Upcoming events

Weston Community Christmas Food Drive

On Sunday, December 9th from 1-5 pm, Weston Park Baptist Church is having its annual Christmas Community Food Drive.

Each year the Christmas food drive helps 330+ local families. For almost 30 years the community has graciously responded with the needed food.

This is achieved is by distributing 4000 bags into the Weston community a week prior to the drive. With more than 50 volunteers the food is collected door-to-door, it is sorted at the church, boxed and prepared for distribution by the Weston Area Emergency Support WAES Food Bank.

Food may also be brought to the church at 1871 Weston Rd. Volunteers are welcome.

 

Local Police Superintendent appointed OPP Commissioner.

Toronto Police Superintendent Ron Taverner, currently in charge of 12, 23 and 31 Divisions (the north-west corner of the city that includes Weston and Mount Dennis) is heading for a new job on December 17. He has been appointed Commissioner of the 9000 member Ontario Provincial Police. According to Ontario’s Newsroom site, his appointment is “based on the unanimous recommendation of a selection committee comprised exclusively of members of the Ontario Public Service and supported by Odgers Berndtson, an executive search firm.”.

Superintendent Taverner’s career with Toronto Police began in 1967 and there are many supportive and glowing testimonials in reaction to his appointment. Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders and Police Association President Mike McCormack (among others) welcomed the news and think that the appointment is a good one.

There is at least one dissenting voice. Former OPP Commissioner (2010 – 2014), Chris Lewis says he is shocked. In an interview with CTV News, Lewis says says things like, “The appointment is a real kick to the OPP – someone from the outside with very limited experience.”, “The fix was in from the outset.” (Taverner is a friend of the Ford family).

Who will replace Taverner? Let’s hope it’s someone who can solve some of the problems that have frustrated the current incumbent and stubbornly resisted a solution over the past few years.

TTC Tokens and Tickets to be eliminated – Public Meeting set.

TTC and Presto are holding a public meeting to advise of the upcoming changes to the TTC fares as a result of the elimination of tokens and tickets and fare collectors at subway stations.

PRESTO/ TTC Town Hall

December 11, 6:00-7:30pm

Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building, Room 203

Here’s what we know (or think we know) so far.

By the end of 2018, TTC Metropasses will no longer be available.  You will need to purchase a Presto Card, and load it with a Metropass.  TTC and Presto are still working out details of whether or how to offer the VIP program (bulk purchase by employers) but for now it has ended.

Sometime in 2019, Presto and the city plan to eliminate the token and tickets.  Currently tokens are 3 for $9 and Student/Senior tickets are $10.25 for a book of 5 tickets.  When these are eliminated the only single fare ticket will cost $3.25 per ticket.  Fare collectors will be eliminated at subway stations.  Patrons will have to deposit $3.25 in a vending machine for a full-fare ticket, regardless of whether they are senior or student.  It is unclear whether a patron will be able to deposit $2.10 (the cash student and senior fare) in a farebox on a bus or streetcar.  As of this writing it appears the day pass, the family pass, and the convention pass will be eliminated.  In addition, full-fare tickets purchased at vending machines will have an expiry date (60 days?), after which they will be a useless piece of paper with a chip inside.

Presto card holders will continue to get the discounted fares.  $3.00 for adults, $2.05 for seniors and students.  But you must pay $6 (non refundable) for the presto card and then keep it loaded, with a minimum load of $10.

Metrolinx does have plans for distribution of tickets to social service agencies, schools etc.  It is unclear whether these will be full-fare $3.25 tickets, or reduced fare.  It is also unclear how the expiry date will be dealt with.

Fare Media Sellers

Currently TTC has some 1200 places where you can buy tickets, tokens, metropasses and day passes.

In Weston and Mount Dennis and vicinity there are 37 places to buy transit fares.

Jumbo Save 1917 Weston Rd. M9N1W7
Shoppers Drug Mart 1995 Weston Rd. M9N1X2
Min-A-Mart 2087 Weston Rd. M9N1X7
Sinclair Variety. 2155 Weston Rd. M9N1X8
Park’s Supermarket 2189 Weston Rd. M9N1X9
Shoppers Drug Mart #869 1533 Jane St. M9N2R2
T & A Lucky Bargain Way 1691 Jane St. M9N2S3
George’s Food Store 1834 Jane St. M9N2T4
Bargain Club. 3685 Keele St. M9N3J8
Carmenza Gift & Video 1883 Jane St. M9N3S7
Golden Star Variety. 1655 St. Clair Ave. W. M6N1H7
Silverthorn Variety. 1734 St. Clair Ave. W. M6N1J3
Peter Pan K Convenience 1832 St. Clair Ave. W. M6N1J8
Metro #719 2155 St. Clair Ave. W. M6N1K5
Rocky Convenience 2466 St. Clair Ave. W. M6N1L3
Grand Hoo International Corp 128 Pritchard Ave. M6N1T3
Saba Foods 251 Woolner Ave. M6N1Y8
Shoppers Drug Mart #867 620 Keele St. M6N3E2
Kenneth Variety 855 Jane St. M6N4C4
Janedale Pharmacy. 903 Jane St. M6N4C6
Mac’s #66099 1349 Lawrence Ave. W. M6L1A4
Metro #750 1411 Lawrence Ave. W. M6L1A4
Lawrence Park Convenience 1577 Lawrence Ave. W. M6L1C3
C- Mart 2402 Eglinton Ave. W. M6M1S6
Grace Lottery Centre 2330 Eglinton Ave. W. M6M1S6
Variety & Video 2609 Eglinton Ave. W. M6M1T3
York Variety. 2669 Eglinton Ave. W. M6M1T8
Zac’s Convenience 1977 Keele St. M6M3Y2
Top’s Variety 2264 Keele St. M6M3Y9
Market-Tino 2394 Keele St. M6M4A5
Main Drug Mart. 510 Trethewey Dr. M6M4C2
A & M Lifestyle Variety 1233 Weston Rd. M6M4P7
October Jack’s Convenience 1339 Weston Rd. M6M4R6
T & K Variety 1385 Weston Rd. M6M4S1
7-Eleven Food Stores (24414). 1390 Weston Rd M6M4S2
Rogers Supermarket. 419 Rogers Rd. M6M4Z8
Family Food Mart 2468 Eglinton Ave. W. M6M5E2

Metrolinx and Presto have signed an exclusive deal with Shoppers Drug Mart (Loblaw Inc) to be the only reseller of TTC media.  Not all Shoppers will have presto reloading machines.

As of this writing they have not yet advised the other outlets that they will be losing the franchise.

After the token is eliminated, you will have to travel to one of

Shoppers Drug Mart 1995 Weston Rd. M9N1X2 8am-midnight
Shoppers Drug Mart #869 1533 Jane St. M9N2R2 9am-9pm
Shoppers Drug Mart #867 620 Keele St. M6N3E2 9am-10pm

It is unclear whether these outlets will be able to sell a single TTC fare, as they currently only have presto card reload machines.
Although GO Weston station has a counter open weekdays and fare vending machines, they are not set up to sell TTC fares.  You can reload presto cards there.

If you have questions, come to the public meeting.

PRESTO/ TTC Town Hall

December 11, 6:00-7:30pm

Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building, Room 203

MP Hussen’s Sunday meet and greet

York South-Weston MP Ahmed Hussen is holding a ‘holiday’ Meet and Greet this Sunday, December 2nd, at Pelmo Park Community Centre (171 Pellatt Avenue) from 12-2pm.

Mr Hussen will be providing ‘updates to the community’ during the two-hour session; whether this will be as comments to individuals or as a speech is unclear.

Light refreshments will be served.

His office is asking that you RSVP to 416-656-2526 or via email to [email protected]

Mount Dennis – opportunity to improve dangerous streets .

A recent and timely article in a Toronto blog named ‘The Local’, features some well-known local characters while dealing with the topic of pedestrian safety and the public realm in the Mount Dennis area. Author, Sam Riches has written for a number of publications including Wired, Salon.com  and Longreads.

Read Sam’s article here.

Upcoming events

The Mount Dennis Community Association will be hosting its AGM this Wednesday  from 6:30–9:00 at the York Recreation Centre. Paul Bedford, a former chief planner for the City of Toronto will be the keynote speaker.

The AGM will focus on the new Line 5, the Mount Dennis mobility hub, and the Mount Dennis Planning Framework Study. The study will update rules about land use, density, and infrastructure.

CP’s Holiday Train will chug into town this Thursday. It will be at the CP’s Lambton Yard, at 750 Runnymede, between 8:15 and 9.

The Weston Historical Society will be having their 38th annual Christmas Carol and Hymn Sing at Victory Assembly International Church on Wednesday, December 5.

UrbanArts will be having a Winter Expo on December 8. It sounds great.

UrbanArts wins $10,000!

UrbanArts won a $10,000 grant from the TD Community Arts Award program

The price “celebrates an arts organization that has made a significant contribution in Toronto by working with, in and for communities, while creating access and inclusion to arts and culture.”

UrbanArts is one of York South–Weston’s gems. They provide year-round arts programming and summer camps for young people in the neighbourhood.

Marlene McKintosh, executive director.

The other finalists were Art Starts and Jumblies Theatre.