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Dear Sasha, Spring has sprung! After a very rainy April, it fills me with joy to see flowers blooming, trees thriving, and people heading outside all over Toronto Centre to enjoy the beautiful sunshine. This weekend will be a busy one in the riding, and I can’t wait to see everyone out and about!
On Saturday, the Toronto Centre NDP is hosting their Federal Nomination Meeting, where we will choose who will run for the NDP in the next federal election. We have two incredible candidates, Brian Chang and Samantha Green. Any riding would be lucky to have either of these high-quality candidates running for them, so we in Toronto Centre have an important choice to make! If you are a member in good standing of the NDP and live in Toronto Centre, you can vote in the nomination! You may confirm your membership status by emailing [email protected]. Please know that you must have signed up as a member 45 days before May 4, 2024 to be eligible to vote. Voting in the nominations process is a fantastic way to participate in your local democracy and it is one of the few times where your vote holds the most direct power. If you are not an NDP member in Toronto Centre, you are still welcome to attend as an observer. The nomination meeting will be held in the afternoon of Saturday, May 4th, in the gymnasium at Winchester Junior & Senior Public School, located at 15 Prospect Street (near Parliament & Ontario Street). Registration begins at 1 PM and closes at 2 PM sharp. Make sure you are registered before 2 PM to ensure that you receive your ballot and are able to vote. Please note, you will not be able to vote, if you are not in line to register by 1:59PM. Sunday will be another fun and busy day! The Toronto Marathon is happening in the morning and it travels along the perimeter of Toronto Centre along Yonge Street, Rosedale Valley Road, Bayview Avenue, and Front Street. I wish all of the runners a safe and fun race. On days when Toronto is hosting big sporting events including charity runs and marathons, the regular commute can be more complex. I encourage you to plan ahead, check TTC notices, give yourself extra time, and use these interactive maps to understand which roads will be closed.
The annual Forsythia Festival will also be held on Sunday, and I can’t wait. I will be joining hundreds of families from the Cabbagetown community, wearing yellow, to welcome spring and celebrate the blooming of the forsythia. Come out and join me in the festivities with our soon-to-be elected new federal candidate. Be there to congratulate them in their first official function as the NDP flagbearer when the federal election is called. The Forsythia Festival Parade will start at the corner of Sumach and Winchester Street at 10:30 AM (please be at the corner by 10:15 AM wearing something yellow). After the parade, join us at Wellesley Park from 11 AM to 3 PM. This annual neighbourhood celebration will include fun activities, a bouncy castle, a magician, a beer garden and more. See you there!
May is Jewish Heritage Month! Across Toronto, the Jewish community has made invaluable contributions to the cultural tapestry of our city, from the bustling streets of Kensington Market to the historic synagogues dotting our neighbourhoods. Jewish heritage and history are woven into the very fabric of our province. Despite the strides we've taken, antisemitism remains an issue we must all work together to address. Let's come together to honour Jewish Heritage Month and redouble our efforts to safeguard the well-being of every member of our community by eliminating hatred in all its forms. Yom HaShoah or Holocaust Remembrance Day begins on Sunday, May 5 and ends at nightfall Monday, May 6. It is a day of commemoration for the six million Jewish people and five million others who perished in the Holocaust due Nazi persecution. The horrible consequences of the Holocaust are not just stories of the past but lessons for today and the future. To say, “Never again, never forget” is an act of love and resistance. Love for all human life and human rights — resistance against all tyranny and the destruction of others. Putting the lessons of the Holocaust into action means we rise against discrimination, violence and hate in all its forms, especially and including antisemitism.
The month of May is also Asian Heritage Month, a great opportunity to recognize the many contributions of the diverse Asian community in Ontario and Canada. Asians have faced multiple hardships in Canadian history from the racist policies turning away the Komagata Maru, Japanese internment camps or the Chinese Head Tax & Exclusion Act to the rise of Anti-Asian racism during SARS & COVID. These experiences cannot be forgotten nor the lessons learned. Asian Canadians are proud to call Canada home and we are determined to work together to build up a stronger and more just country for all. Let’s celebrate our heritage and honour the countless sacrifices of those who came before us. Happy Asian Heritage Month! 祝大家亞太裔加拿大人傳統月快樂! Yours in community service, Kristyn
Kristyn Wong-Tam MPP, Toronto Centre
Caregivers across Ontario do essential, often unpaid work to support their loved ones. It’s time we recognize the value of this incredibly important and intensive work. The Ontario NDP has long championed creating a benefit to compensate this invaluable but often unpaid labour. This Thursday, the house will vote on NDP MPP Wayne Gates' motion to create an Ontario Caregivers' Benefit.Any one of us could become a caregiver for a loved one. We need to make sure the tools are available when they’re needed. This benefit does not negate the importance of expanding our existing homecare and long-term care system, which is failing seniors and those with disabilities in Ontario — but would fix a significant hole in our safety net that most families confront during their lives.
The Toronto Centre NDP Riding Association is hosting a joyful Pride & Politics fundraiser at the iconic Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Enjoy iconic drag performances by Messy Margaret and Amora, light refreshments, and a chance to celebrate Pride while supporting the NDP! Join us Thursday, June 6, 2024, at Buddies in Bad Times, 12 Alexander Street, Toronto.
Student movements have been society's moral compass for generations. Their tactics are often blunt and bring powerful establishments great discomfort. That's the point. Students know firsthand what it feels like to be overpowered. Everyone should listen to the pain and grief students feel watching the plausible genocide Gaza. The right to peacefully protest is integral to our democracy. Our university campuses have always been protected spaces for free speech and the free exchange of ideas. Campuses must also be safe spaces for students of all backgrounds. I know that many Jewish students are feeling particularly vulnerable on university campuses during a time of increased antisemitism. There is no place for antisemitism in our communities, our places of work or in our schools. I hope to see student and faculty leadership and university administrations strive to ensure that all students are safe. I visited the U of T encampment yesterday and it was extremely peaceful. Students were requesting garbage bags to ensure they could take care of the grounds and maintain a safe space for everyone. I encourage university administrations to engage with students and faculty to hear their concerns and keep campuses safe and peaceful.
For six straight years, education funding has failed to keep pace with inflation under this Conservative government's watch. This chronic underfunding, to the tune of $2.7 billion, has left our education system facing significant challenges: larger class sizes, teacher and education worker shortages, and a worsening crisis in mental health and violence. This week, we learned that even as our schools are in crisis, Ford is once again providing annual funding that falls below the rate of inflation and enrollment growth, while claiming that it was a historically high investment. Since 2018, education funding is down $1,357 per student when accounting for inflation; a total of $2.7 billion overall. Doug Ford and Stephen Lecce shouldn't balance their books at the expense of our kids. Students deserve the necessary support to succeed. The government’s announcement this week only increases per-student funding by 1.9% this year, well below Budget 2024’s predicted inflation rate of 2.6% for 2024. While additional supports for reading and math are welcome, they are meaningless if children don’t have teachers. Right now, specialized teachers are being pulled from their assignments to cover classrooms. We need to see an education plan that respects our hardworking teachers, education workers, and principals who allow our schools to function everyday. That means addressing staff shortages, the lack of mental health support, and the increasing challenge of violence.
Doug Ford’s patronage appointments only continued this week, with a former PC Party Vice-President receiving an Ontario Judgeship. Judicial appointments in Ontario should be based on merit, not political affiliation, yet Doug Ford continues to openly admit that he wants Ontario’s judges to be “like-minded” and that he is purposefully appointing conservative-leaning judges. The Ontario NDP and I will continue to advocate for a well-staffed, impartial judiciary that keeps Ontarians safe and moves cases through the court process efficiently.
The Ford PCs announced this week that they are opening a new regional office in Ottawa If this improves services for the people of Ottawa or makes coordination between the provincial and federal governments, then I welcome it. However, Ford has appointed a former PC candidate to head this new regional office, following his pattern of patronage appointments regardless of merit. I find it hard to believe that this failed Conservative candidate is the best person for the job when he famously skipped out on an opportunity to connect with voters during his campaign.
In honour of Doctor’s Day in Ontario on May 1st, let us recognize your Doctor! If your physician practices or lives in Toronto Centre, we will send them a token of our appreciation. Tag them in my post on social media, DM me, or email my office at [email protected] with you doctor’s contact information! If you are one of the many people in Toronto Centre looking for a doctor, you can reach out to Ontario’s Healthcare Connect. Their mandate is to connect Ontarians with primary healthcare providers.
Are you a youth pursuing construction related post-secondary studies? Apply for the BOLT Award and receive up to $5,000 towards tuition costs. Wide range of programs qualify, including urban planning, civil, mechanical, electrical engineering, architecture, sustainable energy and building technology, and so much more! Application deadline is May 10th, 2024. Applications and more details can be found here
I was thrilled to join Corktown neighbours at the Little Trinity Good Food Market launch at 425 King Street East last week. This program runs every Wednesday from 5 to 7 PM. They offer affordable groceries, which are hard to come by these days. Thank you to Little Trinity Church & FoodShareTO, for teaming up to tackle food insecurity.
On May 9th, Aditi Mehta will lead the last Ask Series event on the topic of "Youth, Race, and Faith in Toronto’s Regent Park". Aditi Mehta, Assistant Professor of Urban Studies at @uoft, will explore the importance of incorporating diverse perspectives, particularly those of Black and Muslim youth, in urban studies to better understand intersectional identities and built environment experiences. Don't miss this transformative discussion on inclusive urban studies. The event will take place from 6 to 8 pm at 540 Dundas Street E, childminding and refreshments. You can sign up and register here!
Join The 519 during Rainbow Week of Action – together with our communities, allies, and partner organizations serving LGBTQ+ refugees – to amplify our urgent plea for support for LGBTQ+ refugees. It will be held from 11 AM to 1:30 PM at Barbara Hall Park! I will be there to speak, and joined by Fae Johnstone, Executive Director and Co-Owner of Wisdom2Action (W2A), Lisa Duplessis, Director of Programs and Community Services, and Debbie Douglas, Executive Director of the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI).
If you have questions about the event feel free to email [email protected] or visit ArmyofLovers.ca.
St James Town Residents Council is very proud to announce their final symposium program & lineup for their St James Town 2024 SUMMIT - Emerging Innovations & Ideas. Join on May 11 from 9 AM to 3 PM for a gathering of some of the most vibrant & dynamic emerging grassroots organizations of current & future game changers in St James Town & Toronto Centre! The event will be held at the Wellesley Community Centre, 495 Sherbourne Street. Please register via [email protected].
Exciting news: this year's Songs from The Journey is set to grace the stage of The Royal Conservatory of Music’s Koerner Hall on June 21st! As always, the association is committed to ensuring that Regent Park residents have the opportunity to attend. To facilitate this, we're offering complimentary tickets for community members, alongside round-trip transportation between Regent Park and Koerner Hall on Friday, June 21, 2024. The attached flyer provides information on the availability of free tickets for pickup at Daniels Spectrum starting Tuesday, May 14, 2024.
The 519's Health Justice Hub is hosting Workshop Wednesdays on Housing Rights and Tenant Organizing every Wednesday from 6 PM to 7:30 PM. Learn more and register here.
Are you in need of income support? Have questions about ODSP, OW, Old Age Security, CPP, EI, or other free/low-cost resources? St. Michael’s is running workshops on income support programs for agencies and service providers. If you would like to host a workshop, contact Naomi at her email [email protected] 416-864-6060 ex 76806.
Prepare your taste buds because The Regent Park Cafe is opening its doors at The Daniel Spectrum (585 Dundas St East, first floor) and they’re ready to party! It's a vibrant hub of local foods, flavors, passionate entrepreneurs and community connections. They are open weekly from Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 8 PM. Join them to indulge in delicious bites and meaningful interactions. And stay in the loop with all the excitement – follow them on Instagram for exclusive updates here.
The Cabbagetown Festival is one of Toronto’s longest-running and most beloved street festivals, and this year it will be returning, bigger than ever! They are inviting over 75,000 locals and visitors across the GTA to enjoy a family-friendly, entertainment-packed weekend, including live music performances, fantastic food, Kid’s Zone, and over 200 unique vendors from Cabbagetown and beyond! The festival is primed to become one of the most-anticipated events in Toronto! Starting at $230 for the lowest vendor level for two days, they invite business owners to apply to join them as a vendor as we celebrate this milestone. Dates: September 7 and 8 Location: Parliament Street and Carlton Street, Cabbagetown, Toronto Apply and pay by May 31 to take advantage of this early-bird pricing! Prices go up June 1, as long as space remains available!
Toronto Public Health (TPH) encourages eligible residents to get vaccinated against mpox (formerly monkeypox) after confirming an increase in cases since the start of the year. To provide low-barrier, convenient, and equitable access to vaccination, TPH is hosting a series of clinics starting April 3. Walk-in and booked appointments are available. You can book appointments here. The vaccine is free of charge, and an OHIP card is not required. In addition to TPH-hosted clinics, residents can inquire about vaccine availability where they currently access sexual healthcare services. Eligible individuals who have not been vaccinated against mpox are encouraged to get their first dose of the vaccine as soon as possible, with a second dose given at least 28 days later. The vaccine becomes most effective after two weeks. Individuals planning to travel soon are encouraged to get vaccinated before leaving, as cases are being reported in various regions around the world. Vaccination can protect against the mpox virus and help reduce serious symptoms. Individuals who received a smallpox vaccination in the past are not protected against mpox. They should get vaccinated against mpox as soon as possible for the best protection.For more information including eligibility requirements, visit the City’s mpox webpage here. |
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Toronto Centre NDP · 65 Shuter St, Box 81, Toronto, ON M5B 1B2, Canada |
