The SVRA has had several life cycles over the past few decades, depending on the issues at stake and residents’ concerted efforts to tackle those issues. Our most recent incarnation was sparked by a chance discussion during the 2023 mayoral by-election. I was introduced to Barri Cohen, who told me about her recent and unsuccessful attempts to prevent a zoning change at a property near Dupont and Christie. “Developers seek out neighbourhoods without residents’ associations,” she told me, “because they figure any resistance will be minimal and easy to overcome.” At that moment, we decided to reach out to our community, to make it a viable force once again, and to exert as much influence as we possibly could over the new developments that were becoming part of our local landscape. Barri, who thankfully agreed to become Chair, has not stopped advocating for the interests of our vibrant neighbourhood, ever since.

 

We created flyers, thanks to Julie Patricio, and posted them throughout the neighbourhood. We also had an intrepid group of volunteers whom, thanks to routes demarcated by Jill Lichtblau, distributed to hundreds of houses.

 

In the meantime, the first SVRA action focused on 914 Bathurst St., which had been bought recently by Stafford Homes. George Patricio and Scott Walters spearheaded this contingent of residents to engage with the City and with Stafford, and in this way, the Planning and Development Committee was born.

Other SVRA members have since performed an array of feats. Ann Mullen formed the Traffic Calming Committee, and compiled the group’s contributions into a comprehensive report, which she submitted to the City’s Transportation Department. When City Councillor Dianne Saxe asked the SVRA to provide input regarding parking access around the hockey arena, Susan O’Connor and Aren Fischer surveyed locals residents and the Bill Bolton and St. Alban’s communities on parking preferences and crafted a response which effectively resolved the issue. Roberta Scott brought back Seaton Village’s beloved pumpkin walk. Local resident Charles Arbez provided a historical lens for understanding Toronto’s planning and development policies. City planner Chris Perreira gave a presentation on the current planning approvals process to the Planning and Development Committee. Chris McNeil just kept on doing what he had always done: running the Clinton St. Summer Festival and the very popular neighbourhood music event Open Tuning. At some point, Jane Wigle decided she was willing to be the SVRA Treasurer and was happily acclaimed into the role; she has continued to track the money and the memberships to this very day.

Our first general meeting in our new incarnation took place in November 2023 at Monsigneur Fraser School. Over 60 people attended with another dozen or so on-line. An interim executive was elected, by acclamation, and we consolidated the various committees. A Governance Committee (Lisa Freedman, Howard Law and Sally Thomas) spent countless hours writing and rewriting the by-laws, which were voted on and passed in May, 2024.

Our neighbourhood may be tiny, but it has proved to have many active, vocal and committed community members. We have also learned a great deal from the older, larger and vastly more experienced residents’ associations which surround us and continue to try to meet with them and partner with them. More recently, we have joined the Federation of South Toronto Residents’ Associations, where we hope to have a bigger impact on making our city a more beautiful and liveable home for everyone.

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Written by: Heather, Secretary, SVRA