Serving THE ANNEX, MIDTOWN, ROSEDALE, CABBAGETOWN and THE DOWNTOWN CORE
REGISTER NOW!
Tutoring All Ages Ontario High School Credits
thurs oct 25, 2012
www.citycentremirror.com
FREE consultation
416.482.2272
Residents concerned despite arrest of suspect
Cultural spaces are at ‘total capacity’ in Ward 21 FANNIE SUNSHINE fsunshine@insidetoronto.com
JUSTIN SKINNER jskinner@insidetoronto.com While a 15-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with the string of sexual assaults taking place in the Christie Pits area, residents are still taking steps to help make their community safer. A C h r i s t i e P i t s Re s i d e n t s Association (CPRA) is in the process of forming a safety subcommittee to address concerns within the area. A meeting was slated to take place yesterday, after the Mirror’s deadline Tuesday. “I’m looking for people who want to be block captains,” said Cristina Juarez Nilsson of the CPRA at a prior meeting, held Oct. 17, days before police arrested the suspect. Dozens attended the Oct. 17 meeting to express their concerns to members of Toronto police 14 Division and the Toronto police sex crimes unit. Juarez Nilsson noted the meeting drew far more attendees than usual. “It’s very obvious that when you have a challenge in the community, that’s when people come together,” she said. The meeting brought about assurances from police that they would pay special attention to the neighbourhood, a sentiment reiterated by Toronto police Chief Bill Blair, >>>RESIDENTS, page 5
SHUT OUT
INCREASE IN FEES PUTS THE SQUEEZE ON COMMUNITY GROUPS IN SEARCH OF AFFORDABLE SPACE
The City Centre Mirror - A Metroland Community Newspaper
• READ OUR SPECIAL FEATURE ON PAGE 6 TO LEARN ABOUT THE SEARCH FOR COMMUNITY SPACE IN TORONTO @CCMirror
The venues exist, but capacity is bursting at the seams and forcing potential renters to look elsewhere. That was the consensus expressed at a public consultation meeting looking into affordable and sustainable cultural spaces for not-forprofit and community groups in Ward 21, held at Tarragon Theatre Thursday, Oct. 18. “We are at absolute, total capacity for what we do,” said Gideon Arthurs, general manager of Tarragon Theatre on Bridgman Avenue. “Our facility has become our biggest challenge right now, not our biggest strength.” The goal of the consultations is to give councillors a ward-specific priority list for cultural infrastructure as defined by their constituents and community cultural stakeholders. Funded by a grant from the Province of Ontario, these consultations will address one of the recommendations of the Creative Capital Gains Report, endorsed by Toronto City Council in 2011. This year, consultation sessions will be held in 20 wards. The remaining 24 wards will be surveyed in 2013 and beyond. The consultant, Lord Cultural Resources, and the city are compiling a list of what’s currently available space-wise in the ward and what residents would like to see. This will help local councillors focus on where priorities are when it comes to Section 37 benefits. According to the City of Toronto, Section 37 of the Planning Act permits >>>DEVELOPMENT, page 18
Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40013798