the Daye.

Put a single school system on the table for discussion now | Green Party of Ontario

2012-02-07T12:35:00.000-05:00

Put a single school system on the table for discussion now | Green Party of Ontario

Submitted by Mike Schreiner on Tue, 2012-02-07 12:15

Now is the right time to fix Ontario’s outdated education system. Although we can take pride in the achievements of our students, we have to ask ourselves whether it is fair, equitable and responsible to fund one religious school board in addition to a public school board.

There are two compelling reasons to move to a single French and English public school system now.

First, Ontario faces a major financial challenge. We need to get the province’s record $16 billion budget deficit and approximately $190 billion accumulated debt--$14,207 per person--under control without gutting important public services. This effort will not be easy.

Efficiency and equity should guide deficit reduction. Education is the second highest spending category in the provincial budget. In a time of budget restraint, it makes sense to eliminate duplication in administration, buildings, and transportation so that our limited resources are focused on maximizing quality education for our children.

With the Drummond report on reforming the public service scheduled to be released next week, Ontario’s funding of a separate religious school board should be on the table as we look for efficiencies in the delivery of public services. It is neither efficient nor equitable to fund a separate school system for one religion.

Second, the opposition of Catholic Trustees to Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) clubs highlights the pitfalls of using public dollars to fund religious schools in a diverse society. This response to the province’s proposed anti-bullying legislation certainly isn’t welcoming or supportive of providing gay students with a safe and welcoming school environment.

It is simply wrong for the province to fund public institutions that are not open and inclusive of all Ontarians. It is especially wrong to publicly fund schools that resist efforts to create a safe and positive learning environment for all students.

If Catholic schools believe that GSAs violate their religious freedom, they should not accept public money. This way a clear separation of church and state is maintained.

All Ontarians fund our school system. It is the government’s job to ensure that all Ontarians have equal access to the system and that the public has a voice in how our money is spent.

Change, especially change with such deep community, historical and Constitutional roots, will not be easy. But if provinces such as Quebec and Newfoundland & Labrador can do it, so can Ontario.

Since schools play an essential role in educating our children and in strengthening our communities, broad public participation is needed to reform the system. The Green Party supports a citizen’s assembly or public commission to involve parents, staff, students and community leaders in determining the best way forward toward a modern single public French and English school system.

Today’s social and financial pressures make 2012 the right time to fix the inequity of Ontario’s separate school system.

Mike Schreiner

Watch Mike Schreiner tonight on The Agenda discussing the one school board issue, http://theagenda.tvo.org/episode/141125/separate-with-equal-school-funding

Zeitgeist Toronto Town Hall Event Announcement

2012-01-24T13:05:00.000-05:00

A reminder of this Thursday's Town Hall event on 'Education'

You to provide: energy/ideas/dialogue

Event details below:
*******************************************************
Upcoming Town Hall Lecture:

Thursday, January 26th 2012
7:00pm - 9:00pm

University of Toronto OISE Building
252 Bloor Street West
Rm 2-212 (second floor)

Topic: Education in the context of our socio-economic paradigm (presented by Lawrence Di Marco)

Synopsis: The organic evolution of our current model of education, punctuated by streaming, grading, and standardized testing, is a response to societally rewarded mechanisms. It has led to marginalized and medicated youth. Using examples, we will explore these concepts and analyze ideas for a relevant education. Also introduced will be the Institute for a Resource Based Economy, a not-for-profit in Toronto centred on alternative/sustainable education models.

A talk followed by a discussion period. Bring your ideas and your energy.

* Free event

Executive Committee removes controversial sale of Toronto Community Housing homes from the January 24th agenda.

2012-01-23T23:39:00.000-05:00

MEDIA ADVISORY
January 23, 2012

Confusion, uncertainty continue to plague hasty social housing selloff
Tenants dismayed at chaotic process driving potential sale of their homes
...
TORONTO - After the close of business today and less than 24 hours before the meeting commences, the Executive Committee has removed the controversial sale of Toronto Community Housing homes from the January 24th agenda.

Tenants expressed concern at the chaotic process that seems to be directing the proposed sale of over 700 homes. Confusion over how many homes would be sold, which homes are actually available for sale and how affected tenants would be treated have caused anxiety among social housing residents and concern among many Councillors.

This evening’s abrupt decision to cancel the roughly 75 deputations scheduled for tomorrow afternoon have created further concern that there is no real plan and little clarity about the proposed sale, despite its significant impact on tenants.

When: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 10:00a.m.

Who: Tenants For Social Housing Tenants will be available for

Where: City Hall Press Gallery

For more information please contact:

Effie Vlachoyannacos Susan Gapka

416-706-4405 (cell) 647-882-2776 (cell)

TENANTS FOR SOCIAL HOUSING

WE ARE NOT FOR $ALE!

socialhousingtenants@gmail.com

www.tenantsforsocialhousing.com

* Tenants for Social Housing a tenant-led, volunteer organization that came together when City Council removed the Toronto Community Housing Board and replaced it with the one man Board of Case Ootes. We are concerned about the massive sell-off of social housing in Toronto.

English Wikipedia anti-SOPA blackout

2012-01-17T12:54:00.002-05:00

To: English Wikipedia Readers and Community From: Sue Gardner, Wikimedia Foundation Executive Director Date: January 16, 2012

Today, the Wikipedia community announced its decision to black out the English-language Wikipedia for 24 hours, worldwide, beginning at 05:00 UTC on Wednesday, January 18 (you can read the statement from the Wikimedia Foundation here). The blackout is a protest against proposed legislation in the United States — the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the U.S. House of Representatives, and the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA) in the U.S. Senate — that, if passed, would seriously damage the free and open Internet, including Wikipedia.

Read the full Wikipedia statement here.

Community Consultation Meeting for 154 Front Street East

2012-01-16T08:54:00.000-05:00

Toronto Community Consultation Meeting Hosted by the City of Toronto:
Development Proposal for 154 Front Street East (formerly Greyhound Courier Express)
Little Trinity Church, 154 Front Street East
Monday, January 16, 2012, 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Save Jarvis Community Planning Meeting

2012-01-12T20:50:00.001-05:00

In 2010, with no public consultation, City Council decided to remove the bikelanes on Jarvis Street. This decision will put the safety of hundreds of cyclist (of all ages) at risk, and will cost the city an unnecessary quarter million dollars.

Join us for a Community Planning Meeting, as we build a grassroots campaign to fight for safety and fairness on Jarvis Street.

Save Jarvis • Planning Meeting

Monday January 16th • 7pm

Jarvis Collegiate (Jarvis, at Wellesely. map)

Room 202

Hope to see you there!!

Stop the Gravy Lane!

2011-12-08T21:30:00.001-05:00

Jarvis bike lanes were installed merely a year ago and since then, the bicycle count on Jarvis has tripled!

On 13 July 2011, City Council took a vote without public consultation to remove Jarvis bike lanes, and to revert to the 5th reversible lane structure.

A move will cost taxpayers over $200,000, almost 4 times what it cost to put the bike lanes in!

This makes the 5th lane a Gravy Lane.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2011/07/13/jarvis-bike-lane.html

More: http://vimeo.com/25991149

Save Jarvis!

Dec 1. World AIDS Day

2011-12-01T13:55:00.001-05:00

Community Carnation Memorial -

Join us at The 519, December 1, 5:45pm

In the early days of PWA, staff sent floral arrangements to the funerals of clients who died. As more and more people continued to die, including staff and volunteers, PWA could no longer afford to send arrangements and instead sent one black rose with a card saying "We understand".

This powerful symbol and message inspired the staff and Board of PWA to build on this history and create a new tradition for World AIDS Day to remember the forgotten and honor the courage of so many infected and affected in the AIDS community. Since World AIDS Day 2007, PWA staff, volunteers and clients have brought a black rose and red carnations to the AIDS Memorial at Cawthra Park.

In 2008, the AIDS Vigil Committee approached PWA to ask about partnering together to make this a larger community event thus beginning the current annual Community Carnation Memorial where community members share personal stories to reconfirm the powerful message "We understand".

Ontario government fails to deliver solutions for protecting clean water, land and natural heritage

2011-11-29T14:12:00.001-05:00

Green Party of Ontario Leader Mike Schreiner accused the government of cheap talk and no action on pressing environmental issues that affect our communities and our quality of life.

The Environment Commissioner Ontario’s (ECO) annual report raises serious concerns about the government’s failure to divert waste, protect species at risk and clean up the Great Lakes.

The ECO report shows that waste diversion in the industrial, commercial and institutional sector has remained constant for a decade. With a diversion rate of 23 percent, the province has failed miserably to meet its 60 percent diversion target.

“The Liberal government is dragging their feet on incentives that will reduce waste and save money,” says Schreiner. “We need to take pressure off landfills and municipal budgets. Industry should pay for the waste it produces, not property taxpayers.”

Schreiner shares ECO concerns that the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Environment don’t have the resources to monitor developments such as the Melancthon mega-quarry that threaten our water and natural heritage.

“In tough financial times, we need creative solutions that won’t affect general revenues. The Green Party supports increasing the ridiculously low fees for mining aggregates to fund monitoring and land rehabilitation while encouraging re-use and recycling,” said Schreiner.

Ontario’s fees for mining aggregates are only 11.5 cents/tonne. By comparison, fees in the UK are equivalent to about $3.40/tonne.

Schreiner is pushing the government to partner with landowners to deliver low-cost solutions that protect endangered species. The Green Party supports policies, like a safe harbor program, to encourage landowners to voluntarily take steps to protect endangered species.

“We can’t stand idly by while environmental issues threaten our water, land and natural heritage,” says Schreiner. “Talk without action is cheap. We need real solutions to build a sustainable economy that supports strong communities.”

Ontario set to lose on NDP – Conservative HST alliance

2011-11-28T16:32:00.001-05:00

Toronto - The NDP-Conservative HST alliance to borrow $350 million is an opportunistic ploy that will reward big energy users – often the wealthiest – and drive up provincial debt.

“Ontario needs to provide help for seniors, low-income families and remote communities. The NDP-Conservative alliance does the opposite,” said Mike Schreiner, Leader of the Green Party of Ontario. “Instead of a regressive tax cut, a better plan would use refundable tax credits or energy rebates to provide targeted relief for folks who need it most."

Ontario must reign in its deficit spending. The NDP-Conservative proposal will force Ontario to borrow an additional $350 million per year to subsidize home heating bills, on top of the Liberals borrowing $1.2 billion per year to subsidize electricity prices. These subsidies add to Ontario's $18,000 per-person debt, do not create jobs and do not result in long term energy affordability.

“Ontarians deserve to be rewarded for their efforts to conserve, not be forced to pay big energy users,” said Schreiner. “We need programs that help people save money by saving energy.”

Earlier this year Queen’s Park politicians quietly allowed a popular and successful program that helped people save money by using less energy expire. The Home Energy Savings Program created good, local jobs in Ontario and permanently lowered energy bills.

The Green Party is calling for a Green Building Program to help tenants, home owners, and businesses save money by using less energy. This program will:

Save rate-payers money on their utility bills permanently
Save the province money by reducing the need for costly new generation
Create good local jobs
Reduce pollution and preserve our environment

Imagine No Religion 2

2011-11-28T15:47:00.001-05:00

Artscape is Now Accepting Expressions of Interest

2011-11-28T13:38:00.001-05:00

Artscape is Now Accepting Expressions of Interest
for Use of Performance and Event Space
at the Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre

Deadline: December 2, 2011 at 12:00pm

Artscape is currently seeking expressions of interest for the performance and event spaces at the Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre, slated to open in late Spring 2012. This 60,000 sq. ft. purpose-built facility is poised to become the artistic, cultural and social core of the Regent Park and the newest addition to downtown Toronto’s thriving cultural landscape.

The Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre has four street-level performance and event spaces suited to a diversity of disciplines and uses.

Imagine…

World-class dance performances, community film festivals, conferences and speaker series in the Performance/Event Space
Open-air concerts and plays in the Outdoor Performance Court
Poetry slams and private parties in The Café
Exhibitions and fundraisers in the South Lobby
And more!

Designed by the award-winning Diamond & Schmitt Architects, the Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre is located on Dundas Street, just east of Parliament St., in the heart of the Regent Park Revitalization. With approximately 17,000 new and returning community members, new parks, pedestrian-friendly mews and over 40,000 sq. ft. of new retail space, Regent Park will soon emerge as a new hotbed of cultural activity in Toronto.
The Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre will be a central meeting place rooted in Regent Park and open to the world. It will be a place where people of all ages, walks of life and cultures can come together to learn, share, create and be inspired. Those interested in using performance and event space in the Centre should submit an expression of interest to be reviewed by a Programming Advisory Committee. Scheduling of the performance and event spaces will be prioritized according to the vision and values of the Centre. To view the selection criteria, click here>
The 6,000 sq. ft. Performance/Event Space will be fully-equipped and supported by an A/V booth, kitchen, green room and dressing rooms. The space can also be partitioned into three distinct smaller spaces to accommodate smaller events. The Café, South Lobby and Outdoor Performance Court and can be used as independent programming spaces or as spillover space for events inside the Performance/Event Space.
TECHNICAL FEATURES:

22 ft. floor-to-ceiling height
Theatrical lighting system
Flexible sound system
Video projection
Full series of catwalks
Semi-sprung floor for dance performance
A 300-seat retractable seating system with an option for an additional 100 chairs on the floor
Structural steel rigging points and dedicated sound & lighting power
Access to technical staff & crews

REOI FOR USE OF THE PERFORMANCE AND EVENT SPACE

Artscape is requesting expressions of interest for use of the performance and event space. The deadline for submitting an expression of interest is December 2, 2011 at 12:00pm. Those submitting an expression of interest will be notified of next steps, including booking rates, tours, and facilitation of the booking process, in December 2011.

Please select one of the following user groups for detailed information on responding to the REOI.

a) Artists, Arts Organizations and Arts Collectives for arts programming

b) Non-profit Organizations, Community Organizations, Corporations, Government and Private Individuals for non-arts purposes

A) USE BY ARTISTS, ARTS ORGANIZATIONS AND ARTS COLLECTIVES FOR ARTS PROGRAMMING

IDEAL FOR:

Performances
Concerts
Exhibitions
Screenings
Festival

Conferences
Workshops
Speaker Series
And more!

PROGRAMMING VISION
The Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre will be a central meeting place rooted in Regent Park and open to the world. It will be a place where people of all ages, walks of life and cultures can come together to learn, share, create and be inspired. Those interested in using performance and event space in the Centre must submit an expression of interest to be reviewed by a Programming Advisory Committee. Scheduling of the performance and event spaces will be prioritized according to the vision and values of the Centre. To view the selection criteria, click here>

HOW TO SUBMIT AN REOI
Artists, arts organizations and arts collectives interested in using the performance and event spaces for arts programming should submit an Expression of Interest online through the Information Form found on the Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre REOI website.

The Expression of Interest Information Form asks for basic information about the nature of your event, when it takes place, and additional requirements you may have. The form takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.

QUESTIONS: If you have any questions or require assistance with the submission process, please contact Seema Jethalal, Managing Director, Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre at seema@torontoartscape.on.ca or 416-392-1038 x49.

B) USE BY NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, CORPORATIONS, GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS FOR NON-ARTS PURPOSES

IDEAL FOR:

Fundraisers
Conferences
Speaker Series
Workshops
Educational Events
Holiday & Staff Parties

Cultural and Religious Festivals & Celebrations
Private Events
Banquets
Weddings
And more!

HOW TO SUBMIT AN REOI (B)
Non-profit Organizations, Community Organizations, Corporations, Government and Private Individuals interested in using the performance and event spaces for non-arts purposes should submit an Expression of Interest online through the Information Form found on the Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre REOI website>
The Expression of Interest Information Form asks for basic information about the nature of your event, when it takes place, and additional requirements you may have. The form takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.
QUESTIONS: If you have any questions or require assistance with the submission process, please contact Seema Jethalal, Managing Director, Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre at seema@torontoartscape.on.ca or 416-392-1038 x49.

ABOUT THE REGENT PARK ARTS & CULTURAL CENTRE
Currently under construction and scheduled to open in 2012, the Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre will be home to many organizations including: ArtHeart Community Art Centre, Cabbagetown Regent Park Community Museum, Centre for Social Innovation, COBA Collective of Black Artists, Native Earth Performing Arts, Regent Park Film Festival and Regent Park School of Music. Artscape is partnering with Toronto Community Housing, The Daniels Corporation and a locally-based Steering Committee to develop the facility.
www.regentparkarts.ca
ABOUT ARTSCAPE
Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2011, Artscape is a not-for-profit organization that makes space for creativity and transforms communities. Artscape projects provide affordable space for creativity while generating positive cultural, economic, social and environmental impacts. Artscape has transformed a portfolio of underutilized buildings across Toronto into dynamic community assets that serve to enable innovation and creativity, including the award-winning Artscape Wychwood Barns and multi-tenant arts facilities in the Queen Street West, Liberty Village, Toronto Island and Distillery Historic District neighbourhoods. Collectively, Artscape manages 10 buildings for 863 artist and cultural worker tenants and owners in 417,000 square feet of space.
www.torontoartscape.on.ca

Pragmora fundraiser at Peach Berserk

2011-11-22T14:16:00.001-05:00

On Sunday, my husband, David and I joined several others at the very cool Peach Berserk on Queen St. W. in Toronto for a fun silk screening workshop that was also a fundraising event for Pragmora.

Pragmora is an international peace organisation that is both a policy think tank and a grassroots activist group. Pragmora Executive Director, Dr. Glenys Babcock spoke about her recent trip to Africa and the excellent work Pragmora has been doing in the DR Congo.

Peach Berserk owner Kingi Carpenter showed us how to silk screen a t-shirt. There was also a great selection of delicious treats for participants to snack on.

I've always wanted to try silk screening, it was a fun activity and we each silk screened a t-shirt with our choice of design. We just had to bring a print out of the design we wanted and a t-shirt to print on and Kingi supplied the rest.

I choose a peace sign design, which I thought was apropos considering the work Pragmora does. David chose a print of the character Sheldon from TB's Big Bang Theory.

If you're looking for an original prom dress, or a dress for any occasion, check out Peach Berserk: offering prom dress design, silk screen printing, and silkscreen classes located at 507 Queen St. W Toronto.

Shadow Cabinet to hold all MPP's accountable.

2011-11-18T15:03:00.001-05:00

Toronto - “Why is a gas plant being built in Mississauga after the McGuinty Liberals promised to halt it during the election campaign?”to halt it during the election campaign?” asks Mike Schreiner, Leader of the Green Party of Ontario.

“It only took two months for election promises to be put on the back-burner and for a return to business-as-usual at Queen’s Park” says Schreiner. "No wonder less than 50% of Ontarians voted in the provincial election."

The Green Party today announced an expanded Shadow Cabinet of passionate and dedicated citizens committed to long term solutions that put Ontario communities first.

“Our team is committed to working with people of all political backgrounds on long term
solutions to tackle the big challenges of our time. We are not afraid of straight talk to address tough issues like rising energy prices,” says Schreiner. “We can’t continue to punt problems down the road to our kids and future generations.”

The Green Party’s Shadow Cabinet will focus on offering alternate policies to the status quo at Queen’s Park, with the goal of building a financially, socially and environmentally sustainable Ontario.

The Green Party’s Shadow Cabinet:

Aboriginal Affairs - Jo Jo Holiday (Kenora--Rainy River)

Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs - Meade Helman (York--Simcoe)

Attorney General - Bassam Lazar (London--Fanshawe)

Children and Youth Services - Jennifer Mooradian (St. Catharines)

Citizenship and Immigration - Pauline Thornham (Bramalea--Gore--Malton)

Community and Social Services - Mark Daye (Toronto Centre)

Community Safety and Correctional Services - Jason Matyi (Essex)

Consumer Services - Josh Rachlis (Eglinton--Lawrence)

Economic Development and Innovation - Dave Bagler (Ottawa--Vanier)

Education - Matt Richter (Parry Sound --Muskoka)

Energy - Steve Dyck (Guelph)

Environment - Stephanie-Lynn Russell (Nickel Belt)

Finance - Kevin O'Donnell (Ottawa Centre)

Government Services - Pauline Thompson (Scarborough--Agincourt)

Health and Long-Term Care - Judy Smith-Torrie (Northumberland--Quinte West)

Infrastructure and Women's Directorate - Judith Van Veldhuysen (St. Paul's)

Intergovernmental Affairs - Angela Salewsky (Etobicoke--Lakeshore)

Labour - Kevin Labonte (London North Centre)

Municipal Affairs and Housing - ()

Natural Resources - Rob Strang (Dufferin--Caledon)

Northern Development and Mines - Pat Rogerson (Sudbury)

Francophone Affairs - Nancy Matte (Lanark--Frontenac--Lennox and Addington)

Seniors Secretariat - Gurleen Gill (Etobicoke North)

Tourism and Culture - Meredith Cross (Niagara West--Glanbrook)

Training, Colleges and Universities - Alex Hill (Ottawa West--Nepean)

Transportation - Tim Grant (Trinity--Spadina)

For more information on the Green Party of Ontario’s Shadow Cabinet please visit: http://
www.gpo.ca/about/organization/shadow-cabinet

-30-

St. James Town Community Cafe

2011-11-18T11:07:00.001-05:00

Peach Berserk Silkscreening Workshop = FUN and FUNDS!

2011-11-16T11:59:00.000-05:00

Links:
Peach Berserk
Pragmora

The Omnibus Crime Bill is a proven failure.

2011-11-15T17:43:00.001-05:00

The Omnibus Crime Bill is a proven failure. Conservative Texans are warning us not to follow a failed fill-the-prisons approach to justice, and the Canadian Bar Association, representing 37,000 Canadian legal professionals, has said the Bill “would move Canada along a road that has failed in other countries, at great expense”.

Mandatory sentences backfire. They take precious resources from crime prevention programs and rehabilitation, and turn minor offenders into hardened criminals.

The Crime Bill will make inequality worse. It's not tough on crime, it’s tough on Canadians suffering from mental illness, addictions, and poverty. It targets youth for harsher punishments, and it will put more Aboriginal people in prison.

The Crime Bill threatens valuable programs. Mandatory sentences will clog the justice system and fill prisons, forcing the provinces, who pay for most of our justice system, to raise taxes, increase debt, or cut spending on essential programs like health and education.

Across the country, Canadians are speaking out. Prime Minister Harper claims that Canadians support tough on crime laws, but tens of thousands of Canadians are publicly demanding their provinces refuse to pay for the Crime Bill. Quebec and Ontario have already refused to pay for a strategy that has been tried, and failed.

We need to make Canada safer, not meaner. To reduce crime we should focus on what's already working - prevention and rehabilitation - and address the major causes of crime by reducing inequality and supporting people who need help. The Conservatives’ cruel Crime Bill will do none of this, and ultimately will make us meaner, and less safe.

http://leadnow.ca/keep-canada-safe

Fallen Toronto cyclist Jenna Morrison honoured with ‘Ghost ride’

2011-11-14T11:40:00.001-05:00

Several hundred cyclists rode 5 kilometres westward from downtown Toronto early this morning to commemorate a tragic death on November 7^th. The destination was the intersection of Dundas St. W. and Sterling Road, where Jenna Morrison was run over by the rear wheels of a large truck that was turning right at the time.

In a parkette adjacent to the accident site, a large peaceful crowd gathered to pay their respects, leave flowers and wreaths, and to sign petitions. A ghost bike was installed at the site of Jenna's death to commemorate the fallen cyclist. Jenna was the mother of a five year old son and was five months pregnant at the time of her death.

Cyclists vowed to press governments at all levels to improve safety for cyclists. I urge you to write to your local MPP and demand safe streets for everyone.

Links:

National Post

The Globe & Mail

CBC

CTV

Anonymous - A Message To Occupy Toronto

2011-11-13T14:06:00.001-05:00

The Globe & Mail:‘Anonymous’ threatens cyber attack if city interferes with Occupy Toronto

Bike ride for Jenna

2011-11-13T13:30:00.000-05:00

Junction design the Dutch - cycle friendly - way

2011-11-11T17:18:00.001-05:00

Toronto Cyclists Union Statement on Death of Jenna Morrison

2011-11-11T16:44:00.001-05:00

Statement on Tragic Death of Toronto Cyclist, Jenna Morrison

Toronto Cyclists Union expresses condolences to Jenna Morrison’s bereaved family

The Toronto Cyclists Union (bike union) is saddened and dismayed by last Monday’s tragic, unnecessary death of cyclist Jenna Morrison.

Ms. Morrison, a mother of a five-year old, was struck by a truck and run over on Sterling Road as she was riding her bicycle to her son’s school. The truck continued through the intersection and Ms. Morrison was caught beneath the back wheels of the truck, causing her fatal injuries. "We extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to Jenna Morrison’s family," said Andrea Garcia, Director of Advocacy for the bike union. "This tragic and needless death was preventable. We reiterate our call to city officials to create bicycle lanes on Toronto roads. How many more tragic deaths will it take? Clearly, safe spaces for cyclists are needed more than ever."

The bike union has an active advocacy group in Ward 18 where the collision occurred. It is working to develop specific recommendations on improving the area for cyclists to present to the local Councillor. The Toronto Cyclists Union maintains that cycling should be realised as a safe and enjoyable transportation option available to people of all ages. As an organisation dedicated to cycling, the bike union continues to work towards realising this goal.

Additionally, the bike union is calling for mandatory side guards on trucks to help prevent such unspeakable tragedies, as per a recommendation of the 1998 Toronto Coroner’s Inquiry into cycling fatalities. "If the Coroner’s recommendation from 13 years ago to mandate side guards on trucks would have been implemented, Ms. Morrison might still be alive today," Garcia said. "The cost of installing sideguards is negligible compared to saving cyclists’ lives."

The bike union is calling on its members and supporters to take part in a memorial ride sponsored by Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists (ARC) on Monday, November 14th. The ride will begin at the corner of Bloor Street and Spadina at 7:30 a.m., and at Dundas Street West and Sterling at 8:00 a.m. It’s an opportunity to show support for Jenna Morrison’s family and community, and to raise awareness about the need for safer streets.

Toronto Star Story: "Dead cyclist Jenna Morrison was a yoga teacher, dancer, mom"

Toronto Star Story: "This is a Time for Mourning..."

Remembrance Day ~ November 11, 2011

2011-11-11T09:39:00.001-05:00

Syria, Homs - Human Rights Watch Update

2011-11-11T09:27:00.001-05:00

HIV: Quest For A Cure

2011-11-09T16:55:00.000-05:00

HIV: Quest For A Cure

Click the image to view full size.