Groundbreaking for Toronto Tallest Mural – A STEPS’ Youth- Led Initiative in St. James Town

The Sustainable Thinking and Expression on Public Space (STEPS) Initiative, alongside its partner the St. James Town Community Corner, will be breaking ground to commence Toronto’s tallest public art installation in St. James Town. The installation will be comprised of a mural on the side of a residential building at 200 Wellesley Street, E, a Toronto Community Housing building. Painting will begin on Monday, July 29th at 3pm (rain date, Tuesday).

The mural project has involved collaboration among 40 young people from the St. James Town community, 8 professional artists and the broader community to revitalize the neighbourhood, and highlight themes of diversity, accessibility, local culture, safety and happiness. The building, which possesses a complicated history, is located near a busy intersection, with high multi-modal traffic, including pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. While visible from around the downtown core – a rare occurrence for downtown properties – the building is currently unmemorable and often difficult for residents and visitors to find.  The mural seeks to turn the building into a celebrated local landmark. "By adding vivid colours it provides a message of hope and rejuvenation that uplifts the spirit. It has my seal of approval!” says Resident Leader, Miguel Avila.

Youth from St. James Town have participated in STEPS’s Emerging ARTivist Program since the summer of 2012, a workshop and leadership program that uses art to explore urban design and the built environment.  The mural comes out of working on larger issues of public space, the environment, accessibility and community engagement. Youth, with input from building residents, worked to develop a design concept and submitted a StreetARToronto grant proposal. The design will work with the motif of a bird soaring up, emblematic of a phoenix rising, to counter the negative stereotypes associated with St. James Town. One 200 Wellesley resident said "I like the idea of the phoenix and rebirth. The building and neighbourhood get a lot of attention...sometimes it’s not good. This is positive initiative. I wish there were more projects like this."

 

"Our communities benefit from engaged local residents beautifying our public spaces, and this mural project is an excellent opportunity for the youth in St. James Town to give to their neighbourhood while exploring their creativity," said Councillor Pam McConnell (Ward 28, Toronto Centre - Rosedale).  "This mural will elevate the neighbourhood in a very exciting way, both bringing sparkle and splendour as well as providing the St. James Town youth a new source of pride."

After developing an initial design with celebrated local artist Sean Martindale, STEPS and the youth performed several community consultations, with residential meetings and 3 publicized consultations and another 2 information sessions at 200 Wellesley St. E. Over 85% of residents who attended these consultations expressed enthusiasm, supporting the idea of a mural to revitalize the neighbourhood designed by youth from the neighbourhood. “I like how it brings the community together,” notes one resident of the proposed project. Another resident added, “Yes [this is] a good idea. Add more colour to [the] neighbourhood.” The design of the lower mural sections have been developed directly from stories and input provided by building residents during these consultations.

Mojan Jianfar, Emerging ARTivist Program Coordinator, shares, “STEPS is invested in the process of community engagement, and has sought to involve youth and the neighbourhood to create designs that reflect the diversity and vibrancy of the St. James Town Community.” Workshop facilitator, JAH, notes, “The real power of working with young people is that you are planting seeds for the future…You never know how that’s going to re-emerge and manifest itself in the future.”

STEPS has been working to bring its Emerging ARTivist Program to various neighbourhoods alongside their local community partners, with Thorncliffe Park as the first community to host in 2011. This project is scheduled to be officially unveiled in September 2013.

Background on STEPS/Emerging ARTivist Program

STEPS is an organization promoting the use of art to connect people with public spaces.  STEPS seeks to challenge and change the ways in which public spaces are currently being used, how citizens communicate on environmental issues and the role of the artist in community development.  STEPS and its Emerging ARTivist Program in St. James Town are supported by the City of Toronto’s Identify ‘N Impact, StreetARToronto,  and Live Arts Programs; the Ontario Arts Council; the Ontario Trillium Foundation; the Laidlaw Foundation and ING DIRECT.

For More Information or Media Inquiries Contact STEPS’ Director Alexis Kane Speer at info@stepsinitiative.com or 647 999 0213.

The Spirit of Jazz Fundraiser for the Victims of the St. James Town Fire

Wednesday, October 6th at the Annex Live - 8:00 to 11:00 PM

296 Brunswick Ave.  (416) 929-3999

The Spirit of Jazz will be accepting cash/cheque donations at The Annex Live. Cheques should be made payable to Treasurer, City of Toronto and should say in comments - "Victims of the Wellesley St. Fire." The donation is tax deductible. Donors should include their full name and address in order to receive a tax receipt.

The Toronto Office of Partnerships is accepting donations of cheques or gift cards for residents who have been displaced. Cheques or gift cards can be mailed to the Toronto Office of Partnerships,Metro Hall, First Floor, 55 John Street, Toronto, ON M5V 3C6 or dropped off at the Wellesley Community Centre (495 Sherbourne Street) or 519 Church Street.

Donations may also be made at RBC Branches located within the city of Toronto (416 area code). RBC Branches will accept cash, money orders, drafts and VISA cash advances. Drafts/money orders must be made payable to “Treasurer, City of Toronto”. Cheques will not be accepted at RBC branches and donations made at RBC branches will not be issued a tax receipt.
THE SPIRIT OF JAZZ was formed in Toronto in 2002 by co-leaders James Warburton and Chuck Loriot.

THE BAND PERFORMS at jazz clubs, jazz festivals and select private parties and corporate functions.

CURRENT CD’s FEATURE the music of Horace Silver, Gerry Mulligan, Cannonball Adderly, Miles Davis, Charles Lloyd, Dexter Gordon, Benny Golson and Duke Ellington.

THE SPIRIT OF JAZZ has provided a showcase for musicians as diverse as Bill Bridges, Bruce Cassidy, Lenny Solomon and Colm Wilkinson. We can create the musical landscape for your show or featured event.

Some 200 Wellesley St. Residents Returning Home Today

Eight days after a six-alarm fire displaced more than 1,200 people from a 30-storey Toronto community housing building, some residents of 200 Wellesley St. E are going home Saturday. 

Toronto Community Housing has announced the building has been deemed structurally sound and the first group of tenants has been allowed back into the building. 

The exact number of residents moving in is still being calculated, said Sinead Canavan, spokesperson for Toronto Community Housing. The organization is holding a news conference this afternoon and should have the details then, she said. 

Links:

Toronto Community Housing

200 Wellesley St. Fire

200 Wellesley St. Fire - St. Jamestown Toronto -DONATIONS

The 519 Community Centre at 519 Church St. in Toronto is accepting donations for the residents of the 200 Wellesley St. fire last week.

In response to the six-alarm fire on September 24, 2010 at 200 Wellesley St. E., The 519, the City of Toronto and Toronto Community Housing are working together to coordinate donations from members of the public.

The City has set up a bank account to accept monetary donations.  Gift cards for grocery, department and drug stores as well as cheques can be dropped off to City staff at The 519, the Wellesley Community Centre at 495 Sherbourne St, or mailed to the Toronto Office of Partnerships, Metro Hall, First Floor, 55 John Street, Toronto ON M5V 3C6. Cheques should be made out to the City of Toronto, 200 Wellesley fire. The donation is tax deductible. Donors should include their full name and address in order to receive a tax receipt.

Donations of clothing and other items can no longer be accepted.

Drop off and pickup hours at The 519 are as follows:

•  Sunday 12 noon - 5pm
• Monday to Friday 9am - 9pm
• Weekends 10am - 5pm

Residents of 200 Wellesley St. E. can pick up donated items at the Wellesley Community Centre (495 Sherbourne St) and the U of T Exam Centre (255 McCaul St). Residents are asked to bring their yellow registration card.

More information is available from the City of Toronto here:

http://www.toronto.ca/200Wwellesley.htm

200 Wellesley St. Fire - St. Jamestown Toronto Info for Residents

City of Toronto Information

http://www.toronto.ca/200Wwellesley.htm

Sept 26, 2010, 3 p.m. 

As a result of the fire on Sept. 24 residents of 200 Wellesley are still unable to return to the building. The Office of the Fire Marshal is in charge of the site.

Services for tenants are being provided at Wellesley Community Centre (495 Sherbourne St.) and 255 McCaul street (University of Toronto). At the site, City staff from Toronto Community Housing, Shelter Support and Housing, Toronto Public Health, Social Services and Toronto Animal Services are working together to provide immediate assistance, including options for accommodation, crisis counselling, information on social services, and to assist with other needs. The Canadian Red Cross is also on-site at the City's request to help provide support, including blankets and toiletries.

For safety reasons, and to preserve the integrity of the Fire Marshal’s investigation, residents still cannot enter the building.

Toronto Community Housing is working with partners including the Fire Marshal to assess and make necessary repairs so residents can return home as soon as it is safe.

Access to vehicles in parking garage

Residents who have vehicles in the underground parking garage and have their car keys will be able to access the parking garage to retrieve the vehicles today between 3:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. Please meet at the entrance to the parking garage where Toronto Police will meet you and escort you to your vehicle. People who can’t get to this location during this time can approach the Toronto Community Housing information table at the Wellesley Community Centre (495 Sherbourne St.). Once people remove their vehicle they cannot re-enter until further notice. 

Meals

Meals for tenants will be provided at all three sites, including breakfast, lunch and dinner. Bag lunches for people are going to school or work will be available tomorrow at the Wellesley and McCaul sites in the morning.

Clothing

People can access clothing at the Goodwill store and Bloor and Sherbourne. You must take your yellow registration card to the Goodwill to get clothing. Goodwill is providing $25 per registration card. The store is open today until 5 p.m. and Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Mail

We are working with Canada Post to arrange for mail to be redirected to a nearby postal office for pickup. We will provide more information once it is available.

Showers

Shower facilities are available for tenants at 255 McCaul. There are busses leaving from Wellesley Community Centre to take tenants to 255 McCaul and bring them back. 

Assistance for pets

Animal Services and Toronto Fire Services have visited all locations where pets were reported to retrieve pets. Food and water has been left in the site for any pets that may still be in the building. For residents who have been reunited with their pets, food and water for pets is available at Wellesley Street Community Centre. 

Assistance with housing options

The City will continue to provide a place to stay and food for tenants for as long as needed. Toronto Community Housing and the City are working together to look at alternative accommodation for the longer term.

Residents requiring medication

People who require medication should go to Wellesley Community Centre and speak to staff at the medical information table for assistance with prescriptions. 

TTC - Transit tokens

A desk has been set up in the Wellesley Community Centre where people can get two transit tokens at a time. Please show your yellow registration card.

Scooter power recharging

People who use scooters to move around should check in at the Toronto Community Housing information table to let us know the make and model so we can get the right charger.

Letters for employers

People who require letters for employers to identify they have been impacted by the fire can obtain a letter from the Toronto Community Housing information table.

Tenant Hot-line

Tenants can call the Toronto Community Housing hot-line at 416-981-5520 to get updates.

200 Wellesley St. Fire - St. Jamestown Toronto

St. Jamestown Fire

Update: CP24 is now showing video of another unit on the 24th floor with flames shooting out. The fire is not under control.

Toronto Centre MPP Glen Murray is reporting 200 people homeless on his twitter feed. Donations of food, clothing and money are needed.

Update: 8:45 pm. I got a call from a friend who can see 200 Wellesley from his balcony and he says the fire has started up again and a window has blown out. According to CP24 the fire department is telling residents to stay put unless they are experiencing smoke.

A massive fire broke out this afternoon around 5 pm on the 24th floor of a St. Jamestown highrise. The National Post is reporting that the fire is now out. 10 firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion and four residents of the building, including two children were reportedly taken to hospital.

Torontoist and The Toronto Star report that although the six alarm fire started on the 24th floor the entire 22nd floor was also engulfed in flames. More than 100 firefighters were on scene with approximately 40 firetrucks and support vehicles.

The building has 711 public housing units and is fire trucks are seen daily at this building dealing with false alarms. When I passed by on my way home from work the entire balcony area of the unit was a wall of flames. This fire underscores the danger of allowing balconies to become cluttered with objects.

Toronto Centre MPP Glen Murray is accepting donations for residents. Please mail or drop off (Mon to Fri) donations for victims of fire at 200 Wellesley to:

Murray's office at 514 Parliament, Toronto, ON, M4X 1P4

Links:

The Toronto Star
Torontoist
The National Post
CBC
City Tv
The Globe & Mail