October 2013 Time to Tell Our Story It’s all about time, and time has been passing. The plan unveiled more than a year ago was to research, write and pub- lish a readable and authorita- tive history of New Edinburgh. To that end, NECA entered into conversation with histo- rian Martha Edmond and writer and local resident Janet Uren. Those two did a certain amount of preliminary work at that time in preparing a concept for the book, a research out- line and a variety of materials of Ontario Archives Source: with which to entice potential McKay’s Mills as drawn by Thomas Burrowes in 1845. funders. Even more excitingly, lage, to come forward with its design a form and deliver it to they were soon approached by own story. Now is the time. every house in New Edinburgh, www.newedinburgh.ca a number of people from the Martha and Janet got togeth- asking residents to share their neighbourhood who had sto- er recently to discuss how the knowledge and histories with ries to tell and photographs to project could be moved for- us. Even if 4 out of 10 house- share. And there the project ward even without significant, holders respond, they will have stalled, on the issue of funding. early funding. The solution a wealth of detailed, neigh- Yet the time is ripe for this that they propose is threefold: bourhood-specific knowledge kind of project. Canada is 1. Looking for community to add to information gleaned approaching its 150th anniver- help to do the research. from other sources. The team sary in 2017, and interest in 2. Finding a 21st-century also plans to get in touch with history is likely to soar, just as way to distribute the “book.” those who have already come it did in 1967. Governments are 3. Using electronic media forward. looking for important projects as a modern way to fundraise Secondly, do we really need to support in the lead-up to that once the research and writing a book or are there alterna- anniversary. St. Bartholomew’s is complete. tive forms of dissemination Church— also marking a cen- Beginning with the research, in this modern world? Surely, tury in the next few years— a great deal of information is the important thing is to cap- has also embarked on a book already in the hands of house- ture, record and communicate project, working with historian holders who have documents, the story, both in words and Glenn Lockwood. It is time memories, photographs and images. By mounting the mate- for New Edinburgh, a rare, folk memories to draw on. rial online—hopefully as a first largely intact 19th-century vil- Martha and Janet propose to phase before publishing—it may even be possible to raise new funds towards publishing Beechwood Development Update: Big Changes the work in book form. That is the plan. Martha and Coming Soon, but Not Tomorrow! Janet will shortly be getting By Jane Heintzman construction site is now com- and David indicates that a few project news. Special thanks in touch with the people who All Systems Go on Domicile’s plete, and that excavation and finishing touches to the build- to Domicile for its generous contacted them when the proj- Kavanaugh Project: Let the servicing work is about to be ing are in the works, including $20,000 donation to the retrofit ect was first mooted. Also, Digging Begin! launched. With the hydro work a number of refinements to the of New Edinburgh House. they are working on develop- As local motorists, cyclists wrapped up, Domicile is ready entry and the addition of some The company stepped in at a ing a research template for dis- and pedestrians are aware, to install a permanent hoard- landscaping once the hydro critical moment last June to tribution within the community construction has been ongoing ing and sidewalk protection servicing work in front of the help save the day by giving the in the next few weeks. When through the summer to install along Beechwood, along with Centre has been completed. New Edinburgh Community it comes through your door, the conduits carrying increased signage related to the project. Domicile is in the process of and Arts (NECTAR) Centre a please take up the challenge electrical capacity along the In early July, after a redecorating one of its model much needed boost to meet its and help with what could be south side of Beechwood to the first attempt to move the suites (one bedroom plus den looming construction deadline. a truly significant community future site of The Kavanaugh, Kavanaugh Sales Centre, (an configuration) to create a Now that’s Good Corporate project. Contact janet.uren@ Domicile’s much anticipated exercise which was aborted slightly different variation for Citizenship, with capital wordimage.ca and Janet and “gateway” condominium/com- when the wheels of the trailer prospective buyers, and looks letters! Martha will be in touch. We need your help to tell our story. mercial project. The company were unable to support the load forward to a successful fall Continued on page 2 has invested over a million of the building), Domicile’s sales season, with continuing dollars towards the costs of transportation team ultimate- strong interest in Kavanaugh extending hydro servicing, ly succeeded in moving this condominiums. On the all- some of which it hopes to extra large load from its origi- important retail front, David recoup as other new develop- nal location at Beechwood confirms that all the param- ments emerge to take advan- and Marquette down the eters related to the commer- tage of this critical addition street to its new home at 84 cial leasing program have now to the infrastructure along Beechwood, the former site of been finalized, and the com- this neglected stretch of two long unoccupied (and now pany is currently negotiating Beechwood. demolished) buildings belong- with a number of serious pros- Domicile Vice-President ing to the Lauzon group. This pects—but still no firm news, David Chick reports that the precarious operation was per- so we’ll have to be patient and hydro work directly in front of formed in the dead of night to stay tuned! the Kavanaugh site is now com- minimize the risks of traffic Interested readers who’d pleted, although it’s our under- chaos, but some readers may like to track progress on the standing that construction will have been on hand to witness Kavanaugh can check out the be ongoing to extend the elec- the arresting spectacle—your Domicile Blog at domicile. trical feed down Beechwood as photos are welcome! ca/blog/ where you’ll find far as the Metro. David further The Sales Centre is now up periodic postings with reports that the shoring of the and running in its new location, construction updates and Page 2 NEW EDINBURGH NEWS October 2013 band Peter Boehm were part Development Update... of the angry and successful Continued from page 1 NECA-led opposition to the Report from NECA proposed condominium build- Minto Beechwood: Grand ing at 132 Stanley Avenue. Opening Sales Launch In addition to Michael Coming Soon Acting President Histed, two other NECA board Minto continues to forge ahead members will step down at the with plans for its much her- AGM. Carlo Zambri, current- alded development at the cor- David Sacks ly our Membership chair, will ner of Beechwood and MacKay depart after three years of loyal Streets, and the official Grand and pleasant contribution. We Opening Sales Launch for the Report from NECA Acting by the Minto Development sentiment. Mr. Strachan replied will miss him, and wish him 157 planned condominium President David Sacks Corporation to build a con- immediately that he would for- well. I will also not be stand- units is expected to take place The summer months and dominium tower at the ward NECA’s letter to Minto’s ing for reelection to the board, on October 26. The event will September have seen NECA Beechwood-MacKay fire site. executive vice-president in its and will cease to be Acting be held at the newly com- busy with several ongoing con- A June public information commercial-client group for President. For several months pleted Minto Sales Centre at cerns, with some new busi- session, hosted by Minto and consideration. now, we on the NECA board 7 Beechwood, with activities the City to unveil a some- ness, and with preparations Planning ahead have discussed the eventuality spilling out into the rear park- for our annual general meet- what gentler redesign of the of a new president. Although I ing area, where a tent will be set ing (AGM) on October 16. building’s exterior, was attend- In a more contemplative vein, the board has recently been will dearly miss my colleagues up to accommodate the crowd. Maintaining strong “horizon- ed appreciatively by several around the board table in serv- Keep an eye on the project tal” ties remains a priority. In NECA board members along studying questions of strategic long-term priorities and pos- ing this great neighbourhood, I website for details of time and June, the NECA board voted to with other community resi- find I simply cannot continue date: www.mintobeechwood. contribute $2,000—nearly half dents: Many were impressed sible improvements in gov- ernance. This initiative, led to juggle that with the demands com. of NECA’s available assets at that Minto and the architect of employment. It was always Prior to the Grand Opening that time—to our colleagues at had proven ready to listen to mainly by Tim Plumptre and Paula Thompson, is seeking my plan to serve only a while for the public at large, Minto New Edinburgh Community some of residents’ comments as Acting President, after tak- also plans to hold an invita- and Arts (NECTAR) Centre, (voiced, for example, at the to upgrade certain procedures, make NECA more proactive as ing the reins last year.