Casa Loma Residents Association

TRCA FREE NATIVE SHRUB PROGRAM – DEADLINE FOR ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS IS AUGUST 15^TH, 2024!

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) is offering free native shrubs to residents living within 80 meters of ravines in Toronto to help grow and support our ravine systems. Thanks to funding provided by City of Toronto’s Urban Forestry Grants and Incentives Program.

Houses bordering the Nordheimer Ravine and both sides of Connable and Russell Hill Drive all qualify. But so likely do 104,102 and 89 Wells Hill; from 164 to 134 Lyndhurst on the west and from 141 to 133 Lyndhurst on the east; from 379 to 345 Walmer on the east and from 394 to 366 Walmer on the west. See MAP.

Why Participate?

• Enhance Your Property: Beautify your surroundings with lush, native greenery tailored to thrive in Toronto’s unique climate and soil conditions.
• Support Biodiversity: Contribute to the preservation of local wildlife habitats and foster a healthier ecosystem right outside your doorstep and in Toronto’s ravines.
• Help Mitigate Climate Change: Canopy cover plays a crucial role in mitigating climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and regulating local temperatures through shading and evapotranspiration.
• Improve Air Quality: Support cleaner air in your community as shrubs help filter pollutants and produce oxygen.

How to Participate:
1.    Check Eligibility:

• Your residence is located within 80m (262.5 feet) of a ravine in the City of Toronto.
• You are not planting as a condition for planning and development approval, or any other laws or regulations.
• You are planting on private land within Toronto that is not owned or managed by the City of Toronto.

2.    Place Your Order: 

• Submit your request for native shrubs through the Registration link below before the deadline. If you have questions or are unable to fill the form please contact Sarah Wenzl at or 437-243-6134. “
• Keep in mind that each shrub needs about 1 – 2 meters of spacing to thrive.
• Choose the plants best suited to the soil, moisture, and light conditions you are planting in.
• REGISTRATION LINK:  https://forms.office.com/r/dSBV9u9tS3

3.    Plant Your Own Shrubs with Care. Residents are responsible for planting and maintenance.

The order deadline for this giveaway is August 15th, 2024. Quantities are limited. Registration may close prior to the deadline if the program has reached capacity

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Please see the letter attached from Julie Chan (Wells Hill Ave.). Julie, along with other residents of our neighbourhood volunteer at the Avenue Road Food Bank. Julie is inviting other Casa Loma residents to get involved by volunteering and through donations.

A BBQ to introduce the good work of the food bank is being held on Saturday September 9 from 1-3 pm at the Food Bank. You are welcome to join your neighbours from Casa Loma and other communities there. A non perishable food donation would be appreciated. The Food Bank is just a 20 minute walk away in the Church of the Messiah at 240 Avenue Road at the corner of Dupont.

On line donations through Canada Helps may be made HERE. [choose Fund – Avenue Road Food Bank – in the drop down menu; a tax receipt will be issued].

Letter from Julie Chan

A Colorado Blue Spruce was removed without a permit from the front yard of 14 Lyndhurst Court this past week. The removal is under investigation by the Urban Forestry Compliance and Enforcement Division. The City responded quickly as it is well aware of the protected tree canopy in our area and the neighbourhood’s interest in protecting it.

The City of Toronto wants to increase density in all neighbourhoods by a By-Law Amendment to permit multiplexes in all residential neighbourhoods of Toronto.

There will be a significant impact on the historical character and streetscape of our neighbourhood when existing houses are demolished or renovated and repurposed as multiplexes.

Multiplexes are defined as 2, 3, or 4 units in a single building. This housing type is also referred to as a duplex, triplex, or fourplex. These homes could be rental or condominium units and they could either be in the form of converted houses or purpose-built as a multiplex.

Key changes proposed in the zoning by-law amendments:

• Permit multiplex building types in Residential Detached, Residential Semi-Detached and Residential Townhouse zones
• Exempt multiplex building types from Floor area to Lot Size (FSI) regulations
• Permit maximum building depth of up to 19.0 meters (62 ft)
• Permit a maximum building height of 12 meters (40 ft) which may allow for a 4 storey multiplex
• Set a minimum side yard set back of 0.9 meters (3 ft)
• Permit up to two porches/decks/balconies​ per dwelling unit
• Lift restrictions on multiple front entrances for secondary suites
• Parking spaces may be reduced to accommodate the larger building
• Amend thermal efficiency values (U values) to permit up to 4 units in all residential zones

The zoning amendment would not change these standards:

• Front and rear yard setbacks
• Landscaped open space

All of the above may be exceeded through “minor adjustment” applications to the Committee of Adjustment. As reported on January 22, the passage of Bill 23 at the end of last year made it easier to proceed with development applications through the Committee of Adjustment

Recommended Zoning By-Law Amendment

The Planning and Housing Committee will consider these policies during a Public Meeting  to be held on Thursday, April 27, 2023 at 2:30 pm – City Hall, Committee Room 1, Second Floor and by Video Conference.

The CLRA welcomes all members of our community to contact us () with your comments and suggestions and to let us know if you want to participate in our submission to the City.

The Wells Hill Lawn Bowling Club, beside the newly reopened Wychwood Library, is looking forward to re-opening in late June 2023 after installation of a new irrigation system and a new bowling green. The Club is looking forward to welcoming the community back after a long period of hiatus!

The new clubroom is built into the southeast corner of the Wychwood Library Branch. The clubroom includes 75 lockers, an accessible washroom, kitchen with fridge, microwave and sink and shelving for awards and game supplies. The Wychwood Library renovations have transformed the site, with a new gallery overlooking the bowling green which offers excellent spectator opportunities for the game below. This is the first new lawn bowling facility in the city in decades and one that promises to be a highly attractive venue.

Thanks to a grant from the federal government’s New Horizons for Seniors Program the club has acquired six sets of “Junior Ace” lawn bowls, helpful for adults who might prefer a smaller lawn bowl, and also ideal for children who might want to challenge their parents, or each other! The Club will also use the grant to acquire about 40 new slings to make lawn bowls easier to carry.

The Club needs your help to relaunch! There are many small tasks to whip the Club into shape, from helping with social media, communications, programming, cleaning equipment, setting up lockers, you name it. If you would like to help out, or if you want to add your name to the Club’s mailing list please contact Greg Deschamps, Club President, at .

Because of the uncertainty of the reopening date, adult membership fees will be set at $75 for the season, reduced for 2023. As well, if you would like to help re-equip the Club please visit the club’s GoFundMe page and help towards the club goal of raising $5,000 to refresh equipment.

Stay tuned for more news!

A message from Sarah Gould

Dear neighbours, volunteers, and friends of the Casa Loma Community Rink.

I’m happy to announce that our rink is up and open! We had a great turnout of volunteers to help lay the liner on January 29th, and since then we have been flooding the rink and problem solving as we go.

The good news is that we did it! A lot of work and love went into this rink, and we think it’s pretty amazing. We hope you will all get a chance to skate! The bad news is that the weather forecast is not looking good. We are doing all we can to keep the rink going despite the unseasonably warm temperatures. We’ve been happy to see some skates on the ice, and we hope the community will have more time to enjoy the rink.

I also want to take this opportunity to send out some words of thanks. There are a lot of people who worked hard to build this rink, and it’s been heartwarming to see such a positive community response. We’ve had the support and encouragement of Councillor Josh Matlow and Alex Forgay from the beginning, Nancy Carneiro and Nancy Aranha from the City of Toronto worked hard to help our team get this rink approved, and we could not have had a rink this winter without the generous support of Catriona Delaney and her team at Liberty Entertainment Group/ Casa Loma who provided water for the rink at no cost, gave our team access to the stables, and who have offered help and friendly encouragement along the way. The Casa Loma Residents Association has been a valuable support and helped us connect to our neighbours. Countless people have offered their time, advice and hands on experience. We’d like to send a special shout out to Ray Bernard of the Fairmount Rink Ice-Masters, who took the time to come to our rink to help us get it up and running on the coldest day of the year and to Luciano Borsato for his helpful advice. Last but not least, our neighbours, friends, and families donated to our GoFundMe to help us build the rink, picked up shovels and hoses, and continue to volunteer their time and efforts no matter what the weather predicts. This has truly been a community effort! Even if Season 1 of the Casa Loma Community Rink is a short one, we are going into Season 2 strong.

UPDATE

It was hoped to have a Community Skate at 2pm this Saturday, February 11th. However the unseasonably mild weather has forced the closure of the rink for the time being. In fact, the forecast is for above freezing temperatures every day until at least the last week of the month. Everyone will be informed by email of the rescheduled date if that becomes possible.

The following is a summary of a very complex law and regulations. It has not been prepared by a lawyer. The Casa Loma Residents Association has identified parts of Bill 23 of obvious interest to us. Our understanding will grow as regulations implementing the Bill are announced and as we work with residents and other associations in the months ahead.  

Bill 23 – More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 received Royal Assent on November 28, 2022. Substantial portions of the Bill came into force upon Royal Assent, while other portions will come into force on a date to be proclaimed by the Lieutenant Governor.

The stated purpose of Bill 23 is to help achieve the Ontario Government’s stated goal of having 1.5 million homes built over the next 10 years. This would be twice the number of housing starts in Ontario for the 10 years ending 2021. The Bill will have the greatest impact in those areas where there is significant land available for development or redevelopment.

There are provisions that have an impact on the Casa Loma community.

Increasing Density

Our Casa Loma neighbourhood is within the St. Clair West Protected Major Transit Station Area.

The last data from the City (2016) estimated the area’s population at 15,524 plus employment of 2,778. The planned density for the area is approximately 40,000 residents and workers (313 per hectare) which is more than double the current number. The minimum goal is 25,500 (200 per hectare). This goal was set by the City through a process that took place between March 2020 and July 2022.

Most of the increased density will take place on the north side of St. Clair Ave., up Bathurst St. and Raglan Ave, where residential and mixed use towers are already underway or planned.

With respect to density measures, our neighbourhood will be impacted as follows:

• The new amendments permit landowners to add up to three residential units “as of right” for land zoned for one home in residential areas without requiring a zoning by-law amendment. The three units can be within the existing structure or could take the form of a residence with an in-law, basement suite or garden home. The zoning by-law standards respecting matters such as height will remain and continue to apply.
• Public meetings will no longer be required for applications for a draft plan of subdivision. Developments of up to 10 residential units will be exempted from site plan control. Architectural details and landscape design aesthetics will be removed from the scope of site plan control.

A hurdle for the Casa Loma Heritage Conservation District Plan and heritage designations

The long overdue Casa Loma Heritage Conservation District Plan (approved to proceed to the Plan Stage in July 2018) now may have another hurdle to overcome. A regulation is expected to be published outlining the criteria for designating an HCD. Hopefully this criteria will not be more onerous than that applied by the Toronto Preservation Board and the City of Toronto Planning Division so the long awaited designation will be granted.

New amendments will set a new threshold for listing properties on the Heritage Register and keep them listed. A property will have to meet a prescribed criteria to determine if it is of cultural heritage value or interest. Properties may not be designated to be of cultural heritage value or interest once applications for official plan amendments, zoning by-law amendments or draft plan of subdivision have been filed unless already on the register. Further, properties may not be designated if the designation would conflict with provincial priorities such as transit, housing, health and long-term care and infrastructure.  Municipalities will be required to remove a property from the heritage register if council has not initiated a designation process under section 29 of the OHA within two years of it being listed. For properties that are already listed on the heritage register (see below), a date will be established for the commencement of the two-year period. A property will also be removed from the list if the municipality does not pass the implementing by-law within a prescribed timeline or if the by-law is successfully appealed. If a property is removed from the heritage register, the municipality will be prohibited from listing that property again for a period of five years.

Properties currently listed on the Heritage Register are:

5 Austin Terrace

153, 155 and 157 Lyndhurst Ave. (originally the Lyndhurst Lodge)

338 and 340 Spadina Rd. (Wembley Apartments)

Hillcrest Community School.

The City has not addressed moving these properties to the by-law designation stage under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act for many years.

For background, the properties in our neighbourhood that are protected under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act are Casa Loma, Pellatt Lodge, Casa Loma Stables, Spadina House, 72 Wells Hill Ave., 51 Wells Hill Ave., 7 Austin Terrace, Wychwood Library.

Limiting appeals at Committee of Adjustment and TLAB

To reduce backlogs, there is no longer the right for a third-party to appeal a minor variance and consent decision. Only the owner of a property, the municipality and certain specified persons and public bodies still have the right to appeal a decision. There are no changes to the right of third parties to appeal official plans or official plan amendments or zoning by-laws or zoning by-law amendments.

There is also an amendment to the Ontario Land Tribunal Act, 2021, yet to come into force, that will expand the Tribunal’s authority to dismiss appeals without a hearing, notably on the basis that the party who brought a proceeding has contributed to undue delay. There is also a provision to strengthen the Tribunal’s authority to order an unsuccessful party in a proceeding to pay a successful party’s costs.

Refining Community Benefit Charges and Scaling Back Development Charges

Changes to the method for calculating Community Benefit Charges, Development Charges and parkland by-laws will reduce the cost of development. This will no doubt reduce benefits our neighbourhood and adjacent neighbourhoods may have received from the high-rise developments along St. Clair Ave. West.  The City will also have to look for new sources of revenue to replace the lost revenue.

Next Steps

On November 3, 2022 the Casa Loma Residents Association established a new Planning and Development Committee chaired by Robert Levy and including three lawyers, Richard Macklin, Jonah Arnold and Paul Morrison. These members have many years of experience protecting the character and heritage of our community. You will be hearing from this committee in the weeks ahead.

Toronto Hydro is rebuilding the electrical distribution system in and around our neighbourhood. This rebuild includes upgrading overhead and underground electrical cables on city-owned property.

The project area includes a section of Bathurst St., Wells Hill Ave., Hilton Ave., Nina St., Melgund Rd., Alcina Ave., Albany Ave., Austin Terrace, Bridgman Ave., Burnside Dr., Davenport Rd., Dartnell Ave., and Lyndhurst Ave..

There will be road and sidewalk restrictions within the construction area. Some trees will need to be trimmed. Advance notice will be provided of any parking restrictions. We have been advised that cars will be towed if necessary.

The expected timeline is February 2023 to December 2023. Work is scheduled for Monday to Friday between 7am and 7pm but some weekend work may be required.

Sarah Gould, and a team of neighbours hope to build a community ice rink this winter in the Casa Loma parkette on Walmer Rd. next to the Casa Loma Stables.  With the help of Councillor Josh Matlow, they received approval from the city of Toronto through the Natural Ice Rink program and Casa Loma has agreed to donate the water for the rink flooding from the Stables facility.  However, it is up to the community to build and maintain the rink and to cover the costs of materials required.  Money is needed so that the rink liner kit can be purchased in December, which will help the volunteer icemakers build and maintain a great rink.

What better way to facilitate outdoor play and connect with friends and community, than a local ice rink in our very own corner of the city!

Any donation, small or large, will help reach the goal of raising $1,500 to build and maintain the rink.

To contribute to this Go Fund Me campaign please click HERE    

With thanks,

Sarah Gould, Robert McCann, Jeremy Speigel & the Casa Loma Community Ice Rink team.

Sharpen your skates, we hope to see you on the ice! ⛸️⛸️❄️

UPDATE – December 23, 2022

Over $2,000 was raised! The rink kit has arrived !!

We are looking for volunteers – adults and kids – who are interested in helping our amazing group of neighbours build and/or maintain the rink during the skating season. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Sarah Gould at

It’s now November, the sales office for the Condo towers is open but we are still waiting on the Record of Site Condition (RSC)  and the Transportation Study that was promised has not yet been undertaken.

The RSC summarizes the environmental condition of a property based on the completion of one or more Environmental Site Assessments.

The Transportation Study is to address community concerns about increasing traffic flow through to Bathurst by Melgund or Nina, largely attributable to backed up traffic further and further on St. Clair caused by (i) increased pedestrian traffic at the intersection limiting right turns north on Bathurst and thus effectively blocking the inner of the two lanes of westbound traffic and (ii) a short left turn lane at the intersection which often blocks the outer lane.   The traffic jam also adds greatly to the pollution around the corner and along St. Clair across from Wells Hill Park. See our June 6, 2020 posting.

The CLRA has formed a new Planning and Development Committee. Members are Robert Levy, Richard Macklin, Jonah Arnold and Paul Morrison.

Please direct enquiries to the CLRA at

A  group is forming to educate us and take action to protect our Nordheimer Ravine.  The group, led by Susan Aaron of the University of Toronto with the assistance of Barbara Chernin who heads our Environmental Group, is organizing a walk through the ravine and is working to bring in staff from Toronto Parks, the Toronto Region Conservation Board and Councillor Josh Matlow’s office.   We will inform you when a date is chosen. If you are interested in helping in this very worthy endeavor, please contact Susan or Barbara for more information.

An earlier CLRA report referencing our ravine was published on April 15, 2022.  In addition, there have been many reports referencing the environmental issues affecting the ravine emanating from the 3 tower condo development at St. Clair & Bathurst.  For further work on efforts to protect Toronto’s ravines please see the recent article in the Globe and Mail below.

Update November 17: Organizers of the walk were not able to coordinate a time with city officials before the onset of winter.  Another attempt will be made next year.

Toronto’s ravines are in a critical state, threatened by invasive species, climate change and intensive land development

Globe & Mail, September 10, 2022

Toronto’s ravine system makes up a significant part of the city’s green infrastructure, as natural parklands and urban forests provide countless environmental, health and recreational benefits. However, the city’s ravines are in a critical state, threatened by invasive species, climate change and intensive land development.

In January, 2020, Toronto City Council adopted the Ravine Strategy Implementation Plan to protect the city’s ravines. A group of volunteers formed the Toronto Nature Stewards (TNS) to help implement the plan and advance independent stewardship to restore the ecological health of Toronto’s ravines.

Daniel Cushing prepares to remove lily of the valley from Roxborough Parkette North site. JOEL RODRIGUEZ/THE GLOBE AND MAIL

Hundreds of volunteer stewards work under the direction of lead stewards and meet regularly to pick up litter and remove invasive plants, such as lily of the valley, Japanese knotweed and dog-strangling vine, which can crowd out native species.

Before the program started, only city park officials were allowed to remove invasive species from ravines. But the partnership allows volunteers to identify and remove these plants without supervision.

Catherine Berka, Geoffrey Chan and John Oyston work on identifying and removing Japanese knotweed. JOEL RODRIGUEZ/THE GLOBE AND MAIL

Geoffrey Chan and Catherine Berka are lead stewards at TNS’s Roxborough Parkette North site.  Mr. Chan says the stewardship work has given him an appreciation for the rich variety of life that exists within the city’s ravine system.

“I used to think only of places like the Amazon as being powerhouses of biodiversity, but here in this part of Ontario, we have a wealth of biodiversity too,” he said.  “Although I grew up in Toronto, I never knew this until now. It’s right in our backyard, and it’s a treasure.”

Finbarr O’Callahan works on identifying and removing Japanese knotweed. JOEL RODRIGUEZ/THE GLOBE AND MAIL

Toronto Nature Stewards now oversees 23 sites and has 60 trained lead stewards across the city. The stewardship year begins in April and runs until late October or early November.

Leslie Kestin, Geoffrey Chan, Finbarr O’Callahan, John Oyston, Jonathon Martynski and Anqi Dong at Roxborough Parkette North site. JOEL RODRIGUEZ/THE GLOBE AND MAIL

On July 22, 2022 City Council approved amendments to the official plan and bylaws to extend permissions throughout the City for six types of personal services shops where clients and customers may come to a home (barber, hairdresser, beautician, dressmaker, seamstress and tailor) and for an office for a regulated health related professional.

Last month 40 houses participated in the 15th Annual Casa Loma Yard Sale! This is a Casa Loma Yard Sale record!!

Due to several requests, a second yard sale will be held this year on Saturday October 1st.  To register so your home is included in the advertisements, postings and maps or if you  want to volunteer or if any student in your household need community service credits, contact Cheryl Millett

Information on the Yard Sale