The City is engaged in developing the Toronto Island Master Plan, a consultation and planning process considering the future of Toronto Island, see details. Waterfront for All has some preliminary thoughts, set out here.
Toronto Star: The City needs to address the surge in paddling
"During COVID-19, there’s been a surge in people paddling Toronto’s waterfront. The city wants to make access easier", says the headline of this front-page story in the Toronto Star on April 4, 2021. The story quotes WfA Chair Ed Hore (who also supplied the photographs), and highlights the efforts of Ward 14 City Councillor Paula Fletcher, who's pushing City staff to look into locations for watercraft storage.
The Star's caption on the photo above reads: "Virgil Cheung kayaks on Toronto's waterfront. The number of non-motorized watercraft used at Toronto's waterfront is rising, and the city is looking to provide more storage to community members."
The Island Airport is for Sale
The Island Airport is for sale.
Today's news seems to confirm the Airport isn't financially feasible. The Tripartite Agreement, the lease agreement governing the airport, expires in 2033. Should it be renewed? Any buyer wanting to run an airport on the Island will demand such an extension. But are there better uses of the 215 acre site? It's time for a public consultation on the future of the Airport. Our thoughts.
Waterfront Toronto releases Marine Use Strategy Report
On March 8, 2021, Waterfront Toronto released its Marine Use Strategy report exploring Mooring (where do boats go?), Management (who does what?) and Movement (how do we get from land to water and over the water?) in and around Toronto Harbour. It's an interesting and useful study.
Ed Hore has comments. Some are general in nature ("we need a second ferry terminal to serve Toronto Island"); some relate specifically to kayaks and canoes. None necessarily reflect the views of Waterfront for All.
Waterfront Speaker Series Kicks Off
Urbanist Ken Greenberg and Amsterdam city planner and architect Ton Schaap kicked off our Waterfront for All Speaker Series on March 10, 2021. Both speakers gave us extraordinary insights into the possibilities of reusing and repurposing Objects Trouvé, i.e. existing buildings and structures, to revitalise urban waterfronts. We expect to host engaging speakers about every two months. Stay tuned.
Ken Greenberg's presentation, part 1
Ken Greenberg's presentation, part 2
Ton Schaap's presentation, Part 1
AGM
Our Annual General meeting took place by Zoom on February 10, 2021. WfA Chair Ed Hore's quick run-down on 2020 is here.
We'd like to thank our three great speakers: Nancy Gaffney of Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Rei Tasaka of Waterfront Toronto, and Bryan Bowen of the City of Toronto Waterfront Secretariat.
Bathurst Quay Revitalization, Phase 1 Opens!
On December 22, 2020, the fences came down around Phase 1 of the Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Revitalization project, at the east end of the Western Gap. This is a great urban revitalization project run by Bryan Bowen, Waterfront Secretariat, City of Toronto.
Community Town Hall on High Lake Levels and Flood Mitigation
A well-attended meeting in the Brigantine Room at Harbourfront Centre on March 3, 2920 explored the problem of high lake levels.
Will Lake Ontario flood this year as it did in 2017 and 2019? No one knows for sure, but the water is unusually high already so there may be more flooding this spring.
WFA founding board-member Ken Greenberg appointed to Order of Canada
We are thrilled by Rideau Hall’s announcement on December 27, 2019 that Ken has been appointed a member of the Order of Canada.
A Sneak Peak at the new Ferries
Sneak preview of the new Toronto Island ferry design, from Toronto Island Advisory Committee meeting today at City Hall.
