Railpath

West Toronto Rail Path

Monday Night Run

Beverley Coburn, a personal trainer who runs Active Age Fitness, has been leading "Monday Night Runs" (and walks) in our area since earlier this year. Every week, these runs always lead to new places within a few kilometres of the Dupont and Lansdowne starting point.

These free events are a great way to get some exercise, explore our local neighbourhoods, and meet new people. Give it a try sometime.

The upcoming run will actually focus on our neighbourhood. Here's is the announcement email sent by Beverley:

Friends and Neighbours,

The Human Train rolls through our neighbourhood

 The Human Train approaches the Wallace Ave. pedestrian bridge.Human Train: The Human Train approaches the Wallace Ave. pedestrian bridge.

On Saturday September 26th 2009, the "Human Train" rolled through our neighbourhood on its way from Weston to Sorauren Park. Organized by the Clean Train Coalition, the Human Train was a rally against the Metrolinx / GO Transit project to run over 400 diesel trains through West Toronto neighbourhoods, and to demand the immediate electrification of the Georgetown rail corridor.

The Human Train left Weston at 8:30 in the morning, and made stops in various neighbourhoods along the way (Mount Dennis, The Junction, etc.) before arriving at the Wallace Ave. Pedestrian Bridge along the Railpath in our neighbourhood shortly after noon. At the Wallace Ave. bridge, a large gathering of local residents cheered the arrival of the Human Train, welcomed the marchers to our neighbourhood, and rallied up support for the Clean Train Coalition's cause.

Our local rally on the Railpath under the Wallace Bridge attracted about 100 area residents, many parents with their kids, a group of musicians who kept the crowd entertained, face painters for the kids, and refreshments courtesy of city councillor Adam Giambrone's office.

Local resident Scott Dobson addressed the crowd and spoke about the neighbourhood's previous battles against pollution, as well as the amazing positive impact of the new West Toronto Railpath, which could all be knocked back if hundreds of diesel trains start passing by every day.

After the rally at the Wallace Bridge, the Human Train continued south to Sorauren park, via the Railpath, Perth Ave., Dundas St., and Sorauran Ave. The final rally down at Sorauren park was huge, with estimates ranging from 500-1000 people. Speeches by local politicians, activists, and Toronto's Medical Officer of Health Dr David McKeown helped drive home the point that the huge expansion of diesel rail traffic is unhealthy and unwelcome in our neighbourhoods.

Continue reading below for links to media coverage, videos, and many more photos of the event.

How was your own experience of this event? Do you think it will have any impact on the GO / Metrolinx plans?

Click the photos to see larger versions.

Railpath Cleanup - Summary and Photos

 Some of the volunteers who gathered to clean up litter on the West Toronto Railpath.Railpath Litter Cleanup: Some of the volunteers who gathered to clean up litter on the West Toronto Railpath.

Last night, as small (but good looking) group of neighbours met up on the West Toronto Railpath do do a quick 30-minute litter cleanup. We met up at the Wallace Ave. bridge, and then split into two groups heading north and south. We spent close to an hour cleaning up the Railpath, and there was hardly a speck of litter left from Cariboo down to south of Bloor when we were finished. The southernmost end, beyond Tower Automotive could still use some help.

It's almost like the City was anticipating this cleanup event. Earlier in the day, some of the new garbage / recycling containers were finally installed near some of the path entrances (you can see part of one on the right side of the top photo). This will hopefully help keep the litter down from now on, though I'm sure some manual cleanup will always be required.

This type of community cleanup on the Railpath will likely happen often, as a "Railpath Stewardship Group" builds up.

So get out there and enjoy the path. And don't be afraid to get your hands a bit dirty once in a while if you see some litter or anything else that needs fixing around the neighbourhood. Just watch out for the poison ivy near the Bloor St. bridge!

All photos by Vic Gedris. Click for larger versions.

Railpath Litter Cleanup

Railpath Litter Cleanup

Some of the volunteers who gathered to clean up litter on the West Toronto Railpath.

Photo by Vic Gedris, 2009-09-23.

Railpath Litter Cleanup

Railpath Litter Cleanup

Michael helping clean up litter on the Railpath, south of Bloor near Tower Automotive.

Photo by Vic Gedris, 2009-09-23.

Railpath Litter Cleanup

Railpath Litter Cleanup

Some spray paint cans and other litter that was cleaned up on the West Toronto Railpath.

Photo by Vic Gedris, 2009-09-23.

Syndicate content