Summit leaves road wide open

It’s sardine city on the TTC most days. But Toronto Star staffers are reporting the luxury of exhaling on the city’s streetcars this week as the summit drives away traffic and transit riders — although the TTC says it doesn’t have the numbers proving ridership is down this week.

The eastbound Queen car, which normally takes 12 to 15 minutes to travel from Niagara St. to University Ave., took seven minutes Tuesday around 9:25 a.m.

“The streetcar just hurtled on because there was reduced traffic on Queen St.,” according to reporter Raveena Aulakh.

Debra Black made a similar report on the Spadina car.

Reduced traffic may be the summit’s silver lining.

“I’m loving this G20 stuff … made it in 15 minutes from Pape and Danforth to city hall, despite the rain. Even fewer cars on the road this morning, not many delivery trucks,” wrote Vanessa Lu.

Nancy White said she saved money as well as a little time. Lighter traffic got her to work five minutes faster than usual from the Beach along Queen East to Queens Quay.

The parking lot north of the Star building at 1 Yonge St., was charging $10 instead of the usual $12 summer rate.

“I guess they know people are staying away,” she said.

Leave the bikes at home

If your parked bicycle goes missing from downtown Toronto this week, don't bother chasing down Igor Kenk -- chances are the police are the culprits this time.

ISU spokesperson Sgt. Tim Burrows says police have been removing suspicious bicycles parked overnight around the G20 security zone (an area roughly bordered by King St., Yonge St., the lake and Spadina Ave.).

"If it looks like an abandoned bike, it's gone," Burrows said. "(If the suspicious bike is parked) after midnight and before 6 a.m., the bike's going to be investigated and there's a good shot it's going to be removed."

Like the many bike rings (and bus shelters and garbage bins and tree saplings) that have already been removed from the downtown core, bicycles can easily be used as makeshift weapons, Burrows explained.

He said some bikes have already been removed by police. Any cyclist who discovers his or her wheels missing can check with the Toronto Property Bureau at 799 Islington Ave. (416-808-3750).

"The other day, there was a very old decrepit bicycle -- there was no way it could have been ridden -- and it was locked with a brand new Kryptonite lock. These things just don't go together," Burrows said. "Whether it’s intent is to be used as a weapon or any other nefarious purpose, we’re just not taking the chance."

Meanwhile, it seems some office buildings are accommodating their cycle-happy employees and moving staff bike parking indoors. Twitter user @kayakinstructor tweeted this picture today of a Queen's Park building, where a makeshift indoor bike parking seems to have been constructed in the lobby.

 

Updated schedule of planned protests

The Toronto Community Mobilization Network -- an organizing body supporting and coordinating protesters for the G8 and G20 summits -- released an updated schedule of planned protests yesterday. Whether you want to join in or steer clear, here is a list of some G20 demonstrations and events planned for Toronto this week:

June 18-20 All Day, Forum, Ryerson University: 2010 People’s Summit

June 21-24 THEMED DAYS OF RESISTANCE

June 21 Migrant Justice and An End to War and Occupation, Income Equity and Community Control Over Resources

• 2 p.m. Allan Gardens, March: "All Out In Defense of the Rights of All"
• 7 p.m. 25 Cecil St., Forum, “Harper's Attacks on Reproductive Rights at home and abroad”

June 22 Gender Justice, Queer Rights, DisAbility Rights

• Various Times/Locations: “Creative transformations & street theatre for Gender Justice”   
• 4:30 p.m. Yonge and Queen: “Creative Queer Resistance to the G20”

June 23 Environmental and Climate Justice

• 11 a.m. Alexandra Park (Dundas and Bathurst St.), March: "Toxic Tour of Toronto"
• 7 p.m. 55 Gould St, Forum: “People's Assembly on Climate Justice”

June 24 Indigenous Sovereignty

• 11 a.m. Queen's Park, March: "Canada Can't Hide Genocide: Indigenous Day of Action  
• 5pm, Toronto Underground Cinema 186 Spadina Ave, Film: "Six Miles Deep"
• 8pm, 25 Cecil Street, Forum: "Confront the Invasion!" 

June 25-27 DAYS OF ACTION

June 25: 2:30 p.m., Allan Gardens, March. Block Party. Tent City: "Justice for Our Communities"

June 25: 6:00 p.m., Massey Hall, Forum: "Shout Out For Global Justice"

June 26: 1:00 p.m., Queen's Park, March: "People's First. We Deserve Better"

June 26: 1:00 p.m., Queen's Park, March: "Get Off the Fence"

June 26: Time/Location TBA, Radical Street Party: "Saturday Night Fever"

June 27: Time/Location TBA, Autonomous Direct Actions: "Getting Down to Business"

June 27: 1 p.m., Location TBA, Bike Block action

June 27: 2pm, St James Park, March: "Funeral March"

June 27: 5pm, Bruce Mackey Park (Dundas and Wardell), March: “Fire.Works.For.Prisons “

Don't stop ... just postpone

Yes, the “Rock of Ages” cast is taking a hiatus for the G20. But don’t worry, says star Tony LePage. Believing has simply been postponed, not stopped altogether.

More signs of the summit popping up

First, the fence went up around the Metro Convention Centre. Then some lanes were partially closed for traffic at downtown streets. Now, Toronto police officers are swarming all over the downtown core.
 
There were officers at every intersection in the area around the Metro Convention Centre. Two officers were chatting with each other at Front and York Sts. while a lone cop was checking his BlackBerry at University and Wellington Sts. Just west of that, near the CBC building, three cops stood around a car parked on the street. At John and Wellington Sts., an officer was walking out of a Starbucks. A few metres west, two cops were quietly watching as a group of guests were unloading their bags from a cab right outside Soho hotel.
 
The G20 is eight days away but in many ways, it's already here.

- Raveena Aulakh

G20 means long weekend for Legislative staff

The G20 is giving the staff at Ontario’s legislative building a break — and it’s in the form of a day off.

In a letter sent to staff, the assembly clerk announced the building will be closed from June 25 to 27 for safety reasons.

“The designation of the north section of Queen's Park as protest site has had a greater impact on the security measures for the Legislative Building than we might have otherwise expected. As a result, during the month of June, you may notice an increase in security and police presence as part of continuing efforts to ensure the security and safety of all occupants of the Legislative Building and the building itself,” the memo said.

“All occupants are strongly discouraged from accessing the building during this period. Should access be absolutely necessary, you are reminded to carry your security access card at all times for ease of identification. Parking in all areas of the Legislative precinct will be prohibited.”

The legislative building will be business as usual in the weeks leading up to the Summit, but the letter warns staff to report anything that seems off or worrisome.

“While we have no information at this time to suggest that this building is at risk, we believe it is practical and in everyone's best interest to exercise a high degree of preparedness. We ask for your patience and cooperation as well as an enhanced awareness of your surroundings during this time. As the month progresses, should you note anything that you think is unusual, please notify Legislative Security Service immediately.”

Mirvish cancels Rock of Ages and Mamma Mia! shows during G20

Rock of Ages at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. Photo: Rene Johnston

Mirvish Productions is cancelling its performances of the popular musicals Rock of Ages and Mamma Mia! during the week of the G20 summit.

The Royal Alexandra (Rock of Ages) and Princess of Wales (Mama Mia) theatres on King St. W. sit on the edge of summit’s “traffic zone” — a security area where there will be police at every major section, though no fences.

There will be no performances June 21 to 27.

“Mirvish had every intention of carrying on performances during the week in question, assured by the various levels of authority that the G20 would not impact the theatres. More recently, as more information has been released about the G20 preparations and as some of this information appears to be inconclusive or contradictory, especially with regard to traffic on King Street West, Mirvish has decided it would be best and safest to suspend performances,” Mirvish said in an press release.

The decision means Mamma Mia’s final shows the city will be cancelled. The touring production was supposed to end its Toronto leg on June 27, but the finale will now be June 20.

Ticket holders of the cancelled shows will be contacted and offered an exchange for other performances, the company said.

“It wasn’t an easy decision to make,” said producer David Mirvish. “The theatrical adage we have always lived by is ‘the show must go on.’ But in this instance – an unprecedented instance for us as we’ve always performed our shows – we have concluded that our audiences are best served by the shows not going on.”

First we lose Doc Halladay's return to the Dome. Then we lose bus shelters and bike rings across the downtown core. Now you're shutting down our theatres (the Factory Theatre announced it will be truncating its run of Featuring Loretta a few days ago)?

Tell me again, why didn't we hold the summit at the CNE grounds?

Are you affected by the Mirvish cancellations? Contact the Star at [email protected].

Children's Aid societies partner up with G20 security

The G20’s security is working with the city’s four Children’s Aid societies — including the associated Jewish, Native and Catholic agencies — to care for any kids who may be separated from their parents during the summit.

The partnership will make sure a Children’s Aid worker is available to police 24-hours-a-day in the case they are needed, said Meaghan Gray of the Integrated Security Unit.

“I don’t think we’re expecting lots of missing children but we’re planning for any eventuality,” she said.

“In the unfortunate situation where we have to make an arrest of a parent or caregiver where the child’s there, we have to make sure the interests of the child are looked after.”

Some of the planned demonstrations may also draw families, she said, and children could get separated in the large crowds.

This is the first time police have coordinated a partnership with the city’s four Children’s Aid agencies at the same time, Gray said.

Live: G20 security Q&A

Got a question about the security measures surrounding this month's G8/G20 summit in Huntsville and Toronto?

Join us at noon Friday when Sgt. Michele Paradis, an RCMP spokesperson with the G8/G20 Integrated Security Unit, answers your questions in a live chat.

VIA Rail announces G20 disruptions

VIA trains will not be stopping at Union Station during the G20 summit to minimize traffic congestion in downtown Toronto, VIA Rail has announced.

In a travel advisory to passengers on Thursday, VIA Rail announced its Union Station operations are now being moved to suburban stations during the G20's "core dates" of June 24-27. Citing "extremely low" ticket sales and fears of traffic congestion, VIA says it will also be running on its weekend schedule during the same time period. Passengers with valid VIA tickets will be allowed to board GO trains from Oshawa, Oakville or Brampton and Toronto’s Union Station in both directions, however.

Here are the changes that will kick in for June 24-27:

• All VIA trains between Toronto and Niagara Falls, Windsor, London and points enroute will originate/terminate at Oakville's transit station (200 Cross Ave., Oakville)
  
• All VIA trains between Toronto and Sarnia via Kitchener and London (“north main line”) and points enroute will originate/terminate at Brampton's transit station (31 Church St. West, Brampton)
  
• All VIA trains between Toronto and Kingston, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, Gaspé and points enroute will originate/terminate at Oshawa's transit station (915 Bloor St. West, Oshawa)
  
• VIA’s Toronto-Vancouver Canadian will originate/terminate at the Oriole GO Transit station (3300 Leslie St., North York).

VIA says it will be operating shuttle buses to transport passengers between the suburban stations to their connecting trains. Arriving passengers can also catch shuttle buses at Oshawa Station, Scarborough Town Centre, Yorkdale Mall and Oakville Station. VIA warns travelers should anticipate shuttle delays.

Those affected by booking cancellations or changes can request a full refund or make a new reservation for a departure date prior to August 31, 2010 at no service charge. VIA is "encouraging" customers who wish to change or cancel their bookings to contact them by June 22 (see viarail.ca for details). 

In a press release, VIA president and CEO Marc Laliberté said he regrets the inconvenience to travelers.

"We regret the inconvenience these changes may cause, but we believe that making them well in advance and communicating this information to travelers now will help minimize access issues for our customers and ensure the continuity of our operations,” he said. 

Well, three weeks in advance isn't exactly what some might consider "well in advance." But hey, we've been through worse -- like the time Torontonians were given six months notice they would be hosting the G20 summit.