Community Meeting Oct. 27; Ontario Place News

​The next SLNA Delegate and Community Meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 27th at 7:00 p.m.

Delegate Reminder: We ask all delegates to attend this week's SLNA Community Meeting so that we will have the necessary quorum to debate and pass motions currently awaiting review by the membership.

AGENDA:

• Councillor Joe Cressy - Update
• SLNA Board Update - Delegate Questions, Announcements
• Spadina-Fort York Community Care - Shauna Harris
• Shelter news - 67 Adelaide St. E - Joe Mihevc

This meeting will once again be hosted on Zoom.

Connection Information:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85967436858?pwd=YzFiSndzcHIvR2FiMWFkWHJLclM4Zz09

Meeting ID: 859 6743 6858
Passcode: 004836

To connect via telephone use either one of the following numbers:

+1 647 374 4685
+1 647 558 0588


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Urgent Action Needed to Protect Vision for Ontario Place

The St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association is a founding member of the advocacy group "Ontario Place For All". The following update from OP4All is of some urgency (deadline for survey response is Oct. 28) and we urge our community to support these efforts:


Put Ontario Back in Ontario Place

The Government says it has a new vision for Ontario Place, but what is it? Giving pieces of Ontario Place to three businesses who will charge people for pay-to-play entertainment does not amount to a vision!

If you share our concern about this, here are some things you can do:

1. Register here for a Public Information Session on October 27th at 6:30 pm
2. Click here to fill out the province’s survey. The survey closes October 28th – but note the comments below about this survey
3. Forward this email to your network all over Ontario.

A Big Caution about the Survey

The Government’s survey is full of leading questions designed to limit your ability to respond frankly and sincerely. The government has not yet committed to making the results of the questionnaire public. 

The questions are written in a way to force respondents to accept the government’s development decisions. It is mandatory to answer all questions. Only three questions have a box where you can provide your own comments.  We suggest you use those boxes to enter your concerns. Here are some suggestions: 

Question 2 talks about Ontario’s vision and plan for Ontario Place.

• In the comment box, you can point out that this is not Ontario’s vision.  It’s a "plan" created for commercial interests without public consultation.

Question 3 says open spaces with free public access will be key to the site. Of course, it does not tell you that most of the site will be privatized.

• You can use the comment box to say that all of Ontario Place should be accessible and affordable for everyone. That was the original vision. More than ever, we need that vision today. 

Question 4b asks which heritage features are important for you. You cannot say they all are.

• Again, use the comment box to say something like “Ranking heritage features is like asking us to pick which finger we are willing to lose. They are all important and work together.”

Take a few minutes to fill out the survey and register for the Public Information Session.

Your voice counts. 

Ontario Place for All - Core Principles

• Ontario Place must be for ALL and kept publicly accessible.
• There must be a thoughtful, comprehensive public review before any changes, with a full and robust public consultation that:
  • conforms to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report’s call for informed, respectful, and meaningful consultation with Indigenous peoples over economic development
  • recognizes the diverse communities that use and contribute to Ontario Place
• Public interest, not commercial interest must drive the new vision. 
• Future plans must:
  • acknowledge the waterfront’s Indigenous heritage and incorporate meaningful Indigenous consultation
  • maintain Ontario Place as part of Toronto’s waterfront park system. 
  • be integrated with the revitalization of Exhibition Place. 
  • celebrate Ontario.
  • be guided by a collaboratively developed Conservation Management Plan that sustains Ontario Place as a recognized cultural heritage landscape. 

Volunteers Needed - SLNA 40th Anniversary Committee

In 2022, the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association will celebrate 40 years of advocacy and service to this community. Many of the SLNA's original founders and oustanding community builders who helped to make the St. Lawrence one of the most welcoming, vibrant and desireable communities in Toronto, are still residents here and we hope these individuals will join our 40th Anniversary Committee.

If you are interested in being a part of the SLNA's 40th Anniversary Planning Committee please send an email expressing your interest to: board@slna.ca by November 5, 2021.

Thank you!