NEWS | Archives

14 June 2009

Clean Train Coalition slide show and protest song

Click on the YouTube video above to see a powerful slide show (and song that mentions Sorauren) opposing the McGuinty government’s plan to run 350+ diesel trains a day through our neighbourhood. Then visit www.cleantrain.ca to learn how you can add your voice in favour of electric trains. Click on “pause” during the video for more time to read any of the slides.

30 May 2009 NOTICE: CANCELLED DUE TO CITY STRIKE

Consultants to present concepts for new “green” community centre and park plan

Architects and engineers hired to prepare drawings for the future development of the old linseed oil factory into a community centre will be presenting their final proposals at a community meeting June 23. All are invited to attend.

The meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., June 23 at the Sorauren Park Fieldhouse.

The City of Toronto has set up a web page where you can download PDFs of the various plans. Click here. There is also a feedback form for comments. The deadline for comments for the final report is June 5.

We’ve also set up a web page here where you can get a quick view of some works in progress.

The consultants will also present ideas for the next stage of developing the exterior areas of the park, including an off-leash area and a proposed new “town square” in the vacant land between the Fieldhouse and the factory.

The presentation is the culmination of a project funded by a grant from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the City of Toronto to study the application of green building technologies for a future new community centre. Several meetings have been held already. While this meeting represents the formal end of the project, it’s important to note that currently the City of Toronto has no funds budgeted and approved for actual construction.

The exercise is intended to help the community settle on a final vision for the site... then the hard work begins to build the necessary case and political momentum to have budgets approved

12 May 2009

Green Feasibility Study revised meeting dates

Please note the new schedule for the next community meetings on the Green Building Study for 40 Wabash Avenue. The May 12 meeting has been postponed.

May 21 [new date]: Community presentation: 3 concepts

June 23 [new date]: Final community presentation

Meetings are held at the Fieldhouse starting at 7 pm.

30 April 2009

Metrolinx train threat, “green” study for big building, and more park news...

Here’s an overview of parks news and events for May....

Metrolinx “Big Move” rail line proposal: massive traffic increases on rail line beside park:

Friends of Sorauren Park should make themselves aware of plans by Metrolinx, a provincial government agency, to greatly expand capacity and traffic along the rail corridor beside the park.

Plans by Metrolinx, GO Transit and the proposed new Union Station-Pearson Airport rail link would see train traffic increase from 49 trains per day currently, to about 350 the moment the project is complete, to almost 500 per day at full capacity in the coming years. This would be diesel train traffic. This rail traffic is intended to serve existing and new demand from commuters living in the Brampton/Georgetown area.

While many people are in favour of rail transit, some of the concerns raised by people living along the rail corridor include:

-increased air pollution and toxicity from the diesel engines

-increased noise

-increased damage to homes from construction and higher heavy rail traffic

-why so many trains? “It’s like putting a new highway through the neighbourhood.”

There is a strong local movement to have the rail line electrified from the beginning, rather than 15 years from now as Metrolinx proposes.

This is an important issue and needs to be followed carefully lest all our efforts to develop and improve the park are laid waste by a poorly executed transit plan. Watch for canvassers in the neighbourhood on Saturday, May 2. If you’d like to help, please contact Peter Morgan at petermorgan@teksavvy.com. For more information also visit these sites:

www.metrolinx.com (official site)

www.cleantrain.ca (Clean Train Coalition for a Healthy City)

Green Building Study for 40 Wabash Ave. (the big old building):

You may have seen people in orange vests exploring the old linseed oil factory at 40 Wabash. They are part of the new "green building study" for future development of a community centre/cultural hub on the site. The study is funded by the City and a grant from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. There is a very tight timeline of community consultations leading up to a final presentation and report in early June. Here is the meeting schedule:

April 16: First design meeting

April 21: Community meeting

May 5: Second design meeting

May 21 [new date]: Community presentation: 3 concepts

June 23 [new date]: Final community presentation

Meetings are held at the Fieldhouse starting at 7 pm. If you’d like to participate, please contact Brad Eyre at Parks, Forestry and Recreation, beyre@toronto.ca.

Landscaping Events

Wabash Building Society volunteers will continue the landscaping and gardening work around the Fieldhouse property this May. If you’d like to volunteer, please send us an e-mail. Watch for the new patio! Thanks to Evergreen Wal-mart Common Grounds Fund.

Sorauren Park Summer Festival

After many years of great service, the volunteers who provided leadership and labour for the Summer Festival have moved on... thanks especially to Deirdre O’Sullivan! Now Parks, Forestry and Recreation is looking for a new team of community members work with them and to provide leadership and ideas for this year’s Sorauren Park Festival (usually third Saturday in July, but the date could be moved). If you are interested please contact James Caldwell at jcaldwel@toronto.ca.

Artist’s Drawings of 40 Wabash

The big old building has captured the imaginations of many, and is a frequent subject for photographers and artists. Here’s what local artist Leslie Norgate says: “My fascination with the place has compelled me to create, over the past year, a series of drawings inspired by it, in all its current decrepit glory. You can see her drawings by clicking on “Wabash” at her site, www.leslienorgate.com.

8 February 2009

How to use the Sorauren Park Fieldhouse for your group or event

The Fieldhouse is now available for rental by organizations and individuals for events like birthday parties, classes, meetings, workshops. Click on the Permits page for full details.

5 November 2008

“Lake Wabash” update

You may be wondering what’s happening with the piles of dirt in “Lake Wabash,” the depression in the off-leash area that becomes a collecting pond during rainy periods. We understand the grading is being raised so that run-off is directed westward down the swale that runs along the path beside the soccer field, terminating in a catch basin. Watch for the piles to be spread over Lake Wabash soon.

5 November 2008

Pumpkin parade biggest yet

The fifth annual Pumpkin Parade attracted the largest number of pumpkins — up to 2,000 — and more onlookers than ever before. It was a festive evening and who can forget the Obama pumpkins, the Keith Ledger Joker, the spectacular haunted house pumpkin, the Stephen Harper pumpkin, and so many more great works of pumpkin art. Check out some of the wonderful photos on Flickr.com.

30 October 2008

Pumpkin sale and parade days

The first Sorauren Pumpkin sale raised over $2,000 last Saturday for the Fieldhouse fund to pay for essentials like flooring installation... a big thank-you to everyone who bought a pumpkin, and to WBS director (and real estate agent) Chander Chaddah, TD Canada Trust residential mortgage manager Joanna Makaroff, and her staff from the bank on Roncey for organizing and staffing the event. See the pictures here.

And, of course, everyone is invited to bring their jack-o-lanterns back to the park for the world-famous Sorauren Pumpkin Parade on Nov. 1, the day after Halloween. Check the videos on YouTube for last year’s parade.

18 October 2008

A beautiful day for planting

A hardy crew descended on the Fieldhouse site this morning to plant the latest batch of 13 native trees and 18 clematis plants (along the fence line); click here for pictures. It was a beautiful morning and there was much excitement when Justine stumbled across a nest of pink, fur-less and madly squeaking newborn mice in the hot mulch pile.

Many thanks to Jonas and crew from Ecoman residential landscaping for helping us man-handle the big hawthorns into place, along with planting other trees. The trees have been purchased thanks to a grant from the Evergreen Wal-Mart Common Grounds Fund.

Special thanks also to Mary and Victoria from Plant Architect, Jennifer from Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation, David from Oleson Worland Architects and all the other volunteers for their hard work and dedication.

10 October 2008

Painting and subflooring days

a success

Thanks to all the volunteers and donors who helped with

our successful painting day on Sept. 27 and the subfloor installation on Oct. 4.

An enthusiastic crew led by volunteer paint captains Susan Vandendam and Douglas Shepherd finished both the upstairs and downstairs painting. Paint and supplies were generously donated by High Park Paint and Wallpaper (thanks Frank!) and Pollocks Home Hardware (thanks Len!). Special thanks to all the volunteer adults and kids, and the crew from Metro Girl Fitness. For more pictures, click here.

The following Saturday, Kevin, Rob, Andy, and Jennifer provided the main volunteer labour for the downstairs subfloor installation. The new final floor has been donated by Pollocks Carpet Market (thanks Guilio!) and installation began this week. Click here for more photos.

Upstairs flooring has been donated by Bousada Flooring and installation is imminent.  

31 May 2008

Plants go in, more to come

The first Fieldhouse planting day was a success with dozens of native shrubs planted on the south and east side of building, and couple of trees planted on the north side. More…

24 May 2008

First neighbourhood-wide yard sale a fundraiser for Sorauren Fieldhouse/Wabash campaigns

This Saturday, May 31 marks the first neighbourhood-wide yard sale.... and the organizers are asking participants to donate 10% of their proceeds to the Sorauren/Wabash campaigns! More…

5 May 2008

Fieldhouse ribbon-cutting with Mayor Miller a big success

The Sorauren Park Fieldhouse was officially opened May 5 with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by approximately 600 residents and a gathering of VIPs. More…

21 April 2008

Fieldhouse open house attracts crowds; May 5 ribbon cutting and BBQ coming next!

Hundreds of residents and visitors got their first inside peek at the new Sorauren Park Fieldhouse at the April 19 open house. More…

1 February 2008

A new web site for Sorauren Park

Welcome to SoraurenPark.com, a new site designed to connect all park users and organizations, and to provide news and information about upcoming events and the new Fieldhouse.

The site is maintained by the Wabash Building Society, a non-profit, volunteer-run, community-based organization dedicated to developing the City-owned property along the southern edge of the park (Wabash Avenue) into new recreational and community facilities. The Sorauren Park Fieldhouse is just the first phase of bringing the old industrial site back to life for community use.

Sorauren Park and all its related facilities are owned by the City of Toronto. If you have immediate issues related to park safety or maintenance, please contact Parks, Forestry and Recreation. The volunteers who maintain this site will also be able to forward your concerns, but it may take several days.

If you have ideas or comments on this site or the park, please use the Contact Us form to reach us. We encourage feedback. Keep in mind it may take a few days to answer queries. See you at the park!