Are BIAs the key to Toronto's future?

The building blocks of a great city are vibrant communities, thriving neighbourhoods. Many pockets of engagement around the city will make the whole a beautiful place in which to live. As such, City Hall needs to find ways to encourage and support our neighbourhoods -- not simply the well-known communities (Greektown, Chinatown, Little Italy), but the no-name, no-tourist, just-regular-folk variety as well.

But how?

My modest proposal: a matching grant program.

Seattle has done it successfully – profoundly successfully, as a matter of fact. They began modestly in 1988 by putting some money aside to help neighbourhoods – but the neighbourhoods were to do the work, unleash their creativity, and take the lead in any project.

If the community got together and came up with an idea to enrich their collective life, and they came up with half the money for the project (or committed to volunteer labour, etc.), then the City matched the proposal.

The initiative and momentum of the projects were clearly in the hands of the community members, but City Hall could come alongside with some much-needed help and financial support. Brilliant! Run-down parks were beautified, murals were painted, garden patches established, sculptures commissioned, and the list goes on. Twenty-two years later, Seattle is still supporting its communities. Why not us?

When I thought about this, I realized that Toronto already has a limited version of the matching grant program in our BIA’s (Business Improvement Areas, of which Toronto has 71). If a BIA takes the initiative to put in park benches, decorative lights, banners, etc., the city will pay for half of the capital cost (and the individual BIA pays the other half). The city’s BIAs and their surrounding residents have been greatly helped by this rather limited matching program.

How much more could this city be enriched through a Seattle-like matching grant program? Imagine the possibilities! Imagine the energy and collaboration that comes when we actively engage in our own neighbourhood – and our politicians are “there” for us and help us in a practical sense. Seattle started small because they weren’t sure they could afford it; 22 years later, they know they can’t afford NOT to do it. Why not us?

About Rev. Jim Parker

A lesson learned from the Bloor Street Viaduct

The thought came to me: “Back in 1913, at great cost and with great foresight, the leaders and the people of the time prepared for the future.”

It was a privilege to be part of the Toronto Star meeting with the Steering Committee of the 2020 Group. “What do we want this city, this province, to look like in the 2020?” they ask. I travel to the meeting via our much-maligned subway. I travel over the Don Valley on the Bloor Street Viaduct, built in the second decade of the 20th century.

However, the subway wasn’t built for another 50 years. Back in 1913, at great cost and with great foresight, the leaders and the people of the time prepared for the future.

The 2020 Group is a collection of labour, business, government, and community members that have started talking to each other. I personally don’t know if anything will come of the discussions, but of one thing I am sure: we need a long-term approach to leadership.

Good things happen if we courageously envision the future we want, and THEN, and only then, work to actualize it. What kind of health care do we want? Education? What’s the next wave of jobs for which we should be preparing? What initiatives for community organizations do we support?

A century after the Bloor Street Viaduct was built, our time is now to show courageous leadership. I commend the 2020 Group and wish them well. They want to hear from us about what kind of city and province we want in ten years time ... let’s help them out!

About Rev. Jim Parker

Want to make Toronto better? Learn from a drug dealer

Rev. Jim Parker.

The Boston preacher wanted to make his crime-ridden, shady neighbourhood better.  He wanted to reach out to the youth in positive ways, but everything he tried didn’t work. 

Finally in desperation, the Boston preacher approached the local drug dealer. 

“Sir,” he said, “I want to help the youth of this community, but nothing I do seems to attract any youth.”

 “Yes...,” the drug dealer replied. 

“But I notice,” responded the preacher, “that your Youth Ministry is doing quite well.” 

“Yes...,” replied the drug dealer. 

The preacher then asked his question: “What, may I ask, is your secret?” 

“You really want to know?”

“I do,” the preacher nodded emphatically, “I really want to know what makes you so successful.”

“It’s simple,” declared the drug dealer sincerely, “I’m there ... and you’re not.  When Jamal comes home from school, I’m there and you’re not.  When Susie wants excitement, I’m there and you’re not.  When Mark wants a job, I’m there and you’re not.”

This is a true story that speaks volumes of truth for our city.  The good people of our city must stand up and “be there” -- be an active force for good, be a presence for peace, productivity and constructive decisions.

Our politicians need to “be there”: we need politicians who are not so concerned about getting re-elected, being politically correct, looking brilliant, or doing the minimum, but rather primarily concerned with supporting positive groups, with looking out for the best interests of our residents, with helping to keep our city from unproductive forces, and with doing what is right. 

We need to elect men and women committed to positive action and “getting their hands dirty” to improve our city.

About Rev. Jim Parker