March 14, 2022
Our latest newsletter was circulated - read it here.
If you didn't receive the newsletter email directly and would like to sign up to receive future updates on the Smalls Creek and Williamson Ravine preservation efforts, please click here.
February 25, 2022
Unfortunately, our worst fears have come to fruition and Metrolinx has begun to raze the Small’s Creek Ravine. We are still working with the City of Toronto and the TRCA to ensure that the Metrolinx restoration plans will be properly developed in consultation with community members.
February 2, 2022
We are so pleased to report that Councilor Bradford’s motion was unanimously approved at City Council! A huge thank you to Councilor Bradford for all of his advocacy on behalf of Small’s Creek and Williamson Park Ravine!
City Council has adopted all of the below (see the amendments and voting history here).
Committee Recommendations
The Executive Committee recommends that:
1. City Council request the Executive Director, Transit Expansion Office, to request Metrolinx to investigate and provide alternative proposals to the City that reduce the impact to the ravine ecosystem due to Small's Creek project, including the approach for how the pedestrian connection from Merrill Bridge Road Park to Williamson Park Ravine will be included in the scope of the project, as referenced in the report (January 12, 2022) from the Executive Director, Transit Expansion Office.
2. City Council request the Executive Director, Transit Expansion Office to request Metrolinx, in consultation with relevant City Divisions and Agencies including the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, to provide a publicly available ecological restoration and stewardship plan for the entirety of the Small’s Creek ravine area, which:
a. includes a walking path that maintains connection across the east and west sides of the ravine, in keeping with the ‘connecting’ goal of the Council-endorsed Toronto Ravine Strategy;
b. explores the addition of a tiered retaining wall in the Small's Creek ravine to provide both better visual as well as improved environmental outcomes;
c. provides an outline for improved noise mitigation measures that address increased vibration, sound frequency, and decibel noise levels and confirmation of measures that will be implemented prior to and as part of future expansion or Regional Express Rail work in the area;
d. outlines the roles and responsibilities for all agencies and divisions involved in the scope of work; and
e. includes consultation with community and stakeholders, including the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, and receives Toronto and Region Conservation Authority approval in advance of requesting further project approvals or beginning any significant early work construction that impacts mature trees and the wooded ravine slope.
February 1, 2022
Councilor Bradford has introduced a motion to City Council asking that
Metrolinx investigate and provide alternative proposals to the City to reduce impact to the ravines
Metrolinx (in consultation with TRCA) provide a publically available ecological restoration and stweardship plan for the ravine area
The Motion will be heard and voted on this week. Click here to send an email to the City to support the motion.
Having trouble with the link above? Access the City site directly here. Draft email for you to start with can be accessed here.
SUPPORT OUR CAUSE THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA: https://act.newmode.net/action/smalls-creek
Webinar Update
We held a webinar February 1 to update the community.
Thank you to our speakers Michael Terk, Councillor Brad Bradford, Rima Berns‑McGown, MPP, Beaches–East York and Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, MP, Beaches–East York.
The deck that Michael presented at the webinar is available here.
January 17, 2022
Link to our most recent newsletter here.
November 25, 2021
Metrolinx has been repeating in the press and in our community meetings that an “independent review with TRCA” is underway for the Small’s Creek/Williamson Park Ravine area. When we asked for the information that had been provided to TRCA as part of that review to be made public - so we could see the plans that were under consideration - Metrolinx refused. We had to, yet again, submit a Freedom of Information request to access any detailed information regarding those plans.
As a result of that Freedom of Information request we now know the following:
In May, 15, 2020 Metrolinx made a voluntary submission of a restoration plan for the Smalls Creek ravine to TRCA for review and approval on June 26, 2020. The community was only made aware of the restoration plans from [our initial] FOI on December 17, 2020. Over the past year, as a result of community ‘consultation’ Metrolinx promised to incorporate a number of improvements into the restoration plan. As a result of a November 19, 2021 FOI document request to TRCA, we now understand that the original restoration plan signed by Scott Torrance (Landscape Architect) on January 24, 2020 has not been updated and resubmitted to TRCA.
So there has been no re-submission or formal change of restoration plans at all since our outreach to Metrolinx.
Access the documents we received as part of our FOI request here.
November 14, 2021
Fantastic opinion article by Birgit Siber available outlining our concerns about the ravine and the unique opportunity Metrolinx has - and is actively passing up - to prioritize sustainable development projects in our greenspaces. Read her article here.
October 24, 2021
Link to our most recent newsletter here.
October 12, 2021
A fantastic article in the Globe & Mail outlines the issues we are facing in Small’s Creek. Read it here.
October 4, 2021
Coverage in the Toronto Star from Ben Spurr about neighbourhood group concerns regarding Metrolinx project plans. Read the article here.
October 3, 2021
Small's Creek is joining with several other communities and assembling at Queen's Park on Wednesday Oct. 6th at noon for a Rally.
Covid safety protocols are in place and the planning team has worked with the correct authorities for this event. See attached media release.
Speakers include:
Mike Schreiner, Leader of Green Party of Ontario;
PeterTabuns, NDP MPP
Rima Berns-McGown, NDP MPP
Councilor Keith Irish, Markham Ward 1
Floyd Ruskin (Don’t Mess with The Don)
Rosemary Waterston (Lakeshore East CAC)
Among other leaders in our communities
There will be great looking signs for you to hold!
T-Shirts are available for a 15$ Donation (with charitable tax receipt) to the Small Change Fund. Pick up your shirt at East Lynn Park on Tuesday Oct 5th from 5 - 6:30pm or at the rally while supplies last!
Article in the Globe & Mail about Metrolinx’s continued inability to properly consult with communities around infrastructure projects. The Small’s Creek Ravine example cited among others as an example of unnecessary environmental destruction. Read the article here.
Celebrate Toronto’s Ravine Days (October 2-11)
Enjoy 10 days of events throughout Toronto’s beautiful ravine network and learn more about Toronto’s Ravine Strategy. #RavinesTO.
Head out to Small’s Creek and Williamson Park Ravines as part of the celebration of Toronto’s Ravine Days!
There are lots of great activities you can do in the ravines to celebrate:
September 28, 2021
Metrolinx has updated the access information for the town hall meeting tomorrow. The correspondence from them we received below:
Hello all,
I apologize for the late notice on this, but we have moved the meeting to an Engage event. I have notified those who have registered separately through our team, but have included the email and registration link below for your convenience. All other details remain the same.
On Wednesday, September 29 Metrolinx will be hosting a virtual open house from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM to provide the community with construction details on widening the GO rail corridor in the Small’s Creek area.
Representatives from the Metrolinx project team will provide a brief presentation and answer your questions. Our virtual platform will allow you to vote on the questions you’d most like answered, and the order our experts take them in will be based on popularity (total votes).
We encourage you to submit and vote on questions now. You may also submit questions during the meeting.
If you cannot attend, the video recording will be available on this page after the event.
September 27, 2021
Late last week we received the below communication about a town hall from Metrolinx. The Smalls Creek Team is unaware of the details and agenda to be shared, but we do know it would be good for a strong representation of the community to ask questions during the townhall. Below is the note and the link to the meeting from Metrolinx:
At the September Construction Liaison Committee, there was a request for an additional presentation to provide further detail on Metrolinx’s construction methodology in Small’s Creek. Since that meeting, Metrolinx has gathered and prepared materials to offer a fulsome update to the community.
This presentation has been scheduled for Wednesday, September 29, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM and is open to all community members. The meeting link is provided below.
Due to an October construction start date, the community requested a presentation urgently. As an update, our contractor will not be working in the Small’s Creek area in October, which gave us more time to compile our materials.
Further, we understand that there may be questions or comments for the TRCA. To accommodate this, we have confirmed the TRCA’s attendance to hear your comments and concerns.
If you have questions you wish to submit in advance, please feel free to do so. If you wish to ask questions on the call, there will be a Q&A session as well.
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting
Or call in (audio only)
+1 437-703-4197,,800135197# Canada, Toronto
Phone Conference ID: 800 135 197#
September 16, 2021
Coverage in the Beach Metro about the demonstration planned for today at East Lynn Park. Hope to see you there at 5pm!
September 14, 2021
Our latest newsletter was circulated today. Lots of updates included - especially about the CLC and the start of construction in Williamson Park Ravine as early as October 1!
September 11, 2021
Great coverage of the issue on “View the Vibe”. Article link available here.
September 7, 2021
Members of the community were invited to participate in a “Construction Liaison Committee” ostensibly to provide details about upcoming construction in Williamson Creek Ravine which is slated to commence October 1, 2021.
Metrolinx plans "clear all the trees and other vegetation on the south side of the corridor to build an access road to the south side of the culvert" in Williamson Creek Ravine starting at the current access point located at 110 Wildwood Cres. We’ve been told that construction is planned for overnight This means there will be construction in an Environmentally Significant Area overnight - - 11pm to 7am - chainsaws, grubbing and bright lights. Detailed construction plans (or remediation plans) have not been shared with the community, and the most Metrolinx has promised is a phone number you can call to leave a voicemail on that is returned a few times a day during business hours.
We asked for additional information as to what the construction plan specifically is for this area and so far, Metrolinx has not shared.
…..
Based on community feedback and questions, Metrolinx has committed to the following “action items” that they’ll address at the next CLC meeting (slated for October 5, 2021):
Identify if the reference to ridership numbers exceeding 200 million annually was determined with pre-COVID estimates.
Request for a more comprehensive, localized and frequent notice process.
Provide additional information on noise and vibration monitoring, including if Metrolinx has access to and monitors the data.
Determine if additional details of the TRCA application for Small’s Creek be provided.
Determine if an after hours call line can be established for resident complaints.
Provide further information on restoration in Small’s Creek specific to the construction access road.
Provide additional information regarding the safety for individuals and property specific to vegetation grubbing.
Provide further information specific to steps taken for light mitigation.
Provide further information regarding the design of the lagging and pile wall.
A link to the power point presentation given by Metrolinx at the meeting is available here.
August 31, 2021
August 23, 2021
Mayor John Tory visits the Small’s Creek Ravine to participate in a meeting with Metrolinx, Councillor Bradford and concerned members of the Small’s Creek community
June 26, 2021
Coverage on City News about the planned destruction in the ravine. Link to the piece available here.
June 9, 2021
We are pleased to report that Councillor Bradford’s motion at City Council was adopted without amendments! We are thankful that City Council has listened to our community and has agreed to
1. Request Metrolinx to undertake a thorough, independent technical review of alternative structural design approaches which not only consider cost and schedule, but also analyze the need to protect greenspace and prioritize the environment.
2. Request Metrolinx to conduct engineering analysis to explore opportunities to connect Small’s Creek and Williamson ravines with a new wildlife crossing or pedestrian underpass, coordinated with their proposed culvert design in Small’s Creek, in keeping with the ‘connecting’ goal of the Council-endorsed Toronto Ravine Strategy; and
3. Request Metrolinx to provide a proactive ecological restoration and stewardship plan for the Small’s Creek ravine in advance of significant work impacting mature trees and a wooded ravine slope, taking guidance from the United Nation’s Nature-Based Solutions approach and other relevant standards and best practices.
Full language from the motion available here.
June 8, 2021
Last night we hosted an information session to update the community on where we are to date with our initiatives. We were lucky to have our representatives at all three levels of government join us: our federal member of parliament, Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, our provincial representative Rima Berns-McGown and our Toronto City Councillor Brad Bradford all participated as well as David Donnelly of Donnelly Law.
June 6, 2021
Councilor Bradford has introduced a motion to City Council asking that the City push Metrolinx to explore additional construction options that could better protect the Ravines. The Motion will be heard and voted on June 8, 2021
Having trouble with the link above? Access the City site directly here. Draft email for you to start with can be accessed here.
June 3, 2021
Our team has been working hard crafting a vision for this ravine system that protects and maintains its ecological integrity and use as a habitat for wildlife, protects community enjoyment of the space and honours its sacredness as unceded Indigenous land.
Please join us for a presentation and conversation on how we can all work together to push for a better future for Small’s Creek, featuring statements from our local City Councillor Brad Bradford, our MPP Rima Berns-McGown, our MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith and the lawyer we have retained to work on our behalf, David Donnelly of Donnelly Law.
The webinar will run from 7pm-8:30pm.
Small's Creek: A Brief History, featuring John Wilson of the lost Rivers Project.
June 1, 2021
We sent a letter to Mayor John Tory outlining our concerns and requests. That letter is available here. It includes our proposed renderings of an alternative option for Small’s Creek against the current Metrolinx proposal.
May 23, 2021
Our latest newsletter update was circulated - take a look HERE
May 13, 2021
Results from our Community Survey have been tallied - take a look at our findings here.
April 20, 2021
NOTE: Survey now closed. But please check out the survey results HERE.
APril 16, 2021
Metrolinx released a blog post about their plans for Small’s Creek. They cover many of the items we’ve been asking about (but don’t discuss plans for Williamson Park Ravine at all). As always we continue to be excited for Metrolinx to share details about their plans so the community can be properly consulted.
April 14, 2021
Community is powerful. We brought similarly aligned groups together with our members of parliament to underscore the importance of community consultation and effective two-way conversation. Join us by sharing our this letter on social media or sending it to our officials:
Here is a list and e-mail contacts to let your voice be heard.
APril 6, 2021
Read our statement below on the unannounced midnight removal of trees near Wildwood Park. Link to the video mentioned in the statement here.
March 22, 2021
Our latest newsletter update was circulated - take a look HERE
March 19, 2021
We have retained Donnelly Law to assist us as we continue to push to protect the Ravines. We are really excited for the work they plan to do at the City level. Click here for an introductory letter they’ve drafted about our cause.
March 9, 2021
We had a strategic alignment meeting with Councillor Bradford and MPP Berns-McGown to discuss the recent Metrolinx announcement. Materials from that meeting available here.
March 8, 2021
March 6, 2021
Online story published by the Toronto Observer highlighting our concerns about the track expansion project and its impact on the ravines. Read the story here.
March 5, 2021
Video story by the Toronto Observer was posted highlighting our concerns and request to pause the process until Metrolinx can find a better more ecologically friendly approach.
March 3, 2021
MPP Rima Berns-McGown presented our case in the Provincial Legislature. Watch her presentation here.
February 23, 2021
Interviews with our technical experts about the impact of this project on the ravines
February 16, 2021
Ben Spurr published an article in the Toronto Star outlining the rush of expropriation Metrolinx is undertaking across the GTA; he also highlighted the issues we are facing in Small’s Creek. Read the article here
February 3, 2021
Metrolinx conducted an online one-way information session about their plans for the ravine. You can watch their event here
Our team posted our rebuttal here
January 31, 2021
Our latest newsletter update was circulated - take a look HERE
January 16, 2021
Our latest newsletter update was circulated - take a look HERE
January 10, 2021
Video footage posted online from the ribboning event held December 20, 2020 on the Williamson Ravine side of the tracks
January 4, 2021
The Beach Metro published an article about our concerns.
December 31, 2020
We had two Zoom information sessions trying to download as much as we know to-date about the projects. More information to come, but if you missed the session you can watch a recording here:
Click the image above for a .pdf copy of the deck we presented during the Zoom Session
December 23, 2020
This holiday update email was sent to our email list and our petition went live!
We’re also planning two Community Update Meetings. There will be two repeat sessions to bring us together as a community to:
Bring you up to speed on what we know so far
To share what we would like Metrolinx to do
To discuss what we think is possible to save the ravine
This will be one-way live video communication, but will include a live Q&A with folks at smallscreek.ca. We would love to see as many members of the community as possible take part, so spread the word to your ravine adjacent friends and anyone else who’d like to be involved. This webinar will be a window into our strategy and help get you up-to-date, as well as empower you with easy and tangible ways to help.
Here are the details - save the date(s)!:
December 21, 2020
BlogTO story posted covering the increasing concern over the destruction of Small’s Creek
December 21, 2020
Dec 21st — On Friday December 18, Metrolinx officials, Councillor Brad Bradford, MPP Rima Berns-McGown and representatives from our Small’s Creek group met (safely, with masks and social distance) in Small’s Creek ravine for a “site walk” to discuss the looming construction. Our Member of Parliament, Nathaniel Erskine-Smith had to send his regrets, but is very much engaged with us in this process.
We believe it was helpful for Metrolinx and our elected representatives to see our ribbon-wrapped trees, meant to draw the community’s attention to the planned removal of a number of trees on the slope and the orange tarp installed to give ravine users a sense of the size of the retaining wall planned for the base of the hill.
At the end of the meeting, our group received an assurance from Metrolinx community relations contact David Phalp that our questions — our five asks — will be addressed, although no timelines were given. We intend to hold him to his promise.
As far as we know, construction is still planned to begin the end of January, although Metrolinx has now committed to more communication with our neighbourhood about their construction plans. We continue to demand specific answers and justifications. Metrolinx has also given over a drawing that confirms our fears that most of the trees on that slope will be cleared.
Bradford pointedly insisted residents see the documents we've requested, which include specific construction plans, specifics on re-naturalizing the area once they're through and alternatives that were or could have been explored but were not. He also pushed for better notification systems with respect to construction - for clear signage and schedules to be shared. Berns-McGown shared concerns that Metrolinx had "broken trust" in the community and stressed that they need to listen to the community about how this work will impact them.
In the meantime, anyone walking through Williamson Ravine on the south side of the track will notice the same red, yellow and blue ribbons tied to trees in the area Metrolinx plans to clear during the same time frame to do their culvert/retaining wall builds. They were placed there Sunday, a week after the same coloured ribbons were tied in Small’s Creek.
DECEMBER 18, 2020
A walk through of the ravine is arranged for all three levels of government (attended by Brad Bradford, Rima Berns-McGown and Nathaniel Erskine-Smith) as well as Metrolinx representatives. In preparation for that site visit, Metrolinx provided a power point presentation detailing their plans for the Ravines. It seems like things are even worse than we thought - in addition to the 267 trees we knew about, an additional 363 Metrolinx owned trees will be removed.
December 18, 2020
CBC story airs covering the increasing concern over the destruction of Small’s Creek
December 17, 2020
Information from our Freedom of Information request arrives. And with it, more upsetting news:
1- There is no reference in the drawings received to the public walking path. Zero
2 - The TRCA received the drawings from Metrolinx on May 15,2020 and submitted their review letter June 20, 2020. Seems like too short a window to have properly considered the environmental impact in our opinion..
3 - The walking path and stairs near the Bastedo side of the ravine are represented directly over the 'new' culvert. We can’t determine from these drawings if the walking path will go over the culvert ot around it…
December 12, 2020
Neighbours organized a ribbon tying event in the ravine to try to illustrate the scope of the planned devastation. Every tree with a ribbon will be clear cut if the current Metrolinx plan goes ahead.
