Toronto Waterfront - Port Union

Under the topic of "Here we go again" Miller's pronouncement of greater tree coverage to enhance the canopy over Toronto has not been translating very well, in light of the removal of 1200 trees from just one site within Scarborough/Agincourt. Under the same heading comes the concept of just exactly what is the "common good" that some of these out of touch Councilors are referring to in their responses. The "common good" was never proven to the community in the case of the 1200 trees and why not. 1200 trees is also the equivalent of cutting down the stand of trees at Macklin Woods [1803 to 1978] at the corner of Brimley and Sheppard now Brimley Woods.

This is how the NANCY-GRIFFON Foundation, a community driven Foundation, responds to this type of nonsense. Since 1976 and with the approval of the City of Scarborough/Agincourt and the Federal Government we have supported the return of the lands at old Port Union. But it wasn't until the removal of the local Councilor that this project got under way. And what a beautiful amenity it is turning out to be even only with the completion of Phase Three, that being the restored land and park from just west of Chesterton Shores to just east of the mouth of Highland Creek. You can now go and see for yourself. Like before, it is absolutely gorgeous. Nothing proves a point like a huge chunk of reality. Phase Four is next and that is the re-creation of the sailing harbour that we had from the last glacial age to 1877.

One of the 1001 features of this project for the regeneration of the old lands at Port Union is trees, lots and lots of Carolinian trees. If you the reader has experienced the loss of trees in your neighbourhood and in all likelihood with more to come, perhaps this will ease the pain and we ask for your support for lots and lots of trees at the regeneration site of old Port Union. This is also our waterfront. This is your waterfront. This is everybody's waterfront. And for generations to come.

During the week of April 23 we the Foundation, along with the City will be selecting a suitable site for three very special trees to honour three very special people from our community. They were the first three supporters of this project known as the King's Harbour Concept [for the regeneration of the lands at Port Union] and they were Mayor Gus Harris, Mr. Bruce Fleury, Scarborough/Agincourt Parks Commissioner and Mr. Robert Bundy Metro Toronto Parks Commissioner. Without these three men, this project would never have happened. It was these three men who introduced the concept to Mr. Bill MacLean Commissioner of the Toronto Regional Conservation Authority who had never before considered it. If you see the site now, it is most certainly supported by the TRCA now!

The three trees of the Carolinian species to be selected by the City of Toronto will be planted during the week of May the 19th and I invite you, the readers to join with the Foundation on the weekend of May 26, 2007 to visit the site and to honour our new trees and to honour these three men, oaks of the forest, in the full restoration of the old lands of Port Union and to support Phase Four, the two moles to re-create the old sailing basin of old Port Union. And most certainly, many more trees.

We thank you. Please visit our web site at http://ca.geocities.com/kingsharbour@rogers.com

Toronto Waterfront - Port Union

PORT UNION WATERFRONT
The King's Harbour Marine Park concept has long since [since 1976] proposed that the olde village of Port Union [1832-1877] be restored as a public amenity with the use of public funding. Concept was endorsed by Mayor Gus Harris and all Mayors and Premiers since then along with the related Parks Commissioners. This concept was introduced to the then Chairman of the Toronto Regional Conservation Authority [TRCA] Mr. Bill MacLean by the Mayor in 1976 who had never seen it before and who have been supporters ever since. The fact that it had never been seen before was re-confirmed again by Chairman David Crombie of the Toronto Waterfront Regeneration Trust who called the King's Harbour Marine Park proposal "a marvellous new amenity never seen before in waterfront planning" in his final report to the region in 1982 six years later.

With the completion of Phase One [purhase of private lands around Port Union] Phase Two [building of the three bridges to the site] and Phase Three [the land fill from Chesterton Shores to Highland Creek] we are now looking at Phase Four [the completion of the east and west moles to enclose the sailing harbour to replace the old one and the re-opening of the Adams Creek to create a water flow into the harbour.

Our only problem at the moment is the "Toronto" Waterfront Revitalization Corp whose mandate does not include Scarborough/Agincourt other than the less than ½ of 1% of their $17 billion budget split between Scarborough and Etobicoke even though 45% of their budget comes from taxpayer funding from those areas outside of downtown Toronto.

So to the people of Scarborough/Agincourt we ask that you stand up for the City and support your own waterfront with your donations and ensure that your Councilors are directed by you to do so. Please visit our site at http://ca.geocities.com/kingsharbour@rogers.com