Haydain Neale, 1970–2009
The Lee's Palace Mural is Dead! Long Live the Lee's Palace Mural!
Peeve Patrol
Third Floor, First Rate
Polling Booth: "Kick a Ginger" Controversy
Photo of Mark Giesbrecht from this past January by Nick Kozak.
"We approached Mark," Jamie Angell, a board member of the West Queen West BIA and owner of Angell Gallery, explains, "since he's a familiar individual that seemed like a likely match to work with." Three weeks ago, Angell says that his BIA hired private waste pick-up services to come every Saturday. But as the strike now enters its fourth week, "we decided that it's not enough; the streets do need to be maintained....it could pose a health problem if this continues." (He adds, too, that "it's not visually appealing," though, thanks to business owners along the stretch, "our area's coping very, very well.")
As a result, Giesbrecht has now been hired to clean up the busy expanse of Queen West that the BIAs cover—from Roncesvalles all the way to University—three days a week, with the help of two other people. ("If it takes longer, they'll do what they have to do to make sure that the street is maintained properly," says Angell.) What's more, though: after the strike ends, Angell says, Mark's employment by the area BIAs may well continue. "Depending on how things go," he explains, "we'll most likely continue working with Mark to make sure that the streets of the BIAs are maintained. This may turn out to be an ongoing agreement with Mark the Litter Guy."
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
Oh oh. Did anyone ask CUPE's permission?
the ironies in this story are too sweet.
Does one have to ask CUPE's permission to transport refuse to a receptacle or dump-site, permanent or temporary?
Good on Mark! I'm glad to see that people that can do something about it recognize his contributions to the city.
And he'll probably do a better job than the union workers would.
Hi Everyone,
I just want to clarify a statement in the main story, that Mark will be cleaning "with the help of two other people"
The entire Queen Street West community is joining forces to help clean up our street in the midst of the Toronto Garbage Strike – and we need your help!
We’re looking for dedicated BIA members and local residents in each of the "Queen West", "West Queen West", and "Parkdale" neighbourhoods to donate supplies and volunteer time to this initiative.
The BIA coalition will work with “Mark the Litter Guy” to coordinate this month long pilot project. Mark will help to coordinate the team of (hopefully!) many volunteers to pick up the garbage along Queen Street West from Roncesvalles to University Avenue.
If you are local - or close to local, please help us in this effort to keep Queen Street West clean! Just find your LOCAL BIA and drop us a line!
__________________________________________________
From Simcoe Street - Westward - to Bathurst Street
Queen West BIA Contact:
Coordinator: Laura Schaefer: 416.384.2946
Email: queenwestbia@gmail.com
__________________________________________________
From Bathurst Street - Westward - to Gladstone Avenue
West Queen West BIA Contact:
Administrator: Nicholas Longstaff: 416-820-2727
Email: info@westqueenwest.ca
__________________________________________________
From Dufferin Street - Westward - to Roncesvalles Avenue
Parkdale BIA Contact:
Coordinator: Heather Douglas: 416.536.6918
Email: parkdalevillagebia.com
It's time we fire the union goons and hire the Litter Guy and his team.
great news