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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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

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