Attendance: The meeting was attended by 21 RHRA executive members and 24 other members and guests.

Dick Watts opened the meeting with a welcome to all in attendance. Dick explained that executive meetings are held on a monthly basis in members’ homes. But twice a year we hold a general meeting for general RHRA members to attend and hear updates on the issues that we address. Special guests were mentioned and thanked for coming. They included: Idalina da Silva, Community Relations Assistant from the office of Mario Silva; Mike Foderick, Executive assistant to Councillor Caesar Palacio; Nancy Byers, honourary life member of RHRA and co-author of St. Clair West in Pictures; Heather MacDonald, from the Humewood area; and Patsy Agard, principal of OCI.

Patsy Agard welcomed everyone to Oakwood Collegiate and thanked RHRA for the inspirations provided to the OCI students to work towards greening the grounds around the school. She expressed her views on the importance of maintaining relations between the school and the community. She welcomed the community to join in any events presented by OCI, e.g. drama productions, and encouraged anyone to let OCI know if help is needed where students can receive volunteer community hours.

Reports and Discussion

1. Heritage and History
   1. Library murals – John McCauley reported that after 5 years of planning and fund raising, the restoration of the “family” mural painted by George Reid, in the Dufferin/St.Clair library, has been completed, although proper illumination of the mural is still needed. It is hoped that additional George Reid murals might be restored in the future. The Toronto Public Library Foundation has expressed interest in continuing the restorative efforts. While David Self and John McCauley have put forth tremendous efforts to get the project to this point, they no longer have the time available to continue. Anyone interested in joining in the restorations project can speak to David or John for more information.
   
   
   
   2. Regal Road School Portico – Harry Lay reported that the restoration of the front limestone columns of the school is low priority for the Board at this time. The columns, which are exposed to the elements and acid rain, would cost between 10 to 20 thousand dollars to have it properly sealed to stop the erosion of the limestone. It is hoped that the Board will eventually consider it a higher priority as Regal Road School is listed as a heritage site.
   
   
   
   3. Update of history section of RHRA Website – David Raymont has expanded the history section on the RHRA Website, www.regalheights.ca over the past few months. It contains interesting information about the history of our neighbourhood.
   
   
   
2. Street Beautification
   
   1. Gardens and garden signs – the Trees and Parks foundation has donated 350 daffodil bulbs and the Department of Parks and Rec have donated some bulbs as well. With the help of volunteers from the neighbourhood, the bulbs have been planted in the Mt Royal Parkette, Daffodil Hill and other locations. Florence expressed thanks to all the people who have shared their time and energy throughout the year to help plant, water, weed and clean the various community gardening projects. A sign is to be mounted on the wall at the Rosemount gardens to let people know that it is planted and maintained by the community. Thanks to the help of Peggy Lampotang and Randy Johnson, we were able to have the sign made for half the expected cost. Thanks to OCI for providing the water for the Rosemount gardens. -- On a disappointing note, two planter barrels have gone missing from the Highview/Oakwood location. -- Anyone who will be trimming their evergreens is encouraged to contact Florence who is looking for evergreen boughs for use to decorate our remaining planter barrels. -- Mike Foderick presented to RHRA a photo from the Toronto Archives of Daffodil Hill at the turn of the century.
   
   
   
   2. Councillor Palacio tours Oct 21 & Nov 29 – on Oct. 21 a group of RHRA members visited 15 sites in the community with Councillor Caesar Palacio to familiarize the councillor with some of our current projects and concerns. Three areas of particular concern were identified as having special, unrealized potential as environmental assets: the Glenholme steps, Springmount steps, and the boulevard extending northward from Springmount steps. A meeting is scheduled for Monday November 29th at 9 a.m. where representation from the Board of Works, Forestry, Parks, Councillor’s office and this community will meet to discuss ways of improving these areas. Anyone interested in attending is invited to meet at the top of the Glenholme steps at 9 am. on Nov. 29.
   
   
   
   3. Litter – the litter receptacle at the top of the Glenholme steps had gone missing. It was replaced today.
   
   
   
   4. Graffiti – volunteers from this neighbourhood have "adopted" various postal and telephone boxes to keep them clean of graffiti. Most graffiti can be easily removed with the use of lacquer thinner. Chip Au, West District Co-ordinator for the Municipal Licensing & Standards department, explained the legal responsibility for graffiti removal from private property, e.g. walls, falls on the property owner. If the graffiti appears to be gang related, it should be reported to the police. Otherwise, Chip can be reached at 416 394-2533.
   
   
3. Communications and Website
   David Shanoff reported that the Regal Heights e-mail service is our principal means of communicating with the membership. We do not advertise on our e-mails or on our Website, and we do not release our email list to anyone. The Website is updated from time to time and can be found at www.regalheights.ca



4. St. Clair West BIA
   Tony Bolla reported that a steering committee is working on expanding the St. Clair West BIA to include the area from Glenholme to Winona. Currently the BIA extends from Westmount to Glenholme. The expansion is not expected to be completed until the end of next year at the earliest. The BIA will be planting holiday trees in the presently empty planters on St Clair. Neighbouring schools have been invited to have the children help to decorate them. New businesses as well as older established ones need our support and patronage.



5. Schools
   1. Regal Road – Jeri Brodie reported that there are 540 students at RR with 1/3 registered in the French Immersion stream. There is a skating party planned for sometime in January and donations of skates can be dropped off in the school office. Dog droppings in the school playground is a problem. Please encourage fellow dog owners to do their part. -- Sad news of the murder suicide of the mother of one of the RR students was shared. Donations to help out Matthew and his siblings can be made to Cimmerron’s Fund at www.cafdn.org or by calling Children’s Aid Foundation at 416 923-0924. -- Parents picking up their children at 3:20 are parking on both sides of Regal Road and causing traffic safety issues. Jeri will raise this at the next parent council meeting.
   
   
   
   2. Oakwood Collegiate – Linda De Giorgio reported that the School Council is starting a new initiative called ‘friends of Oakwood’. This is an umbrella group asking for donations to help build a fund for students that need help re: food and TTC tickets to get to school. The funds will be administered at the principal’s discretion. The Toronto Board’s fund for this purpose has been shrinking to the point that there is only enough to help about 10 students. -- Jennifer Gordon, president of the environment club at OCI, has been working with the help of Florence Watts to beautify Oakwood’s main entrance on St. Clair Ave. She has received $1500 from a grant that was applied for.
   
   
6. Special Events
   Carol Sing is planned for Friday December 17th from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Oakwood Collegiate Parkette. The Salvation Army Band has been booked and the mounted Police have been requested to attend. Of course, Santa will make a visit also. All are welcome to come out and share in some holiday cheer and song.



7. Planning and Zoning
   
   1. Mount Royal Parkette – some residents near the parkette made a request to Councillor Palacio to improve the parkette. Parks staff are preparing a plan for community discussion.
   
   
   
   2. Street signs – Dominic Gulli, from Works and Emergency Services, explained that the street signs in Toronto are to be replaced by larger print signs some 39” long.
      -- This may be an opportunity to have signs that would identify this neighbourhood as ‘Regal Heights’ above or below the street name. Councillor Palacio is looking into the feasibility of this. Signs will be replaced on an as needed basis.
   
   
   
   3. Rogers communications tower – a 54-foot Rogers communications tower has been erected slightly east of Alberta Ave, just north of Davenport. Nearby residents were not consulted and find the tower to be visually unacceptable. They want the tower relocated to a more suitable location. A petition has been sent to the Mayor, Councillor Palacio, our MPP and our MP. Evidently, Rogers is not required by law to get community or City approval to erect such towers. Efforts from Councillor Palacio’s office are being made to have the tower moved to a less obtrusive location, and to have legislation put in place that would require City approval prior to such installations.
   
   
   
   4. 41 Rosemount Ave – Alex Russell, owner of 106 Oakwood Ave has filed an appeal against the proposed building planned for 41 Rosemount Ave. The appeal goes before the Ontario Municipal Board on Nov. 18. The proposed development may kill or seriously damage the 2 mature Norway Maples on the lot, block current views and unduly shade neighbouring gardens. Alex requested as many residents as possible to attend the hearing in support of the appeal.
   
   
   
   5. St. Clair Transit Study – The city has approved the construction of a TTC right of way on St. Clair. The environmental report is to be submitted to the Ont. Ministry of Environment and then be available to the public for 30 days when comments and concerns may be lodged. Following that, there is a 45-day period for ministry staff to review and make recommendations to the Minister. Then the minister will have 21 days to finalize her recommendations on the project. -- Margaret Smith advised the meeting that there may be difficulties finding the funds to implement many of the urban design components in the plan. On November 28th, the Mayor will hold a public consultation at the Metro Convention Center to discuss budget issues. Attendance is encouraged to stress the need to find the monies needed to implement all the urban design recommendations for the St. Clair project.

Privacy Policy - RHRA has developed a privacy policy as required by law. It is posted on the RHRA website. David Shanoff, RHRA Privacy Officer, emphasized that our membership list and e-mail list are carefully retained for use only by RHRA.

Finances - Seven new members joined tonight. We have $759.21 in the bank and $305.00 still held in trust for possible future work on the library mural restorations.