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Closure of local school pools possible as more education funding sought By Joshua McGinnis
PHOTO: MATTHEW STEPHENS
Local youngsters Rose and Chloe Scarlino, Karina Callaghan and Frankie Wines are advocating for the protection of the Glen Stewart Ravine from the impacts of a proposed 11-storey building on Kingston Road.
Local youngsters start campaign to protect Glen Stewart Ravine By Matthew Stephens
IN LIGHT of a proposal for an 11-storey building on Kingston Road on the north edge of Glen Stewart Ravine, a group of local youngsters are taking a stand to preserve the natural area. “I do nature school where I come here one Friday a month. We spend all our time in the ravine, and the last time I was at nature school, they told me about how they’re going to build a condo in the ravine,” said Karina Callaghan, a local resident and founder of the advocacy
group to preserve the ravine. “They told me that there’s over 500 species of animals and plants, and that we have to protect them all. So, I told my parents, and they decided they would help me spread the word.” Initiated by 10-year-old Callaghan, her movement caught the attention of her parents when she informed them about the proposed 11-storey residential development on the southwest corner of Kingston Road and Beech Avenue. “We came for a walk in the ravine on a Sunday, and that’s when
Karina was rhyming off all the steps and pointing out where the building is going to be and that it’s 11-storeys, and then it started that Monday,” said Karina’s mother Kristina Jokinen. Dad Brendan Callaghan also became involved with helping Karina’s cause. With the help of her friends Chloe and Rose Scarlino, Frankie Wines, and moral support from the Facebook group Friends of Glen Stewart Ravine, the young advocates got to work spreading the word across the community. Continued on Page 5
Victoria Day fireworks display set for Ashbridges Bay THE ANNUAL Victoria Day fireworks display at Ashbridges Bay this coming long weekend is set for the night of Monday, May 19. Presented by the City of Toronto, the display will begin at 10 p.m. sharp and is expected to last approximately 14 minutes.
The fireworks display is visible all along the Boardwalk and the Eastern Beaches, and draws huge crowds to the area to celebrate Victoria Day. Those planning on attending are urged to use public transportation or walk to the area. Ashbridges Bay
Park is located at 1561 Lake Shore Blvd. E. at the foot of Coxwell Avenue at Lake Ontario. Those attending are being reminded by the city that it is illegal at all times for residents to light off personal fireworks on public property, including parks and beaches.
THE TORONTO District School Board is considering closing 36 swimming pools, including in the East Toronto community, as it grapples with a projected $58-million deficit for the 2025–26 school year. The TDSB currently operates and maintains 66 swimming pools. Of these, 27 are leased to the City of Toronto for after-school community programs, and two are leased to third-party organizations. If budget cuts are approved, 36 school pools will be shut down. Among those facing possible closure are five pools located in the Beaches-East York and TorontoDanforth area: • Monarch Park Collegiate – 1 Hanson St. • Malvern Collegiate – 55 Malvern Ave. • Fairmount Public School – 31 Sloley Rd. • Riverdale Collegiate – 1094 Gerrard St. E. • Queen Alexandra Middle School – 181 Broadview Ave. The board may also eliminate certain music instructor positions if it cannot secure additional funding. In a statement to Beach Metro Community News, Beaches-East York TDSB Trustee Michelle Aarts said the provincial government must provide adequate funding for pools and aquatics, emphasizing their importance to residents. “The TDSB was created when the province amalgamated seven Toronto school boards. Each former board had a different approach to building schools. The former East York and Toronto boards built schools in collaboration with the city and were meant to be community hubs serving students, families and neighbourhoods,” she explained. “Rather than building on large plots of land, the schools were built
with community centres and pools embedded amongst the houses. East York schools generally have very little property; some schools rely on neighbouring city parks for green space. The close partnership with the city is critical for students and also benefits neighbourhoods. We know that students thrive and communities are stronger when we have intergenerational relationships in and around our schools.” Aarts also said, “The provincial government needs to invest in public education adequately.” She said provincial education funding is supposed to allow local boards flexibility to meet the needs of their communities. “However, flexibility assumes there is enough funding to cover the costs of school services. The year-over-year budget struggles actually reflect the severe underfunding that all school boards face.” Aarts said 42 of Ontario’s 72 school boards are facing deficits, and that education funding has not kept up with inflation. “The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association estimates that the lack of investment has led to a year-over-year decline in funding since 2019 to the tune of $776 per student. For the TDSB, that is $269 million. For the province, which has about two million K–12 students, that is over $1.5 billion,” she said. According to Aarts, while the provincial government boasts about its education spending, that funding fails to meet the TDSB’s needs. “The provincial government likes to brag that they spend more on education every year, but Continued on Page 9
Please see our federal election coverage on Page 4