Councillor Josh Matlow in the News

May 9, 2012

What should we do with Toronto’s iconic castle on the hill?

Almost a year after the city ended a decades long arrangement with Casa Loma’s previous operators, the Kiwanis Club of Casa Loma, the city wants to know how the castle can be best put to use.

Councillors Josh Matlow and Joe Mihevc are co-hosting a public workshop on May 10 at 7 p.m. at Grace Church on the Hill, 300 Lonsdale Rd. to discuss options for the landmark.

Read more: Town Crier: Discussing Casa Loma's future

May 9, 2012

Councillors went bananas for fair trade yesterday, posing with human-sized fruit and sipping the coffee on offer. (There were also chocolate bars, and in the interest of full disclosure we will report that Torontoist editor Hamutal Dotan ate one.) Fair Trade Toronto (FTT) visited the city council meeting yesterday to launch its campaign to make Toronto a Fair Trade Town.

Councillor Mike Layton (Ward 19, Trinity-Spadina) read a proclamation during the meeting that outlined Fair Trade Toronto’s vision and his support for the organization, a local chapter of Fairtrade Canada. FTT kicked into gear last December to promote ethical sourcing of food and other goods.

Read more: Torontoist: Going Bananas for Fair Trade

May 9, 2012

Toronto’s city council continued a two-day monthly meeting Wednesday, debating measures like transit and a credit card that would put money into city coffers.

But the marathon session took a nasty turn during an exchange between Coun. Gord Perks and Coun. Josh Colle.

While discussing the proposed return of the Toronto Sportsmen's Show to Exhibition Place, Perks was heard telling Colle, who sponsored the item, to “F-off,” before withdrawing the statement.

Read more: CityNews: City council approves long-gun motion, refers road tolls to executive committee

May 4, 2012

A possible development in the Yonge and Eglinton area has a few homeowners on Soudan ave crying foul, saying they feel pressured by the developer to sell their homes.

Michelle Zafir, who lives in a semi-detached house on Soudan ave, received a letter in early March from Compten Management Inc, offering $750,000 for her house. A price, she says, that is “not sincere, and not serious.”

“Homes in the neighbourhood,” Zafir said. “are going for $800,000 or $900,000.”

Read more: Global Toronto: Developer pressuring home owners near Yonge and Eglinton say residents