Category: Meeting info

Learn More About Extended Bike Lanes in Bloor West Village

March 23, 2023 Michael No Comments Feedback, Meeting info

Currently, bike lanes along Bloor Street West end at Runnymede Blvd. That’s due to change, with the lanes extending beyond Islington Avenue. The Bloor Street West Cycle Tracks between Avenue Road and Shaw Street were approved and installed in 2016 as a pilot. After rigorous evaluation, they were made permanent in 2017. The Bloor Street West Bikeway Extension between Shaw Street and Runnymede Road was approved and installed in 2020.

Coming up in April, there will be a stakeholder meeting happening on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 at 6 PM. To register, please emial bloorcompletestreet@toronto.ca. For more information on the extenstion, click here.


Who’s Who In The Zoo?

June 10, 2022 Michael Leave a comment Meeting info
You are invited to join Friends of High Park Zoo on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM for their Annual General Meeting. This year, it will be held virtually and in person, with details given below.

Anyone can qualify as a member of Friends of High Park Zoo by either contributing 10 hours of volunteer work with the organization or making a financial donation of at least $20 during 2021 or by June 22, 2022. If you haven’t already done so you can donate online here.

To attend in person, you must provide proof of vaccination and wear a mask. The meeting will be held at the High Park Nature Centre located at 375 Colborne Lodge Dr, Toronto, ON M6R 2Z3. To attend via Zoom, please register below.

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMvdu-vpzwiHdZ-_MvyhcVTDJZXv5YAtF1Y

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Helicopter Assault to Begin

May 10, 2022 Michael Leave a comment Meeting info
Aerial spraying planned to combat gypsy moth infestation | CTV News

Not to worry; Apocalypse Now is not being remade in our neighbourhood. But helicopters will be used nearby from mid May to mid June to control gypsy moths. You can check the interactive map at http://toronto.ca/lddmoth to find out where spraying will take place.

Spraying is weather-dependent and can only be initiated in specific weather conditions. As a result, specific spray dates will be confirmed 48 hours in advance and may be cancelled if conditions change.

No special precautions are required for residents in the spray zones, however, those wishing to avoid exposure can remain indoors during and immediately after the spraying. The insecticides that will be applied are not toxic to birds, humans, other mammals, adult moths, butterflies, bees and other insects and are approved by Health Canada for urban aerial use.

Hey, What’s The Story on That Building?

March 8, 2021 Michael Leave a comment Feedback, Meeting info, Meeting notes

Backlane Studios, a non-profit creative hub located in Parkdale, are offering free workshops on Zoom which will show you how to research a
building or a street in the Toronto archives.

Question Mark Flat Building Vector Images (over 110)

The next workshop is March 18, 2021.

They are also beginning a project called Mapping Our Memories. This project collects the memories of seniors and links them to digital maps.
The first six session course on interviewing and writing begins March 9, with more workshops to follow.

Find out more at backlanestudios.ca

Funding Opportunity for High Park and Western Beaches

February 17, 2021 Michael Leave a comment Meeting info, News

Are you a registered charity, not-for-profit group or individual hosting free activities in support of social, environmental and recreation initiatives in High Park and Western Beaches that needs funding?

Grants up to $3,000 are available to support Parks, Forestry and Recreation (PFR) objectives of environmental stewardship, promote activity, social well-being and/or other as outlined in PFR Parks Plan.

Image result for western beaches, toronto

Message From Our Councillor, Gord Perks

December 4, 2020 Michael Leave a comment Meeting info

With new information coming out daily, it is difficult to know where to turn to make sure our views are heard on how we can rebuild a fairer, more just Toronto.

As the City prepares to release its 2021 budget in early January, every voice is critical to make sure the issues we care about are acted upon as we move forward. Housing, the environment, public transportation, and child care will all be up for debate as the City tries to find a path forward. By working together we can strengthen our voice to ensure no one is left behind.

Join me on Monday, December 7 at 6:30 pm, as I welcome both local and city-wide leaders and activists to discuss how we organize in these unprecedented times. This is going to be a great opportunity for you to be able to share your thoughts and ideas during this troubling time, and ahead of the City’s 2021 budget. 

You can register for my virtual town hall at gordperks.ca/register/ .

You’ve Told Us Trees Are Important, So This Could Be The Next Step

March 10, 2020 Michael Leave a comment Meeting info

Our recent survey highlighted the local tree canopy is an important issue with Bloor West Village residents. If you are interested in having some help engaging the community in your tree initiative, LEAF is looking for community partners to collaborate with their Young Urban Forest Leaders (YUFL) program.

YUFL participants will work closely with a community leader over a five-month period (May to September) to host outreach events, plant native species, deliver community events, and educate the community on the importance of native plants for urban wildlife.

To learn more and apply, click here. The deadline for applications is Sunday, 5 April at 11:59 PM. You can also join LEAF for the YUFL Information Session on Thursday, March 12th (6:30 PM to 8:00 PM). Register for the event here.

Image result for bloor west village trees

So, Where Are Your Property Tax Dollars Going in 2020?

January 20, 2020 Michael Leave a comment Meeting info, News
Image result for monopoly property taxes

Find out at this local meeting next month, hosted by Ward 4 Councillor, Gord Perks. The details are as follows:

Monday, February 3rd, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton School – 3rd Floor Staff Room
1515 Bloor Street West (near Dundas West Station)

An accessible entrance is available on the south side of the building on Dundas Street.

For more information, click here. For details on Toronto’s 2020 budget process and how to get involved, click here.

The Latest News on the Humber Theatre/Bijou Development

January 11, 2020 Michael Leave a comment Meeting info, News

The Zoning By-law Amendment application for 2442-2454 Bloor St West has been approved by the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT).

In April 2019, the developer, the City and all of the other parties to the appeal reached a settlement for a 12-storey building on site, which the LPAT approved in principle. The Final Order was held, pending satisfaction of a number of conditions.

Those conditions are set out in Appendix A of the Confidential Report from the City Solicitor adopted at the June 2018 meeting of City Council, which can be read here. All supporting documentation for the Zoning By-law Amendment application, including architectural plans and technical reports, is available online at the City’s Application Information Centre, under “Supporting Documentation” here.

A site plan application, including “streetscaping” at corner of Bloor and Riverview Gardens remains under review and a demolition application for buildings on site is still pending.

Interesting Fact About the Tentative Settlement Reached on The Humber Theatre Redevelopment

May 14, 2019 Michael Leave a comment Meeting info, News

On April 23, the originally scheduled Contested Hearing at LPAT (formerly OMB) on this development was converted to a Settlement Conference because the remaining two objecting Party’s had withdrawn. However, the Settlement is conditional on the City’s Transportation Services staff being satisfied the the proposed development will not generate any unacceptable traffic impacts on the immediate neighbourhood.

The key concern here is that the developer is thus far unwilling to have any restrictions placed on the size of stores that could occupy the very large 50,000 sq. ft. of commercial space that will be available.  In fact, in its updated traffic study, Plazacorp has indicated that the lower level could be occupied by a mid-size supermarket which would likely generate a great deal more traffic every day than a typical mix of smaller stores.  There has been no further word from City Hall on this issue since April 23, but check here for further updates.

Meanwhile, the BWVRA is pleased to report that as a result of separate consultations with City and the developer’s Landscape Architect, an attractive landscape feature / public space has been designed for the corner of Bloor Street and Riverview Gardens.  This was the only other outstanding item that the BWVRA wanted addressed before this development proceeds, and our thanks are due to former Councillor Doucette and current Councillor Perks for their help in facilitating the very positive outcome. 

Minto/GWL Tower Development Proposals in Nearby High Park

October 24, 2018 Michael Leave a comment Meeting info

An important meeting will be taking place at which the City’s moves to limit the proposed 7-towers in the area north of nearby High Park will be outlined. Here are the details:

Thursday, November 8th, 7-9pm
Grenadier Retirement Residence (2100 Bloor Street West)

Shahrzad Davoudi, an urban designer who participated in the Character Study Working Group will outline the City’s High Park Apartment Neighbourhood Area Urban Design Guidelines and provide an update on the developers’ attempts to challenge those guidelines at the OMB.

There will be a discussion on what would be allowed under those limits, and what the community would want included in counter-proposals from the High Park Community Alliance based on the priorities and needs of local residents. Outgoing Councillor Sarah Doucette, who has been instrumental in fighting for these limits, will also attend. The meeting will be used to honour Sarah for her contributions. The newly-elected Ward 14 Councillor, Gord Perks, has also been invited to attend.