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posted 2007
Councillor Adam Giambrone writes on his blog:
Hello Everyone,
Many of you may have received a flyer for a holiday party I'm hosting with the help of DIG IN and the Bloordale BIA. The reason for the party........ I want to show my appreciation for you, my friends in Ward 18 and to give to those less fortunate.
As you know there is a women's shelter on Bloor Street West near Lansdowne. Savards houses up to 30 women who have struggled with mental health and addiction issues. The organization provides them a home, stability and the chance to get well. What better time to help the organization than during the holidays. This party is designed to be a fundraiser and we would like all who come to bring a gift or donate a practical item (towels, sheets, etc). The info is below and I hope to see you there. Happy Holidays, Festas Felizes,
Bloor-Lansdowne
Lansdowne road-narrowing Fall 2007
This fall many residents living along the stretch of Lansdowne between College and Bloor (see map) were angered by the City's decision to narrow the road by removing one lane of traffic. Even though the road reconstruction has been completed, more than a few houses along Lansdowne still have signs protesting the change. Read Joe Fiorito's November 16, 2007 Toronto Star column about the issue. See also this May 17, 2007 Star article about community opposition to the narrowing of the street.
Good-news story: How citizens fought to build their own park
By: E. FAYE FULTON
Published: October 18 1976
Source: Toronto Star
PDF text only: How citizens fought to build their own park
PDF original Star page: Toronto Star October 18 1976They scrapped and they fought for three years to get a bit of green grass for their children, and last Saturday they had reason to celebrate.
The swings were up and the grass stretched seven acres from Emerson Ave. to Dufferin St. - the Wallace-Emerson residents association finally has its park.
It's not a big park, mind you. There's still a lot of work to be done but then again, it's a lot better than the tangle of empty and dilapidated warehouses that stood on the site a few years ago.
Adults like Rose and Mike DiFilippo, the husband and wife team that spearheaded the drive to get what they claim is the only park for a community of 10,000 people, say they will make sure the association won't stop just because they now have a space for play.
And kids like Diego Barbera of Emerson Ave., who played table tennis and pool of 24 hours to raise money for field hockey equipment and Carlo Berlingieri, 14, who lent his stereo and record collection as entertainment say they will make sure the park is well used.
"It was an ugly site before this park. The buildings stood empty for a long time and we'd worry about the kids. If the children take good care of it and use it like they should, it will be a great boon for this district," said Grace Oliver who is 73 and lives on Lappin Ave.
She has lived in the neighbourhood for more than 50 years and remembers the days when the warehouses were new and exciting. Those days, she said, are long gone.
Mayor David Crombie was there to open the park. It was his fourth "opening" that day but this one was special because he had a hand in persuading the city to buy the land in 1973. He also presided over the meetings and at which the city first changed its mind and started talking about putting a school there instead.
But then the city changed its mind again and even let the community keep the remaining building as a "neighbourhood improvement program office."
In addition, there's $2.5 million "in various stages of approval" to set up permanent facilities and maybe even an ice rink. Three local residents groups, a senior citizens' representative and a youth delegate will decide what goes where.
"This park is not only a testimony, it shows that if a community wants something badly enough and co-operates and works together, it can get it," he told about 150 people.
He left in his chauffeur-driven limousine shortly after to attend another function, but the people's celebrations continued with films, a garage sale, food, music and dancing.