What could be more fun than equity scores? Long Branch (56.26); Alderwood (63.88); New Toronto (53.21); Mimico (62.36)

A March 10, 2014 Globe and Mail article is entitled: “140 Toronto neighbourhoods ranked by new ‘equity score.’” The article includes a great map and listings. I owe thanks to a tweet from Sarah Thomson for alerting me to this article. The opening paragraph reads [please note that I’ve changed the placement of a comma; […]

Wesley Mimico update – a second submission for the rezoning application

I’ve been following with interest the Wesley Mimico United Church redevelopment story since February 2012. From what I can gather, the heritage attributes of the Wesley Mimico United Church building, as identified by City of Toronto heritage preservation staff, will determine the narrative arc of the redevelopment. I learned about the project when I was […]

Winter photo of retired heavy gun at Marie Curtis Park

  I’m pleased to share with you this photo, taken today Jan. 26, 2014. Background about the cannon can be found at an earlier blog post. The second photo was taken today as well, closer to the shore. The photos were taken with a Nikon Coolpix P330 digital camera, a snapshot-type camera that is highly […]

Text of letter regarding 48 – Thirty Fifth Street Street Severance. Committee of Adjustment meeting is on Jan. 23, 2014

Please write your own letter before Jan. 23, in the event this topic is of concern to you I’ve written a letter to the Committee of Adjustment regarding 48 Thirty Fifth Street and urge you to do the same. You can simply cut and past the following text, which is based on the template in […]

Please write a letter today regarding 48 – 35th Street Severance – Jan. 23, 2014 Committee of Adjustment Hearing

The following message is from a concerned resident of Long Branch. The message includes the following four documents (the fourth provides a draft of a letter that you are urged to write): 48 – 35th CofA Prt. 2 (Lot & Frontage Analysis ) 48 35th CofA Prt.1 (Notice) 48-35th CofA Prt.3 ( Drawings) 48 35 […]

‘I love working in south Etobicoke’ – December 2013 issue of The Anglican

The following text is from the December 2013 issue of The Anglican. I assume this is a local church newsletter. I have received the text by email, from a source that in my experience is a highly reliable source of information. [Conclusion of comment from Jaan Pill; the text mentioned above follows below] December 2013 […]

Bill Rawson’s been reading a great book about Jim Coleman

I recently visited Bill Rawson, who has shared a lot of great stories with us in the past about the history of Long Branch (Toronto not New Jersey), and I was delighted to see his used furniture store, on the south side of Lake Shore Blvd. West across from the Long Branch Library, is now […]

The meaning of neoliberalism has changed dramatically since its origin in interwar Germany

The story of Long Branch (Toronto not New Jersey) began about 10,000 years ago when Palaeo-Indian nomadic hunters first arrived in Southern Ontario at the end of the last Ice Age. I enjoy imagining those times, and reading about the experiences of hunter-gatherers. Imagination is at play when we picture the past, as it is […]

Comment from Norm Kennedy regarding request for Etobicoke Creek “Flats” photos. Norm Kennedy also enjoyed David Webster article.

I’m pleased to share with you the following message from Norm Kennedy, which has been posted as a Comment at a recent blog post: Hello Jaan; It was very interesting to read your article about my old friend David Webster. This led me to reading a number of other posts. I lived on 41st street […]

The War of 1812 brought the first Ukrainians to the city – then called York – as mercenary soldiers

Updates: A Feb. 20, 2014 New Yorker article is entitled:” Will Ukraine break apart?” A Feb. 28, 2014 Globe and Mail article is entitled: “Globe in Kiev: Ukraine’s new government declares Russia has invaded.” A Feb. 28, 2014 Guardian article is entitled: “Ukraine: Night Wolves and unidentified military men seize key Crimea sites.” A Feb. […]