LETTER FROM FOSS TO TCDSB REF NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Read Etobicoke Guardian article and a previous FOSS post for the announcement of the plans to build the new TCDSB elementary school "Christ the King" on the Lakeshore Grounds.  This is a letter sent today from FOSS outlining some of our members' concerns and interests.

Toronto Catholic District School Board
80 Sheppard Ave. E.
Toronto, Ontario
M2N 6E8

August 12th, 2011

Attention:      Ann Andrachuck, Trustee Etobicoke/Lakeshore, Chair, TCDSB

                    Angelo Sangiorgio, Associate Director,Planning/Facilities, TCDSB

We understand that provincial approval and funding have recently been received to construct a new elementary school on the Lakeshore Grounds and that there is a 99 year lease agreement between the TCDSB and the City of Toronto for that site.  We also understand that at the TCDSB’s upcoming August 31^st meeting this project will be discussed. 

Friends of Sam Smith Park (FOSS) would like to have this letter placed on the agenda for that meeting and we also invite the Board to initiate public consultation on the placement and design of the school by holding community meetings at the earliest opportunity.

Friends of Sam Smith Park (FOSS) is a six year old group of local residents and park users dedicated to protecting, enhancing and preserving the naturalized areas of Colonel Samuel Smith Park.  We would like the opportunity to table some of our concerns and interests around the construction of the new school, particularly with regard to the environment and the preservation of the essential character of Sam Smith Park as a “nature park”.

First, we note that there are mature trees on the property and we are anxious that as many as possible be retained.  We hope that an inventory is carried out in accordance with the City's tree policy and that more trees will be replaced than need to be removed to allow for construction. 

We have waited a long time for the heritage orchard to be restored and, as it is part of the school site, we would welcome your support in persuading the City to finally take some action to provide for the protection and/or replacement of the orchard.

There is a wonderful tangle of lush flora on the site that provides wildlife habitat.  To preserve this protective cover, there needs to be as much vegetation retained as possible.   Generous, naturally landscaped setbacks from Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive and Lakeshore Boulevard would also help achieve this.

The Toronto Catholic School Board could use the construction of the new school as a catalyst to restore North Creek that runs through this section of the Hospital Grounds.   Restoration of the creek, including the planting of native species along the edges, would help re-establish this valuable riparian pathway used by birds during migration and by mammals as a movement corridor in the park.  Storm water run-off from any paved surfaces on the school site could be channeled through the creek to help maintain water levels.

Given the nature of the site and Sam Smith Park in general with its shoreline, wetlands, meadow and woodland supporting a magnificent web of life and a diversity of environments that provide food, habitat and protection for the many species of birds, animals and plants that call it home, we anticipate that environmental programmes will be emphasized in the school’s curriculum.

We also trust that the architects and designers will adhere completely to the lease agreement in terms of shared parking.  Underground parking might be included in the design to reduce the size of the asphalt footprint.  Or, failing that, a permeable surface should be considered if outdoor parking is necessary.

We assume that the Board will adhere to all the Urban Design guidelines adopted in 2004 and to the conditions outlined in the lease with the City with respect to no fencing other than for the kindergarten playground.

We are delighted that Christ the King has been designated an ECO school and hope that the new school will be built to LEED standards. 

We were wondering whether a representative of the Board will be attending the next meeting of the Lakeshore Grounds Coordinating Committee so that the other tenants of the Grounds can be advised of the Board's plans.  Information about this committee can be obtained from the local Councillor’s office.

We look forward to any opportunity to work with you.

Yours sincerely

Terry Smith

Acting Chair 

Friends of Sam Smith Park

NESTING BOXES

The tree swallow nesting boxes built by FOSS members and participants at the last two Sam Smith Bird Festivals have been well used this year.
(Thanks to George Raikou for this wonderful photograph.)

RED NECKED GREBES HAVE EGGS!

Photo by George Raikou

The nesting platform closest to the beaver lodge is occupied by grebes and there are now two eggs! Hopefully they will be successful this year.

Red-necked Grebes typically build their nests in shallow water with marsh vegetation. Both male and female help build a floating nest made of plant material and anchored to emergent vegetation. The female lays two to four eggs. The young are fed by both parents and often ride on their backs. Shortly after hatching, they can swim by themselves.

The Toronto Region Conservation Authority has been placing nesting platforms at Sam Smith for the past few years in an attempt to encourage these birds to breed here.  There are breeding pairs successfully established in Bronte harbour.


The map shows that we are at the extreme eastern edge of their breeding territory.

CONSERVATION AUTHORITY FAMILY NATURE EVENTS

MORE OF "GEORGE'S PARK CRITTERS" (George Raikou)

FOSS MEMBER WINS ETOBICOKE GUARDIAN "URBAN HERO" AWARD

Last night, the Etobicoke Guardian awarded the "Urban Hero" award for the Environment to Terry Smith, a founding member of Friends of Sam Smith Park.
In a quote from the Guardian article, Terry affirms a conviction of his and, in a way, restates one of the core guiding principles for FOSS ...........

"The more high tech and built-up our city becomes, the more we need the restorative power of nature for our physical and mental well-being," said Smith, who works with Friends of Sam Smith Park, the Lakeshore Planning Council and Good Air, Safe Power (GASP). "Our communities and parks need lots of quiet natural spaces where we can see wildlife, where we can escape from the pressure, the rush and the concrete."

PLANTING NATIVE GRASSES IN PARK

Indian Grass

On Saturday, members from FOSS (Friends of Sam Smith Park), LEGS (Lakeshore Environmental Gardners) and CCFEW (Citizens Concerned for the Etobicoke Waterfront) planted Ontario prairie grasses around the skating trail.  Species included Indian Grass, Maiden Grass and Switchback.  These are all native, extremely hardy, colourful in late Summer and hosts to butterflies and other insects.  Some wildflowers were also planted in what remains of the meadow.

NEW CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL A GO

The "Guardian" is reporting that the province has approved $10.25 million for the new elementary school on the Lakeshore Grounds (south west corner Lakeshore and Kipling).   Architects will be appointed at the August Board meeting and they expect construction to be completed in less than 3 years.   It will be for 536 pupils.  The building will have three stories and have approximately 40 ground level parking spots.  The plan says that there will be “proposed orchard rejuvenation with new specimens” south of the school.

SATURDAY - NATIVE SPECIES PLANTING AROUND SKATING TRAIL

Please join us for a planting of native species around the skating trail.  We need lots of volunteers to help naturalize this area.

The skate trail planting is this coming Saturday (June 25), from 10-12.  Janette Harvey from the City will be bringing gloves (although feel free to bring your own gardening gloves if you prefer), trowels, and all the plants.  The event runs rain or shine (with the exception of lightening/thunder), so everyone should come prepared with rain gear or sunscreen and hat depending on the weather.

We'll be planting according to the landscape plan for the skate trail area and Janette will also bring additional native wildflowers and grasses for the adjacent areas.  

SAM SMITH BIRDWALK ON SATURDAY

KITE FLYING IN TORONTO'S PARKS

Kite flying in Toronto parks is currently being dealt with by Toronto City Council.

In order to ensure the health and safety of park users, staff, and wildlife in City parks, the Parks and Environment Committee recommends that…:

• City Council prohibit kites with strings made out of hazardous materials in City parks.
• City Council authorize competitive kite flying activities in City parks through the Parks, Forestry and Recreation permit process.
• City Council prohibit competitive kite flying in parks that have significant bird activity.

This motion passed at the parks committee and now goes on to city council.

For a background to this issue, read this Globe and Mail article and the City’s own report.

Friends of Sam Smith has requested that Sam Smith Park be designated a “park that has significant bird activity”.

ETOBICOKE GUARDIAN - BIRD FESTIVAL

ART AND PHOTOGRAHY SESSIONS IN THE PARK START NEXT TUESDAY

Art in the Park sessions will start next Tuesday. June 7th. Meet in the parking lot around 9:00 a.m.  Everyone is welcome.  Please bring your own art materials.
 
We're also going to try a photography workshop on the 14th starting at 7:00 pm - again meeting in the south parking lot area.


Questions?  E-mail Don McClement or call him at 416 259 5856.

TORONTO TREE FESTIVAL ON TORONTO ISLANDS - SATURDAY, JUNE 11

BIRD FESTIVAL

Yesterday’s Spring Bird Festival was a tremendous success. The weather cooperated once the morning fog lifted and the rain overnight ensured there were lots of interesting warblers still resting and feeding in the park for us all to enjoy. The CCFEW bird walks yielded many varieties.

 

The Art, Photography and Nesting Box Building booths run by Friends of Sam Smith Park were well attended.  Eager children constructed twenty-five tree swallow boxes and these will be installed on the Toronto Islands. Thanks to John Hayes from the High Park Nature Centre for teaching the children all about the need to provide nesting boxes to tree-cavity nesters who have fewer old trees to use in urban areas as well as helping them to build them.

A wonderful collage of children’s nature paintings was created by the youngsters with help from Don and Donna-Marie and this will be on display soon at Birds and Beans café in Mimico.

George Raikou and the other photographers showed their work and offered tips on taking successful nature shots.

Much appreciation must be given to the staff at City Parks and the Toronto Region Conservation Authority for all their hard work.  This second annual Sam Smith Park Spring Bird Festival establishes our park as the best nature park to visit in the west end of the city.

HOW TO MAKE A SWALLOW NESTING BOX

If you and your kids made a nesting box at the Bird Festival for installation on the Toronto Islands, you may want to make one at home for your garden or country property.

Boxes are easily made from a 6' X 6" X 1" pressure treated board ($3 at Home Depot) and construction plans are available at http://www.coveside.biz/tree-swallow-house-plans.htm The clean-out side panel should be secured with a small screw to deter vandalism. Boxes should be placed facing any direction other than north and at about five feet. This would make a great school or interest project to do with your kids.
Nesting boxes need to be cleaned out and sterilized with a white vinegar/water spray before every season.

A nesting box with these dimensions and this sized entrance hole is good for tree swallows, song and house sparrows and, if you're lucky, maybe even a Bluebird!.

SATURDAY, MAY 28 - SAM SMITH SPRING BIRD FESTIVAL.

WHIMBRELS!

The Toronto Ornithological Club is again co-operating with the Center for
Conservation Biology at the College of William and Mary/Virginia Commonwealth University, in monitoring the Whimbrel migration observed during the period of May 19 to May 30 at Col. Sam Smith Park.

Daily observations are conducted during that time period from 6.00 a.m. on at the South Peninsula of the Park. 

Peak migration dates are May 24 and 25 with peak hours expected at 06:00 and 08:00 EDST.  Hopefully there will be some stragglers still to be observed at the Bird Festival on May 28th.

The migration progress of individual Whimbrels with satellite transmitters can be followed on 'tracking@seaturtle.org' and http://wildlifetracking.org/index.shtml?project_id=369

THE BIRDERS ARE BACK!

Spring migration is well under way.  Songbirds, including the beautiful, brightly coloured woodland warblers, are turning up in significant numbers.
Birders can be seen every morning prowling the osier dogwoods near last Saturday's planting, the spruce grove along North Creek near the Power House and the north swale.  These are favoured spots for viewing warblers.
Green, natural space along the Lake Ontario north shore, like we have at Sam Smith, is vital to these long distance travelers for feeding and resting up after their nighttime lake crossing on their way from the tropics to the boreal forest to breeds.

Here is a report from Wayne Renaud, a local birder.  He listed on Ontbirds, a subscription bird alert website, the birds he observed yesterday in the park.

Blackburnian Warbler

Jerry Lewchyschyn, Brian Tannahill and I spent 3 hours this morning starting at 7:00 am birding the park and adjacent Humber Lakeshore College campus.  Warblers: Yellow-rumped (45); Palm (17); Black-and-white (12); Black-throated Blue (10); Magnolia (8); Black-throated Green (5); Nashville (3); Yellow (3);  Chestnut-sided (2); singles of Cape May, Blackburnian, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart and Ovenbird.  Other notables: 1 Eastern Towhee; 3 Field Sparrows; 1 Swainson's Thrush; 1 Veery; 5 Hermit Thrush; 3 White-crowned Sparrows; 8 Chimney Swifts; 2 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks; 2 Great-crested Flycatchers; 1 Least Flycatcher; 1 Blue-headed Vireo; 1 Warbling Vireo.  On and off the Peninsula: 2 Spotted Sandpipers, 4 Lesser Scaup; 4 Greater Scaup; 10 Long-tailed Duck; 7 Red-necked Grebe; 1 Horned Grebe; 1 White-winged Scoter. 18 Red-breasted Merganser; 4 Gadwall; 7 Mallard; 1 Blue-winged Teal. 

LAST SATURDAY'S WILDLIFE HABITAT ENHANCEMENT

The planting organized by Trees Across Toronto last Saturday was a resounding success.  Well over a hundred volunteers turned up to plant 800 trees and shrubs, all in the space of about two hours.  It was muddy, soggy and hard work but the cheerful volunteers "stuck" (literally!) at it until the job was done.  Special thanks to a large enthusiastic group from a north Toronto temple, all followers of the late Indian guru Sai Baba, a proponent of doing karmic service for the community.
The plantings will enlarge and enhance the Osier Dogwood area to the east of the sports oval that has become, over time, a significant wildlife corridor and birding hotspot in our park.
Below are photographs and a list of the species that were planted..

(One photograph shows a brave Killdeer sitting on its nest while all this activity was taking place around it.  Can you spot it?)