Oriole Park Association


Oriole Park Association
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The Oriole Park Residents' Association is a volunteer organization committed to represent the interests of our community.

Our Board of Directors is comprised of dedicated volunteers from our community who serve to represent the interests of the residents of Chaplin Estates.  With the support of our neighbours, we are committed to organizing and promoting community activities, to encouraging and enabling involvement of residents in issues which affect our community, and to representing the interests of our community when governments and other organizations become involved. Whether renting or owning, all residents within our catchment area are both welcome and encouraged to join the Oriole Park Residents' Association.

Mission Statement

The Association's aim is to serve the interests of Oriole Park and to address issues of concern to the community in a spirit of cooperation and consensus. 

Objective

The objective of the Oriole Park Association is to advance and protect the interests of the members of the Association relating to property and residency.

Oriole Park Association Board Members

Executive Directors

President:          David McMahon 
Vice President:  Lynne Frank

Vice President: Daryle Hunt

Treasurer:          Steven Sims
 Secretary:          TBA

MEMBERSHIP:    TBA

Directors

Heather Harris

Deborah Staiman

Shelley Ortved- Special Consultant

Bruce Huggins

Nancy Bell

Ron Hutchinson

Special Consultant: Richard MacFarlane

Past Presidents

David McMahon 2015 – present
Chris Sellors 2013 – 2015
Bob Blake 2009 – 2013
Phil Mohtadi 2003 – 2008
Shelley Ortved 1998 – 2003
Graham Hallward 1994 – 1997
James Bly 1991 – 1994
Hollis Rinehart 1987 – 1990
Patricia Annau 1987
J. Patrick Howe 1986 – 1987
Gerry Fitzgerald 1985 – 1986
Robert W. Blakely 1982 – 1985
Peter Ricketts 1979 – 1981
Fiona Nelson 1978 – 1979
Peter R. Hayden 1976 – 1978
Ernest Annau 1974 – 1976
The Hon. Roy McMurtry, O.C., O. Ont., Q.C. 1971 – 1973
James Stephenson 1968 – 1971
Brigadier Rolsa Erich Smythe, D.S.O., M.C. 1954 – 1967 

MAP OF THE ASSOCIATION

Oriole Park Association is bounded by the residential triangle of Eglinton, Chaplin Cres., and Yonge Streets.



COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & COMMUNITY ISSUES

As we all know our neighbourhood is subject to serious development pressure, and development issues have occupied much of the board’s time. Among these issues are:

Community Development

Committee of Adjustment – Single Family Homes

The OPA keeps a close eye on applications for home renovations and tear- downs in our neighbourhood.

We receive details about applications from the Committee including a description of the proposed changes and the deadline for submitting to the committee. We forward information about homes in our area to a special email list. You can subscribe here: Oriole Park Association - Committee of Adjustment notices.

Metrolinx – Eglinton LRT

The OPA is involved in the ongoing process of the development of the new Light Rail Transit line in our area.

One major concern for the community is that Eglinton Avenue is to have restricted lanes westbound between Oriole Parkway and Braemar Avenue for the construction of the Avenue Road Station.

The proposals as detailed below will last until 2021.

The businesses on the north side will have very restricted access and visibility.

The second concern is that Metrolinx in their initial proposal wished to ‘clear cut’ the area on the south side of the North Toronto Community Center between the eastern driveway and the western boundary beside the ‘Art Barn’ building. The area is to be used for storage and construction vehicles

The OPA community involvement is:

  • We attend meetings on behalf of the membership and community as well as sit on a ‘working group’ Chaired by Councillor Cristin Carmichael-Greb (Ward 16) and as supported by our Councillor Josh Matlow ( Ward 22).
  • The working group is comprised of elected officials; Senior City of Toronto Staff including Metrolinx and Crosslinx staff. The local residents associations are represented by the  Avenue Road Eglinton Community Association: the Eglinton Park Ratepayers Association as well as the OPA.
  • We will provide updates via our Twitter and Facebook Accounts as well our email subscribers as they come available.

HISTORY AND HERITAGE HOMES – IN CHAPLIN ESTATES

Chaplin Estates originated in 1860 when the Chaplin family owned the land in the neighbourhood. William Chaplin and his son James decided to develop the land and a plan of the subdivision was filed in 1913 at the City of Toronto’s registry office. There existed a long list of building restrictions and zoning bylaws, in the sale of each property: Semi-detached houses were forbidden and stucco exteriors were not to cover more than 50% of the house. Many of the homes were later built in the 1920’s and 30’s by Douglas Kertland, a prominent Toronto architect at the time, who was known for his award-winning design of the CNE Automotive Building . The original architectural drawings can still be found in the Ontario Archives. Other prominent architects who designed homes in the Chaplin estates neighbourhood include E. R. Hoare, William Somerville, Dyce Saunders and Mathers & Haldenby.

Our research has uncovered some very interesting historical information. For example, did you know that the house at 287 Oriole Parkway incorporates bricks from the Ontario Parliament Buildings which had burned down in 1909?

Chaplin Estates has been and continues to be  home to many prominent Canadians, including Lawren Harris from the Group of Seven, architects Ernest Annau and William Somerville to name a few.

If you have any information about the history of your home or would like to volunteer your time researching alongside us, we would love to hear from you.

Click here for more history..

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