Robert Sysak News Today

Residents in the Queen-Dovercourt area are struggling to protect what they say is one of the most significant trees in the city: A 60 metre tall, 150-year-old American elm that locals say has become a neighbourhood landmark.

Cesario Ginjo grew up not far from the coffee shop and bakery he owns on Queen West, and says he loves the neighborhood. But lately, running a business there has been difficult.

Cesario Ginjo grew up not far from the coffee shop and bakery he owns on Queen West, and says he loves the neighborhood. But lately, running a business there has been difficult.

Downtown core businesses reliant on office work traffic are seeing reduced sales and outlying areas are only able to scrape some of that business to themselves.

Business owners in the West Queen West area are up in arms over the city's closure of a number of streets to facilitate construction work, during what they describe as a crucial time for sales.

Asha Allen-Silverstein vividly remembers the sense of sadness and dread that came over her one day last March, as she closed up after a makeup workshop in The Beauty Collective’s space at 991 Queen St. E. The 15-year industry veteran had only opened the store the previous November, but had no idea when she’d be back. The next day, a provincial state of emergency was declared and the COVID-19 pandemic response had begun. “It was almost like an abyss of not knowing when and how you could re...