YIMBY Postcard is here!
Filed in Yimby Fest One Response so far
YIMBY In Action
Joy Connelly, of HomeComing Comunity Choice Coalition recalls,
My own favourite YIMBY story is one I heard second-hand. Many years ago now, two men were knocking on doors in the west end of Toronto. They were collecting signatures on a petition to block a proposal to house ex-offenders in a large renovated house. And then they came to the home of an elderly woman. When she answered, one of them said, “Madam, did you know that ex-convicts are planning to move to the end of this street?” And she said, “At the end of the street? That’s not good enough. I want them in my home!”
Well, those two men were so shamed by this response that they tore up their petition then and there. Unbeknownst to them, they had knocked on the door of the late Nancy Pocock, a Quaker famous for her hospitality, especially to refugees. That development went forward, and has been there ever since without a single problem.
Not everyone has the quick wit of a Nancy Pocock. But there are hundreds of YIMBYs all across Toronto who have made a difference by standing up at public meetings, or calling their councillor, to support affordable or supportive housing in their neighbourhood. By doing so they:
- Welcome their new neighbours
- Give their local councillor the courage to do the right thing
- Contribute to a healthy city where people with disabilities or low incomes can live in the neighbourhood of their choice – just like the rest of us.
Filed in Yimby Stories No Responses yet
More Participants
The Fringe of Toronto Theatre Festival
A service organization for the emerging arts community, and they’re working hard to make sure their contribution to the cultural landscape is more than financial. While they’re proud of the economic injection to our community, which over the past 20 years has totalled over $4,000,000 returned to thousands of artists, they’re refocusing on our core principle - connecting artists and audiences, and serving as an advocate for a community often under-represented at the decision making meetings that affect them so much. This year will see the launch of three new advocacy initiatives:
1. The Fringe Charette - a series of structured conferences with key stake holders on pressing issues for the arts community, each resulting in a published reported distributed to government, arts councils, independent artists and established arts institution.
2. The Fringe Evolution Fund - a grant to help Fringe companies moving towards production outside the festival model for Fringe remounts, ranging from $2500-7500 in its first year.
3. Office Residencies - a prime challenge in the arts is a place for companies to meet and administrative resources to execute their productions, and to address this, the Fringe is opening its office doors to companies in need of space, computers and resources.
Active 18 is a citizens, residents and business-owners association of Ward 18. They have formed quickly to answer to the proposed developments located south of Queen St West in a portion of the Queen West Triangle. The goal of ACTIVE 18 is to inform as well as reflect and focus citizen participation on future development in the neighbourhood.
Parkdale Liberty Development Corporation
A non-profit community economic development organization that encourages economic and employment initiatives in the Parkdale and Liberty areas of Toronto. Working closely with other community partners, they undertake programs and projects that contribute to the healthy and sustainable development of the neighbourhood as a whole, integrate all residents into the local economy, and encourage economic activities which serve community members and businesses.
TheStorefront Community project is designed to create an organically growing collaborative environment and meeting space that allows for planning and execution of projects encouraging community involvement, creativity, and sustainability. As a youth-initiated think tank hub for neighbourhood civic-engagement we aim to connect the 5 “P”s: Place to People to Projects to Programs to Presentations for public awareness.
DIG IN initiates inclusive community and cultural plans and actions that will contribute to sustaining a neighbourhood that is GREEN; CLEAN; SAFE; CIVIL by fostering improvements in the areas of its social, environment, cultural, economic and physical make up.
Elizabeth Baskkin will be showing a 10-minute stop motion animation documentary entitled, “Elizabeth’s Queen” about the history and importance of Toronto’s artistic neighborhoods.
Filed in Yimby Fest No Responses yet
MEDIA
Check out some Youtube videos from people discussing the 1st YIMBY, 2006:
Magda Olszanowski discusses “Why YIMBY?”
Joe Pantalone talks community.
Jane Farrow discusses what YIMBY really means.
Desmond Cole talks about the importance of the festival.
You can check out more videos from the 1st YIMBY on YouTube.
Filed in Yimby Fest No Responses yet
Department of Culture
The Conservative government has completely fucked over the arts not just in this city, but the entire country. There’s no better way to put this. The savvy Department of Culture has stepped in and is ready to yank the power and the absurdity in the Con’s agenda. JOIN AND SUPPORT THEM!
A blurb from their website:
We are the Department of Culture, a growing community of Canadian citizens who are artists, arts professionals and cultural workers concerned about ensuring the social and cultural health and prosperity of our nation in the face of a Federal Government that is aggressively undermining the values that define Canada.
We are you: the painters, architects, dancers, writers, actors, designers, filmmakers, sculptors, performers, photographers, ceramicists, directors, curators, musicians, archivists, fashion designers, producers, weavers, choreographers, editors, librarians . . .
WHAT WE STAND FOR:
The Department of Culture was founded on the following objectives to:
- ENCOURAGE A MULTIDIMENSIONAL VISION OF CULTURE that emphasizes living interactions between the artistic, cultural, social, political and economic aspects of society.
- PROMOTE A VIEW OF CITIZENSHIP in which all Canadians are active participants in the creation of culture rather than simply as passive receivers of it.
- ENSURE THAT GOVERNMENTS, AGENCIES AND INSTITUTIONS ARE ACCOUNTABLE for their social and cultural agendas.
- SUPPORT THE CREATIVE AGENCY OF ARTISTS to make political change through all forms of artistic production.
Filed in Arts Issues No Responses yet
Participants Update
Requests to participate are rolling in. This week, we have six more organizations to add to the bill, putting our total at 22 so far!
- Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests
LEAF is an incorporated, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the protection and improvement of Toronto’s urban forest. We offer several programs and services for Toronto residents.
- Weston Community Coalition
A grass roots, non-partisan organization comprised of a voluntary group of residents, business owners, and representatives from community associations, schools and faith groups. The group was formed in 2005 to protect the Weston community from the threat of a privately run Air Rail Link but is also actively involved in seeking the betterment of the greater Weston area through other initiatives.
- Swansea Ratepayers Association
The purpose of the Association is to encourage good government, to improve living conditions in the Swansea Area, and to promote and express the interests of the area residents generally.
- Mount Dennis Community Association
The Mount Dennis Community Association exists to provide a voice for all who live in Mount Dennis on matters that affect our neighbourhood and our community.
- St. Christopher’s in conjunction with the Neighbourhood Project and University of Toronto’s Centre for Urban and Community Studies
Filed in Yimby Fest No Responses yet
Participants Updated
A-WAY is a non-profit transit-based courier service founded and staffed by survivors of mental health challenges. Since 1987, A-WAY has served as a model of business acumen and a tribute to the power of community. They provide meaningful and supportive employment that promotes increased self-respect and productivity among their employees.
*It is their third year participating!
The Dream Team members demonstrate the life-altering benefits of supportive housing by telling our stories to politicians, community groups, schools, faith groups and other institutions. Through their efforts, they strive to have more supportive housing available in Ontario for people living with mental illness. The Dream Team demonstrates the life-altering benefits of supportive housing for people living with mental illness or homelessness by telling their personal stories, and wants politicians and the general public to know about their lives and contribution to the communities they live in.
The Eva’s Phoenix Print Shop is a socially and environmentally responsible commercial printer that supports Foundations of Print, an award-winning training program for homeless youth. Located at Eva’s Phoenix, a transitional housing and employment facility for homeless youth, the Eva’s Phoenix Print Shop is a social enterprise of Eva’s Initiatives.
Filed in Yimby Fest No Responses yet
More Participants
Houselink
Houselink is a non-profit, charitable agency based in Toronto that provides supportive housing to people living with mental illness. Quality of life is at the heart of our mission. We believe people – including people with serious mental illness – know what’s best for them. Residents and consumers are members of Houselink, and participate in the life and the decisions of the organization. Houselink makes it possible for people living with mental illness to build meaningful lives on their own terms.
GreenHere
GreenHere is a not-for-profit community group dedicated to increasing green space in Toronto’s Davenport neighbourhood (bordered by Bloor St. W to St. Clair Ave. W., CPR/CNR rail tracks to Dovercourt Rd.). It also that encourages community care of the urban forest, educating, training and collaborating with residents to establish a local citizen arborist movement.
Voices from the Street
The Ambassadors of P.A.R.C. and the Ontario Council of Alternative Businesses (OCAB). Comprised of individuals who have had direct experience with homelessness, poverty, and/or mental health issues, Voices From the Street puts a human face to homelessness and involves people with direct experience as leaders in a public education process.
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Queen Street Redevelopment Project
CAMH’s facilities at 1001 Queen Street West have been a Toronto landmark since the construction of the original Asylum in 1850. Now, 158 years later, CAMH in in the early stages of a bold transformation of its institutional campus into a mixed use urban village, where revitalized hospital facilities will sit side-by-side with new commercial, retail and residential uses. CAMH is Canada’s leading addiction and mental health teaching hospital.
Wabash Building Society
The Working Group, struck in early 2006, is dedicated to the “build it ourselves” initiative, under a new non-profit, community-based corporation called the Wabash Building Society. Members of the Working Group are all volunteers and are focused on developing partnerships and raising funds with a wide variety of partners, including the three levels of government, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, foundations, and other sources.
Filed in Yimby Fest No Responses yet
An Update on Participants for YIMBY 2008
Here is the groups that have signed up for the YIMBY 2008 Festival so far:
- Inspiration Studio
- Inspirations Studio is a project of Sistering - A Woman’s Place. Inspirations Studio is a microbusiness incubator for low income to learn art and business skills to develop small businesses in effort to generate additional income.
- West Queen West Business Improvement Association
- The West Queen West BIA is the voice of the local business community. It is committed to improving and promoting the West Queen West area through investment and advocacy in order to maintain its position as one of Toronto’s premier shopping, business and entertainment destinations. It is also committed to maintaining the unique identity of the West Queen West neighbourhood through active communication and planning with other neighbourhood organizations and stakeholders.
- St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association
- The SLNA has served Toronto’s St. Lawrence neighbourhood and its 25,000 residents since 1982. The SLNA is an advocate for responsible development and promotes public and pedestrian safety, organises events and celebrations, and champions our neighbourhood’s interests with all levels of government.
- Toronto Energy Coalition
- Spacing Magazine
- Spacing launched to cover the numerous political, cultural, and social issues affecting our lives in the public realm. They want the magazine to be an integral, independent, and unique voice that brings to life the joys and obstacles surrounding Toronto’s public spaces.
- Niagara Neighbourhood Now
- Their main goal is to preserve the historical value and community feel that exists in the neighbourhood. NNN wants to work with the builders of new projects to ensure that they bring a positive element to the area while reflecting its diverse nature.
- Gooderham & Worts Neighbourhood Association
- Toronto Historical Association
We also have confirmed attendance from a few councillors (Adam Vaughan, Gord Perks and more) so far too!
Filed in Yimby Fest No Responses yet
Welcome Aboard
October 25, 2008 is going to mark the 3rd year of the YIMBY Festival. I am quite excited about it and decided that creating a blog with important accessible information is a great way to disseminate knowledge and open up for discussion all year long. Please do join me in creating this community. This blog is not just about the festival, but about all of us sharing pragmatic knowledge about issues we have faced in this city.
Please email me magda@gladstonehotel.com to register as an author and be part of the blog.
Filed in Yimby Fest No Responses yet
