The Fire Hall in New Toronto is at Eighth St. just north of Lake Shore Blvd. West

In a previous post I wrote about the Fire Hall that used to exist in Long Branch. I will add details about the latter Fire Hall in the next while. The current post features the Fire Hall that remains in operation in New Toronto.

128 Eighth St.

Google Maps view of Fire Hall at 128 Eighth St. in New Toronto

Google Maps link: 128 Eighth St.

Mike James of Niagara-on-the-Lake, who grew up in New Toronto, has recently mentioned that the Fire Hall in New Toronto still stands on Eighth St. just north of Lake Shore Blvd. West.

135 Eighth St.

Google Maps link: 135 Eighth St.

Google Maps view of 135 Eighth St. in New Toronto

Mike has also commented that

Also here you can see the old New Toronto hydro office on the right and across the street, used to be the Brown Building where town council worked prior to its demolition as a strip mall in the early 60’s.

Town Hall of New Toronto was located at Eighth St. and Lake Shore Blvd. West

Mike has noted, as well, that the Etobicoke Historical Society features a photo of the Town Hall which used to be located on Lake Shore Blvd. West not far from where the Fire Hall is located.

Town Hall of New Toronto (demolished). Brown building at the south-west corner of Lake Shore Blvd. West at Eighth St. Photo source: Etobicoke Historical Society website

Book about urban governance by Mariana Valverde

When I think about New Toronto I think among other things about a book about urban governance by Mariana Valverde; the book is highlighted at a previous post entitled:

The issues related to a proposal for a homeless shelter near Islington Ave. on Lake Shore Blvd. West give rise to many insights

An excerpt from a blurb for the book reads:

If urban diversity is to be truly inclusive – of tenants as well as homeowners, and recent immigrants as well as longtime residents – cities must move beyond micro-local planning and embrace a more expansive, citywide approach to planning and regulation.

The book makes a good point: It’s important that tenants and recent immigrants have a voice along with everyone else when land use decisions are made in Toronto and elsewhere.

I no longer have much involvement with local Toronto planning issues. However, some meetings that I’ve attended online in recent years have impressed me with one thing above all.

I’ve noticed that City of Toronto planners have on occasion made a really strong effort to ensure that a diversity of voices are heard, rather than solely the voices of well-established and articulate homeowners. The latter category of citizens has valuable and insightful feedback to offer, when planning decisions are made. However, they should not be the only ones to be heard.

Every person, whether articulate in a standard way or not, whether a homeowner or not, deserves to have the opportunity to express their views. Each of us deserves to have our views be taken closely into account, when decisions that directly affect us are being made.

The book I mention, Everyday Law on the Street: City Governance in an Age of Diversity (2012), is worth a close read. I recommend it highly.