Toronto in review for the week ending June 8, 2012
Welcome to the 'Toronto in review' podcast for June 8, a roundup of interesting events and news out of City Hall.
On Tuesday, the City launched an online consultation for a new Seniors Strategy. The number of seniors living in Toronto will increase dramatically during the next decade. A Seniors Strategy will help ensure that Toronto remains a safe, affordable, accessible and enjoyable city for people of all ages. The online Consultation Workbook is designed to get input on matters such as housing, health, recreation, community programs, transportation, diversity, accessibility, safety, security and civic engagement. Residents can have their say by visiting the website at www.toronto.ca/seniors.
Also on Tuesday, a new therapeutic rooftop garden was officially opened at Lakeshore Lodge located at 3197 Lake Shore Blvd W., one of the City's 10 Long-Term Care Homes. The rooftop garden features raised flower beds, a shade structure and fragrant perennials. Residents will be able to use this space to garden, visit with friends and relatives and exercise.
Tuesday was also the launch of Summerlicious, now celebrating its 10th year. Summerlicious offers diners the chance to get out and experience some of Toronto's best cuisine at exceptional value. Three-course prix fixe menus are priced at $15, $20 and $25 for lunch and $25, $35 and $45 for dinner. Summerlicious runs from July 6 to 22, and includes 181 of Toronto's top restaurants. Visit the City of Toronto's Summerlicious website for more information.
On Wednesday, The City of Toronto commemorated the 68th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy at City Hall’s Nathan Phillips Square. On June 6, 1944, Canada took part in the D-Day invasion that marked the beginning of the liberation of France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark during the Second World War. There were a number of honour guards and bands participating in the event on Wednesday. Among the veterans participating were William Stanfield, a D-Day veteran and a member of the Toronto Firefighters’ War Veterans Colour Guard, who read the Act of Remembrance after Reveille; Janet Watt, president of the Wren Association of Toronto; and Leo Leach of the Toronto EMS Honour Guard.
Also on Wednesday, the Market Gallery and Market Kitchen announced two special events to commemorate the War of 1812. On Saturday, June 16 and Saturday, June 23, from noon to 3 p.m. residents will have the opportunity to sample what life was like during the 1800s. There will be a cooking demonstration, using authentic historical recipes from the 1800s, historical children's games and colouring sheets, and a historical talk and tour of the Market Gallery's current exhibit, "Finding the Fallen: The Battle of York Remembered." The Market Gallery and Market Kitchen is located on the 2nd floor of the South St. Lawrence Market.
Meetings coming up at City Hall next week (June 11 – June 15):
- On Monday, meetings are scheduled for the Community Partnership and Investment Program Appeals Committee and the Planning and Growth Management Committee.
- Executive Committee meets on Tuesday.
- There are several meetings on Wednesday: the Bid Committee will meet at City Hall, and there will be Community Council meetings for Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough, Toronto and East York – each meeting will be held in their respective Council Chamber.
- On Thursday, the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee will meet.
- There are not meetings scheduled on Friday.
Later today, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford and representatives of the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation will present a cheque to the winning school in the KIDS CAN! contest, which was part of the Mayor's Clean Toronto Together campaign. The contest encouraged students to participate in a clean-up of their community or school and then show their experience through photo or video submissions. The event will take place Friday at 11:15 a.m. at Knob Hill Public School located at 25 Seminole Avenue.
On Saturday, Councillor Ana Bailão and City staff will join members of the BMX community to celebrate the opening of the new metal ramps in the BMX bike park at Wallace Emerson Park located at 1260 Dufferin Street. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Celebrations include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a BMX information tent, judging of BMX tricks and live music. Brody Rutledge, a professional BMX rider, will be the special guest.
On Sunday, Councillor Sarah Doucette and City staff will join members of the public to celebrate The Humber River, a Canadian Heritage River, for the Canadian Rivers Day. The event is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Etienne Brulé Park located at 13 Crosby Avenue. The Humber is the only Canadian Heritage River that residents can access by hiking, cycling or by the TTC.
Also on Sunday, Councillor John Filion and City staff will join members of the community to officially open the new Olive Square Park. The new park has been designed as an urban square to provide a much needed open space in an area which has a number of new residential high rises. Local residents were involved in the design of the park. The event on Sunday is from 1 to 3 p.m. at Olive Square Park located at 5575 Yonge Street.
Weekend road closures
There are several special events this weekend that will involve road closures.
Woofstock will involve road closures from Friday, June 8 at 6:30 p.m. to Sunday, June 10 at 11:59 p.m. including Front Street, from Yonge Street to Jarvis Street; Wellington Street, from Church Street to Leader Lane; Church Street, from Colborne Street to The Esplanade; and Market Street, from Front Street to The Esplanade – the Market Street closure will be in place for Sunday only.
The Ride to Conquer Cancer will involve the following road closures on Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m: Lake Shore Boulevard, from Strachan Avenue to Windemere Avenue; and Windemere Avenue, from Lake Shore Boulevard to The Queensway.
Portugal Day will also involve road closures. Lansdowne Avenue, from Bloor Street to College Street will be closed in both directions on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The Festival on Bloor will involve road closures on Sunday. Bloor Street, from Spadina Avenue to Bathurst Street, will be closed from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The Toronto Challenge Run will involve road closures on Sunday. Wellington Street, from Simcoe Street to John Street, will be closed in both directions from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. There will also be a variety of road closures during the event in the area bounded by Wellington Street in the south, Spadina Avenue in the west, Wellesley Street in the north and Bay Street to the east.
Those who need to drive in the general vicinity of special events should allow extra time to get to and from their destination. A more complete list of events and road work is available at toronto.ca/torontostreets.
Thanks for listening to 'Toronto in review'.