City Building : In The News

The Toronto Star features Toronto culinary scene heavyweights, Michael Bonacini and Peter Oliver, co-founders and owners of Oliver & Bonacini Restaurants. O&B currently boasts more than a dozen event spaces and restaurants in Ontario, including Canoe, the acclaimed fine dining restaurant on the 54th floor of the TD Bank Tower and the O&B Canteen, the popular King Street spot housed inside the TIFF Bell Lightbox complex.

"O&B will focus its efforts on the Bay's flagship store on Queen St. W. at Yonge St., where it plans to launch Bannock by fall 2011. The concept is similar to Canteen, with all-day, sit-down service that's quick and inexpensive."

"We are going to be the best corporately run food service business in Toronto, in Southern Ontario, in Canada," declares Bonacini. "That's part of our goal."

"Bonnie Brooks, president and CEO of the Bay, wouldn't bet against them. "Oliver & Bonacini is such a successful, respected and creative food company in Toronto that they were a logical partner in our minds."

"The O&B story starts in 1993 with a restaurant called Jump."

"Stockbroker-turned-restaurateur Oliver owned a bakery across the street from Centro, the fine-dining restaurant on Yonge St. north of Eglinton where Bonacini was executive chef."

"Oliver had spent years setting up the deal to open Jump on Wellington St. W. near Yonge St. When his chef-to-be fell through, he proposed a partnership with Bonacini. "When Peter and I opened Jump 17 years ago, we were one of very few places to dine downtown," says Bonacini."

"He describes his partner as a visionary who lives for putting deals together. Oliver describes their skills as complementary, saying Bonacini "knows all the things that I don't know that much about."

"The men gambled that they could survive on business-district lunch alone. Within a few years of opening , a landlord at the nearby TD Bank Tower begged O&B to take over the restaurant on the building's 54th floor."

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original source Toronto Star

The Globe & Mail interviews green entrepreneur Geoff Cape about the importance of Toronto's extensive ravine network. Cape, who conceived and championed the Evergreen Brick Works project, argues that Toronto's ravines have the potential to become a defining feature of the city. An excerpt from the interview:

"The ravines of Toronto are unique in the world. No other city has such an elaborate, such an extensive network of natural spaces. It's the defining aspect of Toronto. We have great hospitals, great cultural institutions, great universities, but so does New York, London, Chicago, Milan, Beijing. What we do have categorically unique is the ravine system. It's an asset for everyone. It doesn't distinguish between rich and poor and cultural diversity. It's available to all of us and it weaves virtually every neighbourhood, every community together, because it's physically so extensive. It connects us all."

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original source Globe & Mail

Finalists have been announced for the 2011 Green Toronto Awards. The awards, presented by The City of Toronto and Green Living Enterprises, honour Torontonions contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable city. InsideToronto.com has published the list of all 30 finalists, a mix of individuals, businesses and organizations. Winners will be announced at the seventh annual Green Toronto Awards ceremony on Friday, April 15th and will receive an award and $5,000.

see list of finalists here
original source InsideToronto

Digital Journal features Toronto to Japan, a Toronto-based collective that's planning events around the city to raise relief funds for victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The collective, made up of Canadian artists, musicians, writers, activists and business leaders, is holding their next event -- "Sushi Making For The Soul Of Japanese Survivors"--  in Liberty village on April 2nd.

Blog TO writes on LOFT, the Toronto social enterprise that's giving a helping hand to the next generation of Toronto entrepreneurs. LOFT--which stands for Life, Opportunities, Food, and Technology--was launched in 2001 to help at-risk youth develop career plans.

"Yesterday evening, the LOFT Youth Centre for Social Enterprise and Innovation launched its Capital Campaign to raise funds for its new building at 850 Bloor Street West. Operating under the Christie Ossington Neighbourhood Centre, LOFT--which stands for Life, Opportunities, Food, and Technology--was created in 2001 and is now on the hub of a major transition. Hoping to raise $950,000, LOFT launched its campaign last night, teaching friends, family, and visitors such as myself exactly what it offers for the youth of Toronto."

"The Loft OssingtonIn short, LOFT is about providing youth (many of whom are at-risk or face institutional barriers) outlets for their creativity, as well as mentorship, marketable skills, and career exploration. It is funded through government grants, private partnerships and donations."

"There are three social enterprises that form LOFT's core; Under the Radar Design, the LOFT Sound Studio, and the LOFT Kitchen. These three enterprises unite staff, mentors, volunteers and youth to not only give direction to young people need guidance, but also giving back to the community."

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original source Blog TO

This week's Cleantech Forum, held on March 21st at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, brought together industry leaders from Canada, China, and India to discuss the future of green technology. The event, organized jointly by the Canada China Business Council and the Canada-India Business, marks the first time that representatives from all three countries have come together to discuss cleantech opportunities.

"Ontario's Minister of Research and Innovation Glen Murray and the Chairman of the Cleantech Group Nicholas Parker will be the event's keynote speakers."

"A first-of-its-kind event, the China-India Cleantech Forum brings together Chinese and Indian companies looking to invest in cleantech in Canada, and Canadian firms doing business in China and India. The diverse participation and distinctive networking that we'll see on Monday underscores the importance of bilateral relationships in Canada's environmental cooperation with China and India."

"The event will examine key environmental issues in five plenary style sessions-, emphasizing investment opportunities in cleantech sectors in Canada, India, and China. Sectoral breakout rooms will facilitate private meetings and networking between companies."

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original source Sify News

An underused and poorly maintained Thorncliffe Park playground could soon be transformed into a vibrant community hub complete with a cricket field, amphitheatre, butterfly garden, and extensive green space. As reported by the Globe & Mail, the $1.7-million "Valley Park Go Green" plan was initiated by a group of community activists and staff at Valley Park Middle School in an effort to give the children living in one of Toronto's densest low-come neighbourhoods "somewhere to go".

"Led by principal Nickolas Stefanoff, they plan to transform the school's playground into a community hub that will include a regulation-size cricket field, an attraction sure to draw residents out from the towers."

"Cricket isn't just a sport for many of the neighbourhood's residents, Mr. Stefanoff says. "It's a religion."

"If we need drivers for a field trip, you might get one or two. But a cricket tournament? Everyone has their own driver," says Mr. Hayter, who is also coach of the school's cricket team."

"The pitch may be its centrepiece, but the plan for the Valley Park Go Green Cricket Field project also includes an amphitheatre, butterfly garden, public gardens, a system that will divert rainwater from the school's roof to be used for irrigation, a bioswale (a landscape feature that traps pollutants) and much more green space covered by a generous tree canopy, all occupying three hectares (7.5 acres) of land."

"It's going beyond a schoolyard," says Arifa Hai, the landscape architect who is working on the project."

"We have a $3-billion backlog in school renewal � so this kind of very significant capital investment in a school field that will serve the school but also serve the community, we don't have board funds to be able to do that," says Sheila Penny, director of strategic building and renewal at the TDSB."

"Still, those behind the project say they are confident they will be able to raise the $1.7-million needed."

"Funding is beginning to pour in, says Lisa Green, co-chair of the Valley Park Go Green committee. The group expects to receive about $1-million in various grants in the next three months, and has received donations from several organizations, including $50,000 from the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation and $25,000 from the Live Green Toronto's stormwater management program."


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original source Globe & Mail

The Economist Intelligence Unit has released it's annual rankings of world's most livable cities and, as in past years, Canada dominates the list. Three Canadian cities--Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary--placed in the top ten. While Toronto still has some catching up to do with Vancouver (who got the number one spot for the second year in a row) it nonetheless scored favourably, coming 4th out of 140 cities worldwide.

"The ranking scores 140 cities from 0-100 on 30 factors spread across five areas: stability, health care, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. These numbers are then weighted and combined to produce an overall figure. The top ten cities occupy the same positions as last year, with the exception of Melbourne and Vienna, which have swapped places."

"The report, which some companies use to determine hardship allowances for relocated employees, explains what makes a high-ranked city:
Cities that score best tend to be mid-sized cities in wealthier countries with a relatively low population density. This often fosters a broad range of recreational availability without leading to high crime levels or overburdened infrastructure. Seven of the top ten scoring cities are in Australia and Canada, where population densities of 2.88 and 3.40 people per sq km respectively compare with a global (land) average of 45.65 and a US average of 32."

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original source The Economist

"Freshly Brewed", a new National Post series, investigates the burgeoning growth of indie coffee shops across Toronto neighbourhoods. The first feature looks at Hub Coffee House, an owner-operated cafe located on Shaw Street near Christie Pits. Open since last July, Hub has made a name for itself not only for its locally roosted coffee, but also for its fresh baked goods and organic breakfast sandwiches.

"We're in winter-mode right now," says Cyrus Lotfi, gesturing to the vintage couch and electric fireplace set-up near the front of the caf�, which is warm and fragrant. "Come summer, though, those doors all open up and it's one big space."

"Lotfi and Lisah Smith, owners (and bakers) at Hub, are alone at 7 a.m. when the residential corner spot opens, and as they explain, the wintry hibernation season means people trickle in later than they did when Hub first opened last July. The two entrepreneurs and locavore proponents are busy preparing the day's biscuits and wildly popular gluten-free, spelt-flour chocolate chip cookies. I grab a peach and cheddar scone, still warm in a basket (and a delicious dream for my mostly savoury palate), as the double-shot Americano I've ordered trickles into a cup."

"As it turns out, the impetus for Lotfi and Smith to open Hub was largely related to the serendipity of Smith finding the perfect location."

"I'm from Vancouver Island, and in Victoria there's [blocks of] residential often with a cool little caf� in the middle of everything, and I liked the feel and the vibe of that," Smith says."

"Ten years ago this neighbourhood was really different," Lofti adds. "But we went on our feelings. And we were busy pretty much without advertising from the first day."

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original source National Post

As reported by CBC News, Highrise: Out My Window, an NFB produced multimedia documentary (see Yonge Street's feature from November), has been nominated for an International Digital Emmy. Created by Toronto artists and filmmakers, the online documentary explores life in high-rise apartments in cities around the world.

"Highrise: Out My Window, a Canadian multimedia art project that explores life in high-rise apartments, has earned a nomination for the International Digital Emmy Awards."

"Under the direction of filmmaker Katerina Cizek and advisers from the NFB, the online project showcased the residents of 13 apartments in cities such as Amsterdam, Toronto and Havana and presented the footage in a feature-length web documentary as well as in live presentations and on-site installations. The production, the NFB's first nomination for a Digital Emmy, is a contender in the category of digital program: non-fiction..."

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original source CBC News

Blog TO reviews Fabarnak, the restaurant/cafe that recently opened inside Church street's revamped 519 Community Centre. In addition to serving great tasting sustainable and healthy foods, Fabarnak also functions as a social enterprise by offering employment opportunities to area residents.

"Since opening in October, word has slowly gotten out about the cafe/restaurant's unique menu of sustainable, homemade foods. Everything served at Fabarnak, right down to the ketchup served with the "Cosy" gluten-free elbow pasta with four local cheeses ($12), is made on site. Fabarnak smokes it own meats, makes its own soup stocks, even creates its own evergreen oil for its vegan "Comfy" soup, a tomato bisque with gouda and croustade ($4 or $9, depending on size)."

"My philosophy is that food is either about fantasy or nostalgia," says head chef and director of food services Eric Wood. "It takes us to somewhere we've never been, or reminds us of someplace we'd like to revisit." Wood encourages the staff to push boundaries and try to experiment with new tastes. "It's like you're writing a play," he says. "Constructive conflict is a good thing."

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original source Blog TO

The Toronto Wavedecks, the wooden wave-like pedestrian walkways along Toronto's central waterfront, are continually getting international praise from architecture enthusiasts. Four years after the completion of the first wavedeck, the structures--designed by architecture firms West 8 and DTAH--are frequently pointed to as an example of successful waterfront and public space design. In the last month, the Wavedecks have been praised in, among other publications, Arch Daily, The Wall Street Journal, and Japan's Kudo design blog.

From Arch Daily:

"In response to an innovative design competition launched by Waterfront Toronto, West 8 submitted a comprehensive vision for the Central Waterfront that produced a powerful design language with the strength and simplicity to overcome the existing visual noise and create a sense of interconnectedness and identity. Connectivity between the vitality of the city and the lake and a continuous, publicly accessible waterfront are the plan's priorities."

"Spadina, Simcoe and Rees wavedecks are the first in a series of timber structures that explore variations of a simple articulation in the change in level between Queens Quay Boulevard and Lake Ontario along the Toronto Central Waterfront. Responding to the current pinch-points where the streetscape meets the water's edge, a new public space gateway is created where the city kisses the lake, inspired by the sinuous contours of the shoreline of the Canadian lakefront."

"The geometry of the wavedeck is carefully conceived using playful curves that are constantly changing to create ledges for seating and new routes to access the water's edge. It allows for different vantage points and ultimately different experiences with both the lake and the city. In order to establish a coherent aesthetic for the public realm along the waterfront, the simple undulating timber wave gesture became a prototype that will be repeated at seven heads of slips with subtle variation. Using a consistent palette of materials and details, the identity of each wave structure will be derived from the unique curvatures of the structure as well as the activities suggested through its form."

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original sources Arch Daily, Wall Street Journal, and Kudo

Toronto's CivicAction Alliance recently brought over 700 Toronto-region leaders together for a two day conference on the most pressing issues facing the GTA. On the table were some of Toronto's greatest challenges from transportation to a changing economy. As well as its most exciting assets, from cultural diversity to a thriving arts and culture scene. In the coming months, a report synthesising the much-needed conference could provide a blueprint for how Toronto can work together for a more prosperous future.

"Born under the leadership of the late David Pecaut as the Toronto City Summit Alliance after a 2002 meeting of civic leaders, CivicAction has proven the power of bringing leadership from every sector to bear on thorny regional challenges. Past summits led to initiatives like the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council to help immigrants get their all-important first Canadian work experience, a task force to address barriers that prevent working-age adults from working, and Luminato, the annual festival of arts and creativity."

"CivicAction's 2007 summit produced Greening Greater Toronto to identify and advance ideas to improve the region's environmental health and related business opportunities. One idea was to get landlords and tenants collaborating to drive down commercial building energy use. Greening Greater Toronto has done this, creating an innovative made-in-Toronto strategy to improve this major driver of carbon emissions and air quality."

"The last summit also resulted in DiverseCity, which helps businesses and other organizations capitalize on our unique cultural diversity, and galvanized CivicAction's Emerging Leaders Network � a powerhouse of 350 up-and-coming civic leaders who are spearheading their own projects on issues like economic development, sustainability and municipal electoral reform."

"These and other CivicAction projects have demonstrated the potential of collaborative leadership. They have also shown that social, economic and environmental issues do not respect municipal borders, and neither do the lives of most Toronto region residents. Many of us live in one municipality and work in another, and we regularly travel across the region for events or to visit friends and family.The message going into the summit is clear. On every major issue the Toronto region faces, we need the strong leadership of people from all walks of life and to take a regional and better coordinated approach so that we create more coherent, efficient and effective responses. Now it is up to the summit delegates and other Toronto region leaders to make that happen."

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original source Toronto Star

Blog TO features Real Food for Real Kids (RFRK), the Toronto organization that provides healthy all-natural catering to daycares and elementary schools around Toronto (see our Yonge Street story from last March). Founded five years ago by Lulu Cohen-Farnell and husband David Farnel, Real Food now employs over 50 people and serves more than 6,000 kids at childcare centers and schools across Toronto.

"Despite the incredible leaps RFRK has made towards improving kids' access to nutritious food over the past few years, it was clear to me upon meeting David and Lulu that they see their work as very much unfinished. "There's so much misleading information out there," Lulu says as we take a seat in David's office. "Some company might tell you that their chicken nuggets are organic, but they're still filled with shit. Chemicals and preservatives."

"The other companies have tapped into the healthy food idea now," David adds, "but all they're doing is changing their marketing."

"People pay money for food that is fortified," Lulu says. "Foods that claim they have added iron, added vitamins. But all you need to do is just eat real food, cooked properly. It's so simple."

"RFRK makes all of its dishes (such as its lemongrass beef stew and samurai zucchini salad) with no artificial colours or flavours, and tries to use local and organic produce whenever possible while keeping healthfulness a priority. Despite my preconceived notions, David assured me that the cost is not as much as you would think. "The difference is about 15 to 50 cents per child per meal," he says."

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original source Blog TO

The Gladstone Hotel recently celebrated 5 years since its re-emergence in 2005 as an art-hotel, venue space and bar. The National Post's Adam McDowell writes on The Gladstone's "commitment to being a dozen flavours under one roof" and how its become one of Toronto greatest cultural hubs.

"... a party last month to marked five years since the place reopened with a new and hipper ownership and management, vibe and mandate. True to the Gladstone's commitment to being a dozen flavours under one roof, the party featured a jazz band, art installations and fleshy burlesque dancers doing their saucy thing under a bright green number five."

"Like the Drake down the street, the Gladstone was, not so long ago, a seedy beer hall with a quasi-rooming house upstairs and a gritty reputation. My mother was terribly nervous when, as a teenager in the mid-1990s, I had a meeting with a gig promoter there. Nowadays, it functions as a hipster community centre while still catering to some of the old Queen Street blue-collar crowd (their patron saint was Hank "The Gladstone Cowboy" Young, the chatty operator of the vintage elevator, who passed away in October 2009 and is greatly missed). The experiment has given the place a unique charm and energy. Depending on the night or day, you can partake in an art show, a bluegrass concert, nude art lessons or Simpsons trivia. Or while away a Sunday afternoon with a bottle or two of Molson Stock Ale."

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original source National Post