The Coal Point Chronicle: Annual TASNG Report 2023

Wednesday, 20 September 2023

Annual TASNG Report 2023

Chair's Report 2023 - Steve Dewer

The Annual General Meeting of the Toronto Area Sustainable Neighbourhood Group was held on 13th September and the elected committee bore a striking resemblance to last year’s dedicated crew.

Steve Dewar - Chairperson, Lois Simpson - Deputy Chairperson, Nico Marcar - Secretary, Trish Eldridge -Treasurer, Joanne Rees - Assistant Secretary

After a big change in the leadership, it was a hard act to follow Nico, Lois and Trisha.

TASNG’s efforts to improve our natural environment are crucial after COVID. Led by Lois, major improvements are happening to sustain and maintain the Toronto West Welcome garden and to clear out invasive plants from the wetlands opposite Toronto Lions Park, called “Crocodile Point” by our group.

We have supported Boomerang Bag making through Toronto library’s Make and Mend program. Trish and Lois have supported our campaign to reuse material and avoid plastics.

Nico and Steve attempted to change the habits of McDonalds Toronto customers about recycling on Clean Up Australia Day. We will continue to advocate to avoid plastics and promote recycling.

Lois continued to advocate for our community’s safety to get the painting of the parking bollards in the Boulevarde attended to after many accidents, and it looks like success is on its way.

Joanna has brilliantly led our anti-graffiti campaign and congratulated Toronto businesses via the award letter prepared by Suzanne. We have put in a grant application to the Eraring Community Grant for Awabakal painting prints on the Toronto Dentist’s wall and High School mural extension in Cook St. The Awabakal link is so important as Biraban Land Council supported our call for a Biraban & Threlkeld memorial on our Toronto foreshore reserve.

Helle will be working with Nico on getting more shared pathways in Westlakes and it looks like Toronto to Teralba is a priority, while we wait for a Kilaben Bay to Rathmines link.

Our partnership with Coal Point Progress Association is so important, especially through the Chronicle, thank you Suzanne. We had a wonderful carboot sale at Carey Bay last October, supported by the community, although we would have liked many more people. We will have a Trash and Treasure Reuse/Recycling stall at Lions Market in October!

Chris has kept us up to date with the amazing Hub Community Garden and we thank the Hub for allowing us to use the Hub for our meetings. We did have a Repair Cafe there in March. A moderate success but we would have liked more repairers.

Finally, we continue to support the wonderful work of Robyn at Pamper Care, so important during the Cost of Living crisis.

Thank you everyone…Steve

Boomerang Bags - Sew Sustainable

Are you interested in joining a new Boomerang Bags community?

Can you sew a straight line or use an iron? Do you have fabric you can donate? Do you want to help prevent used fabric going to landfill and be part of the circular economy?

Join the volunteers of Toronto Sustainable Neighbourhood Group for a free social sewing morning at the Toronto Library “Make and Mend Space”. Making bags from rescued fabric to share with others.