An occasional Newsletter from Preserved Stories.

Where the other half lives: Lower income housing in a neoliberal world (2009)

I was born in Sweden in 1946 after my parents and brother and additional members of our extended family fled Estonia in 1944 before the Soviet occupying forces sealed the borders of the Baltic states. I grew up in Montreal. A memory from the first five years of my life, in Sweden in the late […]

Built from 1912 to 1930, Henderson motorcycles became popular with police forces

In a previous blog post, I referred to information we’ve acquired from Jim Carr and C.M. O’Marra regarding the motorcycle in the photo (above) taken at about 1927 at Etobicoke Creek. It’s one of the photos we are using to publicize the May 4 and 5, 2013 Jane’s Walks in Long Branch. The illustration below […]

Reminder: Community Consultation – 2560, 3580, 3600 Lake Shore Blvd. West – April 11, 6:30 pm, Assembly Hall

The meeting is at The Assembly Hall, a building that serves as a great example of the adaptive reuse of a century-old heritage building that will also be featured among the Doors Open 2013events on the May 25th and 26th weekend. The background document referred to in the notice can be accessed here. [Click on […]

‘We think streets are good boundaries’ – planning article related to Davisville Junior Public School – April 10, 2013 Globe and Mail

Click here to read an April 10, 2013 Globe and Mail article highlighting development issues facing the Toronto District School Board as it seeks to develop properties to generate money for maintenance of its buildings. “We think streets are good boundaries” David Oikawa is manager of the midtown section of City of Toronto Planning: “We […]

Comment from Bob Lansdale regarding proposal to remove sand beach between Etobicoke Creek and Applewood Creek

In earlier blog posts – which have been viewed and commented upon by many site visitors – I’ve shared photos from Robert Lansdale from the 1920s to the 1940s when a cottage community existed at the mouth of Etobicoke Creek. I very much appreciate the fact that the Durance family has shared their historic family […]

Etobicoke York Community Council also defers until June 2013 heritage designation of Ormscliffe & adjacent properties

A City of Toronto document with an update on the proposal to designate Mimico Estates under the Ontario Heritage Act can be found here. [To access the document, click on the link in the previous sentence.] The gist of the update is that the motion has been deferred: Motions – Motion to Defer Item moved by Councillor Mark Grimes (Carried) That Etobicoke York Community Council defer consideration of […]

Update regarding Mimico 20/20 Secondary Plan: Motion has been deferred

A City Council document with an update can be accessed here. [Click on link in previous sentence to access the document.] I found it of interest to follow the meeting on Twitter at #TOpoli and #EYCC. The gist of the update is that the motion has been deferred: Motions 1 – Motion to Defer Item moved by Councillor Mark Grimes (Carried) That Etobicoke York Community Council: […]

May 25th and 26th weekend – Doors Open is a major event with South Etobicoke playing an important part

The Doors Open weekend on May 25th and 26th has become a major event in Toronto and this year South Etobicoke will be playing an important part in its success. [Click on link in previous sentence to access the Doors Open 2013 website.] Nine faith congregations will be opening their doors as will Humber College […]

The Assembly Hall in Etobicoke is a multi-use community cultural centre featuring the adaptive reuse of a century-old heritage building

In a webpage devoted to Cultural Attractions, TOLive with Culture describes The Assembly Hall at 1 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive. Major renovation has preserved building’s historic charm, blended with modern updates The text at the website notes: The Assembly Hall is located on the scenic Lakeshore Grounds in South Etobicoke. This century-old building has undergone […]

21 Swanwick Avenue church-to-condo conversion, completed in 2009, is located at a site dating back to 1888

A City of Toronto By-Law was enacted on April 24, 2007 to designate 21 Swanwick as a heritage property under the Ontario Heritage Act. The bylaw notes that: “Emmanuel Presbyterian Church is an institution that contributed to the historical evolution of the East Toronto community. The development of the site dates to 1888 when a small […]