Save Jimmie Simpson Recreation Centre

On October 29, 2019, Toronto City Council passed motions directed to Metrolinx regarding safety concerns and community impacts of the Ontario Line, including the protection of parks, local services and community centres. And on January 29, 2020, City Council called for the Province and Metrolinx to undertake a full, formal Transit Project Assessment Process that would consider alternative technology, station locations and alignment, including putting the Gerrard to Don River section underground. Sadly at their Community Advisory Committee meeting of May 13, 2020, Metrolinx said they are not considering burying the section of the Ontario Line from East Harbour to Gerrard as requested by the community and the City of Toronto, but are only looking at an above ground line in the current heavy rail railway corridor. That railway corridor directly abuts Jimmie Simpson Community Centre and 7 parks. An above ground line will run perilously close to the Jimmie Simpson Community Centre which serves as a community hub for recreation programming with a variety of programs for everyone from preschool to older adults. The back wall of the recreation centre is right on the edge of the rail corridor. Residents in Riverside and Leslieville are deeply concerned. While the City and the neighbourhood will continue to press Metrolinx to bury this 2 kilometre section of the Ontario Line the City has to also start contingency planning to protect/move/rebuild the Community Centre in the event that Metrolinx forges ahead.