I hope everyone has had a lovely weekend and if you were too busy to enjoy the sun it looks like a beautiful week is in store for us! Lets all try to find some time to get outside and enjoy our local parks, trails, and hopefully a patio as well! Especially after the dull, dark winter we had to endure this year.
This weekend I took a good walk along Bloor Street in The Kingsway and I forgot how nice it was to be able to buy food, especially produce, from our local businesses versus the large chains. The weekend before I did the same things a bit further east on Bloor and did my shopping in Bloor West Village. I got great fresh produce at prices that were mainly lower than the big grocery chains and I helped put the money back into small family-businesses instead of family owned corporations who are some of the top 1% of earners in this country. I also got to walk outside and enjoy fresh air and sun rather than being stuck in a large crowded store! It is making me think more about how we can change our habits over time and start to rethink how we do things, in a world that is always changing this may be the time to consider exploring new ways of doing things as simple as where we buy groceries!
Reach out and let me know if you would like me to look at this issue in greater detail and do a price breakdown of shopping local vs the chains in our area!
Public Consultations
As the weather gets better our local streets will become busy with more foot traffic and bikes and some are concerned about what that will do to our streets as residents are already competing for space with all the private vehicles, transit buses, and trucks!
The city is looking at these issues across Toronto and this week residents in the west-end can see what is coming our way on Bloor Street over the next few years. The project known as the Bloor Street Complete Street Extension, is holding consultations and will be in Etobicoke on Thursday evening at Etobicoke CI.
From:
“The Bloor Street West Complete Street Extension project between Runnymede Road and Resurrection Road aims to make travel on the street safer, more inviting, and attractive for everyone. The project proposes road safety improvements, cycle tracks, and public realm upgrades to meet Toronto’s Vision Zero Road Safety Plan and Climate Change Action Plan goals.
Changes to Bloor Street West would be made with materials that can be installed quickly, such as bollards, roadway paint, planters and signage. No major road reconstruction is planned, and installation would take place in two phases in 2023 and 2024.”
While this work in ongoing road safety groups here in Toronto and in Mississauga are advocating to extend this project further along Bloor Street to connect both cities with a safe transportation link for those who prefer two-wheels to four. This work will take much longer but is something to think about especially as density is planned to increase in this area over the next decade. Having more complete streets in Etobicoke would make alternatives to cars more of a reality and in turn help to make our neighbourhoods safer for pedestrians. With a future increase in density we need to all look at current transportation needs and find ways to advocate for the needed changes and to do that we all need to be open to learning about what happens in other parts of Toronto. Etobicoke streets have not changed in decades and so we all could use a refresher on the great resources available to us if we just know what to ask for from our local Councillors.
For a start down this rabbit hole take a look at the road safety section of the Toronto website https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/streets-parking-transportation/road-safety/
To ask questions in person and meet with advocates and local residents attend the consultation this week - Thursday April 13 from 6pm to 8pm at Etobicoke CI which is located at 86 Montgomery Road.
If you are unable to attend there is another meeting the day before on April 12 at the same times at Swansea Public School. Or if you prefer, feel free to reach out to me with your questions at TheEtobicokeVoice@gmail.com and I will try to get answers for you!
Moving away from the streets and into a park, next weekend and into the following week the advocacy group Ontario Place for All will be holding public meetings along with Councillor Ausma Malik about the future of Ontario Place and the province’s push to see a large part of the land sold off to a private corporation. While many long time residents in Etobicoke have great memories of what was and current residents are still able to enjoy the park space that is there now, few know that this major issue is being led at Queen’s Park by Etobicoke-Centre MPP Kinga Surma who is also the Minister of Infrastructure.
I have been following this developing story from the start but when I mention it to my neighbours I find that this is not at top of mind for many living in the west-end who find that the ability to reach the area difficult and not a journey they make on a regular basis. But that does not mean Etobicoke residents don’t have an opinion, many want to save Ontario Place and want the city and province to make the park easier and more accessible for west-end residents so that we too can enjoy the lake, nature, and animal life that inhabit the area.
If you want to learn more you can start with the great website that has been created by the group Ontario Place for All at https://ontarioplaceforall.com/
If you are interested in taking part in the public discussions you can join in person this coming Saturday April 15 or you can take part in a virtual meeting next week on April 18 with all the details available on their website.
I will be following this issue closely and will update more over the coming weeks as this issue moves from the halls of Queen’s Park to those of City Hall!
Coming Soon
Over the next few weeks I will be introducing multiple courses for those of you who would like to get a closer look at how City Hall works and how today’s issues have become just that, issues! I have spent decades as an observer and its time to share that knowledge so that more of us can feel comfortable to advocate for the things we feel strongly about and to feel more comfortable in engaging with the community at large, including our elected officials. These courses will be primarily web-based but overtime they will evolve to include invitations to connect via webinars and potentially in-person at local outdoor venues. I will share more information on this over the coming weeks.
As always you can connect with me anytime at TheEtobicokeVoice@gmail.com or on twitter at @thismomroars ! Until next time stay safe, informed, and share a smile with a neighbour.