Lakeshore Santa Claus Parade

The 21st Annual Etobicoke-Lakeshore Santa Claus Parade is will take place Sunday December 3, starting at Dwight Ave. at 10am, travelling along Lake Shore Blvd. W to Thirty Sixth St.

www.lakeshoresantaclausparade.com

Volunteers are needed to help paint and polish floats, deliver posters, make signs, assist with costumes, wear costumes and carry banners in the parade. High school student volunteers may use their time toward their compulsory graduation requirement of 40 hours of community service. Please contact Lana Pimentel at 416-880-1912 or at lana.pimentel@rogers.com

See you there!

Ground Breaking on Waterfront Park Phase 2

Toronto – Waterfront Toronto and Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA) together with the Governments of Canada, Ontario and the City of Toronto officially launched construction of the final phase of Mimico Waterfront Park today.

Located on the shore of Lake Ontario in Etobicoke, Mimico Waterfront Park connects people to the water across a lakefront area that historically has lacked public access to the waterfront.  When completed in 2012 the park will provide 1.1 kilometer of linear waterfront park space between Norris Crescent Parkette and Humber Bay Park West.

Waterfront Toronto opened the first 600 meter western portion of the park in 2008. The final 500 meters of linear park will enable Torontonians to enjoy the lakefront west of Humber Bay Park West for the first time and will provide the missing link in the city’s waterfront trail system.

“As Federal Minister responsible for the GTA and the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Initiative, I am pleased once again that our government is part of this remarkable transformation along Toronto’s lakeshore,” said Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty. “When completed, Mimico Waterfront Park will be an inviting and open community hub that will make a vital contribution to the overall prosperity and lifestyles of the residents and businesses of the waterfront.”

“We know that when we invest in Toronto’s waterfront we will see tangible returns.  At the same time, the investment in Mimico Waterfront Park will act as a catalyst for the local economy,” said Bernard Trottier, Member of Parliament for Etobicoke—Lakeshore.  “It is good to see this proud community along our waterfront evolving into the vibrant, exciting destination it deserves to be.”

“Today’s official start of Phase Two of the redevelopment of Mimico Waterfront Park is exciting for the residents and businesses of Etobicoke-Lakeshore who have always appreciated our community’s unique location, public spaces and access to the waterfront trails and parks,”  said Laurel Broten, MPP, Etobicoke-Lakeshore. “Moving forward with Mimico Waterfront Park is a key element of our strategy to revitalize and strengthen our lakeshore community and ensure that this wonderful natural legacy will be appreciated by families for generations to come.”

“Mimico Waterfront Park is an important local asset that enhances and strengthens the local community,” said Mark Grimes, Councillor for Etobicoke-Lakeshore. “Phase Two is the missing link that will extend and connect the waterfront and improve access for all park users. It will also provide an economic boost to local businesses by attracting visitors and additional investment in the area.”

Mimico Waterfront Park is an important asset in enhancing and strengthening the local community. Mimico is a community that the City of Toronto has targeted for revitalization;  creating more and better waterfront park space is one of the strategies the City has identified to help attract investment in the area.

“One of Waterfront Toronto’s primary objectives is to leverage investment in parks and public spaces to deliver key economic and social benefits,” said Mark Wilson, Chair, Waterfront Toronto. “The investment in Mimico Waterfront Park will deliver far more than much needed waterfront public space. It is also a catalyst for re-invigorating the local economy.”

The first phase of the park has been well received and well used by local residents since it opened in 2008.  The new park has also helped attract new businesses and residents to Mimico. The final phase of the project is expected to help further revitalize the area.

TRCA is an integral partner for Waterfront Toronto in the revitalization of Toronto’s waterfront and is responsible for the planning and building of the park.

“Mimico Waterfront Park was planned and designed by the citizens of this community for the use and enjoyment of the citizens of this community.  We are proud to have worked beside our local stakeholders toward the revitalization in this historic part of the city” said Brian Denney, Chief Administrative Officer of TRCA.

As with all Waterfront Toronto projects, sustainability is a key feature of Mimico Waterfront Park.  The park was designed with the native ecology of the area in mind and it includes features that benefit residents as well as the local aquatic and terrestrial habitats.

The second phase of the park builds east from the first phase and will provide linear water’s edge public space that connects existing local parks. The park is being constructed through a lakefilling process along a narrow section of the existing shoreline.

Phase Two begins at Superior Avenue in the west and extends the waterfront trail and public waterfront access to Humber Bay Park West in the east. The park’s features include an additional 500 metres of waterfront trail, 250 metres of cantilevered pedestrian boardwalk, a separate multi-use trail located along the backshore that provides cycling and in-line skating access adjacent to the boardwalk, small pockets of wetland habitat, landscaping and park lighting.

The total project budget for Mimico Waterfront Park is $18.6 million dollars of which $6.9 million has been committed by the City of Toronto, $6.2 million by the Province of Ontario and $5.5 million by the Government of Canada. The budget for the second phase of Mimico Waterfront Park is $8.4 million.
Waterfront Toronto has made major strides in revitalizing Toronto’s waterfront. In addition to building and improving 17 parks and public spaces, Waterfront Toronto has finalized development agreements with Great Gulf Group of Companies, Urban Capital and Hines for private sector projects on the waterfront, as well as with George Brown College for the development of their new state-of-the-art Health Sciences campus.

The Governments of Canada and Ontario and the City of Toronto created Waterfront Toronto to oversee and lead the renewal of Toronto’s waterfront. Public accessibility, design excellence, sustainable development, economic development and fiscal sustainability are the key drivers of waterfront revitalization.



City Council Highlights July 12, 13 and 14

Council Highlights
City Council meeting of July 12, 13 and 14, 2011      

Council Highlights summarizes a selection of decisions made by Toronto City Council. The City Clerk's Office provides the full, authoritative documentation of all Council business matters and decisions, at http://www.toronto.ca/council.

Bike lanes    
Council adopted a plan to begin creating a network of separated bike lanes and voted to remove the existing bike lanes that are painted on Jarvis Street, Pharmacy Avenue and Birchmount Road. The first project for bike lanes that are physically separated from vehicle lanes will take place on the Bloor viaduct, and design work will begin for separated lanes on Sherbourne, Wellesley, Harbord and Beverley Streets. The Jarvis Street bike lanes will remain in place for about a year until bike lanes are established on a resurfaced Sherbourne Street as an alternative north-south route for bicycle traffic in the east downtown area. Council also adopted changes affecting the planned installation of bike lanes on certain sections of Bloor Street West.

Managing graffiti
Council adopted a graffiti management plan that aims to eliminate graffiti vandalism while supporting graffiti art and other street art that adds vibrancy to Toronto's streets. The plan includes efforts to work with stakeholders including youth, agencies and corporations such as Canada Post on ways to reduce graffiti vandalism. Council also requested a report on a strategy for removing, and recovering cleanup costs for, corporate graffiti/advertising marked on sidewalks.

Pedestrian tunnel to the island airport
Council authorized the City of Toronto to enter into an agreement with the Toronto Port Authority for the construction of a pedestrian tunnel between the Toronto mainland and the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. A watermain and sanitary sewer lines serving Toronto Islands residents and businesses are expected to be incorporated into the tunnel project at a much lower cost than installing the water and sewer lines on their own apart from the tunnel.

Management of Lakeshore Lions Arena 
Council decided to take over the operation of Lakeshore Lions Arena by setting up a new Lakeshore Arena Corporation to run the four-pad arena at 400 Kipling Ave. The Lakeshore Lions Club, which opened the arena in 2009 to replace a single-pad arena, faced difficulties paying off a loan that the City had guaranteed. Council's plan calls for the arena's financial affairs to be put in order, then the City will seek a private operator to take over.

City services benefit card     
Council gave its support in principle to a project to introduce a City services benefit card for public business transactions with the City. The first phase of the project will focus on the Employment and Social Services division's issuance of Ontario Works payments to residents.

Taxi fare payment by debit/credit card             
Council agreed to amend the code governing taxi cab owners and drivers by adding the requirement that cabs equipped for payment by debit or credit card must display a sign on the passenger doors informing riders of any service charge applied to payment by debit or credit card.

Redevelopment of Lawrence Heights
Council adopted a plan for the redevelopment of the Lawrence Heights neighbourhood. The plan, which originally proposed 4,800 new market rent/condominium units, has been trimmed to 4,100 units in addition to about 1,200 replacement social-housing units. Council wants construction to proceed at a manageable pace, ensuring that financing is in place for the infrastructure needed to support the growing community.

Toronto Prosperity Initiative
Council expressed its support in principle for the recommendations contained in the Toronto Prosperity Initiative: Establishing the Path the Growth report. The report was produced by an advisory committee of City officials, business leaders and labour leaders, with additional recommendations from the Economic Development Committee. Council gave several directives for follow-up, including a report on the financial implications of implementation. Toronto Prosperity Initiative report: http://www.toronto.ca/business_publications/pdf/path_for_growth.pdf

Consultation for parks plan      
Council approved a consultation plan to help in the preparation of a five-year Parks Plan to guide decision-making about parkland in Toronto. The consultations this fall will seek public input with the intention of producing a final report early in the new year.

Local food procurement  
Council adopted a policy supporting the purchase of locally-grown food. Under the policy, staff will try to increase the proportion of locally-grown food in purchases of food for City of Toronto operations when cost, quality and availability make it feasible. The City will take steps to support local economic activity in the food sector.

Financing the TTC
Council adopted a member's motion for the City to urge Ontario's political parties to make public commitments to reinstate the "fair share" funding arrangement for the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). From the 1970s until the late 1990s, Ontario funded 50 per cent of the TTC's operating costs and 75 per cent of its capital expenditures - known as the "fair share" formula. At present, the TTC faces capital and operating budget shortfalls as well as unpredictable future funding.

Appointment of two senior managers
Council appointed Brenda Patterson and John Livey deputy city managers to fill vacancies in the Toronto Public Service's senior management. Brenda Patterson is currently Toronto's general manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation. John Livey will join the City of Toronto from the Town of Markham, where he is chief administrative officer. There are three deputy city manager positions in the Toronto Public Service. Each oversees a cluster of municipal services.


Mark Grimes Named City's Pan-Am lead

Sunday, July 10th marks the official four-year countdown to the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games—the largest international multi-sport competition ever hosted in Canada.

To mark the occasion, Mayor Rob Ford announced Councillor Mark Grimes (Ward 6, Etobicoke – Lakeshore) has been selected to lead the City of Toronto's participation in the Games as Chairman of the Mayor's Pan Am Games Secretariat.

“We are ready to roll up our sleeves and work with the City on delivering an event that will make us all proud,” says Ian Troop, Chief Executive Officer, Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee (TO2015™).

As the City's lead, Councillor Grimes will provide support and direction for an integrated public agenda for the Toronto 2015 Games that will help maximize economic development, tourism and local community opportunities for the city.

"I am very pleased to announce that Councillor Mark Grimes will be leading our team, welcoming thousands of expected visitors for the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games," said Mayor Ford. "The Games will generate investment, spending and jobs for Toronto."

Since 2003, Councillor Grimes has developed relationships with many of Toronto’s sports leaders, and as the City’s Toronto 2015 lead, he will draw upon his board member experience with groups including Tourism Toronto, the Toronto Sports Council and the Hockey Hall of Fame. In addition, Councillor Grimes was also the lead in getting the BMO Field to Toronto.

"I’m honoured to represent the City of Toronto for the 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games," said Councillor Grimes. "On behalf of our city, I look forward to welcoming athletes and visitors from around the globe. This is a great opportunity for sport and for Toronto to showcase the city's diversity, assets and attractions."

On Sunday, July 10 Toronto’s iconic CN Tower will be lit up in the vibrant Toronto 2015 Pan Am red, blue and green brand colours to celebrate the four-year countdown. The Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games will involve more than 10,000 athletes, coaches and officials participating in 48 sports across 17 municipalities in the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

“The Government of Canada is very proud to support the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games,” said the Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport). “Today marks an exciting occasion as we begin our four-year countdown to when we will welcome the Americas in the largest international sporting event Canada has ever hosted.”

The Games are held every four years for athletes of the 42 member nations of the Pan American Sport Organization (PASO). Canada has hosted them twice before, in 1967 and 1999, both times in Winnipeg.

“The 2015 Pan/Parapan Am Games will spark transformation in Ontario at many levels. I am confident that athletes of all abilities will benefit for years to come and so will the broader community when Ontario hosts the world in 2015,” says Margarett Best, Ontario Minister of Health Promotion and Sport.
The Toronto 2015 Pan American Games will take place from July 10 to 26, 2015 and the Parapan Am Games will be held from August 7 to 14, 2015.

22 Division Community Update July 2011