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Spring
2003 Newsletter ~
Toronto Public Space Committee
After a winter of hibernation and planning, we are gearing up for an important
year....
NOTE: In this time of war and violence, it seems awkward to be focusing
on bikes, parties, posters & plants. But as we organise against the
American/British bombing of Iraq, we need to continue mobilising around
local issues as well. The greatest victory for Bush would be if western
activists began to slow down their local efforts. The fight for access
to public space is also essential to ensure that people still have venues
to express their outrage at this war through rallies, posters, sit-ins,
non-reliance on oil-guzzling cars, etc. We hope you find this newsletter
informative, and perhaps uplifting, in these hard times.
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1) Toronto Social Forum
- March 28-30
2) Reclaim The Square
3) Seed Money - A fundraiser
for the Toronto Public Space Committee.
4) Guerrilla Gardening -
Springing into action May 25
5) Anti-Postering Bylaw Update
6) Bike Week Event - help
us plan!
7) New Contact Info
8) Monthly Meeting - March
30
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1) TORONTO SOCIAL FORUM - March 28-30
The Toronto Social Forum runs from March 28 to 30, and involves more than
100 local activists, campaigns and organizations who will be putting on
workshops, seeking alternatives, and holding discussions that focus on
local issues with global connections.
The Toronto Public Space Committee has organized a workshop as part of
this event called "Guerrilla Gardening and other forays into the
urban jungle" We'll discuss the anti-postering bylaw, Dundas Square,
and other campaigns that we have been active in.
Our workshop is scheduled for Saturday, March 29 2:30 pm - 4 pm in Room
B505
Be sure to indicate your interest in our workshop when you register! Other
workshops will include culture jamming, urban issues and politics, and
participatory planning.
You have to pre-register to make sure you get the lunches! For more info
go to: www.torontosocialforum.ca.
Call 416-979-5000 x7046 or email tsf@ryerson.ca
______________________________________________________________
2) RECLAIM THE SQUARE
Toronto's newest "public space", Dundas Square, is actually
the largest outdoor TV advertising venue in Canada. The visual environment
of this so-called public space is privately owned by marketing companies.
Toronto's sign by-law was drastically amended for this square to allow
such a massive scale of commercial imagery in public space. The newest
date for the official launch of Dundas Square is Thursday, May 29th. We
plan to have our own "unofficial" pre-launch event to highlight
the problems created by the the overwhelming video boards and the private
control of a public space. We need drummers, musicians, street theatre
performers, knitters, cyclists, fire breathers, stilt walkers, giant puppets,
culture jammers and everyone! Email us with your skills, stay tuned for
more info, and come to our next monthly meeting to join in the planning
process!
e-mail: dundas@publicspace.ca
______________________________________________________________
3) SEED MONEY - A fundraiser for the Toronto Public Space Committee
- April 30
Music, spoken word, and puppetry featuring paddington, Thunda & Casper,
Zagadka Zoological Society & more. Proceeds from this event will go
towards supporting TPSC campaigns and the first issue of Spacing magazine.
Keep your eyes open for more information on this evening, including the
official line-up of entertainment, in the weeks ahead. Admission will
be $5 or pay what you can. April 30th. 9:30 pm. Sneaky Dee's 431 College
St. Hope to see you there!
______________________________________________________________
4)
GUERRILLA GARDENING - SPRINGING INTO ACTION MAY 25th
Guerrilla Gardening's first planting will be Sunday, May 25. We need to
identify abandoned and neglected sites to plant in. Look around your neighbourhood
and email us at gg_tpsc@hotmail.com. You can also receive the Guerrilla
Gardening monthly update email that lists other gardening activities of
interest. Just send us an email and tell us you'd like to be put on our
Guerrilla Gardening update list.
Celebrate Earth Day with a tree planting at Downsview Park on Sunday,
April 27th, noon.
______________________________________________________________
5) ANTI-POSTERING BYLAW UPDATE
The city has yet to complete their report on the deputations made at the
public meeting last October 9th to discuss the anti-postering bylaw. As
a result, a date to present the report to the Planning and Transportation
committee has also not been set.
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6) BIKE WEEK EVENT - help us plan!
We're organising an event for this year's Bike Week. On May 28th, 4:00pm
to 6:30pm, the 'Thanks for Riding Your Bike' Rest Stop for bike commuters
on College St. at Brunswick will include water, juice and other refreshments,
music, etc. We're looking for interested people to help me organize this
event.
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7) OUR NEXT MONTHLY MEETING - March 30
The Toronto Public Space Committee meets on the last Sunday of each month.
We discuss our campaigns, set long-term goals and decide how to invest
our energy for the upcoming month. Meetings are open to the public, of
course. Join us at 1:00pm on Sunday, March 30, at 79 Richmond Street East
(enter through the courtyard).
Interested in getting involved with the Toronto Public Space Committee?
We're always looking for new volunteers to help with our campaigns and
events. E-mail dale@publicspace.ca
for more info.
WHOSE
SPACE IS PUBLIC SPACE?
==============================
Toronto Public Space Committee
253 College Street, Box 372
Toronto, ON M5T 1R5
contact @publicspace.ca
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