Centre For Local Research into Public Space (CELOS)
CELOS: pronounced "see-loss", is a very small, non-profit organization with charitable status (as of 2009), which since 2000 has been documenting our work in the area of public urban space, mainly (but not only) parks. This is who we are and what we do.
October 2024:
More than two years of varying restrictions blocked activities and social life in Toronto parks and all other public spaces from March 2020 until the fall of 2022. By 2023 Ontario (and Toronto) lifted all of the restrictions, but resuming public life is not automatic. Many parks and rec staff took the chance for early retirement, and that means institutional memory was lost. We aim to preserve some parts of it. We also aim to follow up when government policies unintentionally block good public space initiatives, by finding the cracks that might let in the light. Follow-up is our hobby.
Numbers tell a story, although never the whole story. Here's part of the Dufferin Grove story, in the September 2015 newsletter version: the money story.
Here's a comparison of net cost, income and expenses for Dufferin Grove, 2011 to 2018.
The other thing about numbers is they're slippery things and it's easy to make arithmetic and data entry mistakes. The reader will find such mistakes in both the CELOS reports and the City of Toronto reports. If you find more mistakes, that we haven't pointed out already, please tell us at mail@celos.ca. Or tell the city at 311. Or both!
Despite the mistakes, there are patterns that can help teach what works and what doesn't. For 19 years, CELOS and city recreation staff collaborated closely. The follow-up -- what happened when the collaboration stopped -- makes an interesting story too. That's why we've kept on posting the City of Toronto financial records about Dufferin Grove/Ward 18 as well as those of CELOS.
Yearly financial reports
Read more about Dufferin Grove income trends here.
August 8, 2007 letter to the PFR internal auditor
City of Toronto part-time recreation staff sample wages
Budgetpedia.ca on the PFR budget 2017
see also Website Usage
For our current set of publishing activities, see
Friends of Dufferin Grove Park began a monthly newsletter in September 2000, which has been published by CELOS since 2003. CELOS also distributes a weekly web newsletter about the Dufferin Park Farmers' market, and an occasional e-newsletter about Toronto city rinks.
Here is a picture showabout the unmaking' of Dufferin Grove Park.'
The 2010 report by Dave Harvy and (Toronto Park People), funded by the Metcalf Foundation Fertile Ground for New Thinking Dave's concludes that it's time for Torontonians involved with parks to join their voices in bringing about park improvements.
You can find out about the Recreation Service Plan by going to this city webpage. You can find out how the consultations were set up by looking at this staff report.
Here is the City's list of "stakeholders" who were contacted to give their opinions about the Recreation Service Plan in May and June, 2011 (and the Parks Plan in September 2011). Here's the city's stakeholder list with contact links. If your "park friends" or advisory group is not on the list of groups who will be asked for their views, you can e-mail 311@toronto.ca and ask them to help you get on it.
consultation reports. CONTENT DELETED BY CITY STAFF