By ALAN SHACKLETON EDITOR, BEACH METRO COMMUNITY NEWS Everybody is being nice and saying all the right things about next month’s Winter Stations 2023 art installations planned for Woodbine Beach. So let me be the one to address the dead raccoon on the beach. Or lack thereof. Plain and simple, I think the Beach is […]
Category: In My Opinion
In My Opinion: Concerns about Toronto’s Strong Mayor System are not going away
By ALAN SHACKLETON EDITOR, BEACH METRO COMMUNITY NEWS I am sorry I have to start off the New Year complaining about the same thing I did to close out 2022. But if Mayor John Tory and some members of Toronto Council believe the anger and disgust over the Strong Mayor System is going to go […]
In My Opinion: Mayor and councillors must reject undemocratic powers
By ALAN SHACKLETON EDITOR, BEACH METRO COMMUNITY NEWS Readers may remember that back in August I wrote a column saying the Strong Mayor System would be a bad idea for Toronto. Now, as that plan has evolved, it has gone from bad to dangerous. Any governing body attempting to push through legislation with a less-than […]
In My Opinion: There are many ways local residents can help Community Centre 55’s Share A Christmas Program
By REZA KHOSHDEL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMMUNITY CENTRE 55 Christmas is just around the corner! For some, this holiday season means warm holiday meals with family and friends, and of course, presents under the tree. For others, however, this reality is not the case. The holiday season presents additional challenges for those struggling with food and […]
In My Opinion: Taking the steps to build an inclusive city for everyone
By BRAD BRADFORD COUNCILLOR, WARD 19 BEACHES-EAST YORK If we trusted social media as the litmus test for the cohesiveness of a society, the results would seem grim. Strong opposition to ideas that challenge the status quo, re-emerging sentiments of discrimination and hate, and oversimplification of complex social and political issues are plastered across our […]
In My Opinion: When talking about affordable housing, don’t forget accessibility
By CAROL DAMIOLI Affordable housing gets much enthusiastic attention these days. Any politician can score big points by calling for the construction of 10,000, or 50,000, or a million affordable housing units. Yet there’s another big A-word in the realm of housing that’s heard much less. That other A-word is “accessibility.” That word is relevant […]
In My Opinion: Ontario needs an all-party Climate Change Committee
By MARY-MARGARET McMAHON MPP BEACHES-EAST YORK The number one reason I jumped back into politics is the Climate Emergency. Around the world, we are seeing the effects of climate change at an exponential rate. Extreme heat, devastating floods, horrific forest fires. 50+ degree temperatures where people, animals, and agriculture will be severely disadvantaged, throwing our […]
In My Opinion: Local democracy continues to be weakened in Toronto
By ALAN SHACKLETON BEACH METRO COMMUNITY NEWS EDITOR Disappointment and concern are my feelings as we head into this fall’s municipal election. The number of candidates running for office is down across all of Toronto. That’s disappointing and a sign of both lack of interest and belief in the importance of our city government and […]
In My Opinion: Pride Month celebrations help build inclusivity, diversity, equality and love
By ELOISE MORRISON History was made one year ago on June the 1, 2021. The Toronto Catholic District School Board voted in favour of flying the rainbow flags outside its schools and offices to celebrate Pride Month every June, declaring a victory for the 2SLGBTQ community. When this announcement was made one year ago, June […]
In My Opinion: The Leuty Lifeguard Station has special, personal meaning to generations of Beachers
By ERIN HORROCKS-POPE As Beachers, we find pride in the physical, picturesque community we live in; filled with iconic landmarks, diverse architecture, and beautiful natural spaces – but more than anything else, our community is what we create here through our neighbours, friends, and family. On the night of Friday, June 24, our community came […]