Ontario Redi-Mix: As seen from Erwin Krickhahn Park.

The Ontario Redi-Mix plant at 57 Wade Ave. has closed down. I don't know the exact date of the plant's closure, but it has now been inactive for several weeks.

Ontario Redi-Mix is the concrete manufacturing and distribution factory that is visible over the railway tracks at Erwin Krickhahn Park. What seemed like a constant parade of cement trucks around the Bloor-Lansdowne area is a direct result of this plant. I know that there were many complaints about Ontario Redi-Mix from residents in the Lansdowne / Wade / Jenet / Paton area stemming from the truck traffic, noise, dust, dirty streets, idling trucks, cracked sidewalks, and much more. I bet the residents of that area are happy to see this place closed down.

Perhaps it will make life better for Junction Triangle residents on Rankin Cres., and users of Erwin Krickhahn Park too? I'm not sure, as I can't say I've ever been bothered by this facility while in the park, but maybe people who live close-by had different experiences (please post if you have!).

Today's Toronto Star has an article about controversial expansion of Erwin Krickhahn Park, at the corner of Rankin Cres. and Paton Rd.: Battle brewing: Garden or park space?

This issue has been posted and discussed several times before on this site, so please read those threads for background information before commenting here again.

A quick recap: In September 2009, City Council approved the expansion of Erwin Krickhahn Park into the dead and of Paton Rd. on the north side of the park. In the Fall, City work crews removed the asphalt and installed a new sidewalk adjacent to the new park land. Soil has been tested at the new park space and has been found to contain some "contaminants consistent with a roadway". Environmental remediation of these contaminants is expected to happen.

There are several options for using this new park space: It could be grassed over to expand the field area of the park, it could be planted with trees and other plants, a community garden can be installed there, or other options. The community garden proposal is the most controversial of these ideas. Councillor Adam Giambrone has promised to hold a community meeting this Spring so that residents and city staff can discuss these ideas and come up with the most suitable plan.

Railpath: Photo from the "unofficial" opening parade in June 2009.
Not that this is really "news" to anyone in our neighbourhood, but as of October 30 2009, the West Toronto Railpath is now "officially" open.

I wasn't there to attend the official opening ceremony, but I heard it was well attended by the media, local residents, Friends of the West Toronto Railpath, as well as Councillor Adam Giambrone and various members of the City's staff who were involved in the project.

Here are some links to media coverage from the event:

• Hume: Trail breathes life into 'dead zone', Toronto Star, October 30 2009.
• Old rail corridor opens to new recreational use, The Villager / Inside Toronto, November 2 2009.
• Toronto railpath park, NOW Magazine, November 5 2009.
• Well worth the wait for Railpath, Metro, November 6 2009.
• Full steam ahead for Railpath, Town Crier, November 23 2009.

There's also a video of the opening ceremony posted on Facebook, but unfortunately you need a Facebook account to be able to watch it.

I have been enjoying this new path all year long, and on average I'm on it at least once a day. So exciting to see it open and getting all the recognition it deserves. It's truly one of our neighbourhood's best features now.

The official opening of the new West Toronto Railpath linear park on the west side of our neighbourhood will take place on Friday October 30th at 2:00pm, at the Wallace Ave. bridge.

A previous unofficial opening ceremony and parade was a success, even with all of the rain that day.

Here is the official announcement from councillor Giambrone's office, also attached as a PDF file.

West Toronto Railpath Park Official Opening Ceremonies

Councillor Adam Giambrone invites you to the official opening of the West Toronto Railpath Park on Friday, October 30, 2009. Councillor Giambrone, the City of Toronto, and Friends of the West Toronto Railpath are pleased to open the first 2.1 km of this exciting recreational trail.

• Date: Friday, October 30, 2009
• Location: West Toronto Railpath entrance at Wallace Avenue (south of Dupont, west of Perth, north of Bloor). See attached map.
• Time:
  • 2:00 p.m. – Opening Remarks
  • 2:15 p.m. – Official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
  • 2:20 p.m. – cyclists gathered ride the trail and enjoy the sculptures
  • 2:25 p.m. – interested participants invited walk 2.1 km and explore the trail and sculptures
• RSVP: Toronto Protocol RSVP Line 416-392-7667

Sketch from the City of Toronto: Click for a larger version

At the next Toronto and East York Community Council meeting, councillors will be voting on agenda item TE27.55: the permanent closure of the short section of Paton Rd. just north of Erwin Krickhahn Park, and transferring the land to Parks and Recreation for the purpose of extending the park north.

A PDF copy of the Staff Report can be found here, as well as a PDF version of the sketch here.

WHAT: Public open house for GO Transit's Davenport Diamond grade separation project
WHEN: Wednesday April 22 2009, 5:30 to 8:30pm
WHERE: St. Josephat's School, 55 Pelham Ave. (map)

The following flyer is provided by GO Transit (Click through for a larger version):

PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE #1

Davenport Diamond Rail to Rail Grade Separation
City of Toronto

THE STUDY
GO Transit, the Province of Ontario's interregional public transit service for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton areas, is involved in an environmental assessment of the Davenport Diamond. The Study Area extends from Keele and Dufferin Streets to the West and East, and adjacent to Rogers Road and College Street in the North and South (as shown in the map).

GO trains operating on the Newmarket corridor between Union Station and Barrie cross over the CP North Toronto corridor just south of Davenport Road. It is proposed that a grade separation of the Davenport Diamond will improve rail access along the two corridors.

A troubling series of events occurred last night in our neighbourhood: The Beer Store on Symington Ave. was robbed, which led to a police chase, an officer being shot (grazed on the head) and a police car being hit by a train at the Wallace Ave. crossing.

Here are some details from the Toronto Police news release:

Police officer shot during robbery investigation,
Two men face a total of 26 charges, shotgun seized

Broadcast time: 11:12
Sunday, January 25, 2009

Hold Up Squad
416−808−7350

On Saturday, January 24, 2009, just after 7:30 p.m., police responded to an armed robbery call at The Beer Store, 323 Symington Avenue.

It is alleged that:

• police responded and located two suspects in the area of Wallace Avenue,
• as police approached, one of the suspects began to shoot at the officers, and gunfire was exchanged,
• one officer was struck in the forehead by a shotgun pellet.

The officer was taken to hospital with minor injuries. He was treated and released.

Two suspects were arrested shortly thereafter.

Jeron Powell, 32, of Toronto, is charged with:

1. Five counts of Robbery While Armed with a Firearm,
2. two counts of Disguise with Intent,
3. Conspiracy to Commit and Indictable Offence,
4. three counts of Attempted Murder While Using a Firearm,
5. two counts of Possession of a Firearm Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized,
6. Unauthorized Presence of a Firearm in a Motor Vehicle,
7. Possession of a Firearm Contrary to Prohibition Order,
8. Possession of Property Obtained by Crime (under),
9. Possession of a Prohibited Firearm with Ammunition.

Craig Buckle, 29, of Toronto, is charged with:

1. Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence,
2. Three counts of Robbery While Armed with a Firearm,
3. Disguise with Intent,
4. Possession of a Firearm with Ammunition,
5. Possession of a Firearm Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized,
6. Unauthorized Presence of a Firearm in a Motor Vehicle,
7. Possession of a Firearm Contrary to Prohibition Order.

Both accused are scheduled to appear in court at Old City Hall, on Sunday, January 25, 2009, room 101, 1 p.m.

The Toronto Police Service would like to thank the public for their support and concern during this investigation. The Service would also like to thank officers from 11, 12, and 13 Divisions, the Gun and Gang Task Force, TAVIS, ETF, PDS, the Hold Up Squad, as well as the York Regional Police Air Support, for their assistance.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416−808−1100, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416−222−TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637).

Constable Wendy Drummond, Public Information, for Detective Peter Hans, Hold Up Squad

Jack Fava has been in touch with Adam Giambrone's office, and they are working along with Tony Ruprecht and Mario Silva to organize a community safety meeting as a followup to this incident.

We will post more information here as it comes in.

Today's newsletter from Adam Giambrone's office includes several items that are of direct interest to people in our neighbourhood:

New Irrigation System Installed at Campbell Park

Installation of a new irrigation system for the soccer field at Campbell Park was completed on October 31st, 2008. This new system was a joint project of the Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division and the Toronto Eagles Soccer Club. For years, Campbell Park has seen its field heavily used by young soccer enthusiasts and because of the lack of irrigation the quality of the turf had severely declined. This problem became particularly bad during the severe drought in 2007. With the new irrigation system now in place, maintenance of the soccer field will be greatly improved. Parks staff also aerated, seeded and top dressed the field this fall to ensure that it will be in great shape for the beginning of next years soccer season. I hope that soccer fans of all ages will enjoy the improved quality of the Campbell Park field for years to come.

Wallace Ave. Brownfields: Looking north-east from the Wallace Ave. pedestrian bridge over the former Glidden Paint factory industrial lands. They are currently being cleaned up of industrial contaminants.

Today's edition of NOW magazine has a story about the Glidden Paint Factory cleanup on Wallace Ave next to the pedestrian bridge.

"For nine decades beginning in 1911, Glidden operated here, spilling untold amounts of solvents, chemicals with names too long to pronounce, with long-term health effects from exposure too scary to contemplate. The area, which forms part of the Junction Triangle, contains some of the most contaminated former industrial lands in the entire country."

You can read the entire article online at NOW Magazine's website.

If you would like more information about the cleanup efforts or to get involved with the Residents Association's Environment Committee, please contact us.

Please join members of the South Junction Triangle Residents' Association to discuss plans for a mural at Rankin and Paton, beside Erwin Krichhan park.

Tuesday August 5, 7pm at the wall, or at 55 Rankin in case of rain.