Welcome to ccfew.org

Citizens Concerned About the Future of the Etobicoke Waterfront (CCFEW) has been around since 1989, but this website was launched in October 2005 to improve communications with our members and other members of the community.  Back in 1989, Etobicoke was a city.  Now it's the south west portion of the City of Toronto.  We haven't changed our name though.  It's already long enough!  (We pronounce it “see few” to avoid tongue sprains.)

CCFEW was founded to fight development proposals in the former Mimico “Motel Strip”.  We spearheaded the fight to secure public access to this section of waterfront.  This resulted in reduced condominium densities, and the creation of Humber Bay Shores Park.

Our Objectives: 

1. To promote a healthy waterfront environment through preservation, rehabilitation and education.
2. To seek maximum parkland through the preservation of existing parkland on Etobicoke's waterfront, and the acquisition of additional waterfront lands for park purposes.
3. To promote meaningful citizen involvement in decisions affecting the environment.
4. To seek to ensure that any development or redevelopment is compatible with its surroundings in scope and scale.

While the specific threats and challenges change with time, these founding objectives remain relevant today.  Residential redevelopment continues to be an area of concern with increasing pressure for high density developments along the lakeshore.

Updates From Our 2025 Annual General Meeting

These are some of the bullet points from the “President’s Report” at our 2025 AGM:

Bird Walks: As detailed in Barbara’s report, the walks continue to be very well attended and our most important form of public outreach.

Spring Bird Festival: Despite the rain, the festival and our walks were very well attended. This raises questions about how we will be able to handle the number of people if we have good weather.

Road Ends: Miles Road Parkette is usable but still needs some enhancements. A proper parkette is planned for Fourth Street. Work is to commence next year after sewer maintenance work is completed this year.

Etobicoke Creek Dam: The remediation plan is still not fully funded. A grant application has been made to the Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative which, if approved, would provide the balance. Work could begin in 2026 if funding is obtained.

Etobicoke Creek Trail: Funding has been secured to complete the missing piece of the Etobicoke Creek Trail under the QEW. Work should start late this year and be completed in the spring of 2026.

Development: Provincial policy changes have encouraged more development applications, but economics have put the brakes on building. The two significant applications currently in play are the ones adjacent to Amos Waites Park and Long Branch Park. CCFEW is a participant in the OLT hearing on 220/230/240 Lake Promenade (across the street from Long Branch Park).

Waterfront Park Maintenance Projects: While shoreline maintenance is important and in some cases overdue, did it all have to happen at once? The multi-year shoreline maintenance project at Colonel Samuel Smith Park is now underway. Shoreline maintenance will begin at Humber Bay West late this year before all of the work at Humber Bay East is completed. Humber Bay East should be mostly open by mid-year.

Financial Supports: 

We were not able to spend any money on Humber Arboretum school trip support in 2024, but it appears to be well underway for 2025.

Financial support was offered to 3 Toronto Nature Stewards sites in South Etobicoke. So far, only one has applied.