Mount Dennis Community Association€¦ · were well supported. In May, our Jane’s Walk retraced...
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NEWSLETTER #15 FALL 2017 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Thursday, December 14, 7 pm Royal Canadian Legion 1050 Weston Road Keynote speaker: Hon. Chris Ballard, Ontario Minister of the Environment & Climate Change ALL WELCOME Doors open 6PM HOW TO REACH US Tel. 416-614-3371 www.mountdennis.ca facebook.com/Mount Dennis @MountDennisCA [email protected] The mural on the supercoffee building is part of a Mount Dennis BIA plan to make Mount Dennis more bee-friendly while improving the look of our main intersection. MDCA appreciates the tie-in with our Eco-Neighbourhood initiative. Artist: Nick Sweetman. Funded by a City of Toronto Mural Grant and by Metrolinx. A map of Mount Dennis MOUNT DENNIS ECO-NEIGHBOURHOOD INITIATIVE Hey People! It’s time for a show of support! Do you believe Climate Change is real? Think we need to act on it? Learn how Mount Dennis can take better care of Mother Earth. Please come to MDCA’s December 14th Annual General Meeting (see above for details) and tell us your own ideas, ask questions, and talk with our politicians. Global climate change is directly connected to the lack of respect our way of life gives to water, land and air. Our First Nations’ historic practices have much to teach about how we can do better to sustain that which gives us all life. We should be listening! Since 2014 MDCA members have been learning how neighbourhood-level change can move us towards a more secure future. We have heard what people are already doing, and begun listing possible actions. And we have talked with governments and our political leaders about resources to make change happen. Our Eco-Neighbourhood strategy has many elements including community energy plans, retrofitting buildings, more cycling and walking, local food production and much more. Please help us co-create a community-wide plan for eco- action in 2018 and beyond. 2017 WAS A GOOD YEAR… …for MDCA. A varied group of new Board members brought new perspectives, priorities and energy, helping improve our website, newsletters, e-blasts, and relationships with the BIA and Neighbourhood Centre. The diversity and strength of Mount Dennis was evident in our Board, as well as in those who took part in MDCA’s public events and many other activities. … continued on p. 2 Mount Dennis Community Association
Transcript of Mount Dennis Community Association€¦ · were well supported. In May, our Jane’s Walk retraced...
NEWSLETTER #15 FALL 2017
ANNUALGENERALMEETINGThursday,December14,7pm
RoyalCanadianLegion1050WestonRoadKeynotespeaker:
Hon.ChrisBallard,OntarioMinisteroftheEnvironment
&ClimateChangeALLWELCOMEDoorsopen6PM
HOWTOREACHUSTel.416-614-3371
www.mountdennis.ca facebook.com/MountDennis @MountDennisCA [email protected]
ThemuralonthesupercoffeebuildingispartofaMountDennisBIAplantomakeMountDennis more bee-friendly while improving the look of our main intersection. MDCAappreciates the tie-in with our Eco-Neighbourhood initiative. Artist: Nick Sweetman.FundedbyaCityofTorontoMuralGrantandbyMetrolinx.
AmapofMountDennis
MOUNTDENNISECO-NEIGHBOURHOODINITIATIVE
HeyPeople!It’stimeforashowofsupport!DoyoubelieveClimateChangeisreal?Thinkweneedtoactonit?LearnhowMountDenniscantakebettercareofMotherEarth. PleasecometoMDCA’sDecember14thAnnualGeneralMeeting(seeabovefordetails)andtellusyourownideas,askquestions,andtalkwithourpoliticians.
Globalclimatechangeisdirectlyconnectedtothelackofrespectourwayoflifegivestowater,landandair.OurFirstNations’historicpracticeshavemuchtoteachabouthowwecandobettertosustainthatwhichgivesusall life. Weshouldbelistening!
Since2014MDCAmembershavebeenlearninghowneighbourhood-levelchangecanmoveustowardsamoresecurefuture. Wehaveheardwhatpeople are alreadydoing,andbegun listingpossible actions. Andwehave talkedwithgovernmentsandourpoliticalleadersaboutresourcestomakechangehappen.
OurEco-Neighbourhood strategyhasmanyelements including community energyplans, retrofittingbuildings,morecyclingandwalking,localfoodproductionandmuchmore.Pleasehelpusco-createacommunity-wideplanforeco-actionin2018andbeyond.
2017WASAGOODYEAR…
…forMDCA.AvariedgroupofnewBoardmembersbroughtnewperspectives,prioritiesandenergy,helpingimproveourwebsite,newsletters,e-blasts,andrelationshipswiththeBIAandNeighbourhoodCentre.ThediversityandstrengthofMountDenniswasevidentinourBoard,aswellasinthosewhotookpartinMDCA’spubliceventsandmanyotheractivities.
…continuedonp.2
Mount DennisCommunityAssociation
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MDCAin2017…continuedfrompage1
The weather challenged our Pearen Park rink, and wespentmoretimefloodingthanthekidsdidskating!Butstillthereweregoodtimes.OurAprilCommunityClean-upswerewell supported. InMay, our Jane’sWalk retraced2013’s “Not a Boring Walk”, showcasing the new RecCentre,Metrolinx’sworkontheStationandRailYard,andthehistoricAnglicanChurchwherefolkfromSt.Mary&St.Marthamadeuswelcome.July’sannualPartybythePondwasthebiggestever,withamazingweatherandaspecialappearancebyToronto’sMomenTOmuseum. InAugust,wehostedOntario150Humberfest,visitingSimcoe’s1793campsite,areasdevastatedby1954’sHurricaneHazel,theDenison family cemetery on the Humber and the lostpiggeryofthe“HospitalfortheConsumptivePoor”.
Besides leading these public events, MDCA supportedothergroupsandinitiatives.Whena2016studyproposedclosing our local police station at Trethewey and BlackCreek,weandothersaskedCityHallto“Save12Division”sinceitlistenstolocalconcerns,andsincelongpatrolsbyofficers in scout cars would not improve communitypolicing. (It seems the campaignworked!). In June,wehostedOntario’sMinisteroftheEnvironmentandClimateChangeatMountDennisLibrary,explainingwhyourEco-Neighbourhoodwasagoodidea,andwhywehadpushedforenergystorageinplaceofageneratingstation.
In April, MDCA supported York South Weston At theTable, an event to promote access to healthy food andshowcase local food producers. This Fall, we have beenactive in the Ward 11 Pedestrian Safety & CyclingCommittee. And finally, five years after the TorontoCommunity Benefits Network was launched at MDCA’s“Making Green Work” event, the Premier came here toannouncethat10%ofCrosstownconstructionworkwillbereserved for 416 area residents from disadvantagedcommunities.We know York SouthWeston is one of themostchallengedridingsinCanada.WealsoknowMDCAishelpingmake a difference. Join us on December 14 tolearnmoreandhelpsetour2018priorities.
ADÉJÀVUFIRE
On September 18th, eleven fire trucks showed up at thecornerofWestonandDoraSpencerasthedeveloper’slong-vacantsalesstructurewentupinflames.Long-timeMountDennisresidentsmayhavehadasenseofdéjàvu.FormuchoftheTwentiethCenturythisareawasthesiteofLevyAutoParts,whichexperienceddramaticfiresin1972,1988and1989.ThelastwasthelargestfireinMountDennishistory,involvingmorethan60firefighters!
Aerialviewof1400WestonRoadSalesCentreDamageSunday,January15th,1989September2017
LOCALSKATINGTHISWINTER?
MDCA plans to again create a community rink at PearenParkthiswinter.Wehopeforcolderweathertogiveusabetterskatingseason. Onceitiscoldenoughtomakeice,therinkwillbeopen4–6pmMon-Friand1–5pmonweekendsforourLearn-to-Skateprogram(withfreeskateandhelmetloansavailable).Localswithskatesarewelcometousetheiceatothertimes.Checkifwe’reopenattheParksignboard,oratmountdennis.ca,orcall416-614-3371.
Weneedvolunteers tohelpmake ice, shovel snow, teachskatingetc.Pleasecalloremailifyoucanhelpout.
Cecilia,aVenezuelannewcomertoCanada,managestheMountDennisNeighbourhoodCentrewhichsherepresentsonourBoard.LivingoutsideMountDennisbutworkingtoserveit,shefiguredbeingpartofMDCA“wouldbeagoodwaytofindoutwhatishappeninginthearea”.CeciliafoundotherBoardmemberstobe“busypeople,knowledgeableandengaged”inlargeissuesliketheEco-Neighbourhoodproject,butinsolvingsmallproblemstoo.“IhavebeensurprisedbythelevelofdedicationofsomeBoardmembers,andimpressedthattheywelcomeallpeopleofallages,arenon-judgementaland,mostimportantly,haveasenseofhumour!”.
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WHAT’SITLIKETOBEANMDCABOARDMEMBER?OurAnnualGeneralMeetingalwaysincludesBoardelections,oftenbringinginnewpeoplewithnewideas,concernsandtalent.Weaskedthreenew2017memberstotalkabouttheirexperiences.
HavingbeenontheMetrolinxNoiseWallAdvisoryGroupandattendedacoupleofspringclean-ups,DonknewabitaboutMDCAandwantedtogetmoreinvolved.AswellascomingtomonthlyBoardmeetingshehashelpedwithclean-ups,PartybythePond,Humberfest,andgraphicworkonthenewsletters.Knockingonneighbours’doorstogetapprovalforthe“RailwayLane”namechangegavehimabetterconnectiontopeopleonhisownstreetandnearby.“PeoplearemorelikelytoapproachmeaboutissuesnowthattheyknowIampartofMDCA,”hesays.“Ihaveabetterfeelfortheirconcerns,andcanhelpthemfindsolutions.”
Johnny,inhistwenties,isanewCanadianfromLebanon.Hesawaposteraboutlastyear’sAGMand checked our website,where he foundMDCA projects and priorities “ticked all the rightboxes”.So,JohnnyshowedupattheAGMandwaselectedtotheBoard,wherehehelpedredesignthewebsiteandcontributedinmanyotherways.“I’vebeensurprisedbytherangeofissuestheBoardisinvolvedin,”hesays,“andIlikethatMDCAisacommunityassociation,notaratepayergrouponlyinterestedinhomeowners’concerns.”JohnnydescribesMDCAas“quiteprogressiveforanorganizationwithoutapoliticalagenda.Theseare‘regularpeople’whocantakeonmoreasagroup,andmakemoreimpact.”Headds,“withregardstogentrification,MDCAisquiteforwardthinking in not wanting to push out poorer people.”His neighbours respect him for being onMDCA’sBoard,andhefindshecantalkwithstrangersintheareaaboutissuesofconcernandhowtoaddressthem.
WILLTHEYWORKTHEANGLESONWESTONROAD?(FirstarticleinaseriesonthefutureofWestonRoad)
NewdevelopmentiscomingtoMountDennis,includingWestonRoad.Althoughourmainstreet’sunusualfeaturescanmakelifemorecomplicatedfordevelopers,whomaybetemptedtofindwaysofmaskingthem,plannersanddeveloperscouldworkWITHandcelebrateWestonRoad’speculiarities,andperhapsaddvaluetotheirprojectsandhelpmakeMountDennisextraspecialforeveryone.
Weston Road is different from other Toronto main streets. Most runstraight, butWeston Road keeps changing direction, with kinks nearLambton, at Eglinton and nearDora SpencerRoad,anddoesnotfollowthecity’sgrid.Moststreets are more-or-less level, but WestonRoad throughMountDennis includesasteephill. These things all help make our areadistinctive.
Kinks:DesignershavecreatedfocalpointsatWestonandEglinton.ThechurchtowerofSt.
Mary & St. Martha provides a feature for anyone going southbound onWeston, while thestrikingredcupolaatopShillaRestaurantdoesthesamegoingnorth.Butnoattempthasbeenmadetocelebratetheothertwokink-points.Let’smakesurenewdevelopmentsintheseareastakeadvantageoffocalpoints.
Hill: When there isa steephill, thebuildingseithersidecanvisuallyflattenitout,ortheycanemphasizeandcelebratethegradient.Rightnow,thehillhasbeenprettymuchignored.Let’smake sure new development “steps up” and reinforces the“Mount” in Mount Dennis! Also, for southbound travelerscrossing Jane Street, as well as Lambton Ave. further south,thereisagreatviewoftheCNTowerinthedistance–a“viewcorridor” the City’s planners and developers could preserve.Let’smakesuretheydo.
Grid:WestonRoad’sdiagonalpaththroughthegridhasledtosomefascinatingangularlocalbuildingswhichmaybelostto redevelopment. Or preserved. Or replaced by new buildingswhich also celebrate the unusual angles. Supercoffee’s
entranceonawide-anglecornermakesitfeelextraspaciousandcreatesadramaticrangeofviews. Scotiabank’s original building paralleled Weston Road andHollis,but thesensitive1982additionalsoaligned itwithEglinton,drawing attention with a dramatic circular window. The SalvationArmy’s1971churchbuildingisanothercreativemodernresponsetothe street grid (unlike the 1954 Legion building). There are othercharmingly-angledolderbuildingssouthoftheLegioneithersideofDennis Ave., and even Irving Tissue has carefully aligned its office
buildingtoparallelWestonRoad.Let’smakesureourbesthistoricangle-buildingsarepreserved,andthatnewbuildingsaredesignedtorespectWestonRoad’sunusualrelationshipwiththegrid.
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BranchHours:MontoWed:9:30amto4:00pmThu:9:30amto5:00pmFri:9:30amto6:00pm
NEIGHBOURHOODCENTREBUILDSCOMMUNITYONEMOUTHFULATATIME
Every weekend at the corner of Weston and Ray, ourneighbours gather to prepare deliciousmeals and sharewith other members of the community. On SaturdayOctober28,themenuwasgoulashandlekvárosbukta(out-of-this-world Hungarian sweet rolls). The chefs wereMagdi,NickyandJasmin–threegenerationsofaRomanifamilywhomigrated fromHungaryandarenow sharingtheir culture through foodwith an enthusiastic groupofpatrons. On theweekendprior,dinnerwaspreparedbyMyrtle,whohad everyonehookedonher Jamaican-stylecuisine. Before that, Linda of First Nations heritage,delighted everyonewithwhat she called “Indian Tacos”;andwhocould forgetJoan’schickenanddumplings?Yes,this is what happens every Saturday evening atMountDennisNeighbourhoodCentre(1269WestonRoad).
Wehavesomegreatvolunteercooks!Youmightthinktheywouldbedauntedby the fortyor soclientswhodineonSaturdaysatMDNC,butmanycomefromlargefamiliesorhavehadexperiencecookinginrestaurants,sofeedingthisnumberofpeopleseemsnormaltothem.
AnMDNCSundayBrunchisalsoservedweekly,andlately,in a spontaneous phenomenon, themen are taking overthismeal. Paul and Steve,withoccasional help from theexpert, Tom, prepare French toast and scrambled eggsservedwithassortedbreads,jam,andmargarine.
TheMDNCWeekendCommunityMealsarehappymoments
in which neighbours are welcome, connect with andsupporteachotherinapleasantenvironment.TheCentresees families with children, seniors, members of theLGBTQcommunity,andmenandwomenfromvariedanddiverse backgrounds. All this can only happen with thesupportofdedicatedvolunteersincludingAbdiaziz,whogreetsvisitorsenthusiasticallyanddiligentlymanagesthecoffee and tea station. It is also made possible by thesupportofNorthYorkHarvestFoodBank,aMazonGrant,theUnitedChurchandprivatedonations.
MDNC is a satellite of theWeston King NeighbourhoodCentre,andhostsotherfood-basedprogramslikeAfter-SchoolCookingclassesandtheGoodFoodMarket(freshfruitsandvegetables),andtheKitchenCollective(afoodstart-up incubator). It also hosts programming led bypartneragencieslikeNativeChildandFamilyServicesofToronto, the Learning Enrichment Foundation, andWeston Mount Dennis Community Place Hub, amongothers. MDNC is always looking for volunteers, andcurrently(taxdeductible)donationsaremuchneededtocarryitsprogramsthrough2018.Todonate,getinvolvedor learn more please call (416) 572-0203, go towww.wknc.caorvisitMountDennisMarketandCaféonFacebook,orInstagram:@mountdennismarketandcafe
MEALSONWHEELS
Dailydeliveryofhotnutritiousmealstohomesofseniorsandadultswithdisabilities.
Deliciousmealsconsistingofasoup,amaindish,salad,fruitordessert!Wealsohaveaspecialdietmenuofferingdiabetic,saltfree,pureed,minced,
renal,gluten-free,lactose-freeandreducedsodiummeals.
FORMOREINFORMATIONPLEASECALLUSAT416-249-7946
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PrintedinM
ountDen
nisb
yNirvanaPress,647
428
-193
2
$5 Haddock & Chips
Special with this coupon
Max 3 per customer
Expires on December 31, 2017
UrgentNeedforDrivers!MealsonWheelsurgentlyneedsvolunteerstohelpdelivermeals.Pickashift(10:30-12:30)ononeormoredays(Mon.-Fri.)thencallHumberCommunitySeniorsServicesat416-249-7946.(Seeadbelow)
Golden Crisp Fish & Chips 1354WestonRoad|416-245-8839
www.GoldenCrisp.caWhatisyourGoldenCrispStory?
VisitourFacebookpagetoshareyourmemorywiththerestofMountDennis!
MAKINGITSAFETOWALK&CYCLE
CouncillorNunziata’sWard11PedestrianSafetyandCyclingCommitteestartedworkinSeptember. Thecommitteegrewfromamountingconcernforroadsafetyforall, inparticularpedestrians.ItsroleistoadvisetheCityonhowtoimprovethesafetyandconvenienceofwalkersandcyclistsalike.Its18membersarevolunteersfromallpartsofWard11,includingthreeMDCABoardmembers,whoseethisasvitallyimportant.CouncillorNunziata'sofficeorganizesthemonthlymeetingsanddoesminutes,whileourCouncillorandMPPattendwhentheycan.
The years 2012-2016 saw a yearly average of 33 pedestrians die on the streets ofToronto-a15%jumpovertheprevious5-yearperiod.Thesealarmingnumberspromptedmediaandpublicpressureonauthorities,andtheCityrespondedwitharoadsafetyplancalledVisionZero.Toronto'sVisionZeroguidelinesreflecttheprinciplethatthenumberoneaimofinfrastructuredesignshouldbetoavoiddeathandseriousinjury,andthatsafetyconsiderationsmusttakeprecedenceoverconcernswithtraveltimesortrafficflow.
TheCommitteehasmetthreetimesandhasoutlinedtheworkitintendstotackle,aswellasdocumentingpedestrianandcyclist problem spots all overWard 11. These include uneven sidewalks, large hard-to-cross intersections, or unsaferandom pedestrian crossings. Committee members have also discussed major infrastructure upgrades needed (e.g.extendingtheWestTorontoRailPathnorthtoserveWard11residents).Theyhavealsostressedtheneedforsafe,directbikeroutesbetweentheplacespeopleneedtogo.
MDCAhopesthisongoingprocesswillnotonlyleadtheCitytoimprovelocalsidewalks,roadsandbikeroutes,butwillalsoyieldconcretesmallfixesintheshort-term,andinvigorateroadsafetyadvocacyinourcommunity.PleasetellMDCAyourconcernsaboutpedestrianandcyclistsafety.E-mailsafety@mountdennis.caorcomeouttoourDecember14AGMwherewewillhaveaPedestrian&CyclistSafetyinformationtableandanopportunitytodiscusstheseissues.
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“GhostBike”onAlliance(nearJane),wherecyclistGarySimwaskilledbyacarinJune
UPCOMINGEVENTS
DEC2LEGION’SCHRISTMASGIFT&CRAFTSFAIR**,9amto1pmSilentauction,40+vendors(itemsforholidaydecoration,gifts&entertaining).Snackbar.
DEC8UrbanArts’ANNUALWINTEREXPO!,from6pmLivemusic,hotchocolate&S’moresbar,prizes.CozyWinterWonderland.Funforthewholefamily!Pleasebringanon-perishablefooditemforNorthYorkHarvestfoodbank.
DEC14MDCA’SANNUALGENERALMEETINGattheLEGION**,7-9pmHearourkeynotespeaker:OntarioMinisteroftheEnvironment&ClimateChange,ChrisBallard.LearnhowlivinginanEco-Neighbourhoodmayaffectyou.GetupdatesfromourMP, MPP & Councillor. Help elect MDCA’s new Board and share your Mount Dennisprioritiesfor2018.Enjoyrefreshmentsandsnacks.DOORSOPEN@6pm
DEC21BIA’s2ndWINTERSOLSTICECELEBRATIONatNyctophilia***,6-8pmUnderthelights.PicswithSanta,facepainting,entertainment&hotchocolate–allFREE.Pleaseanon-perishablefooditemfortheWAESfoodbank.
JAN27–MAR3TDSHAKESPEAREFORKIDSDRAMACLUBattheLIBRARYActors&educators fromShakespeare inAction leadkidsages7-12throughthebard’sdrama,games,magic&more.Registerin-personafterDec.15th.VisittheLibrary(1123WestonRd.)forinfoaboutDigitalPhotography(ages9-15)andotherprograms.
**MountDennisLegionisat1050WestonRoad(southofEglinton)***AtWestonRd.&DennisAve.
NEWONWESTONROAD
Our main street never stopschanging!At#1560,NiyamaTreeYoga is now open offering dailyclasses (see ad on p.4). South ofOxfordAve.,at#1203,MyMama’sCloset was recently opened byNigerian-born fashion designerTracy Ekubor, featuring a variedand exciting line of women’sclothing. Nearby at #1195, theSkull Store has replaced A.N.Electronics, allowing owner BenLovatttoturnhis formerspaceat#1193 into an improved, largermuseum, open weekends forvisitors of all ages. There havebeen disappointing losses too:Afro-Caribbean Granny’s Flavour(formerly #1189) was one of ourmostpopularrestaurantsformanyyears.Oppositeat#1174CIBChasclosed, another big loss. OwnerJonah has temporarily closed theSandwich Shoppe (#1069) whilefocusingonhiscateringbusiness.
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MDCA’se-blasts ourCouncillor’s,MPP’s&MP’se-newsbulletinsFinddetailsonhowtosubscribeatmountdennis.ca
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