TORONTO – The shenanigans and bigotry foisted on the Marian Shrine to Mary Mother of Gratitude at 3100 Weston Rd., in the former township of North York, have drawn the attention of the Ontario Legislature.
Tom Rakocevic, MPP for Humber-Black Creek, stood in the Provincial Parliament of Ontario to bring attention to questionable tactics of the new proprietor of what used to be known as Rivermede House, The Basilian (Catholic Eastern Orthodox) Monastery and their [former] High School of St. Basil the Great.
The place had hosted for two decades an outdoor sanctuary and place of prayer for devotees of Mother Mary of Gratitude. It has been so-called in part because so many had found peace, calm and recovery from ills.
These are people of all racial, ethnic, cultural and economic backgrounds. They attribute the resolution of their difficulties to the intervention of Mother Mary of Gratitude.
MPP Rakocevic, underscored that the “countless thousands” who used to be “welcome” on the site have become “unwelcome”. Security guards hired by the new owner “cast people out”, calling them “squatters” for daring to meet and pray in designated locations on the site.
They are neither squatters nor trespassers, because they limit their presence to terrain leased by the City of Toronto. The lease held by the City for the property with the former owner is still in place, does not expire until November of 2024 and is, in fact, under negotiation for a further four years after that.
But last summer (in August) the property was “abruptly” sold, according to Mr. Rakocevic The faithful have been left at the mercy of speculators who have so far demonstrated only disrespect for the religious ad those who used to enjoy the facilities for their natural ambiance. 3100 Weston Rd. is on a floodplain over which the Toronto Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) has [partial] jurisdiction.
Last Summer, City Council passed a Motion, unanimously, calling on the TRCA and the Housing and Planning Department to consider placing the site on its Heritage property list. That followed on a similar unanimous Motion passed by the Toronto Catholic School Board.
The new owners responded by tearing down the statue of the Virgin Mary. They had already removed other artifacts and religious symbols erected and maintained by volunteers over the last twenty years, with the consent and approval of the former owners.
MPP Rakocevic implored the Legislature to weigh the 30,000 + submitted by the devotees over the last three weeks asking that the Shrine be preserved for its intended use. (see for the Member’s Statement, on our website).
It seems “the Marianist” devotees are picking up allies. Free advice to the purchasers: find a solution to your speculation that does not lend itself to interpretations of intimidation, bigotry and arrogance.
