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March 2 2013 - Eleventh Annual Heartwood Blues
May 11 2013 - Eighth Annual Amazing Race for Heartwood Place
26 AINSLIE STREET SOUTH
It's hard to believe that HEARTWOOD PLACE on AINSLIE has been a new home for 66 households for over a year. Although we worked on the project for seven years (that's right-7 years!!), once we had the approval from the MOE to develop the site, things moved quickly. The building was constructed in just 12 months and tenants moved into their new apartments in the fall of 2010. Now many have settled in and say that they will stay there "forever". A few have decided to move to other places and some have been asked to leave because they were not paying their rent or conducting themselves in unacceptable ways. But fortunately we have sound oversight by Susan Raymond, Operations Manager for HEARTWOODPLACE and Keith Faulconbridge who brings his experience as Superintendent at HEARTWOOD PLACE on GAUKEL. Keith's knowledge of working with the Tribunal when dealing with problems is very helpful. We're also glad to have a new Superintendent, Bogdan Manaila, looking after HEARTWOOD PLACE on AINSLIE.
Current activities include overseeing the operations of the Reporter Cafe and Community Room. It's taken more time to complete the construction in the Café than expected, but now it's operational! Fresh food and good coffee are being served Monday - Friday and we already have some "regular customers". Nadine Babcock, the enthusiastic Supervisor, is working with committed staff Maria and Barb, both tenants in the building.
Susan Raymond is also helping with the Cafe to ensure its success.
The Reporter Café and Community Room is bright and beautiful, with cabinets and counters contributed by Dave and Cathy Sutherland who ordered a new kitchen and gave us the one they were replacing! With Earl Way's wonderful capabilities as a carpenter, he took all of the pieces and worked his magic. You MUST stop in and have a look!
We are pleased to have received a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation for $27,100 and $25,000 from the Bridgeway Foundation to help fund the start-up costs. Having a broad base of support for this project is very encouraging for us. Several of the tenants are working in the Cafe and helping with activities in the Community Room. Mark Fortuna, a well-known expert in music and production, has set up the sound system and will help organize music events.
Activities in the Community Room are a wonderful opportunity for HEARTWOOD PLACE to help create a strong sense of community, both within the building and the surrounding neighbourhood. Plans for Special Feature Nights include music, games, cards, poetry readings - and other new events as the ideas are developed.
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