Last month's report was a summary of what we've been up to for the last year. It's the information presented at our Annual General Meeting (AGM). As you saw, it's been a busy year.

We had a very good turnout for the AGM and hopefully those who attended found it interesting and had all their questions answered. Several people came forward to become new members of the executive but one position remains to be filled - that of President. No one has yet stepped forward to volunteer for this post and maybe it's because of their uncertainty about what is required.

Let me put your concerns to rest. You are not on your own. You are part of a terrific team. Being President, these past two years has been a great experience. It has been hard work but that has been balanced by fun and by a sense of accomplishment. It has been a pleasure to work with the other members of the executive. They are all dedicated, hard-working and totally supportive. Think about volunteering. If you are concerned about our community and have some time you would like to spend in a more interesting pursuit, this is a great one. Whether you would like to be the President or volunteer to help with one of the other chairs, it's a chance to work with a great bunch of people on issues important to the community and to have some fun.

It appears that we finally have a solution to the proposed development at 76 Brumwell and Rear Lands.

City Council passed a resolution to acquire the creek bed, ravine and top-of-bank lands and to maintain them as green space. This represents a large chunk of the lands, which Candituft Developments Inc. were going to develop. On November 14th, they submitted a revised proposal for seven homes, a twenty metre wide street and a small park while agreeing in principle to sell the green-space lands to the City. This is a major change from the previous proposal of 24 homes. We have already had two OMB pre-hearings and the actual hearing is set for December 9th at 10:00 am. Hopefully, the hearing will be the finalisation of this proposal and the end of what has been a difficult series of negotiations. Thanks to Tina Katsuras and her son Gregory for campaigning so hard and thanks to Councillor Moeser for so effectively putting our case forward with the City. Thanks also to the more than 150 people who sent letters to the OMB, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and to Councillor Moeser.

Nothing further to report on the development of the Manson lands owned by Yellow Moon.

In the September issue of the CCRA News, I wrote about the concerns of the residents on Meadowvale regarding the conflicting reports they were receiving about what the City's plans are for Meadowvale Road.

Councillor Moeser has written to the residents, assuring them that "the City has absolutely no plans about the form that our pending capital improvements will take. All we do know for certain is Meadowvale Road is deteriorating and has been included in the 2003/2004 capital program for improvement. …

Please rest assured that ABSOLUTELY NOTHING is going to happen without the residents being fully consulted on this project."

There is a major improvement commencing on Adams Park. The first phase will be the renovation of the existing field house including the rehabilitation of the washrooms and the Park staff storage area. These improvements should be completed by the end of January 2003. The second phase will be the construction of a new 2,600 square foot field house adjacent to the new parking area. This building will house new washrooms, new baseball and soccer team change rooms and will provide storage facilities for these organisations. Construction will be completed in May 2003. In total, Parks and Recreation will be spending almost $700,000 on these improvements.

The Waterfront development has been going through a public consultation stage with meetings throughout the City. If you are interested in the Development Plan and Business Strategy, as well as the Public Consultation Strategy, check out the TWRC website www.towaterfront.ca . If you do not have access to the internet, you can get hardcopies of the information by calling James Fieldhouse at Lura Consulting at 416-847-0315.

In August 1997, a multi-stakeholder working committee was established to set out the plans and gain the approvals required to develop the waterfront from Highland Creek to the Rouge. After years of meetings, lobbying, negotiation and begging, in May 2001, the plans were finalised, various environmental assessments completed and approvals given to go ahead. The City, the Province and the Federal government had all said yes. We were given to expect that a fifty-year old dream was about to come true. So far, only the City actually started spending some real money on this project. The Province seems content with doing nothing other than making speeches when the cameras are rolling and the Federal government would only be a player if its creature - the Toronto Waterfront Revitalisation Corporation (TWRC) - had control over the entire project. Progress has been grudging and excruciatingly slow. Out here in "the boonies", we are seeing the tightest purse strings since Mother Hubbard. It looks more and more like the completion of our Waterfront might become a bi-centennial project. Sometimes I just shake my head and wonder how something so vital and so necessary can be delayed so long for absolutely no good reason.

The owner of 32 Irvine Road applied for a variance from the Centennial Community By-Law to allow subdividing the property into 3 lots, none of which meet the By-Law requirements. The Committee of Adjustment was prepared to allow two lots but the owner has decided to appeal that decision to the OMB. Needless to say, we will be opposing the appeal.

I have enjoyed these past two years immensely. Not only have we accomplished some good but the whole experience has been an education in community dynamics and how politics works. Prior to becoming President, I had no idea all the steps it took to get things to happen for the betterment of the community. I say that, having been involved with the CCRA for over ten years and having been previously on the executive. I must have had my eyes wide-shut.

Social events like Winterfest or Heritage Day are planned for months in advance. The individual events that will make up these special celebrations have to be determined, the number of likely participants, the number of volunteers required, a budget has to be determined, sources of funds identified and appeals made to individuals and organisations generous enough to contribute, to make sure the required infrastructure is in place. Then the volunteers have to be identified and informed what their responsibilities will be, advertising and notices made up and distribution organised. Equipment has to be identified, gathered or acquired and set-up. Then the day itself arrives and all the plans and organising has to be put into practice, hopefully without too many hitches.

To see event after event take place so successfully in our community absolutely amazes me. I'm very proud to have been associated with all these generous, hard-working people who care so much. Thank you.

As you've read, when it comes to dealing with issues affecting the community, it is often more difficult to see how effective your efforts have been. It certainly requires the same dedication, the same giving-up of personal time and the same belief that it's all worth it. However, one success makes you forget all the discouraging bits. It really has been a great two years. Thank you to every one who has helped make it so.

On behalf of the CCRA Executive, I would like to wish all of you a happy and healthy holiday season.

Bob Baron
President