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Interior of R.C. Harris Water Filtration Plant |
Doors Open Toronto 2011
Doors Open Toronto completed its 12th successful year of free and rare access to close to 150 Toronto buildings of architectural and cultural significance. On May 28 and 29, more than 20,000 people visited the R.C. Harris Water Filtration Plant to get a rare look at the stunning art deco landmark. A total of 181,000 people attended Doors Open Toronto this year. Annual favourites like Old City Hall and the John St. Roundhouse had almost 10,000 visitors each. This year's photography theme allowed the public to meet expert Toronto photographers and to engage in workshops and talks across the city.
www.toronto.ca/doorsopen
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Spring clean-up events a big hit
Thousands of Torontonians cleaned Toronto together during the City's annual clean up events – the 20-Minute Toronto Makeover and the Mayor's Community Clean-Up Day on April 15 and 16. Students, office workers and others participated in the 20-Minute Toronto Makeover by helping to clean a public place for 20 minutes on April 15. The next day, Mayor Rob Ford's Community Clean-up Day provided family, friends and neighbours and other groups with the opportunity to clean a public space in their community – often a local park or ravine. Thanks to everyone who did their part in keeping Toronto clean!
www.toronto.ca/litter |
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Volunteers plant thousands of trees in a single day
On April 30, about 900 volunteers gathered in three Toronto parks for the annual Trees Across Toronto event. About 3,500 native species shrubs and trees were planted in Milliken Park, McCowan District Park and Colonel Samuel Smith Park, making a significant contribution to Toronto's urban forest. Staff selected species based on environmental conditions, natural history and the needs of wildlife. The aim is to create self-sustaining native plant communities and to teach and encourage people to plant trees on private property. Event sponsors included Toronto Hydro, Toronto Parking Authority, Enbridge, CNE, HSBC Bank Canada, the Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation, LOMCO Landscape Contractors, Canada Lands Corporation, Starbucks, Garage and Dynamite Stores, Absolute Tent and Event Services and Kraft Canada.
www.toronto.ca/trees |
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Toronto’s new, sleek ride
The TTC’s new accessible subway trains begin entering service this summer on the Yonge-University-Spadina Subway line. These trains will replace the TTC’s oldest subway cars, most of which date from the 1970s, and will allow the TTC to meet future ridership demands. The TTC’s new subway trains are a “six-car-fixed” configuration with open gangways that enable riders to move freely from one end to the other. The new fleet of Toronto Rocket subway trains is jointly funded by the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario and the City of Toronto. Features of the new subway trains include passenger alarm intercoms, electronic information displays for broadcasting operational messages (i.e. disruptions), closed circuit cameras, and video screens that will display destination information as well as safety and emergency information.
www3.ttc.ca/About_the_TTC/Projects_and
_initiatives/New_Subway_Train/index.jsp |
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BIXI arrives in Toronto
The City of Toronto is making it easier to cycle across the downtown core of the city thanks to the introduction of BIXI Toronto – the city's new public bike program. The bicycles are intended to be used for one-way trips of less than 30 minutes and can be picked up or dropped off at any station, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It’s a convenient and practical method for Torontonians and visitors to the City to get to and from their destinations, or to link with other modes of transportation. For registered users, there is no trip fee if the bicycle is returned to a bike station within 30 minutes. A fee is charged for any trip longer than 30 minutes. An unregistered user can use the service for a fee.
www.toronto.ca/cycling/bixi |
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City website features self-guided walking tours
The City of Toronto has created a website where residents and visitors to the city can see 26 self-guided walking tours of some of the city’s most beautiful and interesting areas. A self-guided walking tour is a tour without a guide, a fee, or a set date or time. Individuals or groups can explore the city at their own pace while learning about their surroundings. In addition to the walking tours currently posted, the City is offering organizations and individuals the opportunity to create a self-guided walking tour. There are a limited number of grants up to $500 available to cover the costs of producing such a tour.
www.toronto.ca/walking
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An easier way to apply for child care subsidies and spaces
The City of Toronto's new online application process lets residents apply for a child care subsidy and for a spot in a municipal child care centre at a time that is convenient for them. Applications are available on the City's website and residents can contact 311 if they need help completing the forms. A 311 customer service representative is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can provide service in more than 180 languages.
www.toronto.ca/children
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Purrrfect time to adopt a cat
Toronto Animal Services has lots of kittens and cats to choose from. All cats and kittens are vet-checked, spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and adoptions come with a starter bag of food. Animal Services has lots of great dogs too. You can view animals currently available on the website. More information about an animal is available by clicking on the picture. Adoptions must be done by visiting one of the City's Animal Centres.
www.toronto.ca/animal_services/
pet_adoption.htm |
Photo credit: The diving horse at Hanlan's Point
Photographer: William James
ca. 1907
City of Toronto Archives
Fonds 1244, Item 191
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Looking for a photo of a diving horse?
The City of Toronto Archives has turned to social media to expand its reach and increase awareness of its photographic collections. The "Toronto History" Flickr site offers a small sampling of historical images from its collection of 1.2 million photographs. Photos are arranged by themes such as "Winter Sports, Hats, Toronto Theatres, How Not to Drive in Toronto" and many others. The mini-exhibits are windows into various neighbourhoods and the lives of Torontonians. Among the eclectic assortment are images of the Toronto fire of 1904, ice boat races, trick cyclists, jazz musician Louis Armstrong being fitted for a hat and, yes, a photo of a diving horse.
www.flickr.com/photos/torontohistory
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Reporters visit Union Station to see "dig down"
The City of Toronto recently hosted a media site tour of Union Station giving journalists an opportunity to see the “dig down,” one of the initial and most significant stages of the Union Station Revitalization. The dig down, which runs east to west from Bay Street to York Street and north to south from Front Street to the Air Canada Centre, involves excavating several metres below the existing floor level and replacing hundreds of concrete columns currently supporting the station. The work will create space for a new, lower-level pedestrian retail concourse and two new GO concourses. The Revitalization is a $640-million City initiative supported by investments of $164 million from the Government of Canada and $172 million from the Government of Ontario.
www.toronto.ca/union_station/
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Keeping roads in good condition
In 2011, the City will spend more than $130 million to improve the quality of the City’s roads and bridges. In addition, $80 million will be spent on other efforts including road work in conjunction with watermain and sewer replacement. Road work, sidewalk repairs and routine maintenance as well as work performed by utility and communications companies continue to be coordinated by the City to avoid having road work repeated. The City has also continued its efforts to fill potholes, repairing an average of 237,000 potholes annually over the past three years. The City's website shows ongoing and emergency road construction, existing travel conditions on city roads and special events taking place.
www.toronto.ca/torontostreets
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Artist's rendering – South Lobby |
St. Lawrence Market's south market lobby gets makeover
The City of Toronto's St. Lawrence Market south lobby is getting a transformation to improve aesthetics and accessibility. The renovation, which started June 26, is expected to be complete later this summer. The new design will feature automatic sliding doors, better way-finding signs, improved lighting and a modernized design that complements the building's historical structure. Although the south market lobby will be closed during the renovation, visitors can shop the market, and visit the Market Gallery and the Market kitchen.
www.stlawrencemarket.com
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Toronto ranks second only to New York in global city report
Toronto comes a close second to New York in a Pricewaterhouse Coopers report that ranks 26 global cities on a wide variety of factors. The fourth edition of the Cities of Opportunity report puts Toronto just behind New York and ahead of San Francisco, Stockholm and Sydney. Among 66 variables, Toronto ranked first in seven categories, including quality of living, life satisfaction, air pollution, skyscraper construction activity and sport and leisure activities. Toronto was the only Canadian city in the report.
http://www.toronto.ca/progress/world_rankings.htm
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Job creation strategies
A panel of business and labour leaders has identified action areas to accelerate sustainable economic activity and improve the city's business and cultural climate. The panel's report,Toronto Prosperity Initiative: Establishing a Path for Growth, was presented to the City's Economic Development Committee on June 30. The advisory group was chaired by Blake Goldring, Chairman and CEO of AGF Management Ltd., and brought together leaders representing a cross section of economic development spheres. The Toronto Prosperity Initiative was established by Councillor Michael Thompson, chair of the City's Economic Development Committee.
www.toronto.ca/business_publications/pdf/
path_for_growth.pdf
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Photo: Jackson-Lau |
Toronto one of the top 10 global leaders of financial centres
In the March 2011 Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI 9), Toronto has risen from 12th place to 10th tied with Sydney, Australia and is considered the clear leader in Canada. Toronto remains among the top three global leaders in North America. The GFCI 9 report evaluated the competitiveness of 75 financial centres worldwide using results of online surveys completed by financial services leaders. The survey is updated every six months.
www.toronto.ca/progress/world_rankings.htm
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Toronto is Canada's High Tech Hub
The report "Canada's High Tech Hub: Toronto", produced for the City's Economic Development and Culture Division, found that 30 per cent of Canada's Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) industry is based in the Toronto region and that the sector is comprised of 11,522 companies (employing over 161,000 workers), that generate $52.2 billion in annual revenues. This represents more than 56 per cent of all ICT workers in Ontario and 30 per cent of all ICT workers in Canada. Research and development activity is also greater than any other single jurisdiction in Canada, accounting for approximately 30 per cent of total nationwide activity.
www.toronto.ca/business_publications/pdf/
ICT-Report_March2011.pdf
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Toronto's Poet Laureate Dionne Brand wins $65,000 Griffin Poetry Prize
Congratulations to Toronto's Poet Laureate Dionne Brand for winning this year's Griffin Poetry Prize for her narrative poem Ossuaries. Brand won the $65,000 prize – Canada's richest poetry prize and the world's largest prize for a single poetry collection in English – at a gala in downtown Toronto on June 1. This is the 11th year for the awards, which honour one Canadian and one international poet.
www.toronto.ca/culture/poet_laureate.htm
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City Culture Director Rita Davies receives Soul Award
Rita Davies, the City's Executive Director of Culture, has received the City Soul Award as part of the Canadian Urban Institute's Urban Leadership Awards program. This annual national award is given to someone who inspires, enriches and engages the collective spirit through their vision and leadership. Rita has shaped the development of Toronto's cultural landscape through the formulation of public policy as well as creating numerous cultural legacies through her commissioning of the 10-year Culture Plan for the Creative City (2003). Her work has transformed historic properties like the Don Valley Brickworks, the Roundhouse and Wychwood Barns into vibrant creative hubs.
canurb.org/sites/default/files/events/2011/ULA
/pdfs/Announcing_the_2011_ULA_Winners.pdf
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R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant image on stamp
Issued on June 9, 2011, the stamp collection showcases some of Canada’s finest Art Déco masterpieces including the City's R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant. Nicknamed “the Palace of Purification,” the R.C. Harris is the largest and most ornate of Toronto’s four water treatment plants. The plant was constructed in the 1930s and expanded in the 1950s to double its capacity. The Harris treats an average of 465 million litres of water a day but can handle as much as 950 million litres a day.It has also been featured in many films and television series, and plays a pivotal role in Michael Ondaatje’s acclaimed novel, In the Skin of a Lion.
www.canadapost.ca/cpo/mc/personal/
collecting/stamps/2011/
2011_architecture_art_deco.jsf
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Restaurant Inspection Program wins U.S. award
Toronto Public Health (TPH) is the recipient of the 2011 Samuel J. Crumbine Consumer Protection Award for Excellence in Food Protection. In its 56-year history, this is the first time the award has been given to a non-U.S. health organization. TPH received the award in recognition of DineSafe, its restaurant inspection and disclosure program, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The DineSafe program has two main features: inspecting food establishments and informing the public of the inspection results with colour-coded signs. Toronto has approximately 17,000 food establishments - including hot dog carts, convenience stores, school cafeterias, and restaurants. TPH completes an average of 30,000 food safety inspections every year. Posting the inspection results onsite at each restaurant helps the public make informed consumer decisions while providing an incentive to operators to comply with food safety regulations.
www.toronto.ca/health/dinesafe/index.htm
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Bruce L. Anderson, City of Toronto's Executive Director of Human Resources and Jessica Kudlats, Market Development and Client Relations Specialist, Career Edge Organization.
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City recognized for internship programs
The City of Toronto is the recipient of a Career Bridge Program Award in the Public Sector (Small/Medium Enterprise) category for its long-standing partnership with the Career Edge Organization. For the past nine years, the City has been participating in three innovative programs – Career Bridge for internationally qualified professionals, Ability Edge for graduates with disabilities, and Career Edge for recent colleagues and university graduates. These programs are cost effective ways for the City to fill positions, and at the same time, allow the City to access a pool of diverse and highly skilled professional talent. Career Edge is a not-for-profit organization that has managed thousands of internships across Canada since 1996.
www.achievementawards.ca
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Pictured left to right: Fire Chief William Stewart, Police Sergeant Dale Corra, Councillor Cesar Palacio (Ward 17, Davenport)
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Rescue Merit Awards
A Rescue and Merit Awards ceremony was held on March 30 for firefighters and civilians being recognized for rescues and commendable acts in the past year. Recipients included a 10-year-old girl who alerted her parents to a fire, firefighters who rescued their own during fires at both a highrise and a turn-of-the-century building and Toronto Police Service Sgt. Dale Corra, who assisted in a search and rescue effort with a fire captain to locate a resident of an apartment near an encroaching fire. Unprotected from the heat, Sgt. Corra sustained burns during his efforts.
wx.toronto.ca/inter/it/newsrel.nsf/5ebdcd0
cd82fe9bf85256dde005a446e/aaa101c7f80
bc15b85257863004be7c9?OpenDocument
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We mean it when we say green it |
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Blue Flag beaches
Since 2005, the City of Toronto has been participating in the Blue Flag program. This is an internationally-recognized program that awards blue flags to communities committed to maintaining high standards in 29 criteria including water quality, environmental education, environmental management, safety and services. The Blue Flag standard has been awarded to eight of Toronto's beaches this summer: Bluffer’s Park, Kew-Balmy, Woodbine, Cherry, Ward’s Island, Centre Island, Gibraltar Point and Hanlan’s Point.
www.toronto.ca/beach/blueflagbeaches.htm
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Green Toronto Award winners
Local youth, residents, businesses and organizations are among the winners of the 2011 Green Toronto Awards. Now in their seventh year, the City's environmental awards of excellence recognize the individuals, organizations and companies helping to lead the way to a cleaner, greener Toronto. The program is a partnership between the City and Green Living Enterprises. Courtesy of awards sponsors, the winners, who were selected from among more than 150 nominations, received an award and $5,000 to further their work on the environment or to donate to an environmental charity of their choice.
www.toronto.ca/greentorontoawards
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Community Environment Days now in their 20th year
The City of Toronto's Community Environment Day events give residents an opportunity to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill by dropping off items that are reusable, recyclable or hazardous. Events take place between April and October in each of Toronto's 44 wards. Over the past 20 years, the program has held 745 events, attracted a total of 466,859 participants, collected 9,820 tonnes of reusable and recyclable or safely disposable items, sold 89,101 composters and given away 21,072 tonnes of compost. Environment Days continue to go beyond curbside pickup, allowing residents to drop off household items such as clothing, household hazardous waste and non-perishable food. They also offer people the opportunity to buy waste containers and water-efficiency products.
New item added: Cooking oil has been added to the list of items now accepted at Drop-off Depots and Community Environment Days. Cooking oil - from houses, apartments and condominiums - must be in a sealed container labelled "Cooking oil."
www.toronto.ca/environment_days
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Toronto Celebrates the International Indian Film Academy Awards
Toronto caught Bollywood fever on June 23-25 at the North American debut of the 12th annual International Indian Film Academy Awards. Tens of thousands of screaming fans outside the sold out awards show at the Rogers Centre greeted many of India's biggest film stars. The awards broadcast will be seen by more than 600 million people worldwide. Thousands also enjoyed the City's free Samsara festival which featured music, fashion and dance by top South Asian Canadian artists. The awards brought more than 700 international media to Toronto and its economic benefit to the city is estimated at $10 million.
www.toronto.ca/iifa2011
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Cooling off this summer
It's shaping up to be a hot summer this year. And a good way to enjoy the heat is to take advantage of City outdoor pools, splash pads and wading pools. The City's outdoor pools and wading pools are all open on a full-time basis from June 30 to September 4 and are supervised by trained City staff. Unsupervised splash pads are open until September 18 and are operated by push-button release.
www.toronto.ca/parks/swimming
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Sensory Garden and Water Play opens in Earl Bales Park
Councillor James Pasternak (Ward 10 York Centre) joined the family of Ms. Goldie Feldman, City staff and community members in June to celebrate the dedication of the Sarah and Morris Feldman Accessible Sensory Garden and Water Play area in Earl Bales Park. The new playground, designed for children of all physical and cognitive abilities, was made possible by the generous donation of $1 million from Ms. Feldman. The playground features elements such as brightly coloured tubes and poles with audio and water jets, as well as drums, animal sculptures, textured accessible pathways and gardens that cater to a wide variety of senses.
www.toronto.ca/parks
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Library to teens: Don’t Read Alone this summer!
Toronto Public Library’s annual Word Out teen summer reading program is warning teens: Don’t Read Alone this summer! Instead, they should get online with hundreds of other book lovers to talk about their favourite books, hear from their favourite authors and have a chance to win great prizes. For pre-teens, the TD Summer Reading Club taking place in most library branches is designed to encourage children 12 and under to read more, by engaging them in fun reading-related activities around the theme “Splash! Celebrate Summer."
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City of Toronto declares May 16-20 EMS week in the city
It was a week of public education for Toronto Emergency Medical Services, paramedics and emergency medical dispatchers as they set up displays of their work at venues across the city. This year's slogan was "EMS Week - Everyday Heroes" and paramedics from across the GTA put on an impressive display of the medical skills they perform every day to help those in need. Toronto EMS answers hundreds of 9-1-1 calls each day in the city. The week included a Toronto EMS health clinic at Metro Hall where about 100 people stopped to have their blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass index calibrated and recorded. The team of community paramedics took time to explain to each person the importance of preventive health care.
www.torontoems.ca
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Thousands take the Toronto Challenge
Thousands of runners and walkers of all ages turned out for the 20th annual Toronto Challenge presented by MonsterMortage.ca on June 12. Organizers expect that the event will raise more than half a million dollars. Participants ranging from ages 1 to 101 years old took part and a special award was given to Richard Graves, who has completed the "5k run" every year since its inception 20 years ago. This unique fundraising event supports Toronto Long-Term Care Homes and Services and more than 50 community agencies providing support to seniors that participate in the event.
www.toronto.ca/challenge
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Getting into the swing of things
City of Toronto courses cater to golfers at all skill levels: from beginner to pro. Green fees are reasonable, with reduced rates for juniors and seniors, a nine-hole morning rate off the back nine, a twilight special for early evening players and a Family Night every weekend. City golf courses are easily accessible by public transit and open every day from mid-April to mid-November.
www.toronto.ca/parks/golf/index.htm
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Summer events in the city
Summer in Toronto always brings a huge variety of festivals and events across the city. Once again, the City of Toronto is presenting a variety of activities that can be enjoyed by everyone:
Sunday Serenades (July 10 – August 21) is a free concert series at Mel Lastman Square featuring live music, and dancing under the stars.
Fresh Wednesdays (July 13 – August 31) features free live noon-hour concerts to complement the Farmers Market at Nathan Phillips Square.
Tasty Thursdays (July 14 – September 1) take place on Nathan Phillips Square starting at noon. This weekly event features a combination of live music and delicious food hot off the grill. A variety of Toronto restaurants bring international cuisine to the Square at $7 or less a serving.
Summerlicious presented by American Express returns for its ninth year. The two-week promotion from July 8 to 24 offers diners over 150 prix fixe options at some of Toronto’s best restaurants.
www.toronto.ca/special_events
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