Inspiration Lakeview and the Small Arms Building repurposing project are an inspiration for people around the world

I much value the support that has been expressed from time to time by local residents,  for the work that I do in sharing a few stories, when I have time, at the Preserved Stories website.

The ‘four sisters’ story (I think there were four towers, but could be wrong) in Lakeview appears to be working out well – including with reference to citizen input, transit, infrastructure, and human-scale housing:

Inspiration Lakeview – Master Plan – Share your thoughts – Ju;y 22, 2014

The Lakeview story had its start when many years ago Jim Tovey of Lakeview was on a walk with his dog or maybe he had more than one dog with him. That was before he was elected to City Council at the City of Mississauga. On the night that he stopped at the three sisters, a thought occurred to him. I paraphrase: “Wouldn’t this place be great if it was all cleaned up and people got to live here, and enjoy this beautiful spot!”

He’s been a key player in making the Lakeview Waterfront Connection project, and Inspiration Lakeview, a reality. He along with fellow residents and all three levels of government are working together to take an idea, a dream, and make it into a solid, practical, highly inspiring reality.

His work began when he served as president of the Lakeview Ratepayers Association. I could go on but I’ve told the story many times already at the Preserved Stories website.

What is happening in Lakeview and Port Credit is not just a source of inspiration for residents like myself and others living in Mississauga and Toronto. It is, in fact, a source of inspiration – with regard to areas such as civic engagement, and planning for sustainability – for cities around the entire world! Wow! That is remarkable. That is truly a remarkable achievement!

I first began to follow the story of Lakeview when I learned, from a member of the Long Branch Historical Society, of a City of Mississauga Doors Open event at the Small Arms Building in Lakeview. That was around 2011 or 2012. That’s where I first met Jim Tovey.

I soon realized that the Long Branch Historical Society had some organizations issues – again, part of a particular configuration of historical forces, at play in Etobicoke, related to social capital and human capital – that made it clear to me that the Society was not capable of continuing as a viable organization at that time.

I estimated at the time that perhaps in 20 or 30 years it would be revived, from a state of dormancy, and start up again.

That said, the good thing that came out of my contact with the latter Society was that I learned about the Small Arms Building. I’ve been following the story of the repurposing of the latter historical building ever since.

It’s such a great story. It inspires me tremendously. I feel honoured that I have the opportunity to share news updates, about progress with the latter project, at the Preserved Stories website, on a regular basis.