
We hope this new, one-stop website filled with tips, success stories, learning opportunities, information updates – even rebates and grants – will inspire you to keep taking the small steps that lead to a healthier planet.
As you may have heard, Toronto has targeted an 80% reduction of our greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. It’s an ambitious target, and we're rising to the challenge. To reach our target we not only need to take big, bold steps as a local government, we also need every resident of Toronto to take action in their home and in their neighbourhood.
The Live Green Toronto program is designed to inspire and support every resident who wants to do something right now to make Toronto an even greener city.
I hope you find this exciting new site a terrific resource for action.
We all know how good we feel when we do our part. So thanks for living green for a greener Toronto.
Mayor David Miller
City of Toronto
What We’re Doing
As a City we are doing our part too. We're taking action to continue to reduce our impact on the environment. Read more about how we're changing how we do things:
