Trinity Bellwoods

[bounded by Bathurst St, Dundas St W, Dovercourt Rd, and Queen St W]

The neighbourhood surrounding Trinity Bellwoods Park consists of Victorian era homes as well as infill condominiums, lofts, and townhouses.  These quiet streets are just minutes away from the dynamic retail strip of Queen Street West.  Trinity Bellwoods Park itself is a wonderful green space used by parents, toddlers, swimmers, joggers, tennis and soccer players, and skaters.  It is also a favourite for dog owners as the park features one of Toronto’s best off-leash areas.

The newly renovated Trinity Bellwoods Recreation Centre, located inside the park, offers a wide range of programs and services to the community, including an indoor swimming pool, weight training facilities, and daycare services.  Meanwhile, Queen Street West between Bathurst and Dovercourt is constantly changing and now features galleries, shops, boutiques, and a vibrant nightlife.  I continue to work closely with the local businesses and residents’ associations on important community issues to ensure the long-term health and prosperity of this neighbourhood, one of Toronto’s cultural hubs.

Over the past four years, I have worked on initiatives and improvements for the park and the surrounding area.  These include restoring the historic Trinity Bellwoods Gates on Queen West at Strachan, as well as the John Farr House and St. Hilda’s Walk.  The Friends of Trinity Bellwoods, with whom I am proud to have a mutually supportive relationship, continue to improve the quality of life in our city by working with me to organize an organic farmer’s market, a refurbished playground, tree plantings, horticultural programs, and a new greenhouse.  Check out the latest Park and community updates at http://trinitybellwoods.ca.

Through the Tree Advocacy Planting Program, we planted over eighty trees in the park.  To enhance public safety, we have added a fire access route to the John Gibson House.  And to meet our community’s demand for healthy recreation, we resurfaced the tennis court at the Trinity Bellwoods tennis courts.Working with local gardeners, I helped put in place new plantings, a new trellis structure, and shaded seating at the Manning Avenue community gardens in memory of Mr. Rafaele Iori.

Responding to a community petition and a favourable vote by residents, I worked on the narrowing and greening of Crawford and Shaw Streets and ensured speed hump installation on Crawford, Grove, and Rolyat Streets.  I worked with the community comprising Gore Vale Avenue, Argyle Street, and Ossington Avenue on various local improvements such as street narrowings, road resurfacings, and speed hump installation.  Along with the neighbourhood residents, I insisted on the installation of a rush hour “No through Traffic” restriction for Shaw Street at Dundas Street West.

I supported local entrepreneurs in the creation of the West Queen West BIA, and worked with local artists and galleries in establishing the gallery district.  Coordinating with the BIA, the Queen West Residents’ Association, and St. Christopher House, I am working to improve safety and alleviate anti-social behaviour on Queen Street West at Bathurst Street through landscaping initiatives under a Clean and Beautiful City grant.

Working closely with the community and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health [CAMH], I am trying my hardest to ensure that increased green space, tree plantings, and environmental efficiencies are incorporated into CAMH’s urban design process [including the new Shaw Street Park].