August 16, 2024 Newsletter

Dear Emma,

This has been a tough week. I am devastated by the horrific shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. Everyone in the Tumbler Ridge community, and particularly the loved ones of those injured and killed, are in my thoughts and have my deepest condolences. I am so thankful for all of the first responders who risked their lives to protect others at the scene. 

This tragedy should never have happened. Right now we grieve, but soon, we recommit and take further action to end gun violence before another mass shooting takes place. Tragically, in Toronto Centre, we are not strangers to gun violence. My heart is additionally heavy for everyone in our communities who has been directly affected by gun violence and may be finding this news particularly difficult. If you need support, I encourage you to reach out to the Distress Centre of Greater Toronto or the Gerstein Crisis Centre. 

Violence should have no place in our communities, and yet it exists all around. But when people come together to speak without shame and offer each other support, we move one step closer to a world without violence.  I am so thankful to everyone in the community who is organizing for a world without violence. This work is not new, but it deserves so much more support from our government. We all stand on the shoulders of the organizers and advocates who have come before us. 

During my virtual town hall on intimate partner violence this week, I was filled with gratitude for all of the community advocates who joined us for the panel. They all interface with violence every day in their professional lives. It is difficult work, but they do it with so much love and grit.

Thank you to the 430 people who registered for the town hall. A big thank you to my co-host, MPP Alexa Gilmour and our esteemed presenters Pamela Hart, Erin Lee, Andrea Vasquez-Jimenez, Pamela Cross, Marlee Liss, and Ololade Aje. These leading advocates were so generous with their time, knowledge, and care. For those who missed the town hall and want to catch up, here is the link to watch.

The conversation was at times heavy, but the event was dynamic, and every attendee made their voice heard through interactive polling, sharing ideas, and submitting questions to our Q&A. I was particularly moved by the number and quality of responses we received when we asked participants what action they would take in their communities to counter IPV. Ideas ranging from “bring in a speaker for my next union event” to “have a conversation with other men in my life” to “volunteer at a local shelter” and more. 

The success of this first virtual town hall on IPV demands an encore, and that is what I intend to bring you in the weeks ahead. So watch this space for more announcements as I invite new speakers and subject matter experts to join us in future town halls on this issue. 

If you attended, I would love to hear your feedback on the event and what you would like to see in the future. 

Yours in community service, 

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

• Inspection into Police Corruption
  
• You’re Invited: Community Iftar
• Coffee with Kristyn - Corktown
• Huge Cuts to OSAP Grants Hurt Students 
• Stop Taxing Severance Pay
• FAO Report Projects $10.7B Healthcare Shortfall
• What’s Making Headlines
• Local Community Events

Over the last week, we have learned more and more about the corruption within the Toronto Police. Ontario’s Inspector General of Policing announced a province-wide inspection into corruption and integrity in policing. This is a heartening next step, and I am very encouraged by it. 

It is deeply disturbing that police officers have allegedly been able to, while employed with the force, engage in the trafficking of uniforms, misuse of police firearms, and conspiracy to kill a corrections manager. These are incredibly serious offences for anyone, let alone someone in a position of public trust. 

To regain and maintain trust in our province’s law enforcement institutions, we must ensure transparency and unobstructed public oversight. That oversight must be especially focused on Toronto, which should demand much of this inspection’s attention. No stone should be left unturned to ensure that Ontarians feel safe in their communities and to restore accountability and public trust. 

This corruption has caused a massive breach of trust, as other incidents of police-community interactions have in the past, and it requires a massive effort on the part of the police to repair. I look forward to their sincere and open efforts. 

You're invited to a Community Iftar Party!

Join me for an evening of spiritual reflection, delicious dinner, and warm company as we break fast together.

Date: Friday, February 20, 2026 

Location: 150 River Street - Main Floor Party Room

Community Market: 3 - 8 PM

Iftar: 5 PM onwards

RSVP is required to reserve your seat. All are welcome!

Thank you so much to the awesome constituents who joined me for Coffee with Kristyn at Roozamoon Cafe in Corktown on Wednesday! I had a wonderful time hearing your ideas about addressing food insecurity, expanding public health care and protecting heritage buildings. Your stories were inspiring, and these conversations helped me bring your on-the-ground concerns to Queen’s Park. 

Watch out for future Coffee with Kristyn events coming to a cozy neighbourhood cafe near you!

While announcing their changes to post-secondary funding this week, which did include increased funding, Ford’s Minister glossed over a huge change: OSAP grants, which currently can make up as much as 85% of the funding a student receives (with the other 15% being loans), will now be capped at just 25%. That means students are losing thousands of dollars in grant funding for their education and are forced to take on 75% or more of their education costs in loans. This is a massive change that will hit the lowest-income students the hardest. 

In addition to these grant changes, the government is allowing public post-secondary schools to raise tuition by up to 2% per year for the next three years, after years of a tuition freeze. This will put students in an even more difficult position as they figure out how to pay for school, rent, and food. 

Our public colleges and universities, as well as students, deserve more than to beg for scraps from the government. They deserve a robustly funded public system where students can learn without the stress of loans, and institutions can provide the best quality education without the government breathing down their neck to cut costs at every turn. 

Doug Ford has to get serious about protecting workers. It is tough out there, especially for tariff-affected workers getting laid off in this job market. So why are these laid-off workers being punished again when the government taxes their severance pay? It’s not nice to kick people when they are already down. Ford must tell the Prime Minister to stop taxing the severance pay of workers’ impacted by tariff job losses. 

Ford is a jobs disaster. That is not up for debate. Ontario lost 67,000 jobs in January, and the manufacturing sector alone has lost 51,000 jobs in the last year. Tens of thousands more workers are starting a new year filled with anxiety and uncertainty, while they wait for Ford to finally come up with a jobs plan.

While we are forced to wait for that plan, the least that Ford can do is demand that the Prime Minister stop taxing laid-off workers' severance pay. Thousands of workers were handed pink slips while Ford stuck to his wait-and-see approach. It’s time for him to show up for these workers and their families. 

These Ontario workers need a lifeline. The Premier has the opportunity to be serious for once and use his power to deliver needed relief instead of more empty promises.

This past Wednesday’s Financial Accountability Office report confirms what patients and family members accessing health care across Ontario already know: the Ford government’s health care plan is actively damaging Ontario’s health system and putting patients at risk.

The FAO projects a $10.7 billion health sector funding shortfall by 2027-28 under the government’s current spending plan. That is a massive and devastating gap, especially as our population grows, ages, and healthcare needs become more acute. This plan is reckless and dangerous for patients.

The FAO also projects the government’s plan would result in fewer funded hospital beds, fewer nurses, and fewer PSWs across Ontario by 2027-28, even as demand for care continues to rise. These choices create a perfect storm of runaway hallway medicine, staff pushed to the breaking point, and inadequate care as a result. The Ford government must step up and adequately fund day-to-day hospital operations. 

We know this conservative play: cut and starve the system until it is so broken that you can say “See? The system doesn’t work. We need to privatize it!” We know as Canadians that is not acceptable. We need a well-funded public health care system so that everyone can thrive.  Click here to sign my petition to fund healthcare and stop privatization. 

Insufficient rail screws behind derailment that caused days-long GO disruptions, Metrolinx CEO says

The fastest way to get into an Ontario LTC is by going to a hospital first. That's a problem, say advocates

What's open and closed in Toronto on Family Day

Toronto pays off-duty police $100 an hour to oversee construction sites. Some councillors want to know why

He planned to survive Toronto winter in a tent. Now he’s one of hundreds squeezing into warming centres to get out of the cold

Toronto unemployment rate is totally out of control compared to other cities 

Tenants heartbroken after 111-year-old Toronto building’s stained glass windows deemed fire hazard 

Looking for something fun and free to do this Family Day weekend? Come to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for hands-on activities, indoor and outdoor experiences, and live entertainment during this year’s Winter Festival!

Set in the heart of downtown Toronto at the historic Ontario Legislature, this two-day celebration is designed for families of all ages.  

Indoors, learn about Parliament during a Chamber tour, get creative with crafts and activities, transform into a cool character with face-painting, grab a twisty balloon, and keep entertained with live musical performances, storytelling, and magic shows. Outdoors, take part in a mini hockey arena and curling rink, admire the work of a professional ice carver in action, participate in an inflatable carnival game, and keep an eye out for a roaming Jack Frost who always loves a “warm” hello.  

Need a treat? Snacks and refreshments will be available for purchase at the Quorum Café.

Event dates: Saturday, February 14 and Monday, February 16, 2026

Times: 10 AM to 4 PM (last entry at 3:30 PM) 

Location: Ontario's Legislative Building, Queen's Park. 

All visitors entering the Legislative Building must go through airport-style security screening. 

Free admission

Click here for a full schedule of events.

The Regent Park Community Centre will be hosting a Family Day event.

Date: Monday, February 16, 2026

Time: 11 AM - 2 PM

Location: Regent Park Community Centre (402 Shuter St.)

Enjoy Pancakes, music, colouring and more. All are welcome. FREE.

The Friends of Regent Park, in partnership with the Regent Park Community Centre, Councillor Chris Moise, and the Toronto Police Services, is hosting a Family Day Skating event!

Date: Saturday, February 14, 2026

Time: 1 PM to 4 PM

Location: Regent Park Ice Rink (480 Shuter St.)

Skates and helmets will be available for FREE on a first-come, first-served basis. It will be an afternoon filled with fun, music, games and activities.

Join Marit Stiles and community partners like the Neighbourhood Information Post for a fun-filled Lunar New Year Reception at Queen’s Park! You won't want to miss the lion dance. 

Date: Monday, February 23, 

Time: 6 - 8:30 PM - Lion dance at 7:30 PM

Location: Queen’s Park Main Legislative Building, Room 351

RSVP here to be added to the visitors list.

🌼 Friends of Allan Gardens just launched their petition to expand the Allan Gardens greenhouses! 🌼

With this expansion, they can scale up their existing cross-cultural and cross-generational work: the farmers' market, food-growing that supports food banks, horticultural education, venue space, and Indigenous-focused programming like language keeping and storytelling.

They are aiming for 10,000 signatures and need your help!

Click here to sign and share with your networks.

PASI is a large-scale outdoor community photo exhibition led by Jamii, taking place along Toronto’s Esplanade promenade from May to July 2026. The project brings together Torontonians of all ages to reflect how people from around the world live side by side in one city.

Meaning “a soccer pass” in Swahili, PASI will feature a continuous chain of portraits in which participants symbolically pass a ball from one image to the next. Installed between the Distillery District and St. Lawrence Market, the exhibition includes 48 large-scale outdoor portraits representing countries participating in the 2026 tournament.

Click here to sign up and have your portrait taken for this community art exhibit! 

The SLNA Waste Reduction Group is hosting its 15th REmarket event on February 11 and 12, 2026. This event has a direct, tangible impact on both the environment and the social welfare of our local communities, and you can widen that impact. New items being added to the growing recycling list at the upcoming REmarket include: hearing aids, elastic bands and non-synthetic corks. On February 11, stop by to participate in their FreeMarket, where anyone can drop off gently used items and take home items free of charge (not for commercial resale).

On February 12, bring your items in need of repair to the Repair Cafe. Items such as clothing, jewelry, small appliances, electronics, and bikes can be fixed free of charge by local volunteers.

Learn more about the event, as well as recycling and donation guidelines here: REmarket Guidelines

Dates and Times: 

February 11, donation 10 AM - 7 PM, FreeMarket 10 AM - 6 PM

February 12, donation 10 AM - 6 PM, Repair Cafe 11 AM - 3 PM

 Location: St Lawrence Market Tent, 125 The Esplanade

Youth 4 the Future (Y4F) is a youth-led SDG Accelerator and Civic Incubator empowering Canadians (ages 15–29) to translate global goals into tangible local action. The campaign provides interactive workshops, mentorship, and networking opportunities to develop youth leadership and civic engagement skills. Participants will gain access to our exclusive Youth Incubator Program, digital resources, and a Certificate of Leadership for attending the full event.

Location: Waterfront Neighbourhood Centre, 647 Queens Quay W, Toronto

Date: March 1, 2026 

Time: 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM

RSVP here.

The Ontario Official Opposition and NDP Leader, Marit Stiles, is honoured to invite you to an Iftar on Wednesday, March 4, at Queen’s Park.

As the sun sets, community members will come together to break fast and share in a serene evening in the spirit of Ramadan. The program will run from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, allowing time for our community to participate in Taraweeh at their local mosques.

Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2026

Time: 5 – 7 PM

Location: Queen’s Park, Main Legislative Building (south entrance), 111 Wellesley Street West, Toronto

Please RSVP here to be added to the guest list. 

The Regent Park Neighbourhood Association (RPNA), with assistance from Endeavor Consulting, is developing a three-year strategic plan. 

Regent Park residents are invited to participate by completing a short survey and participating in a small focus group discussion.

Focus Groups:

Virtual focus groups are being convened for the following stakeholder groups:

• Market Tenants
• TCHC Tenants
• Community Partners
• RPNA Board Members

To participate in a focus group, reach out to Hanieh Shams Kolahi, Engagement Manager, Endeavour Consulting: [email protected]

Surveys:

• Market Tenants
• TCHC Tenants
• Community Partners
• RPNA Board Members

Do you know a phenomenal leader in your community who deserves recognition?

Kristyn Wong-Tam will present six people with the prestigious Toronto Centre Leadership Award in June 2026.

This honour recognizes individuals who have made a profound and lasting contribution to the Toronto Centre community in any field. This can include the arts, politics, community building, healthcare, and beyond!

Submit your nominee here!

Applications are now open for the City of Toronto’ Outside Mural & Street Art Program!

Business associations and community groups with strong local participation can receive one-time funding of up to $7,500 for outdoor murals projects. Eligible costs include artist fees, materials, installation, and equipment rental. Applicants are responsible for ongoing maintenance.

As a FIFA host city, special consideration will be given to murals celebrating the tournament and the city’s theme, “World in a City.” Selected proposals must follow FIFA branding and IP rules.

Deadline: Thursday, March 26, 2026 at 11:59 pm. Details here.

The next Census of Population will take place in May 2026. Census data provides a detailed statistical picture of the country’s people and places every five years, vital for government, businesses, and communities to plan essential services, determine electoral district boundaries, allocate funds, understand changing demographics, and support informed decisions for a thriving Canada.

Statistics Canada is hiring approximately 32,000 people across Canada to help residents complete their census questionnaires. Applications are now being accepted for supervisory and non-supervisory positions across the country. Details here.

Dear Emma,

My Virtual Town Hall on the next steps that the Ford government must take to address intimate partner violence (IPV) in Ontario is less than a week away! If you haven’t RSVP’d, the time is now:

I am honoured that an incredible group of leading advocates from across Ontario are sharing their time and insights with us. They will provide brief presentations, and then the event will be turned over to you - the audience! You will have a chance to share your feedback and ideas and ask the panellists questions. We strive to build stronger communities through conversation and collaboration. You will leave with a deeper understanding of how we can all work together to end IPV, along with other clear next steps.

The leading advocates who will be joining us are: 

• Pamela Cross, Feminist Lawyer and author of “And Sometimes They Kill You”
• Erin Lee, Executive Director of Lanark County Interval House
• Marlee Liss, Founder of Survivors for Justice Reform and author of “Re-Humanize”
• Andrea Vásquez Jiménez, Community & Electoral Political Organizer Director of Policing-Free Schools
• Ololade Aje, Student Trustee, Durham Catholic District School Board
• Pamela Hart, Executive Director of Native Women's Resource Centre of Toronto
• MPP Alexa Gilmour, Shadow Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity

Ontario doesn’t need another report. We need government action and accountability. I hope you will join us. 

Virtual Town Hall on IPV

Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Time: 7 PM

Location: Zoom

So many people in Ontario need our government to give a damn about them. From survivors of IPV to those living on our streets, the family struggling to put food on the table, the need is massive. That is why I want to share a good news story with you today. 

On Wednesday, I had the honour and privilege of visiting Journey Home Hospice at 90 Shuter Street. I was overwhelmed by the love and care oozing from every inch of this facility, and so proud that it is located in the heart of our riding.

Journey Home Hospice provides wraparound and trauma-informed end-of-life care for people who, before they called Journey Home their home, were unhoused or precariously housed. 

I want you to imagine for a moment: you are living on the streets or couchsurfing, you are more than likely a senior, and you have been told by a doctor that you have less than 6 months to live. That would feel pretty hopeless, wouldn’t it? But then, imagine again that you are told that you won’t be spending the end of your life in a hospital or out on the street. There is a place for you at Journey Home, a hospice that understands your unique needs and will treat you with warmth, love, and humanity. 

Ontarians at the end of their life deserve loving, personal, and high-quality hospice care. Care in a place that feels like home. And that is exactly what I saw at Journey Home. During my visit, I was welcomed by kind and personable healthcare workers and volunteers who spoke about their clients and their place of work with reverence. 

Not everything at Journey Home is rosy. Of course, people die there. Patients who are eligible for Journey Home have had difficult and traumatic lives. They often struggle with mental health and substance use. That is not shied away from. I was proudly shown the secure medication cart and fridge where doctor-prescribed narcotics and alcohol were stored. The clinical focus here for those who use substances is preventing withdrawal and managing symptoms. At the end of life, it is all about comfort and dignity. 

The things that stuck with me the most were the little things: the blanket warming machine that meant residents always had access to coziness, the volunteer pulling a freshly baked apple crisp out of the oven in the community kitchen, and the care menu that offered a hand massage or a conversation about legacy on a hard day. This place is about so much more than healthcare: it is about honouring the full person, the life they lived, and the life they are still living. 

I want to thank Matthew, Felicia, and all of the staff, volunteers and residents at Journey Home for welcoming me into their space and showing me that dignity and care at the end of life are for everyone. 

Journey Home is creating a model that must be properly funded and replicated across Ontario. They already have a satellite location in Windsor and are in contact with other hospices caring for this patient population. I am so proud of their work and looking forward to championing hospice care for all at Queen’s Park. To learn more about their services and volunteer opportunities, click here. 

Yours in community service, 

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

• You’re Invited: Community Iftar
• Coffee with Kristyn in Corktown
• Doly Begum’s Departure
• Toronto Police Arrests
• Grocery Prices Don’t Have To Be This High!
• Chronic Hospital Underfunding Risks Lives
• Ford’s TDSB Supervisor Scraps Class Size Caps
• Youth in Custody Deserve Dignity
• Black History Month in Toronto Centre
• What’s Making Headlines
• Local Community Events

You're invited to a Community Iftar Party!

Join me for an evening of spiritual reflection, delicious dinner, and warm company as we break fast together.

Date: Friday, February 20, 2026 

Location: 150 River Street - Main Floor Party Room

Community Market: 3 - 8 PM

Iftar: 5 PM onwards

RSVP is required to reserve your seat. All are welcome!

Come join me at the beloved Roozamoon Cafe, 398 Queen St East on Wednesday, February 11th, from 10 AM to 12 PM.

Click here to book your 15-minute meeting slot! 

Afterwards, we will have a 30-minute roundtable for anyone who wants to stay and continue speaking with a larger group. Stay tuned as we announce upcoming locations and dates.

As many of you will have seen, Doly Begum resigned as MPP for Scarborough Southwest on Tuesday. She will be running federally for the Liberals in Scarborough Southwest in a byelection that will be called soon. 

This news was very hard for me and many New Democrats to hear. Doly has been a personal friend and colleague for many years. I wish her well in the journey ahead. 

Scarborough Southwest has strong and deep connections to the ONDP. The MPP constituency staff are valued members of the ONDP caucus team and continue to serve local residents without any interruption. A provincial byelection will be called in the weeks ahead, and the ONDP looks forward to continuing to serve the great people of Scarborough Southwest. 

Like many of you, I have been carefully watching the developing story of the eight Toronto Police officers (seven current and one retired) who we learned last night were arrested on multiple serious charges. 

I want to begin by commending York Regional Police and the more than 400 officers across multiple services who dedicated months of painstaking work to this investigation. 

This investigation touches on the trust Ontarians place in law enforcement, and demands a thorough, unobstructed public oversight investigation concurrent with this criminal investigation. This is a deeply troubling situation. We must see real accountability, consequences, transparency, and systemic change from this process so that trust in our province’s law enforcement and justice system isn’t further eroded. This will be a long road, but one that must be walked. 

We all know the feeling: you do your regular shop at a big three grocery store and then bam! You get to the checkout and are hit with a bill that can’t possibly be right. Suddenly, you are paying double digits for a bag of apples and $3 for a grapefruit? 

Marit Stiles breaks down the issues in this informative and funny video she shared on socials, which you can watch here! 

Grocery prices have been rising faster than inflation at the big three grocery chains, meanwhile, small mom-and-pop grocers are finding ways to keep prices low and deliver high-quality products to their customers. 

Right now, there is no mechanism to hold big-box stores accountable. But it doesn’t have to be this way. In Manitoba, the NDP government just froze milk prices! An Ontario NDP government will bring in a consumer watchdog to guard against price gouging and other unfair practices, so that something like the bread price fixing scandal doesn’t happen again. 

Chronic hospital underfunding by the Ford government is driving hallway medicine and putting patients at serious risk across Ontario. This isn’t news to anyone, but to get results, we must keep pushing. We all know someone who has waited a full day to be seen in the ER or was put on a stretcher in the hallway when they were critically ill. These events are not random. They are what happens when a government knowingly underfunds hospitals year after year.

This government was warned. They were shown the data. They heard from workers and hospital leaders. And they chose not to act. Hallway medicine exists because the Ford government allows it.

And now, not only is Ford not taking action, but they are refusing to share data about hallway healthcare numbers. To rebuild our public healthcare system, we need transparency, accountability, and action. Instead, we are getting secrecy and inaction. 

This government’s inaction means that healthcare workers and patients are paying the price. Nurses and doctors are doing everything they can, but you cannot run hospitals at crisis capacity forever and expect people not to get hurt. The best time to fix this situation was 10 years ago, but the second-best time is today. 

Ford’s appointed TDSB supervisor has decided that hard class size caps are no longer needed in grades 4-8. I don’t know if any of them have ever been in a classroom, but that is categorically false. 

The Ministry of Education has a class size policy that states that class sizes within a given board must not, on average, exceed certain caps. For grades 4-8 that cap is 24.5 students. However, there is no hard cap on the number of students in any given classroom. 

The TDSB decided to set its own hard cap of 32 students per grade 4-8 class to ensure there are no ultra-large outlier classes. Ontario students and teachers deserve a safe learning and working environment.  

Education workers, parents, students, and experts tell us that smaller class sizes lead to more individualized support for students, fewer fights, and greater safety for everyone. 

Right now, our public education system needs adequate funding, class-size caps, capital repair plans, and more caring adults in the classroom to support kids' learning. 

Instead, since the Ford Conservatives came to power, they’ve cut $6.3 billion from education. Meanwhile, teachers are buying their own paper. Children are sitting on the floor because there are too many kids in their classroom. This is what Doug Ford and Paul Calandra think our kids deserve.

If you are as fired up about this as I am, I encourage you to attend our Shadow Education Minister MPP Chandra Pasma’s Emergency Education Town Hall on Feb 9 at 7 PM. 

RSVP here: Hands Off Our Schools Emergency Townhall: Stop the Takeovers, Fund Education

Doug Ford must immediately address disturbing reports of ongoing strip searches at the Roy McMurtry Youth Centre: the province’s largest youth detention facility.

Provincial regulations around strip searches were tightened in 2023, but multiple accounts of systemic strip searches have emerged, including an instance of a teen being searched four times in less than 48 hours.

Doug Ford’s crisis in our youth justice system is hurting youth in custody and violating their rights. What will it take for this government to listen to youth, workers, and Ontarians calling for change? What will it take for youth justice facilities to be properly resourced to ensure youth and workers are safe?

For years, New Democrats have sounded the alarm about Ontario’s youth justice system. Each time, the Premier has ignored our calls to address the chronic understaffing and unsafe conditions. Ford and Minister Parsa must ensure that the human rights of both youth and workers are strictly safeguarded. This can’t be ignored.

A child’s well-being should be the primary concern, no matter where they are. Ontario’s youth justice system must be a safe environment for youth and workers. Anything less is pure neglect.

February is here, and that means Black History Month is in full swing! I am so excited to profile black-owned businesses and events celebrating Black history all month long. 

First, I want to spotlight the work being done by Regent Park TV to highlight Black stories in February and all year long! RPTV has started off with the above interview with local community advocate, educator, and broadcaster Murphy Browne. Click here to watch.

BGC Toronto Kiwanis is hosting their Black History Month Community Celebration on Feb 21, 2026—a large-scale community-led event bringing together 250+ attendees, including youth, families, artists, entrepreneurs, community orgs, and civic leaders. 

I am so excited to attend this celebration and enjoy the creativity and artistry of Black youth in our communities. We will be wowed by youth-led performances, cultural showcases, community awards, and opportunities to connect across Regent Park, Cabbagetown, and St. Jamestown.  I hope to see you there! 

Are you a Black youth who wants to participate? Register to perform here. 

Toronto Kiwanis will also recognize the winners of its Black Excellence Awards at the event. Nominate an amazing Black young person here. 

Ontario NDP names Ali Chatur as Provincial Director

Toronto Centre Tenants Union holds training session amidst rising rent pressures 

Thousands of people want to double size of historic Toronto attraction

An ‘object lesson in how to do everything wrong:’ Why we aren’t celebrating the opening of the Crosstown LRT ... yet

From harm reduction to harm production: A frontline physician on the closure of safe consumption sites

Development Application in Regent Park South 

Why bestselling author Rowan Jetté Knox sold his home to open a queer café in Toronto's Village

Toronto Community Housing is accepting applications for the 2026 Regent Park Community Initiative Support program. The program provides financial assistance to initiatives led by community groups within Regent Park. You can request up to $2,000.

Application deadline: Monday, February 9, 2026

Application details: Community Initiative Support

The Friends of Regent Park, in partnership with the Regent Park Community Centre, Councillor Chris Moise, and the Toronto Police Services, is hosting a Family Day Skating event!

Date: Saturday, February 14, 2026

Time: 1 PM to 4 PM

Location: Regent Park Ice Rink (480 Shuter St.)

Skates and helmets will be available for FREE on a first-come, first-served basis. It will be an afternoon filled with fun, music, games and activities.

Join me and Neighbourhood Information Post for a fun-filled Lunar New Year Reception at Queen’s Park! You won't want to miss the lion dance!

Date: Monday, February 23

Time: 6 - 8:30 PM

Location: Queen’s Park Main Legislative Building, Rooms 228-230. 

RSVP here to be added to the visitors list.

🌼 Friends of Allan Gardens just launched their petition to expand the Allan Gardens greenhouses! 🌼

With this expansion, they can scale up their existing cross-cultural and cross-generational work: the farmers' market, food-growing that supports food banks, horticultural education, venue space, and Indigenous-focused programming like language keeping and storytelling.

They are aiming for 10,000 signatures and need your help!

Click here to sign and share with your networks.

PASI is a large-scale outdoor community photo exhibition led by Jamii, taking place along Toronto’s Esplanade promenade from May to July 2026. The project brings together Torontonians of all ages to reflect how people from around the world live side by side in one city.

Meaning “a soccer pass” in Swahili, PASI will feature a continuous chain of portraits in which participants symbolically pass a ball from one image to the next. Installed between the Distillery District and St. Lawrence Market, the exhibition includes 48 large-scale outdoor portraits representing countries participating in the 2026 tournament.

Click here to sign up and have your portrait taken for this community art exhibit! 

The SLNA Waste Reduction Group is hosting its 15th REmarket event on February 11 and 12, 2026. This event has a direct, tangible impact on both the environment and the social welfare of our local communities, and you can widen that impact. New items being added to the growing recycling list at the upcoming REmarket include: hearing aids, elastic bands and non-synthetic corks. On February 11, stop by to participate in their FreeMarket, where anyone can drop off gently used items and take home items free of charge (not for commercial resale).

On February 12, bring your items in need of repair to the Repair Cafe. Items such as clothing, jewelry, small appliances, electronics, and bikes can be fixed free of charge by local volunteers.

Learn more about the event, as well as recycling and donation guidelines here: REmarket Guidelines

Dates and Times: 

February 11, donation 10 AM - 7 PM, FreeMarket 10 AM - 6 PM

February 12, donation 10 AM - 6 PM, Repair Cafe 11 AM - 3 PM

 Location: St Lawrence Market Tent, 125 The Esplanade

Youth 4 the Future (Y4F) is a youth-led SDG Accelerator and Civic Incubator empowering Canadians (ages 15–29) to translate global goals into tangible local action. The campaign provides interactive workshops, mentorship, and networking opportunities to develop youth leadership and civic engagement skills. Participants will gain access to our exclusive Youth Incubator Program, digital resources, and a Certificate of Leadership for attending the full event.

Location: Waterfront Neighbourhood Centre, 647 Queens Quay W, Toronto

Date: March 1, 2026 

Time: 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM

RSVP here.

The Ontario Official Opposition and NDP Leader, Marit Stiles, is honoured to invite you to an Iftar on Wednesday, March 4, at Queen’s Park.

As the sun sets, community members will come together to break fast and share in a serene evening in the spirit of Ramadan. The program will run from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, allowing time for our community to participate in Taraweeh at their local mosques.

Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2026

Time: 5 – 7 PM

Location: Queen’s Park, Main Legislative Building (south entrance), 111 Wellesley Street West, Toronto

Please RSVP here to be added to the guest list. 

The Regent Park Neighbourhood Association (RPNA), with assistance from Endeavor Consulting, is developing a three-year strategic plan. 

Regent Park residents are invited to participate by completing a short survey and participating in a small focus group discussion.

Focus Groups:

Virtual focus groups are being convened for the following stakeholder groups:

• Market Tenants
• TCHC Tenants
• Community Partners
• RPNA Board Members

To participate in a focus group, reach out to Hanieh Shams Kolahi, Engagement Manager, Endeavour Consulting: [email protected]

Surveys:

• Market Tenants
• TCHC Tenants
• Community Partners
• RPNA Board Members

Do you know a phenomenal leader in your community who deserves recognition?

Kristyn Wong-Tam will present six people with the prestigious Toronto Centre Leadership Award in June 2026.

This honour recognizes individuals who have made a profound and lasting contribution to the Toronto Centre community in any field. This can include the arts, politics, community building, healthcare, and beyond!

Submit your nominee here!

Applications are now open for the City of Toronto’ Outside Mural & Street Art Program!

Business associations and community groups with strong local participation can receive one-time funding of up to $7,500 for outdoor murals projects. Eligible costs include artist fees, materials, installation, and equipment rental. Applicants are responsible for ongoing maintenance.

As a FIFA host city, special consideration will be given to murals celebrating the tournament and the city’s theme, “World in a City.” Selected proposals must follow FIFA branding and IP rules.

Deadline: Thursday, March 26, 2026 at 11:59 pm. Details here.

The next Census of Population will take place in May 2026. Census data provides a detailed statistical picture of the country’s people and places every five years, vital for government, businesses, and communities to plan essential services, determine electoral district boundaries, allocate funds, understand changing demographics, and support informed decisions for a thriving Canada.

Statistics Canada is hiring approximately 32,000 people across Canada to help residents complete their census questionnaires. Applications are now being accepted for supervisory and non-supervisory positions across the country. Details here.

Dear friend,

We have all seen the videos of ICE agents in the United States executing legal observers, apprehending toddlers, and sowing fear. Their conduct is racist, violent, and wholly unacceptable. Until yesterday, agents were positioned at the Canadian border between Maine and New Brunswick, intimidating residents. 

So why are ICE armored vehicles being manufactured in Ontario? And why is Ford praising the order as ‘fantastic’? Ontario and Canada should not have any part in the atrocities being committed in the United States. 

We need to honour our Canadian and Ontario values by cancelling the ICE contract.

Ontario needs to create stable opportunities for our manufacturing sector, instead of increasing our reliance on the United States. At a time when Donald Trump is targeting Canada’s sovereignty, we need to find opportunities for Ontario manufacturers to strengthen Canada, not arm the United States against civilians. 

Our world-class workforce and manufacturers should be working on made-in-Canada, built-in-Canada projects that strengthen our economy. Cancelling the contract is the right choice, the brave choice, and one I am proud to call for. 

In addition to violence south of the border, we must tackle the violence happening within our own communities and families. Regular readers know that I have been pushing the government to action on intimate partner violence for years. Rates are on the rise, and so far, all this government has done is release a report that seems to be largely AI-generated. Survivors and our wider communities deserve so much better.

Join me on February 11th for Talk Back: A Virtual Town Hall About Intimate Partner Violence in Ontario. 

I am so excited to hear from the slate of expert panelists who will be joining us for this townhall:

• Pamela Cross, Feminist Lawyer and author of “And Sometimes They Kill You”
• Erin Lee, Executive Director of Lanark County Interval House
• Marlee Liss, Founder of Survivors for Justice Reform and author of “Re-Humanize”
• Andrea Vásquez Jiménez, Community & Electoral Political Organizer Director of Policing-Free Schools
• Ololade Aje, Student Trustee, Durham Catholic District School Board
• Pamela Hart, Executive Director of Native Women's Resource Centre of Toronto
• MPP Alexa Gilmour, Shadow Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity

I am also looking forward to hearing from you through interactive elements where you can share your priorities and ideas. 

We don’t need another report. We need action and accountability. I hope you will join us. 

Virtual Town Hall on IPV

Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Time: 7 PM

Location: Zoom

This week, many little ones, including my son, enjoyed playing in the snow as Toronto turned into a winter wonderland. It is gorgeous outside, but also dangerous. Please take your time while travelling and be mindful of frostbite risks as the temperatures are set to remain very cold through the weekend. 

The city has opened a new temporary warming centre at John Innes Community Centre, where anyone who needs it is invited to come in, rest, and warm up. The centre is open to walk-ins and is pet-friendly. If you see someone in need of a warm place, you can call 311 to have a street outreach worker connect with them and assist with transportation. Learn more about warming centres here. 

Yours in community service, 

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

• More of Ford’s Hand-Picked Grant Recipients Under Police Investigation
• Peel District School Board Under Supervision
• Ford Cuts Affordable Housing and Healthcare: Report
• Happy Tamil Heritage Month
• Happy Black History Month
• What’s Making Headlines
• Local Community Events

Is anyone else completely unsurprised that the Minister of Favours (Labour) scheme to give his friends millions of dollars while ignoring more qualified applicants, is turning out to be less than stellar? 

This week we learned that the Ontario Provincial Police are investigating yet another recipient of Skills Development Fund grants. It is shameful that this government overlooked the careful and unbiased work of our public servants, instead giving millions in public money to their under-qualified friends. Trust in government is built upon transparency and traceable decisionmaking. This government is doing neither and it is coming back to bite them. We must hold them accountable. It is past time to fire David Piccini, the Minister of Labour! Add your name if you agree - click here to sign my petition.

The takeover of the Peel District School Board shows that Education Minister Paul Calandra is more focused on power grabs than improving public education. This takeover, like the takeovers of the TDSB and TCDSB, comes with no new funding and reduces families’ abilities to advocate for students. Additionally, the York Catholic District School Board has been given two week’s notice of a possible takeover. 

If student success was truly this minister’s priority, then he would directly invest the necessary resources into our classrooms. Instead he is installing costly and insufficiently trained “supervisors” to cut programs without listening to community input. Students with special needs are unsupported, programs that nurture students’ unique talents are underfunded, and our schools are facing a massive repair backlog. In 2024, the Financial Accountability Office estimated that it would cost $21.7 billion to bring all school buildings to a state of good repair by 2034. According to the FAO’s new report released Wednesday, only $15.8 billion has been allocated for school repairs and renewal. This is not an issue of schools mismanaging their budgets. It is an issue of chronic government underfunding amid rising costs. 

We have seen time and time again that the school boards that have been put under ministerial supervision have not improved student outcomes. What they have done is silence students, families, and elected trustees’ voices while eroding our democracy. Sadly, this takeover will be more of the same. 

I urge students, parents, caregivers, and education workers to get involved in their local school councils and coordinate to push back against these takeovers directly to the Minister. You can sign my petition to end the takeover of our school boards here. 

Ontario’s public hospitals are on the verge of collapse as historic deficits, staff shortages, and overcrowded emergency rooms push the health care system past its breaking point. This week, the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) published the pre-budget submission, stating that increased patient volumes and complexities are creating “significant challenges.” 

Healthcare inflation is at 6% a year, due to a combination of general inflation pressures alongside a growing and aging population. The HOA president stated that “Many [hospitals] are projecting year-end deficits, have eroded their working capital, and in the absence of certainty about their revenues, cannot properly plan for the future,” 

This is not an issue that “efficiencies” can resolve. Emergency rooms are overcrowded, our aging population has more healthcare needs than ever, and healthcare workers are dealing with unmanageable workloads. 

Marit Stiles, myself, and the rest of the Ontario NDP are demanding immediate action from the Ford government to stop the erosion of public health care. The NDP created universal health care, and we'll be the ones to protect it.

Ford’s cuts have left Ontario's hospitals to make impossible funding choices, meaning that we'll lose even more of the burnt-out health care workers who are holding this system together as it buckles.

The Ford government is quick to throw money at pie-in-the-sky vanity projects like luxury spas and fantastical tunnels, but is failing to care for Ontarians in the most fundamental ways. 

These growing hospital deficits are the blueprint for a full health care collapse. This crisis is not accidental. It is the result of deliberate decisions made by Doug Ford and his Conservative government to starve our public health care system, so they can say: “it does not work, we need a solution”, and the solution they will propose will be for-profit health care. We all know that for-profit care is not the answer. The Ontario NDP will never stop fighting for a strong, public, accessible healthcare system for all. 

Every January here in Canada, we celebrate Tamil Heritage Month! Thank you to Tamil Canadian Centre for Civic Action, the Tamil Heritage Month Council, the Offices of Mayor Olivia Chow and City Councillor Neethan Shan for inviting me to the Tamil Heritage Month ceremony at City Hall! I was so happy to congratulate the 30 Under 30 Award recipients on their achievements and inspiring leadership!

Tamil Canadians across our country have helped build caring and vibrant communities that enrich our province and our country. Together, we learn about their beautiful history as one of the oldest cultures in the world, along with their vibrant traditions and art forms. 

I wish everyone who is celebrating a very happy Tamil Heritage Month. 

You can watch my video bringing greetings to the Tamil community here.

Sunday will mark the beginning of Black History Month! I am so excited to celebrate the amazing Black Canadians who have shaped our communities, struggled against discrimination, and made huge strides for Black and other racialized people. 

There are many exciting community events coming up to mark the month, including the Kiwanis Black History Month Community Event. You can learn more about this event below in the “Community Events” section. I hope to see many of you there!

The largest youth jail in Ontario is routinely strip searching children: 'A systemic violation' 

Ontario's mental health crisis demands accessible, proven community solutions

Want the federal government to hear your thoughts on AI? New consultation launched

Toronto's biggest Black History Month festival returns next month with exciting lineup 

Ottawa is subsidizing a tech firm that provides wiretapping tools to ICE

Developer cancels condo tower that was to replace iconic Toronto strip club

High-speed rail is coming to Canada! The Toronto–Québec City High-Speed Rail Network, known as Alto, is a federally led project set to bring world-class high-speed rail to Canada. Trains will travel at speeds of 300 km/h or more along nearly 1,000 km of electrified tracks, linking major cities and making travel faster and more convenient for millions of people across the corridor.

This transformative network is expected to cut travel times in half between key destinations, reshaping the way Canadians live, work, and move across the region.

Toronto Open Houses: (Bilingual and Sign Language Available)

St. Lawrence Market North, 92 Front St E

Wednesday, February 4

Daytime Session: 11 AM to 3 PM

Evening Session: 5 PM to 9 PM

Thursday, February 4

Daytime Session: 11 AM to 3 PM

Evening Session: 5 PM to 9 PM

Virtual Information Sessions are also available in French and English. 

Details here.

Online Consultation

Complete the survey here.

Toronto Community Housing is accepting applications for the 2026 Regent Park Community Initiative Support program. The program provides financial assistance to initiatives led by community groups within Regent Park. You can request up to $2,000.

Application deadline: Monday, February 9, 2026

Application details: Community Initiative Support

PASI is a large-scale outdoor community photo exhibition led by Jamii, taking place along Toronto’s Esplanade promenade from May to July 2026. The project brings together Torontonians of all ages to reflect how people from around the world live side by side in one city.

Meaning “a soccer pass” in Swahili, PASI will feature a continuous chain of portraits in which participants symbolically pass a ball from one image to the next. Installed between the Distillery District and St. Lawrence Market, the exhibition includes 48 large-scale outdoor portraits representing countries participating in the 2026 tournament.

Click here to sign up and have your portrait taken for this community art exhibit! 

The SLNA Waste Reduction Group is hosting its 15th REmarket event on February 11 and 12, 2026. This event has a direct, tangible impact on both the environment and the social welfare of our local communities, and you can widen that impact. New items being added to the growing recycling list at the upcoming REmarket include: hearing aids, elastic bands and non-synthetic corks. On February 11, stop by to participate in their FreeMarket, where anyone can drop off gently used items and take home items free of charge (not for commercial resale).

On February 12, bring your items in need of repair to the Repair Cafe. Items such as clothing, jewelry, small appliances, electronics, and bikes can be fixed free of charge by local volunteers.

Learn more about the event, as well as recycling and donation guidelines here: REmarket Guidelines

Dates and Times: 

February 11, donation 10 AM - 7 PM, FreeMarket 10 AM - 6 PM

February 12, donation 10 AM - 6 PM, Repair Cafe 11 AM - 3 PM

 Location: St Lawrence Market Tent, 125 The Esplanade

BGC Toronto Kiwanis is inviting youth creatives to register for their Black History Month Community Celebration on Feb 21, 2026—a large-scale community-led event bringing together 250+ attendees, including youth, families, artists, entrepreneurs, community orgs, and civic leaders. 

Expect youth-led performances, cultural showcases, community awards, and opportunities to connect across Regent Park, Cabbagetown, and St. James Town. 

🗓️ Deadline to register: Feb 13

📲 Learn more at bgctk.org/the-black-excellence-awards 

Register to perform here. 

Youth 4 the Future (Y4F) is a youth-led SDG Accelerator and Civic Incubator empowering Canadians (ages 15–29) to translate global goals into tangible local action. The campaign provides interactive workshops, mentorship, and networking opportunities to develop youth leadership and civic engagement skills. Participants will gain access to our exclusive Youth Incubator Program, digital resources, and a Certificate of Leadership for attending the full event.

Location: Waterfront Neighbourhood Centre, 647 Queens Quay W, Toronto

Date: March 1, 2026 

Time: 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM

RSVP here.

The Ontario Official Opposition and NDP Leader, Marit Stiles, is honoured to invite you to an Iftar on Wednesday, March 4, at Queen’s Park.

As the sun sets, community members will come together to break fast and share in a serene evening in the spirit of Ramadan. The program will run from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, allowing time for our community to participate in Taraweeh at their local mosques.

Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2026

Time: 5 – 7 PM

Location: Queen’s Park, Main Legislative Building (south entrance), 111 Wellesley Street West, Toronto

Please RSVP here to be added to the guest list. 

The Regent Park Neighbourhood Association (RPNA), with assistance from Endeavor Consulting, is developing a three-year strategic plan. 

Regent Park residents are invited to participate by completing a short survey and participating in a small focus group discussion.

Focus Groups:

Virtual focus groups are being convened for the following stakeholder groups:

• Market Tenants
• TCHC Tenants
• Community Partners
• RPNA Board Members

To participate in a focus group, reach out to Hanieh Shams Kolahi, Engagement Manager, Endeavour Consulting: [email protected]

Surveys:

• Market Tenants
• TCHC Tenants
• Community Partners
• RPNA Board Members

Do you know a phenomenal leader in your community who deserves recognition?

Kristyn Wong-Tam will present six people with the prestigious Toronto Centre Leadership Award in June 2026.

This honour recognizes individuals who have made a profound and lasting contribution to the Toronto Centre community in any field. This can include the arts, politics, community building, healthcare, and beyond!

Submit your nominee here!

Applications are now open for the City of Toronto’ Outside Mural & Street Art Program!

Business associations and community groups with strong local participation can receive one-time funding of up to $7,500 for outdoor murals projects. Eligible costs include artist fees, materials, installation, and equipment rental. Applicants are responsible for ongoing maintenance.

As a FIFA host city, special consideration will be given to murals celebrating the tournament and the city’s theme, “World in a City.” Selected proposals must follow FIFA branding and IP rules.

Deadline: Thursday, March 26, 2026 at 11:59 pm. Details here.

The next Census of Population will take place in May 2026. Census data provides a detailed statistical picture of the country’s people and places every five years, vital for government, businesses, and communities to plan essential services, determine electoral district boundaries, allocate funds, understand changing demographics, and support informed decisions for a thriving Canada.

Statistics Canada is hiring approximately 32,000 people across Canada to help residents complete their census questionnaires. Applications are now being accepted for supervisory and non-supervisory positions across the country. Details here.