Newsletter #11

THE DAVID AND GOLIATH BATTLE CONTINUES

Willowdale local residents are exposing the dirty tactics of City of Toronto and Federal officials to impose their decisions on unsuspecting citizens. Federal authorities.

This is Vincent Mak, an 84 year old who lives with hundreds of others in the City-run seniors care homes known as Willowdale Manor. It's a quiet building that has operated for over half a century and houses low-income, overwhelmingly ethnic, immigrant, elderly residents. As repeatedly pointed out to the administrators, all of the residents 'frills" have methodically been removed: a functioning cafeteria, a terrasse, and the atrium/exercise room/library facilities. None of these are now available to the residents. 

What remains is the safe open green space, mature majestic trees and parklands on the front steps of the Manor. And now after an incredibly challenging 18 months of the pandemic, what does the City of Toronto's Housing Corporation want to do? Strip the seniors' parklands, clear cut the trees, and place prefabricated "modular living units" on the property. To warehouse unstable homeless men from across the City in desperate need of addiction and mental health supports, located in the downtown core far away from this secluded residential neighbourhood. 

All of it a secretly hatched plan by notorious Councillor John Filion, imported $200,000/year Housing Czar Abi Bond, fully supported by Toronto Mayor John Tory and a network of political operatives aiming at avoiding normal public scrutiny, normal land planning process and legal oversight that other developments must strictly follow. It seems the normal rule of law don't apply to them! The political decision makers operated in secret, never met with residents and their families, or disclosed the alleged 50 other sites across the city which they judged to be inferior. And they refuse to acknowledge the 1998 OMB decision which underlined the protected status of these lands. Sketchy politics indeed! 
 

Vincent Mak is one of two representatives elected by the hundreds of elderly residents who live at Willowdale Manor. On behalf of his senior neighbours, he has gone through and continues to go through great efforts to try and have their voices heard to the politicians and city. Early in March and during the peak of the pandemic, the seniors obtained hundreds of signatures from Manor residents in petition against this proposal. This was all before Voices of Willowdale even came together. With few amongst the seniors who have the ability to connect to digital technology and the orchestrated and sham of Webex meetings hosted by LURA and the city, Vincent and the seniors have written DOZENS and DOZENS of letters and emails to our councillor, mayor and other elected officials, but sadly NO ONE will take the time to meet with them, let alone respond to them. Not a single response! Talk about a kick to the gut, especially after this pandemic where so many of our senior neighbours were confined and isolated within their small apartments. Now they are hearing that their beautiful green space is to be taken away -  for many this is their one space that offers peace and solitude during their twilight years. Many use walkers, and canes or wheelchairs and this space is accessible and easy for them to stroll and enjoy mother nature's beauty and keep their minds and bodies healthy. 

The seniors are an amazing group though, continuing to stand up for their rights. Over the last few weeks they have been busy, with many of them spending dozens of hours HAND SEWING LETTER-BY-LETTER CLOTH SIGNS (see pictures below). If you passed by the parklands about 2 weeks ago, you may have seen them hanging up their signs with determination on one of the hottest days of the year. You can imagine their utmost dismay when sadly, only three days later the signs were TORN down overnight in the shadows of darkness. Sadly this is a recurring pattern and the seniors' signs have been ripped down and vandalized repeatedly over the last 6 months. All part of a continuing relentless effort by city officials to avoid scrutiny and suppress legitimate public protest. :(


LET'S SUPPORT OUR SENIORS and SHOW THEM WE CARE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY. SEE YOU SUNDAY SEPT 12th (TOMORROW) from 12-2pm at 175 Cummer Avenue. 

 

HOW ELSE CAN I HELP?
Please take time to CONTINUE SENDING LETTERS TO THE POLITICIANS.

• Request a  lawn sign
• Sign the online petition
• Share the newsletters
• Make a donation
• Share media articles including what’s happening at other modular housing sites
• and most importantly speak to your neighbours and make sure they know what’s happening in their community so they too can do the above steps.