Hodgson Artificial Ice Rink Update: It's New, Improved and Ready to Open!
I'm delighted to announce that the new and improved Hodgson Artificial Ice Rink will be open ahead of schedule, this Saturday, November 29! I'd like to thank my remarkable community for your patience and understanding as the construction took place, and also for your ongoing advocacy to ensure the rink was a top priority for Parks, Forestry and Recreation staff. I'm planning a community skating party for mid-December to celebrate the rink's opening- I'll update you with details about the time and date in my next enewsletter.
The "Skinnama-Rink" Natural Ice Rink near June Rowlands Park's Sharon, Lois & Bram Playground
I'm continuing to work with Lesley Stoyan and Chris Trussell of AppleTree Markets on getting our natural "Skinnama-Rink" up and running again this winter at June Rowlands (Davisville) Park. We're now looking for community volunteers to help flood the rink over the course of the season. Please let me know, by responding to this email, if this is something you would be willing to assist with and I will gladly provide you with more details on how you can support our wonderful community initiative.
Shop the Eglinton Way!
During the construction of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT, I believe it's more important than ever to support our local businesses. This Saturday, November 28, the Eglinton Way BIA is participating in the Yellow Pages "Shop the Neighbourhood" campaign. Shop the Neighbourhood is a free national initiative which supports small businesses and reminds Canadians how local shopping makes a difference in all our lives.
Customers shopping the Eglinton Way between Chaplin Crescent and Oriole Parkway may use a free valet parking service. The locations are as follows:
- The Healthy Butcher at 298 Eglinton Avenue W.
- TNT Blu at 388 Eglinton Ave. W.
- One2One Studio at 506 Eglinton Avenue W.
For more information on the festivities, please visit the Eglinton Way BIA website.
Recent Local Flooding
There have been recent watermain breaks, such as one on private property that affected residents of the Brentwood Towers, and basement flooding due to storms on streets across Ward 22 (and throughout Toronto). I have been actively working with City staff on ways to improve both the City's response, and repair or replace the existing infrastructure which is in many cases 60 years or older. If you experience basement flooding, please call 311 immediately.
Holiday Gift Fair at the Central Eglinton Community Centre
The Central Eglinton Community Centre (160 Eglinton Avenue East) will be holding a Holiday Gift Fair on Friday, December 5 from 10 am to 2 pm. Gifts and one-of-a-kind items will be for sale, as well as a bake table, used book sale, door prizes, silent auction and a Snowflake Café.
For more information, please call 416-392-0511 ext. 0 or visit www.centraleglinton.com.
Let's Draw the Lines Together
The Toronto Ward Boundary Review is currently being conducted to ensure that each resident in Toronto is being represented at Toronto City Council. The review is led by an independent team of consultants who will make recommendations to City Council about the size and shape of Toronto's Wards.
In order to give feedback, residents can attend a public meeting or complete a survey online. For Toronto and East York areas, the meeting will take place Saturday, January 10 from 9 am to 12 pm at the Trinity St. Paul's Church (427 Bloor Street West). Learn more about the Toronto Ward Boundary Review project at drawthelines.ca.
Midtown Yonge BIA Poll Results: We're moving Forward!
I'm very proud to have initiated and worked with local merchants on a new Ward 22 Business Improvement Area (BIA) to improve local businesses, our local streetscape and the quality of life in our community. After much great work by the merchants in the Midtown Yonge area, the poll for proceeding with establishing a BIA has been approved. The results are as follows:
- 63 ballots submitted
- 2 spoiled ballots
- 50 ballots in favour
- 11 opposed
The next step is for City Council to officially approved the BIA in the new year.
Local Unicorn Day Care Spaces Saved!
I've been working very closely with Eric Mackey, the director of Unicorn Day Care, to ensure that a new home was found and local day care spaces were saved pending eviction from Brown P.S. I'm so pleased that the Church of the Messiah (240 Avenue Road) will now be the new home for Unicorn Day Care. I will continue supporting Eric through the next steps of the licensing process and will continue to provide updates as they become available.
Little Libraries & Bulletin Boards in Ward 22 Parks
As part of my initiative to improve parks across Ward 22, such as the new playgrounds we've constructed in Charlotte Maher and Forest Hill Road Parks, I'm delighted to announce the addition of a community bulletin board and little library in Oriole Park and June Rowlands Park. If you would like to discuss parks improvements in your neighbourhood, please let me know.
For ongoing council and community news, my contact information, along with a calendar of events, please visit www.joshmatlow.ca. Click here to read my previous community updates.
