Upcoming Meetings:

Meetings are held the last Tuesday of each month at Fern Avenue Public School, 128 Fern Ave. (east of Roncesvalles), starting at 7 pm.

April 29, 2008:
Living with Urban Pollution and Strategies for Survival

May 27, 2008:
35th Annual General Meeting with the election of the Executive Committee and our annual strawberry desert


NEWS

Volunteers needed!
We need help with everything from posting flyers, to making telephone calls, to serving on the executive. In particular, if you walk your dog or go for strolls in the neighbourhood and can post flyers for us on that route, please let us know. This month we need help with our annual flyer drop. Please call if you can spare even half an hour, it is appreciated. Many hands make light work.
Call Meghan at 416-534-6720.
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The RMRA is a volunteer- run organization. Our volunteers do a variety of jobs, ranging from delivering flyers, putting up posters, staffing events, to planning and design. We bring a variety of expertise and experience to our tasks, united by our love for this neighbourhood, and our dedication to its’ healthy future. Without many hours of volunteer support, we would not be able to achieve a third of what we do each year.

Each year volunteers have donated more than 160 hours of work. Over 25 volunteers assist with our annual flyering, and each month we have 9 volunteers postering and 14 volunteers telephoning. This is in addition to the volunteers we have assisting with the preparation for each meeting and at the meetings themselves.

I'd like to thank the following volunteers in particular, for their help with flyer distribution, postering, and the telephone tree in 2006- 2007: Kathy Allan, Cyril Almay, Laurie Bell, Roger Brook, Maggie Cresswell, Michael Corcoran, Jean Dubin, Ian Fellows, Mary H. and David M., David Hanna, Norm Kolasky, Elizabeth Lis, Chrissy and Willa Lumley, Brenda Lynington, Ken Macdonald, Mary Macmillan, Janet May, Hayley Mezei, Hyacynth Robinson, Lorna Sayed, Gail Shillingford, Clarence Seunarine, Doug Shepherd, Eric Turcotte, Susan Vandendam, Bruce Voogd, Simon Wei. A big thank you to the Greening Committee for their hard work and in particular to Peter Elson our past chair.

Aug. 13, 2007
RMRA past chairs recognized with new Sorauren Park plaque

I
The stone marker for the tree planted in honour of Peter Elson and past Chairs of the R.M.R.A. has been installed in Sorauren Park. The tree is located on the upper edge of a new stand planted just to the west of the soon-to-be Fieldhouse along Wabash so take a look when you are going for a walk or heading to the park. Thanks to Norm's skilled craftsmanship and also to Susan and Ken for helping transport it with Norm.


Your New RMRA Board elected May 29, 2007:



From left: David Hanna (new secretary), Ian Fellows (past secretary), Ken Macdonald (executive committee member), Clarence Seunarine (new chair), Peter Elson (past chair), Douglas Shepherd (executive committee member) with the Six-String Nations Guitar, Susan Vandendam (executive committee member, Jowi Taylor (musical guest, president of Six-String Nation), Elizabeth Lis (executive committee member), Jorge Miguel (musical guest), Eric Turcotte (executive committee member), Meghan Edmonds (executive committee member). Missing: Norm Kolasky (treasurer)

In other news:

RMRA submits report on City's Climate Change Initiative
The RMRA has contributed to the consultation process on the City's Climate Change initiative. The RMRA Executive has backed a document prepared by RMRA member Clarence Seunarine that has been posted to the City's feedback forum on its website. It is also available here for download (Adobe PDF).

ARA Strikes Accord with Councillor
The Ward 14 Area Residents' Association (ARA) has come to an agreement with Councillor Gord Perks regarding community consultations in the Ward. Feeling that comunity consultations are often a case of "too little, too late", the ARA wanted to get off to a good start with Councillor Perks. We have. The agreement [download MS Word version here] has been reached with the Councillor and will form the basis of community consultations on major issues of concern to residents.

The Ents (Trees) Come to Sorauren Park
At the most recent RMRA Meeting on February 27th, 2007, Peter Leiss, Park Supervisor for the Toronto & East York department of Parks, Forestry and Recreation announced that a least 40-50 trees are going to be planted in Sorauren and Charles G. Williams Parks this spring or early summer. This is a victory, not only for the park and the planet, but also for parents and others who have advocated for shade trees to be planted near where their children play. The trees will all be native species and the parks department is collaborating with the Wabash Building Society to ensure that the location of the trees is compatable with any future scenario associated with the Sorauren Park Fieldhouse and the Wabash Recreation Centre.

Sorauren Park Citizen's Advisory Committee
The RMRA is going to collaborate with Sorauren Park and Charles G. Williams user groups and City Staff to establish a sorauren Park Citizen's Advisory Committee. With the complex number of users in the two parks, their year-round use, and plans for Sorauren Park redevelopment by the city, it's important that local groups have an organized voice to co-ordinate input and to provide a structure for plans to be co-ordinated.

Wabash Community Centre/Sorauren Park Fieldhouse
At the January 2007 RMRA meeting, community members were shown plans for the new Sorauren Park Fieldhouse, which is the renovation of the small abandoned building at 50 Wabash Avenue. There was also discussion about the proposed community centre. The non-profit Wabash Building Society feels a pool may not be feasible at the site because of the large expense and location of nearby pools. Instead, the WBS is looking at plans for an outdoor skating rink. For details, visit www.buildwabashnow.org.

Western Beaches Waterfront Plan
The scope of the development of a long range plan for the Western Waterfront has been finalized. The study will look at the area from Marilyn Bell Park to the Humber River. Public consultation will begin in April pending budget approval by the City. To see the report and the proposed planning process, go to http://www.toronto.ca/waterfront/pdf/western_waterfront_report_29aug06.pdf

The new WestendWaterfront.TO website is now in operation. This is the site for the Parkdale High Park Waterfront Group. It is supported by the RMRA and is the vehicle for residents in Ward 13 and 14 to discuss issues realted to the western waterfront. The official launch of the web site will take place in January. The web site also includes a way to sign up to get additional information and to participate.

Streetcar Service to the Western Waterfront
The TTC is considering extending transit from Exhibition Place through Dufferin to the Queen and Roncesvalles intersection. Meetings to discuss these options were held at 6:30 on Nov 27th at 1372 King St. West and on Nov. 28th at 6:30 at the Direct Energy Centre, CNE. Feedback on the proposed environmental assessment has been extended to January 15th, 2007. To keep up to date on this project, go to <http://www.toronto.ca/involved>

Roncesvalles and Marion
A petition has been presented to the RMRA by the residents of Copernicus Lodge outlining their concerns regarding pedestrian safety at Marion and Roncesvalles. The petition was supported by RMRA members at the November meeting and has been forwarded to Councillor Gord Perks. It is hoped that a meeting with city officials will take place in due course. A number of options were discussed, the first of which is the installation of a traffic light.

Kudos to Wabash
Hot on the heels of receiving a Brownie Award, (see www.buildwabashnow.org <http://www.buildwabashnow.org> ) the Wabash Building Society is not resting on its laurels. Meetings are planned to discuss development of 40 Wabash now that the restoration/ renovation of 50 Wabash (aka The Sorauren Park Fieldhouse) is underway. The city budget process will be watched closely and the buy-a-brick campaign will be selling 'brick certificates' over the holiday season.

Wabash "Buy A Brick" campaign:
Makes a great birthday gift!

Help build the new Sorauren Park Fieldhouse (including washrooms for the park!) by participating in this new fundraising campaign, sponsored by the Wabash Building Society. Download your pledge form and see the "virtual brick wall" of donors to date. Buy a brick as a birthday gift to a loved one! Click here for more info.


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