Serving HIGH PARK-SWANSEA, ST. CLAIR, THE JUNCTION and RONCESVALLES
thurs jan 24, 2013
www.thevillager.ca
Council votes to save Runnymede fire hall for now LISA RAINFORD lrainford@insidetoronto.com Neighbourhood residents can breathe a sigh of relief – at least for now – as city council voted to save the Runnymede fire station during its budget meeting last Wednesday. While approving Toronto’s 2013 operating budget, city council voted to restore 83 frontline firefighter positions and to maintain fire trucks slated for removal from five stations as part of the Toronto fire chief’s plan to cut costs. “It’s a relief, but it’s not over yet,” Parkdale-High Park Councillor Sarah Doucette told The Villager. “We’ve got a six-month reprieve.” The $3.1 million spending injection was approved pending the out-
come of an efficiency study on fire and EMS as well as a fire insurance underwriters’ review. “What this means is, we can work with Toronto’s fire chief to really, really see where services should be,” said Doucette. “What I find interesting, is that I don’t think all the development coming into my ward was taken into account.” Plus, the number of emergency calls coming into Runnymede station are slowly on the rise, Doucette pointed out. “We have to wait six months until we have a chance to analyze the reports,” she said. Nevertheless, she and the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association (TPFFA) are pleased with the outcome of last Wednesday’s >>>PROPOSED, page 12
Board of management members wanted for Swansea Town Hall The Swansea Town Hall is currently seeking people to fill vacant positions on its board of management and director positions on its board of directors of the Swansea Town Hall Association. The deadline for applications is Feb. 13. The town hall is looking for applicants who: • have an understanding of the neighbourhood and community within the Swansea catchment area; • reflect the cultural and social diversity of the community; • have knowledge and understanding of community and public
service; • are team players who possess good communication and decision-making skills and while not a requirement, people with financial, accounting, governance, marketing, legal or fundraising knowledge. An application form and information package is available for pickup at the town hall. Submit your applications to the attention of the nominating committee, Swansea Town Hall, 95 Lavinia Ave., Toronto, ON, M6S 3H9. For further details, call 416-392-1954 or email frontdesk@swanseatownhall.ca
N0W
event
FREE SERVICE SHUTTLE 416-762-7537
2013
checkmate
Staff photo/MARY GAUDET
YOUR MOVE: Arie Kamp, 87, is a member of the High Park Chess Club, which opens each day, except Wednesdays, at 2 p.m. The club is in the park, south of Bloor Street, and anyone can become a member for a small fee.
Local schools to benefit from millions in government funding Swansea P.S. to receive $5 million for new addition LISA RAINFORD lrainford@insidetoronto.com School council representatives are rejoicing in the wake of the Ontario Ministry of Education’s announcement of an $8.2 million funding injection for additions at Keele Street Jr. P.S. and Swansea Jr. and Sr. P.S.
The funding is in addition to the $2.6 million in full-day kindergarten capital funding for the two schools, according to ministry spokesperson Andrew Morrison. The local investment is part of a more than $700 million plan to build and renovate 87 schools across Ontario to alleviate the “accommodation pressures,”
ALTIMA SEDAN
4 CYL ENGINE,BLUETOOTH, AIR CONDITIONER, CRUISE CONTROL, SIX AIRBAGS.
SALE PRICE
23,99800
$ STK#N9953
while expanding and renovating in preparation for the roll-out of full-day kindergarten. Ministry funding decisions were based on which projects had the most urgent and pressing needs in the next three years and also the ones that supported the ministry’s >>>KEELE, page 16
PRE-OWNED CLEAROUT 2011 NISSAN VERSA SEDAN
AUTO, A/C, PWR LOCKS, 4 TO CHOOSE FROM, BALANCE OF FACTORY WARRANTY, UNDER 40,000KM
10,900
$
+HST
Ex-daily rentals
2012 NISSAN VERSA SEDAN
AUTO, A/C, PWR LOCKS, 3 TO CHOOSE FROM, BALANCE OF FACTORY WARRANTY, UNDER 20,000KM
13,900
$