The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 5,200 times in 2011. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 4 trips to carry that many people.
Posted in Uncategorized
December 21, 2011 Letter to Metrolinx
The Mount Dennis Community Association expressed its strong concern about three aspects of Metrolinx’ current proposals for work on the rail corridor through our area. The follow summarized the full content of the letter that is attached below:
(1) Need for Noise Reduction Barriers
We were startled to learn at a meeting in November that Metrolinx now plans to implement its work in the rail corridor WITHOUT installing any new noise barriers in the Mount Dennis area. This came as a major surprise because the 2009 report prepared for Metrolinx by J.E.Coulter & Associates recommended that such barriers be provided in all those areas which do not already have them.
(2) Need for Vibration-Reducing Ballast Mats
The 2009 report prepared for Metrolinx proposes use of ballast mats to reduce the amount of vibration transferred into the soil. It states: “The one area which is known to probably benefit from ballast mats and/or sleeper pads is the area around Mount Dennis” (because it is an area of “stiff” soils which readily transmit vibration). Despite this, the latest Metrolinx proposals call for ballast mats at various OTHER locations within the corridor, but not in Mount Dennis.
(3) Need to Preserve Trees and Shrubs
The rail corridor throughout Mount Dennis is richly endowed with trees and shrubs, all of which (we were told at the November meeting) Metrolinx intends to remove. Most Mount Dennis residents feel very strongly about the need to preserve this vegetation. At present, the trees “naturalize” the rail corridor, reducing its visual impact.
Posted in Uncategorized
SKATES NEEDED
Do you have any skates that could be donated or loaned to help a new Canadian learn to skate?
Mount Dennis, in Toronto near Weston and Eglinton, is one of the poorest neighbourhoods in Ontario and is home to many new immigrant families. This winter, for the first time in decades, it will have a community-run natural ice-rink in Pearen Park. We have volunteers ready to teach local kids (and others) the joys of skating, which can give them a whole new appreciation for winter in Ontario. But we need skates for them to learn on!
If you have skates in good condition that could be donated or loaned for this purpose, please contact us ASAP.
Email: skates@mountdennis.ca
or
Phone: 416-614-3371 (ask for Simon)
Thank you!
Posted in Uncategorized
The West Park Family Health Team (FHT) began operations in September and was officially unveiled Nov. 10 in a ceremony including West Park and community officials.
The FHT, initially utilizing a nurse practitioner for health promotion, illness prevention and disease management, now includes three physicians – Lead Physician Dr. Iain Blair and Drs Sofia and Mahmood Elahi.
The FHT now also offers annual physicals, immunizations, prescriptions and medical test orders.
“This is truly the beginning of a new era for West Park,” said West Park Board Vice-Chair Stuart Reynolds at the unveiling. “Because of the West Park Family Health Team, the residents of York South-Weston will have access to services on this campus like never before.”
The FHT will help improve access to primary care for the 60,000 residents of Mount Dennis and Weston. It’s estimated 12 per cent of residents in the Toronto Central LHIN are without a family physician, and only 16 per cent of physicians located within five kilometres of West Park are accepting new patients.
Families, children, seniors, new Canadians – anyone – can see a family physician, a nurse practitioner or a registered nurse for health assessments, diagnosis, treatment and other services. Physicians will begin seeing patients in early December.
To find out more, contact the FHT at 416-243-3706, go on-line at wpfht.org or visit the office on the fourth floor of the Ruddy Building at West Park, located near the corner of Weston Rd and Jane.
http://www.westpark.org/wpfht.html
The West Park Family Health Team provides
team-based patient care services including:
Health promotion and illness prevention
Annual physicals & immunizations
Ordering medical tests & prescribing medications
The management of seniors’ health and of chronic diseases such as diabetes, COPD and asthma
Posted in Uncategorized
Dear friend,
Four weeks ago the Attawapiskat First Nations people declared a state of emergency; nothing has been done, not from the part of the provincial government and not from the part of the federal government. Temperatures have dropped 20 degrees, and people have no homes, 268 houses are needed to deal with the immediate backlog of homelessness. There is a chronic under-funding which has barred the First Nations people from moving forward.
We are accepting donations for the Attawapiskat Relief Strategy—Drop by our office at 36 South Station Street.
Anything from the following list will be helpful:
-non-perishable food.
-clean blankets, preferably new
-winter sports equipment
-board games
-clean clothing
-children toys
-boxes: if you bring something, bring a box with it for shipping!
-medical supplies, first aid supplies
On Sunday Dec. 4th we will deliver the donations to the XPACE cultural centre! Please distribute widely!
For more information, please visit:
What if they declared an emergency and no one came?
Shacks and slop pails: infrastructure crisis on native reserves
Posted in Uncategorized
Dear Friends of C2C,
At C2C, we continue to busily prepare for the launch of the City’s 2012 Operating and Capital Budget this Monday November 28th. We are writing to inform you of some changes to the structure of the deputations on the 2012 City Budget – please note that deputations on the city budget will now start on Wednesday December 7, 2011 at 9:30 am at City Hall, a day earlier than originally scheduled.
Unlike recent deputations to Executive Committee that went all night, the Budget Committee has announced that this round of deputations will take place over December 7th and 8th from 9:30am to 9:30 pm on each day. According to the Budget Committee’s Notice, no additional time will be allotted for public deputations beyond 9:30 pm on Thursday December 8th. If you have already signed up to depute, and you were early on the list, please mark your calendar for December 7th instead of December 8th.
If you have not yet registered to depute, please note that you must register by Tuesday December 6th at 4 pm by contacting the City Clerk at buc@toronto.ca or 416-392-7340. In recent months, record-breaking numbers of deputations expressing concerns about budget cuts have made a significant impact on City Council. Please be sure to encourage any concerned community members you know to sign up in advance to depute.
Deputation Tips:
• When you register to depute, ask where you are on the list. Having an idea of what number you are may help you determine your schedule for December 7th and 8th.
• If you have never deputed before, this Step-by-Step Guide to making a Deputation will help you prepare. Commitment 2 Community’s Budget Update Flyer contains helpful information on the sorts of services and programs supported by city funding, their cost and their immense value to the city that you may also find useful.
• Want more background on what’s proposed in the 2012 budget? Attend a community meeting on the budget in your area! There are meetings in Scarborough, Etobicoke and downtown next week alone – find details about Upcoming Budget Events in your Community at our website, or see below.
• Background info on how previous budget shortfalls have been addressed can be found in the report Countdown to Zero: Balancing Toronto’s Budget.
• According to the Budget Committee’s notice, each speaker’s time may be cut down from the standard 5 minutes. You should plan to deliver your deputation’s key points in anywhere from 2-5 minutes.
• On the day of the deputations, you can track where you are on the list by clicking on the agenda for the Budget Committee on December 7th, which will be posted on the Budget Committee 2010-2014 webpage. You can see what number the deputations are at and get a sense of how fast they are going and when your name might be called so that you can arrive to deliver your deputation.
Important Dates:
City Budget Timeline:
November 28, 2011 – 2012 Operating & Capital Budget Launch – Will show areas of reduced spending.
December 7 & 8, 2011 – Public Hearings on the budget – make a deputation about the impact of budget cuts/changes. City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, Committee Room 1 from 9:30am–9:30pm. Register by Dec 6th at 4 pm: buc@toronto.ca or 416-392-7340.
December 9 & 13, 2011 – Budget Committee wrap up of Operating and Capital Budget
January 12, 2012 – Executive Committee’s final review of the Operating and Capital Budget.
January 17-19, 2012 – City Council will debate and vote on the proposed Operating and Capital Budget.
Community Budget Events:
November 29, 2011 – Rexdale Civic Engagement Group City Budget Forum. 5:30-8 PM, Albion Library, 1515 Albion Rd.
November 30, 2011– South Etobicoke Social Welfare Reform Committee City Budget Forum. 5:30-8pm, Assembly Hall, Kipling Ave/Lake Shore Blvd W.
December 1, 2011– Social Planning Toronto Member Forum on the City’s 2012 Operating Budget.9:30 AM-12 PM, YWCA Elm Centre, 87 Elm Street Register: http://2012citybudgetforum.eventbrite.com/
December 3, 2011– Respect Scarborough – Public Forum on Budget Impacts. 1-4PM, Don Montgomery Community Centre, 2467 Eglinton Ave E. (by Kennedy Station) RespectScarborough.eventbrite.com
Please be sure to sign up to depute on December 7th & 8th! Feel free to contact C2C at c2c@socialplanningtoronto.org at any time with questions, ideas or dates for budget-related events in your area.
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to community!
Posted in Uncategorized
The Good food box program is back once again. Delivered on Thursday’s, anyone in the community is able to place their order for small, large, fruit, or organic boxes. Check out http://www.foodshare.net/goodfoodbox01.htm for more information on the program. E-mail mdca@mountdennis.ca if you are interested in participating. Next order will be delivered on Thursday Nov 24.
Posted in Uncategorized
Posted in Uncategorized
The Mount Dennis Branch has been a valued part of your community for 60 years. A major renovation and revitalization is scheduled to begin shortly. Join Toronto Public Library staff for a community open house about the project.
Tuesday October 18, 2011 Drop in anytime between 6 – 8 p.m.
Saturday October 22, 2011 Drop in anytime between 2 – 4 p.m.
Mount Dennis Branch (Main Floor) 1123 Weston Road (Below Egl inton Avenue West , between Keele and Jane Street)
Posted in Uncategorized
