NEWS ARCHIVE
MARCH 4, 2008 - THE FIRST QUEEN STREET FIRE VICTIMS STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING (held at Toronto City Hall)
The first Queen Street Fire Victims Steering Committee meeting was held tonight:
* We recommend that funds raised from BENEFITS for residents who lost their homes in the fire be donated to the SCOTIABANK TRUST FUND. There are a few reasons for this. One being, Adam's office is going to be administering this fund and the office has a list of ALL those who lost their homes. This ensures that the money will reach everyone, and distributed fairly. I think that the reason that many people were weary of the fund was that they were unsure when this money would be opened for pick up by the residents - this fund should actually be ready by this Friday, March 7th for pick up.
* THIS FUND ONLY HELPS FORMER RESIDENTS - it does not include former employees who lost their jobs, or businesses. If you are setting up a benefit for former employees/businesses you can contact Adam's office who will put you in touch with these businesses.
* Please take PHOTOS of your donations and send them over to us.
* THIS INFO ON THE FIRE SITE WAS SENT TO US BY ADAM'S OFFICE:
The site is being graded the contractor is using the building debris, broken bricks and blocks, to level the site, it appears that we will be able to avoid bringing additional material to the site for this purpose.
The hoarding at the rear of the site along the lane way is complete. The Building Inspector, Dave, has contacted Transportation Service (John Richmond) to inform him that the hoarding at the rear of the site is now complete. The lane way at the rear of the site is covered in thick sheet of ice, my understanding was that Transportation Services wanted to de-ice the lane way before opening it to the public. There is no longer any danger from the fire site or the remaining buildings preventing the lane way opening.
Most of the large material has been removed from the site, there will remain at the end of the day some large material on site that should be removed by tomorrow. The quick fence securing the site along Queen Street will remain until the Queen Street hoarding is completed. The hoarding on the Queen Street will be started tomorrow depending on the weather. The south side walk and the east bound curb lane of Queen Street will remain closed until they are repaired by Transportation Service.
NEWS: FEBRUARY 29TH - THE SHANGHAI MEETING
(we've also set up a new email account: rebuildingqueenwest@gmail.com)
* VICTIMS of the fire need to contact Adam Vaughan's office. this includes everyone affected - from residents, employees, employers. employers should contact Councillor Adam Vaughan's office and offer a list of employees who have recently been unemployed by the fire.
*EMPLOYMENT: for anyone who has been left unemployed by the fire - please contact Adam's office, register with their database and see what your options are. A few businesses have offered to hire people IMMEDIATELY. The CN Tower has offered to hire anyone who has lost their jobs.
*QUESTIONS ON DONATIONS: Right now, from what we understand, the avenue for questions of legitimacy and accountability is really, through AV's office. Adam Vaughan has a database of all those affected by the fire - so if you are throwing a benefit and want to see who you should be giving this money to, you should confirm with the office.
There have been a few issues raised that we, as the rebuilding queen street west group, would love to discuss with others about/potentially help coordinate.
FEBRUARY 27TH:
We attended the meeting held by Councillor Adam Vaughan and there was a lot of good information being passed around for everyone: the victims of the fire (legal aid, housing help, donations, etc...), those who are throwing benefits, witnesses and generally everyone who is concerned.
* A STEERING COMMITTEE is in the works to disseminate information to the public, address concerns, and fill the info and communication gap.
* WITNESSES: a lot of people have had a difficult time contacting the police/detective marcelle chiasson to provide statements - we were told that should you not have your phonecall returned within 24 hours, you should head over to DIVISION 14 to give statements. The Criminal Identification Bureau is there 24/7 and will assist you.
* TENANTS/OWNERS: who probably already know this - should register with Councillor Vaughan's database on his website - tenants, owners, etc. Information on 621 Queen west would be particularly helpful.
* INSURANCE: there has been a lot of issues regarding insurance policies. There seems to be a lack of accountability in regards to this: anyone who has questions should contact the FSCO (Financial Services Commission of Ontario). They should also be able to provide those with AND WITHOUT insurance with guidance on how to put a claim together for some kind of compensation. THERE ARE ALTERNATIVE RESOURCES TO INSURANCE! Owners also have the right of access to their buildings - it was recommended that they take photos of EVERYTHING. Do not leave this up to the insurance companies!!!
* LEARN ABOUT YR RIGHTS! at the Kensington Bellwoods Community Legal Services (489 College, 416-924-4244) who provide free legal services to those living anywhere south of Bloor, east of Ossington, west of Yonge to Lake Ontario.
BENEFIT THROWERS: SHANGHAI COWGIRL (538 Queen West) will be having a meeting for benefit throwers at noon this Friday the 29th. This should help coordinate all efforts. A big concern for many benefit throwers is how to ensure that they can get the money raised DIRECTLY to the victims of the fire. This should shed some light to those who are would like an alternative besides the Scotia Bank fund.
MARCH 4, 2008 - THE FIRST QUEEN STREET FIRE VICTIMS STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING (held at Toronto City Hall)
The first Queen Street Fire Victims Steering Committee meeting was held tonight:
* We recommend that funds raised from BENEFITS for residents who lost their homes in the fire be donated to the SCOTIABANK TRUST FUND. There are a few reasons for this. One being, Adam's office is going to be administering this fund and the office has a list of ALL those who lost their homes. This ensures that the money will reach everyone, and distributed fairly. I think that the reason that many people were weary of the fund was that they were unsure when this money would be opened for pick up by the residents - this fund should actually be ready by this Friday, March 7th for pick up.
* THIS FUND ONLY HELPS FORMER RESIDENTS - it does not include former employees who lost their jobs, or businesses. If you are setting up a benefit for former employees/businesses you can contact Adam's office who will put you in touch with these businesses.
* Please take PHOTOS of your donations and send them over to us.
* THIS INFO ON THE FIRE SITE WAS SENT TO US BY ADAM'S OFFICE:
The site is being graded the contractor is using the building debris, broken bricks and blocks, to level the site, it appears that we will be able to avoid bringing additional material to the site for this purpose.
The hoarding at the rear of the site along the lane way is complete. The Building Inspector, Dave, has contacted Transportation Service (John Richmond) to inform him that the hoarding at the rear of the site is now complete. The lane way at the rear of the site is covered in thick sheet of ice, my understanding was that Transportation Services wanted to de-ice the lane way before opening it to the public. There is no longer any danger from the fire site or the remaining buildings preventing the lane way opening.
Most of the large material has been removed from the site, there will remain at the end of the day some large material on site that should be removed by tomorrow. The quick fence securing the site along Queen Street will remain until the Queen Street hoarding is completed. The hoarding on the Queen Street will be started tomorrow depending on the weather. The south side walk and the east bound curb lane of Queen Street will remain closed until they are repaired by Transportation Service.
NEWS: FEBRUARY 29TH - THE SHANGHAI MEETING
(we've also set up a new email account: rebuildingqueenwest@gmail.com)
* VICTIMS of the fire need to contact Adam Vaughan's office. this includes everyone affected - from residents, employees, employers. employers should contact Councillor Adam Vaughan's office and offer a list of employees who have recently been unemployed by the fire.
*EMPLOYMENT: for anyone who has been left unemployed by the fire - please contact Adam's office, register with their database and see what your options are. A few businesses have offered to hire people IMMEDIATELY. The CN Tower has offered to hire anyone who has lost their jobs.
*QUESTIONS ON DONATIONS: Right now, from what we understand, the avenue for questions of legitimacy and accountability is really, through AV's office. Adam Vaughan has a database of all those affected by the fire - so if you are throwing a benefit and want to see who you should be giving this money to, you should confirm with the office.
There have been a few issues raised that we, as the rebuilding queen street west group, would love to discuss with others about/potentially help coordinate.
FEBRUARY 27TH:
We attended the meeting held by Councillor Adam Vaughan and there was a lot of good information being passed around for everyone: the victims of the fire (legal aid, housing help, donations, etc...), those who are throwing benefits, witnesses and generally everyone who is concerned.
* A STEERING COMMITTEE is in the works to disseminate information to the public, address concerns, and fill the info and communication gap.
* WITNESSES: a lot of people have had a difficult time contacting the police/detective marcelle chiasson to provide statements - we were told that should you not have your phonecall returned within 24 hours, you should head over to DIVISION 14 to give statements. The Criminal Identification Bureau is there 24/7 and will assist you.
* TENANTS/OWNERS: who probably already know this - should register with Councillor Vaughan's database on his website - tenants, owners, etc. Information on 621 Queen west would be particularly helpful.
* INSURANCE: there has been a lot of issues regarding insurance policies. There seems to be a lack of accountability in regards to this: anyone who has questions should contact the FSCO (Financial Services Commission of Ontario). They should also be able to provide those with AND WITHOUT insurance with guidance on how to put a claim together for some kind of compensation. THERE ARE ALTERNATIVE RESOURCES TO INSURANCE! Owners also have the right of access to their buildings - it was recommended that they take photos of EVERYTHING. Do not leave this up to the insurance companies!!!
* LEARN ABOUT YR RIGHTS! at the Kensington Bellwoods Community Legal Services (489 College, 416-924-4244) who provide free legal services to those living anywhere south of Bloor, east of Ossington, west of Yonge to Lake Ontario.
BENEFIT THROWERS: SHANGHAI COWGIRL (538 Queen West) will be having a meeting for benefit throwers at noon this Friday the 29th. This should help coordinate all efforts. A big concern for many benefit throwers is how to ensure that they can get the money raised DIRECTLY to the victims of the fire. This should shed some light to those who are would like an alternative besides the Scotia Bank fund.
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