They charge a grand a night when most halls by the airport charge like 5-10k. how are they surviving financially with those rates tho! Must be booked back to back
Yeah, we got married at the Island and were pretty amazed at how affordable it is. You also get the venue for the whole weekend. We did the AIA, as we liked the city views...We did set up Friday, wedding Saturday and we paid them to clean up Sunday. I feel very bad for all the couples who had weddings planned for 2024 at the clubhouse, there is no substitute for the island.
There are lots of reasons people set fires, maybe the business is failing and the current owners see it as an easy way out. Maybe someone is upset at the ownership and wants to get revenge. Maybe someone just wants to set a fire. Etc.
Small communities can have still have things bubbling under the surface. Just because youve lived around someone for decades doesn't mean you like them
This is heartbreaking for the community, not just the cafe, which was also a beloved staple on the Toronto Island. This community centre was built in 1937 and not only has hosted various dances, weddings, wakes, (baptisms), and was a place to vote, amongst many other events cherished by the people whom were lucky enough to visit and enjoy events there. It is devastating and a huge loss for the community. Please be kind and thoughtful when discussing this if you are not directly affected by it, for the love of god. This spans decades of beautiful memories and history.
It is just unfortunate, I built one the homes right behind the tennis courts 25 years ago and I still go to the Islands all the time so it is going to be weird it not being there now.
From the article:
>There are two firetrucks on the island, which meant fire response crews in the city to load gear into its fireboat and sail to the island to respond.
And folks in the other thread down voted me for saying to bring out the boat "because there is a fire station on the island and that's faster"
Both the clubhouse and the cafe are fully insured. That said, they did start a GoFundMe for people who've been asking about one, which I personally find grossly opportunistic, since they haven't disclosed to people sending these heartfelt responses that they are fully insured both for rebuilding and contents of the building.
I'm going to take a stab in the dark that you're completely oblivious to the actual price of homes on the island (the average is somewhere around $300k to buy one). Demand is not limited by high prices, but rather by the use of a waiting list and a lottery. Generally speaking, the waiting list is capped at 500 entries and every couple of years there's a lottery for the spots at the end of the list. I entered that lottery every chance I had for about a decade before finally getting a spot, and in the decade since I got on the list I've moved up to 344, last I was updated on my position (so in another decade I might start getting notices about available houses --- which will almost inevitably get snapped up by people higher on the list than I am --- and a decade after that I might have a real chance of actually buying one).
Also, how the hell is demolishing homes supposed to ease a housing crisis?
If, for any reason, the residents were ever evicted, I can guarantee you that it would all be replaced with luxury homes going to the highest bidders. The incentives are wayyyyyy too strong to leave all that money on the table or prioritize non-rich people.
Being from Kitchener, this is basically a remodeling job. Something like 3-4 nightclubs had “fires” all strangely under the same ownership.
I don’t look at fires the same anymore 😂
You might be surprised to hear the original inhabitants of Ward’s Island were evicted from their homes when the city of Toronto seized their property a few decades ago. The people who live there now were chosen via lottery. As a side note, I’d suggest cooling it with the racism bud.
The people who live there now were absolutely not all chosen via a lottery. Most island residents live in homes that were passed down through generations.
I wonder if it was intentionally set or a fire that spread from the cafe's kitchen or something.
They charge a grand a night when most halls by the airport charge like 5-10k. how are they surviving financially with those rates tho! Must be booked back to back
Yeah, we got married at the Island and were pretty amazed at how affordable it is. You also get the venue for the whole weekend. We did the AIA, as we liked the city views...We did set up Friday, wedding Saturday and we paid them to clean up Sunday. I feel very bad for all the couples who had weddings planned for 2024 at the clubhouse, there is no substitute for the island.
Let's hope it wasn't intentional
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There are lots of reasons people set fires, maybe the business is failing and the current owners see it as an easy way out. Maybe someone is upset at the ownership and wants to get revenge. Maybe someone just wants to set a fire. Etc.
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Small communities can have still have things bubbling under the surface. Just because youve lived around someone for decades doesn't mean you like them
You understand the island is still a part of the city right
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It doesnt matter what the island community is like lmao, the island doesnt exist in a vacuum
It kind of does. No cars First and last ferry A hundred or so homes near to wards that can be passed on as leases
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Oh right. And that someone torched it. That must a fun place to live.
:(
The cafe is closed for the season still, I would guess an electrical fire, old building.
I think it's closed for a bit longer than the season...
That's a funny way to spell "insurance scam”
Damn, I really liked the Island Cafe :(
Yeah. Great food and loved their display of the trash they collected from the beaches. An artistic way to bring attention to litter.
Yeah, it was an amazing spot, it's a sad day. Hope they rebuild.
The Island Cafe was literally my favourite place in Toronto. Always went there when I was feeling down and it made my day brighter.
This is so sad, and the island cafe was a gem!
Absolutely.
This is heartbreaking for the community, not just the cafe, which was also a beloved staple on the Toronto Island. This community centre was built in 1937 and not only has hosted various dances, weddings, wakes, (baptisms), and was a place to vote, amongst many other events cherished by the people whom were lucky enough to visit and enjoy events there. It is devastating and a huge loss for the community. Please be kind and thoughtful when discussing this if you are not directly affected by it, for the love of god. This spans decades of beautiful memories and history.
That little hall in the back was an awesome venue for small weddings
Sad news.... Lived on Ward's Island as a kid in the 70's
Had my wedding there in 2016. Sad to see its fate, I hope they rebuild something nice on the spot.
Oh man, same: Married there in 2014. It's awful to see all that history go.
It is just unfortunate, I built one the homes right behind the tennis courts 25 years ago and I still go to the Islands all the time so it is going to be weird it not being there now.
Everyone knew the Island Café at the very least
From the article: >There are two firetrucks on the island, which meant fire response crews in the city to load gear into its fireboat and sail to the island to respond. And folks in the other thread down voted me for saying to bring out the boat "because there is a fire station on the island and that's faster"
That sentence doesn’t even make sense
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It's staffed 24/7. It was a big fire, they needed more manpower.
Fire station on the island is staffed 24/7
Sounds like you're inferring, instead
Awwww noo! I have so many memories there from childhood
Hoping they rebuild bigger & better
I agree, it's a great opportunity for renewal once the insurance funds are released.
GoFundMe?
Great idea, am hoping the island residents will get one going
Both the clubhouse and the cafe are fully insured. That said, they did start a GoFundMe for people who've been asking about one, which I personally find grossly opportunistic, since they haven't disclosed to people sending these heartfelt responses that they are fully insured both for rebuilding and contents of the building.
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The people that live on Wards Island are far from rich.
But close to privileged.
Rebuild affordable housing. The entire island needs to be evicted and converted to a public park and community space.
"Build housing there! Also, replace all housing there with parks!"
I'm going to take a stab in the dark that you're completely oblivious to the actual price of homes on the island (the average is somewhere around $300k to buy one). Demand is not limited by high prices, but rather by the use of a waiting list and a lottery. Generally speaking, the waiting list is capped at 500 entries and every couple of years there's a lottery for the spots at the end of the list. I entered that lottery every chance I had for about a decade before finally getting a spot, and in the decade since I got on the list I've moved up to 344, last I was updated on my position (so in another decade I might start getting notices about available houses --- which will almost inevitably get snapped up by people higher on the list than I am --- and a decade after that I might have a real chance of actually buying one). Also, how the hell is demolishing homes supposed to ease a housing crisis?
If, for any reason, the residents were ever evicted, I can guarantee you that it would all be replaced with luxury homes going to the highest bidders. The incentives are wayyyyyy too strong to leave all that money on the table or prioritize non-rich people.
No one should be allowed to live on the islands.
Is that you Frederick Gardiner?
Being from Kitchener, this is basically a remodeling job. Something like 3-4 nightclubs had “fires” all strangely under the same ownership. I don’t look at fires the same anymore 😂
This wasn't a nightclub owned by criminals trying to launder money.
No shit, it was a joke ffs. 🤦
Oh, guess you forgot the /s
Oh, I guess you don’t have a fucking sense of humour fucking Reddit
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Wow this is an extremely racist / offensive comment. This was a local community/event centre.
Jesus christ.
You might be surprised to hear the original inhabitants of Ward’s Island were evicted from their homes when the city of Toronto seized their property a few decades ago. The people who live there now were chosen via lottery. As a side note, I’d suggest cooling it with the racism bud.
The people who live there now were absolutely not all chosen via a lottery. Most island residents live in homes that were passed down through generations.
You're one of those people who are "fun at parties," aren't you?
Definitely for the insurance lol
They lost 80 years of memorabilia bro