Congratulations on a job well done! Our Clean Train Pledge campaign was highly successful! To date,  97% of elected officials and mayoral candidates that we asked to support us in this pledge have done so! (See www.cleantrain.ca for the full list.)

As a reminder, the text of the pledge was:

I will, by Simcoe Day, August 2, 2010, publicly call on Premier Dalton McGuinty to direct Metrolinx to electrify the Georgetown Corridor, prior to the expansion of passenger rail service including both GO Transit and the Air Rail Link.

This is a clear mandate, through our elected representatives, from the 300,000 people living along the rail corridor, that our communities demand clean, modern electric train service that does not endanger our health and environment through noise and air pollution.

The successful pledge campaign has consolidated our support along the rail corridor. We are on solid ground for meeting with the Minister of Transportation and focusing pressure on the the Premier.

Upcoming Events

The Clean Train Coalition has been invited to speak at a couple of upcoming information sessions. Keith Brooks will be our spokesperson at these events.  It would be great if you could come out to show your support for electric trains at one of these meetings:

• Monday, Aug 23, 7-9 p.m. at St. Christopher House on King Street (1033 King St.)
  Organized by MP Olivia Chow, this meeting is on transportation options in the Liberty Village area. Speakers will include our own Keith Brooks, as well as Adam Giambrone, TTC chair, and Gary McNeil of GO Transit. Q&A to follow
• Tuesday, Aug 24, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Harbourfront Community Centre, in the Medium Assembly Room (627 Queen’s Quay West, @ Bathurst)
  Organized by the Condo Owners Association (COA), this meeting is called “The Air We Breathe” and is about the proposed diesel plan for the Air-Rail Link. Speakers will include Keith Brooks of the CTC, as well as Linda Pinizzotto, President of the COA, Avrum Regenstreif of Transport 2000 Ontario, MP Olivia Chow and MPP Rosario Marchese.   http://www.coatoronto.com/air-rail-link

Help Wanted!

We are entering a critical phase of our campaign, and we could use your help. If you can donate any time to the campaign, please let us know.  We need help getting the word out in your neighbourhood, but we also badly need help keeping the Coalition organized and on track. Can you: Coordinate volunteers? Reach out to other organizations? Keep track of upcoming events the CTC should attend? Help us organize or get the word out about our upcoming big event?

If there is any way you would like to help further the campaign for clean trains, please let us know by sending an email to   [email protected] .

Help get the word out – get your neighbours to sign up at www.cleantrain.ca

Remember last year’s hugely successful ‘Human Train’ walk to Sorauren Park, to rally for clean electric trains?  The Clean Train Coalition is planning another event (this time no walking required) at Sorauren Park, on Sunday Sept 26.  It will be a day of music and fun.  Details to follow, but mark the date on your calendar now!

Mike Sullivan

Chair,  Weston Community Coalition

The Weston Food Bank located at 1844 Weston Road, is in need of volunteers.  They need people for Tuesday and Wednesday mornings – from about 8:30AM to 11:30AM.  We need help with stocking shelves and handing out food.  You can volunteer once per month or weekly.  We also need people who can be on call for occasional volunteering.  If you have any interest in helping your community by volunteering at the food bank, call 416-247-3737 and leave a message.  We’ll get back to you within a week.

The Weston Village Residents’ Association, in collaboration with Mount Dennis, Greenhills and Silverthorn Associations, are holding a Mayoral Debate on Thursday Sept 9, at 730, at York Memorial Collegiate, 2690 Eglinton Ave W.  Mark the date on your calendars.

The following is from David McBride, chair of the Weston Village Resident’s Association.  It is truly great news.

“Hello everyone,

Hope all are having a good and safe summer.

Please find attached a letter dated August 19th from the Minister for Training of Colleges and Universities in regards to George Brown College.  In his letter Minister Malloy confirms that George Brown College “has submitted its capital project template, and that the new campus in Weston has been included”.  This is good news for the Weston Village as it demonstrates George Brown College commitment to locate a campus in the area.  The letter goes on to state that we will probably not hear anything further until next year.

I believe its important to share this news with the residents reaffirming the groups resolve in achieving positive change in Weston.  It’s important to keep our momentum as we move into the fall.

Please feel free to share this information with all.

Thank you,

David McBride

Chair, Weston Village Residents Association