July 4, 2025 Newsletter

Dear Neighbour,

Get your orange horses ready! Yesterday, key rules for the federal NDP Leadership race was decided. A new leader will be named by the end of March 2026. Political junkies rejoice: over the coming weeks and months, you can expect swirling rumours, fresh announcements, and hot political gossip about who will lead the NDP at the federal level. I’ll be keenly watching and encouraging everyone to renew their membership. Thanks to the NDP’s unified party structure, our federal and provincial NDP membership comes with voting rights!

What: Education in Crisis Townhall

When: Monday July 28, 2025 at 7:00 PM

Where: Zoom — RSVP here

On the last day of school in June, the Minister of Education placed four more school boards under provincial supervision — including the TDSB. The authority of elected Trustees is now in the hands of the Minister of Education, who has appointed an un-elected supervisor. Join MPP Jessica Bell, MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam, and elected Trustee Deborah Williams for updates and what provincial supervision means for our students, families, educators, communities, and our democracy. Everyone is welcome! Your voice matters! Please note, as of June 27, 2025 the TDSB is under Ministry of Education supervision and control. Provincial supervision has restricted the role of Deborah Williams, who is the Elected Trustee for TDSB Ward 10, University-Rosedale & Toronto Centre.

Failing to act on homelessness should be a political impossibility, and yet here we are, with homelessness in Toronto at crisis levels. Rates have more than doubled over the past three years, something I know isn’t a shock to anyone in downtown Toronto. We experience this humanitarian crisis every day at our doorsteps and in our neighbourhoods. 

The City of Toronto published their 2024 Street Needs Assessment report this week, and it is bleak. This report is a snapshot in time of homelessness in October 2024. Still, it gives us valuable insight into who is unhoused, what complexities are common, and which needs are going unmet (spoiler alert - it's most of them). The survey found that Indigenous, Black, and 2SLGBTQIA+ people are vastly over-represented in Toronto’s homeless population, as are people with unmet health needs and survivors of intimate partner or gender-based violence. We also know that surveys like these miss many “hidden homeless” people who are couch surfing, living outside in difficult-to-access areas, and those who are unwilling to participate in surveys like this. Cathy Crow, a street nurse and advocate for the unhoused, shared with CBC that every count of homeless folks is an undercount, especially of those living outdoors. 

The vast majority of respondents to the Street Needs Assessment survey stated that access to Rent-Geared-To-Income housing would have prevented or would end their homelessness. Many others stated that unmet health needs, like access to a family doctor, mental health supports, and/or addiction treatment, were all factors in their lack of housing. Another trend was that experiences of violence, especially gender-based and intimate partner violence, were high among respondents, and often were factors in their lack of housing. This phenomenon was echoed in another report published this week by the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario, which found that gender-based violence was the leading cause of homelessness for women and gender-diverse people. 

Solving the homelessness crisis in Toronto and across Canada is possible. It will require a concentrated, collective effort by every level of government across our country. It will be difficult, but not impossible, as we already know how to end homelessness. 

Building affordable non-market housing and supportive housing are homelessness prevention and reduction strategies. Accessible, high-quality healthcare with low barriers is homelessness prevention. Doubling social assistance rates to a level that would actually lift people out of poverty and allow them to pay for housing is homelessness prevention. We also know that creating a justice system that works, investing in violence prevention and early-intervention programs for youth, are all homelessness prevention. Not only are these solutions to address homelessness, but they also reduce expensive and desperate alternatives such as shelter, hospital and correctional beds. Building a continuum of suitable and affordable housing for the broad needs of Ontarians reduces government costs, creates healthier communities and bolsters our economy. 

Yet the Ford government fails to implement them. This government does not have a plan to end homelessness and continually ignores the recommendations of its own housing task force.

The Ontario NDP will never stop pushing for a housing mix that meets everyone’s needs and includes non-market options, a healthcare system that is public and well-funded, violence-prevention and justice services that advance community wellbeing, and the prioritization of equity for underserved communities. I am so proud to be a New Democrat; to be part of a party that advances policies that make life more affordable, make our communities healthier, more connected and prosperous, and lead with compassion. I will never stop pushing all governments to do more for our communities. Ending homelessness is a responsibility that falls on every elected official and order of government. 

Despite being incredibly busy ignoring Ontario’s homelessness crisis, this week, Ford met with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to sign two non-binding Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) on interprovincial trade. The MOUs focused on pipelines and rail transportation to transport critical minerals, oil sands extraction, and natural gas to markets. I can get behind more rail transportation and recognize the need to export our critical minerals (when they are responsibly mined and respectful of Indigenous sovereignty), but building new fossil fuel infrastructure like pipelines must come with rigorous environmental assessments and a clear business case, things I worry Ford would not provide. A resurrection of the Energy East pipeline, once proposed to carry Alberta crude from the oil sands to refineries in New Brunswick, even seemed to be on the table.

We need more interprovincial trade - that is something that I fully support. However, Ford is using the cover of Trump’s trade war to push his regressive, anti-environmental agenda as far as it will go. Anything to help his rich buddies get richer!

The Energy East pipeline was killed more than ten years ago because it was too expensive, too logistically complex, faced massive opposition from Indigenous nations and environmental groups, and because the world is moving away from fossil fuels. Ten years later, the same barriers exist, renewables are cheaper, and Trans Canada (now TC Energy), which was going to build the pipeline, is no longer in the business of building pipelines. The only reason that Energy East was ever logistically or economically viable was because Trans Canada owned a natural gas pipeline that covered ⅓ of the proposed route, which they planned to repurpose. And even with that existing pipeline, the project couldn’t get off the ground! 

Instead of relying on the fossil fuel industry to create short-term jobs and short-term energy independence, we should go all-in on renewables. Renewables create great long-term jobs, energy independence that lasts for generations, and a cleaner planet we can all be proud of.

If Energy East is ever officially proposed, we need to be prepared to push for strong environmental assessments, true consultation with Indigenous communities, and an air-tight business case. Bill 5 has completely changed the regulatory environment, and we know that Doug Ford often pushes through projects that don’t make economic or local sense (see below for an update on the Ontario Place mega-spa). We must therefore be ready with strong arguments and stronger opposition to create an environment where building this pipeline is a political impossibility. I am ready. 

Yours in community service, 

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

• Judge Upholds Bike Lane Injunction, Ford Flounders
• Ontario’s Tribunals Failing on Transparency
• Therme Downsizes Ontario Place Spa Again
• Cafe Zuzu Open After Impaired Driver Crash
• This Week’s Headlines
• Local Community Events

Another win for cyclists and an independent judiciary in Toronto this week! The Ontario courts have dismissed Ford’s request to appeal the injunction currently in place to prevent the removal of bike lanes on Bloor, Yonge, and University. This injunction is in place until the courts hear arguments and decide whether Ford’s legislation to remove these bike lanes is constitutional. Cycle Toronto argues that the law is arbitrary, puts cyclists’ lives at stake, and that the government lacks evidence that removing the lanes will reduce congestion. I couldn’t agree more. 

As a cyclist and a driver, I strongly support keeping these lanes for the safety and well-being of cyclists and drivers alike. Nothing is more stressful than drivers and cyclists sharing the same space on a busy roadway, no matter who you are! I will not stop fighting for safe streets for all road users. 

Yesterday, I sent two letters to the Ontario Ombudsman, Paul Dubé, asking him to investigate issues of transparency and consistency within the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB), as well as the failure of three Tribunals to release annual reports for two years in a row. 

In my letter concerning the LTB, I ask why Tribunals Ontario and the Ombudsman’s office are reporting contradictory statistics concerning the LTB’s implementation of the Ombudsman’s Office’s recommendations for improvement. The Ombudsman’s 2023/24 Annual Report says that the LTB had taken action on 35 of 61 recommendations.  Meanwhile, Tribunals Ontario claims to have “fully addressed” 79 percent of the recommendations. This discrepancy is enormous. You deserve answers about what is really going on inside the LTB. Tenants and Landlords are waiting for egregiously long periods of time for hearings, much longer than they waited just six years ago. They deserve answers and a genuine commitment to improve wait times through evidence. 

My second letter concerned the failure of the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board (HPARB), Health Services Appeal and Review Board (HSARB), and Consent and Capacity Board (CCB) to publish annual reports for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. This failure is consistent with the lack of transparency and increased insider appointments that have plagued the tribunal system throughout the Ford government’s tenure, especially after Ford appointed former PC candidate Sean Weir as Tribunals Ontario's Executive Chair in 2020. 

While these annual reports may not make for the most exciting reading, they are critical tools to understand how the tribunal is functioning, what the backlogs are, and to track trends in types of cases and case outcomes. If one kind of case suddenly skyrockets, that is a flag that something in our society is not working well, and the government should act to address it on a systemic level. If there is a sudden spike in dismissed cases, that is an opportunity to review adjudicator training and appointments, as well as materials and processes on the public side. Those are just two examples! These reports are critical for transparency, early response, and reflection by tribunal leadership. Failing to produce these reports and make them public undermines the effectiveness of the entire system. 

I am eagerly awaiting a response from the Ombudsman and will keep you updated.

The Ontario Place mega-spa is getting a little less mega — for the second time. This Tuesday, Therme released newly redesigned plans for its private spa on public land. These plans include a 13% reduction in the spa's size, following a 2023 redesign that saw the space reduced by 25%. 

These continual redesigns may mean more public realm space and less inaccessible public land, but they also point to chaos and a potential lack of financing behind the scenes. As we know, Therme lied continuously about their assets, allowing the government to believe that they owned and operated six large spas globally. When the Auditor General looked closely, they found that Therme only owned and operated one spa; the others were simply operated under the same model and the same name by a different company and owner, but not by the Therme that was making the application. That alone should be grounds for tearing up this horrible agreement.

The more we learn about Therme and their plans for Ontario Place, the more the entire agreement reveals itself to be a sham. It is disgusting that this government continues to double down on this failed plan, when we could be spending nearly $3 billion on a beautiful public realm project that suits the site and is open for everyone to enjoy. I am so thankful to the diligent Ontario NDP researchers and the array of journalists who have worked so hard to reveal Ford’s corruption for what it is. This story is continually evolving, and I promise to continue holding the government to account for it.

Last Saturday morning, an impaired driver crashed into the front of Regent Park’s beloved Cafe Zuzu. Thankfully, nobody was hurt, and Cafe Zuzu has been incredibly resilient. They are already open again and with their sense of humour intact. They are even hosting a “Door Crasher” community event today, inviting the neighbourhood to “bless this mess” and enjoy a special price on some of their most popular drinks. We love you, Zuzu!T

Ontario’s jail conditions are inhumane and disgraceful, judges say. Criminals are serving shorter sentences as a result

Coalition of parents, teachers, trustees speaks out against Ontario's school board takeover

Federal NDP plans to have a new leader by end of March 

Ontario asks feds to drop bill that would help provide clean drinking water to First Nations

Extreme heat is killing more seniors. Cities aren’t ready

Brace for layoffs, budget watchdog says, as Carney government aims to slash spending by $25B

New law that aims to protect Ontario gig workers falls short, critics say

Ontario child-care fees still at ‘high end,’ despite significant savings: report 

Ontario community colleges face up to 10,000 layoffs: union

York Region paramedic shouldn't have been fired over Israel comments: union, law experts

This man is running every street in Toronto. He’s not letting a brain cancer diagnosis stop him 

Registration is open for RAW’s Diversity in Design Summer Camp! Running August 25–29, this is a free, week-long camp for Black, Indigenous, and racialized youth in grades 6–12. The goal is to introduce young people to architecture and design through creative, hands-on workshops, walking tours, design challenges, and conversations about how design shapes our communities.

The camp includes:

• Daily workshops (10 AM–3 PM) at RAW’s studio near Ossington and Dupont
• Lunch, snacks, and TTC support as needed
• Mentorship from architects and designers
• Portfolio review and post-secondary prep for grade 11/ 12 high school students

Interested families or students can contact Carrie at [email protected] for more information and to register.

Celebrate the amazing Canadian Small Businesses that make our communities unique with the CFIB’s Big Thank You Contest! Send a thank you message to your favourite Canadian small business for a chance to win one of two weekly prizes consisting of $1,000 cash and a Big Thank You Gift Box valued at $500 of small business goodies from across the country! 

If you win, the business you thank also wins a cash prize of $3,000 and a Big Thank You Gift Box valued at $1,000 which includes small business goodies and a 1-year CFIB membership connecting them to advocacy, business support, and savings! PLUS! We’re giving the most nominated business a bonus prize of $3,000!

Click here to submit your thank you!

Time: 1 PM - 5 PM

Date: Saturday, June 12, 2025

Location: Regent Park Community Centre, 402 Shuter Street

All are welcome to take part in this free event for a taste of Caribbean food, drumming, Socacize, Caribbean and Latin dance, mask/headpiece making and games!

Under the Stars Opens Next Week!

Pre-show activities begin at 7:30 PM

Films start at sundown

Audiences are encouraged to arrive early, bring a picnic blanket, and gather friends and family to grab a great spot for opening night.

This year’s Under the Stars lineup has already earned rave reviews from Letterboxd users. From a bold reimagining of the Iranian road-trip genre to a charming rom-com featuring a meet-cute at a Hindu temple, the 2025 selection promises unforgettable stories and standout cinema.

Dates: July 16, 23 

Location: Regent Park

Get ready for another incredible summer of movies Under the Stars! Check out the local movie line-up here.

Are you a self-identifying woman aged 15–35? Join Mental Health Matters for an inspiring evening of networking, connection, and community. Enjoy a panel discussion, interactive networking, a Bloom Bar, and a photo booth — plus free food and refreshments.

Time: 6 PM - 9 PM

Date: Friday, July 18, 2025

Location: 150 River Street, Party Room, First Floor. 

Dress Code: Business Casual

RSVP Here 

Join us for an unforgettable evening as the Mike Field Jazz Quintet celebrates the release of their highly anticipated fifth album, Nashland!

Renowned for his bright, energetic sound and captivating performances, Mike Field returns with a vibrant collection of original tunes—two years in the making and brought to life by some of Toronto’s top jazz talent.

📍 Reid's Distillery (32 Logan Ave, just north of Lakeshore Blvd.)
📅 Tuesday, July 22, 2025
🕗 8:00–10:00 PM (Two 50-minute sets)
🎟️ Tickets: $15 in advance / $20 at the door
🎫 Get yours now at https://www.mikefieldjazz.com/dates

Set in the stylish setting of Reid’s Distillery, this special album launch concert promises an unforgettable night of fresh, fiery jazz and feel-good vibes.

This exciting project has been made possible with the funding support of the Ontario Arts Council, an agency of the Government of Ontario.

A new self-guided walking tour exploring Cabbagetown’s rich history is now available through the free Driftscape app. The Mainstreet Walking Tour — Discover Cabbagetown’s Roots takes users through the neighbourhood’s lively commercial corridors, highlighting its architecture, notable historical figures, and independent businesses.

With stops along Carlton, Parliament, and Gerrard Streets, the tour allows participants to explore at their own pace, making it ideal for both residents and visitors looking to discover something new.

This year’s edition includes brand-new content and expanded locations, as well as a Scavenger Hunt feature that challenges users to solve clues at each stop—adding an engaging, interactive experience for all ages.

Tour Features:

• Historic landmarks and heritage homes featuring archival images
  
  
• Stories of local figures and hidden histories throughout the neighbourhood
  
  
• Scavenger Hunt with clues and prize entry
  
  
• Interviews with local business owners and community voices
  
  
• Audio guides, visuals, and offline access for convenience
  
  
• Insider recommendations curated by the Cabbagetown Preservation Association

The full experience takes 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the participant’s pace, and is available anytime until the end of the year.

Dear Neighbour,

I want to start by saying that my thoughts are with my colleague and Ontario NDP Deputy Leader Sol Mamakwa. His wife unexpectedly passed away this week. I cannot imagine the shock and pain he and his family are going through. I hope they are wrapped in love as they come together, grieve, and work to heal. 

You may have heard of Ford’s school takeover. Friends, I am furious.

Today the Ford government seized control of four democratically elected school boards. The list includes the Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Catholic District School Board.

He did this on the Friday before Pride and a long weekend because he wants you distracted.

Ford's move is a hostile takeover, dressed up in the language of “fiscal responsibility.” An unelected provincial appointee answering to Ford will now run each board. Trustees getting no pay or say in the public education that our children receive. It is another affront to public education and local democracy.

Ford created this funding crisis so that he could take more power away from our communities. For years, Trustees have been rightfully crying out for more provincial funding. Trustees were a vocal thorn in Ford's side as they fought for adequate staffing levels, smaller classrooms, supports for special education and more resources for students' well-being. That's because they were doing their job. Ford should absolutely be afraid of the power our Trustee Deborah Williams was working to build with students, parents, caregivers and education workers.

Paul Calandra, the Education Minister is a brazen media hitman deployed to bully public servants and attack public services. That's why I warned our community to watch out when he became Education Minister. He is trying to blame Trustees for inflation, downloading, and chronic underfunding. But he knows damn well that his government made the crisis.

We must start organizing now to fight the critical service cuts that will be coming. Trustees were trying to protect programs such as special education, mental health supports, and access to school pools. Now they’re being punished for refusing to make budget cuts that would hurt our children.

And soon, a provincial appointee with less understanding of how vital programs support our kids will wield the axe instead. Buried in his announcement, overdue curriculum updates to literacy, history, and STEM will be delayed — again.

We must not be silent. We must fight for transparency, for our young students, and for local democracy. We must demand that the Minister and Ford fix the real problem: their underfunding of our schools.

This week, Ontario’s Ombudsman released his annual report. His findings are clear: what happened at the Maplehurst Correctional Complex is not an isolated incident. There it is a widespread, systemic failure in Ontario jails that is getting worse under Doug Ford.

The Ombudsman has recorded a record-breaking 55% increase in complaints over the past year. That's the highest in the Ombudsman's 50-year history. Every complaint is a cry for help — and complaints from youth in detention have more than doubled from 202 to 423 last year alone. Investigators visiting 12 correctional facilities saw conditions deteriorating in real time with indefinite lockdowns. Facilities regularly fail to provide access to basic healthcare and mental health supports. How does this rehabilitate inmates, foster health or make Ontarians safer?

It’s time to call balls and strikes: Ford's policy failure in the corrections system is akin to subjecting Ontarians to state-sponsored torture.

As the Ombudsman said: “When we fail to uphold the basic dignity of people in custody, we do more than inflict harm, we erode public trust, degrade working conditions for staff, and weaken the very foundations of our justice system.”

The crisis in corrections impacts all of us. These conditions put everyone at risk — staff, families, communities, and the public at large. Many cases that law enforcement workers are advancing to keep the public safe are at risk. Judges are weighing time and mistreatment in corrections heavily when determining case outcomes.

The Premier can't call himself tough on crime when he's endangering our community’s safety.

Like the Ombudsman, Ontario New Democrats are demanding meaningful, systemic reforms. Subjecting inmates and corrections workers to unsanitary and unsafe conditions won't improve moral character or make the public safer. Correctional facilities must be places where rehabilitation is able to happen.

It's Pride weekend in Toronto! This is a great moment to uplift for our community and local businesses!  Again, if you spot me, don’t be shy and please say hi! I will be at the NDP’s Pride Table in the Community Fair and other iconic Pride events — all listed in this newsletter. Happy Pride!

You can sign up and join fellow supporters and I at Pride events using the button below:

Yours in community service, 

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

• Join Me at Pride Marches this Weekend!
• 2025 AIDS Vigil
• Living Long in the Distillery District
• Touring the Hassle Free Clinic
• LAUFT Event
• A Successful Market St. Pride
• This Week’s Headlines
• Local Community Events

Toronto Pride lets our community celebrate who we are, remember our history, and recommit to the fight for liberation. Ontario New Democrats are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with 2SLGBTQI+ communities every step of the way.

You can march with us in this year’s Pride! Whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth, you are welcome — with your flags, bells, signs, sparkles, and righteous indignation.

🏳️‍⚧️ Trans Rally and March

🗓 Friday, June 28

📍 Rally 7:00 PM | March: 8:00 PM

📌 Location: Church & Charles Street

RSVP

🌈 Dyke Rally and March

🗓 Saturday, June 29

📍 Meet-up time: 1:00 PM | March: 2:00 PM

📌 Location: North side of Church & Hayden

RSVP

🎉 Pride Parade (NEW location this year for meet up)

🗓 Sunday, June 30

📍NDP contingent Assembly time: 1:30 PM

📌 NEW Location: Yonge St & Aylmer Ave(north of Bloor & Davenport)

RSVP

Let’s show Ontario what solidarity looks like. Let’s march for queer joy, for trans rights, for racial justice, for public healthcare, and for a future where no one is left behind.

Every Pride Month, the AIDS vigil is one of the most important moments for our community. At the AIDS vigil this year, our community remembered those we lost, those we love, and the work ahead. There is tremendous power running through the ongoing history of HIV/AIDS. 2SLGBTQI+ communities have stared apocalypse in the face and come out the other side. The political present — no matter how scary or hateful — is vincible. Our elders took command of their destiny when the odds were stacked against them and grief was everywhere. Our community can win impossible fights again because we have won impossible fights before. Thank you to the 519 and those working year-round supporting those with HIV/AIDS and keeping our history alive.

I also want to share the AIDS Memorial Story-telling project. This initiative by the 519 aims to document peoples’ lived history and create a multimedia record that can be layered on to the existing monument. If you want the legacy of someone you know or loved who died of HIV/AIDS included in this project, you can share their story here. 

Congratulations to the Gooderham and Worts Neighbourhood Association on receiving a government grant to support your project Living Long in the Distillery District!  I was thrilled to join you this week and learn about how there will be more support and programming for older adults coming to Toronto Centre! Our community is stronger because of your work to build a more inclusive and age-friendly Toronto.

Thank you to the Hassle Free Clinic for inviting me to tour your beautiful facility at 66 Gerrard Street East! 

The Hassle Free Clinic provides free sexual and mental health services to 2SLGTBQI+ folks and community members at risk because of marginalization. If this is your first time hearing about the hassle free clinic, you can check them out at https://www.hasslefreeclinic.org/ if you or someone you know would benefit from their low-barrier services!

The way in which people work continues to rapidly change. The rise of remote work quickened during COVID when opportunities to physically meet were limited. It brought unique challenges that are still being addressed and understood today. I was honoured to join Founder and CEO, Graham Wong of LAUFT for Toronto Tech Week at their 95 King Street East office and event space.

LAUFT creates flexible coworking spaces for people who want the benefits of remote and flexible working locations without missing out on in-person collaboration opportunities. Community and connections make for successful places to work. Thank you for choosing to make Toronto Centre your home!

Thank you St. Lawrence Market, Pride Toronto, and Old Town Toronto BIA for organizing another fabulous Market Street Pride last weekend! I’m very proud to have initiated the pedestrianized of Market Street years ago at City Hall with the Old Town Toronto and the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association. The extra public space enabled performances and unique vendors while highlighting the small businesses and community ties that keep Toronto's Pride movement growing across the city. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hi and pick up a new tote bag!

Ombudsman sounds alarm about 'growing state of crisis' in Ontario jails

Creating a safe space for 2SLGBTQ+ seniors

Toronto renters see little mandated relief as temperatures soar

With Ford’s government in one corner and city officials in another, will Toronto’s green homebuilding measures survive?

More than 100 households on rent strike await their fate after four-day eviction hearing ends

Toronto woman waited 12 hours for police's non-emergency line — but didn’t get through

Scorching temperatures keep hammering GTA, heat warning expected to end Tuesday night

St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association Presents CANADA DAY at St. James Park

July 1st, 2025 from 11:00am – 3:00pm.

FREE: T-shirt colouring, temporary tattoos, and perforances!

Every year, the 519's Green Space festival has some of the most fabulous Pride programming. Green space lets community members party for a cause, with all proceeds supporting the 519's work in our community! You can check out their programming here. 

It will soon be Pride weekend in Toronto Centre! You can check out Pride Toronto's Pride Guide to see the fabulous line-up of events in our community. Remember to shop local and support Toronto Centre businesses where you can throughout Pride weekend!

A new self-guided walking tour exploring Cabbagetown’s rich history is now available through the free Driftscape app. The Mainstreet Walking Tour — Discover Cabbagetown’s Roots takes users through the neighbourhood’s lively commercial corridors, highlighting its architecture, notable historical figures, and independent businesses.

With stops along Carlton, Parliament, and Gerrard Streets, the tour allows participants to explore at their own pace, making it ideal for both residents and visitors looking to discover something new.

This year’s edition includes brand-new content and expanded locations, as well as a Scavenger Hunt feature that challenges users to solve clues at each stop—adding an engaging, interactive experience for all ages.

🔍 Tour Features:

• 🏛️ Historic landmarks and heritage homes featuring archival images
  
  
• 📍 Stories of local figures and hidden histories throughout the neighbourhood
  
  
• 🎯 Scavenger Hunt with clues and prize entry
  
  
• 🎙️ Interviews with local business owners and community voices
  
  
• 📞 Audio guides, visuals, and offline access for convenience
  
  
• 💬 Insider recommendations curated by the Cabbagetown Preservation Association
  
  

The full experience takes 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the participant’s pace, and is available anytime until the end of the year.

The Downtown Yonge BIA is celebrating summer by giving away a $300 prize pack EVERY WEEK from June until September!

There are 2 ways to enter:

1) Submit a photo of any purchase made in Downtown Yonge
AND/OR
2) Submit a photo you took at a Downtown Yonge event. Check out their full list of events

Prize packs include show tickets, restaurant and shopping giftcards and more!

For full contest details, please click here.

I want to help amplify Black People United for Change’s official petition! Black People United for Change has come together to stand up to the Canadian Government to address the lack of protection afforded to Black Canadians.

Dear Neighbour,

The thermometer is spiking and Pride Month is in full swing in Toronto Centre! This Sunday from 3 to 5 PM the Toronto Centre NDP Riding Association is hosting our Pride Month Social at Paddington’s Pump and you are invited! It will be right beside Market Street Pride — an all day Pride celebration along Market Street in St. Lawrence Market!

Yesterday I had the honour of attending Lord Dufferin Public School’s graduation. Congratulations to all of the families with graduates and students for their hard work and perseverance during the school year. Your achievements are many, and the next chapter awaits you filled with opportunity and bright hope. I wish the students all the very best for a safe and healthy well-deserved summer break.

My thoughts are also with everyone in our community who has family and friends affected by the emerging Israel and Iran war. Violence against civilians is wrong — no matter by whom. I know that critical airports have closed, trapping people while their loved ones here in Canada desperately wait for answers. Hundreds of civilians have been killed or wounded. Trump’s reckless statements that the US could join a war or that civilians in Tehran might need to evacuate are as terrifying as they are impossible to imagine.

It is crucial that we remember the history of American interventions: Iran's current despotic regime was only able to come to power because of instability unleashed after the United States helped overthrow the democratically elected government of Iran's Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh in 1953. American interventions have lacked foresight and seem to only guarantee future violence. We need to put civilian safety above warlords' short-term political goals. 

It is disappointing that Mark Carney is failing to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Neyatanahu and Iran's neighbours to push for peace as this violence unfolds. While recent sanctions against war cabinet members were better than doing nothing, Canada is continuing to transfer military goods to Israel. This is happening while the genocide in Gaza has left millions displaced and almost 60,000 directly killed.

I fully support calls from the Federal NDP for Canada to:

• Demand an immediate ceasefire between Iran and Israel 
• End all military exports to Israel 
• Sanction Netanyahu and his war cabinet 
• Stand up for international law and protection for all civilians

I also want to tell you a secret that I have come to learn from years of being elected: always be intensely skeptical of what a government tries to do at the start of their term. Right after elections, governments put forward their worst laws. We just saw this with Doug Ford and Bill 5. Newly elected governments hope that time will make voters forget their sins by the next election. Carney’s Bill C-2 and C-5 are prime examples of this. 

If a Conservative government was trying to pass Bills C-2 and C-5, progressives would be united in outrage. Carney does not deserve a pass for being a Liberal. 

Bill C-2 appears to be an attempt to appease Trump by weakening the laws that protect Canadians and uphold our values. NDP MP Jenny Kwan described this bill as ushering in a “surveillance state” that would allow police to approach any doctor or service provider to find out what other services someone is using — without a warrant. The government has declined to publish a Charter analysis of Bill C-2 — something that is a standard practice. 

Carney’s Bill C-5 is the hideous federal doppelganger to Ford’s highly contentious Bill 5. It would:

• Let Cabinet Ministers bypass existing laws and override constitutional obligations
• Let the federal government move resource extraction projects forward without Indigenous Peoples' Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC)
• Let the federal government violate Section 35 of Canada's Constitution — Rights of the Aboriginal Peoples of Canada
• Let Ministers ignore protections for water, air, biodiversity, and climate change;
• Undermines federal health and safety regulations, putting workers, communities, and ecosystems at risk;
  

With support from Poilievre's Conservatives, Carney Liberals fast-tracked Bill C-5 through Parliament. Even though the Chiefs of Ontario, the Assembly of First Nations, scientists, constitutional experts and many civil society organizations strongly oppose this bill, Carney is promising its passage before Canada Day.

Toronto Centre is home to the second largest Pride festival in the world, so there is a good chance we will see each other. Don’t be shy and please say hi. I will be at the NDP’s Pride Table in the Community Fair and other iconic Pride events this week and next. I hope to see you soon!

You can sign up and join fellow New Democrats and I at Pride events using the button below

Yours in community service, 

Kristyn Wong-Tam

MPP, Toronto Centre

• Ontario’s Pride Festivals Deserve Fair Funding
•  Thank you to our OLIP Intern Annie!
•  Cooling Centres in Toronto Centre
• Maplehurst Inmates Launch a Class Action Lawsuit
• Bill 5 Fall-Out Continues
• Victim Impact Statements in the Sentencing of Thane Murray’s Killers
• Black People United for Change Petition
• Black Students Alliance Showcase
• This Week’s Headlines
• Local Community Events

Pride Toronto and Pride festivals hire local workers and generate massive revenue for small businesses and cities across Ontario through tourism and foot-traffic. Don’t take it from me: take it from the pinko-socialists at KPMG who conducted Pride’s economic impact report. Their thorough 2023 analysis into the economic impact of Toronto’s Pride festival found that it: increased Canada's GDP by $589.8 million, generated combined tax revenues of $231.4 million, and helped create 4,748 jobs. 

But Doug Ford and his conservative government is leaving Pride festivals across Ontario out to dry as corporate sponsors pull funding to appease Trump’s anti-Queer and anti-Trans policies, all the while security costs sky-rocket for event organizers. In a trade war, Ontario should be doubling down on promoting local tourism, buying Ontario campaigns and Canadian values. Pride festivals deserve stable and predictable funding from the Ontario government to strengthen our economy and cultural mosaic. I have heard from various festival producers — not just Pride festivals — that they learn about provincial funding amounts just weeks before their actual festivals open. It is literally impossible to plan logistics and book the performers with such little notice. Festival organizers deserve more respect and Ontarians expect better from their government.

This week our office extended best wishes to Annie Dowd, our intern through the Ontario Legislative Internship Program. Annie’s infectious positivity was a blessing during the fast and furious legislative session. She contributed greatly to the enhanced operations of our legislative and constituency offices. Mark my words: Annie will one day be a leading lawyer who blazes progressive trails for future Ontarians to follow.  

The temperature will shoot up to 43 Celsius with the humidex this weekend. Everyone should take caution and stay safe in the heat. Anyone who needs access to air conditioned space can go to a City of Toronto cooling centre. You can find a list of local cooling centres on the City website here. With climate change, we urgently need a maximum temperature bylaw. Heat stress kills. Safe temperatures should be recognized as a vital service!

This week, a class action lawsuit of the Ontario government by prisoners at the Maplehurst provincial prison was announced. This followed their bone-chilling collective punishment in December 2023 and a Ministry cover-up that is being investigated by the Ontario Ombudsman. 

Instead of making Ontarians safer, the Ford government and its Solicitor General Michael Kerzner continue to hide behind a cover-up, refusing transparency and investments. The horrific abuses recorded at Maplehurst will keep happening if there is no independent public inquiry and urgent action is not taken.

Ford’s failure to fix Ontario corrections is putting the work of law enforcement and public safety at risk. Judges have already begun considering the collective punishment of prisoners at Maplehurst when deciding bail terms and sentencing. This is actively interfering with legal cases that police officers, Crown Attorneys, and investigators have worked to build.

The root cause of abuse at Maplehurst is provincial neglect and underfunding. When prisons are unsafe for people to work at, they become unsafe places for people to be forced to live in. 

Let’s be clear: Ford’s willful underfunding and ignoring of requests for resources and mental health services is just as evil as the violence prisoners were subjected to.

The political fall-out of Bill 5 continued this week when the Premier answered a question about First Nations opposition to Bill 5 that “you can’t just keep coming hat in hand all the time to the government, you’ve got to be able to take care of yourselves”. I am glad that he apologized to the First Nations Leaders whom he made these remarks to. 

However I want to echo what Deputy NDP Leader MPP Sol Mamakwa said: “This premier has made it clear that he won’t bring people together, uphold the honour of the crown, and obtain free, prior, and informed consent. Bill 5 was an assault on treaty rights, the whole province made their voice heard, the Premier needs to take a step back and listen.” In short, it would be easier to take Ford’s apology seriously if he also committed to repealing Bill 5. 

This week, the devastating victim impact statements from those who knew and loved Thane Murray were heard. Thane Murray was a 27-year-old Regent Park recreation worker and community leader who was randomly shot in 2021. Hearing how his friends spoke about how  "we can never see our friend again," while his mother told the judge "I just want my son back," is heartbreaking. Thane was dedicated to uplifting community members and I know his passing has left a huge void in our community. My thoughts are with all his family and friends for all they have endured. I know that he made a difference on so many lives through his work, and that difference is still with us.

I want to help amplify Black People United for Change’s official petition! Black People United for Change has come together to stand up to the Canadian Government to address the lack of protection afforded to Black Canadians.

It was an honour to attend the Black Students Alliance Showcase by the TDSB this week! The energy was amazing as students proudly shared their stories through spoken word, music, song & dance. Thank you to Lord Dufferin Public School for hosting this event and all of the organizers who made this important event happen!

TDSB approves balanced budget while slamming Ford over cuts

Ontario electronic vaccine registry urged as measles spreads

Extreme heat in store for Toronto with temperatures that may prompt warning | CBC News

Pride Toronto $900k shortfall sparks urgent NDP call

These Toronto public beaches are open for swimming

Ford apologizes for saying First Nations 'keep coming hat in hand' amid Bill 5 controversy | CBC News

‘If Thane Murray is a victim, no one is safe’: Court hears of fear sparked by ‘random’ murder of Regent Park mentor

New law taking effect this week called 'major win' for Canadian workers

Canada is making it harder for immigrants to help build much-needed homes — despite the construction industry’s growing reliance on them

New report finds housing crisis is taking a huge toll on middle-class workers

Kids are breathing more toxic air in schools. We know how to fix it, but will Ontario act?

Health-care unions calling for Alberta government to halt plan to limit free vaccines

You have to pay out of pocket for most vaccines at your local drugstore. Ontario pharmacists want that to change

This weekend, get your Pride on early and support local! The 11th Annual Village Fest, put on by The Village BIA, is packed with activities and entertainment. Check out the schedule on their website! See you on Church street!

On Tuesday June 24, 2025, join community members at the Toronto AIDS Memorial in Barbara Hall Park at 9pm for the annual AIDS Vigil. This year’s theme is “Legacy is the Light, Action is the Path.”

This past year The 519 has embarked on the AIDS Memorial Storytelling Project. This project has involved targeted outreach to find loved ones of people on the AIDS memorial to tell their stories, and to find names of people who had died of AIDS related causes in the past, but were yet to be included on the memorial. Visit ToAIDSMemorial.com to learn more, or to contribute to this project.

For 41 years, communities and allies alike have gathered in Barbara Hall Park to remember, honour, and celebrate those we have lost to AIDS, and those who live with HIV.

Join community members at Barbara Hall Park [519 Church St.] on Tuesday, June 24 at 9pm for our 41st annual Toronto AIDS Candlelight Vigil. 

Every year, the 519's Green Space festival has some of the most fabulous Pride programming. Green space lets community members party for a cause, with all proceeds supporting the 519's work in our community! You can check out their programming here. 

It will soon be Pride weekend in Toronto Centre! You can check out Pride Toronto's Pride Guide to see the fabulous line-up of events in our community. Remember to shop local and support Toronto Centre businesses where you can throughout Pride weekend!

A new self-guided walking tour exploring Cabbagetown’s rich history is now available through the free Driftscape app. The Mainstreet Walking Tour — Discover Cabbagetown’s Roots takes users through the neighbourhood’s lively commercial corridors, highlighting its architecture, notable historical figures, and independent businesses.

With stops along Carlton, Parliament, and Gerrard Streets, the tour allows participants to explore at their own pace, making it ideal for both residents and visitors looking to discover something new.

This year’s edition includes brand-new content and expanded locations, as well as a Scavenger Hunt feature that challenges users to solve clues at each stop—adding an engaging, interactive experience for all ages.

🔍 Tour Features:

• 🏛️ Historic landmarks and heritage homes featuring archival images
  
  
• 📍 Stories of local figures and hidden histories throughout the neighbourhood
  
  
• 🎯 Scavenger Hunt with clues and prize entry
  
  
• 🎙️ Interviews with local business owners and community voices
  
  
• 📞 Audio guides, visuals, and offline access for convenience
  
  
• 💬 Insider recommendations curated by the Cabbagetown Preservation Association
  
  

The full experience takes 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the participant’s pace, and is available anytime until the end of the year.

The Downtown Yonge BIA is celebrating summer by giving away a $300 prize pack EVERY WEEK from June until September!

There are 2 ways to enter:

1) Submit a photo of any purchase made in Downtown Yonge
AND/OR
2) Submit a photo you took at a Downtown Yonge event. Check out their full list of events

Prize packs include show tickets, restaurant and shopping giftcards and more!

For full contest details, please click here.

St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association Presents CANADA DAY at St. James Park

July 1st, 2025 from 11:00am – 3:00pm.

FREE: T-shirt colouring, temporary tattoos, and perforances!

TNG Community Services invites residents to the TNG Challenge, an event supporting seniors to live independently, safely, and with dignity.

• Event: Tai Chi with the Chinese Seniors Group
• Date: Saturday, June 21
• Time: 10am 
• Location: 349 Ontario Street

This engaging outdoor event promotes wellness and community spirit. Participants can also get involved by donating, starting a fundraising page, or becoming a matching donor.

Learn more at Get moving in support of seniors!

Market Street Pride promises a day of music, delicious food, engaging workshops, and live demonstrations. Local queer vendors will be featured, along with a carabiner decorating session with Beyond the Bow.

Performances will light up the Great Lakes Brewery Stage, including a show by the iconic Tynomi Banks. Freedom School Toronto and the Toronto Kiki Ballroom Alliance will offer youth workshops and demos.

Date: June 22, 2025

Time: 10 AM - 5 PM
Location: St. Lawrence Market

Toronto’s public labyrinth at Trinity Square Park is becoming the 10th Legacy Labyrinth in the world. To celebrate this distinction, two great community events are coming up!

🌿 Legacy Labyrinth Designation Ceremony

Saturday, June 21 at 12:00 PM
📍 Trinity Square Park
The ceremony will be followed by a Summer Solstice Walk, inviting reflection in support of global and local community care.

🍽 Legacy Project Workshop – Lunch & Learn

Sunday, June 22 from 12:30 to 2:00 PM
📍 Metropolitan United Church, 56 Queen St. E.
This interactive session will explore how walking a labyrinth can raise awareness for social issues, including the needs of Toronto’s unhoused residents.

Date: June 26 and July 03

Time: 6 PM – 8 PM

Location: 180 Sackville Street (main floor meeting room)

 *Attend at least 2 sessions to qualify for raffle draw.

 **Free child minding, call for more info.

Click here to register

Find Your Voice Through Empowerment Of Storytelling Workshop uses the art of storytelling as a therapeutic approach to mental health, it will allow community members to discover their lifepath, or something that brings confidence, and to be able to link it to their identity. For more info on the details of each session, please find the syllabus here. 

 The Find Your Voice workshop will consist of 2 sessions (2hrs per session). The workshop will be facilitated by Sarah Abusarar (RSW, ExAT). Sarah is a professional Storyteller, registered social worker, and expressive arts therapist with a focus in the areas of survivors of violence and gender based violence at home.

Canadian Immigrant is bringing its signature Canadian Immigrant Fair back to Toronto on Friday, June 27, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre North (255 Front Street West).

This free, one-stop event is designed to support newcomers with the tools and connections they need to succeed in Canada, focusing on:

• Careers
• Education
• Settlement

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with employers, recruiters, educational institutions, government agencies, and community service organizations.

Highlights include:

• One-on-one résumé critiques
• An engaging lineup of guest speakers
• Access to valuable resources for job searching, upgrading education, and settling in a new community

Admission is free and open to all.

The St James Town Service Providers Network is looking for community input in planning the 2025 SJT Festival, taking place in August.

This is an opportunity to share your voice and leadership in this amazing yearly celebration! 

Sign up for a festival planning subcommittee that meets your interests, where you can share your skills or learn new ones! To join a SJT Festival Planning Subcommittee, fill out this online form, and you will receive an email with next steps. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to contact the SJT Festival Planning Team, [email protected].

Sign up here.