Monday, September 26, 2016

Update for Summer 2016

Slack Group is Created

Slack is an awesome tool to come together and collaborate.  Please join and contribute at https://friendsofjacksoncreek.slack.com


An awkward Exchange with a Municipal Bureaucrat





Me: I always wondered why our both Sunnyside and Long Branch beaches in Etobicoke are not Blue Flag, unlike all the others in Toronto.  Might you have an answer?



Office of Office of Councillor Mark Grimes, Ward 6, Etobicoke-Lakeshore: Thank you for contacting Councillor Grimes' office to express your concern about why Sunnyside Beach and Long Branch beaches are not blue flagged. The Blue flag program measures the water quality of specific beaches to communicate to people if they are safe to swim in.

Please see the link below for information on the Blue Flag Program

I have consulted the website above if is advised that the public should not swim during and after storms, floods or heavy rainfalls because cloudy water could be an indicator of high levels of bacteria in the water.

The water is tested for E. coli on the specific beaches over a 24 hour period.

At the moment, Sunnyside Beach which had a sample taken on July 27th and posted on July 28th, there were high levels of E. coli present and it said people can swim at their own risk.

I did not see Long Branch beach on the list of beaches that are tested. Are you referring to an area that is along Long Branch Park? Perhaps it is not an official beach that is registered with the city.

You can always call (416) 392-7161 to listen to a recorded message for up to date water quality results for the listed beaches.

You can also access the information with a mobile app. Please see the link below for more information.

If you have any other concerns about the quality of the water you could contact Toronto Public Health at (416) 338-7600 Monday to Friday between 8:30am-4:30pm or email them at publichealth@toronto.ca

I hope this information was helpful to you.

[[ No it wasn't, nice grade-3 level research project though; A-]]

Me: Actually the official name for the (locally known as) Long Branch beach is Marie Curtis Park East.  It is an official beach and of what I gather the city applies for a Blue Flag status annually but consistently fails to get it.  Here is a news story about such an outcome back in 2014: <http://www.cp24.com/news/eight-toronto-beaches-retain-blue-flag-status-1.1841879> .  I am just wondering what is the shortfall, why is that the case and what we as a community can do to help.  MCPE beach is life-guarded, maintained and water quality seems decent (typically green, sometimes yellow flags).  It would be a source of pride for Etobicoke to have an internationally recognised beach.

Office: Thank you for providing additional information regarding this issue. I would contact the Environment Defence directly who administer the Blue Flag program to inquire by Marie Curtis Park East and Sunnyside Beaches were not recognized to be included in the program.

Please click on the link below to send an email.

I hope Environment Defense can provide you the information you need regarding your concern.

[[Shafted me off to the 3rd party, who did not respond.  Nice lack of local knowledge and general sense of disinterest, Office]]

Mississauga Getting it Right


Neighbour city is revitalising its waterfront.  I visited the inaugural event for the free burgers and people waiting in line were talking excitingly about the developments.  I overheard one group, who vehemently complained about the floods and erosion-destruction of the lower Etobicoke Creek area.  That's what we get from redirecting Jackson Creek into it at Dundas St.  

Mississauga, on the other hand preserved its smaller creeks.  It could have dumped Applewood and Serson Creeks into Etobicoke, adding to the devastation.  

Instead those creeks remain flowing through the neighbourhoods and will now go through the new conservation area, contributing to its experience.  Serson Creek even boast a beautiful park bearing its name and adds to the neighbourhoods it flows though every day.  The waters get slowly treated by plants and UV rays, not rushed through the pipes towards destruction of ravines and waterfronts.  


A creek of comparable size to Jackson in Mississauga is Cooksville Creek.  It is a strong part of local culture and heritage.  There's even a public school named after it.  

Meanwhile in Toronto

There are hearings, etc.  regarding flooding.  The main theme is badass engineering of nature.  More pipes, twin pipes, larger pipes, stupendous underground storage ponds.  How about daylight at least one of the creeks that was bulldozed over.  That's where the water has flowed for millions of years.  It is exactly where it resumes the flow during heavy rain events.  And in normal times, the water flows the natural way, purifies itself and leads to a proper waterfront on the lake.  Currently Etobicoke's waterfront is in the sorriest state along Lake Ontario.  It is ever getting more embarrassing, considering the projects that other municipalities undertake.  

Water is the lifeblood of the ecosystem.  We will drink this water from pipes and underground stagnation ponds, as it makes down to Lake Ontario and to the catchment pipe.  During the opening of the Mississauga's conservation area, there was an Aboriginal person performing a water ritual, Christians baptise themselves in water and probably all other cultures venerate this force of nature.  It is time to show some basic respect towards all streams and rivers in Etobicoke!