Toronto Paintbox | ?m | 26s | Daniels | Diamond Schmitt

[christiesplits]

I tip my hat to the architects for thinking beyond glass and EIFS. Do I think the brick wall is a work of art? No. But we should encourage architects to be more creative with materials, even if it doesn't always pan out well.

 

[rpnorthdream]

Block 24 South- 50 Regent Park Blvd is now open and families have begun moving into the building.

 

[DSC]

Coming to today's Council meeting. Nota bad commemoration as it is within sight of Pam's home and she really was instrumental in having Regent Park redeveloped.

MM44.120
ACTION

Ward:All

Naming of Public Property after the late Deputy Mayor Pam McConnell moved by Councillor Paula Fletcher, seconded by Mayor John Tory
* This Motion has been deemed urgent by the Chair.
* This Motion is not subject to a vote to waive referral. This Motion has been added to the agenda and is before Council for debate.
Recommendations
Councillor Paula Fletcher, seconded by Mayor John Tory, recommends that:

1. City Council approve the naming of the City's Aquatic Centre in Regent Park in honour of the late Deputy Mayor Pam McConnell.

2. City Council request the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to ensure that the name "Pam McConnell Aquatic Centre" is displayed prominently on the facades of the building.

3. City Council request the Deputy City Manager, Internal Corporate Services to identify a suitable location at the Aquatic Centre for a bench and commemorative statue of the late Deputy Mayor McConnell.

Summary
At its meeting held October 2, 3 and 4, 2017 City Council endorsed Mayor Tory's approach to identify a appropriate recognition for Deputy Mayor Pam McConnell.

In a follow up letter Mayor Tory requested Ward 30 Councillor Paula Fletcher to develop a process to gather input from the community and the McConnell to identify a suitable public place to rename in memory of the late Deputy Mayor.

Following City Council and the Mayor's direction, and after speaking with the family, it was determined that a suitable site in Regent Park would be selected. Further consultation was undertaken with many stakeholders in the Regent Park community who loved her dearly and worked closely with our late Deputy Mayor McConnell.

The overwhelming decision was to rename the Aquatic Centre. From its outset the revitalization of Regent Park was the signature work of then Councillor Pam McConnell who championed the transformation of this Toronto Community Housing Corporation community, leading the process through its many hurdles at the City, moving into the community at River and Parliament, working to build community capacity and community supports for the new Regent Park. This included the construction of the long sought after Aquatic Centre to support the revitalized Regent Park Community. She also took steps to ensure that it became a priority centre, a recreation model which she fiercely defended and advanced.

This Motion is urgent as this month marks the one year anniversary of the untimely passing of Deputy Mayor McConnell and as the Council who served with Deputy Mayor McConnell, it is only fitting that we honour her at our last meeting of the term.

 

[interchange42]

News Release

July 23, 2021

City of Toronto honours the late Pam McConnell, unveils new sign for the renamed Pam McConnell Aquatic Centre

Today, Mayor John Tory was joined by members of Toronto City Council and Pam McConnell’s family to honour the legacy of the late Deputy Mayor Pam McConnell and officially unveil a new sign for the renamed Pam McConnell Aquatic Centre in Regent Park.

Deputy Mayor Pam McConnell, who passed away in July 2017, was a long-time member of Toronto City Council and spent much of her career advocating for social justice, poverty reduction, education and literacy. She is known for advocating for Toronto’s most vulnerable residents and for her role in the revitalization of the Regent Park neighbourhood. She worked hard to ensure the neighbourhood had resources and amenities, such as a local park and pool, to help the community thrive.

Pam received numerous awards for her work over the years, including an award from the Duke of Edinburgh in 1997 for her work with youth who experience systemic inequities and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013.

In 2018, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities posthumously awarded her a place in its Roll of Honour and created the Award for Gender Equality in International Development, naming it the Pam McConnell Award. In the same year, the City created the Pam McConnell Young Women in Leadership Award to recognize the exceptional leadership of young women in Toronto.

To honour her life and work, Council voted in 2018 to rename the aquatic centre in Regent Park and commission a commemorative artwork and bench. A call for public art proposals was issued in June and closes on August 16. Details for the competition are available on the City’s Public Art Competitions webpage: http://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy...monuments-collection/public-art-competitions/ The commemorative artwork and bench will be installed in summer 2022.

The Pam McConnell Aquatic Centre, which recently re-opened as part of Step Three of the Province of Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopen, features three pools including a 25-metre lap pool, a leisure pool and a therapeutic pool and two universal change rooms. City staff have worked closely with Toronto Public Health to implement adjustments to program capacities and parameters to meet new provincial guidelines. Reservations for 45-minute leisure or lane swim sessions must be made in advance through the City’s Swimming webpage: www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/recreation/swimming/#location=&lat=&lng=.

 

[skycandy]

After the snow: A boy and his dog.