Friends and family members of well-known trade unionist Megan Tanya Whitfield will be gathering on Sunday September 6 at Meadowvale Conservation Park to celebrate her life.

The celebration takes place at 1 p.m. at the park, which is located at 1081 Old Derry Rd. W., Mississauga.

Whitfield is well-known as the first Black President of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW,) Toronto Local, which represented thousands or posties at Gateway Postal Facility, in Mississauga.

She was a forward-thinking leader who stood up for the rights of female workers and was instrumental in getting Canada’s first Black postie Albert Jackson commemorated on Canada Post stamp.

The Jamaica-born mom, grandmother, sister and aunt also played a key role at the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL), where she was a core member of the Executive Board, Executive Committee and the Workers of Colour Committee. At the OFL Convention, she co-chaired the Convention Resolutions Committee.

She was also a long-time member and board member of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists’ Canadian Chapter, who is helping to organize the event with The Ontario Federation of Labour.

“Megan’s strong leadership on the Workers of Colour Committee and in the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists was instrumental in the work to end racial discrimination in Ontario and beyond,” Ontario Federation of Labour Secretary-Treasurer Ahmad Gaied said on her passing.

“The workers’ struggle was her struggle, and Whitfield’s leadership was instrumental in strengthening our movement,” added OFL Executive Vice-President Janice Folk-Dawson.

Megan died suddenly at her home last May 24.

Those attending the celebration are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, snacks, water or other items they may require during the socially distanced event. The celebrations will take place in rain or shine.

Will you dish out $1 million for this fine Long Branch fixer upper!

The partially-burnt bungalow at 199 Thirtieth Street was recently listed for sale even though it is described as ‘unsafe to enter.’

The property is listed for $999,000 as ‘land value only,’  by listing agent REMAX Realtron Realty.

The detached home comes on a 45.50 by 134 feet lot, and offers ‘many permitted uses due to employment zoning,’ and can be used as an animal shelter, artist studio, park or even a police station.

“The property has an extensive list of uses,” the listing agent states. “It is among an up and coming residential neighbourhood.”

You can book an appointment to ‘walk the land.’

The house statistics show both the bedroom and bathroom counts as 0, and offer “no data” in the square-footage department.

This beauty is located between Brown’s Line and Kipling Ave., just south of Horner Ave., Long Branch GO Station, as well as both the QEW and Highway 427 are nearby.

It is in a neighbourhood which is described as an up-and-coming residential area.

Real estate records show that in 2007 the house was listed for $265,000. And in 2017 it was sold for $698,000. In 2019 listed for $769,000 and sold for $600,000.

Realtors say the initial $1 million cost for this home will only be the beginning, as the buyer has to build a new home or business.

Recently a tiny two-bedroom, one bathroom coach house on Euclid St., in Little Italy, which is much smaller and better condition than this one, sold for $1 million. It was advertised as a “rare detached bungalow located in the heart of Toronto.’

Real estate agents say the average cost of a Toronto home has gone up by $100,000 since last year despite everything, and prices are continuing to rise across the GTA.

Finally work on the long-awaited Long Branch GO Station is moving ahead.

Metrolinx’s GO Expansion is working on its goal of 15-minute rail service on the Lakeshore West line and is upgrading its rail network to enable electrified and fully accessible service, in addition to making much-needed upgrades to the Long Branch GO Station.

Metrolinx, in an update, says the work on the Long Branch Go Station will be completed by 2023 and when completed it will be replaced with a new station building.

The company said there will be two new east and west tunnels with elevator and stair access to platform level.

There will be revisions to the existing parking lot, including a passenger pick-up and drop-off area, bike lanes, pedestrian walkways and bike shelters.

The station will have barrier-free washrooms and upgrades to communication, mechanical and electrical systems. There will also be improved access from Edgeware Dr.

It will feature an accessible west entrance building with a passenger pick-up and drop-off area.

In addition, there will be a rehabilitation of existing platforms, including snow melt systems, heated shelters, elevators, stairs and integrated platform canopies.

And provisions for electrification, including grounding and bonding and Overhead Contact System.

Metrolinx is promising to deliver “better service for you and your family for everything you need from your transit system.”

“The Lakeshore West Go expansion will expand your possibilities,” the company says.

They promise 15-minute service during the day between Toronto and Burlington, and new hourly service to and from Hamilton seven days a week.

Weekly trips on the GO network are increasing from about 1,500 weekly to nearly 6,000, Metrolinx promises.

“Even more residents can enjoy the convenience and seamless journey of our transit system,” it states. “We’re making it easier for you to choose transit first.”

The Lakeshore West line delivers two-way, all-day service seven days a week, from Toronto to Aldershot. It delivers rush-hour service from Hamilton to Toronto in the morning and back again in the afternoon. They have been operating a weekend service between Toronto and Niagara all year round.