City of Toronto Installs 77 New Downtown Security Cameras, Announces Premiere of New Urban Reality TV Show
CTV Ottawa story here.
Map, plotted lovingly by myself, here. Use it to concoct mischievous G20-related strategies! Ha ha, don't get caught!
DARK BLUE: New cameras installed specifically for G20.
LIGHT BLUE: Existing 14 Division cameras.
GREEN: Existing 52 Division cameras.
On the future of the structures at Toronto/Downsview Airport (response)
Dear Mr. Warzin,
On behalf of the Hon. Ken Dryden, Member of Parliament for York Centre, thank you for your letter regarding the demolition of Buildings 55 and 58.
For your records, please find enclosed a copy of Mr. Dryden’s letter (which I've pasted below -NW) to Minister MacKay urging the minister to reconsider the proposed demolition.
Sincerely,
Carlene Variyan
Special Assistant
Office of the Hon. Ken Dryden, P.C., M.P.
Member of Parliament for York Centre
National Outreach Advisor, Poverty & Working Families
On the future of the structures at Toronto/Downsview Airport
November 9, 2009
Sent to dnd_mdn@forces.gc.ca, Dryden.K@parl.gc.ca
Dryden.K@parl.gc.ca's responsed on November 16, 2009
Dear Office of the Minister of National Defence:
It has come to my attention, and to the attention of many concerned individuals in the Toronto area, that Downsview Airport’s WWII-vintage hangars are currently slated for demolition. These are structures that are admired not only for their raw, utilitarian architecture, but also for their important role in Canadian history. As Parc Downsview Park continues to develop the area and draw civilian interests to the area, I see demolishing these structures not as a step forward towards a modern, living Downsview Park, but more as a missed opportunity. I notice that others, such as Lloyd Alter of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario, see the situation similarly.
I realize that during times of economic hardship finding room on budgets for such creative projects can be difficult, but it seems to me that a Toronto (and an Ontario, and a Canada) of the 21st century is one that always explores the green adaptive reuse of old structures first, even in situations where it might be politically uncomplicated to demolish before looking into such recommendations. The hangars may be on DND land, but since Downsview Park is increasingly used for local community needs (school programs, camps, parklands) it’s vital to involve the community in any discussion regarding the future of its land and its buildings.
What I ask is this: that the Federally-recognized Heritage hangars at Toronto/Downsview Airport be studied for a possible civilian adaptive reuse, and that this process be constrained to a path that similarly-recognized structures on Provincial and Municipal land would have to take, involving draft proposals and public consultation.
As a Canadian who is endlessly proud of his country’s heritage, and as a descendant of Canadian Forces servicemen who lived and served for years at CFB Downsview, I feel taking another look at this is very important.
Thank you for your time.
Regards,
Nick Warzin
