Archive for December, 2009

A Short History of Haida Gwaii – West Toronto Junction Historical Society talk

By On December 15, 2009 In Heritage, The Junction, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park), West Toronto Junction Historical Society With Comments Off on A Short History of Haida Gwaii – West Toronto Junction Historical Society talk Permanent Link to A Short History of Haida Gwaii – West Toronto Junction Historical Society talkPermalink

Join us Thursday, January 7, 2010 7:30 p.m at the Annette Public Library  for A Short History of Haida Gwaii (which only recently changed its name from the Queen Charlotte Islands). Gib Goodfellow will illustrate his talk with images recorded by Phyllis Goodfellow and Lynn Wiggan on their excursion to these isolated and scenic islands north of Vancouver Island in June of 2009. Haida Gwaii is composed of two principal islands. The southern most has a small community, an airport and numerous historic Haida sites which have been vacated since the small pox epidemics of the 19th century. Some are open to the public and exist within a unique partnership between Parks Canada and the Haida people. The north island contains most of the current population and economic activity, as well at the six larger communities.

GIVE THE GIFT OF HISTORY THIS CHRISTMAS


Someone you love would love to get connected to their roots in the historic Junction.
Join the West Toronto Junction Historical Society and share the most exciting story in Toronto. Receive four issues of our award winning historical quarterly, the Leader and Recorder. Join now and get five issues of the L&R as copies of our fall 2009 edition are still available featuring the remarkable story of the Dundas Mosque: Malcolm X in the Junction, Louise Fein Corblum’s reminisces celebrating the Centennial of West Toronto Paint and Wallpaper and David Wencer’s full and riotous account of Wild, Wild, Junction Historical Mystery Tour.  Individual memberships $20, family memberships $30.
Your membership fees support the WTJHS archives, our efforts to preserve historic buildings and our monthly speaking series in the Annette Street Library.

Go to wtjhs.ca for details.

Victorian Carolers in the Kingsway

By On December 14, 2009 In The Junction With Comments Off on Victorian Carolers in the Kingsway Permanent Link to Victorian Carolers in the KingswayPermalink

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Victorian Carolers in the Kingsway
From Saturday, 05 December 2009
To Saturday, 19 December 2009
1:00pm – 3:00pm Saturday of each week

VICTORIAN CAROLERS

in the Kingsway

Our Victorian Carolers

will once again be strolling the Kingsway

filling the air with traditional Yuletime favourites

December 5th, 12th and 19th 1:00p.m. to 3:00p.m.

On the 12th and 19th

they will be strolling in the evening

from 5:30 to 7:30pm as well!

Satisfy everyone’s wish list requests

from the many unique shops

And

enjoy a meal at any of the fine restaurants

in the Kingsway !

Visit our website for additional information

www.thekingswaytoronto.ca

Major Development on St Clair Ave West and Runnymede Rd

By On December 13, 2009 In buildings, Streetlevel, The Junction, Ward 12 – York South-Weston, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park), Ward 14 – (Parkdale-High Park), Weston With 2 Comments Permanent Link to Major Development on St Clair Ave West and Runnymede RdPermalink

The development on the south side St Clair between Runnymede and Jane is kicking into high gear.  The Old Mill Pontiac dealership has just opened a huge showroom which spans both sides of Jane Street along the rail line.

West of Wal-Mart a new plaza with about a half dozen outlets is being built.  The only advertised tenant is TD Canada Trust, which is pictured here.  I’m optimistic they won’t close the Dundas Street location about 100m south of this site but I’m sure they will.

The city was planning an avenues study for this area but with this development, the new shopping centre and the big blocks they won’t have much left to study.

submitted by Martin L

Village of West Toronto Junction T-shirts

By On December 13, 2009 In The Junction, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park), Ward 14 – (Parkdale-High Park), West Bend, West Toronto Junction Historical Society With Comments Off on Village of West Toronto Junction T-shirts Permanent Link to Village of West Toronto Junction T-shirtsPermalink

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Revised OPA/rezoning application for 195 & 203 Oakmount Road, 200 Keele Street

By On December 13, 2009 In 195 & 203 Oakmount Road, 200 Keele Street, City of Toronto, Development, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park) With 7 Comments Permanent Link to Revised OPA/rezoning application for 195 & 203 Oakmount Road, 200 Keele StreetPermalink

200 keele st google13-12-2009 11-32-29 AM

The revised OPA/rezoning application received by the City on August 27, 2009 proposes to retain 14 of the 15 townhouse units (since there is considerable protection for mid-range and affordable rental housing). The new plan is to build 13 townhouse units in the rear yards of 195-203 Oakmount (some of the new building might be 200 Keele Street) and to access these by a private road along the north side of 200 Keele Street.

All of the concerns outlined in the City’s preliminary report are still valid, including rental concerns since the proposal amounts to an intensification of a rental site.


The matter comes before York Etobicoke Community Council on the morning of Tuesday January 12, 2010 (agenda pending).

From there it goes to the full City Council on January 26 and 27. Next comes the OMB prehearing scheduled for Tuesday, February 23 at 9:00 in the morning. The OMB hearing itself is scheduled for three weeks starting Monday April 12 at 10:00 am.

Ontario Municipal Board document PDF document download. (hosted here at the blog)

Ontario Municipal Board document PDF document download. (hosted at the OMB)


At Community Council the issue will be whether to release City staff to defend the City’s position at the OMB appeal. The councillors will hear deputations (maximum length 5 minutes each), so it’s important to attend this meeting (that’s Tuesday, January 12) if you possibly can.    City Council does not hear deputations.


By the February 23rd OMB prehearing, the City will have determined its position, and the newly formed Lithuania Ravine Residents and Ratepayers Association, a party to the OMB appeal, will have done the same. Residents have until 10:00 am February 23 to decide if they wish to shelter under the Ravine Association or if they wish to be participants and to inform the OMB of their decision.


At present, the city’s response to the new proposal is not posted. The issues (Neighbourhoods, Ravine protection, the Built envionment ie road access, and Rental housing), however, have not changed.
See you on January 12.

…submitted in comment by reader Leslie, links and images added by the  blog

Junction related articles in other media today

By On December 11, 2009 In Carleton Village, Development, Mount Dennis, Railways, The Junction, Ward 11 (York South-Weston}, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park), Ward 14 – (Parkdale-High Park), Ward 16 Eglinton-Lawrence, West Toronto Diamond project With Comments Off on Junction related articles in other media today Permanent Link to Junction related articles in other media todayPermalink 
1)

Toronto Star article by Joe Fiorito

Fiorito: Metrolinx diesels are dirty,

ugly and NOISY

 full story link
2)
Residents have say on day nurseries



Toronto City Council enacted the bylaw in May of this year, which will remain

in effect until May 2010. During this time, city staff is conducting a study

 of the area bound by Glenlake Avenue to the south, Dundas Street West to the

 north, the rear lot lines of properties fronting the west side of High Park Avenue

 to the west and the rear lot lines of properties fronting the east side of High Park Avenue to the east. The study's purpose is to evaluate appropriate standards and regulations for transforming residential homes into day nurseries.

The purpose of Monday night's meeting at Annette Recreation Centre,

 said Senior Planner Philip Carvalino, was to get feedback from community members 

"so we have a better understanding of the impacts felt or perceived."

Guffin’s hardware a model for Junction businesses?

By On December 10, 2009 In Junction Retail, The Junction, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park) With 7 Comments Permanent Link to Guffin’s hardware a model for Junction businesses?Permalink

As many readers of this blog may remember this author saddens when walking thorough the Junction by the lack of “street merchandising” conducted by the Junction retail business.  Guffin’s Hardware  just blocks away does a great job in this area. AT one time the Junction had 3 hardware stores conducting their enterprise in this manner. Bloor West Village has a number of fresh fruits and vegetable retailers doing the same.

With similar sidewalk widths this author still wonders why this is so lacking in the Junction.

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Highlights from the most recent Junction Triangle Community newsletter

By On December 10, 2009 In Roncesvalles Village, South Junction Triangle, The Junction, Ward 11 (York South-Weston}, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park), Ward 17 Davenport, Ward 18 – (Davenport), West Bend With Comments Off on Highlights from the most recent Junction Triangle Community newsletter Permanent Link to Highlights from the most recent Junction Triangle Community newsletterPermalink

One of the best resident groups communication newsletters is the Junction Triangle Community newsletter. Below are a number of articles from their most recent issue with links to their site.

Also another effort and group from this area has been doing some interesting work around creating a commonly respected name for the the area http://www.fuzzyboundaries.ca/

3) HELP THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB AND ART STARTS

A click of your mouse could help a couple of local neighbourhood
groups who are trying to raise some money through the Aviva Community
Fund. The Perth Outreach location of the Dovercourt Boys and Girls
Club and the award winning Art Starts group who did the fabulous mural
on the Dupont underpass are both in the second round of the Aviva fund
raising process. You could help them by simply logging onto the Aviva
site and voting for the projects. The process to register to vote is
very simple and you won’t be swamped with junk mail. You can vote once
every day and vote for as many projects as you like. Your effort could
go a long way in helping both groups reach their goals. The links for
each project are included below and we want to say thank you on their
behalf for voting.

* Boys & Girls Club Perth Ave. Outreach Facility:
http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf1771
* Art Starts “Rack’n’Roll” bike racks:
http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf1573

4) GLIDDEN PAINT SITE – REMEDIATION IS COMPLETE

Environmental and soil remediation at the 370 Wallace lands (former
Glidden Paint site) is now complete.  If you have been past the site
in the last few weeks, you may have noticed that the land is now
flattened and seeded with plants.  It is ready to be sold to a
developer.  Thanks to Scott Dobson for the update on this site.  A
letter from Biogene is posted here:
http://www.southjunctiontriangle.ca/node/440

Junction BIA – Santa in the Junction Event

By On December 10, 2009 In The Junction, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park) With Comments Off on Junction BIA – Santa in the Junction Event Permanent Link to Junction BIA – Santa in the Junction EventPermalink

10-12-2009 10-18-06 AM

Santa in the Junction Event

The Junction BIA invites you and your family to the

“Santa in the Junction Event”

at the Train Platform

Dundas Street West and Pacific Avenue

Saturday, December 12th from 11 – 1 pm

The Junction has become one of West Toronto’s most child friendly neighbourhoods. Joining Santa Claus at the “Santa in the Junction Event”, we will have The Baker Street Victorian Carollers, directed by Richard Crossman, The Creative Children’s Dance Centre, the Junction Fire Department, and hot chocolate. Please bring a donation for the Firefighter’s Toy Drive and join us to celebrate this holiday season with your friendly neighbourhood businesses of the Junction. Stroll the area and vote for the best decorated Christmas window. Don’t forget your cameras!

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