2011 in Review.

 

Cabbagetown South Residents' Association has 4 organizational objectives.  Here is what we have done over the course of 2011 to further those objectives.

 

1.  To promote the beauty, safety, environmental quality & economic vitality of this historic community.

 

Environmental Quality:  Sponsored the 3rd annual Earth Hour Candle Light Walk through Cabbagetown South guided by historian Robin Burgoyne of Caerwent House Stories.  We were interviewed on CBC Metro Morning and Rogers Cable sent out a crew to interview Patricia and Robin for a video profile called Community Bites.  We co-ordinated a Garden & Tree Walk with a representative of LEAF as our host. Cabbagetown South has many aging trees and this initiative emphasized the need to manage the preservation and replacement of these vital resources.  Represented CTS on the Riverdale Park West Improvement Planning Committee, an initiative looking at how the park is used and what is needed to address its problems.  Provided information and tips on our website on how to conserve and save the environment.  Continued to reduce the number of flyers and newsletters we send out by growing our email lists.

 

Safety:  Successfully stopped a Methadone Clinic from opening at the corner of

Dundasand Ontario Streeton the direct path to the local schools and daycare.  We sponsored a Safety Walk with a representative of the Toronto Community Police.  There was a good turnout and lots of discussion took place around home and personal safety.  Throughout the year we provided a wide variety of information on our website about safety within our neighbourhood as well as personal safety tips.  We had a representative attend the  Community Police Liaison Committee, ensuring that CSA issues were represented to the police. Hosted members of the Toronto Police Community Policing Unit at one of our monthly meetings.  Reinforced the importance of reporting crimes (sexual activity, drug consumption and drug sales etc) by publicizing the Police Non Emergency Number: 416.808.2222. Hosted several special meetings to address safety concerns within the community

Economic Vitality: .  There were a number of  new developments within Cabbagetown South in 2011 and our Development Committee kept us abreast of the status.  They worked with local developers and city planning.  We fought the demolition and redevelopment of a

Seaton Streetproperty whose owner wanted to turn the property into a multi-unit dwelling.   After the Community Action Meeting with Glen Murray we  identified social services within the area as a first step in working through the issues caused by such high density of services. 

Through individual solicitation and a direct mail drop, invited businesses within the boundaries of Cabbagetown South to attend our meetings and become members.  A blog on our website, Mark Caven’s Featured Businesses, highlights a different CTS business every month.

 

Beauty:  Despite very poor weather we sponsored a very successful 4th annual Community Clean-up where members picked-up litter in streets and laneways.  Continued the work on the gardens at Toronto Community Housing at

297 Ontario Street. Guerrilla Gardeners cleared 3 sad neglected spots on Dundas St, Seaton and Berkeley Streets with, plantings, fresh soil and mulch.   Dumping incidents have been promptly cleaned up because members have diligently called the City at 311, describing the material and advising if it is on city or residential property (a digital picture helps). 

2.  To promote the quality of residential and business life in and around the area.

 

We initiated a series of Community Action Teams to address unique problems within Cabbagetown South.  These included a team to address the problems being generated by the Gerrard St. E. Beer Store, another to look at the problems with the TCHC Dan Harrison building and

Oskenoton Lanethat it overlooks and yet another to look at the issue of Rooming Houses/Slum Landlords within the community.   Details of the activities of these committees can be found on the website.

We also worked with MLA Glen Murray and Councillor Pam McConnell on a series of Community Action Meetings that identified priority issues within the community.  

 

3.  To promote a shared sense of community that respects the diversity of all residents.

 

Many of our events are provided ‘free of charge’ so that everyone can participate.   Continued to update our website and utilize it to reach our members and contacts via email;  the Discussion Forums were used by members to talk about everything from laneways to graffiti. Hosted several meetings where we invited guest speakers on this topic.  Worked together with Aberdeen Avenue Residents’ Association, Cabbagetown Donvale Residents’ Association and the BIA to bring the community Meet the Candidates evenings for both the Provincial and Municipal elections.

 

4.  To organize projects and activities throughout the year that bring people together and help make this a vibrant place to live.

 

We sponsored a wide variety of events in 2011 with a specific focus on bringing together people from all walks of life and interests.  In particular we tried to have activities for families as well as singles and couples.

 

• Seasonal Fun At Ontario Street Parkette  - To encourage residents to enjoy this pretty little park, volunteers decorated it for St. Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Canada Day, Luminato, Halloween and Christmas.  Cleaned the park regularly to keep it inviting for both families with children and area dog owners.  Encouraged neighbours to use the park and reminded dog owners to please stoop and scoop.
• Valentine Festivities – Hosted a Chocolate Fondue fundraiser that was well attended. 
• Wine & Web – participants received a guided tour of our CSA website and enjoyed a glass of wine.
• Earth Hour Candle Light Walk – this was a guided historic walk throughout our neighbourhood to celebrate Earth Hour.  Suitable for adults and children.
• Cabbagetown Art Salons – CSA again joined forces with the Aberdeen Avenue Residents’ Association and Don Vale Residents’ Association for the 3rd annual Art Salons, a “sold out” event.  Participants visited 3 area homes to view unique art collections and enjoy a moveable feast. The event was sponsored by Kendall & Co. Design & Decor  (www.kendallandco.ca)!
• Community Yard Sale – more effective for sellers and more fun for buyers when lots of homes are participating.  Save your gently used and unwanted items for the 2012 spring sale!
• Graffiti Gardening – we held 3 working gardening sessions where we transformed neglected spots throughout the neighborhood. 
• CSA Celebrated Central Neighborhood 100^th Anniversary – CSA worked with CNH to celebrate with a Street Party and BBQ .   This was a very successful event that included an Art Fair featuring local artists and artisans and music by the Jazz Generation.  
• Cabbagetown Festival – we had a table at the Cabbagetown Festival to share information about CSA.  
• Christmas Party – We celebrated the holiday season at Ontario Bistro where we were treated to a wonderful buffet meal and raffle draws.
• Magical Holiday Lights Walking Tours – Self-guided tours of our area were made available for download off the website for anyone who wanted to spend an hour of family-time learning about the historic homes and laneways in the area.
• Holiday Photo’s – Our CSA photographer was out-and-about taking pictures of our homes decorated for the holidays!
• Membership Drives – we ran a fall membership drive

 

Sincere thanks to all those members of the Association, and the Board, and members of the community who worked so hard, making 2011 such a successful year