“It’s weird seeing 10 carp a metre long thrashing about on the roadway…they are mating most vigourously.” That was the response of an acquaintance to my inquiry about life these days on a partially submerged Toronto Island. The effects of the rising lake are a bit different off the island. Closer to home, our beaches […]
Mary-Margaret McMahon is the Toronto city councillor for Ward 32, Beaches-East York. At a time when the City of Toronto is desperate to increase its stock of rental housing; when the city is anxious for affordability; and especially at a time when Torontonians are struggling to remain in their homes, the concept of laneway suites […]
A few days ago while speaking with a CBC journalist about the impact of empty storefronts on well-established neighbourhoods across the city, I was reminded of an important principle: a successful retail strip is essential to a happy and healthy community. Contributing to the well-being of our neighbours is the number one benchmark against which […]
When I was an early teen in southwest Ontario, I used to spend a couple of afternoons a week volunteering for a seniors’ care home across the road from my school. Alongside a couple of friends, I would play cards and visit with residents before assisting the staff with dinner. We didn’t do it for […]
Globally, we are in the midst of a democratic recession. We are no doubt lucky to live in Canada, but we should also strive to strengthen our democracy where possible, and to guard against decline. At the end of March, I participated in a panel discussion hosted by the civic engagement NGO Samara Canada on […]
From November until this time of year, the doors of St. Aidan’s open to the homeless on Monday nights. For 11 years now. Like the lake at the bottom of the street, there’s a rhythm to it. From across the city, the guys arrive at the Silver Birch doors mid-Monday afternoon. Michael is there to […]
One day last summer, an out-of-town friend and I decided to ride bikes to catch a rugby game at the Tubs and Gee Gage field over on Eastern Avenue. Visiting from Vancouver, my friend didn’t have a bike of his own. But no matter. Because city Bike Share stations abound, he could affordably rent a […]
Sheri Hebdon is Chair of the Danforth East Community Association The Danforth East Community Association (DECA) is having a big year, this being our 10th anniversary – our “DECAde,” if you will. As we look back, we are proud of the extent to which our 100 per cent volunteer-powered engine has been a catalyst for […]
When I jointly seconded my colleague MP Iqra Khalid’s Motion 103, I thought it was a no-brainer. In the immediate wake of the Quebec attack, and in the wake of a doubling of hate crimes against Muslim-Canadians over the last three years (while hate crimes overall have decreased), M-103 calls on our government to condemn […]
The urge to bury oneself in a snowdrift has been particularly tempting lately. But this off-again-on-again winter, with its blizzard-like snowfalls that seem to collect and melt in the course of an evening, has prompted me to seek other channels for calm and escape: a historical talk there, a quirky play or art opening here. […]
