Giving Back to Kensington Gardens
As we know, long term care homes have been very hard hit by COVID. Residents, staff and volunteers have been infected at a regrettable rate; the related lockdown has left many seniors isolated and neglected.
Kensington Gardens has been luckier than many, due in part to the tremendous effort of management and staff. Our community has come together several times over the last 9 months to serenade and support workers and residents. We’re asking for your help one more time. There are a number of ways you can reach out:
Donate! KG’s biggest need right now is for a towel warming cabinet, which helps residents stay comfortable and warm after bathing. HV neighbour Jackie Brown has set up a fundraiser for the model below, which will cost around $5600. Any amount you can donate would be appreciated (charitable receipts issued for amounts over $20)! Donate here.
Write cards and letters! KG has suggested two options:
- Share virtual holiday messages with residents via KG’s online form. Staff will print each note on a card stock and distribute to residents. They are encouraging anyone to participate, even if you don’t know anyone there personally.
- Handmade or store bought cards - Kindly deliver your cards to 87 Brunswick Ave; our HVRA rep will package and deliver them together. We’ll do a first delivery for Christmas; please drop off by December 24. If you can’t get your household’s writers and artists in gear this week, never fear - we will be doing one or two more deliveries over the next couple of weeks, so feel free to continue to drop off cards until January 11 Consider this a good lockdown project!
Finally, for a little inspiration, here is a CBC video of kindergarten kids from King Edward PS serenading residents last week (with teacher Mr G still recognizable behind his mask!)
Sidewalk Snow Clearing
There’s good news on the sidewalk snow clearing front. City Council adopted the motion by councillors Matlow and Layton directing Transportation Services to expand sidewalk clearing in downtown neighbourhoods as much as they are able to do this winter, and to prepare a plan to clear all downtown neighbourhood sidewalks for next winter. It directed Transportation Services to report on these matters in January 2021. Read more here
HVRA has sent Transportation Services a detailed report showing that our sidewalks are unobstructed and ready to be cleared right now and has welcomed them to include us in the expanded pilot in the downtown for this winter. They have accepted our invitation to a neighbourhood walkabout, which will be scheduled for the new year.
In the meantime, it is critical for residents to clear their sidewalks within 12 hours of a snowfall for the safety of all, especially our mobility challenged neighbours. Also, it's the law.
The City offers a sidewalk clearing service for seniors and people with a disability who live in any area where sidewalks cannot be plowed. You can download the application form here
Crime Blotter
Several bike thefts have been reported in HV, including one where a porch balustrade was cut to get to the bike. There has also been at least one break and enter, with quite a few valuables made off with in a stolen van. The suspect has been apprehended and the goods returned, but residents are warned to remain vigilant, especially with packages arriving for the holidays and throughout the new lockdown.
New Feature: Good Neighbours in our Great Neighbourhood
Is there someone in Harbord Village who has made neighbourhood life a bit better? We are pleased to announce the launch of a new eblast feature for 2021 that will highlight our often unsung local heroes. Please feel free to send us your suggestions - it can be as simple as a local gardener whose plot brightens your day or a cheery barista gives you that little dose of humanity when you need it. We look forward to lifting you up!
As a start, here is new resident and Star columnist Heather Mallick on why her favourite people of 2020 include her HV neighbours:
"Whether they’re protecting a neighbour against a violent and predatory eavestrougher or shovelling my sidewalk or smoking excellent weed, they are all nice Canadians, gleamingly good. I have never before lived in such a pleasant neighbourhood. It’s like waking up in a Mr. Men children’s book. Am I dreaming?"
Don't forget to be kind to yourself as this year draws to a close. We are all in this together! Please enjoy this solstice themed poem as we welcome light back to the world....
The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper
So the shortest day came, and the year died,
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive,
And when the new year’s sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, reveling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us—Listen!!
All the long echoes sing the same delight,
This shortest day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, feast, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.
Welcome Yule! 
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