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Current News Articles of Interest to SERRA

November 30, 2008	Backyard Trees Made Possible by LEAF
December 2, 2008	FoNTRA Group: Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries – Governance Issue

Backyard Trees Made Possible by LEAF

November 30, 2008

Toronto environmental non-profit LEAF (Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests, for those of you scoring at home) has been planting trees in people's backyards since 1996, but mostly under the radar of Toronto's best green services or organizations. Although known especially for their backyard tree planting, LEAF also runs workshops and training sessions, gives tree tours and organizes the popular Leslieville Tree Festival each year. But for those of us thinking about planting a tree - and the fresh white stuff on the ground sure makes it hard to think ahead to spring - LEAF is still doing consultations this year to get ready for next year's plantings. Click here for more information.

Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries – Governance Issue December 2, 2008 FoNTRA Representatives, As a result of a motion passed at our November 25th general meeting, FoNTRA sent the following letter in support of the Moore Park Residents’ Association regarding Governance Issues with respect to the Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries. A November 19th e-mail from us provided considerable information on this matter. Please contact Tim Costigan (Moore Park RA President) with questions or for any further information. Best regards Peter & George

Why be a Member? You pay taxes ... have a voice! SERRA is only as strong as the members we have. When challenges to our neighbourhood have arisen in the past, we’ve been proud to see our residents step forward to be included. Looking forward, we believe it’s important to be an effective and well-funded organization, so that we’re ready for problems before they arise. With an active, growing membership base, SERRA can be an advocate for what the South Eglinton neighbourhood should be. Our efforts can go into building a stronger and more vibrant community in the heart of Toronto. If already a member, talk to your neighbours and spread the word about SERRA. Sign them up and be sure to pass along to us what both you and they would like SERRA to become. After all, it’s your organization. You define who we are. Download Membership form.

*FoNTRA* Letterhead

December 1, 2008
The Hon. Harinder Takhar
Minister of Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Suite 1306, Whitney Block
Queen's Park
99 Wellesley St. W.
Toronto, Ont. M7A 1W2

and

Premier Dalton McGuinty
Legislative Building
Queen's Park
Toronto, Ont. M7A 1A1

Re: "Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries – Governance Issue"

Dear Sirs:

We are writing to express our support for the following resolutions and we call upon the Government of Ontario to take action to:

1. Enforce the law of 1849, which requires the Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries to elect its directors in a prescribed manner;
2. protect the public’s interest in the Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries;
3. return the governance of the Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries to public control as intended by the statutes that created this institution;
4. ensure that the mandate of the original trust is respected; and
5. provide a public accounting for the financial transactions of the Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries.

We support the Recommendations for the Governance of the Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries presented by the Working Group of the Cemetery Committee of the Moore Park Residents’ Association.

We are also supportive of the publication of a public letter to the Premier in a daily Toronto paper calling on the Government to take the actions set out in the above resolutions.

Thank you for the opportunity to express our support.

Yours truly,

George Milbrandt
Co-Chair, FoNTRA
193 Wanless Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
M4N 1W4
del@ican.net

Peter Baker
Co-Chair, FoNTRA
124 Sherwood Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
M4P 2A7
peterwbaker@rogers.com

Cc: FoNTRA Representatives & Other Interested Individuals

City of Toronto Councillors

Tim Costigan
President Moore Park Residents’ Association
17 Rosedale Heights Drive
Toronto, ON, M4T 1C2

*The Federation of North Toronto Residents' Associations (FoNTRA)* is a non-profit, volunteer organization comprised of 27 member organizations. Its members, all residents’ associations, include at least 170,000 Toronto residents within their boundaries. The 27 residents’ associations that make up FoNTRA believe that Ontario and Toronto can and should achieve better development. Its central issue is not /whether/ Toronto will grow, but /how/. FoNTRA believes that sustainable urban regions are characterized by environmental balance, fiscal viability, infrastructure investment and social renewal.

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