Community News
Firgrove-Grassways Connection Tribute celebrates the rich history of the Firgrove Community
BY PAUL JUNOR
It has been over four years since the announcement of the revitalization of the Firgrove- Grassways community. In many ways, this community, which is nicknamed “Connections” by residents, because of being connected to Grassways buildings, is a symbol of resilience, strength, and togetherness.
According to the website: https://www.torontohousing.ca, the organization is: bound by Jane Street to the east, Firgrove Crescent to the south, Firgrove Public School to the west, and Firgrove Crescent to the north. It was on December 8th, 2016 that the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) identified 134 units as unsafe. This includes Dune Grassway, which is made of 61 units and Blue Grassway-Marsh Grassway, which has 73 units. By 2017 the TCHC started the process to relocate hundreds of residents after the closing of several units. Many chose to move to other TCHC units with the possibility of returning after revitalization.
Lennox Holdford, community organizer, basketball coach, DJ, and show promoter who is the president of Lg entertainment was motivated to organize a tribute to honour the past and present residents of this former thriving and vibrant community. He organized it with Firgrove Nia in collaboration with the Residents Advisory Committee of Firgrove- Grassway and the TCHC.
On Saturday, October 1st. over 600 people showed up for this celebratory event on the grounds of the Connections basketball court. Lennox was the MC for the event. He recalled many powerful stories, recollections, histories of successes and good news about this community. There was a constant theme of: love, togetherness, friendship, belonging and family.
I spoke with Lennox on Thursday, September 29th and he shared with me many historical recollections about individuals from the Firgrove-Grassway community. He told me that he moved to the area in 1974 with his mother, and he remembered the shock of what it was like to be introduced to the harsh realities of surviving in this harsh climate.
He mentioned what kept many of the vulnerable and impressionable Black youths together, was a sense of: solidarity, connection and support from the wider community.
Lennox is aware of the work of former TDSB school board trustee, Tiffany Ford on the creation of a memorial project to keep the community “alive” virtually. He insists that it is important to honour the memories of those who lived in the community from 1975-2022.
Pan Fantasy Steelband, under the leadership of Wendy Jones serenaded the crowd. I spoke with Wendy on Wednesday, October 5th. and she told me that she was a member of the high school steelband Mangrove, which was based at Westview C.H.S.
It was guided by the leadership of Earl LaPierre Sr. who was active with the steelpan at Firgrove Public School.
At the Saturday event, CBC News anchor and former resident Dwight Drummond spoke about what it meant for him to grow up in this community. He mentioned that there are no reasons to be ashamed of the community and each resident should be proud of growing up in this vibrant part of the city, which has contributed to the richness of Toronto.
Dream Warriors, Mitchee Mee, Jully Black and Carlos Morgan all come from this area.
In my conversation with Lennox on Saturday, he expressed great pride with the progress and achievements that many from the community have accomplished. He believes that it is important to capture the stories of the original settlers, who were part of the community in the 1970s. Many of these elders sacrificed immensely so that their children survive and thrive. Lennox hopes to unveil a plaque in the future as a memorial.
This will be a fitting tribute to the elders.
Anyone interested in learning about the developments in FirgroveGrassway can check: Website: firgroveconnections.com/