We've been busy this fall
Church Wellesley Neighbourhood Association (CWNA) was particularly active in September and October, helping to create a better community.
We’ve been focused on:
Read on to learn more about what’s affecting your neighbourhood!
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For months now, we’ve been lobbying for increased police and other resources to protect residents and deal with the daily problems we encounter. Following a series of incidents in the village, CWNA and our friends at the Village Business Improvement Area (CWVBIA) called a meeting with 51 Division, including Superintendent Tony Riviere, the Mayor’s Office, Councillor Wong-Tam and numerous City and social agencies on October 27.
In that meeting, Superintendent Riviere confirmed that four additional foot patrol officers are to be allocated to St James Town and our neighbourhood, beginning November 6. We know, from a temporary arrangement that added police officers to Church Wellesley over summer weekends, that additional officers calm the area and reduce disturbing incidents. So we welcome this initiative by 51 Division, and invite you to meet our new officers on November 15th at Second Cup, 544 Church Street, 3:30-5:00pm.
We know that extra policing isn’t the whole answer, and the October 27 meeting generated a long list of initiatives that could contribute to a safer environment. They range from leafleting to long-term plans to improve access to social services, and all of them need your involvement to make them come to life. If you’ve ever been concerned about, or complained about, safety issues, this is your opportunity to do something positive about them - join our regular Directors’ Meeting at The 519 Community Centre on November 18th, 10:00am onwards, to learn more about the opportunities. If you can’t make that meeting but want to contribute, email info@cwna.ca with an outline of what you could do - e.g. hand out leaflets, help organise meetings and training sessions, contribute specialist knowledge, implement a neighbourhood watch, write lobbying letters to government departments.
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Open Streets has become one of Toronto’s most-loved events in just three short years, and we were a part of the Wellesley activity hub for both of the 2017 weekends.
Skipping ropes and hula hoops were in constant motion, and chalk art animated the tarmac. It was a great way to meet neighbours and visitors!
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On September 9, CWNA staged the first annual Meet Your Neighbours! event, bringing performers and representatives from 17 neighbourhood organisations face to face with local residents.
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Barbara Hall Park became an impromptu ballet classroom as:
- attendees participated in an “Introduction to Ballet” class with Canada’s National Ballet School’s Ballet Bob
- cyclists registered their bikes with Toronto police, deterring crime
- the Multi-Culture and Folk Arts Association captivated the audience with their beautiful dances
- and residents talked to and learned more about Progress Place, Friends of the Linear Parks, the Toronto Go Association and many other local political, cultural and social organisations.
Thanks to everyone who participated, and be sure to join us next year (September 8) to enjoy the wealth of talent and participation opportunities in our vibrant neighbourhood!
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The Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) is currently the arbiter on many developments within Toronto, with the power to overrule City Planning. If you’ve ever looked at a building and wondered “How on earth did that get approved?”, the answer is likely, the OMB.
Our neighbourhood has suffered greatly from OMB-approved inappropriate intensification, with the necessary services like transit and healthcare simply unable to keep pace. We have spent way too much volunteer time, and had to raise too many donor dollars, to fight appeals at the OMB or participate in mediation processes. So we are quietly excited by the prospect of significant reform of the OMB.
We joined forces with five other downtown neighbourhood associations to lobby the appropriate ministries to ensure that the government understood the chaos the OMB creates in our area, and were completely aware of the recommendations we had to create a better alternative. You can read our joint submission here.
The legislation that is currently nearing the end of its third reading contains significant improvements, and generally we welcome its adoption. But there are still many unanswered questions, that will only be resolved as the fine detail of how the new Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) will work, and how it will involve citizen participation, is fleshed out.
CWNA will continue to work with the five other downtown neighbourhood associations to fight for real resident involvement in the revised planning process, to ensure that Toronto builds a downtown that works for everyone.
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We spend a lot of time dealing with bylaw infractions (such as discarded wastebins and advertising A-boards), infrastructure issues (e.g. lighting not working in parks), and graffiti.
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You can help - and it’s super-easy! Most of these issues can be called in to one centralised City of Toronto department - 311. Simply:
and leave details. If you’re emailing, we’ve found it speeds up a response if you include a photo of the problem. Whichever route you use, you’ll get a case number, which will enable you to track the City’s response.
We know from experience that squeaky wheels get attention - so don’t assume someone else has called the issue in. If you want it fixed, make the call yourself!
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A neighbourhood association is only as strong as its volunteers. There are lots of ways, at different levels of commitment, that you can help - please consider how you could make this a better neighbourhood:
- Call 311 with any physical problems you can see in our area (Charles to Carlton, Yonge to Jarvis)
- If you see police issues, call 911 for emergencies (life-threatening) or 416 808 2222 for ongoing, non-emergency issues.
- Join us! Membership is only $5 a year, and buildings can join too, at reduced rates. See cwna.ca for more details.
- Consider becoming a Director. Elections are held at our AGM (March 20, 2018). We particularly need people with strong organisational, legal and development skills, and with knowledge of social issues and agencies. You need to reside within our boundaries, and commit to attending monthly Directors’ meetings, and carry out work inbetween meetings.
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Upcoming Meetings & Events
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November 14, 6:00pm-7:00pm - Public Consultation for CSJPS Fence Design
- Come give input into the design of the new fence at Church Street Junior Public School, 83 Alexander St.
November 15, 3:30pm-5:00pm - Coffee with Cops
- Meet the new officers assigned to our neighbourhood at Second Cup, 544 Church St.
November 15, 6:00pm-9:00pm - Healthy Neighbhourhood Summit
- Join Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam at Covenant House Toronto, 20 Gerrard St E, for a Healthy Neighbourhoods Summit. Make your voice heard and help build a safer, healthier, and more inclusive downtown Toronto.
November 18, 10:00am-12:00pm - CWNA Monthly Board Meeting
- All are welcome to participate in our monthly Board Meeting, held at The 519.
Have something to add to our Neighbourhood Calendar? Email us at info@cwna.ca
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