admin – Cabbagetown Residents Association

Local/City News:

TORONTO CENTRE PART OF PROPOSED COMMUNITY SAFETY PILOTS

A new City report to be considered by Executive Committee next week recommends the approval of four community safety and crisis support service pilots, allowing for non-police led response for non-emergency, non-violent calls including those involving persons in crisis and for wellness checks.

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CafeTO – HOPEFULLY BIGGER, BETTER, LONGER IN 2021

TORONTO — City staff and the Mayor are recommending that the city bring back its popular CafeTO program, which saw hundreds of patios set up on sidewalks and in curb lanes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic last summer, reports Chris Fox and CP24/CTV News.

Read the City of Toronto news release about the report.

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ARE THERE ANY ‘BUTTERFLYWAY RANGERS’ OUT THERE?

The David Suzuki Foundation is looking for super awesome people to become its next troop of Butterflyway Rangers. They will join the Butterflyway Project’s award-winning efforts to reimagine our neighbourhoods as flower-filled corridors where wild bees and butterflies can thrive. Application deadline is February 5, 2021.

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SAVE THE FOUNDRY MOVEMENT HOTS-UP. MOMENTARILY

The Foundry news story we featured last week got a lot of coverage in the media. Unfortunately it seems that the Province hasn’t heeded the calls to halt the demolition.

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PLANS FOR THE SALE/REDEVELOPMENT OF ESSO STATION

The CRA received a copy of this Cushman & Wakefield brochure which talks about the planned sale of the Esso gas station at 581 Parliament and the opportunity to redevelop the land into a mid rise development:

“The Vendor has engaged Urban Strategies Inc. to provide the highest and best use scenarios for the subject Site. The scenario for a mid-rise development for the Property allows for a residential GFA of 74,363 sf, 101 units with parking and a retail GFA of 5,912 sf with parking and an FSI of 3.9. The combined total GFA from the development is 80,275 sf with a total of 126 parking spaces.

While this would be the tallest development on Parliament Street, this option conforms to angular plane requirements from the neighbourhood to the east and conforms to mid-rise design guidelines. There is retail space located on both Parliament and Amelia St, which mirrors the retail condition on the north side of Amelia Street. This option would require rezoning and Site Plan Approval from the City of Toronto.”

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LOCAL SPEED ENFORCEMENT CAMERAS

The City recently released stats, showing that over 53,000 speeding tickets were issued by its 50 Automated Speed Enforcement devices (ASE’s) from July to November 2020. Two of these cameras are located in Cabbagetown, on Prospect and Spruce. They issued just 10 and 13 tickets respectively. The lowest amount of any other camera. Well done Cabbagetown for respecting the speed limit!

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DOUG FORD GOES MULTILINGUAL

In an effort to get people to STAY HOME, Doug Ford decides he should try a bit harder to make it as clear as possible.

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Pandemic Updates:

CANADIAN VACCINE DELIVERIES SLOW TO CRAWL

Canada will receive zero Pfizer vaccines next week as the company temporarily suspends deliveries, further slowing a vaccine rollout that is lagging behind other countries as the pandemic kills more Canadians every day, reports Ryan Tumilty at the National Post.

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BUSINESSES PRESS PROVINCE TO REIGN-IN BIG BOX STORES

Toronto business owners and politicians are calling on the Ford government to prohibit big box stores from selling non-essential items in person in an effort to level the playing field with independent retailers and discourage unnecessary outings, reports Mira Miller at BlogTO.

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CANADIANS IN FAVOUR OF CURFEWS

Almost two-thirds of Canadians would support a nightly curfew if necessary to curb the spread of COVID-19 – even though they’re not convinced it would be effective, reports Joan Bryden at the Canadian Press.

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MAJORITY SUPPORT BANNING THE UNVACCINATED

More than seven in 10 Canadians support or somewhat support barring those who don’t have proof of vaccination from businesses where people are in close contact, according to a new Nanos survey, reports Christy Somos at CTV News.

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MAJOR NEW VACCINATION SITE FORCED TO PAUSE OPERATIONS

The COVID-19 vaccination clinic that just opened the Metro Toronto Convention Centre has had to pause vaccinations because of a shortage of vaccine supply.

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EVERYONE VACCINATED BY END AUGUST?

Ontario wants to have everyone vaccinated by late July or early August, says the head of its vaccine distribution plan. Report by CBC News .

Local/City News:

TLAB REACHES DECISION ON SACKVILLE DAYCARE

The Toronto Local Appeal Body has ruled in favour of the daycare at 459-461 Sackville Street. The decision order approved all the variances and cited eight conditions that previously existed and still must be met. Once met, no additional considerations are required.

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ASOKAN RASIAH

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Asokan Rasiah, chef and owner of the Peartree Restaurant.

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PROVINCIAL PLANS TO DEMOLISH HERITAGE FOUNDRY BUILDINGS

News that the Province plans on razing four heritage buildings in Corktown, without permission from community members or the City, has sent waves of shock through the neighbourhood, reports Tanya Mok at BlogTO.

Corktown.ca is urging people to sign a petition set up by Spadina Fort-York MPP Chris Glover to give this site a fighting chance to survive and thrive for the benefit of all Ontarians.

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HOW TO MAKE DOVA’S CACIO E PEPE AT HOME

Cacio e pepe has staunchly Roman roots, but Dova chef Roberto Marotta is a proud Sicilian. So when he was planning the menu for his Cabbagetown sequel to King East’s Ardo, he devised a homage to the punchy pasta infused with a Sicilian sensibility, reports Alex Baldinger at Toronto Life.

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LIVE GREEN NEWS – JANUARY 2021

Here’s the latest update of Live Green News from Live Green Toronto.

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BIA SEEKS FEEDBACK ON ‘DECK THE HOLIDAYS’ EVENT

Rick Matthews would love to know what we all thought about the BIA’s Deck the Holidays window displays. Please complete his 5 minute survey.

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CITY LAUNCHES 2021 TAX SUPPORTED BUDGETS

The City of Toronto’s Budget Committee began the process of reviewing the staff-recommended tax-supported operating and capital budgets for 2021. The budgets will be reviewed and debated by Budget and Executive Committees before being finalized and approved by City Council at its meeting on February 18.

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TORONTO BASED GROCERY DELIVERY SERVICES

A year ago, there were only a few big-name companies leading the grocery-delivery game. That’s obviously different now. Here’s how you can have everything—from produce and pantry essentials to artisanal cheese and freshly baked croissants—delivered right to your door. A report from Caroline Aksich at Toronto Life.

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Pandemic Updates:

STAY AT HOME ORDER – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

With Ontario facing dangerously high rates of COVID-19, Doug Ford declared a second provincial emergency Tuesday and announced a slate of new restrictions in an effort to bring the virus under control.

Lauren O’Neil at BlogTO and Emma Paling at HuffPost both try to help provide some additional clarity.

Mayor Tory goes a little further, asking whether we need to add an F Bomb, to make it absolutely, crystal clear about what the order means.

Still confused? Read the full text of the Ontario Stay at Home Order – or just follow Doug Ford’s advice. If you’re not sure if you can do it, don’t. JUST STAY HOME!

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CAN POLICE DO RANDOM STOPS TO ENFORCE STAY AT HOME ORDER?

Ontario’s stay-at-home order is now in effect for the province but the government said police don’t have the authority to randomly stop residents on the street to make sure their trip is essential, reports Sean Davidson at CTV News.

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ONLINE CALCUATOR PROVIDES ESTIMATES ON VACCINE TIMING

Tool co-created by Toronto developer gives ‘general idea’ of how long we each have to wait for a vaccine, reports CBC News.

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CITY LAUNCES INITIAL IMMUNIZATION CLINIC

Mayor Tory, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa and Fire Chief and General Manager of the Office of Emergency Management Matthew Pegg provided an update on the City’s measures to combat the resurgence of the virus in Toronto, the rollout of vaccines to priority groups and wider immunization planning.

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IS IT A COLD, IS IT FLU OR IS IT COVID?

If you’re feeling under the weather, how do you really know if it is a cold, the flu, seasonal allergies, or a sign that you’ve contracted the novel coronavirus? Alexandra Mae Jones form CTV News provides some insights.

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PHARMACIES SAY THEY CAN SPEED UP VACCINATIONS

Canada’s 11,500 pharmacies could vaccinate up to 3 million people a week, Shoppers Drug Mart president says, reports Jean Paul Tasker at CBC News.

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SHOULD YOU WEAR A MASK OUTDOORS?

As COVID-19 cases continue to surge across much of the country, some experts are advising Canadians to wear face masks while outdoors, reports Brooklyn Neustaeter at CTV News.

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Asokan Rasiah, chef and owner of the Peartree Restaurant, last weekend.

Asokan has been a fixture in our community for over 30 years. He enjoyed participating in all community events and had gained the respect of everyone in our neighbourhood.

Asokan first moved to St. James Town from Sri Lanka in 1988, and on just his second day in Canada, Asokan got a job as a dishwasher at a restaurant on Parliament St. One month later he became a line cook there. Within six months, his passion for cooking was ignited and he became a chef. He loved the energy of the kitchen.

Asokan worked as a head chef for several years until the restaurant’s owners decided they wanted to sell. Asokan didn’t hesitate to buy it, and in 1993–28 years ago–he opened Peartree Restaurant. He’d later go on to buy the building and others in Cabbagetown as well.

He was a hard working, kind and generous man.

Our sincere condolences go out to his family, friends and the entire Peartree family, many of whom have worked with him since opening day.

LOCAL/CITY NEWS:

HNY FROM THE CRA

First up, the CRA wishes all of you a very happy new year (and good riddance to 2020!). We’ve been on a break for a couple of weeks, so this first newsletter of 2021 is a bit of a bumper issue!

This weekly newsletter, started in April 2020, has proved quite popular, so we plan to continue it into 2021.

If you know of anyone who would benefit from receiving the newsletter, please encourage them to sign-up to get it, , we’d love to reach more members of our community.

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HOLIDAY LIGHTS COMPETITION – WE HAVE A WINNER

For Xmas 2020 we had a bumper crop of homes (17) as well as a record breaking number of votes (2338!), which is fantastic. Congratulations go to the winners from Spruce Street. You can check out all the rankings here.

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DAYLIGHT INTRUDER TAKEN INTO CUSTODY

A resident on Hillcrest Park contacted us to advise that they encountered an intruder on the second floor of their home at 9 am on January 2. Apparently he was convinced to exit without too much trouble. He returned the following morning, same time and tried to access the house again. The police were able to find and apprehend the man and he is now in custody, awaiting an appearance in the Mental Health Court. Upon review of their Nest camera they discovered that he had been to their house almost every day from December 30 on.

While this incident played out safely, similar incidents are on the rise across greater Cabbagetown, so we recommend that residents keep their doors locked, even when they are at home.

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218 CARLTON CONVERSION – 10 UNITS AFFORDABLE HOUSING

The City of Toronto is seeking an indigenous non-profit housing provider to operate affordable housing at 218 Carlton. Renovations will be done by MOD Development, who bought the property and then sold it to the city for a peppercorn price. More details available online.

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MORE GOOD PRESS FOR LOCAL START-UP, SUPPLI

Megan Takeda-Tully’s startup company, Suppli, has so far signed up five restaurants in Toronto’s Cabbagetown neighbourhood, as well as hundreds of consumers wanting their takeout delivered in Suppli’s stainless steel containers with silicone lids, reports Alastair Sharp at Canada’s National Observer.

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CITY HALL LIVE MUSIC CONCERTS KICK OFF NEXT WEEK

The City of Toronto, in partnership with Unison Benevolent Fund, is launching City Hall Live Spotlight, a weekly livestreamed concert series, as part of ShowLoveTO, to support the local music industry and provide Toronto residents with music experiences at home. City Hall Live Spotlight kicks off on January 14 at 7:30 p.m. online.

Residents are encouraged to make a night of it, order in some takeout and settle in for a live concert in the comfort of their own home.

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GREEN THUMBS – 2020 REVIEW

Local charity Green Thumbs has issued a review of its 2020 achievements in our community. Take a look here.

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RESTAURANT OFFERS FREE BURGERS TO HOMELESS/ SENIORS

Anyone who is homeless, has fallen on hard times, is a senior or veteran, and is hungry can get a free burger (which just so happens to be one of the best in the city) from a Toronto restaurant right now, reports Amy Carlberg at BlogTO.

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CANADIANS LEAVE XMAS LIGHTS UP AND ON

Some Canadians are choosing to leave their Christmas lights on a little longer this year in a bid to keep the holiday cheer going during these dark times, reports CTV News.

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REGENT PARK REPLACES OAK STREET SLUM

Here’s a link to a neat old movie that a contributor posted to Life in Cabbagetown. The short film, made in 1953 is from the National Film Board of Canada archives.

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22 OF THE LCBO’s BEST BOTTLES UNDER $20

How to stock your cellar, closet or wine rack without breaking the bank. A useful report by Andre Proulx and Michael Pinkus at Toronto Life.

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PANDEMIC UPDATES:

FORD EYES FURTHER RESTRICTIONS AS CASES SOAR

Premier Doug Ford is promising further restrictions coming for Ontario, as the province reported a record 4,249 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, reports CBC News.

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AN ALTERNATE VIEW TO MORE LOCKDOWNS

Cynthia Mulligan at City News spoke with Infection Control Epidemiologist Dr. Colin Furness, who believes we should be doing even more testing than we are and that part of that solution is within our reach.

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FOUR MORE COVID-19 CASES AT ST LAWRENCE MARKET

Four more employees who work at St. Lawrence Market have now tested positive for COVID-19, the city said Tuesday, reports Joshua Freeman at CP24.

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CAN A ‘CANADIAN SHIELD’ CURB RISING CASES?

An upcoming nightly curfew in Quebec is hogging the headlines, but some public health experts say it’s another plank of Premier Francois Legault’s new plan that other provinces should pay the most attention to, reports Ryan Flanagan at CTV News.

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TRACK THE PROGRESS OF VACCINATIONS

CTV News has created a handy dandy tracker that shows the progress of vaccinations across in Canada. You can also track it with the COVID-19 Tracker Canada, and track Canada’s progress on a global scale too.

Read: Doctors urge Ontario to pick up pace on vaccine rollout.

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EMERGENCY CHILD CARE FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS

The City of Toronto has announced that emergency child care will be made available in 35 locations for school-aged children of designated essential service workers during remote learning week.

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XMAS AND NY CELEBRATIONS DRIVE UP INFECTIONS

Health experts are warning that the current rise in COVID-19 cases across the country will likely increase through January and February due to gatherings during the Christmas holidays and New Year’s, reports Brooklyn Neustaeter at CTV News.

Posted on December 18, 2020

On December 3, children from the Grade 1and 2 class at Winchester School had a special celebration for what to the uninitiated would seem to be just a ragged old Cedar tree. The celebration was planned a few weeks in advance so the children would have time to make decorations.

With help from their teacher they glued slices of wood together to make snow men, there are cranberries strung with red ribbon and made pine cone elves. And they made ornaments with bird seed and suet for the birds

Micah, from Green Thumbs Growing Kids made organic cedar tea sweetened with maple syrup and dropped a thermos of the warm sweet tea at the school so they could taste cedar tea before decorating the tree.

Micah visited with them via the wonders of technology and during the visit he explained why the Indigenous people refer to Cedar Trees as the “Tree of Life”. Trees use Carbon dioxide and give back oxygen for our survival but beside that their “leaves” contain Vitamins C and D. In harsh winters indigenous peoples gave early settlers who were struggling to survive in harsh winters, Cedar tea to drink to prevent deficiency diseases like scurvy. Bows and branches could be used to build shelters and insulate the ground from the cold. And the sap was used as an adhesive. So, Cedar trees were a source of protection and saved lives.

And he gave to them the Anishinaabe name of their tree… Giizhikaatig.

Micah suggested the children give thanks to the tree for the life it gives before decorating it. One boy asked how he should do that. “Stand in a circle around the tree and thank the tree for the life it gives”.

From a distance I watched as this group of earnest Grade 1 children made a circle around the tree and gave it their thanks before the decorating bedlam began.

The Winchester Garden’s ragged old Cedar tree was transformed. It became a Solstice tree.

Green Thumbs Growing Kids (GTGK) is a local charity actively creating and managing school gardens in order to connect children to food and their environment. Gardens at Sprucecourt Jr. PS, Winchester Jr. & Sr. PS and Rose Avenue PS are managed by Green Thumbs and we support gardening projects at Nelson Mandela Park PS. No funding is received from the Toronto District School Board so GTGK depends on funding from members of the community and friends of the gardens. Look us up and learn more about what we do. Please support our work by donating atwww.greenthumbsto.organd check us out on social media.

(Article supplied by GTGK)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE CRA

The Board of Directors at the CRA would like to wish everyone in Cabbagetown a very happy holiday season.

Please: Stay Safe. Mask up. Keep Distancing.

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HOLIDAY LIGHTS COMPETITION – VOTING IS OPEN!

We already have over a dozen great entries with more to come and votes are coming in thick and fast – with over 400 cast to date. Let us know which is your favourite, if you haven’t already. Voting closes on Saturday December 26.

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SOLSTICE TREE AT WINCHESTER

On December 3, children from the Grade 1and 2 class at Winchester School had a special celebration for what to the uninitiated would seem to be just a ragged old Cedar tree.

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DIXON HALL ROOMING HOUSE PROJECT UPDATE

Dixon Hall has provided an update on the project to revitalize the rooming houses at 502-508 Parliament Street.

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CABBAGETOWN RESIDENTS OPT FOR PRIVATE SECURITY

A group of residents in Cabbagetown have resorted to hiring their own private security guard to patrol their neighbourhood amid concerns about a string of break-ins and thefts, reports Chris Fox at CP24.

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A CALL TO ALL CABBAGETOWN BIRD FEEDER OWNERS

Michael White has asked anyone in the Parliament, Wellesley, Sumach, Pine Avenue streets block who have Bird Feeders to call him at 416 926 9553 or email michael.white@sympatico.ca for the Sunday December 20, TFN/CBC Bird feeder walkabout of homes, streets and alleys to get counts and species for 2020 Toronto Field Naturalists Christmas Bird Count (TFN,CBC).

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TORONTO JOINS IN WORLD-WIDE BELL RINGING

The event, which is spreading around the world, will have people come out on their doorsteps (or balconies) and ring a bell at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, reports Karen Longwell at BlogTO.

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FORD MULLING 3 WEEK LOCKDOWN FROM 12/26

Premier Doug Ford’s government is considering a lockdown across southern Ontario from Boxing Day until Jan. 11, as COVID-19 cases in the province reach record highs, CBC News has learned, reports CBC News.

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CANADA LOCKS IN 1000’S MORE VACCINE DOSES

Canada will be receiving up to 200,000 more doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine next week and potentially up to 168,000 Moderna vaccine doses by the end of December. This means thousands more Canadians will be vaccinated before the end of the year, reports Rachel Aiello at CTV News.

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REDUCE, REUSE AND RECYCLE RIGHT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

The City of Toronto is encouraging residents to be mindful of the amount of waste they generate over the holiday season and to look for opportunities to reduce and reuse.

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TRIDEL WINS BID FOR REGENT PARK PHASES 4-5

TCHC has approved the selection of Tridel Builders Inc. as the partner for the remaining two development phases at Regent Park.

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ENJOY A CLASSIC CANADIAN WINTER VIRTUALLY

Ryan Flanagan at CTV News shares a quick guide to a few wintertime activities that can be done without having to leave your house.

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CRA WEEKLY NEWS UPDATE TAKES A HOLIDAY BREAK

This will be our last weekly news update for 2020. We hope you’ve found them useful and informative. Please let us know if you’d like them to continue in 2021 – info@cabbagetowner.com

FOOD INSECURITY FUNDRAISER A HUGE SUCCESS!

All the Cabbagetown Residents Associations, along with the Cabbagetown Preservation Association would like to thank everyone who donated so very generously to the Cabbagetown Food Insecurity fundraiser. The total raised is now just shy of $13,000!

Dixon Hall is absolutely thrilled. They wrote to us this week, saying:

“This is one of Dixon Hall’s most successful third party fundraisers of all time. The amount raised is equivalent to more than one quarter of what has been raised by Dixon Hall’s entire holiday appeal. More than enough to provide well over 3,000 meals to precariously housed people in our community. More than enough to warrant our tremendous thanks.”

THANK YOU CABBAGETOWN!

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CRA HOLIDAY CARDS CONTEST – WINNERS

This year, every single class from Sprucecourt Public School entered the competition, in total 12 classes and ~240 kids from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8.

After much deliberation , our judges selected four winners and 12 honourable mentions. See this year’s winning entries here.

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DON’T FORGET THE HOLIDAY LIGHTS COMPETITION!

This year we’re encouraging the whole neighbourhood to light up their front gardens to bring some extra festive cheer to Cabbagetown. Who knows, you could be one of the lucky winners! Find out how to enter our ever popular annual holiday lights competition here.

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CANADA APPROVES PFIZER VACCINE – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Health Canada approved the first COVID-19 vaccine for use in Canada on Wednesday. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which is 95 per cent effective, is the first in the country to be approved, for use in those aged 16 and older, reports Tyler Dawson at the National Post.

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LIVE GREEN NEWS – DECEMBER ISSUE

Here’s the latest monthly newsletter from Live Green Toronto.

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DOCTORS – STILL A LONG JOURNEY AHEAD TO COMBAT VIRUS

While Canadian doctors are welcoming the news of Health Canada’s approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, they’re also cautioning there is still more work to be done before life can return to some semblance of normal, reports Jackie Dunham, CTV News.

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NO FREE TTC THIS NEW YEAR’S EVE – NOT SURPRISINGLY

The TTC has been providing free rides to Toronto residents on New Year’s Eve for a few years now, but this is yet another tradition that won’t be going ahead as usual as a result of COVID-19, reports Mira Miller at BlogTO.

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YOUR IPHONE COVID ALERT APP MIGHT NOT BE WORKING

A bug affecting Canada’s COVID Alert app has not been entirely fixed as federal officials first announced, leaving an unknown number of iPhone users still without exposure notifications, reports Thomas Daigle at CBC News.

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LCBO DELIVERY PAUSED AFTER RESTAURANT UPROAR

The alcohol delivery program that encouraged people in Toronto to order booze from the LCBO and Beer Store using SkipTheDishes has come to an abrupt end thanks to the provincial government’s intervention, reports Lauren O’Neil at BlogTO.

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TORONTO LOCKDOWN NOT AS EFFECTIVE AS LAST TIME

Unfortunately, the current lockdown measures in Toronto are not having the same impact in curbing the spread of COVID-19 as they did in March, reports Miriam Katawazi at CTV News.

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10 DOG FRIENDLY TRAILS IN TORONTO

Not all scenic nature trails allow dogs — like the Leslie Spit, for example — so it’s important to know the rules for every path you choose to take, reports Tanya Mok at BlogTO

Posted on December 11, 2020

Four Holiday card paintings — Holiday card contest winning entries on display at Epicure

This year, every single class from Sprucecourt Public School entered the competition, in total 12 classes and ~240 kids, from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8.

After much deliberation , our judges selected four winners and 12 honourable mentions. All 16 will receive a CRA ribbon. Early next year the each of the winners’ classes will get a treat from the CRA too!

The winners, in alphabetical order are:

Aisha, a kindergarten student
Athiran, a grade 2 student
Noha, a grade 5 student
Nusaybah, a grade 8 student

painting of reindeer — Aisha’s winning entry

All the winning artwork has been framed and is on display over the holidays at Epicure on Parliament Street.

Holiday card painting — Athiran’s winning entry

ORGANIZERS

Many thanks to CRA Member Lindsay Matheson, and CRA Board Member Lise Flynn for managing this years competition. And of course to our three invaluable judges, Betty White, Cynthia Eldridge and Celia Fankhauser, for working so diligently to select the winners.

JUDGES

Betty White is a professional artist and art teacher. She taught art to children for 28 years and continues to teach children in her Cabbagetown home since retirement.

Cynthia Eldridge is an art history major who uses design thinking to work with global thought leaders to address critical public health challenges. She believes whole heartedly that a picture is worth a thousand words.

Celia Fankhauser is an educator interested in developing programs and environments that foster creativity and individuality for all ages.

Happy holidays painting — Nusaybah’s winning entry

Each of the winning entries has been made into holiday cards, which will be printed and distributed to member households within the CRA boundary (Gerrard, Parliament, St. James Cemetery and the Don River).

UPDATE – FOOD INSECURITY FUNDRAISER

Last week the CRA came together with all the other local resident’s associations and the Cabbagetown Preservation Association to launch a fundraiser to address food insecurity in our neighbourhood.

Our incredibly generous community has already helped us raise over $12,000! Thank you, thank you, thank you to all who have helped make this happen!

Still want to participate? It’s not too late.

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THE CRA HOLIDAY LIGHTS COMPETITION IS ON!

This year, more that ever, we encourage you all to light up your front gardens to bring some extra festive cheer to Cabbagetown. What better way to make everyone’s lockdown constitutional so much more enjoyable (other than a vaccine!). Plus, for 2020, the three lucky winners will get a bonus $50 donation to a charity of their choice, compliments of the CRA!

Visit the Competition page for details on how to enter.

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ST LAWRENCE SATURDAY FARMERS MARKET RESTARTS

The City has announced that St. Lawrence Market Saturday Farmers Market will resume full operations from Saturday Dec 5, so it can provide essential food retail to residents.

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YOUR COVID-19 VACCINE QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Promising early data from COVID-19 vaccine trials may have provided the first sign of an end to the coronavirus pandemic, but much is still unclear. Jonathan Forani from CTV News provides some answers.

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TPH ENHANCES SCHOOL SCREENING TOOL

Toronto Public Health (TPH) has updated their COVID-19 school screening tool to further prevent opportunities for virus spread, with tighter criteria.

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CRA HOLIDAY CARD COMPETITION

Our ever popular holiday card competition in well underway and we’ll be sharing details of the winning entries in a week or so. Thanks to all the students at Spruce Court school for stepping up with so many GREAT entries!

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‘NOT-AMAZON’ HELPS YOU SHOP LOCAL THIS CHRISTMAS

Just before the latest lockdown started, local social media manager Ali Haberstroh grabbed the URL not-amazon.ca for $10 – and plopped in a Google spreadsheet to collect user-submitted spots doing curbside pickup, delivery and shipping.

Since then, Not-Amazon has gone mini-viral, ballooning to over 500 local businesses and counting, reports Richard Trapunski at NOW.

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DELIVERY APP NOW DELIVERS DIRECT FROM LCBO

SkipTheDishes has teamed up with the LCBO to deliver more than 300 varieties of wine, beer, and spirits directly to customers in Toronto.

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CORONAVIRUS ON YOUR CHRISTMAS GIFTS?!

Studies have shown that coronavirus can live on different surfaces, sometimes for several hours and even days, after an infected person coughs or sneezes on them. What does this mean for holiday gift giving? Brooklyn Neustaeter from CTV News explains.

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CITY RESPONSE TO HOMELESSNESS DURING PANDEMIC

The City of Toronto says it has moved at unprecedented speed to adjust its services for those experiencing homelessness during the Coronavirus pandemic. Here’s an update on accomplishments to date.

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FILLING WATERFRONT BASINS WITH PARK SPACE?

A local architecture studio proposes filling in all the basins along Toronto’s waterfront with park space, reports Lauren O’Neil at BlogTO.

Posted on December 2, 2020

It’s the most wonderful time of the year: which means the annual Cabbagetown Holiday Lights contest is back for the SIXTH year running!

In what has become a popular annual tradition, every December Cabbagetowners get to see our neighbourhood’s houses in all their illuminated glory.

You can enter your own home or nominate one of your neighbours. There are three ways you can enter:

1. Post a photo to Twitter with the hashtag #cabbagetownlights;

2. Post a photo to our Facebook page timeline with the hashtag #cabbagetownlights;

3. Simply email us your photo to info@cabbagetowner.com

Please include the address of the home in the photo so we can include the street name on the voting website and know how to contact the residents if their house wins.

Photos can be submitted anytime between Wednesday December 2nd and Saturday December 26. By submitting your photo, you consent to your photo being reproduced on a voting website that will contain all of the submissions. Photos will be identified by the house’s street but no names or other personal identifying details will be published.

The voting website has gone live as of Monday December 14.

This year the three photo submissions that have the most votes by the end of the day on December 26 will each win:

A Trophy
A lawn sign marking their achievement.
A one-year membership to CRA
PLUS – A $50 donation to their charity of choice c/o the CRA

and bragging rights, of course!

NOTE: For the purpose of determining resident winners, when the same house is photographed more than once, total votes will be counted. Only one vote will be allowed per IP address; however, you can switch your vote anytime up until the deadline.

Local/City News:

Pandemic Updates:

Local/City News:

Pandemic Updates:

LOCAL/CITY NEWS:

PANDEMIC UPDATES:

UPDATE – FOOD INSECURITY FUNDRAISER

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