Two other City Council motions of interest

City Council approved a motion by Councillor Nunziata to research a Somali Community Centre. The motion, which was co-sponsored by Mayor Tory, will ask city staff to “work with the Somali Cultural and Recreation Centre Steering Committee in Toronto and the impacted Councillors to explore potential partnerships for a new community cultural and recreation centre”.

Council also voted to give recurring $7500 payments to residents of Rockcliffe-Smythe who experienced flooding. The motion says eligible properties must be “within the Rockcliffe Special Policy Area and hydraulically connected sewer catchment, where beneficial works have been identified by a completed Basement Flooding EA Study but the work is not yet commissioned”.

This motion is controversial. City staff recommended against it, and Councillor Perks moved that it be made available to any similar Toronto property. His motion was defeated.

Columnist Heather Mallick said it is a waste of money:

Nunziata isn’t leaving; she isn’t any good; she would be equally un-good anywhere else. Who cares if Toronto ultimately blows an uncapped $6 million on homeowners in one floodplain while ignoring nine other floodplains? 

Voters care….Why not $6 million more for parks along the major roads where midrise condos are being built, and downtown where towers are packed in like Lego?

The motion passed 16 votes to 7.

City Council approves Weston Road and Little Ave development

City Council approved the very large development at Weston and Little this week. According to UrbanToronto, it was adopted with no debate.

If built, the development will include two tall towers—one 29-storeys, and one 35-storeys—between the Dollar Store and Little Avenue. They will share an 8- storey podium.

Arson on Weston

The police are asking for the public’s help locating a woman wanted for arson.

They say that on Saturday, July 16 at around 12:30 in the morning, a woman set fire to an object on the front porch of a house on Sykes Avenue resulting in the house “being engulfed in flames”.

Image courtesy Hans Havermann

She is also alleged to have set fire to four vehicles parked on Weston Road near Victoria and a garbage can outside of 1551 Weston Road.

There were no injuries.

The police say

The woman is described as black, light skin, with short hair. She was last seen wearing a long jacket, sandals, a scarf, carrying a tote bag.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1200, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.

Man arrested for child sexual assault

Toronto Police have charged Rufus Folkes, 43, with two counts of sexual interference.

Folkes is accused of assaulting a 12-year-old girl and a 13-year-old girl at a store in the Weston Road and Jane Street area.

The police are concerned there may be more victims.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1200, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.

Upcoming events

The Friends of Smythe Park Community members working with the city’s InTO the Ravines program and other community groups have organized a couple of great events for the coming weeks. On July 23 at 2 p.m. there’ll be Kids and Caterpillars:


A hands-on introduction to caterpillars and butterflies with real, big caterpillars. Look, hold, touch! Look for butterflies. Ontario Naturalist, outdoor children’s educator and retired middle school science teacher Don Scallen will bring his large Saturniidae moth caterpillars, including cecropias, prometheas and lunas to show children aged 3-10. He will talk about their life cycle and how to rear them, and will give children (and caregivers!) the opportunity to hold the caterpillars and admire them up close. After his talk, he’ll take children and caregivers on a walk to look for butterflies, caterpillars and caterpillar plants. Join us for this entertaining and informative hands-on afternoon in the park. And, free popsicles!

On August 6, they’ll be hosting Turtles for Families, a “turtley awesome afternoon in Smythe Park” (this dad approves that pun!)

Join us for a turtley awesome afternoon in Smythe Park. We will meet at the playground and take a gentle car-free walk through the woods to the ponds. Children will look for basking and swimming turtles, predated and protected nests, and learn how to identify and protect these wonderful park inhabitants. Then outdoor artist and school art teacher Alexandra Iorgu will guide families to make their own clay turtles. Our turtles will form a public display to highlight our park’s special local role in Toronto’s biodiversity. Come enjoy hands-on learning and creating together outdoors. And, free popsicles!