Hope everyone had a great week and while it has gotten cooler it could be worse! Actually we have been very lucky this fall and this weekend looks like it will continue for at least a few days! This is a great time of year to continue to enjoy the parks, ravines, and trails around Etobicoke as the last of the leaves are still vibrant reds and gold. By the sounds of the winds outside as I write, they won’t be on the trees much longer. So enjoy the time you have this weekend and I hope you have some time to take in some of the natural treats we are so lucky to have in all of our neighbourhoods.
Happening Around Etobicoke and Across The City
Sunday November 5th at 1pm
Toronto Community Bikeways Coalition - We Belong On Bloor
Join us and groups across the city this Sunday to show Ford what "just one cyclist" looks like! Let's support the Bloor W complete street with a group ride this Sunday at 1pm starting from High Park.
Complete street infrastructure isn't just for bikes, they help make our roads safer for pedestrians and drivers too! Let's not forget the benefits they have for reducing greenhouse gases, noise pollution, and health.
Can't wait to see you all out there!(I will be speaking at the event and will share my thoughts and speech on Monday)
Saturday November 11th at 10:45am
Remembrance Day Ceremony - Etobicoke Civic Centre - 399 The West Mall
The annual Remembrance Day ceremony held in Etobicoke by the City of Toronto is held at the Cenotaph located at the back of the building. As the date falls on a Saturday this year, I encourage all who can attend to do so as this is a good chance to connect with the community and remember our fallen who made the ultimate sacrifice for all of us.
Wednesday November 22nd 5pm - 9pm
LAMP Community Health Centre’s National Housing Day Event 2023
G building Humber Lakeshore Campus - 17 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Dr.
*Free everyone welcome
*Community Building
*Discover new models to create affordable housing in South Etobicoke
*Pitch community solutions and ideas that meet the needs of everyday people
*Share locations where affordable housing should be built in South Etobicoke
*Learn about Community Benefits and ways to generate local jobs in the trades
*Find out how a local land trust works to develop and protect affordable housing
*See how Humber College is connecting to the community to make life better for local residents
*Hear from some young bright changemakers and accelerate a social community building response
*Amplify a call to action
National Housing Day is an opportunity to learn more about the impact of the housing crisis in South Etobicoke. Join us for dinner, speakers, and educational activities about affordable housing.
We are also accepting pitch submissions from anyone with an idea to support housing in our community. For more information or to submit your pitch, contact brig@lampchc.org or phone 416-252-6471 ext. 308
News / Local
At this month’s Etobicoke York Community Council meeting a community-initiated traffic safety item is on the agenda which was released this week. The need for a proper crosswalk for students and community members on Renforth Drive at Toledo in Ward 2 (Etobicoke-Centre) is real and has been asked for as a local road enhancement for decades. The speed and amount of cars has increased over the years and students do not have any close by crossings to the nearby middle school when connecting from the east side of the street.
Bloordale M.S. with the support of local parents/caregivers have been working with Councilor Stephen Holyday and his office since 2019 on this work and will now see the final steps to the hard work hopefully pay off! This proper crossing will help to ensure pedestrians and drivers both have turns to cross in an area that is known for near misses on a regular basis. This single improvement may also help to get more kids out of cars as this crossing has been a hindrance to kids arriving on foot or bike which could eventually reduce the congestion even more. This would be a big win for our kids, vulnerable road users, and climate! It also could be a great case study for other local schools to use when looking to fix their own local traffic issues.
If you live in the area and would like to support this new crosswalk please send an email to The Etobicoke Voice (theetobicokevoice@gmail.com). I will pass these on to the Councillors in a single email to show the support from our community as this is a step in the right direction to improving pedestrian safety for everyone!
Here is the item on the agenda for more information:
https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.EY9.19
As The Etobicoke Voice grows I believe the need to explore all aspects of out west end community is so important and it is time to hear more about the people who live here and make Etobicoke what it is. Some of us were born here and so many more have found their way here from every other part of this huge and expansive world we all share. This is why I am launching “Etobicoke Stories” which will be a series based on you, the local residents of our community. If you have a story you would like to share please reach out and I will send you submission guidelines that will be available starting next week. You will have the opportunity to submit stories you write or a pitch if you would prefer to tell the story and have me write it. These stories will also have an option to be recorded.
I will mention this regularly as you may need time to think or perhaps an idea may come to you later on when reading those told by others. I will post occasional themes that may help get the creative thoughts flowing! I am so excited to learn more about who makes Etobicoke, Etobicoke!
If you are a paid subscriber look out for an in depth update on what is going on at City Hall this month coming Tuesday. This is the lead up to the monthly meeting that starts on November 8th. Becoming a paid subscriber really does help support the time that can be put into making this publication more frequent and so I thank you for considering an upgrade. And keep in mind a Paid Subscription makes a great gift for anyone who wants to know more about local politics with an Etobicoke slant!
One last thing….
I got word today that Etobicoke Centre MP Yvan Baker’s office has opened the nomination period for his 2023 Community Recognition awards. There are multiple categories and all the information can be found on his website.
Nominations are open until December 20 and the awards ceremony is scheduled to take place January 28, 2024.
https://yvanbaker.libparl.ca/2023/10/27/1083/
You can always leave a comment or send an email to TheEtobicokeVoice@gmail.com
Let me know if you have story ideas, tips, or event listings that you would like to see appear on these pages and I will try to make it happen!
The Etobicoke Voice is now on Threads and Instagram! You will find posts for even more events and news stories frequently updated throughout the week - just look us up by name.