by Allison Hanes (National Post) A $1-million donation to the city of Toronto is on its way to helping create an accessible water play area and sensory garden at Earl Bales Park in North York.
The parks and environment committee unanimously approved the donation for the project at today's meeting – as is city policy for gifts above $50,000 – calling it "wonderful" and "tremendous.
by Rob Roberts (National Post)
Councillor Paula Fletcher marked the opening of golfing season today by teeing off at one of Toronto’s five city-run golf courses (including the Don Valley Golf Course, above). The Post’s Melissa Leong went to Dentonia Park Golf Course to see if the councillor could hit a hole-in-one:
9:49 Ms. Fletcher, chair of the parks and environment committee, arrives with a red golf bag slung over her shoulders. She looks like she means business.
OMB turns down SmartCentres plan By DAVID NICKLE - Beaches-East York Mirror In a long-awaited decision, the Ontario Municipal Board has turned down a plan to build a giant retail complex on Eastern Avenue in Leslieville.
The proposal would have seen a 700,000 square foot retail complex, likely anchored by a Wal-Mart, put on lands currently occupied by Toronto Film Studios between Eastern and Lakeshore Boulevard to the west of Leslie Street.
The National Post published my editorial on the City and the community's victory at the OMB.Read below or go here
The word on everyone's lips these days is "economy.''
Within the first few pages of every newspaper we are reading about deficit spending, bank bailouts and of course job losses. The federal and provincial governments are scrambling to present a stimulus package to create activity that will lead to jobs.
The City of Toronto today announced plans to spend more than $240 million to improve the quality of the City’s roads and bridges as well as other transportation programs that support transit initiatives, cycling infrastructure and pedestrian environments.
“The City of Toronto is committed to maintaining and upgrading the quality of our transportation infrastructure,” said Mayor David Miller. “Toronto’s transportation network is a critical component of our community and we are investing in our infrastructure assets to ensure the safety of all road users. Performing this work is another example of the City’s efforts to create jobs in difficult times - doing what is necessary to improve the economic well-being of our community.”
At a May 2008 public meeting organized by Councillor Paula Fletcher, residents generally accepted a conceptual plan to normalize this intersection for pedestrians and provide more green space.
Click to download the Reconfiguration of Intersection – Coxwell + Fairford
Some of you may be concerned about lead in drinking water.
[caption id="attachment_486" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Paula hands out free water testing kits at the Lead in Water information meeting"]
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Toronto Water and Public Health have indicated that homes that were built before 1955 with lead pipes may have levels of lead in their drinking water. Toronto homes with lead service pipes and that have occupants who are expectant mothers or children under six years should have their water tested for lead.
MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday March 4, 2009
TORONTO – The City of Toronto and the residents of east Toronto have won a historic decision at the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). After a 5-month hearing, the OMB has ruled against the conversion of employment lands to Big Box Retail.
“This is a victory for not only my community but also for anyone who supports good planning and good jobs for our City” says Councillor Paula Fletcher.
