The First Six Months of Community Liaison

Oct 1

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Weston Park project team has continued to move forward with the concept design process for the site and is continuing to learn more each day about the Weston neighbourhood while adhering to COVID-19 Public Health protocols and guidelines.

We have all had to do things a bit differently and have made some changes in connecting during these first six + months of the project. We have created new ways of staying in touch. This new website is one of the new ways that has been visited 637 times since its launch in June 2020.

Our community liaison point person, Marilyn McCrea, has been connecting with community members and stakeholders via telephone, exchanging emails and going on one-on-one guided walks as the public health protocols allowed. The walks have been through the Weston neighborhood with great commentary on the history and current events, through key landmarks and their relevance to Weston, along Lawrence Avenue’s key shopping corridor, several laps of the WCI track, and along the Humber River and its parkland trails.

The time spent getting to know people who care about Weston, its past and its future has inspired and informed us on a daily basis. The spirit of openness we have received is a testament to the character of the folks who call Weston home.

BY THE NUMBERS

120 Emails

81 Telephone Chats

20 Guided drives around the neighbourhood

14 Guided walks – residential streets, trails, public spaces, shopping area

22 Visits to Weston related websites

We have had great one-on-one discussions with a host of people who live and/or work in Weston, including:

Individuals
Association leaders
Members of families: Together and one-on-one
Business leaders and business operators
Co-workers
Educators
Essential workers
Volunteers
Weston Park Baptist Church congregation members
Youth
Weston Park Baptist Church staff
Seniors
Long-time residents
Newer residents
Community event organizers
Law enforcement
Social services
Home owners and Renters

Conversation topics have been wide ranging, including:

History of Weston community (dating back to the 1700s)
Periods of change - industrial (factory closures), commercial (opening and closing of businesses); transportation (a big one was the building of the Metrolinx station), demographic, social and political
The intersection – Weston and Lawrence traffic congestion/safety
Distinct parts of the neighbourhood and how they co-exist and types of residential housing
Types of retail/commercial – availability of grocery stores, restaurants, cafes, services
Community events: Farmers Market; Santa Claus Parade, BuskerFest, Neighbours’ Night Out, Neighbourhood BBQs – what they mean and how they bring the community together
Green space and parks – which ones are used and how
Recreation, cultural and entertainment in Weston
Living in Weston during COVID ‘stay in place’ i.e. loss of business, no school, closed services.
The future – what it must include, what it could be and what will make it even more of a place to live, work, visit and invest in.

Conversations continue to be frank and wide-ranging chats while being enlightening and engaging. Thank you to everyone who has participated for your willingness and time. These discussions have provided a trove of learnings and appreciation for the need, wants, and wishes of the neighbourhood.

Guest User