Summer Ward 4 Updates

In this week's e-newsletter

  • Public Survey – Toronto Renovictions By-law
  • Upcoming Events at Lambton House
  • Taste of Junction
  • City of Toronto offers exciting activities for residents and visitors this long weekend
    • City Beaches
    • Outdoor pools, wading pools and splash pads
    • Dog-only swim
  • Toronto Island Park
  • Community Centres and Indoor Pools
  • Tennis and pickleball courts
  • Conservatories
  • Cultural Centres
  • Golf at municipal courses
  • High Park Animal Display
  • Riverdale Farm
  • St. Lawrence Market
  • Toronto History Museums
  • Road restrictions and closures
  • TTC
  • Toronto Zoo
  • Important Reminder about Fireworks
  • Waste Drop-Off Depots

Connect with me 

Public Survey – Toronto Renovictions By-law

The City of Toronto is inviting residents to provide input on the implementation of a new renovictions bylaw modelled after successful initiatives in other cities across Canada.  

In June, Toronto City Council directed City staff to create a bylaw in response to the growing trend of renovictions in Toronto, where a landlord illegitimately evicts a tenant by alleging that vacant possession of the rental unit is required to make renovations or repairs, leading to situations where landlords increase rents significantly or refuse to allow tenants to return to their homes. This results in the displacement of tenants, the permanent loss of affordable rental housing, and contributes to rising homelessness in Toronto.  

To inform the development of the bylaw, the City is engaging with tenants, landlords, and residents impacted by renovictions. Staff will report back to the Planning and Housing Committee with a proposed renovictions bylaw in October. 

Online survey 

Residents are encouraged to share their insights and experiences by completing the online survey by Monday, September 30 on the City’s website: toronto.ca/renoviction 

Drop-in sessions 

The City is also hosting in-person and virtual consultation meetings:

Toronto West 

Date: Thursday, September 5 

Time: 1 to 4 p.m. 

Location: Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre (PARC), 1499 Queen St. W. – Auditorium 

The City of Toronto is developing a new by-law to protect renters from being unfairly evicted for renovations (“renovictions”). As part of developing this by-law, the City has launched a public survey to gather input from tenants, landlords, and other Toronto residents. To complete the survey, visit www.toronto.ca/renovictions, before September 30. City staff will report to the City’s Planning and Housing Committee on October 30, 2024, with a proposed renovictions by-law.


Upcoming Events at Lambton House

Lambton House/Tavern (circa 1860), owned by the City of Toronto, is operated and curated on its behalf by its stewards, Heritage York, a registered charity.  It is a community gathering place, a proposed Lower Humber Interpretive Centre and a magical step into the past.

We look forward to seeing you at Lambton House/Tavern, to enjoy a great opportunity to gather with friends, old and new, in this unique, historic, former stage coach stop and tavern. 

  • Friday, 6 Sep 6 pm - Community Pub with Terry Jones
  • Thursday, 12 Sep 7:30p - Heritage Talk, Speaker to be Confirmed
  • Thursday, 19 Sep 1-3pm - Tea Time 55+
  • Friday, 20 Sep 7pm - Euchre
  • Friday, 27 Sep 7pm - Movie Trivia Night

Taste of Junction

The vibrant neighbourhood of the Junction is thrilled to announce the return of Taste of the Junction, an extraordinary event uniting 21 exceptional local businesses. Guests are invited to explore and indulge in delicious culinary delights, refreshing beverages and browse unique products from various retail vendors. Presented by The Junction BIA, in partnership with Stu Sells Realty, the second annual event will take place on Saturday, September 7th, from 12 PM to 9 PM at a new location off Jackson Place (51 Vine Ave). This year, Taste of the Junction will soar to new heights by integrating the beloved event with the official launch of The AR Laneway Project. In addition to enjoying mouthwatering delights offered by local restaurants and shopping an array of retail vendors, attendees are invited to the unveiling of the vibrant new animated mural, “Rhapsody in Gold,” located in the rear laneway of 2896 Dundas St W. This captivating 765-square-foot animated mural can be experienced through the FREE Artivive app, which uses augmented reality (AR) to bring the artwork to life. Guests can simply point their smartphone at this NEW mural, and five existing murals in the laneway and witness the art in a new and magical way!

More information here!

Don't miss out—subscribe to our mailing list 
HERE to stay in the loop on all the Junction's upcoming events, promotions, and contests!


City of Toronto offers exciting activities for residents and visitors this long weekend

The City of Toronto invites residents and visitors to enjoy the upcoming long weekend with fun activities and attractions. Whether you're looking to soak up the sun, explore the city's cultural gems or enjoy a relaxing day outdoors, there is something for everyone to enjoy this long weekend.

City Beaches
Soak up some sun and enjoy one of the city’s beaches this long weekend. The City encourages residents and visitors to enjoy the water safely by:

  • Swimming only when lifeguards are on duty and within supervised swimming areas.
  • Staying within arm’s reach of children who are in or near water.
  • Never swimming alone or while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
  • Staying hydrated, wearing sunscreen and limiting exposure to heat and sun.
  • Calling 911 in case of emergency.

The following beaches will continue to have supervised swim zones from Tuesday, September 3 to Sunday, September 8. Lifeguards will be on duty between 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.:

  • Woodbine Beach
  • Kew-Balmy Beach
  • Cherry Beach
  • Sunnyside Beach

Find more information and a map with all the beaches on the City’s Beaches webpage: www.toronto.ca/beaches.

Outdoor pools, wading pools and splash pads
Outdoor pools, splash pads and wading pools are all great options for staying cool this summer. They will be open throughout the weekend with select sites open on Monday.

Dog-only swim

Dogs who have been waiting all summer for their chance to swim are invited to enjoy a free swim at select pools. Dog-only swim sessions will take place at ten locations on Sunday, September 1, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Dogs must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or older, who must remain on the pool deck. One adult can bring a maximum of two dogs.

Pet donations to Toronto Animal Services including peanut butter, freeze-dried treats and dog toys will be accepted at the pools. Residents can also support shelter pets by donating items from the City’s Our Wish List webpage: www.toronto.ca/business-economy/partnerships-sponsorships-donations/donate/donate-to-animal-services/our-wish-list.

More information about outdoor pools, wading pools, splash pads and the dog-only swims is available on the City’s Swimming & Water Play webpage: www.toronto.ca/swim.

Toronto Island Park
Toronto Island Park is a popular destination and – like other major attractions – will be busy this weekend. The City strongly encourages residents and visitors to:

  • Be patient and plan ahead.
  • Plan travel during non-peak hours—the ferry is busiest from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. when heading to Toronto Island Park and from 5:30 to 9 p.m. for return trips to the mainland, especially from Centre Island.
  • Buy tickets online before heading to the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal. Online ticket holders enter the terminal through a separate line during peak travel times.

More information about ferry services including online ticket purchases can be found on the Ferries to Toronto Island Park webpage: www.toronto.ca/ferries.

Community Centres and Indoor Pools
Indoor pools and community centres will be open on Saturday, August 31 and Sunday, September 1 but will be closed on Monday, September 2. More information can be found on the City’s Parks & Community Recreation Centres Map webpage: www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/parks-recreation/places-spaces/parks-and-recreation-facilities/parks-and-community-recreation-centres-map.

Tennis and pickleball courts
Public tennis and pickleball courts will be available across the city throughout the long weekend. Players are asked to share the courts by limiting their play time to half-hour intervals if others are waiting to use them.

More information about public courts is available on the City’s Tennis Court Listing webpage: www.toronto.ca/tenniscourt.

More information can also be found on the City’s Pickleball Court webpage: www.toronto.ca/data/parks/prd/facilities/pickleball-court/index.html.

Conservatories

Allan Gardens Conservatory and Centennial Park Conservatory are free and open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. this long weekend. More information is available on the City’s Conservatories webpage: www.toronto.ca/conservatories.

Cultural Centres
Cultural Centres will operate limited weekend hours and close on Monday, August 5. More information about the Cultural Centres including hours of operation are available on the City’s website: www.toronto.ca/culturalcentres.

Golf at municipal courses
Toronto’s five municipal golf courses are open daily throughout the long weekend. Golfers are encouraged to book in advance. Tee times can be booked:

  • online by visiting the individual course page
  • by phone by calling the golf course.

More information is available on the City’s Golf webpage: www.toronto.ca/golf.

High Park Animal Display
The High Park Animal Display will be open to visitors from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. all weekend. Residents and visitors are reminded that roads within High Park are closed to vehicular traffic on weekends and holidays. More information is available on the City’s Zoos & Farms webpage: www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/parks-recreation/places-spaces/beaches-gardens-attractions/zoos-farms/high-park-animal-display

Riverdale Farm
Admission is free to Riverdale Farm, which will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. throughout the long weekend. More information is available on the City’s Riverdale Farm webpage: www.toronto.ca/riverdalefarm.

St. Lawrence Market
Join Balfolk Toronto at St. Lawrence Market on Saturday, August 31, for a community dance class at 1:30 p.m., followed by a live music social from 2 to 3:30 p.m. featuring traditional and modern folk dances from French and Western European regions. More information can be found on the St. Lawrence Market webpage: www.stlawrencemarket.com/events/event_detail/698/Music%20&%20Dance%20Class%20with%20Balfolk%20Toronto.

Taste of the Caribbean returns to Market Street on Sunday, September 1. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., enjoy authentic flavours, live music and unique artisan crafts. More information can be found on the Taste of the Caribbean website: www.tastethecaribbean.ca.

The St. Lawrence Market will also be open during regular hours over the long weekend. The main building will be open on Saturday, August 31, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday, September 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The weekly Farmers’ Market will be open on Saturday from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. The market is closed on Mondays. For more information, visit the St. Lawrence Market website: www.stlawrencemarket.com

Toronto History Museums
Toronto History Museums are open on Saturday, August 31 and Sunday, September 1, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with free activities and programs available throughout the weekend. Fort York is open on Monday, September 2, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. All other museum sites are closed on September 2.

More information is available on the City’s Festival and Events calendar: www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/exhibits-events.

Road restrictions and closures
Several road restrictions and closures related to events and critical City-led infrastructure work are in effect which may impact travel throughout the long weekend. Residents are encouraged to plan ahead and visit the City’s Road Restrictions and Closures webpage for more information:  www.toronto.ca/roadrestrictions.

More information about festivals and events is available on the City’s Festivals & Events Calendar webpage: www.toronto.ca/eventscalendar.

TTC
The TTC will operate on its Holiday service schedule on Labour Day. More information is available on the TTC webpage: www.ttc.ca.

Toronto Zoo
As part of the Zoo's 50th birthday celebrations, guests can visit the Wildlife Marquee starting through the Labour Day long weekend to join two LEGO Master Model Builders as they construct a 22-foot LEGO mosaic wall and a 3D animal ‘big build’!

Presented in partnership with LEGOLAND Discovery Centre and LEGODREAMZzz: www.torontozoo.com/events/legodreamzzz#evt.

Important Reminder about Fireworks
The Labour Day long weekend is not a designated day for fireworks. Residents are only permitted to set off fireworks on their property if they have obtained a permit from Toronto Fire Services. Fireworks are not allowed in City parks or on beaches, balconies, streets, parking lots or other private property.

The misuse or illegal sale of fireworks can be reported to 311 by phone or by submitting a service request on the City’s 311 webpage: www.toronto.ca/311. More information about fireworks rules is available on the City’s Fireworks webpage: www.toronto.ca/fireworks.

Waste Drop-Off Depots
The City’s Drop-off Depots will be closed for residential drop-offs of garbage, yard waste, recyclables, household hazardous waste and electronics on Monday, September 2. For more information, visit the City’s Holiday Collection & Drop-off Depot Impacts webpage: www.toronto.ca/holiday-impacts.


Connect with me 

Latest posts

Demonstrations Bylaw

Friends,

The City of Toronto is moving ahead with public consultation for a proposed demonstrations bylaw to protect vulnerable institutions, as directed by City Council (2024.CC24.2).

In February 2024, City Council directed the City Manager to develop a policy framework for the management and monitoring of rallies and protests, ensuring alignment with the City’s Human Rights and Anti-Harassment Policy.

The Report presented to City Council in December, 2024, presented a Policy framework that clarifies the City’s role, jurisdiction and municipal tools available to respond to demonstrations, including the role of applicable City divisions, and provided an overarching foundation of how the City coordinates its activities to determine an appropriate response based on the circumstances of the situation.

I supported the adoption of the Policy Framework.

However, this report included a recommendation (#3) that the City Manager report back with a proposed bylaw that limits demonstrations in our city. https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.CC24.2

This was a very difficult decision however, I could not support this direction as I believe that restricting people’s ability to protest is a step backward. It takes away people’s rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. I believe the preservation of these rights in their entirety is essential to protecting the most vulnerable segments of our society, and our democracy. I spoke to my reasoning for not supporting this direction; you can listen to it here.

The City is now moving ahead with the public consultation .

This multi-pronged public consultation approach will include the following:

Online Survey

Written Comments

Public Discussions

  • Additional opportunities to participate in public discussions will follow in April. More information on the dates of the public discussions will be communicated and posted on the City’s webpage once confirmed.

Information and additional details on the City’s public consultation can be found on the City’s webpage at: http://toronto.ca/PublicConsult.

The consultation is an opportunity to take part in this conversation. I encourage you to participate.

Sincerely,


In This Week's Newsletter

City Wide Updates 

  • Zoning for Housing – Upcoming City Planning Consultations
    • Garden Suites Monitoring Program
    • Expanding Permissions in Neighbourhoods for Sixplexes Citywide
  • Help shape the next Toronto Seniors’ Strategy 

Ward 4

  • Swansea Town Hall Community Centre - Seeking New Board Members & Assistant Executive Director 
  • Greenest City: Parkdale Seedy Sunday & Ecofair 2025 - Volunteer Call
  • Toronto Hydro Construction Notice - Glenlake Ave.
  • Road Rehabilitation Construction Notice - Evans Ave
  • Developments
    • 3459-3461 Dundas St W
    • 138 Dowling Ave

Anyone can experience homelessness. Everyone deserves shelter.

Friends,

Anyone can experience homelessness.

Shelters in our city provide essential support to individuals in immediate housing crisis, act as a stepping stone to permanent housing, reduce reliance on other high-cost services (e.g. emergency rooms), and bring people indoors, providing an alternative to sleeping in parks, sidewalks, or transit stations.

The positive impact of shelter service is evident in the stories of individuals who have successfully transitioned from shelter into permanent housing. Some have bravely shared their stories: Successful Pathways to Housing – City of Toronto .

Shelters provide critical services to help individuals experiencing homelessness gain stability as they work toward permanent housing.

The City has a 10-year plan to improve and expand our shelter system: Homelessness Services Capital Infrastructure Strategy (HSCIS).

One pillar of the 10-year strategy is building up to 20 permanent and purpose-built shelters, with a focus on expanding outside of the downtown core to address gaps in available services for people.     

Community engagement is a crucial component to supporting the successful integration of new shelters into the neighbourhood. The City is committed to engaging the community to support the program’s success – both for the individuals who will be staying at shelters and the surrounding community. The process includes communicating details about the shelter development process, responding to community inquiries and concerns, improving public understanding of shelter development and providing ongoing shelter updates. Details will be shared with each community as development of each site progresses and can be found online at toronto.ca/NewShelters

I am encouraged by the City’s Homelessness Services Capital Infrastructure Strategy (HSCIS) and will continue to use my voice and vote on Council to support improving and increasing our shelter infrastructure and expediting the City’s delivery of housing.

Sincerely,


In This Week's Newsletter

City Wide Updates 

  • Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy (TSNS) Community Networks Launching
  • Spring Flooding: Flood Preparedness Resources
  • Committee of Adjustment Annual Stakeholder Update and Engagement
  • Celebrate Community Story Telling at City Hall

Ward 4

  • BenTastic Magic Show at Parkdale Library
  • High Park Prescribed Burn
  • Construction Notice: Road Resurfacing on Weatherell Street from Rivercrest Rd to Jane St
  • Greenest City: Parkdale Seedy Sunday & Ecofair 2025

Potential Labour Strike & Disruptions

Friends,

Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 79, the union representing the City’s 27,000 city workers will be in a legal strike at 12:01 a.m., or one minute past midnight, on Saturday, March 8 if an agreement is not reached before then.

City Manager Paul Johnson has provided updates on city services that may be impacted in the event of a labour disruption.

A labour disruption would result in the closure of all 39 City-operated early learning and child care centres, as well as the closure and cancellation of programming at all City recreation centres including March Break camps. Refunds will be issued for any paid recreation programs that are affected and clients will not be charged for days that City-operated child care centres are closed.

The City will remain prepared to respond to emergencies if a labour disruption occurs. Emergency response by the Toronto Police Service, Toronto Fire Services and Toronto Paramedic Services will not be impacted. The Toronto Community Crisis Service will operate normally. Winter maintenance operations for roads and sidewalks will continue.

Seniors Services and Long-Term Care, TTC, Toronto Community Housing and Toronto Water operations will continue during a labour disruption. All City-operated and funded shelters, 24-hour respite and drop-in programs will remain open. The City will continue to activate additional services during colder temperatures, including Warming Centres.

Information on City services and bargaining updates can be found on the City’s website at www.toronto.ca/labour.

Sincerely,


In This Week's Newsletter

City Wide Updates 

  • Prepare for potential flooding
  • Bylaw update for Accessible Parking Permit holders
  • Reminder: Vacant Home Tax Declaration

Ward 4

  • Family Skate at Coca Cola Coliseum
  • Artists in Flux 2: Empowerment
  • CommunitiCare Health Taking New Patients
  • Greenest City: Parkdale Seedy Sunday & Ecofair 2025

Take action

Read Our Weekly Newsletter
Sign Up for Updates
Contact our Office