This week’s image: Jacob, Mark, Trish, Sandy, Marco and John working on the new Winchester Park rink
CABBAGETOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD
REVIEW
FEATURED LOCAL ARTIST
Atia Pokorny
Atia Pokorny has lived with her family in Cabbagetown since 1986. She has a degree in Architectural Engineering from Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Republic. After coming to Canada in 1982, she changed her career and has worked as a conservator of works of art and sculpture. Art has always been a part of her life and in the last decade, she has focused
mainly on photography after joining Gallery 44 Centre of Contemporary Photography. She uses digital interventions and manipulation of finished photographs by folding, cutting, and collage for her exploration of memory and examination of what is remembered and what is imagined. She had a solo exhibition, “Space Revisited”, in the Gallery 44 Members Gallery in 2016, and has participated in numerous group shows. You can see more detail about her art on her website and instagram pages.
Invisible Woman, 2020
A PERSONAL VIEW
Progress report - Dundas and Sherbourne
Private security patrols may add some extra security but they will only continue as long as local residents are ready to pay for them.
The project has sparked a lot of debate about the effectiveness of the City’s contributions to safety in the area.
Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam’s office has initiated other specific projects - improving the lanes, fixing lights, trimming trees, putting up fences, adding security systems to TCHC buildings, expanding police presence, helping people living in tents in Moss Park. She spearheaded the Downtown East Plan to focus and mobilize City resources.
It’s tough work.
All of these measures are needed. Police protection is only one part of the answer. Councillor Wong-Tam and her staff have a clear, realistic view of these issues and they’re making good strides attacking them. They deserve our support for their efforts.
LOCAL NEWS
Progress report - Winchester Park skating rink
Skate exchange
Trish Finkelstein is organizing a skate exchange for late January at the new Winchester Park skating rink. All types and sizes are welcome. If you have skates to donate, please email her to set it up.
218 Carlton
The City of Toronto has issued a request for proposals by Indigenous non-profit housing providers to lease and operate affordable housing in this building. The City is offering a 50-year lease at nominal rent levels and with a property tax exemption. The City hopes to provide rent supplements and housing allowances for all tenants. Renovations will be done by MOD Development to create ten studio or bachelor units. The Victorian facade must be maintained. When the renovations are completed, the lease period will begin. The target for completion is in late 2023. Proposals will be considered from providers with a demonstrated track record operating affordable housing - proposals for nursing homes, respite and shelter centres and students residents will not be accepted. The RFP closes on January 15. More info is available online - click here.
Second vaccination
Anita was the first person in Ontario to get the Pfizer COVID vaccine in December. She received her second shot this week to complete her vaccination. She’s a personal care worker at Rekai Centre on Sherbourne Street. (Photo: Canadian Press)
Volunteer at Friends of Allan Gardens
The Friends are volunteers devoted to programs and services offered at Allan Gardens. The group’s Board needs a communication and maketing director. If you’re passionate about Allan Gardens and you feel that you can contribute, check out their website for info on the role and contact details.
Suze Morrison’s priorities for 2021
Ms Morrison is our Ontario MPP. In December, she published a 2021 calendar and open letter listing her priorities. She’ll be focussing on five big areas as a critic in the Legislature and as our local representative. First, improvements to care for seniors. Second, a safe return to school and a cap on class sizes at 15 students. Third, greater protection for tenants facing evictions and help for people purchasing their first home. Fourth, increased support for the City of Toronto to fight homelessness and bolster mental health services. Fifth, immediate investments in public health and expanded access for timely COVID-19 testing. In addition, she’s calling for an independent judicial inquiry into the COVID-19 outbreaks in Long Term Care homes. Her local office is located at 329 Parliament, (416) 972-7683, SMorrison-CO@ndp.on.ca
Comments from our other representatives
The 506 streetcars are running again along Carlton and Gerrard. The westbound route starts at Dundas and Broadview, goes west along Dundas to Parliament, north to Carlton and then west along Carlton and College to the High Park Loop. Eastbound cars follow College, Carlton, Parliament, Gerrard to Broadview and then south to Dundas.
A request has gone to Marci Ien, our federal MP and to our City Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, to outline their priorities for 2021. To date, they haven’t replied. When they do, their answers will appear here.
It’s back
City of Toronto skating rinks
Riverdale Park East, Regent Park and Sherbourne Common are now open from 10 am to 10 pm daily. Outdoor rinks are still open with a 25-person limit. Change rooms and lockers are closed. You can make a reservation and confirm that the rinks are open at the City’s website. (Photo: Waterfront Toronto)
Cabbagetown Regent Park Museum Historical Tidbit
With pandemic restrictions still in place, this past New Year’s Eve celebrations didn’t exactly raise Cabbagetown roofs. But over at our beloved Victorian hotel, the Winchester, a roof was raised up, way up. The long-missing cupola cap was delicately placed by a great crane, re-establishing the profile of the 1890s structure. When John Ayre’s Lakeview Hotel (as the Winchester was first known) opened, it was regarded as “an excellent up-town hotel” that was “rapidly growing in favour as a resort for the traveling public.” Electric bells and bathrooms were provided on every flat. Iron and patent-rope fire escapes were placed in every apartment “so that guests were secure from danger of fire.” “Telephonic communications” were even available. And from its “commanding site” at the corner of Parliament and Winchester, visitors could see Lake Ontario at the foot of Parliament Street … a view much better enjoyed from the cupola above. Even today, if you look very closely, you can see the lake and trees of the Island beyond the raised Gardiner Expressway from this same location. For more Cabbagetown history, photos and videos visit the CRPM Facebook page.
The Book Worm program and the Walk-up Window are both starting next week. For Bookworms, there’s a chance to read books, share reviews and win prizes. It starts on Monday January 11 and it’s free. The Walk-up Window is open on Wednesdays from 10 am to 5 pm and Saturdays from 10 am to 3 pm. There’s more info on the Book Bank’s Facebook page. 350 Berkeley at Gerrard.
by Sally Gibson
Image: Lakeview (Winchester) Hotel 1891 Toronto Old & New
FOR YOUR KIDS
Children’s Book Bank
Speech arts and drama
The Cabbagetown Community Arts Centre (422 Parliament) has started new online programs for kids 5 to 8 and for kids 9+. Individual lessons for 5 to 8 year-olds offer basic drama and storytelling skills - parental involvement required. For kids 9+, acting, public speaking, storytelling and mime. Group lessons for kids 9+ focus on creating character, working with text, teamwork and building a theatre vocabulary. The term starts on Monday January 11. For details, go to the website or email the CCAC.
Beth has written a powerful opinion piece about the great value of vaccinations. Her story revolves around her own life and the experiences of her father in his fight against polio. It’s published, unfortunately, behind the Globe & Mail’s firewall and available only to subscribers. Click here. (Photo: Beth Kaplan)
IN THE MEDIA
Beth Kaplan on inoculations
Regent Park updates
blogTO published an article about the last work in Phase 3 at the corner of Parliament and Gerrard - the final work to be handled by the Daniels Corporation. Tridel has won the contract to complete Phases 4 and 5 along Gerrard east to River - these details are not mentioned in the story. Click here to read it. (Image: Daniels Corp)
There’s been a big increase in cycling over the past nine months as COVID shutdowns took effect. Sales at Cycle Solutions (444 Parliament) really jumped as a result. Kale’s inventory was wiped out last summer and he’s now putting together his orders to his suppliers for the 2021 season. He wants to alert everyone interested in buying a new bike to contact him now. If you wait until the Spring, his suppliers may not be able to meet your needs.
BUSINESS NEWS
Cycle Solutions
Donate books
The first book donation day for the Children’s Book Bank (350 Berkeley at Gerrard) happens from 11 am to 2:30 pm on Saturday January 9. Drop off your bags and cartons of books on the wooden pallets in the gated driveway.
What’s open and what’s closed
Rick at the Cabbagetown BIA has posted a handy list of the stores and services affected by provincial lockdown regulations. These rules continue until January 23. For more info and updates, go to the BIA’s business directory on its website or its Facebook page.
Stout Irish Pub (221 Carlton) now has a regular Friday night special. Dinner for two - herb and honey mustard crusted rack of lamb with red wine demi glaze, truffle rosemary roasted potatoes, green beans, caesar salad. Serves two, $90. Add a bottle of red wine, $27 - email Erin to place your order.
RESTAURANT NEWS
Go to the restaurants’ websites and Facebook pages for the menus from your favourite places - click here for the contact list.
Friday night special
Brisket special for two
Start the year with F’Amelia’s (12 Amelia) special order. Braised brisket, red wine reduction, potatoes, kale caesar salad or soup and focaccio. For details and orders, call (416) 323-0666 or email.
House on Parliament
Now available at the HoP (454 Parliament) - single size cocktails. For the daily specials, check out the HoP’s website.
Noushe
Special house selections of wine are available. Details and order info online here. 200 Carlton
Cyril’s soups
Cyril is back in action. His prices are the same but he’s offering a more flexible system for his quantities. He’s offering soup containers in 2 cup, 3 cup and 4 cup sizes (minimum 3 cups). You can also place bulk orders for freezing, banquets and special orders (minimum 10 cups) and save 50 cents per cup. He’ll be making his soup deliveries again starting on Saturday January 9 - the order deadline is Thursday January 7. His soup is chicken noodle. 3 to 9 cups at $4/cup and 10+ cups at $3.50 per cup. His juice is apple’n spice ’n everything nice - 2 cups at $9.
There’s a business directory on the Cabbagetown BIA website with the COVID details listed beside each store’s info.
CONTACT INFO
COVID regulations for retail stores
Food services
A comprehensive listing of our local food services is now available in our new Cabbagetown Directory. The list includes bakeries, coffee shops, delis, restaurants and pubs. Each entry gives the name, address, phone number and a link to a Facebook page or website. Click here to find your favourite.l
