Outdoor screening of the movie “Brave” in High Park on Wednesday, August 14th at 8:15 pm. Hosted by Councillor Sarah Doucette and Local 416.
All posts in High park
Outdoor screening of the movie “Brave” in High Park on Wednesday, August 14th at 8:15 pm.
On August 12, 2013
In Councillor Doucette, High park, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park)
With Comments Off on Outdoor screening of the movie “Brave” in High Park on Wednesday, August 14th at 8:15 pm.
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The disappearing street curbs of the greater Junction Area.
On April 16, 2013
In City of Toronto, High park, Junction Triangle, North Junction, Parkdale, Roncesvalles Village, South Junction Triangle, The Junction, Upper Junction, West Bend
With Comments Off on The disappearing street curbs of the greater Junction Area.
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Ever notice that the curbs in the Junction are disappearing with the rising levels of road paving material and the build up every time they do remedial road surface work.
For a long time the city ripped up the old road surface and laid down new underlayment and asphalt.
Most Junction streets have not been resurfaced in this manner for over 2 decades, they have had the surface ground and overlaid with a thin liquid re-coating. This Slurry Seal it is a mixture of emulsion, aggregate, water and mineral filler applied to an asphalt surface, but now, in most cases this seal usefulness has been worn away.
The curbs in many streets that a car or truck can simply roll over the curb with little speed.
How curbs lead to greater safety.
While most curbs are psychological deterrent to drivers than a barrier to vehicles. Cars are only redirected at low speeds and shallow glancing angles.
It does make a difference in traffic speeds. A recent study found that streets with curbs and sidewalks have average speeds 7 mph less than similar roads without curbs or sidewalks. To put this into perspective, at 25 mph, a pedestrian has an 80% chance of surviving getting hit by a car. At 35 mph, it’s 50%. At 45 mph, the chances of living are only 20%. Slowing traffic down dramatically increases safety.
Source(s):
AASHTO Roadside Design Guidehttp://www.streetsblog.org/2009/12/02/ey…
http://www.ct.gov/dot/LIB/dot/documents/…
http://www.ct.gov/dot/LIB/dot/documents/…
from wikipedia …
A curb (US English), or kerb (UK English), is the edge where a raisedpavement/sidewalk/footpath, road median, or road shoulder meets an unraised street or otherroadway.
Function
Curbs may fulfill any or several of a number of functions. They separate the road from the roadside, discouraging drivers from parking or driving on sidewalks and lawns. They also provide structural support to the pavement edge. Curbs can be used to channel runoff waterfrom rain, or melted snow and ice into storm drains. There is also an aesthetic aspect, in that curbs look formal and “finished”.
Since curbs add to the cost of a road, they are generally limited to urban and suburban areas, and are rarely found in rural areas except where certain drainage conditions (such asmountains or culverts) make them necessary. Curbs are not universally used, however, even in urban settings (see living street).
Vine Parkette front gardens … Parks department seeking interest from community members to maintain front beds
On June 20, 2012
In 200 Vine Ave, Baird Park, Bennett Parkette, City of Toronto, Earl Bales Park, High park, Lithuania Park, The Junction
With Comments Off on Vine Parkette front gardens … Parks department seeking interest from community members to maintain front beds
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If interested you can write the parks supervisor for Vine Parkette (and all the parks in the ward) at kbattig@toronto.ca 
Toronto Park Summit this coming Saturday May 12th, the junctioneer blog will be posting updates from the event all day
On May 6, 2012
In Dufferin Grove Park, Earl Bales Park, High park, Junction Market, June Callwood Park, Natural Urban Living, Public space, Regeneration, Sorauren Park, Upper Junction Park, Vine Parkette, West Toronto Communites
With Comments Off on Toronto Park Summit this coming Saturday May 12th, the junctioneer blog will be posting updates from the event all day
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Organized by Park People, on Saturday, May 12 at the Brickworks, starting at 1 p.m. Keynote speaker is Robert Hammond, co-founder of the famed High Line elevated park in Manhattan.
You can attend – Registration is free (and/or PWYC) but space is limited.
Pls remember to uses www.junctioneer.ca to visit this blog.
High Park Jamie Bell – Councillor Sarah Doucette posts letter from Director Forestry, Parks, Forestry Richard Ubbens
On April 7, 2012
In Councillor Doucette, High park, High Park Residents' Association (HPRA), Public space
With Comments Off on High Park Jamie Bell – Councillor Sarah Doucette posts letter from Director Forestry, Parks, Forestry Richard Ubbens
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Full text
April 4, 2012
Councillor Sarah Doucette
Ward 13 Parkdale High Park 100 Queen Street West
2nd Floor, Suite C46
Dear Councillor
Thank you for forwarding this message to me. I would just like to take the opportunity to clarify the situation and the steps Parks, Forestry and Recreation are taking to rebuild the playground in High Park as soon as possible. I was able to address most of these issues at the public meeting on April 2 at Swansea Town Hall, but feel free to share this with other members of the community who may not have been able to attend.
First, we are pleased to report that offers of donation have been pouring in since the tragic fire. The day after the fire, Canadian Tire stepped forward with a very generous cash donation that will cover the vast majority of the cost of replacing the play structure. Since then, many others have donated or expressed interest in helping out, including some of the members of Landscape Ontario, who have offered various supports – materials, expertise, and time.
We have had ongoing discussions with the Landscape Ontario members, including Adam Bienenstock of Natural Playgrounds. While there isn’t a lot of detail about the elements of their offer, it is clear that their generous donations would primarily be enhancements to the site, rather than help to reconstruct the playground. It was also clear that many of the donors would have liked the opportunity to utilize the materials they had on display at Canada Blooms. We informed them by e-mail on March 26th that we were grateful for their generous offer, but that we would need to time to plan and consult with the community before commencing work on the site.
With regard to Mr. Bienenstock’s message, we have been clear with him and all potential donors to this project that the City always engages in a process of consulting with the local community and ensuring what we build both meets the needs of the community and complies with environmental regulations.
We have worked with him on another project in one of our parks and have had several discussions with him over the years in order to share information about the City’s partnership requirements and processes. I am confident that the generous donors involved in Landscape Ontario will make a valuable contribution to the rebuild effort, even though the timelines are a bit longer than they originally expected.
Our priority moving forward is to rebuild the playground structure as quickly as possible, starting with developing designs that can be shared with the community for feedback. We will be working in consultation with your office to gather feedback from the community on those designs, and to incorporate as many of the generous donations we’ve received into the project. We also need to address some of the drainage and safety issues the community has raised, while respecting that this is a designated ravine area and sensitive ecosystem. This process will take some time, but we want to get the rebuild right.
Let me know if you have any questions. Sincerely,
Richard Ubbens
Director Forestry, Parks, Forestry & Recreation
c: Graham Mitchell, Manager Public Relations & Issues Management, GM’s Office, PFR Helen Sousa, General Supervisor, Parks, PFR
File
Location:McMurray Ave,Toronto,Canada
Calamity 13, city decides it cannot move fast enough to accept 300 thousand dollar Jamie Bell fire donations.
Offer of a $300,000 new High Park playground stumbles at city hall… Ouch
Yes public consultation is necessary for the rebuild of the play structure of the Jamie Bell Playground.
This blog would bet that the planned High Park residents association Monday April 2nd will be packed. Probably it should be viewed as the initial community consultation meeting by the local council members for wards 13 and 14. Both sets of members could assist and give support to city staff to classify this meeting as a community consultation.
City staff are skilled at understanding the mechanisms of city regulations, usually much better than the elected persons.
Fact: After the last city workers strike, city staff expedited all the permits for host of arts festivals and council member motions of support were passed in days.
To cover the thoughts and opinions of all recently concerned staff and the council
members could attend any other community meetings, to ensure voices are heard.
Really is it not reasonable to think the entire community is aware of the situation, and views it as a community priority.
In all of this, just look at the excellent and smart work the High Park RA is doing about this issue, let’s all go to the meeting and support them.
Here is an outtake from their opinions and activities from the Toronto Star article.
But Jeff Derksen, chair of the High Park Residents’ Association, said his group and the companies already held one consultation meeting, attended by some 80 people on 24 hours’ notice, and expected 200 at another meeting they scheduled. They also organized four brainstorming sessions with local children.
“I understand that the city would like to follow a process it knows well internally. I personally don’t understand why there wouldn’t be a process exception given the exceptional nature of the generosity that’s being offered by people whose work this is,” Derksen said.
News of the city’s decision spread Friday via a Facebook group dedicated to the rebuilding effort. One resident called it “sad and heartbreaking.” Wrote another: “Foolish bureaucracy!”
Roaring through the Greater Junction Area by car – bump! or not
On February 7, 2012
In Bloor West Village, Carleton Village, High park, Junction Triangle, North Junction, Old Mill, Parkdale, Roncesvalles Village, South Junction Triangle, Swansea, The Junction, Upper Junction, Ward 11 (York South-Weston}, Ward 12 – York South-Weston, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park), Ward 14 – (Parkdale-High Park), West Bend
With 1 Comment
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To help enforce road safety some cities in the USA and the city of “West” Vancouver are giving optical illusion a try, might it deserve attention here?
They’re must be designed to gain your attention long enough to quickly cause you totobey the speed limit.
These optically created speedbumps, or “virtual humps” are written about in the above linked NYtimes article.
Really love this one below.
High Park Residents’ Association next meeting Feb. 9 at Coffee & All That Jazz, 72 Howard Park Ave
On January 17, 2012
In Councillor Doucette, High park, High Park Residents' Association (HPRA), Junction Triangle, The Bloor/Oakmount Block, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park), Ward 14 – (Parkdale-High Park), West Bend
With Comments Off on High Park Residents’ Association next meeting Feb. 9 at Coffee & All That Jazz, 72 Howard Park Ave
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Toronto GJA Councillors: Office Expense Reporting 2010 to 2011..oh the changes
On January 16, 2012
In Baby Point, Bloor West Village, Bloordale, Carleton Village, City of Toronto, College Street Little Italy, High park, Junction Triangle, Kingsway, Mimico, Mount Dennis, North Junction, Old Mill, Parkdale, Roncesvalles Village, South Junction Triangle, Swansea, The Junction, Upper Junction, Ward 12 – York South-Weston, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park), Ward 14 – (Parkdale-High Park), Ward 15 Eglinton-Lawrence, Ward 16 Eglinton-Lawrence, Ward 17 Davenport, Ward 18 – (Davenport), West Bend, Weston
With Comments Off on Toronto GJA Councillors: Office Expense Reporting 2010 to 2011..oh the changes
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During 2011 new councillors aimed and accomplished the reduction of their office budgets of their old counter parts, while returning councillors greatly reduced their spending. Is this all simply political thrift, that has come about by the seeming dissatisfaction with the politicos running the city, or do the people really want their elected people saving ten to twenty thousand dollars of their office budget.
Considering that these budgets are used by the councillor to service their electors. Is there simply grater loss than the saving of the funds.
below the blog has captured the 2010 and 2011 spending amounts of the area councillors.
Descriptive text from City web site…
Each Councillor has an office expense budget to pay for expenses that are allowable under the Councillor Expense Policy. City Council, at its meeting of April 15, 2010, approved a 5% reduction in the office expense budget for each Councillor. The annual budget of $53,100 has been reduced to $50,445. As 2010 is an election year, Councillors are allocated 11/12ths of the approved office expense budget until the end of the Council term, November 30, 2010, therefore each Councillor has an office expense budget of $46,241.25. The remaining 1/12th of the budget is allocated to December for returning Councillors. New Councillors also receive 1/12th of the allocation, $4,203.75 for the month.The Mayor has an annual operating budget approved by Council. Expenses disclosed relate to non-salary expenditures from this budget.
This is your post template. Shouldn’t you add a little more?
Held and adopted by councilor today Official Plan, for the lands at 1844-1854 Bloor Street West; 35-37 Pacific Avenue; and, 6-14 and part of 18 and 18a Oakmount Road
On January 10, 2012
In High park, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park)
With Comments Off on Held and adopted by councilor today Official Plan, for the lands at 1844-1854 Bloor Street West; 35-37 Pacific Avenue; and, 6-14 and part of 18 and 18a Oakmount Road
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and adopted 
Recommendations held today
The City Planning Division recommends that:
1. City Council amend the Official Plan, for the lands at 1844-1854 Bloor Street West; 35-37 Pacific Avenue; and, 6-14 and part of 18 and 18a Oakmount Road substantially in accordance with the draft Official Plan Amendment attached as Attachment 6 – Draft Official Plan Amendment to the report dated December 16, 2011.
2. City Council amend Zoning By-law 438-86, for the lands at 1844-1854 Bloor Street West; 35-37 Pacific Avenue; and, 6-14 and part of 18 and 18A Oakmount Road substantially in accordance with the draft Zoning By-law Amendment attached as Attachment 7 to the report dated December 16, 2011.
3. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make such stylistic and technical changes to the draft Official Plan Amendment and draft Zoning By-law Amendment as may be required.
4. Before introducing the necessary Bills to City Council for enactment, City Council require the owner to enter into an Agreement pursuant to Section 37 of the Planning Act satisfactory to the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Division, and the City Solicitor, such agreement to be registered on title to the lands at 1844-1854 Bloor Street West; 35-37 Pacific Avenue; and, 6-14 and part of 18 and 18a Oakmount Road, in a manner satisfactory to the City Solicitor to secure the following matters at the owner’s expense
and adopted
Sides of buildings along west Annette St.
On December 30, 2011
In Baby Point, High park, The Junction, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park)
With Comments Off on Sides of buildings along west Annette St.
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From Clendenan Ave on this author has noted a rather interesting feature created by the wide difference of building types and the setbacks used on the various lots on both the north and south sides of the street.
Coupled with Annette streets wide roadway and rather long vista view to Jane St. The sides of many buildings can be seen. A wide variety of buildings facades and design choices can be seen, much of this variety can contributed to the first use of the building.
Here are a few of building sides.
Budget with Councillors Perks and Doucette Tuesday, December 6th, 2011 from 7 pm – 9 pm at the Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton School (1515 Bloor Street West)
On December 5, 2011
In Bloor West Village, Bloordale, City of Toronto, High park, North Junction, Parkdale, Roncesvalles Village, The Junction, Upper Junction, West Bend
With Comments Off on Budget with Councillors Perks and Doucette Tuesday, December 6th, 2011 from 7 pm – 9 pm at the Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton School (1515 Bloor Street West)
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Councillors Perks and Doucette (Ward 1) are holding roundtable meetings hosting on the upcoming City of Toronto Budget.
The Councillors are saying the meeting is a workshop with residents and community leaders about how to protect and build the essential services which make Toronto great. Topics to include city services and delivering and funding same.
Date: Tuesday, December 6th, 2011 from 7 pm – 9 pm
Place: Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton School (1515 Bloor Street West), in the 3rd floor staff room.
They want people register though Councillor Perks’ Office. by e-mailing councillor_perks@toronto.ca or calling 416-392-7919.
West local city land sell off – 1978 Lake Shore Boulevard West & Part of 2000 Lake Shore Boulevard West – Ward 13
On November 29, 2011
In High park, The Junction, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park), Ward 14 – (Parkdale-High Park)
With 1 Comment
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The City of Toronto Council is today (Tuesday 29th) receiving a report from the City of Toronto’s Chief Corporate Officer about the transfer (read sale) of what it is determining as surplus Lands to Build Toronto. Built Toronto is an arm of the City of Toronto that acts as a real estate and development corporation for the city. Over the next couple of weeks the blog is going to highlight each of the areas in the local west end.
1st off the old Joy gas station land in Ward 13.
As part of cities make money plan by selling off public land City Council plans to sell in Ward 13 a plot in the middle land between The Queensway , the Lake Shore Boulevard West and the waterfront.
This site which has already been deemed surplus is now for sale.
Yet what about not selling it and having the community gain from its retention.
proposition idea 1. Waylay park for the journey to the waterfront from the rest of ward 13.
Most people know the disturbing feelings of danger and just annoyance that can brought on crossing The Queensway and the Lake Shore Boulevard West to gain access to the lakefront park lands and then again back up into the bulk of the ward.
Using this small plot as a Parkette to “join up” the waterfront to the rest of Ward 13 can be proposed with the benefits of providing rest parkette for the crossing of two busy 6o kl. speed roads and the travel under a rather unpleasant bridge. Creating the parkette would ease the travel on this route for disabled persons. Would contribute to the councils claim to be making Toronto in a city within a park.
proposition idea 2. Simply give the land to good community non-profit such as the earlier planed Fred Victor centre which is a social services organization that fosters long-lasting and positive change in the lives of homeless and low income people living all across Toronto.
Current Google image of site
City Rational for selling the land, the make money issue is omitted by the staff writer
The view looking west now Google image Nov. 2011
The cities own concerns about use of the plot.
Uses and issues of the subject property from the city reports…
1.
2.
3.
Take a look whats the best use Park - rotating art park - condo - fast food - ?
The blog could not find a sale price
1978 – 2000 LakeshoreBlvW_ sales Flyer from city hired realtor
Pages from backgroundfile-37550 concerning 1978 Lake Shore Boulevard West
TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR ALL TURNOVER AGREEMENTS to Build Toronto
Rabble.ca article on High Park Indian mounds (very detailed)
On November 7, 2011
In City of Toronto, Heritage, High park, Natural Urban Living, Roncesvalles Village, The Junction, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park), Ward 14 – (Parkdale-High Park)
With 1 Comment
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Much progress has been achieved during the summer of 2011 in the work to preserve the Snake Mound, one of 57 remaining ancient Iroquoian burial mounds in Toronto’s High Park in danger of destruction from BMX bike activity. In April, a meeting was set up between the Taiaiako’on Historical Preservation Society [2](THPS) and Toronto City Councillor Sarah Doucette where she was presented with information about the Snake Mound, and that the City of Toronto’s main archeologist Ron Williamson, who is working under a suspended license [3]. (This situation appears to have arisen because the license was not renewed, something that practicing archeologists are compelled to keep up with. The documentation of his license situation has been sent out to city officials by the THPS but the question has never been clarified as to the current state of his credentials, and it has not been denied. The Taiaiako’n Historic Preservation Society has a file which they claim shows that Williamson doesn’t have a license, but most of this information does not exist online.)
Doucette said she would research the issue and then respond, however, there was no subsequent contact.
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(Blog note: read full article for her efforts to find another area in the park for the BMX bikes)
In May, a group of residents local to High Park was formed called the Friends Of Snake Mound (FOSM) [4] to support the work done by the THPS. In the late spring, the two groups hosted an information event at Tinto’s coffee house that garnered a flurry of media attention both good and bad. The mainstream media perpetuated the lack of scientific rigor and ethical handling of the situation by the city and Toronto Parks Board by parroting the position that there is no archeological site at Snake Mound [5].
Fortunately there was one point of agreement: that the BMX activity was destroying the natural environment. While many members of the BMX community have acknowledged the special environmental and historical value of the site, many others remain intransigent. Despite concerns within the Snake Mound-support community as to whether further changes in the landscape might adversely affect the site, it became evident that taking down the ramps was the only way to stop the greater danger of cycling. In order to see the site repaired, the Parks Board agreed that THPS could direct the dismantling of the bike ramps and reconstruction of the mound.
Complete article here
Hilary Bell gathering in the Junction, Saturday September 17, 2011 from 2 to 5 PM
On September 12, 2011
In High park, Junction Triangle, North Junction, South Junction Triangle, The Junction, Upper Junction, West Bend
With 1 Comment
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Re-posted from a comment on this site, Thanks Sean for the info
Hilary Bell passed away September 2011.
To celebrate her life there will be a gathering of friends and family in our neighborhood on
Saturday September 17, 2011 from 2 to 5 PM.
Hilary loved Pilates and spent many mornings and evenings at the studio. We felt it would be fitting to have the event there.
“The Loft Pilates Studio” ,
396 Pacific Avenue, suite 201, Toronto M6P 1Z2.
Snacks and drinks will be served.
Your presence would be much appreciated.
For some information on her contributions to your community please see this link to the Junction Triangle site
IMG_0537
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