While we support The Weekly, we feel that it is important that Woodsworthians have more than one venue in which to share our thoughts.
Among other things, the editors of The Weekly can be commended for holding Members accountable by requiring that the names of authors be published. Woodsworth Voices is intended to be a safe space in which Members can share their thoughts anonymously, without fear of retribution.
Twenty Six Degrees Celsius by Michael April 28, 2026
I requested that our office staff let me know who made the decision that we would keep our medium-rise hallway thermostats set to 26 degrees during the cooler months, and when this decision was made. As of the publishing of this article, I haven't received an answer to either of these two questions.
On February 17, 2026, I sent an email to our office staff to share my thoughts about the fact that there was a thermostat in the hallway near my unit that was set to 26 degrees. I expressed concern about both global warming, and our heating bill.
In an email dated February 26, 2026, they wrote that "...the hallway thermostats on all floors are adjusted to this temperature". In another email on the same date, they implied that their goal is "...to ensure temperatures in the Co-op are comfortable for residents".
Also on February 26, 2026, an employee let me know that "...Management has discretion and authority..." over the thermostats.
On April 13, 2026, I had a look around and learned that the total of nine thermostats that we have on floors 3, 5, and 7 were set to temperatures ranging from 22 degrees to 28 degrees.
On April 20, 2026, I noticed that the thermostat outside my unit was set to about 10 degrees. I looked at all of the thermostats on our three residential floors (3, 5, and 7), and saw that all of them were set to about 10 degrees. I was confused by this because, for the following ten days, the median temperature outside was predicted to be about 8 degrees. Why would we turn our thermostats from 26 down to 10, when it is only 8 outside?
On April 21, 2026, I heard a neighbour express concern about the chilly air in the hallway. I like the cool air in our common areas, but I guess that most residents would enjoy something closer to 20 degrees.
Update - May 3, 2026 I noticed that the thermostat in our Penthouse Laundry Room was set to about 26 degrees celsius. The window was open. At the time, the temperature outside was about 12 degrees.
I Feel Like a Coward by Michael April 19, 2026
On my floor in our medium-rise, an elderly neighbour made a joke that she had made before. I chuckled in recognition.
A young resident who shares our floor said, derisively, "Ya, we've all heard that before."
I was at a loss for words. I didn't step up to defend our friend. I had already walked half-way down the hall, and was trepidatious about reversing my course. I was afraid that I might also be attacked.
I feel like a coward for not going back to defend our neighbour from our neighbour.
I Feel Stonewalled by Michael March 18, 2026
I wrote a letter with the intention of printing hard copies and delivering them to every unit at Woodsworth Co-op. With a fear of being attacked, I decided to not do so. Subsequently, I decided to publish the letter here at Woodsworth Voices.
On March 11, 2026, I sent an email to our Editorial Committee with an invitation for them to comment before my publication of said letter. Our Editorial Committee sent a very lengthy reply.
Normally, Woodsworth Voices only redacts specific identifying information. However, due to the potentially confusing nature of the many words, sentences, and paragraphs from our Editorial Committee, we have made many redactions.
Our Internal Waiting List by Michael February 19, 2026
On April 4, 2025, one of our employees in our office wrote the following to me: "Our policy is that we do not disclose members' position on the internal waitlist."
On April 7, 2025, one of our employees in our office wrote the following to me: "While there may have been a communal copy of the internal waitlist in the past, Management is no longer providing this to members. Management is also not accepting inquiries regarding members' position on the internal waitlist. All of the Co-ops waitlists are administered at the discretion of Management in accordance with the Co-ops Bylaws."
For many years, we have allowed our employees to chip away at our access to our knowledge.
In the past, we were able to see discernible information on our Internal Waiting List. It has been suggested that it is for privacy reasons that we can no longer provide this to ourselves. As co-owners of a multi-million dollar corporation, we have the right and the responsibility to know what is happening.
An anonymous contributor to The Weekly (Jan. 25, 2026) wrote the following:
"Internal Escalations If you have an escalation (regarding the property manager or another issue for which no resolution has been reached) contact the Board, and specify that it is an escalation requiring action."
In this context, I object to the word "escalation". When I write to the Board, it's because I need their help. In my opinion, asking the Board for help should never be a request to escalate a perceived problem.
A potential complication of this new process is that it could put the onus on a Member to be one of the creators of a perceived obstacle. Every Member should have the right to appeal to our staff and/or our Board without having to impose on themself an ascription of being an escalator.
I believe that we should all try to de-escalate our occasional difficulties.
Update - April 18, 2026 I noticed that this instruction (above) has been published in more than one Weekly. Who has been writing this to us?
Michael's email address is available in the Woodsworth Directory.