Food-Friendly Neighbourhood Plan Lawrence Heights: Phase 2

About this neighbourhood Neighbourhood profile Lawrence Heights is located in mid-town and also includes the communities of Neptune and Lotherton Pathway. Key landmarks include Yorkdale Mall and Population: 35,945 Allen Rd which runs through the middle of the neighbourhood. 1,208 rent-geared-to-income housing units are the focus of a 20-year revitalization project Area: 9.5 sq km that began in 2012. Special thanks to City of Toronto, Toronto Public Health, Toronto Food Strategy and Lawrence Heights residents who participated in Median after-tax income: $41,955 neighbourhood consultations. % low income after-tax: 20.9%

Retail Findings Grade Opportunity: Opportunity: The ongoing Revitalization of the neighbourhood will continue to create new During the phase 2 consultation, community members in the neighbourhood felt opportunities for commercial spaces. This will have a significant impact on Since 2012 there has been that a slight improvement from the original 2012 retail C grade was justified. The an improvement in access local food options, including potential new retail food outlets and possibly for neighbourhood has 10 major supermarkets and a number of smaller ethnic grocers new community programming facilities. New affordable grocery stores in the to produce markets in and residents were generally satisfied with the options available, however there are the neighbourhood with neighbourhood would have a significant impact on local food options; local only two discount chains. Accessibility remains an issue for residents who live in networks of convenience stores could be supported as part of a healthy corner store C+ the introduction of three the Lotherton Pathway as they remain separated from their closest supermarket at Foodshare Good Food initiative. Research has shown there is an abundance of convenience stores in the Keele Ave and Lawrence Ave W by a fenced rail corridor. neighbourhood, whose existing food retail space could be utilized to better serve Markets: 10 Old Meadow Lane, communities. 100 Lotherton Pathway and Produce markets a mobile market operating Who should be involved: at 135 Neptune Drive. Many • City of Toronto Planning Division local residents surveyed had • Toronto Community Housing Corporation There has been progress in this category with the establishment of three produce not heard about the markets • Lawrence Heights Interorganizational Network (LHION) markets. A Mobile Food Market visits 10 Old Meadow Lane in Lawrence Heights and and wanted more information. • Ward 15 Councillor Colle 135 Neptune Drive. A year round market also takes place at 100 Lotherton Pathway. Local organizations can • Local residents Those who accessed these markets liked the fresh produce available but would like support Foodshare with to see more affordable prices. Many did not know about these markets and often D outreach and engagement activities around the markets Recommendation: travelled long distances, often over 2kms away, to access other produce markets. to build on the successes to After 12 years at 640 Lawrence Ave. West, North York Harvest Food Bank’s date. Local organizations main office and distribution centre will be re-locating. This requires the could also support the Lawrence Heights Community Food Bank (LHCFB) to find a new location in the Food assistance produce markets in the neighbourhood. As the research phase of this Food Friendly project concluded in neighbourhood by directing late 2014, a new space for the LHCFB had not been secured but North York Harvest The Lawrence Heights Community Food Bank continues to be one of the busiest some of their food budget does have strong support from Toronto Community Housing, Councillor Colle and programs in Toronto, serving over 650 families a month. The nearest drop-in meal towards purchases from the several other key community stakeholders with a target to find a new location program remains the Syme Woolner Neighbourhood & Family Centre on Eglinton market to ensure sustainability. by April 30th 2015. The program currently serves 1,700 hampers a month and Ave W., which is too far away for many residents. There has been positive feedback is one of the busiest in Northern Toronto. The Community Food Bank currently on changes implemented at the Lawrence Heights Community Food Bank which Who should be involved: offers information and referral services, a range of volunteering opportunities and has contributed to the improved grade in this category. Community members C+ • North York Harvest access to a community kitchen and garden programs for clients. These services appreciate the choice offered at the program and the implementation of a new • Food Share will ideally be incorporated into the new location to ensure a continuity of quality waiting space has improved the experience for those accessing the program. • Lawrence Heights service. In 2013 the LHCFB received a grading of 4.3 out of 5 for the overall quality Interorganizational Network of the drop-in service by food bank clients. The top suggestion for improvements Food skills and growing (LHION) was to find a bigger space, highlighting the potential opportunities the relocation • Local community will bring. There are over ten community gardens and five food skills programs in the organizations with food neighbourhood. Many residents gave the community gardens positive feedback, purchasing budgets Who should be involved: especially the Lawrence Heights Community Food Bank garden. Some residents felt • North York Harvest Food Bank that there could be improved outreach as they did not know programs existed. The • Toronto Community Housing prenatal programs offered by registered dieticians at Unison Health & Community • Councillor Colle C+ Services and the Lotherton Community Kitchen supported by North York • Lawrence Heights Interorganizational Network (LHION) Community House were highlighted as key community assets. Lawrence Heights Food-Friendly Highlights

Lawrence Heights Community Food Bank Garden Program This community food garden was a huge success in 2014, engaging 205 participants in 31 programs from May to October 2014. 438 lbs of fresh, organic vegetables were harvested Food-Friendly Neighbourhoods Resident Leadership for garden participants and clients of the Lawrence Heights Project: Tasty and Easy Cooking Community Food Bank. Local community members worked with a garden coordinator to maintain and harvest the garden as part This project is designed and led by Lawrence Heights of a weekly drop-in gardening program. The garden is considered Community Food Bank volunteers and Garden program Leaders a learning garden, where community members can demonstrate to celebrate the national dishes of community members. The and experiment with organic practices, intensive gardening for emphasis is placed on easy and tasty meals that will provide small spaces, permaculture, vertical gardening and growing opportunities for as many people to participate as possible diverse crops. The garden program included a Garden Leaders who want to learn new cooking skills. The program focuses on program, tasting tours, a field trip to Black Creek Community Farm honouring the existing skills of participants and to learn new and a Harvest Party to celebrate the bounty of the season! skills together, whilst making the neighbourhood more food friendly. Where possible, the recipes incorporate seasonal food grown in the community garden and supplemented by food About this document available in the community food bank to try and make recipes This Food Friendly Neighbourhood Food Plan is the affordable and accessible. product of a year-long consultation process with North Legend Published by York Harvest member agencies, community organizations Retail Major Arterial Street and local residents. The yellow priority area highlighted in Produce Market Priority Area Source: City of Toronto, Open Data; this map are the following City of Toronto, Social Planning CopyTorontoright (c) Food 2011 Strategy,City of T oTorontoronto. A Publicll Righ Healthts Reserved. Food Assistance 1 km Buffer (15 minute walk) Published: August 2011 This project was made possible Neighbourhoods; Yorkdale – Glen Park and Englemount – Prepared by: Social Policy Analysis & Research through funding from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. Food Skills and Growing Park or Greenspace 0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 Contact: [email protected] Lawrence Km Reprinted with permission

Catalogue of primary food assets Metro 3090 Bathurst St Toronto Foundation for Student Success 2 Trethewey Dr Leila Lane Community Garden (TCHC) 2a Flemington Rd For information about food assistance programs please Metro 1090 Wilson Ave Lawrence Heights Community Food Bank 640 Lawrence Ave W San Lorenzo Organic Community Garden 22 Wenderly Dr call 211 or visit http://www.211toronto.ca/ No Frills 1951 Eglinton Ave W Mamma Caya’s Food Bank 22 Wenderly Dr Schoolyard Garden and Urban Agriculture Program 312 Brooke Ave Nortown Foods 890 Eglinton Ave W St Thomas Acquinas Food Bank 640 Glenholme Ave Syme Woolner Neighbourhood and Family Centre 2468 Eglinton Ave W Retail Pat’s No Frills 270 Wilson Ave Food Skills and Growing Varna Community Garden 2a Flemington Rd A&T Fruit Market 3375 Bathurst St Pusateri’s Fine Foods 1539 Avenue Rd Sobey’s 145 Marlee Ave 855 Roselawn Community Garden 855 Roselawn Ave Varna Flemington (TCHC) Varna Rd + Flemington Rd Bastee Food Store 499 Marlee Ave Amaranth Community Garden 2a Flemington Rd Costco Wholesale 100 Billy Bishop Way Verdi Produce and Grocery 210 Marlee Ave Unison Labour of Love Prenatal Program 12 Flemington Rd Beyond 3:30 Eco-Garden Club 2 Trethewey Dr ANC North York Community House-Community Kitchen 100 Lotherton Pathway Fortino’s 700 Lawrence Ave W Produce Markets Flemington Community Garden 2a Flemington Rd Lotherton Pathway Community Garden 100 Lotherton Pathway Freshco 2330 Eglinton Ave W Neptune Dr Mobile Good Food Market 135 Neptune Dr Flemington Pengarth (TCHC) Flemington+Pengarth North York Community House Community Kitchen 700 Lawrence Ave W Glen Eden Fruit Market 2999 Bathurst St Lawrence Heights Good Food Market 10 Old Meadow Ln Lawrence Heights Community Food Bank Garden 640 Lawrence Ave W PACT Garden, Dante Alighieri, Beatrice Campus 50 Ameer Ave Hartman’s Kosher Foods 3500 Bathurst St Lotherton Pathway Good Food Market 100 Lotherton Pathway John Polanyi Garden (PACT Grow-to-learn) 640 Lawrence Ave W TCHC Garden 125 Flemington Rd Kosher City Plus 3468 Bathurst St Lawrence Heights Garden (TCHC) 1 Leila Ln TCHC Garden 5 Flemington Rd Lady York Foods 2939 Dufferin St Food Assistance TCHC Garden Outdoor Bake Oven 10 Old Meadow Ln Metro 1411 Lawrence Ave W Syme Woolner Neighbourhood and Family Centre 2468 Eglinton Ave W Lawrence Heights Garden (TCHC) 87 Amaranth Ct Unison HCS Cook and Talk 12 Flemington Rd Lawrence Heights Community Centre Garden 5 Replin Rd