Okay. So you really like Dave Meslin or maybe you really want to help see the program happen. You can become a CityPatron Pioneer — one of our very first investors — who's prepared to take the patronage plunge before we get all the bells and whistles into place.

Need to know more about Mez? In the future, we'll be posting full bios, but for now you can read about him here, here and here.

In the year ahead, in exchange for his CityPatron salary, he will:

• Build the Better Ballots campaign to achieve municipal electoral reform,
• Work towards launching a city kite festival to promote wind energy,
• Direct and produce a live stage production of Neverending Story to promote independent bookstores.
• Prepare the first edition of Ledge Stories about people's motivations for living, and
• Continue to post to his popular blog, mez dispenser, writing about municipal politics and civic engagement.

We haven't worked out all the numbers yet, but we'll set a CityPatronage goal of $26,000 to fund a year of Mez's work.

So far we're well on our way, thanks to the support of several dozen CityPatrons Pioneers who have signed up to make a monthly contribution.Just think: it only takes 215 people donating ten dollars each month to reach our goal, or 108 people donating $20 each month.


As a CityPatron Pioneer you'll receive a monthly newsletter from Mez that tells you what's he's been doing, learning and accomplishing. Each year, he'll also host a special event for his CityPatrons. Right now he's thinking about renting one of the historic streetcars for a CityPatron party and calling it "CP Rail" — but we'll get to that later. He'll also make sure you know about other important events in the city and generally make you feel good about supporting his work.

Right now you won't get a tax receipt and the check-out process may feel a bit clunky. But we'll guarantee that 95% of the money you donate will go to Mez so he can keep doing good work for Toronto.

What about the other 5%? We'll use that to build the CityPatron program — working out the legalities and building up the site to support other CityBuilders.

Okay... so you've read all that and want to become a CityPatron Pioneer and support Dave Meslin and this program? Then click on the CityPatronage donation below. You will be transported to PayPal, which also accepts all major credit cards. Note that the Merchant is MASS LBP Inc., which is hosting the CityPatron program. It's not pretty right now, but that's why you're a pioneer.