Beach Triangle Residents Association
Neighbourhood News and Information
The Beach Triangle Residents Association, Toronto, Ontario
Chairperson’s Report 2010
By Ingrid Furtado
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As my Chairperson responsibilities are handed over to Hans Looije (pronounced “loya”, by the way!), I’m pleased to once again report on the BTRA activities during the year from July 2009 to the end of June 2010.
As usual, your BTRA had a busy year but this past year was special. January marked 25 years of service to the neighbourhood and two events celebrated this milestone:
- At our second annual Funfest on September 12th 2009, we had an album of 25 years of BTRA newsletters and got a photo of the BTRA Board with a big, yummy 25th Birthday Cake.
- A neighbourhood BTRA committee held a very successful ‘Love Thy Neighbour’ Valentine’s dance and art show on February 13th.
The dance and Funfest also tied in to the 25 year history another way because, when the BTRA was formed in 1985, there was clear recognition that the association’s role was more than ‘fighting city hall’ – it also included getting neighbours together to get to know each other through social events. It’s exciting to see this energy and enthusiasm again at work in our Triangle.
Our resident historian has organized 25 years of files and is busy writing the association’s history. This is a big job, so we have chosen to publish it in installments on the web site. Check there periodically for the latest chapter.
Another encouraging aspect of this historic rejuvenation is the new volunteers that are making it happen. We’re thrilled to welcome election of Jennifer Hamilton, Shari Smith-Doudelet and Tanya Vancea to the BTRA Board during the Annual General Meeting held on June 2nd.
During the year our activities included the following:
- We rejuvenated the Neighbourhood Watch program.
- We participated in Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation planning.
- We participated in examining Gardiner Expressway options.
- We opposed location of the TTC Maintenance Yard at the Ashbridges Bay Plant.
- We participated in Beach Solar initiatives, seeking to improve energy efficiency and air quality.
- We monitored the health and management of our urban forest.
- We monitored zoning applications.
- We represented neighbourhood concerns about a six-storey condominium development at Queen and Rainsford. Considering that the City Official Plan focuses on densification of major transit ‘avenues’, we weren’t surprised that our success was limited. However, the developer did agree to improved setback of upper floors, no bar in the building, and provision of a construction liaison committee.
- We assisted a neighbourhood group in polling residents, resulting in overwhelming support for implementation of a three-hour parking limit. Again, there’s an historic tie, in that the unusual one-hour parking limit was brought in 25 years ago through BTRA pressure to combat irresponsible parking by Greenwood Race Track patrons.
- We supported area resident associations (including monitoring fights against undesirable development), the Confederation of Resident Ratepayer Associations (CORRA), and the Beach Business Improvement Association.
- We obtained resident support to oppose TTC Rush-Hour proposals.
- We monitored neighbourhood impact of the Jazz Festival and Victoria Day fireworks.
- We monitored plans for Pumphouse Park and Ashbridges Bay landscaping.
- We supported the work of the Ashbridges Bay Treatment Plant Neighbourhood Liaison Committee, including success in ending the possibility of incineration.
- We closely monitored environmental issues, including the city’s Right to Know By-law.
- We continued to monitor possible development of a Wind Farm offshore from Balmy Beach to the Bluffs.
- We continued to maintain the BTRA Web Site, including a Newsletter Archive and BTRA 25 Year History.
- We issued two editions of the Triangle Topics newsletter, featuring reports on items of community interest, with costs covered through advertising revenue, and,
- We participated in the Police Liaison Committee, and promoted the work of 55 Division, including graffiti removal, TPS Links, and Police Week festivities in Woodbine Park.
The reasons the BTRA continues to be effective, while other organizations have struggled, bear repeating:
- Defining issues: First, it was the serious negative impact of the racetrack and deteriorating conditions due to rooming houses, and then concerns about the Greenwood Teletheatre, that caused residents to band together. Today, it is increasingly about the environment, protecting and enhancing our neighbourhood.
- Veterans: People who “know the ropes” and care enough to continue to volunteer, share their expertise and wealth of knowledge.
- New blood: People with new skills and enthusiasm offer fresh and expanded perspective.
- A sense of community: The Triangle Topics newsletter, with neighbourhood business support, coverage of board activity and Triangle history stories, is a major community-relations builder. The Web Site has attracted attention from residents who prefer to “surf the net”. Finally, there’s the community-relations building power of Funfest and the Valentine’s dance.
In conclusion, I thank my colleagues on the board for their support in our endeavours. But I want to return to our 25th Anniversary theme by singling out two board members, David Windrim and Layton Stewart, who were Founding Members of the BTRA and have served on the board ever since. I also recognize the valued participation of Terra McKenna who, unfortunately, was unable to seek re-election. Finally, on behalf of the entire board, thank you, Triangle residents, for your interest, feedback and support.
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