The "Urban Food Strategy", of which Toronto is a world leader, has been unveiled by the Toronto Board of Health.
"Food programs, community gardens, communal food education. Those kinds of things can help the city to achieve its objectives in terms of addressing the needs of inner-city communities."
Board of Health wants people to have better access to quality food
ANNA MEHLER PAPERNY Globe and Mail
From Tuesday's Globe and Mail Published on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010 12:00AM EST Last updated on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010 4:15AM EST
David McKeown is out to change the way you think about food. What you eat, where it comes from, where you buy it and how you consume it.
Toronto's Board of Health is unveiling a wide-ranging food strategy whose broad and lofty goals include creating "food-friendly neighbourhoods," connecting city-dwelling consumers to rural producers and eliminating hunger.
The strategy, which goes before the Board of Health today, is the most ambitious attempt yet by any Canadian city to reform a local food system that simply isn't doing its job when it comes to feeding residents: A higher proportion of families in the Toronto area can't afford to feed themselves properly than in almost any other city in Canada; at the same time, child obesity rates continue to skyrocket; the region's vaunted Greenbelt is witnessing an agricultural exodus as farmers seek out greener, more profitable pastures.
Dr. McKeown, Toronto's medical officer of health, emphasizes it's early days: This strategy is a policy paper only - with a mandate from the Board of Health, the food strategy's backers hope months of consultation will let them bring specific recommendations to city council in June.
One of its models: a patch of ground by a running track outside Sir Sandford Fleming high school in Lawrence Heights.
These 2,700 square metres were transformed last spring from a scrubby vacant lot into a garden plot designed to grow way more than tomatoes and squash.
The garden, created and tended to largely by students, is becoming a community-building hub in one of the city's most neglected neighbourhoods. It gave almost 1,360 kilograms of produce to the North York Harvest last year. Grade 9 geography classes have done work there, alongside Grade 12 biochemistry. An art class is setting up shop, as is a new food and nutrition class. PACT, the community program behind the garden, hopes to expand it to several other schools this year in partnership with the Toronto District School Board.
There's a role for the city in fostering initiatives like this, Dr. McKeown says.
"The food system that we have now, broadly, was developed in the postwar period and was really designed to keep prices low and maximize the amount of food that goes out there. But that food, despite the fact that food prices are relatively low historically, is still not affordable for people who are of low income."
Almost 20 years after the city created one of North America's first food councils, Toronto still has glaring food deserts - areas where there's simply nowhere to buy decent food nearby. That's one obvious area where the city can play an active role, Dr. McKeown says, by using zoning bylaws to encourage grocery stores to set up shop in neighbourhoods that are lacking.
But he sees a much larger role for a municipal government that already spends $11-million a year on food.
"People usually don't think of municipal governments being big players in food systems. But in fact there's a number of levers that city governments have," he said.
"Food programs, community gardens, communal food education. Those kinds of things can help the city to achieve its objectives in terms of addressing the needs of inner-city communities."
But University of Toronto geography professor Pierre Desrochers argues this overarching food strategy is a "pie in the sky" way of trying to address real needs. If the city wants to tackle poverty, he says, it should look at economic development. Childhood obesity? Bring back home economics and mandatory gym class. But Prof. Desrochers is adamant that a renewed city focus on local food will accomplish neither.
"There are such things as economies of scale in food production," he said. "They want to replace professionalized, large-scale food systems with grassroots-oriented [programs] that won't be able to do it as efficiently. ... You'll end up paying more for your food. How is that helping poor people?"
******
Taking the lead
Belo Horizonte
The Brazilian city of about two million is arguably the most advanced in the world when it comes to an integrated municipal food strategy, said Ryerson University professor Cecilia Rocha.
It boasts a department devoted to food security and policy, enshrining food security as a right of citizenship. The city's food programs reach more than 800,000 people daily, subsidizing fruit and vegetable sales, providing public-school meal programs and co-ordinating healthy, low-cost meals in restaurants.
London
The British metropolis unveiled its food strategy in 2006, tackling poverty, obesity and the carbon footprint created getting meals onto residents' plates. The plan's eight stages went from primary production (the city would focus on UK agriculture, its strategy vowed) to disposal (by 2016, composting would rule and food-related waste would be reduced). Using city planning to improve access to food was also a priority. The city has attempted to create economic links between urban buyers and farmers elsewhere in the UK and has beefed up its school meals programs.
Vancouver
A 2006 Vancouver Coastal Health three-year action plan was created to address gaps in food security. Goals included adding services to areas outside the notoriously needy, but relatively densely serviced, Downtown Eastside; to enhance residents' ability to grow and cook their own food; enhancing the food economy by supporting local farmers and "increasing the potential for food-related social enterprise."
Toronto
A food strategy going before the city's Board of Health today sets out six goals for revamping the city's food system -- to grow food-friendly neighbourhoods, make food part of the city's "green economy;" eliminate hunger in Toronto; better inform residents (through labelling, for example); to connect city-dwellers with rural producers and "embed food system thinking in city government." The board plans to bring concrete recommendations before city council in June.
I think the meeting notice was sent only to the residents of the affected building. Since the developer hasn't actually submitted a development application yet, and even their demo permit was denied, there's not too much to discuss yet, I guess.
Sounds like the main purpose of this meeting is for the city to meet with the residents of the lofts to figure out how many residential units are in there, and figure out how to proceed from there.
"The purpose of the meeting is to determine the nature of the tenancies at 221, 225 & 227 Sterling Road. The City is looking for information on how many residential tenants live in the building. This information on the number of residential rental units will assist the City when determining how any redevelopment of the property should proceed. The owner has approached the City with a proposal to demolish the building and replace a portion of the residential rental units; however no application to redevelop the property has been made to date."
I live a stone throw away from their property (ie South Perth). This is the first time hearing about this. Last time I heard anything was in 2008, in the article posted above from the Star.
How serious is this developer about keeping the community involved, when they pull off dirt bag maneuvers on us like this. Although reading the original article I can see the developer isn't very cooperative - especially with the treatment of tenants.
My main concern should the Sterling Lofts property owners push their plans through for two twenty story structures, is how much more population density can Sterling Road and south Perth be able to handle, considering that Castlepoint plans more townhomes and condo lofts to built.
I live in the town homes on Merchant Lane and just received something in my mailbox last night. It was a flyer that read as follows:
"Proposal to demolish the sterling lofts and build two, twently story structures on the site!
If you wish to oppose these plans please attend the meeting at:
The Ukrainian Cultural Centre
1604 Bloor Street West
Date: February 17th, 2010
Time: 7:00pm"
I would love to go to see what is going on but my husband works tonight and I have a little one that has to be in bed by then. If anyone is going I would love some notes on what was discussed. I am very interested in this.
Although I would love for those lofts to be cleaned up. I think the demolition and construction phases would be just awful.
Nobody would be against removing (and treating) more contaminated soil from our area, especially in a park or next to residences. The remediation at the old Alcan site (Tower) and Glidden site are major steps to making our area safe from pollutants that linger from the past.
The Bloor/Dundas Ave. Study commissioned by the City, asked for by residents, released last year identified our area as one that needed more parks, gardens, and green spaces. This study looked at our Triangle as part of their study area and it is clear that we need more green.
Who could be against clean and green, besides Metrolinx that is.
I love this neighbourhood and it needs more green. Our family currently participates in a community garden in the area and anything that can be done to help reverse the industrial contamination of the past in this area is a postive contribution to the future. The space is a blank canvas and everyone in the community would benefit from any type of greening. Whether it is partially for gardening, partially for sheer community enjoyment, I would totally support a green space here!
Great to see that photo! I was lucky enough to have worked at the Bamboo for almost 20 years! The old staff from that bar have been very supportive of us at Boo radley's. Come to think of it, I SHOULD have some Bamboo stuff up on our walls! Thanks for that! Michael
Thanks, I'm glad you like the photos from inside Tower Automotive. I too hope that it gets redeveloped in the best possible way, and that most of the aesthetic features can be preserved. So much potential for awesomeness! Art spaces, offices, even going back to light industrial uses.... or heck, even fun things like an indoor skatepark could work (and the graffiti is already there, eh?).
The ceiling height is amazing. I mean...who the heck builds factory buildings more than a couple of stories high anymore? And since it was built for heavy industrial uses, this place is SOLID.
The window photo is one of my favourites. I call it "Filth Trees" because of the forest of dirt sprouting up from the bottom.
I agree with Kristen about the filthy window -- it looks like a gloomy landscape to me. The height of the ceilings are incredible! Perhaps you should consider adding a watermark to your photos in the future.
That posting on the wrong site was probably me from Boo's. Sometimes I get lost in this maze. I second scott in his observations in the running of this site. A very well organised site with forums and space for all. I have learned much about our neighbourhood from this site and click on several times daily to find out whats up. We have also used it to advertise some events at Boo's for which we are grateful.
It is important for everyone to remember that a difference in opinion is NOT a personal attack and to keep into perspective the diversity in what we each feel is important. Please keep up the good work with this site. It takes alot of it.
Michael & Shellley
Boo
I for one would love to see a community garden go in here. But if that doesn't happen, I'm also happy with more green space in any form. We were relative newcomers and not involved much in the community when the last garden controversy erupted, but I understand it got very heated. We have friends who have a plot just north of Dupont, beside the tennis courts, and it's wonderful to see how the garden becomes a big part of their family life from spring to fall -- the dad pulling a load of squash home in the kids' wagon.
Gardens don’t just make food – they make delicious, nutritious food that isn’t wrapped in plastic. By growing our own vegetables, we save money, we make less waste, we get exercise, we relieve our stresses, we clean the air, we compost, we show our children (and ourselves) the cycle from seed to seedpod, and we interact with each other. I don’t see a downside in any of that. But if there are concerns about a community garden, we should discuss them here and try to address them in a thorough manner so we all know what the advantages and disadvantages are.
“Gardening is the best alternative therapy.” Germaine Greer
“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” Margaret Atwood
You have done a great job on this site from day one when you we the person who actually started this site and got it running. All credible blogs, newsgroups, social media and online newspapers have a code of conduct to keep people on topic, respectful of others, to limit partisan attacks, to block spam and generally maintain a balance of opinion and information. The code of conduct applies to everybody the same so nobody should have any problems with it being enforced. Almost everybody who has had differences of opinion on this site are friends still and involved in community activities.
Codes of conduct is the way it is done. The great thing about the internet is that if you cant live within a respectful framework on a site you can always start your own blog or website and say whatever you want.
Its tough being the webmaster but the community appreciates it and supports you and I am sure sees the code of conduct as reasonable.
Thanks for the welcoming comments! I'm liking the neighbourhood more and more everyday and I hope to get more involved in the coming months.
Vic, I actually meant to add in my previous post that I did not know what the neighbourhood was called before I moved in. I had initially thought it was part of the Junction proper and then when I found out that it wasn't I really didn't know what to tell my friends and family. I am fond of the "Junction Triangle" though; not everyone can say they live in a triangle!
Please read what I wrote again. I have no problem with you posting information about this neighbourhood on this site. I have never deleted your messages before this week, even the ones that were posted in off-topic areas.
The reason I deleted that message is simple, and I tried to explain this twice already: You posted a message about Erwin Krickhahn Park into a forum about Brownstones on Bloor. If you had posted it to one of the many discussions about the park, I would have had no problem with that. You can even start your own discussion forums by clicking into the Forum area.
But instead, you keep posting off-topic stuff all over the site. It's turning this place into a cluttered mess.
On that note, I'm deleting your off-topic posting from this forum AGAIN. If you want to post it, go right ahead, but please use one of the existing forums about the park!!
To save you the trouble, I'll even post a link to an appropriate forum for you: here
Vic, This website was designed as an information tool. Speak about Fuzzz, Digin meeting, Brownstones, Recipe and so on. So when I try to let ours know about an Important issue like contamination, process, transparacy, govenment spending of $60.000. To me this is Important. But instead you rather delete it, so one can hear about or speak about. Sorry, I have other ways of letting people know about what is happening in our community, it's there right to know.
Welcome to the neighbourhood. Like any place, there are sometime some rough edges and some bad events that happen. But I also think this is a great neighbourhood, with so many positive things happening. Hope you like it as much as I do!
As for the Fuzzy Boundaries project: Out of curiosity, did you have a name for this area before you moved here? I only heard of "Junction Triangle" shortly after moving here, but it still didn't seem like a very commonly used name.
This is so nice to hear. I had similar reservations when we first moved here five years ago. But I quickly came to love the neighbourhood. Sounds like you will too.
The "Urban Food Strategy", of which Toronto is a world leader, has been unveiled by the Toronto Board of Health.
"Food programs, community gardens, communal food education. Those kinds of things can help the city to achieve its objectives in terms of addressing the needs of inner-city communities."
Board of Health wants people to have better access to quality food
ANNA MEHLER PAPERNY Globe and Mail
From Tuesday's Globe and Mail Published on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010 12:00AM EST Last updated on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010 4:15AM EST
David McKeown is out to change the way you think about food. What you eat, where it comes from, where you buy it and how you consume it.
Toronto's Board of Health is unveiling a wide-ranging food strategy whose broad and lofty goals include creating "food-friendly neighbourhoods," connecting city-dwelling consumers to rural producers and eliminating hunger.
The strategy, which goes before the Board of Health today, is the most ambitious attempt yet by any Canadian city to reform a local food system that simply isn't doing its job when it comes to feeding residents: A higher proportion of families in the Toronto area can't afford to feed themselves properly than in almost any other city in Canada; at the same time, child obesity rates continue to skyrocket; the region's vaunted Greenbelt is witnessing an agricultural exodus as farmers seek out greener, more profitable pastures.
Dr. McKeown, Toronto's medical officer of health, emphasizes it's early days: This strategy is a policy paper only - with a mandate from the Board of Health, the food strategy's backers hope months of consultation will let them bring specific recommendations to city council in June.
One of its models: a patch of ground by a running track outside Sir Sandford Fleming high school in Lawrence Heights.
These 2,700 square metres were transformed last spring from a scrubby vacant lot into a garden plot designed to grow way more than tomatoes and squash.
The garden, created and tended to largely by students, is becoming a community-building hub in one of the city's most neglected neighbourhoods. It gave almost 1,360 kilograms of produce to the North York Harvest last year. Grade 9 geography classes have done work there, alongside Grade 12 biochemistry. An art class is setting up shop, as is a new food and nutrition class. PACT, the community program behind the garden, hopes to expand it to several other schools this year in partnership with the Toronto District School Board.
There's a role for the city in fostering initiatives like this, Dr. McKeown says.
"The food system that we have now, broadly, was developed in the postwar period and was really designed to keep prices low and maximize the amount of food that goes out there. But that food, despite the fact that food prices are relatively low historically, is still not affordable for people who are of low income."
Almost 20 years after the city created one of North America's first food councils, Toronto still has glaring food deserts - areas where there's simply nowhere to buy decent food nearby. That's one obvious area where the city can play an active role, Dr. McKeown says, by using zoning bylaws to encourage grocery stores to set up shop in neighbourhoods that are lacking.
But he sees a much larger role for a municipal government that already spends $11-million a year on food.
"People usually don't think of municipal governments being big players in food systems. But in fact there's a number of levers that city governments have," he said.
"Food programs, community gardens, communal food education. Those kinds of things can help the city to achieve its objectives in terms of addressing the needs of inner-city communities."
But University of Toronto geography professor Pierre Desrochers argues this overarching food strategy is a "pie in the sky" way of trying to address real needs. If the city wants to tackle poverty, he says, it should look at economic development. Childhood obesity? Bring back home economics and mandatory gym class. But Prof. Desrochers is adamant that a renewed city focus on local food will accomplish neither.
"There are such things as economies of scale in food production," he said. "They want to replace professionalized, large-scale food systems with grassroots-oriented [programs] that won't be able to do it as efficiently. ... You'll end up paying more for your food. How is that helping poor people?"
******
Taking the lead
Belo Horizonte
The Brazilian city of about two million is arguably the most advanced in the world when it comes to an integrated municipal food strategy, said Ryerson University professor Cecilia Rocha.
It boasts a department devoted to food security and policy, enshrining food security as a right of citizenship. The city's food programs reach more than 800,000 people daily, subsidizing fruit and vegetable sales, providing public-school meal programs and co-ordinating healthy, low-cost meals in restaurants.
London
The British metropolis unveiled its food strategy in 2006, tackling poverty, obesity and the carbon footprint created getting meals onto residents' plates. The plan's eight stages went from primary production (the city would focus on UK agriculture, its strategy vowed) to disposal (by 2016, composting would rule and food-related waste would be reduced). Using city planning to improve access to food was also a priority. The city has attempted to create economic links between urban buyers and farmers elsewhere in the UK and has beefed up its school meals programs.
Vancouver
A 2006 Vancouver Coastal Health three-year action plan was created to address gaps in food security. Goals included adding services to areas outside the notoriously needy, but relatively densely serviced, Downtown Eastside; to enhance residents' ability to grow and cook their own food; enhancing the food economy by supporting local farmers and "increasing the potential for food-related social enterprise."
Toronto
A food strategy going before the city's Board of Health today sets out six goals for revamping the city's food system -- to grow food-friendly neighbourhoods, make food part of the city's "green economy;" eliminate hunger in Toronto; better inform residents (through labelling, for example); to connect city-dwellers with rural producers and "embed food system thinking in city government." The board plans to bring concrete recommendations before city council in June.
This problem has been there for years. IF there is any rat problem in the area, THIS is the cause.
I think the meeting notice was sent only to the residents of the affected building. Since the developer hasn't actually submitted a development application yet, and even their demo permit was denied, there's not too much to discuss yet, I guess.
Sounds like the main purpose of this meeting is for the city to meet with the residents of the lofts to figure out how many residential units are in there, and figure out how to proceed from there.
I live a stone throw away from their property (ie South Perth). This is the first time hearing about this. Last time I heard anything was in 2008, in the article posted above from the Star.
How serious is this developer about keeping the community involved, when they pull off dirt bag maneuvers on us like this. Although reading the original article I can see the developer isn't very cooperative - especially with the treatment of tenants.
My main concern should the Sterling Lofts property owners push their plans through for two twenty story structures, is how much more population density can Sterling Road and south Perth be able to handle, considering that Castlepoint plans more townhomes and condo lofts to built.
Any other thoughts?
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for posting. I received more details about this meeting from Councillor Giambrone's office and posted it here.
Hi!
I live in the town homes on Merchant Lane and just received something in my mailbox last night. It was a flyer that read as follows:
"Proposal to demolish the sterling lofts and build two, twently story structures on the site!
If you wish to oppose these plans please attend the meeting at:
The Ukrainian Cultural Centre
1604 Bloor Street West
Date: February 17th, 2010
Time: 7:00pm"
I would love to go to see what is going on but my husband works tonight and I have a little one that has to be in bed by then. If anyone is going I would love some notes on what was discussed. I am very interested in this.
Although I would love for those lofts to be cleaned up. I think the demolition and construction phases would be just awful.
Any thoughts on the topic?
I hear there's one going really cheap at city hall.
Nobody would be against removing (and treating) more contaminated soil from our area, especially in a park or next to residences. The remediation at the old Alcan site (Tower) and Glidden site are major steps to making our area safe from pollutants that linger from the past.
The Bloor/Dundas Ave. Study commissioned by the City, asked for by residents, released last year identified our area as one that needed more parks, gardens, and green spaces. This study looked at our Triangle as part of their study area and it is clear that we need more green.
Who could be against clean and green, besides Metrolinx that is.
I love this neighbourhood and it needs more green. Our family currently participates in a community garden in the area and anything that can be done to help reverse the industrial contamination of the past in this area is a postive contribution to the future. The space is a blank canvas and everyone in the community would benefit from any type of greening. Whether it is partially for gardening, partially for sheer community enjoyment, I would totally support a green space here!
You can get all the gossip from the Star in this article......Bad timing for poor Adam
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/torontomayoralrace/article/762532--adam-...
Great to see that photo! I was lucky enough to have worked at the Bamboo for almost 20 years! The old staff from that bar have been very supportive of us at Boo radley's. Come to think of it, I SHOULD have some Bamboo stuff up on our walls! Thanks for that! Michael
Anyone else have any further information on Giambrone's "indiscression"?
Thanks, I'm glad you like the photos from inside Tower Automotive. I too hope that it gets redeveloped in the best possible way, and that most of the aesthetic features can be preserved. So much potential for awesomeness! Art spaces, offices, even going back to light industrial uses.... or heck, even fun things like an indoor skatepark could work (and the graffiti is already there, eh?).
The ceiling height is amazing. I mean...who the heck builds factory buildings more than a couple of stories high anymore? And since it was built for heavy industrial uses, this place is SOLID.
The window photo is one of my favourites. I call it "Filth Trees" because of the forest of dirt sprouting up from the bottom.
I agree with Kristen about the filthy window -- it looks like a gloomy landscape to me. The height of the ceilings are incredible! Perhaps you should consider adding a watermark to your photos in the future.
Gorgeous photos Vic. What a great documentation. The filthy window looks like a painting.
What a fantastic location! Great shots Vic. It's a good thing you recorded much of it before the grafitti takes over.
That posting on the wrong site was probably me from Boo's. Sometimes I get lost in this maze. I second scott in his observations in the running of this site. A very well organised site with forums and space for all. I have learned much about our neighbourhood from this site and click on several times daily to find out whats up. We have also used it to advertise some events at Boo's for which we are grateful.
It is important for everyone to remember that a difference in opinion is NOT a personal attack and to keep into perspective the diversity in what we each feel is important. Please keep up the good work with this site. It takes alot of it.
Michael & Shellley
Boo
I for one would love to see a community garden go in here. But if that doesn't happen, I'm also happy with more green space in any form. We were relative newcomers and not involved much in the community when the last garden controversy erupted, but I understand it got very heated. We have friends who have a plot just north of Dupont, beside the tennis courts, and it's wonderful to see how the garden becomes a big part of their family life from spring to fall -- the dad pulling a load of squash home in the kids' wagon.
Gardens don’t just make food – they make delicious, nutritious food that isn’t wrapped in plastic. By growing our own vegetables, we save money, we make less waste, we get exercise, we relieve our stresses, we clean the air, we compost, we show our children (and ourselves) the cycle from seed to seedpod, and we interact with each other. I don’t see a downside in any of that. But if there are concerns about a community garden, we should discuss them here and try to address them in a thorough manner so we all know what the advantages and disadvantages are.
“Gardening is the best alternative therapy.” Germaine Greer
“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” Margaret Atwood
Vic
You have done a great job on this site from day one when you we the person who actually started this site and got it running. All credible blogs, newsgroups, social media and online newspapers have a code of conduct to keep people on topic, respectful of others, to limit partisan attacks, to block spam and generally maintain a balance of opinion and information. The code of conduct applies to everybody the same so nobody should have any problems with it being enforced. Almost everybody who has had differences of opinion on this site are friends still and involved in community activities.
Codes of conduct is the way it is done. The great thing about the internet is that if you cant live within a respectful framework on a site you can always start your own blog or website and say whatever you want.
Its tough being the webmaster but the community appreciates it and supports you and I am sure sees the code of conduct as reasonable.
Thanks for the welcoming comments! I'm liking the neighbourhood more and more everyday and I hope to get more involved in the coming months.
Vic, I actually meant to add in my previous post that I did not know what the neighbourhood was called before I moved in. I had initially thought it was part of the Junction proper and then when I found out that it wasn't I really didn't know what to tell my friends and family. I am fond of the "Junction Triangle" though; not everyone can say they live in a triangle!
Alicia
Jack,
Please read what I wrote again. I have no problem with you posting information about this neighbourhood on this site. I have never deleted your messages before this week, even the ones that were posted in off-topic areas.
The reason I deleted that message is simple, and I tried to explain this twice already: You posted a message about Erwin Krickhahn Park into a forum about Brownstones on Bloor. If you had posted it to one of the many discussions about the park, I would have had no problem with that. You can even start your own discussion forums by clicking into the Forum area.
But instead, you keep posting off-topic stuff all over the site. It's turning this place into a cluttered mess.
On that note, I'm deleting your off-topic posting from this forum AGAIN. If you want to post it, go right ahead, but please use one of the existing forums about the park!!
To save you the trouble, I'll even post a link to an appropriate forum for you:
here
Vic, This website was designed as an information tool. Speak about Fuzzz, Digin meeting, Brownstones, Recipe and so on. So when I try to let ours know about an Important issue like contamination, process, transparacy, govenment spending of $60.000. To me this is Important. But instead you rather delete it, so one can hear about or speak about. Sorry, I have other ways of letting people know about what is happening in our community, it's there right to know.
[off-topic stuff deleted, again]
Hi Alicia,
Welcome to the neighbourhood. Like any place, there are sometime some rough edges and some bad events that happen. But I also think this is a great neighbourhood, with so many positive things happening. Hope you like it as much as I do!
As for the Fuzzy Boundaries project: Out of curiosity, did you have a name for this area before you moved here? I only heard of "Junction Triangle" shortly after moving here, but it still didn't seem like a very commonly used name.
Glad you found these websites!
Cheers,
Vic
This is so nice to hear. I had similar reservations when we first moved here five years ago. But I quickly came to love the neighbourhood. Sounds like you will too.