A selection of the best civic impact stories we published this year. All stories written by civic impact editor Katia Snukal.
FoodShare Toronto transforms a TTC bus into a mobile food market
While food markets are becoming ubiquitous in many parts of central Toronto, recent research conducted by United Way Toronto and Toronto Public Health suggests that many Toronto residents, especially those living in densely populated neighbourhoods in the inner suburbs, lack the same accessibility to affordable, fresh, and culturally appropriate food. [...
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First Tandoor oven in a public space to open at R.V. Burgess Park
Over two years ago, Sabina Ali and her colleagues at the Thorncliffe Park Women's Committee (TPWC), had an idea: "Why not open a Tandoor oven in a public park?" [...
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Daily Bread Food Bank releases new report on hunger in Toronto
The Daily Bread Food Bank has released its annual report on food bank clients in the GTA. But unlike previous years, the 2013 report--Who's Hungry: A Tale of Three Cities--examines food bank usage across three different regions: the downtown core, the former inner suburbs, and the 905 region. [...
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Scarborough Afro-Caribbean Festival "bigger and better" in second year
Part of the excitement around the festival no doubt stems from the fact that there's nothing quite like it in the GTA. Not only do most art and culture festivals tend to be centred downtown, but, says Madeline Nwokeji, program director at HSDC, the festival is the first in the city "that attempts to bridge African and Caribbean communities." [...
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United Way York Region launches three-year $30-million fundraising campaign
Daniele Zanotti, CEO of United Way York Region, is hopeful that the $30 million will help the United Way build the region's social infrastructure and bring services to where people need them the most - in their own community. [...
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Evergreen Brick Works flood recovery plan contains lessons for Toronto
When the city flooded in July, staff at Evergreen Brick Works, the community environmental centre located right in the Don River flood plain, were ready and waiting. Located adjacent to the Lower Don River, Evergreen Brick Works, which opened to the public in 2010, was built with the inevitability of flooding in mind. [...
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Scarborough turns hydro corridor into butterfly sanctuary
"The Weston Family Parks Challenge, which provides us with $300,000 over the next three years, means the Scarborough Centre Butterfly Trail can really get going and we can work hard to keep naturalizing this area," says John Stille, project manager for restoration and environmental monitoring with TRCA. [...
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Action for Seniors forum brainstorms strategies for affordable housing options
By 2031, seniors (aged 55+) will make up one third of Toronto’s population. In an effort to face the current, and future, dearth of affordable senior housing head-on, the City’s Affordable Housing Office recently teamed up with Toronto’s Performing Art Lodge (PAL) to a hold a one-day forum brainstorming possible strategies. [...
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New report suggests some much needed upgrades to Toronto's storm sewer system
The 2013 Great Lakes Sewage Report Card--a follow-up to the organization's 2006 report card--ranks 12 Ontario municipalities based on their sewage management system. Toronto ranked 10th, the York & Durham region ranked second. What we could learn from our neighbours. [...
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Close the Housing Gap enters new phase
In September, campaign organizers unveiled the poster that will appear in bus shelters throughout Toronto and Ottawa. The posters are a key component of the the Close the Housing Gap initiative, a campaign to raise awareness about the precarious social housing situation in Toronto, and to lobby for increased funding from the federal and provincial governments. [...
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