Two Waterfront Celebrations in Toronto

 

Biidaasige Park (pronounced "bee-daw-sih-geh" and meaning "sunlight shining toward us" in Anishinaabemowin/Ojibwemowin) is a sweeping greenspace that lines the new mouth of the Don River.

1 Touch the earth lightly, use the earth gently,

nourish the life of the world in our care:

gift of great wonder, ours to surrender,

trust for the children tomorrow will bear.

3 Let there be greening, birth from the burning,

water that blesses and air that is sweet,

health in God's garden, hope in God's children,

regeneration that peace will complete.

                                                            Voices United 307

 Two events happened along the Toronto waterfront on the weekend, one a celebration and the other scheduled as a protest. The celebration was the expansion by about 10 acres of an ambitious new park which restores and re-imagines the mouth of the Don River. The Don was effectively killed as a natural waterway as the heart of the city was industrialized but this billion dollar project will bring it back to life again. 

We walked the first part of the park a couple of months ago and while we might not live to see the full effect of the restoration it was inspiring. As the initial excavations were undertaken seeds from native plants no longer seen in the area were discovered and remarkably were germinated and replanted. There are already nests for aquatic birds that had been driven away. Historic tree species have been planted. 

The planned protest was against the expansion of the runway at Billy Bishop Island Airport so that jets could take off and land there. Premier Ford has plenty of medal potential for the Blockhead Olympics -- closing the Science Centre, tunnelling under the 401 highway, etc. -- but this was up there. Why do this, at great expense, when there is an excellent express train from downtown to Pearson Airport? 

The runway itself would change the outflow of Toronto Harbour and the province expropriated a portion of beloved Little Norway Park from the city for the flight path. The noise level would rise considerably. 

Happily, the federal government said no, at least for now, and the march/rally/flotilla in opposition to this folly was transformed into a party. How wonderful that these two events could coincide -- providence? The city has now tabled a motion to have the expropriation of the park rescinded. 

Livable cities are part of God's plan if we believe the book of Revelation, an aspect of a new heaven and a new earth. I do believe that heaven for Christians isn't just "pie in the sky" but a resurrection reality that begins here and now. 

 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.  I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God...

                                                              Revelation 21: 1-2a