Get your cameras ready.
It's that time of year again — the iconic High Park cherry blossoms in Toronto are now in full bloom, marking the peak of spring in the city.
According to the High Park Nature Centre, "full bloom" occurs when 70 per cent of the flowers on the Sakura trees have opened. As of 8:30 am on May 7, as many as 85 per cent of the flowers were seen in open form, making today the absolute perfect time to visit the park for cherry blossom viewing. The full bloom is expected to last throughout the week, as temperatures continue to rise in the city. Monday will see temperatures of 15 C throughout the day, followed 18 C on Tuesday, 23 C on Wednesday and back to 15 C on Thursday. Typically, cherry blossoms in Toronto reach full bloom at the end of April or early May. Thousands of people flock to High Park to see the cherry blossoms each year, and it tends to get very crowded during that time. Police remind those headed to High Park this week to be mindful of delays due to the high traffic.
For the most updated information, you can call in to High Park's new Cherry Blossom Hotline at 647-946-2547 or visit the following websites:
The article " www.narcity.com/ca/on/toronto/news/torontos-high-park-cherry-blossoms-are-now-in-full-bloomToronto's High Park Cherry Blossoms Are Now In Full Bloom" was originally seen in NARCITY.com Naturopathy, Natural Healing, Alternative Medicine -Dr. Amauri Caversan - Naturopathic Doctor, Toronto
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A municipal strategy to reduce urban poverty addresses the roots of inequality
Like many major metropolitan areas in the United States, Toronto is experiencing fast-paced growth. Canada's finance and business capital has more cranes in the sky than New York City—with nearly 50 percent more high-rises undergoing construction than in the big apple. Between 1990 and 2012, the region experienced a doubling of the economy, and significant population growth. By 2013, Toronto had become the fourth largest city in North America and today, almost one fifth of all Canadians live in the metropolitan area. Amidst such frenzied development and economic growth, however, many have been resigned to the margins: One in four children and one in five adults live in poverty; Almost half of Greater Toronto Area workers have temporary, contract, part-time jobs with variable hours, little stability, and no benefits; Almost one in four college graduates are working low-wage jobs; and Almost half of all recent immigrants live in poverty. As Toronto's population and economy grew, so did levels of income inequality. Over a 25 year period, household income inequality grew 31 percent—more than double than that of the country as a whole. Between 1970 and 2005, the number of low-income neighborhoods grew from 19 to 53 percent, while the number of middle-income neighborhoods decreased from 66 to 29 percent Toronto recognizes that it must combat structural inequalities that prevent specific demographics from escaping poverty. Above are two infographics featured in conjunction with Toronto's report, TO Prosperity: Toronto Poverty Reduction Strategy, a comprehensive endeavor to change the economic paradigm for all Toronto residents. Despite such grim conditions and trends, the City is working toward solutions. Having reached “consensus that [Toronto] do[es] not want growing inequity, and that a collaborative, community-driven strategy is needed to end poverty,”on November 3, 2015, Toronto’s City Council voted unanimously to adopt “TO Prosperity: Toronto Poverty Reduction Strategy.” The City’s first ever comprehensive anti-poverty plan aims to address some of the most difficult societal issues: rising inequality and the concentration of poverty. The City intends to become, by 2035, “a city with opportunities for all,” in which “everyone has access to good jobs, adequate income, stable housing, affordable transportation, nutritious food, and supportive services.” To do so, the City will follow a groundbreaking new anti-poverty plan, which provides guidance on how it can meet residents' immediate basic needs as well as create more permanent pathways to prosperity. The strategy comes after months of planning, with over 100 meetings in stakeholding communities, 10 facilitated dialogues, and hundreds of online surveys to collect suggestions from those who would benefit most. In addition, a network of more than 75 community groups convened a session called "Commitment 2 Community," in which they outlined their recommendations for the budget allocation in the Strategy's implementation process, which will take place over the next three years, to ensure not just short-term solutions, but long-term success. After consulting with experts and community members alike, the City crafted a meticulous plan to reduce poverty that tackles some of its major symptoms, while also getting at the root of the problem. For instance, the City strives first to ensure that all children have the opportunity to thrive, that wages are held to higher standards for all residents, that families have access to healthy food, and that public transit serves those who depend on it most. Meanwhile, the City's strategy simultaneously echoes the "Community 2 Community" call for systemic solutions. As the report states, "Why expect different results if we continue doing things the same way?" A principal tenet of the report and implementation strategy is the focus on driving systemic change in tackling inequality. Consequently, in addition to the strategies that tackle the symptoms of poverty, the City is dedicated to shaping its strategies for poverty reduction such that reversing systemic inequality (and the propensity for minorities and women to suffer from poverty more than others) is at the core of all government operations. Their strategy recognizes that the foundations of a new economy rooted in local investment, ownership, and purchasing patterns will be the deciding factor in bringing the City's vision of "justice, fairness and equity" to fruition. To that end, over the next three years, the City's specific recommendations that will help reorient the Toronto economy towards community wealth building include:
Though the initiative is in its early stages, Toronto is poised to become another leading city that is building community wealth. The City acknowledges that "[e]nding poverty needs an accountable and participatory government that recognizes that everyone has a part to play. Residents, community and business partners, labour, and other orders of government will need to devote time, energy, and resources to build a prosperous and inclusive Toronto." How will the city accomplish this goal? Toronto joins a wave of North American municipalities from Cleveland, Ohio to Richmond, Virginia, piloting and implementing community wealth building policies and strategic actions, from which it can draw many lessons and tactics to combat inequality on a systemic level. Much research has been completed on opportunities to leverage local anchor spending from place-based institutions (such as University of Toronto and Toronto General Hospital) to connect both local job-seekers and worker-owned cooperatives with economic opportunities. Toronto's newly developed strategy also aims to funnel resources from private economic development for community benefit, a growing trend in many U.S. cities. It remains to be seen whether the city will fund this $75 million initiative, but with current advocacy by civic leaders, we remain hopeful.
The article "A City with Opportunities for All: Toronto, Canada" was originally publish by Community-Wealth.org
A few days ago, I was sent to Toronto on a business trip and had some alone time to do a little sightseeing around the city. Since it was my first time in TO, I wanted to do and see the cool stuff. So, I asked my Toronto-based friend Angie from The Weekenders Fashion Blog for a list of the best of Toronto: best places to see, to shop, to eat & drink. Believe me, this is your go-to list for the best of the city! - Kensington Market (Shopping vintage and people watching) - St. Lawrence Market (A farmers market) - Lakeshore (For a morning jog or walking around in summer) - Toronto Island (Enjoy the beaches, a picnic, and the best view of the city) - Sugar Beach / The beaches (Again, for the beaches and sun) - All Queen West St. (Lots of independent boutiques. Angie recommends especially Sauvage and TSOQ) - Yorkville (Bloor St. for high end designers) - Ossington (Vintage shoping and look for independant boutique Victoire) - Mildred's Temple Kitchen (Brunch) - SCHOOL (Brunch) - Khao San Road (Thai dinner) -Patria (Spanish tapas) - Kanji (Sushi) - Buca (Italian dinner) Toronto's best lounges:
- Thompson Hotel Rooftop (For the view!) - Cabana Pool Bar (For a Las Vegas pool club luxe feeling) - Bar Hop (They have the best cocktails in the city.) Best place to enjoy a beer: - Distillery District I did not get the chance to do all of these, but I will make sure to try more when I get back to Toronto. In the next days, I will also let you know some of my own finds in Toronto while exploring Kensington Market as suggested by Angie. Have you been to Toronto yourself? What would you add to this list? The article "Best of Toronto by The Weekenders Fashion Blog" was first publish at http://thestatementblog.weebly.com |
AuthorHi I'm Frank, lets find more on Toronto Ontario, welcome to my blog and enjoy reading. List down the things and don't forget to share... Archives
August 2021
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