February 13  ARA Board Meeting, 7 p.m. at  the Alliance Française, Room 303, 24 Spadina Road. All welcome!

Happy New Year!  We hope you and your family enjoyed the holiday season and had a positive start to the year.

The ARA is welcoming 2020 with a Meet N Eat gathering at EVOO Ristorante, 138 Avenue Road http://www.evooristorante.com/ on January 28 at 6:30 p.m. Please let us know if you’re coming by responding here.

The ARA would like to thank Workin’ Moms Productions IV Inc. for their generous donation of $500. They filmed in the Annex this summer. We ask film and production companies to make donations to the ARA in recognition of the disruption that filming can cause in our neighbourhoods.

The ARA Invites You to Our Annual CornFest  

Sunday, September 15

               

                          - 

Sunday, September 15 
4 - 6 p.m. Rain or Shine! Sibelius Park

Delicious fresh, free corn - picked this morning!

The Minor Infraction String Band will be entertaining us while we enjoy all the activities!

Unveiling of the Sibelius Park Mural. Ribbon cutting will take place at 4:15 p.m.

• Seed Exchange
  

• Bike Safety - tips from 14 Division
  

• Waste Management - info from the City

• Going Green Annex - our friends will also be there!

And don't forget to Bring Your Own Cup (BYOC) 

Come meet your neighbours
New members always welcome!

Coalition of Residents' Associations Opposes U of T Proposal for Planetarium Site

The Annex Residents' Association, as part of a coalition of residents' associations, is opposed to a University of Toronto proposal for the Planetarium site south of the ROM on Queen's Park. Their concerns and objections were raised at a first public meeting on June 12, 2019, and in a letter to City Planning and Councillor Layton. As a result a working group will be formed under the leadership of Councillor Layton and will include members of the coalition, City planners, the architect and U of T planning staff. It is expected to meet for the first time in early Fall.

The Mulberries are Coming! Third Annual Mulberry Festival - July 6, 3 - 5 p.m.
Tired of the mess that mulberries make on our sidewalks from mid-June through early August ? Why not eat them instead? You'll have a chance to pick mulberries from trees in the neighbourhood on Saturday, July 6, 3 - 5 p.m.,at Sibelius Park. The Third Annual Mulberry Festival is hosted by the Annex Residents' Association. Read more details here.

Annual General Meeting at the Friends House, 
60 Lowther Avenue, 7:30 p.m. 

AGENDA

1. Welcome Members and Guests

2. Approval of Agenda

3. Minutes from 2018 AGM

4. Special Guests – John Lorinc and Sheryll Case: House Divided – How the Missing Middle will solve Toronto’s Affordability Crisis.

5. Chair's report — David Harrison

6. Financials — Rita Bilerman, Treasurer

7. Report from the Nominating Committee and Election of the 2019 - 2020 Board of Directors, Jim Jacobs

8. Community Volunteer Award presentation

9. Councillor Mike Layton: Ward 20 update

10. AOB

11. Adjournment

Last Minute Cancellation

Saturday’s Open House at the 348 Davenport Women’s Shelter Open House has been cancelled

YWCA Toronto and the City of Toronto say the buildings are not ready, so they are postponing the Open House. It will be rescheduled for a later date when neighbours will be able to picture the shelter in action. 

Please pass word of the cancellation along to any of your friends. YWCA Toronto and the City of Toronto apologize for any inconvenience caused by this last-minute change.

Welcome the New Women’s Shelter

You’ve seen the renovations at 348 Davenport from the outside.  On December the 29^th, you can come and see them from the inside.

 

The women’s shelter at 348 Davenport will be providing shelter for 56 homeless women, linking them to services and helping them to find a permanent home. 

Toronto. The shelter is being operated by YWCA Toronto, which has served Toronto’s women and girls for almost 150 years. It currently operates the 1st Stop Woodlawn Housing for women who are homeless or in immediate crisis, two shelters for women fleeing abuse, and permanent housing at four locations.

YWCA Toronto and the City of Toronto is inviting all of shelter’s neighbours to a preview, to view the facility, meet the operators and ask questions.

When:           Saturday, December 29^th 
                      1:30 - 3:30 p.m. 

Where:          348 Davenport (just south of Dupont)

When the Snow Flies

Before the first big snowfall graces Toronto, the Annex Residents’ Association (ARA) wishes to remind everyone to clear their sidewalks. It makes a big difference for young and old – for parents with strollers and residents who have mobility challenges.

For seniors and those with disabilities, the City of Toronto makes it a lot easier to deal with the snow. The City will clear city sidewalks outside their property for free. Just download the form and mail it in.

As 2018 ends, and 2019 begins, the ARA wishes all of the residents of the Annex a Happy Holiday.

The Latest at Bloor Street United

The Annex Residents’ Association (ARA) is not happy about it, but an important meeting is going to be held next Monday, December 17, 7 – 9 PM, about the proposed development at Bloor Street United, 300 Bloor Street West at Huron.

The ARA argued this does not give residents enough notice, but the meeting is required by the City’s rules.

The good news is that during three community consultations and five meetings of a working group, the ARA has had a positive impact on the proposed development. The building has been reduced in height.

The revised application is for a 27-storey mixed use building with 251 residential units and two separate mezzanines in the base building

For more details, see the City’s Preliminary Report.

The continued involvement of local residents is vital to ensure the proposed development evolves to reflect community wishes.

                    Date:     Monday, December 17, 2018

                    Time:    7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

                    Place:   Bloor Street United Church, McClure Hall,
                                 (300 Bloor St. West)