AA1.6

Ravine Strategy

Photograph: Robert Burley Background

Growing use pressure on ravines + User and interest groups with ideas for the future of ravines + Campaigns – link Greenbelt to ’s ravine system and others + Increasing interest in more public engagement in management of Toronto’s parklands (e.g. Park People, Evergreen) + Lack of formal planning framework to guide future use and development in ravines

= urgent need for a ravine strategy Ravine Strategy The strategy will: • Guide the future use, management, enhancement and protection of Toronto's ravines • Include a common vision and set of principles to guide Toronto's policies, investments and stewardship for ravines We also hope the strategy will: • Protect the landform, water quality and wildlife habitat • Provide more opportunities to enjoy the ravines • Protect the i t t To Date

May 4 Stakeholder Workshop June 25 Public Open House June/July Online ravine survey (2200+ responses) Aug 17 Staff information sessions Ongoing Working Group Stakeholder/staff consultations Web updates & communications Other Advisory Group (Strategy input) Steering Committee (implementation) Ravine Shareholders

Government Institutions Commercial/Residen 1. TRCA 1. University of Toronto tial Partners 2. City of Toronto 2. Humber College 1. Private Residential 3. Railways () 3. Toronto District School Board Landowners 4. Toronto Transit Authority 4. Science Centre 2. Commercial Landowners 5. Toronto Hydro 5. Sunnybrook Hospital - CN and CP Rail, Golf Courses 6. Toronto French School (Flemingdon, Donalda, Utilities 7. York University Islington, St George, Toronto 8. Ryerson University 1. Hunt Club, Rosedale, 2. Enbridge Lambton, Cedarbrae), 3. Bell Public Mt. Pleasant Cemeteries 4. Cogeco Groups etc. 5. Rogers Aboriginal 3. Industry Landowners community Other Stakeholders (organization associates and unaffiliated citizens) Humber Arboretum - Toronto Botanical Gardens - Parks People - Weston Foundation – David Suzuki Foundation - Evergreen - People & Pets - Friends of the Pan Am Path - TransCanada Trails - International Mountain Bike Association - Toronto Field Naturalists - Friends of the Rouge Watershed - Friends of the Don - Don Watershed Council - Wildflower Preserve - Toronto Ornithological Society - LEAF - Community Stewardship Groups ( Trails Team, , VSP etc.) – Parks – TORBA – On-road Cycling Ravines

The Strategy will cover all those areas encompassed by Toronto’s Ravine & Natural Feature Protection By-law Ravines

• 17% of Toronto’s total area is ravine (11,000 ha of Toronto’s total area of 63,200 ha)

• Ravine land ownership is 60% public and 40% private with 30,000 private addresses

• Ravines cut through residential, commercial and industrial neighbourhoods

• They include watercourses, parks & trails, roads, railways, golf courses, institutions (hospitals,

The Strategy • Joint effort with Parks, Forestry and Recreation leading together with City Planning, including also Toronto Water, the Toronto Region Conservation Authority and Economic Development. • High level • Identifies issues and opportunities • Also key principles and priorities for ravine management • These are based on feedback from consultations with stakeholders and staff • Will be followed by staged implementation over time Ravines & Aboriginal History • Ravines are shaped by significant waterways that have historic importance for Aboriginal communities pre-settlement • Repository of many Aboriginal cultural values and sites, some of which have been identified and recognized in parks and green spaces within the City • For example, south banks of the Humber River, Etienne Brule Park (one of the best-known First Nations archaeological sites in the City of Toronto), Baby Point, Humber Marshes Park Conceptual Framework – Place

Making Interface • Access • Way Finding • Integration into City Structure • Park Users • Nature Experience + Quality • Stewardship • Design Quality • Art • Beauty • Education • Interpretation • Culture

Parks + Green Spaces • Spaces + Facilities for Human Use and Enjoyment • Managed by PFR

Infrastructure Rail + Hydro • Trails • Bridges • Roads • Water, Sewer, Oil + Gas Pipelines

Foundation • Natural Environment Terrestrial + Aquatic Habitat • Stable • Resilient • Ecologically Diverse Maps • A set of maps has been developed for discussion purposes

• These include: • Environmentally Significant Areas • Biodiversity and Natural Heritage • Flooding and Stream Restoration • Culture and Recreation • Transportation and Utilities • Intensification Areas Environmentally Significant Areas Culture and Recreation Map Biodiversity and Natural Heritage Flooding and Stream Restoration Transportation and Utilities Areas of Urban Intensification Discussion Questions

A: What are the key issues in realizing your vision for ravines in Toronto?

B: What are the key opportunities in realizing your vision for ravines in Toronto?

C: What should the guiding principles be for the Ravine Strategy?

D: What should the priorities be for the Ravine Strategy?