Fire takes the life of activist

[attach]1499[/attach]The Dentonia Park community is grieving the loss of one of its most outspoken activists.

Maureen Lindsay, 61, died in a fatal fire at her Thyra Avenue home on Mar. 28.

Lindsay spent countless hours actively involved in shaping a better neighbourhood, said councillor Janet Davis.

“I worked most closely with Maureen in establishing the Friends of Dentonia Park, working to invest in improvements in the park, engaging neighbours in activities and generally making it a safer and vibrant community,” she said.

Lindsay is remembered as a proud East Yorker who loved her community and her neighbours. She was a key member in Team East York, taking on the fight against amalgamation back in the 1990s, and she was a member of the East York Historical Society.

“She helped with promotion at events like Canada Day celebrations and raising funds for the plaque we installed in Dentonia Park,” said Margaret McCrae, president of East York Historical Society. “We certainly miss her. We appreciated her enthusiasm, her keenness to always be there when anything dealing with East York was going on.”

Lindsay also started a local outdoor ice rink and brought toys and equipment to the Dentonia Clubhouse for the kids.

Davis said Lindsay was also very active in dealing with traffic issues. Together they devised a traffic plan to address excess vehicles and speeding in the neighbourhood.

“Maureen was such an example of what an engaged, concerned resident is. She was compelled to get involved and for me as a politician, that is the most important aspect of building strong communities,” said Davis. “That’s what building a great city is all about, residents like Maureen and her neighbours coming together to share ideas and get involved actively and to feel a sense a pride in her accomplishments.”

Toronto Fire said Lindsay was the only person at the home when the fire broke out. Fire officials say the blaze was caused by careless smoking.