…an
issue-driven community group, based in Bloor West Village, active for more
than a decade, and committed to promoting public interest and participation
in community and political affairs from the local to the national level.
(See below for a synopsis of world19 history)
We pioneered the use of electronic communications as a means
of connecting with our neighbourhood and promoting community involvement.
Since our first electronic newsletter in March of 1998, we have published
over 180 issues, and in 1999, we created the world19 website.
world19 engages
in a range of community-based activities, such as…
Organizing local events and actions:
Earth Hour in the Village: A Candlelight Walk
(March 2008)
In 2008, Toronto joined the international Earth Hour Challenge. Here in
Bloor West Village, we helped bring together an estimated 500 people to
participate in a candlelight walk along Bloor to show their commitment
to act on the issue of climate change.
See our report & photos of
the event here.
(Click thumbnail for larger image)
Public
Forum on the future of Toronto: (Oct. 2007)
“How do we build
a great city, and how do we pay for it?”
In the
midst of heated debate about Toronto’s fiscal state and two proposed new
taxes, world19 thought the time appropriate for a serious community
discussion on the broader issues facing Toronto (and other cities). Our
panel of expert city watchers and a large and involved audience (which
included the Mayor) discussed the above topic.
One attendee wrote us
afterward to say, “Thanks so much for hosting such a sane and thoughtful
discussion. It's good to know your group is in our community.”
Our report and photos are
posted here.
(Click thumbnail for larger image)
“Save the Village” campaign (1999-2000)
We initiated a campaign to raise awareness of the plights of the small
merchants who have helped create the unique atmosphere of Bloor West
Village and helped build much of the community feel of the area. We
initiated informal community meetings, and helped create a working group
composed of world19, other community members, City Councillors and
staff, the local BIA and others.
Our notes on that
campaign are posted
here.
(Photo of our "Save The Villlage" button)
Other public forums
Over the past 10 years, we have organized All Candidate Meetings for
elections at all levels, as well as other public meetings on topics such as
Health Care, the state of small retailers on Bloor, and other community
issues.
(Photo from our forum on Bloor West Village,
Dec. 1999. Among the speakers pictured are current Mayor Miller, former
Mayor Hall, and former Councillor Chris Korwin-Kuczynski. Click for
larger image).
Partnering on community initiatives…
Bloor West Village
Urban Design Study (2004-2005)
world19
was an active part of this project, facilitated by Toronto’s
Office for Urbanism. The study was created to provide direction for
anticipated changes due to development along Bloor. It identified the unique
aspects of the Village and noted the properties most likely to be
re-developed. The report set out guidelines, developed along with a
citizens’ panel, for future developments.
The final report can be downloaded here.
(Warning: this is a 9mb PDF file)
Bloor West Village Residents Association start up
(2004-2005)
Members of world19 were active participants in the creation of the new
residents association serving the area north of Bloor. In fact, almost
all of the initial group that helped to create the
BWVRA were 'world19
news' subscribers who came together as a result of the idea appearing in
our newsletter.
Stelco lands
development (2000-2002)
world19
participated in the working group that was created to deal with issues
regarding the newly proposed development of the old Stelco property which
would become the largest development to be built in the area.
Information on this process, including all working group and community
meetings is archived here.
Participating in local and citywide events:
Oct. 2007: The 2nd
annual “YIMBY” Festival
We participated in the 2nd annual “YIMBY” (“Yes In My Back Yard”)
festival, held at the Gladstone Hotel, an event which focuses on positive
and decisive change in the city through the involvement of dozens of
neighbourhood groups and organizations.
Our history in
brief, or “What the heck does 'world19' mean?”
Our group began in 1997,
around one issue: opposing the forced amalgamation of Toronto municipalities
into the “Megacity”.
Since we were then living
in Ward One of the old City of Toronto, and we worked closely with the
city-wide organization, “Citizens for Local Democracy” (C4LD), we decided
an appropriate name for our group would be “Ward One Residents for
Local Democracy”, or as we called ourselves “WORLD”.
Although that battle was
lost, and amalgamation imposed, we continued to stay active on community
issues we thought important. But in the new Megacity, this area became part
of the new Ward 19, and so eventually we decided we had to change our name,
and renamed ourselves "world19".
Three years later in 2000,
the province again imposed a restructuring on the city, and we now found
ourselves living in Ward 13. However, we decided we weren’t going to change
our name again, and so world19 we remain.
(Photo: from our
1997 municipal All-Candidates Meeting, featuring our original WORLD
banner. Click thumbnail for larger image).
Some comments
about world19….
"world19: Back in orbit"
Beginning in January of 2006, we took a breather, and stopped publishing
our newsletter for a time. However, the critical issues around the city
in the fall of 2007 prompted us to revive our activity, beginning with our forum on building a great city in October. (Noted above).
In the January, 2008 issue of the
Bloor West Town Crier,
columnist Greg Hamara welcomed us back with a column entitled "Web folk back
in action here".
Among his comments:
-
world19.com is back in orbit, and not a moment too soon
for residents and neighbourhoods of west Toronto.
-
They are not a single-interest organization out to stop
something -- unless by stopping, we mean public apathy about issues
affecting our familiar neighbourhoods, as well as the sprawling urban
mess stretching beyond.
-
He concluded by warning residents about putting much
stock in political handouts and glossy newsletters from local
politicians. "Don't be fooled by their spin.
For a dose of reality, visit www.world19.com".
Click here for the full article
(PDF format -- about 500K. It requires Adobe or
Adobe reader).
Our readers write (A few comments
sent to us):
-
I saw your table at the YIMBY festival, and looked you
up. It's great to read news from an engaged, progressive neighbourhood
organization that thinks about "big picture" issues, and not just what
happens on your own turf.
-
Thank goodness for world19... a
"treasured" aspect of life in the BWV!
-
This is a great newsletter! Glad to hear there are folks in
Bloor West
Village who care about the city.
