Shelter By-law
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
The GDRA participated in the preliminary hearing related to the second phase of the original OMB appeal against the exception to the Shelter By-law (101 Ontario Street). The appeal was rejected by the Board on the basis the appellants did not formulate any new issues to be considered despite the fact the original ones were never addressed.We requested devolution of the shelters that do not conform to the protocols of the Shelter By-law, i.e.
• maximum capacity of 80 beds per facility
• 500 beds per Ward
• minimum separation distance of 250 m.
Our initiatives and actions included:
• Letters to the Mayor, the OMB, the MP, Ward 27 Councillor protesting suspension of protective legislation.
• Participation in the Committee of Adjustment hearings.
• Attendance and participation on the OMB hearings.
• Articles published in the Bulletin and interviews given to the media including The Globe & Mail, The Toronto Star, CBC Radio, 640 Radio, City TV.
Group Home By-law
Salvation Army - Group Home for federal offenders at 416 Sherbourne. The GDRA opposed the expansion of the correctional facility known as Banton Lodge as it violated the minimum separation distance between group homes and the maximum capacity limit of 10 residents per location. We opposed having emergency shelters and group homes operating out of the same location, e.g. Street Haven, the Archibald Centre/Maxwell Meighen or having them licensed as rooming houses, e.g. Street Haven, Springboard, House Link.
Our initiatives and actions included:
• A joint street demonstration(see above)
• Participation in the Committee of Adjustment hearings.
• Participation in the OMB appeal.
• Letters to the Mayor, MP Toronto Centre, Ward 27 Councillor
• Letters to the operators of Shelter cum Group Home
• Letters to the Rooming House Licensing Tribunal
• Press Releases
• Letters to the Editor
Rooming House By-law
The GDRA opposed licensing of endemic offenders (requiring ongoing police intervention) and those facilities that operated on repeated conditional licenses. The Licensing Tribunal continued to license operations in violation of the Municipal Code Chapter 285/15-16 with the apparent (not confirmed to date ) exception of 230 Sherbourne Street.
The GDRA opposed the application for the expansion of 274 George Street citing saturation of the area with rooming house facilities. The variances requested were not approved.
Our initiatives and actions included:
• Collection of data related to the violation of Chapter 285/15-16.
• Monthly review of applications filed with the Licensing Tribunal.
• Attendance at the licensing hearings.
• Letters the Licensing Tribunal opposing licensing of endemic offenders.
• Letters to the Ward 27 Councillor requesting support.
Liquor Licensing
Following two periodic suspensions at the New Half Moon and the Navron, and despite overwhelming evidence that these establishments are in contravention of liquor licensing laws, their licenses were reinstated.
Our initiatives and actions included:
• Participation in the licensing hearing.
• Letters to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission.
• Monitoring of the New Half Moon and the Navaron operations.
• Compilation of data related to the violation of the regulatory restrictions.
• Letters to the Ward 27 Councillor requesting support.
Health Services
A letter was sent to Dr. McKeowan to consider protective measures against the spread of TB from the area shelters to the community. We were advised the ongoing incidents of the disease found at the area shelters pose no threat to the community at large. We were also told the best practices are in place at the shelters to protect its users and the host community against the spread of communicable diseases. We invited Dr. McKeowan for a tour of those best practices. No RSVP received to date.
A letter was sent to Toronto Health Services for action against the rodent infestation at Walnut Hall.
Letters were expedited to have hotel and restaurant, social services operators and the Gabrielle Roy Public School provide improved garbage/refuse storage and disposal.
Division 51
We provided input to Division 51 on the nature and frequency of crime in the District.
We reported on the escalation of vandalism, financial loss and harm inflicted on our community, and an unprecedented increase in insurance rates for the area.
We requested and received statistics related to police intervention at high risk social service facilities such as shelters and rooming houses.
CPLC Division 51
We reported on issues related to safety and security.
We critically questioned the support provided by Division 51 to the Salvation Army for the expansion of its correctional programs at 416 Sherbourne Street.
We submitted proposals for a more effective operation of the CPLC , with special emphasis on initiatives supporting the rule of law and order. A copy of the proposals was submitted to the Interim Chief Boyd.
We voted in favour of requesting mandatory participation in CPLC 51 of Ward 27 and Ward 28 Councillors and the Toronto Centre MPP. Kyle Rae declined, the other two responses are pending.
Inter-community
We continued to work with the Action 4 Balanced Communities in Downtown (ABCD), QUEBRA and Citizens for a Better Toronto on strategies against ongoing exploitation of vulnerable neighbourhoods where laws are being systematically suspended, ignored and violated in the name of political expediency.
Ryerson University
The GDRA was invited to provide input on the project of assessment of Dundas Square being carried out by the Department of Urban Planning.
The GDRA was invited to jury the final projects (theses) presented by the School of Interior Design. graduates The Gabrielle Roy Public School was one of the three sites selected for the final projects.
Harm Reduction
We are invited to the 2005 Toronto Drug Strategy Session to be held on April 14th where we shall continue to oppose "harm reduction" programs that have proven to have no positive impact on the
• HIV/Hepatitis infection rates.
• addiction treatment
• risks to the community
Our initiatives and actions included: •
Monitoring of the "harm reduction" programs in Canada and abroad
• Articles published in the Bulletin
• Interviews given to the media including CBC Radio, 640 Radio, The Toronto Star, The Toronto Sun.
The Gabrielle Roy Parkette
We are grateful for the time and energy the Garden District residents expand towards the upkeep of the Parkette. We thank Glen Simourd for his supervision of its maintenance. We acknowledge with gratitude the financial contributions from the majority of George Street residents that allow us to get help when the volunteer effort wanes.
Walnut Hall
Despite repeated requests for an update on the redevelopment plans, the owners refuse to provide any information related to the protection and renovation of this heritage property. Letters of complaint were sent to the Heritage Preservation Services and Ward 27 Councillor requesting intervention. Currently, there are no means of forcing the owners to secure the structure or provide basic maintenance. The building now poses physical threat (collapse) to the adjoining house.
Heritage Preservation Services
We invited a representative of HPS to help us advance protection of heritage structures. He was given a list of addresses and photographs to help HPS ascertain their qualification for the heritage status.
Regent Park Redevelopment
We were invited to a number of community group sessions reviewing recommendations for the redevelopment. We opposed the proposed densities (100%increase) for low income and welfare populations, and a totally inadequate mix of rental and ownership.
Moss Park
Following our persistent requests for improved lighting of the tennis courts, additional lighting was installed along the west end of the park in March 2005.
Street Lighting
At our request, Ward 27 Councillor authorized an assessment by the City of lighting needs east of Jarvis west of Sherbourne.
Traffic
City Council approved in April 2004 our request for a restricted right turn
(no turn 10 p.m. – 7 a.m.) at Shuter and George Street.
The Municipal Traffic Committee will hold a meeting on April 20, 2005 to consider eliminating the median and separating the north/south traffic along Jarvis Street with a row of trees and greenery. We support this proposal, and to this end, we are submitting our comments and requests.
Film and TV
We have responded to some 30 requests for filming privileges in the District.
Donations from the film industry, although not very generous this year, fund our projects and administrative support.
Media and Publicity
The GDRA’s initiatives were covered in the following media: The Toronto Sun, The Toronto Star, The Globe & Mail, the Bulletin, the Voice, The Ryersonian, CBC radio, City TV, 640 Radio.
Board of Directors
The Acting President met with Kyle Rae last March and presented to the Councillor a list of issues that must be addressed by the City. A response to a number of those issues is pending. The Councillor supports in principle the GDRA's efforts to have selected buildings and sites designated as heritage. The Councillor will not attend the GDRA's monthly meetings.
