Category: News

Meet The Sustainable6ix!

December 20, 2019 Michael Leave a comment News

This dynamic group of young climate activists are on a mission to reduce waste by encouraging local businesses to promote reusable containers and bags for their customers.

Over the past few months, members of the group have been going door-to-door to shops and stories in Bloor West Village, asking local business owners to place a sticker in their windows, indicating that customers are free to bring their own bags, mugs or other containers to carry their purchases, without having to pay to purchase a plastic or paper bag. The group members say they have had a good response from the businesses they’ve talked with over the past few months. They appreciate how the sticker breaks the stigma about asking to put purchased goods in their own containers. The activists feel strongly that this will help create systematic change and a domino effect throughout Toronto.

The Sustainable6ix are one of a number of groups of young activists throughout the Greater Toronto Area who are taking part in Youth Challenge International’s Innovate MY Future program. The program is designed to train young people to be climate action catalysts in their communities and look for ways to educate other youth and the general public about the need for urgent action on climate change and the steps that everyone can take to help create a sustainable environment. The group has already held a successful community workshop on how to make eco-conscious gift choices during the holiday season and looks to be hosting other events in early 2020. The 6ix have also partnered with other activists as part of the Toronto Environmental Alliance to coordinate sticker distributions in other parts of the city, hoping to spark a GTA-wide movement to help reduce waste.

Here in the Village, keep an eye out for this sticker in the door of your favourite local coffee shop or other business. Shopping at these stores will help you reduce waste, save money on packaging and help make Bloor West Village an eco-friendly environment for today’s consumers and future generations.

To learn more about the Sustainable6ix and how you can get involved in their work, please visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/theSustainable6ix/ or their Instagram feed at
https://www.instagram.com/thesustainable6ix/.

Bloor Street West bike lanes are coming our way. Wait, what?

December 5, 2019 Michael Leave a comment News

You read that correctly: our patch of Bloor Street will be getting dedicated bike lanes, which will extend 4.5 KM from Shaw Street to Runnymede Road. The target completion date is August, 2020 pending approval by the Infrastructure and Environment Committee (IEC) and City Council next spring.

The BWVRA found support of this development in a recent member survey. Research done on the current Bloor Street West bike lane, from Avenue Road to Shaw Street, reveals the following:

  • An increase in retail customers
  • An increase in retail spend, monthly
  • More people riding, less people driving
  • The people who ride to the area, do it more often and spend more

More information and research can be found here.

No, The City Is Likely Not Collecting Leaves In Front of Your House

November 5, 2019 Michael Leave a comment Media, News

With few exceptions (see this map), the City no longer does mechanical leaf collection (not to be confused with paper bagged leaf collection with garbage – that continues). That means any leaves on the street and gutters stay there, clogging drains when early winter arrives. You can do your part by raking and bagging your leaves and not raking or blowing them on the street.

Speaking of Bloor Street West and South Kingsway

November 1, 2019 Michael Leave a comment Feedback, News

Residents should know that over the past year, City transportation staff have continued to study the area, meet with area stakeholders and review comments received from residents. This intersection doesn’t exactly have a stellar reputation for safety and navigation – especially for pedestrians and cyclists.

Based on this work, City staff are putting together proposed design changes to the intersection which will be presented to the community in Spring 2020. Our local Councilors office will be in touch when the meeting date and location are confirmed.

City staff has determined that extending the left-hand turn lanes between Jane Street and South Kingsway, will relieve some of the dangerous vehicular behaviour that is currently taking place. It’s our understanding that this work will be taking place in Spring 2020.

Source: Google Maps

Check Out The New Jane St. Station Entrance

October 3, 2019 Michael Leave a comment News

A landscaped public space at the Armadale entrance to the Jane subway station is expected to be completed this fall.

As indicated, work will be concentrated in the TTC green space and City right-of-way on the south side of the station and will include a new public space with streetscaping to enhance sidewalk appeal as well as secure TTC-only access to its property beyond the redesigned public area. An asphalt public walkway will also be constructed along the rear of the Bloor Street West properties to Armadale Avenue. 

Other work on the interior of the station and the bus roadway is scheduled for completion this fall, too.

Thank You Candidates!

October 2, 2019 Michael Leave a comment News

We had a capacity crowd last night – nearly 150 people – at our Federal election leadership debate. It was a very engaging 90 minutes. Thanks to all candidates who took the time, those whom attended and to the Runnymede United Church for the use of their space. Don’t forget to vote on Monday, October 21.

Humber Theatre Development Update

September 5, 2019 Michael Leave a comment News

As we get back to routine after a lovely summer, we wanted to update everyone on the status of the Plazacorp condominium development at the Humber Theatre.

A settlement Hearing at LPAT (Local Planning Appeals Tribunal)  took place April 23, 2019, at which all the Parties to the proceedings agreed to a building that will be similar in height and massing to #1 Old Mill, the existing condo immediately to the West. However, the settlement is conditional upon the developer satisfying the City’s Transportation Services staff that the proposed development will have no unacceptable traffic impacts on the immediate neighbourhood. To this end, the Developer’s updated Traffic Study is currently being reviewed in conjunction with the separate Vision Zero study being conducted by the City at the Bloor Street /South Kingsway / Riverview Gardens intersection. 

As many of us are aware, this is a particularly problematic and unsafe intersection which has an exceptionally high rate of collisions, some of which have involved pedestrians. We have been informed that a number of alternative improvements to vehicular and pedestrian safety are being considered including an option to re-open Riverview Gardens northbound from the South Kingsway.  There will be a follow-up public consultation to the first one held on July 30, 2018, and further updates will be posted as new information becomes available. 

We Say “Go Native”

August 25, 2019 Michael Leave a comment News

Falls is a great time to plant trees. And the best trees are ones that are native to our neighbourhood. Even better, trees and shrubs could very well be a subsidized purchase. The timing and price couldn’t be better in the coming months, so check out this link for more information.

Lights Dim at The Humber Theatre for The Last Time

June 4, 2019 Michael Leave a comment News

It looks fairly contemporary, but the Humber Theatre was built back in 1948. Then, it was known as the Humber Odeon Theatre. On May 30, it closed forever.

According to Wikipedia, it was designed by architect Jay Isadore, originally seating 1,200 patrons in one large auditorium, which was split into upper and lower auditoriums in the 1970s. It was closed in 2003, abandoned, and re-opened by new owners in 2011, after a $350,000 renovation. According to Doug Taylor, author of Toronto’s Local Theatres of Yesteryear, operator Rui Pereira preserved the upper auditorium, but split the lower auditorium into four smaller auditoria.

We’d love to hear your stories and memories of the Humber.