Call 311 for any Toronto city service

City launches new three-digit number for public inquires
Calling 311 to get questions answered and issue service requests
By Kris Scheuer
(Written Sept. 18 for Town Crier)

The new 311 information service will allow residents and businesses to conduct business with city 24/7, 365 days a year. Photo by Kris Scheuer/Town Crier.

Calling the city to report a pothole in your street shouldn’t be that hard, but if you don’t know who to contact you could spend an eternity on the phone.
City hall’s got the message and has launched the new 311 phone line to assist residents and businesses with municipal issues.
Since 2005, Toronto has spent $35 million gearing up for the new call centre that launched Sept. 24. The new three-digit number replaces Access Toronto, which would redirect people to the right department. 
With the new three-digit number, customer service reps can answer questions about multiple services without transferring the caller. In 70 percent of cases, the call centre will process requests for service such as a pothole repair or missed garbage pick-up.

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OMB says no to highrise in North Toronto

Area residents celebrate after appeal of Montgomery Ave. development turned down
By Kris Scheuer
(Originally written Sept. 18 for Town Crier.)

Residents Jordan Applebaum, Naomi St. John and Helen Oakes tear at signs informing public of application to build a 25-storey highrise. Photo by Francis Crescia/Town Crier.

The Ontario Municipal Board rejected an application for a 25-storey highrise on a residential street in North Toronto much to the joy of the residents who fought against it.
“I’m delighted,” said 83-year-old Helen Oakes, who lives on Helendale Ave. one block from the proposed highrise. “We are delighted. We defeated the developer.”
Top of the Tree Developments Inc. had planned to build the highrise at 34–70 Montgomery Ave. It also applied to redesignate sections of Roselawn, Duplex, Montgomery and Helendale Aves. as apartment neighbourhoods paving the way for future intensification over several blocks.