Back-to-School Road Safety and Upcoming Community Engagement

Friends,

I hope you had a wonderful Labour Day weekend. As students return to class this week, I’m wishing all students and their families a great start to the school year.

The back-to-school season comes with a significant increase in road users across the city. With increased traffic volumes particularly during morning drop-offs and afternoon pick-ups, the City’s Vision Zero back to school road safety campaign is reminding all road users to stay alert, exercise caution and follow the rules of the road. I encourage you review safety reminders and more information on Vision Zero Road Safety initiatives on the City’s Back to School Road Safety webpage.

I want to remind residents that the City opens registration for fall recreation programs on Tuesday, September 10 for Etobicoke York and Toronto East York and on Wednesday, September 11 for North York and Scarborough. Residents of all ages and abilities can join a wide range of activities, from swimming and fitness classes to art workshops and cooking! Learn more about fall programs and registration information on the City’s Fall Recreation webpage. 

I also want to highlight that there are several community engagement opportunities taking place this month, including for the City’s new Renovictions Bylaw and for the High Park Movement Strategy. More information on these and other community engagement opportunities are included below. I encourage you to review these opportunities and get involved. Guided by your voice, experiences, and vision, we can build a Toronto that prioritizes the well-being and dignity of all its residents.

Sincerely,


In This Week's Newsletter

  • Have Your Say on Toronto's Renovictions Bylaw
  • Online Public Info Session on TRCA High Park Road Ecology Study
  • Every body is welcome with FitnessTO
  • Toronto residents can make a splash into September at outdoor pools
  • Free EV Charging Friday Sept 13
  • West Queen West Heritage Conservation District Community Consultation
  • Zoning By-law Parking Requirements Review
  • TTC Service Adjustments for TIFF
  • 2461-2475 Dundas St W - Zoning By-law Amendment Applications
  • 2112 Dundas St W - Zoning By-law Amendment Applications

Have your say on Toronto’s Renovictions Bylaw

There is a growing trend of renovictions in Toronto, where a landlord illegitimately evicts a tenant by alleging that tenants need to leave the unit for the landlord to undertake renovations or repairs. The City of Toronto is developing a new bylaw to prevent bad faith evictions and help maintain affordable homes for Toronto’s residents.

The City wants to hear from tenants, landlords, the organizations that support them and the public before finalizing the renovictions bylaw. This will help us protect tenants and make sure landlords understand how to follow the new rules. The City will report back with a proposed bylaw by October 30.

In addition to hosting six in-person open houses, there will be a virtual session on Monday, September 9 from 7 to 8:30pm. You can also share your insights and experiences by completing an online survey by September 30th.

Access the survey and find details about the drop-in sessions on the City’s Renovictions Bylaw Development webpage


Online Public Information Session on TRCA High Park Road Ecology Study

City of Toronto and TRCA staff will be in attendance to share an update on the road ecology study including scope, objectives, methodology and initial findings.

Implementation of a recreational cycling pilot recommended through the HPMS has been paused to allow further due diligence on potential impacts to wildlife. The City is partnering with TRCA to undertake a road ecology study within High Park to better understand existing conditions, potential risk factors to wildlife, and possible mitigation measures. The scope of this study has been informed by conversations with Turtle Protectors, the Indigenous community, and other stakeholder groups.


Every body is welcome with FitnessTO

Sign up for a FitnessTO membership this fall at a local City community centre! A FitnessTO all-access pass unlocks weight and cardio rooms, indoor pools and drop-in fitness classes at more than 40 locations across Toronto. Youth ages 13 to 18 and seniors 60 and up get 50 per cent off. Find more information on the City’s Fitness webpage. 


Toronto residents can make a splash into September at outdoor pools

Due to warmer than usual temperatures, the City will be keeping 10 pools and more than 140 splash and spray pads open into September to provide more options for residents and families to cool down. Pools with extended operations will be open from 4 to 7 p.m. on weekdays and from noon to 7 p.m. on weekends until Sunday, September 22. The selected pools located across the city are: 

  • Alex Duff Outdoor Pool, 779 Crawford St.  
  • Donald D Summerville Outdoor Pool, 1867 Lake Shore Blvd. E.  
  • Alexandra Park, 275 Bathurst St. 
  • Riverdale Outdoor Pool, 550 Broadview Ave.  
  • Heron Park Community Centre, 292 Manse Rd.  
  • McGregor Community Centre, 2231 Lawrence Ave. E.  
  • Goulding Park Community Centre, 45 Goulding Ave.  
  • Broadlands Community Centre, 19 Castlegrove Blvd.  
  • Pine Point Arena, 15 Grierson Rd.  
  • West Mall Outdoor Pool, 370 The West Mall. 

All other City-owned and operated pools, including wading pools, closed Sunday, September 1. The City’s more than 140 splash and spray pads will continue to operate daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. until Sunday, September 15. Woodbine Beach, Kew-Balmy Beach, Cherry Beach and Sunnyside Beach will have extended supervised swim zones from Tuesday, September 3 to Sunday, September 8, with lifeguards on duty between 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Find more information on the City’s Swimming & Water Play webpage. 


Free EV Charging Friday, Sept 13

The Toronto Parking Authority (TPA) is proud to play a leadership role in delivering public EV charging services to our customers and helping to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles. The TPA will be hosting their first ever #FreeEVCharging Day on Friday, September 13 across the City of Toronto.

As part of this initiative, all Level 2 and Level 3 EV charging stations across the city (407 in total) will offer free EV charging for the entire day, starting at 12:00 AM on September 13, and until 11:59 PM. Parking rates will remain applicable.

Customers can visit greenp.com/FREE to find the best location for them.


West Queen West Heritage Conservation District Community Consultation

The City will host the fourth Community Consultation Meeting on the proposed West Queen West HCD Plan on September 10, 2024, from 6 to 8 pm at The Theatre Centre (1115 Queen Street West).

For more information, visit Meetings & Events: West Queen West HCD Plan or contact Heritage Planning staff.

Note: This event takes place east of Ward 4. The Parkdale piece of this plan is already complete. Learn more here.


Zoning By-law Parking Requirements Review – Public Meetings

New developments in Toronto are required to provide automobile and bicycle parking based on standards in zoning by-laws. The City of Toronto is currently reviewing the accessible parking and bicycle parking standards in the city-wide Zoning By-law (569-2013), as a continuation of the work reported to Planning and Housing Committee on December 15, 2021 (https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2021.PH29.3).

This review responds to an increasing demand for bicycle parking, growing interest in the impact of parking supply on housing affordability and travel behaviour, and the importance of providing appropriate accessible parking spaces.

In November 2023, the City hosted a series of public meetings and launched a survey to collect feedback on initial directions. Based on the feedback collected from the meetings and surveys, a draft proposal was developed for amending the zoning by-law standards of accessible parking and bicycle parking.

Next month the City will be holding a series of online meetings to present the draft proposal of updated accessible parking and bicycle parking requirements as well as to report the preliminary findings on the impacts of new auto parking-related standards. The consultations with interested parties and the public will inform the final recommendations. Both scheduled meetings on each of the two topics will cover the same content. Please register for an upcoming public meeting:

Accessible Parking:

Tuesday, Sept 17 - 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.:

https://toronto.webex.com/weblink/register/r4b8cc1e5b5ebeea64a65a271afe589b6

Wednesday, Sept 18 - 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.:

https://toronto.webex.com/weblink/register/r04e2a8580edf29828076b6429d72aae8

Bicycle Parking:

Tuesday, Sept 17 - 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.:

https://toronto.webex.com/weblink/register/r4f0ed2daa183737a6fe154e4ceed8ca0

Wednesday, Sept 18- 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.:

https://toronto.webex.com/weblink/register/r26b75f1250e525375344474f41e62af5

Consultation materials will be added to the website prior to the meetings.

Visit www.toronto.ca/parkingreview to learn more or sign up for updates.


TTC Service Adjustments for TIFF Begin Thursday, Sept 5

The annual TIFF film festival is starting today. Please see the diversion map and details here.


2461-2475 Dundas St W - Zoning By-law Amendment Applications

On July 30th 2024, an application was submitted for 2461-2475 Dundas St W which proposes a 29-storey mixed use building. The application proposes 360 square metres of ground floor retail and 288 dwelling units (including 9 rental replacement units), with 260 bike parking spaces and 38 vehicle parking spaces.

This application is still being considered by City Planning staff.

A Community Consultation Meeting is currently being scheduled for September. Details for this meeting will be shared with the community when available.

More information on the application can be found on the City’s Application Information Centre website here: https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/planning-development/application-details/?id=5482273&pid=148578.


2112 Dundas St W - Zoning By-law Amendment Applications

On August 20th 2024, a complete application was submitted for 2112 Dundas St W which proposes a 10-storey mixed use building. The application proposes 3 ground floor commercial units and 52 residential units intended for rental tenure, with 47 bike parking spaces and 3 visitor vehicle parking spaces.

This application is still being considered by City Planning staff.

A Community Consultation Meeting is currently being scheduled for September. Details for this meeting will be shared with the community when available.

More information on the application can be found on the City’s Application Information Centre website here: https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/planning-development/application-details/?id=5481364&pid=161633.


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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  

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  

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  

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