So How Do You Feel About Hens in Our Backyards?

January 18, 2023 Michael Leave a comment Feedback

Building on the broad public consultations conducted in 2022, the City wants to reconnect with you to hear your opinions on making the UrbanHensTO pilot program permanent and city-wide. Take an online survey to share your thoughts and any additional comments on issues related to the program, such as nuisance, public health, food security, veterinarian care and animal welfare in Toronto. The deadline to submit comments is February 7.

Your feedback from the survey will update the City’s understanding about the program, help staff gauge the extent to which the public support making the program permanent, and inform the final staff report expected at the April 2023 meeting of the Economic and Community Development Committee.

Learn more at toronto.ca/UrbanHensTO.

Do These Things Or Your Pipes May Freeze

December 21, 2022 Michael Leave a comment Feedback

This time of year can often be variable: cold days, mild days, cold days… It will eventually be much colder, longer, so consider these tips to ensure your home’s plumbing is safe:

Locate your main water shut-off valve inside your home and add a tag or label to it, so it is easy to locate and turn off quickly if pipes burst in your home

Seal air leaks in your home and garage to stop cold air from getting in. Check around windows and doors, electrical wiring, dryer vents and pipes

Insulate pipes in your home most prone to freezing including near outside walls, in the basement, or in a garage with an outside water supply. Use foam pipe covers available from building supply or home improvement stores

Keep the house warm even if you’re away to prevent indoor plumbing from freezing, especially in the area near the water meter

When temperatures are below -15C for a few days, you can choose to keep the water moving in your pipes by running a pencil-thin stream of cold water from a tap in the lowest point of the house e.g. a sink or tub in the basement. Ensure the drain is kept clear of debris to prevent overflowing or flooding. However, if you choose to take this step, you will be charged for the water you use. 

More tips including a video on ways to avoid frozen pipes available at toronto.ca/frozenpipes

You May Be Asked To Complete This Survey

November 11, 2022 Michael Leave a comment Feedback

The City has partnered with Ministry of Transportation Ontario, Metrolinx, TCC and other municipalities around the Golden Horseshoe Area to conduct a transit survey. The survey is called the Transportation Tomorrow Survey (TTS).

TTS is a confidential and voluntary travel survey on how Ontarians in the Greater Golden Horseshoe and surrounding area use the transportation system. The information collected is an important data source for local and regional governments, as well as the Province and its agencies. The results will be used in future transportation planning and investment decisions.

You may be hearing from them as Invitations are currently being sent out to randomly selected households to take the survey.

Volunteers Wanted At The Stone Soup Network

October 22, 2022 Michael Leave a comment Feedback, News

The Stone Soup Network is reaching out to residents of Bloor West Village for volunteers to participate on their Steering Committee.

Since 2016, over $250,000 in donated goods and services have been shared with over 3,000 people struggling with poverty in our neighbourhood. Anne Marie Molher, a Steering Committee Member, would be happy to chat with you further about this Steering Committee Volunteer role or connect you with one of their Co-Chairs. She can be reached at 416-763-0870 or 647-627-1775. More information about the Network can be found here. 

Update On Humber River Watershed

September 23, 2022 Michael Leave a comment Feedback, Media

We’ve been advised that the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) are embarking on the development of a new watershed plan for the Humber River and are looking for our neighbourhood input.

There are three ways for you to provide this:

  1. Complete their online survey, which is available until October 31, 2022
  1. Email us them humber@trca.ca
  1. Register to join one of their online webinars:
  • Wednesday, October 12, 2022 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. (register here)
  • Thursday, October 13, 2022 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. (register here)
  • Webinars will include a presentation with information on the watershed planning process, the Humber River watershed and the development of the HRWP, an interactive session with various exercises and polling, and a Q&A session

You can check out the project webpage for more details.

Down With Spouts

September 4, 2022 Michael Leave a comment Feedback

If you live in a house in our neighbourhood, do you have a downspout that doesn’t empty into your garden or lawn, like the image above? You should consider having it disconnected, taking advantage of the City’s Mandatory Downspout Disconnection Program:

  • Disconnecting your home’s downspout so it directly waters the lawn or garden, or goes into a rain barrel for use later, saves both water and money.
  • Diverting your downspout away from your home’s foundation helps reduce the risk of basement flooding.
  • Disconnecting your downspout so it is no longer directly connected to the sewer system helps keep the City of Toronto’s storm sewers from overloading during heavy rain.
  • The program also offers eligible households financial assistance for downspout disconnection, where some costs could be reimbursed.

Feeling Comfortable Sitting Outdoors in Bloor West Village?

August 22, 2022 Michael Leave a comment Feedback

If not, or you’d like to speak up, there’s a survey ready for you to take.

The City is striving to protect the quality and comfort of the outdoor spaces enjoyed by all residents, including our neighbourhood. The study also includes a review of sun, shadow and wind policies to ensure adequate access to sunlight in public spaces.

Climate change is placing pressure on our public spaces to provide respite during days of extreme heat or cold. Ensuring thermal comfort is key in designing a resilient city. To take the survey, click here. To learn more about the study, click here.