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200 Newsletters!
Back in March, 1998, we sent out an email notice to our brand-new
distribution list of people we'd just created,
made up of people who’d signed up at one of our early
community meetings.
That was our very first newsletter.
In May 2009, we sent out our
200th newsletter.
We never would have guessed back then what that first email would have led
to.
"For a dose of
reality, visit world19.com"
(New, Jan. 20, 2008)
As a result
of our
public forum on Toronto held last October,
world19 received media
coverage in the Globe & Mail, and on CIUT and CBC radio, among other
outlets. Recently (the January, 2008 issue), the Bloor West Town
Crier's columnist, Greg Hamara wrote a column about us entitled "Web folk back in action here".
He
began, "world19.com is back in orbit, and not a moment too soon for
residents and neighbourhoods of west Toronto". He discussed our
recent public forum, our history and other activities, as well as our
"pioneering" use of the Internet for communication.
"They are not a single-interest organization out to stop something --
unless by stopping, we mean public apathy about issues affecting our
familiar neighbourhoods, as well as the sprawling urban mess stretching
beyond".
He
concluded by warning residents about putting much stock in political
handouts and glossy newsletters from local politicians. "Don't be
fooled by their spin. For a dose of reality, visit www.world19.com".
Click here for the full article (PDF
file - about 500K - requires Adobe or Adobe reader) |
IT'S (ALMOST) GOODBYE FROM WORLD19
(New: Oct. 4/09)
A brief note from our
Oct. 4 newsletter:
It's been quite a few months since our last newsletter (and
website update), and while our publishing has been irregular at times in the
past, we're thinking that after 11 years it's time to retire our world19
community network, one which was certainly the first in the area to use the
Internet as a community organizing & advocacy tool.
We expect to issue a final newsletter in the near future as a
sign-off. However, just like zombies that never die, you should never count
us out... don't be surprised if some day in the future, you find another
world19 newsletter lurking in your inbox.
UPDATES (Oct. 4): See our
Newsletter #204
for details:
-
Desperate SOS from a
Bloor St. resident
-
Community meeting
re: Tridel's proposed development at 2500 Bloor
-
New community
association ("Fight the Height") formed in response to the scale of that
proposal
ON THIS PAGE:
NEWSLETTER:
Some recent posts
on our newsletter blog: (June, 2009)
#202, June 8/09 contains three posts:
1.
Neighbourhood daycare urgently needs your support.
An appeal from a resident about threats to neighbourhood daycares, both
here and across the city. Information about, and an invitation to join,
a "stroller protest", Tuesday, June 9th (4pm) at City Hall.
2. "Claude
Bitton: the infomercial"?
The man we have occasionally described as "the mysterious" Mr. Bitton
seems to suddenly seek publicity ... his own, with a raft of websites
and blogs, all extolling the man who owns the fading Odeon Humber block,
and other chunks of Bloor West Village. What's it about we wonder, and
most importantly, what does it mean for the Village?
3. Falafel
World turns 25 (Photo)
Perhaps the most popular business in Bloor West Village celebrates its
25th anniversary with cake, music & bellydancing. Congratulations!
WORLD19 IN THE DANDYHORSE
MAGAZINE (New: April 30/09)
Watch for the brand
new issue of
Dandyhorse, Toronto's newest magazine on cycling. It contains an
article on world19 and our efforts to save the
threatened Annette St. bike lanes. Some excerpts:
So just who
are these superheroes that kept the Annette Street bike lanes from
being scuttled last fall and pushed the envelope on what kind of
advocacy we can expect when cyclists and communities combine?
... During
the Annette fight they encouraged over 200 bike lane supporters to
send emails to City Council. If this isn't the type of neighbour you
want next door, who is?
The article focuses
on the importance of wide-reaching, grassroots community connection and
communication on an issue like this. In the article, Steve Brearton of
the Toronto Cyclists Union with whom we worked, said,
world19
really created a fabulous model for working on these kinds of
projects. They worked very hard to get local residents on side...
and, What was important and effective is that it was a campaign
that was initiated at a very local level, but drew on city-wide
resources of cycling activists and groups.
We recommend the
magazine for those interested in cycling ... and joining the
Cyclists Union.
Coming up: the
annual
"Bells on Bloor" group ride for bike lanes on Bloor St. Starting at
the High Park gates on Bloor. May 31, noon.
SOME PAST ITEMS:
MPAC: Property Assessment Appeal Deadline is March
31 (March/09)
Annette St. Bike
Lanes (Updated Nov/08)
A painfully long, and unnecessary
battle.
Jane Street LRT Proposal (Sep/08)
Part of Toronto's extensive "Transit
City" concept. See our
Sep. 9/08 newsletter
New Residents group (Aug/08)
As a side result of the Tridel/2500
Bloor development, world19 was instrumental in helping to create a new
residents group in an area that had none previously. This is the
neighbourhood closest to the development: the area north of Bloor,
between Jane and the Humber River. Unofficially known as the Bloor Jane
Humber Residents, they can be reached at bloorjane (at) gmail.com. For
more background, see our
Aug. 27 newsletter
world19 & Toronto's fiscal crisis
In the fall of 2007, in reaction
to debate about Toronto's financial stability and questions about
proposed new taxes, world19 not only discussed these issues, but also raised the broader question about the ongoing
sustainability of Toronto and other cities. In addition, we expressed
concern about the position of, and lack of communication by Ward 13
Councillor Bill Saundercook, publishing two open letters, and attracting
media attention.
With no forum for public
discussion coming from the Councillor, world19 organized a public forum,
titled, "How do we
build a great city, and how do we pay for it?" It was a
lively discussion, featuring a panel of expert city watchers, and a
committed and involved audience that included Mayor Miller.
Click here
for the full meeting report, and see our Toronto page
for other related items.
A Tree in the Village (Apr/08)
The
Apr. 23 Globe & Mail featured a column by John Barber
discussing two magnificent and ancient trees that have both
(somewhat miraculously) survived the threat of living in a dense
urban environment. One, a 300 year old white oak is located on Jane
St. at Weatherell (2 blocks north of Bloor). Here is
an article (PDF format) about it, written by local historian
Madeleine McDowell.
An
excerpt:
The
oak was a sapling when the French built their second trading fort,
Fort Toronto, in 1749 at the foot of the portage on which the tree
stands. It was part of the forest canopy by 1764 when Alexander
Henry passed by with a group of Mississaugas on their way to Fort
Niagara. It was a maturing tree when fur trader Benjamin Frobisher
traveled through the area recommending in a 1784 report that the
Northwest
Company use the Carrying Place as the
preferred route to the West.
DON
JENNISON, 1927 - 2005
 One of world19's founding members, Don Jennison passed away on Tuesday, April 26, 2005. A longtime resident
of Swansea, and dedicated activist, Don's energy, passion and humour will be greatly missed.
We have created
a page in tribute to Don, with our
memories of him, the text of the homily delivered at his
memorial service, and statements of recognition from City
Council and the House of Commons. There is also a link to the
May 6 Villager column by Luigi Bennetton about Don, and
as well, we have reproduced the fine article in the June, 2005
Village Gleaner (courtesy of the Gleaner).
A fund
raising project has been created at at Morningside-High Park Presbyterian Church
in memory of Don, entitled "Don's Coffee Pot". Through this,
Fair Trade coffee is available through the church.
Proceeds will be used to build a schoolhouse in
Kenya in memory of Don.
Visit the
church website
for more information.
We knew how strong Don's passion and
commitment for social and community involvement was when he was here, so
we're not that surprised to see how strong it remains.
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The final report of this study
(originally referred to as a "Visioning Study") has now been
produced. The study was initiated by Councillor Bill Saundercook,
and was led by the Toronto firm Office for Urbanism. It involved
members of the Bloor West Village BIA, and local residents groups
(two members of world19 were part of the Steering Committee).
The purpose
was to provide guidelines for future acceptable development along
the Bloor corridor in the Village area. While it will have no legal
standing, the expectation -- or hope -- is that it will be given
significant weight by City Planning staff and the OMB in future
development applications -- including the Humber Theatre site.
We hope copies of the study will be made
available in local libraries and/or on CD's. In the meantime, we
have posted a copy on our website. Be warned however, it's a 9 mb
PDF file (requiring the free Adobe Reader software).
To download it from our website,
click here
SAVE THE
VILLAGE
Information & background on this 1999 campaign.
WORLD19
More about us & our activities.
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