The East York-Riverdale Mirror

This group of volunteers has spent the past 10 years restoring an abandoned railway station that was built in 1929 in the distinctive Art Deco style.

The terminal is a huge building located on 18 acres of land and was once a jewel of architecture that defined the city of Buffalo's heydays.

However, when train operations ended in 1979, the management of the building deteriorated and in late 1980s it was virtually abandoned.

For 10 years the building was attacked by vandals, who systematically destroyed the structure from the top down, stripping it of its former glory.

Finally the current volunteer group stepped in and secured the building, then began the long process of restoring it for the benefit of the community of Buffalo.

This is only one of several initiatives that are now taking place throughout that city and the Niagara Frontier region to reclaim the community from vandals and neglect.

Frankly I was amazed at how clean Buffalo and its surrounding communities are in comparison to Toronto, be it downtown or in the suburbs.

Driving through that city you only rarely see tags or graffiti.

The fact is that there has been a concerted effort by community groups, politicians and the police to crack on a variety of neighbourhood problems and eradicate them.

While it has taken several decades to see real results, they are now visible and remain so because people want to see their communities work.

East York, like the rest of the city, has been inundated by graffiti and litter to a point that is completely unacceptable, and it's now up to the community to do something about it.

You can start by helping the Pape Village Business Improvement Area and Toronto Police 54 Division hold its first community cleanup day.

This will take place on Saturday, Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with volunteers being asked to go to Bethany Baptist Church, at the southeast corner of Pape and Cosburn avenues at 9:45 a.m.

The 54 Division Community Police Liaison Committee, Ward 29 (Toronto-Danforth) Councillor Case Ootes, Goodbye Graffiti Toronto and the City of Toronto solid waste management division are supporting this initiative.

You will have the opportunity to help remove graffiti from buildings and clean up trash around the neighbourhood and from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. The BIA will be providing lunch to all volunteers.

The bottom line is that if you wish to keep your community clean, safe and liveable, you have to roll up your sleeves and pitch in, as our American neighbours have discovered and put in practice.

For further information, contact Const. Gary Powell, Toronto Police 54 Division, at 416-808-5429 or Faiza Ansari, executive director, Pape Village BIA at 416-209-8881.