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Globe and Mail
27-05-2025
- Globe and Mail
Toronto's public spaces need results
Summer is coming. And with it, the weekend pilgrimage to Toronto Island Park will begin for thousands of visitors seeking the cool, green refuge across the harbour. But first, they'll endure a familiar ordeal: standing in a sun-blasted concrete pen, inching toward one of the city's aging ferries. Last week, Mayor Olivia Chow announced a modest package of improvements meant to ease the experience. But while the intention is right, the impact will be too little, too late. For the 1.8 million who visit the islands each year, meaningful change is still a long way off. Ms. Chow's new measures include 200 Bike Share bicycles on the islands, a freeze on ferry fares and expanded docking for private water taxis. There's also a vague promise of changes to the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal and a newly approved study for a fixed link to the islands, such as a bridge. To be fair, Ms. Chow deserves credit for pushing to improve access to the park. Inexplicably, this was not a priority at City Hall under prior mayors. But symbolic gestures aren't transformation. Two hundred bikes? The need is closer to 2,000. A study for a bridge? Years of paperwork. This is not nearly good enough. What Toronto's public spaces need are quick wins and visible improvements. The problems are glaring, and some are easily fixable. The Layton terminal is too small, with little seating, no shade, few ticket booths and virtually nothing to eat or drink. On Centre Island, the ferry landing resembles a livestock corral. Here, there is some good news. The city is working with Waterfront Toronto on 'interim improvements to the ferry terminal over the next couple of years,' said Carol Webb, the organization's senior manager of communications and public engagement. This year will bring a temporary shade structure, some murals and some 'improvements to queuing and wayfinding.' But even this is overdue and too slow. The city should move faster. Put up commercial shade sails. Hire staff with handheld devices to sell ferry tickets on the spot. On the island side, add a cooling station, folding chairs and tables, another set of shade sails – and invite a coffee truck to park near the dock. All of this could be done by Canada Day. If it's not, why not? During the pandemic, Toronto showed it could move immediately to reconfigure public streets. There's no law that says every improvement must take years. This logic should extend across the city. Start with awnings, chairs and food vendors, then scale up to capital projects. Focus on busy and symbolic sites: Nathan Phillips Square, Old City Hall, the Union Station area, the zone around St. Lawrence Market, Mel Lastman Square and Scarborough Civic Centre. And add St. James Town, the densely populated neighbourhood where Ms. Chow grew up, whose streets and tiny park have been neglected far too long. Many of these sites have budgeted projects or finished plans. Nathan Phillips Square has a competition-winning design from 15 years ago that was never fully built. The ferry terminal? Another competition-winning design was selected in 2015. Then the idea vanished. The problem is a lack of focus and leadership. Toronto builds a lot in its public space: the Parks and Recreation department alone has a 10-year $4.3-billion capital budget. But few understand what is in that plan. The machine runs itself. And paper comes out. Airport to park: a bold vision for the Toronto Island Recently, the city completed a years-long 'master plan' for the Islands – produced by a team of cautious local consultants, full of platitudes. It missed a key element: the future of Billy Bishop Airport, which is critical to the islands but was deliberately excluded from consideration. The airport's land lease is scheduled to expire by 2045. Failing to plan ahead invites decades more indecision and missed opportunities. Meanwhile, action is needed. Reports don't make good places – people do. And they need basic amenities: bathrooms, seating, shade. They also need hope. This summer, Toronto doesn't need more vision documents, but visible proof that government can act and that public space can function here.
CTV News
19-05-2025
- CTV News
Victoria Day long weekend activities in Toronto
People watch the Toronto Victoria Day fireworks on the beach THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young From annual beach fireworks to ferry rides to the Islands, the City of Toronto has launched a full lineup of events and attractions for Victoria Day long weekend. Here's a breakdown of what you need to know: Victoria Day Fireworks at Ashbridges Bay Park On Monday, the city will host an official fireworks display at Lake Shore Boulevard East and Coxwell Avenue. 'Attendees are encouraged to use public transit and leave personal vehicles at home,' officials say. While fireworks are allowed on private property before 11 p.m. during holidays, the city issued the reminder that a permit is required to ignite them on any other day. 'Fireworks are not permitted in City parks or on beaches, balconies, streets, parking lots or property that is not owned by the person setting off the fireworks,' the city says. Bylaw officers and police will also be patrolling for illegal fireworks use, and misuse can be reported to 311. CaféTO patios are back CaféTO officially kicks off this weekend, with more than 280 curb-lane patios, 550 sidewalk cafés, and 700 private patios participating across the city. The outdoor dining program runs from May through October, offering residents and tourists a chance to enjoy the city's food scene while supporting local restaurants and bars. Ferries to Toronto Island Park The summer ferry schedule to Toronto Island Park kicks off Friday where online tickets come with express entry at the terminal. 'Ferry passengers are encouraged to avoid peak times by departing from the mainland before 10 a.m. and returning before the last ferry,' officials said. Starting this weekend, Bike Share Toronto will launch four stations and 250 bikes across Ward's, Centre and Hanlan's Point, though officials warn bikes must stay on the Island and are not permitted on ferries. Golf courses All five municipal golf courses will be open throughout the long weekend, with tee times available for online booking. Nature lovers can also visit Centennial Park Conservatory and Allan Gardens Conservatory, both open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Riverdale Farm, High Park and the Toronto Zoo Riverdale Farm and the High Park Animal Display will be open daily during the long weekend. Visitors can see a range of farm animals and enjoy green space within the city. The Toronto Zoo will remain open on Victoria Day from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online, and visitors can explore 10 km of trails and over 3,000 animals. St. Lawrence Market The South Market is open Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Saturday Farmers Market at the North Market runs from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the Sunday Variety Vintage Market at the Temporary Market operates from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Museums, galleries and art spaces Fort York will be open this long weekend (May 17–19) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Other Toronto history museums will operate on Saturday and Sunday but close on Monday. General admission is free. City-run art galleries, including Assembly Hall and the Etobicoke Civic Centre, will be open Saturday but closed Sunday and Monday. The Clark Centre for the Arts and Cedar Ridge Creative Centre will be closed Monday only. For a full list of city-run family-friendly activities this long weekend, head to the City of Toronto's website.
CTV News
15-05-2025
- CTV News
Here is a look at some activities in Toronto this Victoria Day long weekend
People watch the Toronto Victoria Day fireworks on the beach THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young From annual beach fireworks to ferry rides to the Islands, the City of Toronto has launched a full lineup of events and attractions for Victoria Day long weekend. Here's a breakdown of what you need to know: Victoria Day Fireworks at Ashbridges Bay Park On Monday, the city will host an official fireworks display at Lake Shore Boulevard East and Coxwell Avenue. "Attendees are encouraged to use public transit and leave personal vehicles at home," officials say. While fireworks are allowed on private property before 11 p.m. during holidays, the city issued the reminder that a permit is required to ignite them on any other day. 'Fireworks are not permitted in City parks or on beaches, balconies, streets, parking lots or property that is not owned by the person setting off the fireworks,' the city says. Bylaw officers and police will also be patrolling for illegal fireworks use, and misuse can be reported to 311. CaféTO patios are back CaféTO officially kicks off this weekend, with more than 280 curb-lane patios, 550 sidewalk cafés, and 700 private patios participating across the city. The outdoor dining program runs from May through October, offering residents and tourists a chance to enjoy the city's food scene while supporting local restaurants and bars. Ferries to Toronto Island Park The summer ferry schedule to Toronto Island Park kicks off Friday where online tickets come with express entry at the terminal. 'Ferry passengers are encouraged to avoid peak times by departing from the mainland before 10 a.m. and returning before the last ferry,' officials said. Starting this weekend, Bike Share Toronto will launch four stations and 250 bikes across Ward's, Centre and Hanlan's Point, though officials warn bikes must stay on the Island and are not permitted on ferries. Golf courses All five municipal golf courses will be open throughout the long weekend, with tee times available for online booking. Nature lovers can also visit Centennial Park Conservatory and Allan Gardens Conservatory, both open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Riverdale Farm, High Park and the Toronto Zoo Riverdale Farm and the High Park Animal Display will be open daily during the long weekend. Visitors can see a range of farm animals and enjoy green space within the city. The Toronto Zoo will remain open on Victoria Day from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online, and visitors can explore 10 km of trails and over 3,000 animals. St. Lawrence Market The South Market is open Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Saturday Farmers Market at the North Market runs from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the Sunday Variety Vintage Market at the Temporary Market operates from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Museums, galleries and art spaces Fort York will be open this long weekend (May 17–19) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Other Toronto history museums will operate on Saturday and Sunday but close on Monday. General admission is free. City-run art galleries, including Assembly Hall and the Etobicoke Civic Centre, will be open Saturday but closed Sunday and Monday. The Clark Centre for the Arts and Cedar Ridge Creative Centre will be closed Monday only. For a full list of city-run family-friendly activities this long weekend, head to the City of Toronto's website.
National Post
08-05-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Chris Selley: A perfectly typical tunnel is just too much for Toronto's puny imagination
Article content Progress has erupted in Toronto. At the request of city council, municipal staff this week delivered a 27-page report titled 'Improved Active Transportation and Water Access to Toronto Island Park,' in which they contemplated heresy: A permanent link between the 240-hectare isle and the city's mainland, which would involve constructing a bridge or tunnel across roughly 250 metres of water. Article content Article content Article content For the record, the Channel Tunnel between England and France is more than 50,000 metres long. Article content Article content A 'fixed link,' as we call the idea here in Toronto for some reason, would have many benefits. No more interminable queues at the ferry terminal on beautiful summer days. No more having to pay $28 for a family of four to visit the city's greatest park — arguably the city's greatest thing — while still having to subsidize the ferry operations. (In 2019, the ferry service's operating expenses exceeded its operating revenues by $1.3 million.) Article content If this bridge-or-tunnel endeavour were taken to its natural logical conclusion, the city could get out of the ferry business altogether. (There are already many private water taxis.) Privatization would liberate the ferry service from city council's insane decision-making. Article content Because the city's current ferry fleet is ancient and decrepit, in 2020 council approved the purchase of two new ferries from a Romanian shipyard. Naturally they had to be electric ferries. Also, the ferries would have to be cosmetically similar to the current old-timey ferries. Article content Article content 'For the love of God,' you might ask, 'why'? Article content Article content Well, see, most Toronto city councillors, having ample backyards of their own, if not cottages as well, view the Toronto Islands less as an important civic amenity for parks-starved downtown residents than as a sort of twice-a-summer nostalgia trip — like a day out on a steam train that comes with a souvenir conductor's cap. They like that it's inaccessible. Article content In any event, it recently emerged that plans for the new electric ferries, which are already (you'll never believe it) nearly three times over budget — $92 million for two stupid boats — had not hitherto included any provision for charging the ferries. D'oh! Another $50 million down the drain for that, subject to cost escalations. Article content Torontonians don't get much for their 27-page 'fixed link' report. Most of it just rehashes year after year of council decisions with respect to the ferries and the park, including a new recent 'master plan' for the Islands that managed not to contemplate a 'fixed link.' Staff do go into great detail explaining why this idea is probably doomed to fail, though.
