A few weeks ago, Toronto’s public health officer, Dr. David McKeown, filed an official objection to Metrolinx’s proposal for a diesel-powered rail link to the airport. Dr. McKeown said that the additional 400 or so diesel-powered trains travelling daily through our neighbourhood would create unacceptable risks of leukemia. The Clean Train Coalition, representing communities along the rail corridor, released this … Read More
National Post: TTC to begin Downtown Relief Line study this fall
Roncesvalles TTC riders may have a new subway option within the next decade. The National Post reports that the TTC will “seriously study” the long-proposed Downtown Relief Line (DRL) this fall. Under the proposal, the new subway line would likely begin at Dundas West station, travel underneath Roncesvalles/Dundas West towards Liberty Village. From there, it would travel east alongside Queen … Read More
Toronto’s Health Officer files objection to diesel rail expansion
David McKeown, Medical Officer of Health for the City of Toronto, has filed an official objection to Metrolinx’s proposed Georgetown South Service Expansion and Union-Pearson Rail Link (GSSE/EPRL) using diesel trains. Mr. McKeown says that Metrolinx has underestimated the health effects of 5-9 times as many diesel trains passing through our neighbourhood each day. He says these effects include respiratory … Read More
Flushing Out the Truth: Roncesvalles needs a Living Sidewalk!
Wastewater is the very definition of an unsexy subject, but the issue seems to be attracting more and more attention from environmental activists and regulators. The attention explains the urgent need for Roncesvalles Renewed’s proposed Living Sidewalk, which would transform Roncesvalles from a concrete funnel flushing stormwater down our combined sewers into a massive absorption pad, with healthy trees sucking … Read More
Coming Soon To A Neighbourhood Near You: LCBO!
For many years, our neighbourhood has lacked something that most neighbourhoods have: an LCBO outlet. We have long advocated for a Roncesvalles Village outlet, arguing that a government monopoly should not be forcing residents to drive outside their own neighbourhoods to buy a bottle of wine, harming local businesses as well as the environment. The BIA and MPP Cheri DiNovo … Read More
Senator Stanley Haidasz Passes at 86
Stanley Haidasz passed away last week at the age of 86. Mr. Haidasz distinguished himself as a medical doctor before entering politics in 1957. He represented the riding of Parkdale from 1962 until 1978, when he became Canada’s first senator of Polish descent. During his career, he was instrumental in the creation of Medicare, the Canada Pension and other legislation. … Read More
Taking Out The Trash
The garbage strike, now in its fourth week, has been hard on our businesses and on our street. Our businesses have made great efforts to keep Roncesvalles tidy. I’ve seen people tidying up in front of their stores, and tidying up around the trash bins on Roncesvalles. Your efforts are deeply appreciated! The RVBIA has also made efforts to help, … Read More
Community Alert: Elderly targeted by fraudsters
From the Toronto Police Service: The Toronto Police Service 11 Division would like to make the community aware of fraudsters targeting elderly people of Polish descent. In recent weeks there have been a number of incidents where this has occurred. It is reported that the suspect contacts the victims by telephone and speaks to them in Polish. The suspect poses … Read More
Toronto Public Health: Diesel rail would have “significant health impacts”
From the Toronto Star: Citing concerns about diesel train fumes, Toronto’s board of health is urging that GO’s Georgetown service expansion and the Union Station to Pearson Airport rail link be switched to electric power even before it begins operations. GO has already announced it will begin a study of electrifying its entire rail network this summer, but the latest … Read More
Strike!
The strike by 24,000 City workers has resulted in greatly reduced services and the cancellation of an important Roncesvalles community meeting scheduled for June 27. Councillor Gord Perks has posted the City’s contingency plan to assist Torontonians. In the meantime, residents are advised that there will be “zero tolerance” for illegal garbage dumping, and at the same time requests that … Read More