1. News & Updates
  2. Weekly Newsletter
  3. Expanding School Food Program and Supporting Local Food Sector

Expanding School Food Program and Supporting Local Food Sector

Friends,

Every kid in our city deserves to be at school without being hungry, no matter their financial means. We know that universal school food programs improve access to healthy food, support better educational outcomes, and promote long-term health and mental well-being for our kids.

I am pleased to share that our City is expanding the Toronto’s School Food Program to 77 new schools, reaching 27,000 additional students this spring, and putting our City on track to serve all public school students by this fall.

This expansion is achieved by a new $3 million annual City investment announced by Mayor Chow this week, contributing to an overall City school food budget of $32 million.

The new $3 million investment supports Bridging the Nutrition Gap, a Toronto Foundation for Student Success (TFSS) led initiative that sources food directly from Ontario farmers, including apples from Durham Region, pears from Niagara, carrots from Thorndale, and dairy from across the province.

The initiative has also created over 250 new jobs in food delivery, processing, equipment manufacturing, and direct program delivery. Ten of those jobs will be at a new Second Harvest facility, processing food for schools lacking the infrastructure to prepare meals on-site, serving an estimated 70,000 students when fully operational later this year.

In the last three years, our City has increased annual school food funding by over 80% to scale up centralized food purchasing and local food sector jobs. The City has also delivered one-time funding for new programs and kitchen infrastructure, including 201 refrigerators, 94 dishwashers, and 93 freezers across Toronto schools.

Together we can continue to build upon this progress and ensure that all Toronto kids learn at school on a full stomach.

 

Sincerely,

Gord

In This Week's Newsletter

City-Wide News

  • Heat Pumps in Condos Webinar
  • FIFA Related Nighttime Waste Collection Changes
  • A Reminder on Pet Leashing Rules

Ward 4 news

  • Community Environment Day - June 27
  • West Toronto Junction– Heritage Conservation District (HCD) Study
  • Toronto Hydro Work West Bend & Junction Community
  • Bloor West Village BIA: Play on Bloor
  • Swansea Centennial Celebration
  • Taste of the Junction 2026
  • South Parkdale parking restrictions from June 12th to July 2nd 

City-Wide News

Heat Pumps in Condos Webinar

Getting your condo board to act on sustainability is one of the hardest parts of condo living. This webinar is for sustainability-minded Toronto condo owners who want their building to be part of the climate solution. You'll leave with an action plan and next steps to get your condo board on board.

Time: Jun 29, 2026, 6:30 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.

Location: Zoom

Register

Heat Pumps + Condos: How To Get Your Condo Board On Board

FIFA Related Nighttime Waste Collection Changes - Thursday July 2, 2026

To support safety, city operations and enhance visitor experience during the FIFA World Cup 2026™ match in Toronto, the City is making a one‑time schedule change for nighttime waste collection for some properties near Toronto Stadium and the FIFA Fan Festival™ area.

This one-time change is only for locations that normally have waste collection scheduled for Thursday, July 2 (nighttime).  Thursday night collection will move to Wednesday, July 1 (nighttime). Set out garbage, recycling, organics and yard waste (as applicable) on Wednesday, July 1 after 6 p.m. and before 9 p.m.

Only homes and businesses that regularly receive nighttime collection on Thursday in the specified area are impacted. These streets are highlighted in yellow in the map below.

If you are unsure if this change impacts you, please contact 311.

Keeping Our Community Safe and Friendly: A Reminder on Pet Leashing Rules

As the weather warms up and more of us head outside to enjoy our local parks, sidewalks, and green spaces, we want to share a quick and important reminder about responsible pet ownership in our ward.

To ensure the safety and comfort of all residents – including seniors, children, cyclists, wildlife, and other pets – all dogs must be kept on a leash in public unless they are inside an officially designated dogs off-leash area.

This rule applies to all public spaces, including:

  • Local parks and green spaces
  • School yards
  • Beaches and waterfront trails
  • Sidewalks and roadways

The Rules at a Glance:

  • Leash Length: Leashes must be no more than two metres long, securely attached to a dog's collar or harness, and held firmly by the person walking the dog.
  • Unattended Pets: Please note that leashing your dog to a pole, tree, or bike rack and leaving them unattended is not allowed.
  • Fines: Keeping a dog off-leash outside of a designated area can result in a fine of $500 (plus administrative surcharges).

We love seeing so many happy dogs in our community, and we want to thank the vast majority of local pet owners who always leash up to keep everyone safe.

If you are looking for a spot where your dog can run free, you can find a full map of the city's designated off-leash areas at toronto.ca/dog-off-leash-areas. To report an ongoing issue with off-leash activity in a non-designated space, please contact 311.

Let’s work together to keep our neighborhood safe and enjoyable for everyone!

Ward 4 news

Community Environment Day - June 27

Recycle, donate and safely dispose of unwanted items. 

You can also pick up free loose compost while supplies last.

Saturday, June 27, 2026 from 10 am to 2 pm at Sorauren Park (50 Wabash Ave).

West Toronto Junction– Heritage Conservation District (HCD) Study

After a community consultation meeting, an indigenous engagement process, and a series of local advisory committee meetings over the last 12 months, City Planning is ready to present their findings and analysis to the community to move forward with the West Toronto Junction HCD Study.

Study findings and recommendations will be presented at an Open House event on June 17, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at West Toronto Baptist Church, located at 3049 Dundas Street West. Visit the City Planning and Development Review Consultation page for details.

Join the event to learn more about the study and share your feedback.

Additional information on the Study is available on the City of Toronto webpage here: West Toronto Junction– Heritage Conservation District (HCD) Study – City of Toronto.

Toronto Hydro Work West Bend & Junction Community

Toronto Hydro is rebuilding the electrical distribution system in your community to improve the reliability of your electrical service. This rebuild includes upgrading overhead electrical cables and replacing hydro poles on City-owned property near your lot.

Please see here for the complete notice for a section of Dundas St West,
Henrietta Street, Norval Street & Willard Avenue.

Please see here for the complete notice for a section of High Park Avenue,
Annette Street, Runnymede Road and Glenlake Avenue.

Bloor West Village BIA: Play on Bloor 

Date: SAT, JUNE 13
Time: 11 AM - 5 PM

Location: GREEN P PARKING LOT ‘091’
(BLOOR ST W & WILLARD AVE)

Swansea Centennial Celebration

Join the Swansea Centennial Celebration to commemorate 100 years of Swansea's community and history. 

The event will take place on Saturday, June 13 from 10am to 4pm at Swansea Town Hall (95 Lavinia Ave) and will welcome residents of all ages to celebrate an important moment in Swansea’s history.

 

Taste of the Junction 2026

Taste of the Junction 2026 Brings Food, Art, and Local Culture to Toronto’s West End on June 27

One-day cultural celebration invites visitors to explore 50+ vendors, local food and drink, immersive installations and 11 permanent augmented reality wall murals

Toronto’s west end is coming alive this summer! The Junction BIA invites residents and visitors to experience Taste of the Junction 2026, a one-day outdoor market and cultural celebration on Saturday, June 27, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Green P parking lot at 385 Pacific Avenue, just south of Dundas Street West. The event is expected to draw thousands for a day of local food, culture, creativity, and neighbourhood discovery—capturing Toronto’s spirit as The World in a City.

Visitors can explore 50+ vendor booths, shop unique creations from local makers, enjoy bites and drinks from neighbourhood favourites, and dive into pop-up experiences for all ages. The day will be energized by DJ programming, a vibrant market atmosphere, and a family-friendly Play Zone hosted in the Darren’s No Frills parking lot.

South Parkdale parking restrictions from June 12th to July 2nd 

  • Springhurst Ave between Jameson Ave and Dufferin St will be converted to a one-way street going Westbound

Permit Parking Changes (24hr permit parking):

  • Cowan Ave Even side permit parking to be permitted between 12am – 11:59pm between Southern end of Cowan Ave and 95m South of Queen St W
  • Dunn Ave Even side permit parking to be permitted between 12am – 11:59pm between Springhurst Ave and 225m South of King St W
  • Elm Grove Odd side permit parking to be permitted between 12am – 11:59pm between King St W and 61m South of Queen St W
  • Fort Rouille both sides permit parking to be permitted between 12am – 11:59pm between Southern end of Fort Rouille to 36.5m South of Springhurst Ave
  • Gwynne Ave Odd side permit parking to be permitted between 12am – 11:59pm between King St W and Milky Way
  • Melbourne Ave Even side permit parking to be permitted between 12am – 11:59pm between Cowan Ave and Dufferin St
  • Spencer Ave Odd side permit parking to be permitted between 12am – 11:59pm between Southern end of Spencer Ave and 99.5m South of King St W
  • Springhurst Ave Even side permit parking to be permitted between 12am – 11:59pm between Jameson Ave and Dufferin St
  • Temple Ave Odd side permit parking to be permitted between 12am – 11:59pm between Tyndall Ave and Dufferin St
  • Thorburn Ave Odd side permit parking to be permitted between 12am – 11:59pm between Tyndall Ave and Dufferin St
  • Tyndall Ave Odd side permit parking to be permitted between 12am – 11:59pm between Southern end of Tyndall Ave and Thorburn Ave

No Parking anytime on the following streets:

    • West side of Dufferin St between Queen St W and King St W
    • East side of Dufferin St 15m North of Springhurst Ave and Queen St W
    • Both sides of King St W between Dufferin St and Jameson Ave

No Standing anytime on the following streets:

    • West side of Dufferin St between Springhurst Ave and Thorburn Ave
    • South side of Springhurst Ave between Dunn Ave and Dufferin St
    • North side of Temple Ave between Tyndall Ave and Dufferin St
    • North side of Thorburn Ave between Tyndall Ave and Dufferin St
    • West side of Tyndall Ave between Springhurst Ave and Thorburn Ave
    • Both sides of Tyndall Ave between Thorburn Ave and King St W

Parking Sign Definitions:

Latest posts

Update on the 2299 Dundas St West Men’s Shelter

Friends,

As part of the George Street Revitalization (GSR) project, the City continues to relocate existing shelter programs to new and enhanced facilities across Toronto. The 2299 Dundas St. W. Men’s Shelter will create a safe space for 80 men experiencing homelessness. This program will provide case management to assist clients in securing permanent housing and access to onsite healthcare and mental health supports, including a Managed Alcohol Program. The anticipated construction completion date for this shelter is Winter 2026.

The shelter will be staffed 24-hours a day, seven days a week and offer specialized programs that will provide health and housing support to help residents improve their health and move toward permanent housing.

Services and features of the shelter will include:
• Onsite healthcare, including personal support workers, nursing, medication support, and access to an in-house physician.
• Access to health services, including a Managed Alcohol Program (MAP) and the Annex Infirmary program which provides short-term medical observation, care, and recovery support to clients experiencing health challenges.
• Case management to support clients secure permanent and supportive housing.
• Mental health services and referrals to a wide range of additional community supports

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, by providing an alternative to sleeping in parks, sidewalks, or transit shelters.

If you are interested in supporting the shelter, through the offer of programs that benefit shelter residents, participating in community events or partnerships, or donating goods, please email [email protected].

There will be a community event to welcome the shelter to the neighbourhood once construction is completed. Updates will continue to be shared as the project progresses on the City’s webpage at toronto.ca/2299dundas.

If you would like to receive future updates, ask a question or share an idea, you can reach the project team at [email protected] .

 

Sincerely,

Gord

In This Week's Newsletter

City-Wide News

  • TRCA Flood Safety Information
  • CultureLink Career Workshop
  • Grassy Narrows River Run Rally Save the Date

Ward 4 news

  • Pat Capponi Parkette Opening Event
  • Toronto East York Community Council
    • 1464 King Street West and 10 to 12 Maynard Avenue
    • 1497 and 1501 Queen Street West and 89 and 91 Beaty Avenue
    • 1 & 3 Close Ave & 78 Springhurst Ave
    • 1730 Bloor Street West
    • 2273, 2277 and 2279 Bloor Street West
    • 34 to 50 Southport Street
    • Renaming Close-Springhurst Parkette in Honour of Diane Rajaram
    • Transportation Items
      • CNE Traffic and Parking Regulations
      • King Street Construction
      • Armadale and Mayfield - All-Way Stop
      • Traffic Calming Various Streets
      • St. John's Road - Additional Speed Humps
  • Parkdale Parking Restrictions during FIFA  

Expansion of Ontario’s Deposit Return Program

Friends,

On June 10, 2026, the Infrastructure and Environment Committee voted in favour of urging the Ontario government to immediately implement a deposit-return program for non-alcoholic beverage containers.

Currently, Ontario operates a successful deposit return system for alcohol, seeing an average of 75 percent of all empties returned to Beer Stores each year. The deposit return provides a consumer incentive to consciously recycle. This system must be expanded to include all beverage containers.

Ontario is one of Canada’s only provinces without a deposit-return program for non-alcoholic beverages. As a result, Ontario has the lowest beverage container recovery rate in Canada—at roughly 50% of containers being recycled. Other provinces such as Alberta, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia have an expanded deposit return program and see recovery rates 50% higher than Ontario. The Ontario government proposed expanding the deposit return program to include non-alcoholic containers in 2023 but has yet to do so.

The City of Toronto will join the Peel Region, the City of Waterloo, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, and the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative in urging the Ontario government to immediately implement a deposit-return program for non-alcoholic beverage containers.

The IEC Committee received a letter of support from the Canadian Beverage Association to expand the Deposit Return Program as the current mixed recycling system is inefficient, resulting in higher cost for producers with worse outcomes.

You can hear my comments on the matter at the IEC meeting here: https://youtu.be/73ZTlD1yDIU

As we push for ways to be more sustainable, I encourage you to participate in the Plastic Free July challenge, a global campaign encouraging individuals and communities to cut down on single use plastics throughout the month of July.  We can use this movement to make incremental changes in individual habits but also to mobilize as a community to influence our governments and businesses to adopt sustainable practices.

 

Sincerely,

Gord

In This Week's Newsletter

City-Wide News

  • FIFA Related Nighttime Waste Collection Changes

Ward 4 news

  • Sorauren Construction Progress Update – June 18,2026  
  • Swansea Town Hall: Clean Indoor Air Toronto
  • Summer Fest - Baby Point Gates BIACommunity Environment Day - June 27
  • Community Environment Day - June 27
  • Parkside Live: A Summer Music Series
  • Taste of the Junction 2026
  • Parkdale Parking Restrictions during FIFA  

Landmark funding deal to build more rental homes

Friends,

This week at City Council we adopted a landmark funding deal in which $1.5 billion in funding will be provided to the City of Toronto to reduce development charges in partnership with the provincial and federal governments. The full City Council agenda can be reviewed here: City Council - Meeting 42 - TMMIS

The City can now reduce its residential development charges by 40 to 60 per cent for the next three years, and use this funding to pay for major infrastructure projects including our road network, water infrastructure, and enhanced transit capacity to support a growing population.  These reductions will apply across the board for residential development. Deeper development charge discounts (60 per cent) will be offered to units with two or more bedrooms, to help incentivize building more housing for families.

At a time when our housing market has slowed down, these development charge reductions will help make projects more financially viable, build more of the kind of housing we need, and make homes more affordable for residents. It will also help generate an estimated 143,000 jobs through construction and related industries.

This funding deal was inspired by the City’s successful Purpose-Built Rental Housing Incentives program.

The first phase of the program, launched in fall 2024 with more than $1.2 billion in financial contributions from the City of Toronto, supported more than 8,000 rental homes, including more than 2,000 affordable homes.

Building on that success, with the greater financial stability provided through the $1.5 billion in federal and provincial infrastructure funding, the City of Toronto is now in a position to launch a new phase of Purpose-Built Rental Incentives.

The second phase of the program will support up to 10,000 new rental homes, including a minimum of 2,000 affordable rental homes. We will prioritize shovel-ready projects and City staff will review and approve applications on a rolling basis over the coming weeks and months.

We are proving as a city that there is a crucial role for government to steer development towards building housing that Torontonians can afford to live in.  In doing so as a municipal government, we are influencing other orders of government to invest in Toronto with us.

 

Sincerely,

Gord

In This Week's Newsletter

City-Wide News

  • Celebrate Canada Day
  • Pride Weekend
  • Outdoor Swimming Pools
  • FIFA Related Nighttime Waste Collection Changes

Ward 4 news

  • Toronto East York Community Council
    • 1464 King Street West and 10 to 12 Maynard Avenue
    • 1497 and 1501 Queen Street West and 89 and 91 Beaty Avenue
    • 1 & 3 Close Ave & 78 Springhurst Ave
    • 1730 Bloor Street West
    • 2273, 2277 and 2279 Bloor Street West
    • 34 to 50 Southport Street
    • Renaming Close-Springhurst Parkette in Honour of Diane Rajaram
    • Transportation Items
  • Sorauren Ave Construction Update
  • Celebration of Compassion at Roncesvalles United Church
  • Celebrate Around the World on Roncy in Roncesvalles Village!
  • Swansea Town Hall: Clean Indoor Air Toronto
  • Summer Fest - Baby Point Gates BIA Community Environment Day - June 27
  • Community Environment Day - June 27
  • Parkside Live: A Summer Music Series
  • Taste of the Junction 2026
  • Parkdale Parking Restrictions during FIFA  
More — Read Our Weekly Newsletter

Take action

Read Our Weekly Newsletter
Sign Up for Updates
Contact our Office

Connect with Gord

About

Information

Ward 4

City Hall

Email:
Phone: 416-392-7919
Address:
100 Queen St W, Suite A14
Toronto, ON M5H 2N2