August 29, 2025 Newsletter

Dear Emma,

The cool weather this past week has been a gentle reminder that summer is winding down, Labour Day is almost upon us, and that soon our students will be heading back to school. Toronto Centre is lucky to have some great Back-to-School events, including The 519’s Back to School Bash with many giveaways next weekend. RSVP for your family here as school supplies are limited. 

As a parent myself, back-to-school season is both exciting and bittersweet. I can’t wait to see my son connect with his new teacher, reunite with his friends in their new grade one class, and learn exciting new skills every day. I feel comforted knowing that he will be returning to a place full of caring adults doing their very best to make sure he succeeds. 

But I also worry. I have the normal worries of a parent, like whether my child will be happy in his classroom and if he will eat all his lunch. But I also worry about the structural underfunding of our public education system and how this new school year will feel now that the TDSB, TCDSB, and other school boards are under the undemocratic control of the Ministry of Education. 

The Toronto District School board is now fully under the control of Ford-appointed Rohit Gupta, a former Metrolinx advisor who once worked for Stephen Harper and lacks any experience in public education. Without a public email address, Mr. Gupta is not accessible or accountable to the public. Our democratically elected school board trustees have been locked out of their TDSB emails and phones. They have been instructed by the Ministry not to speak to or engage with families or students.The board is no longer accountable to the public. Just this morning, the Education Minister made comments about eliminating school board trustees province-wide by the end of the year. 

I am worried about how all of these unilateral changes and the impending cuts will affect my child’s learning, as well as the learning of all students in our province. When learning is impacted, it has cascading impacts throughout the province. Our next generation and future workforce need to be analytical and creative thinkers and doers to support us in our increasingly complex world, but cuts to education threaten those skills. 

I will never stop advocating for our students. They deserve a safe, caring, and enriching learning environment with enough staff to meet their needs. Teachers and education workers also deserve a workplace where they feel empowered and are respected for the complex work that they do. After all, their working environments are our students' learning environments. It is no mistake that the first day of school follows Labour Day!

This Labour Day, I will again be marching with the NDP contingent and would love for you to join us! RSVP to march alongside us as we celebrate labour wins and fight for a future with fair work and decent wages for all!

I hope you all enjoy a happy and safe Labour Day weekend, taking time to reflect on the good work you have done this year and soaking up this last summer weekend!

Yours in community service, 

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

• End the Overdose Death Crisis, Tackle Homelessness
• Launching Coffee with Kristyn - Join Me! 
• Keep Healthcare Public Virtual Townhall
• Roundtable on Affordable Childcare
• Community Spotlight: BGC Toronto Kiwanis
• Ford’s Minister Makes Excuses for Housing Slump
• McGill Granby Residents Association BBQ
• UofT NDP at the University of Toronto Clubs Fair
• Financial Literacy & Entrepreneurial Social Hub Grand Opening
• Allan Gardens Farmers Market
• My Chat with Former Speaker David Warner
• This Week’s Headlines
• Local Community Events

Yesterday, I joined my colleagues, MPPs Dr. Robin Lennox (Hamilton Centre), Alexa Gilmour (Parkdale High Park), and community advocate Diana Chan McNally and parent Heather Robinson at Queen’s Park to call for a robust strategy to combat the overdose crisis. Last year in Ontario, we saw 2244 people die from drug overdoses. Since the beginning of the poisoned drug supply, more Ontarians have died from overdoses than from COVID-19, our last declared public health crisis in Ontario. Together, we now call on the Ford government to create an emergency response command table to address the overdose and homelessness crises with the same speed and dedication as was applied to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The overdose and homelessness crises have been raging for years, but the closure of Safe Consumption Sites (SCS) has eroded the situation drastically. Overdoses, open drug use, and the discarding of used drug supplies have become overwhelming in our communities. The closure of SCS have not solved addiction issues, but instead pushed people who use drugs out into streets, alleyways, and parks, creating difficult dynamics and drastically reducing safety for everyone, especially those at risk of overdose. 

Ontario does not have a strategy to address the overdose crisis or the homelessness crisis. We desperately need the provincial government to bring the federal and municipal governments together at the emergency response command table as equal partners and to work with experts as they provide evidence-based interventions that will make an impact on these crises in the short and long-term. 

I am in awe of Heather Robinson, the parent who spoke at our press conference. Heather’s son David died of an overdose at just 17 years old. She spoke about her son with such love and tenderness, while honouring the complexity of the situation and the tough decisions that her family had to make. I encourage you to listen to her story at minute 17 of our press conference. 

We need urgent action to save lives and end the overdose crisis. Email Ford if you agree at kristynwongtam.ca/save-lives-house-everyone.

I’m excited to announce our new Coffee with Kristyn events! Over the next few months, I will be in different neighbourhood cafes across Toronto Centre to host opportunities for us to meet up over a cup of coffee or tea to discuss any subject of your choice. As your MPP, I regularly attend community meetings, host town halls, participate in festivals and meet constituents and stakeholders at Queen’s Park and my community office at 120 Carlton Street. This time, I want to have one-on-one conversations with you at our local cafes.

I’m very excited to kick off Coffee with Kristyn in the Village at Church Street Espresso on Wednesday, September 10, from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM! This is an opportunity for you to come and sit down with me, your Toronto Centre MPP, and share your thoughts, concerns, and ideas in a warm and welcoming atmosphere, while supporting our local small businesses. 

I look forward to sitting down with you over a cup of coffee! 

Sign up for your coffee slot by clicking here. 

When: Wednesday September 17 at 7PM

Where: Zoom (RSVP for Link)

RSVP here for the link.

Ontario’s healthcare system is designed to provide service based on need, not on the ability to pay. However, we are seeing more for-profit healthcare providers enter our province, from for-profit surgery delivery to for-profit primary care clinics.

Join me and MPP Jessica Bell to get an update on what we’re seeing in Toronto in the healthcare sector, what you can do to protect yourself from being billed for medically necessary care, and how we can all protect our healthcare system.

Save the date! Are you struggling to keep with the costs of child care? We want to hear from you! We are hosting a forum on child care in Toronto Centre alongside community organizations. Come out to learn how we can work together to support families struggling under the cost and limitations of the existing childcare system. Light refreshments and childminding will be available. 

Date: September 25, 2025

Time: 6pm-8pm

Location: Regent Park Community Centre

Click HERE to RSVP!

Community building has been at the heart of Boys and Girls Club Toronto Kiwanis (BGC TK) for over 100 years. Headquartered at 101 Spruce Street, bordering Cabbagetown and Regent Park, they provide after-school educational and recreational programs for youth that offer a safe place to grow and learn, connect with others in a positive context, discover a passion for personal achievement, and grasp and pursue opportunities.

In 2020, BGC TK merged with the Cabbagetown Youth Centre (CYC) and Boxing Club, taking the building and its programming under the BGC TK umbrella. They not only added this sixth location to their downtown operations, but also gained a broader community that has worked for 50 years to provide an engaging and safe place for urban kids to thrive.

Click here to learn more about the organization, their vision, and the activities that they offer. To support the organization and allow them to keep offering this valuable programming, click here! 

Ontario’s housing crisis is worse than ever, and the Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs has admitted that housing numbers are at a standstill. Ontario is dead last in Canada on housing, and yet Ford and his Housing Minister still don’t have a credible plan to fix it. It baffles me that getting and keeping Ontarians housed is not at the top of their priority list. 

Over the past few months, the number of people facing eviction coming into my community office has skyrocketed. My staff always do their best to stabilize their housing and provide them with resources, but the problem is just too big. Housing is too expensive, waitlists are too long, and shelters are full. Far too many people in our communities are in desperate situations. 

Despite having 8 years to fix things, the Ford government has failed to make any progress on housing or even listen to good ideas. They only updated the housing supply progress tracker this week, after sitting on the numbers for months, because they were embarrassingly behind on their goals. 

I am proud of the Ontario NDP’s Homes Ontario plan. Endorsed by many housing groups, it is a strong and credible strategy that can turn things around by building the truly affordable homes that people need. It’s time to get Ontario out of last place.

It was a pleasure joining the McGill Granby Village Residents for their annual BBQ! Thank you to the McGill Granby Village Residents' Association for organizing this great event that never fails to bring the community together. It was wonderful seeing so many neighbours connecting, enjoying delicious food, and chatting about preserving and creating vital green spaces in the village. Strong residents' associations create strong neighbourhoods where everyone feels welcome!

It was so great to join the U of T NDP this week when they participated in the University of Toronto’s Clubs Fair! The rain did not deter the amazing volunteers who came out to speak to new students about getting involved with the NDP on campus. Learn more and join here! 

What a joy it was to join the co-founders, Brandy Skinner and Gabrielle Rubaine, of Financial Literacy & Entrepreneurial Social Hub at their new office launch at Daniel Spectrum in Regent Park!

I am so thankful for the support of Alterna Savings, Tropicanca Community Services, and the Black Opportunity Fund, who all worked together to make this launch possible. 

I’m excited to see the growth of this unique financial literacy centre dedicated to removing systemic barriers facing BIPOC women and 2SLGBTQI communities. Anyone interested in learning more can check out Financial Literacy Canada’s website here. 

Last weekend, my team and I had a blast at the Allan Gardens Farmers' Market! Friends of Allan Gardens works ceaselessly to activate our beloved park and connect our community to local farmers. I am so thankful for their work and for the Toronto Centre NDP volunteers who came out and helped activate our booth, sharing information about provincial issues with everyone visiting the market. 

Check out the Allan Gardens Farmer's Market all year long on Saturdays from 10 AM – 2 PM! 

I had the honour of welcoming former Ontario NDP MPP and Speaker of the Legislature, David Warner, to my Queen's Park office this week! 

David shared many stories about his decades of public service and the democratic reforms he helped to bring to the legislative process as Speaker. We bonded quickly over our love of art and our passion for a more just Ontario. I am grateful to call him a new friend! 

Toronto apartment tower is being totally demolished after 60 years

Work begins on Highway 413 but timelines and budget remain secret

TTC to increase service as students head back to school | CBC News

Ontario to offer RSV vaccines to all seniors over 75 starting this fall 

Heather McPherson, Avi Lewis prepare NDP leadership bids

Duty-free ‘de minimis’ shipping to the U.S. is now a thing of the past

Labour Day parade road closures and TTC detours: What you need to know to get around the city

Head over to Regent Park for Spark: Youth Fest! There will be entertainment, games and food! Join on Friday, August 29, from 4 PM to 10 PM at 51 Wyatt Ave. This is an evening powered by youth voices, creativity, and style.

A community classic returns: Sunday in the Park! Music, cultural showcases, games, bingo, vendors, and a free community BBQ. Celebrate 34 years of community spirit and summer fun.

Date: Sunday, August 31

Time: 12–5 PM

Location: Regent Park Big Park

SAWRO is hosting a Community Forum to raise awareness about recent policy changes in education, immigration, and labour — and how these changes are impacting low-income, racialized, and newcomer communities.

• Date: Saturday, August 30, 2025
• Time: 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
• Location: West Scarborough Neighbourhood Community Center (313 Pharmacy Ave, Scarborough, ON M1L 1P9 

The event will feature a panel discussion with community leaders & activists, breakout sessions and opportunities to connect with equity-seeking groups & policy stakeholders.

The Cabbagetown Short Film Festival is back!

Tickets are now on sale for the 2025 festival! Experience the excitement in person at a Gala Screening* at the Winchester Street Theatre on September 3, featuring a lively program — including this year’s award-winning shorts. Seating is limited and always sells out fast, so grab your spot early!

*Gala passes also include access to Virtual Programming (September 3–6), which features in-person programs and bonus films not shown at the Gala. All films are eligible for the People’s Choice Award.

GET TICKETS

The Back to School Jam, will be held Friday, September 5, 2025, in Regent Park, from 4 PM to 8 PM. 

This is an opportunity to come together to celebrate the lives of those the community has lost, have conversations about youth violence in the community, celebrate the final Friday Cultural Bazaar, and mark the transition back to school. 

Donations for Back to School Supplies will be graciously accepted. 

Founded in 1976, the award-winning Cabbagetown Festival is Toronto’s longest-running street festival! Taking place in the heart of Toronto's historic Cabbagetown neighborhood from Saturday, September 6 to Sunday, September 7, 2025, this two-day extravaganza features  entertains visitors of all ages with DJs and live music, street performers, artisan stalls and shops, food trucks and pop-up patios, giant outdoor games, a Kids’ Zone, and a historical Cabbagetown photo exhibit. This year the new Indigenous Stage will feature storytelling, performances, poetry, and demonstrations that honour deep-rooted Indigenous traditions.

Another year has come to join Toronto Centre’s very own St. James Town Festival! My team and I will be there along with so many other vendors to meet you, listen to great music and have fantastic food. Come by on Saturday, September 6 from 1 PM to 7 PM at the courtyard by St. James Avenue and Wellesley Street East. See you there!

Riverdale Farm is hosting a Farm Festival!

Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025 and Sunday, September 7, 2025

Location: Riverdale Farm (201 Winchester St.)

Farmer talks, demonstrations, children's activities, spinning, weaving and line dancing!

Please have a look at the attached poster for the schedule of activities.

FREE ADMISSION

For more information: call: 416-392-6794 or email: [email protected]

The Cabbagetown Community Arts Centre is getting ready for a new season of learning and creativity with its Fall Semester starting September 8th.

Programs include:

• Piano, violin, guitar, drums, voice, arts and crafts, pop band, and storytelling

New offerings this year:

• Musical theatre
• Martial arts
• Mommy and Me (for pre-schoolers)
• CCAC Children’s Choir
• After School Homework Club
• Ukulele Club
• Hip-Hop and K-Pop Dance

Location: The Cabbagetown Community Arts Centre, 422 Parliament Street, Toronto, ON M5A 3A2

Phone: 416-925-7222

Email: [email protected]

Important Notice: Anyone who registered between August 1st and 27th is asked to register again due to a technical issue. The Centre apologizes for the inconvenience.

Hard Feelings is hosting its 7th Annual Mental Health Pop-Up Market on Saturday, September 6, 2025, from 12:00 – 5:00 PM at 353 Church Street (Church and Gerrard).

This community event will bring together local vendors and mental health advocates, offering products and resources that promote well-being. Visitors can explore a curated selection of items, connect with supportive services, and learn more about initiatives aimed at reducing barriers to mental health care.

Hard Feelings is a registered charity dedicated to increasing access to affordable therapy and providing mental health resources through its storefront and online shop.

More details are available at www.hardfeelings.org.

This is the second annual community-led survey gathering the lived experiences of families navigating special education in Ontario’s publicly funded schools during the 2024–2025 school year.

The survey is:

• Open to all students with disabilities (not just autism) in Kindergarten through Grade 12 who are accessing, or attempting to access, special education in a publicly funded school in Ontario.
• Focused on key issues including school exclusion, Individual Education Plans (IEPs), accommodations, and safety.
• Anonymous: No identifying information is collected.
• Quick: Takes about 10 minutes to complete.

Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PRDQJ7K

Survey Password: OAC20

The Hello Neighbour app is a new tool designed to help residents stay connected with their community. It provides quick access to local programs, services, news, and events, all in one place.

Features include:

• Find what you need – Search for programs and services, check who they’re for, when they’re open, and even get directions.
• Neighbourhood news – Stay updated with the latest stories and newsletters from your area.
• Events and job opportunities – Discover local events and find community job postings.

The app is available for download on Google Play and the App Store.

This initiative is brought to the community by Yonge Street Mission (YSM), Regent Park Neighbourhood Association (RPNA), the Social Development Plan Communication Working Group, the City of Toronto, and Focus Media Arts.

Like many cities around the world, Toronto is experiencing more frequent heat events and extended heat waves outside of seasonal norms. Indoor temperatures in apartment buildings are a particular concern, as tenants living in units without air conditioning or other cooling equipment may be at higher risk of heat-related health impacts. As the climate continues to change, the risk of heat-related health impacts is expected to increase.

Share your feedback about a maximum indoor temperature requirement for rental units and cooling rooms. Complete the online form by September 8, 2025.

This survey is intended to identify and connect with grassroots organizations in Regent Park to better understand your needs and to invite you to participate in the upcoming Regent Park Grassroots Forum that will be organized by the City of Toronto. They are looking for community and resident led groups active in Regent Park that are focused on various local issues.

Why This Matters

The City of Toronto wants to strengthen its connections with grassroots organizations to understand their priorities and how to better support them. The upcoming Grassroot Forum will provide a space for resident-led groups in Regent Park to share their needs and ideas directly with the City of Toronto and one another.

How Can You Participate

Please take a few minutes to complete this Regent Park Grassroots Engagement Survey to:

1. Confirm if your group is a grassroots organization
2. Share information about your focus area
3. Let us know if you are interested in attending the Grassroots Forum

Next Steps

• The Survey will remain open until September 9, 2025
• We will use the responses to plan the first Grassroots Forum,
• Further details and invitations will be sent to interested grassroots organizations once the planning is finalized

Please reach out to ([email protected]) If you have any questions or would like more information. 

Who it’s for:

• Adults 55+ in Downtown East (M4X, M5A, M4Y, M4W) or with no fixed address
• Those feeling lonely or socially isolated
• Seniors seeking connection to community supports

Program Details:

• Short-term, 6 months
• Personalized support to build social connections and improve well-being

Referral Sites (Initial Launch):

• 423 Yonge St.
• 55 Bleecker St.
• 252 Sackville St.
• 310 Dundas St. E.
• 585 King St. E.
• 330 Gerrard St. E.
• 540 Queen St. E.

Community Advisory Council (CAC):

• Recruiting Downtown East residents, 55+
• Share lived experience and community concerns
• 1-year term, renewable

Priority Access for:

• Seniors experiencing poverty
• Those in precarious housing
• Individuals identifying as Indigenous, African, Black, or Caribbean

Intake: 416-360-4000 Ext. 77226

Apply here.  

The Social Purpose Real Estate (SPRE) National Accelerator is an initiative initially focused on the Greater Toronto Area and now expanding nationwide. This program supports mission-driven organizations through networking, capacity-building and professional support, in the development of thoughtful and realistic development proposals that can supply the missing housing, services and other social infrastructure needed in our communities.

Applications open and close September 15th, 2025. Apply here!

Renaissance Canadian Theatre Company presents Bachelor Man, a powerful play set on July 1, 1929—Dominion Day, known in Toronto’s Chinatown as “Humiliation Day.” The story unfolds in John’s teahouse, a haven for those living through the sixth anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act, which barred families from reuniting for twenty-four years.

Audiences will meet vivid characters, including a one-armed WWI veteran, a half-Chinese scholar, and a teenage stowaway, each navigating life in a “Bachelor Society” created by exclusionary laws. Written by Winston Kam—born in Trinidad and Tobago of Chinese descent—Bachelor Man first premiered at Theatre Passe Muraille in 1987 under the direction of Peter Hinton. Brenda Kamino, originally cast as Queenie at a young age, now returns to the role three decades later.

Founded by Andrew Moodie and Brenda Kamino, Renaissance Canadian Theatre Company is dedicated to reviving overlooked works of Canadian theatre, ensuring culturally significant plays remain part of the national stage heritage. Get your tickets here!

Toronto Centre’s Corktown is about to get a whole lot leafier!

The Corktown Residents & Business Association is giving out beautiful indigenous trees and shrubs to plant, nurture, and enjoy for years to come. Apply by September 3 by clicking here. The giveaway date is September 20! If you have any questions, please email [email protected]

The Daily Bread Food Bank has shared important information about the new Canada Disability Benefit (CDB), which officially opened for applications on June 20, 2025.The CDB is a monthly federal benefit designed to reduce poverty among low-income, working-age persons with disabilities.Eligibility includes:

• Ages 18 to 64
• Hold a valid Disability Tax Credit (DTC)
• Filed a 2024 federal income tax return (including spouse or partner, if applicable)
• Be a Canadian resident

Those without the DTC can apply through the Government of Canada, with part of the form completed by a medical practitioner. Applications for the CDB can be submitted online, by phone, by mail, or in person at a Service Canada centre. The Daily Bread Food Bank has also created a helpful guide to explain how much recipients may receive, what documents are needed, and how the application process works. For more details, visit the Daily Bread Food Bank website to download their printable guide.