As I work to advocate for our communities, I will be sharing updates of my work through a continuation of my regular newsletter.
You can choose if you to receive local updates, provincial updates, or both!
As I work to advocate for our communities, I will be sharing updates of my work through a continuation of my regular newsletter.
You can choose if you to receive local updates, provincial updates, or both!
Dear friend,
The government has moved quickly on bringing the Intimate Partner Violence Epidemic Act to committee, which is the next step before the bill can become law. On Wednesday, I attended committee to hold preliminary talks about striking a travelling sub-committee for the bill. We are still deciding exactly what shape this committee will take, but it is exciting that it is coming together so quickly.
Of course, we know that intimate partner violence is an epidemic. We don’t need yet another committee to create a report that makes the same recommendations that we have heard a hundred times before. But the government is requiring that we do this song and dance again, so I am committed to being an enthusiastic partner. Part of what I am pushing for in this early committee work is that we do a thorough analysis of the reports we already have. Instead of duplicating efforts, we should be building from the foundations provided to us by the work and struggle of hundreds of experts and survivors. I will keep you updated on this process.
As you may have heard, this week, the Speaker of the House banned the wearing of the keffiyeh, a traditional scarf worn by many Arab and Muslim community members, including Palestinians.
The ONDP Leader, Marit Stiles, wrote to the Speaker asking him to reverse the decision. She made the very sound argument that many other politicized, but not inherently political pieces of traditional dress, such as Indigenous regalia, kilts, kirpans, vyshyvanka, and other traditional clothing are allowed in the Legislature and always have been. The keffiyeh is no different.
The PC, Liberal, and Green leaders all wrote to the speaker asking for the decision to be overturned. So this morning, the Speaker brought the issue to the house before Question Period and asked for Unanimous Consent to overturn his decision. But at least one PC member, supported by others, loudly said “no” so the ban remains. This was shocking and disheartening, especially since all of the party leaders were on-side. Now we know that Ford's support of the reversal of the ban was tepid, given that he did not whip the PC caucus vote (force his party to all vote the same way).
This decision is highly concerning, especially because it also prevents Arab and Muslim MPPs, staff, and visitors at the Legislature from wearing their traditional clothing, even outside of the legislative chamber itself. This is reprehensible, and this fight is not over. The Ontario NDP has started a petition to reverse this decision, which you can sign here.
On a completely different and more positive note, I want to wish all celebrating a very happy Tamil and Bengali New Year, which was marked this past Sunday, as well as Chag Pesach Sameach and happy Passover to all who are celebrating starting this Monday. I am hosting my own Seder with friends and family this year and am very much looking forward to it.
Yours in community service,
Kristyn Wong-Tam
MPP, Toronto Centre
In this Newsletter |
Lydia's Law - New Bill |
Yesterday, my caucus member, NDP MPP Catherine Fife, along with myself and MPP Peggy Sattler as co-sponsors, tabled Lydia's Law, a piece of legislation that seeks to bring accountability & transparency to the handling of sexual assault cases in Ontario. In 2022, there were 1,326 cases of sexual assault withdrawn or stayed before their trial date. Some of those were due to legitimate processes coming to an end, but many of them were due to court delays and the lengthy, re-traumatizing legal process. These survivors deserve to have their day in court.
This legislation is critical and I will be throwing my full support behind it.
You can learn more about the bill and sign the petition in support of it here.
Community Canvas with Kristyn |
Join Toronto-Centre NDP and Team Kristyn Wong-Tam on April 30 & May 1 to talk to our neighbours about the most pressing issues in Toronto Centre.
Canvass #1:
Date: Tuesday April 30, 2024
Time: 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Meeting Location: Intersection of Earl St. & Sherbourne St.
Canvass #2:
Date: Tuesday, May 1, 2024
Time: 4:30 PM - 7 PM
Meeting Location: Intersection of Earl St. & Sherbourne St.
Ontario Needs Real Rent Control |
Rents are rising out of control. Average rent in Ontario is rising at 3 times the rate of the provincial rental guidelines. This is unacceptable. This government is allowing developers and landlords to slide through rent control loopholes and raise rent costs higher and higher for hardworking people. Bhutila Karpoche and I are demanding Ford reinstate real rent control today. Real rent control means restoring vacancy rent control to ensure affordability in Toronto Centre and beyond.
Add your name to the petition here.
End Court Delays Now |
Murder trials delayed for years. Child sexual abuse cases collapsing. With courts understaffed, Ford's tough-on-crime talk means nothing when murderers walk free in Ontario. Ford continues to ignore our crumbling court system and is letting it remain underfunded and overwhelmed. These court delays are unjust and Ontario deserves better. We need to fix our courts so that families can get the justice they need in a timely manner. Watch above as I ask Attorney General Doug Downey why so many Ontarians are waiting in agony.
Add your name to my petition here.
Regent Park Islamic Resource Centre Opening |
Today, I attended the grand opening of the Regent Park Islamic Resource Center's new mosque space. This is the culmination of years of collective advocacy, and the event was full of joy. I couldn't be more proud to have been an ally in the work to secure a new community prayer space. It will be wonderful to attend events here for years to come.
Save the Science Centre |
The most corrupt government in Ontario's history is telling Ontarians to trust their plan to move and rebuild the same Science Centre that this government has refused to maintain. But we aren't falling for it. We need to preserve the work of Raymond Moriyama, one of the most prolific architects in this city’s history and a celebrated Japanese Canadian. We have to stand up to foster the next generation of scientists and make sure that we can enjoy a well-funded and properly run Science Centre for years to come.
Last weekend, I spoke at a rally to save the science center. The crowd was huge, and their ask was clear: we need a refurbished, properly funded science center at the current site, not a smaller and cheaper one at Ontario Place.
Add your name to the petition now by clicking here.
Doug Ford's Era's Tour: Scandal Edition |
As the Swifties among us celebrate the release of the Tortured Poet's Department, I also want to remind Ontarians about the Eras of Doug Ford's scandals, a tour that may never end. You can watch it here.
Local Community News |
This Weekend: Earth Day Park Cleanups! |
April is Earth Month, when we recognize the need to be environmentally conscious and take care of our one and only planet. I hope that you can attend one of the city’s many cleanups in Toronto Centre. Look below to find one in your neighbourhood!
Hosted by Downtown Yonge BIA
Date and Time: Friday, April 19 at 8:30 AM
Meeting Point: Yonge-Dundas Square
What to Bring: Comfortable clothes, reusable water bottles, boots, and your enthusiasm! The DYBIA will provide supplies and refreshments after clean-up.
Register at: [email protected] and state how many people will be in your party.
Moss Park
Hosted by the City of Toronto.
Date and Time: Friday, April 19, 12 PM - 1 PM
Meeting Point: Shuter and Pembrooke
What to Bring: Comfortable clothes.
Gloves, garbage bags, and refreshments will be provided.
St. Lawrence
Hosted by A Greener Future, Cigarette Butt Cleanup
*Participants must be 19+
Date and Time: Saturday, April 20, 10 AM - 1 PM
Meeting Point: Berczy Park & Toronto Sculpture Garden
What to Bring: Equipment (gloves, upcycled container), weather appropriate clothes
Register at: [email protected] or https://www.agreenerfuture.ca/
Corktown
Date and Time: Saturday, April 20, 10 AM - 1 PM
Meeting Point: Sackville playground
What to Bring: Weather appropriate clothing.
Bags and equipment are provided.
For more information: [email protected]
Bay St
Hosted by the Mayor
Date and Time: Saturday, April 20, 10 AM
Meeting Point: 1055 Bay Street
What to Bring: Sensible shoes and gloves.
Bags and equipment provided
Free Tree Giveaway in Corktown |
Corktown is promoting the growth of native trees by giving them away in a special Earth Month event!
Deadline to place an order is Saturday, April 20.
Find more information here.
Tree Pickup - May 11, 10 AM -1 PM
Pickup Location: 513 King Street East
Regent & Moss Park Community Consultations |
Mark your calendars! Next week, the City of Toronto will be holding consultations at the Regent Park Community Centre to hear your thoughts on how they can best represent their community in the mural.
Where: Regent Park Community Centre (402 Shuter Street)
When: April 23, 2024 3 PM - 6 PM and April 28, 2 PM - 4 PM
Snacks and drinks will be provided.
Can't make it? Share your feedback here.
Regent Park Safety Network Meeting |
Join the Regent Park Safety Network to share your perspective on the safety of the neighbourhood. Help to foster community and a safer Regent Park in these monthly sessions.
When: April 22nd, 5:30 - 7:30 PM
Where: Zoom, Meeting ID: 354 498 5532
For more information, please email: [email protected]
CRAFT - Pre-Apprenticeship Program |
Attention all Regent Park residents! Apply for the CRAFT program to learn valuable skills in construction trades. This 14-week paid pre-apprenticeship is open to the residents living in Regent Park, and the Greater Golden Mile in Scarborough. Priority is given to residents living in community housing and individuals living in the following postal codes: M4A, M3C, M1L, M1K and M1J.
Interested individuals must provide Photo ID, SIN card and Canadian/Ontario High School Transcript for the interview.
In Person Information Session: April 23 , 2024 at 6 PM, at Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas St East)
Online Information Session: April 29, 2024 at 12 PM via Microsoft Teams
For more information, contact Fatima Saya, Senior Manager of Social Impact: [email protected]
The 519 Workshop Wednesdays - Criminalization of HIV Non-Disclosure |
The 519's Health Justice Hub is hosting Workshop Wednesdays on the Criminalization of HIV Non-Disclosure on Wednesday, April 24th from 6 PM - 7:30 PM. Learn more and register here.
Free St James Town Dog Wellness Clinic Pop-Up |
Hosted by the Toronto Humane Society and the City of Toronto, St. Jamestown is hosting a FREE Dog Wellness Clinic Pop-Up
Date and Time: Friday April 26, 10 AM - 1 PM
Location: Wellesley Community Centre, 495 Sherbourne Street
Appointments are required! Be sure to register in advance at The Corner.
Register in person at 200 Wellesley Street East, by phone at 416-964-6657, or by email at [email protected]
The 519 Workshop Wednesdays - Housing |
The 519's Health Justice Hub is hosting Workshop Wednesdays on Housing Rights and Tenant Organizing every Wednesday from 6 - 7:30 PM. Learn more and register here.
Regent Park Cafe |
Date/Time: Weekly from Monday to Friday | 9 AM - 8 PM
Location: Daniel Spectrum (585 Dundas Street East)
Prepare your taste buds because The Regent Park Cafe is opening its doors at The Daniel Spectrum (585 Dundas St E, first floor) and they’re ready to party! It's a vibrant hub of local foods, flavors, passionate entrepreneurs and community connections.
Join them to indulge in delicious bites and meaningful interactions.
Stay in the loop with all the excitement – follow them on Instagram for exclusive updates: https://www.instagram.com/regentpark.cafe/
Cabbagetown Festival 2024 Vendor Registration |
The Cabbagetown Festival is one of Toronto’s longest-running and most beloved street festivals, and this year it will be returning, bigger than ever!
They are inviting over 75,000 locals and visitors across the GTA to enjoy a family-friendly, entertainment-packed weekend, including live music performances, fantastic food, Kid’s Zone, and over 200 unique vendors from Cabbagetown and beyond!
The Cabbagetown Festival is celebrating its 45th year - after returning with a bang last year, the festival is primed to become one of the most-anticipated events in Toronto! Starting at $230 for the lowest vendor level for two days, they invite business owners to apply to join them as a vendor as we celebrate this milestone.
Dates: September 7 and 8
Location: Parliament Street and Carlton Street, Cabbagetown, Toronto
Apply and pay by May 31 to take advantage of this early-bird pricing! Prices go up June 1, as long as space remains available! CabbagetownTO.com @CabbagetownBIA
Toronto Public Health: Mpox Vaccines |
Toronto Public Health (TPH) encourages eligible residents to get vaccinated against mpox (formerly monkeypox) after confirming an increase in cases since the start of the year. To provide low-barrier, convenient, and equitable access to vaccination, TPH is hosting a series of clinics starting April 3.
Walk-in and booked appointments are available. You can book appointments here.
The vaccine is free of charge, and an OHIP card is not required. In addition to TPH-hosted clinics, residents can inquire about vaccine availability where they currently access sexual healthcare services.
Eligible individuals who have not been vaccinated against mpox are encouraged to get their first dose of the vaccine as soon as possible, with a second dose given at least 28 days later. The vaccine becomes most effective after two weeks. Individuals planning to travel soon are encouraged to get vaccinated before leaving, as cases are being reported in various regions around the world.
Vaccination can protect against the mpox virus and help reduce serious symptoms. Individuals who received a smallpox vaccination in the past are not protected against mpox. They should get vaccinated against mpox as soon as possible for the best protection.
For more information including eligibility requirements, visit the City’s mpox webpage here.
Dear Friend, This week has been a rollercoaster. When I woke up on Wednesday morning, I didn’t think that my bill, the Intimate Partner Violence Epidemic Act, was going to pass second reading, even though I knew it would mean so much to survivors if it did. But then the bill did pass, with the government's support, even though they publicly voiced their opposition months ago and again earlier this week. Let me tell you about how it all went down. Before Question Period, at 9:30 AM, I held an incredibly moving press conference alongside co-sponsors of the bill, including MPPs Lisa Gretzky, Jill Andrew, Peggy Satler as well as Fartumo Kusrow, whose daughter’s former partner was charged with her murder, and Erin Lee, who was deeply involved in the Renfrew Inquest. You can watch the entire presser here. But by 10:30 AM, Government House Leader Paul Calandra was standing up in Question Period and saying that the PCs would support Bill 173! I was stunned and elated. Then stunned again. Immediately following the about-face affirmation, agreeing to declare Intimate Partner Violence an epidemic, Minister Calandra added to our surprise. He said that he would send the Bill to a travelling committee that would criss-cross Ontario to undertake new consultation and further study. This committee is something absolutely no one asked for, not the survivors, advocates, community service providers and certainly not the families of the Renfrew triple femicide who lost their daughters to intimate partner violence in 2015. We know that IPV is an epidemic. It was confirmed by the 2022 Coroner’s Report from the Renfrew Inquest. We don’t need to study it further, and we certainly don’t need another committee to delay the declaration. Since this majority Conservative government insists on the committee process, I will work with my caucus to bring together survivors and experts who will deliver the same strong and clear message they have been sharing with Ford’s Conservatives for years: gender-based violence is a crisis, it is an epidemic, and we need action and accountability now. All day, MPP Lisa Gretzky and I, along with advocates, survivors, and their families, were overwhelmed with requests from news outlets to discuss intimate partner violence and NDP Bill 173. I have spoken to NewsTalk 1010, CityTV, CP24, CBC Ottawa, and CBC Metro Morning about the issue. The powerful voices of survivors and advocates even drowned out the government’s new (and underwhelming) housing bill tabled that same day! This victory may have been imperfect, but it was a victory nonetheless. Before the debate on Bill 173 started at 4 PM, nearly 200 survivors, advocates, and allies gathered at our reception to connect, share stories, and hear from sector leaders about the bill's importance. Later that evening, we debated Bill 173, and it passed second reading with the gallery packed with survivors and advocates. We tried very hard to uncouple the bill from the lengthy committee process and have third reading waived so the bill could be declared a law then and there. However, the government did not cooperate. This is disappointing but not surprising. Overall, the day was exhilarating and full of hope. I want to extend a huge thank you to everyone who signed our petition, lobbied government MPPs for their votes, and those who attended the debate to support the bill - your powerful stories and advocacy made this win possible! I particularly want to thank Cait Alexander, Fartumo Kusrow, Dan Jennings, and Michelle Gilpin for attending and sharing their personal stories of how they and their families have been affected by IPV. Your voices are vital. We will not let up until Bill 173 passes third reading and receives Royal Assent. Please keep organizing and reaching out to Conservative MPPs. You can find the contact information for all MPPs here. I encourage you to call and email them, sharing why declaring intimate partner violence an epidemic matters to you. This fight is far from over, and I am grateful to be fighting alongside all of you. Yours in community service,
Kristyn Wong-Tam MPP, Toronto Centre
Join Toronto-Centre NDP and Team Kristyn Wong-Tam on April 30 & May 1 to talk to our neighbours about the most pressing issues in Toronto Centre. Date: Tuesday April 30, 2024 Time: 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM Meeting Location: Intersection of Earl St. & Sherbourne St.
Eid Mubarak to all who are celebrating! The holy month of Ramadan has come to an end. Muslim communities have come together for Eid celebrations across Ontario to mark the occasion, and I was thrilled to join them. The Regent Park Islamic Resource Centre invited me to join them for their morning Eid Prayers on Thursday at Daniels Spectrum. We shared wonderful conversations and enjoyed delicious Palestinian dates. Earlier in the week, Mayor Olivia Chow and I attended the Ramadan Bazaar to support local entrepreneurs and a beautiful community Iftar, where we all enjoyed delicious food and great company.
The Ontario NDP has crushed a third consecutive online fundraising record in the first quarter of 2024, bringing the total raised since Marit Stiles became leader to $5 million. The party's 2024 Q1 donations show the party’s highest online fundraising totals on record, with $724,428 raised from 8,852 individual donors. This surpasses election year totals and indicates robust and consistent growth in support. I am thrilled but not surprised that our vision for a better Ontario, for public health care that's there when you need it and for housing you can afford, is resonating. This record-breaking grassroots support is about more than just numbers; it's a testament to our growing momentum as we build towards 2026 and unseating Ford’s PCs. Want to be part of the movement?
We had a fantastic turnout for the Toronto Centre NDP Annual General Meeting this past weekend – the room was packed! These meetings remind me how strong the support for the NDP is in the riding and how many people are working tirelessly to advocate for labour rights, healthcare and education for all. I'm grateful and excited to work with the newly elected executive team, a group of powerhouse organizers from every corner of the riding. Toronto Centre is home, and by continuing to work in community, we will be stronger than ever.
Ford refuses to meet with the Federation of Ontario Law Associations, who reached out to discuss his plan to appoint "like-minded" judges. He refused this meeting despite the Federation being one of Ontario's most prominent associations of legal experts and workers. What is he afraid of hearing? Is he afraid to hear that he may be wrong? That he is making undemocratic and unjust decisions for the people of Ontario? Because that’s what I’ve heard when I have spoken with the Federation about the lack of judicial independence in our Ontario courts. The Ford government is unjustly eroding the divide between our legal and political systems. I will always fight for judicial independence. You can watch me ask Ford about this here.
The Ford Conservatives’ new housing bill is weak and represents another failure by the government to take the housing crisis seriously. This government has repeatedly shown that they lack the bold vision and leadership needed to do what they should have done years ago: build at least 1.5 million homes by 2031. The government continues to ignore top recommendations of its own Housing Affordability Task Force, including legalizing fourplexes and four-storey multiplexes in all neighbourhoods as of right. What’s also missing: real rent control and government investment in non-market housing, without which the housing affordability crisis will continue. In the past decade, guideline rent increases have only raised rent by 16.5%, but overall rental prices have risen by 54.5% because of loopholes in Ontario’s rent control legislation that are so large you could drive a truck through them. On top of that, a chunk of the bill is just reversals of the government’s bad policy decisions. I wish it were different, but this bill isn't going to make it easier for Ontarians to find an affordable home or protect them from illegal eviction. I will continue championing positive, actionable policies that would make huge strides in tackling the affordable housing crisis, including:
Congratulations to the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO) Local 5115 workers at Regent Park Community Health Centre on your new tentative collective agreement. You made the difficult decision to stand up for yourselves and say that you deserve better, and the community stood with you. My colleagues and I in the NDP – the party of workers – were happy to stand and support you during your two long weeks of picketing. Everyone in Ontario can learn from your bold, courageous organizing as we work to elect an NDP provincial government that supports and funds frontline healthcare workers.
This week, our friends at Ontario Place For All released a comprehensive audit demonstrating that the Therme mega-spa cannot succeed without hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidies from the government. Ford’s refusal to subsidize deeply affordable housing the same way that he subsidizes a private corporation’s for-profit parking garage is outrageous. A financial audit revealed that Therme's mega spa at Ontario Place is economically unfeasible. The report also found it unclear whether Therme can even finance the project or meet its commitments over its 95-year lease. Ontario Place For All also won a minor legal victory in their case against Doug Ford this week. It’s time to scrap this bad idea. We must save Ontario Place. Join the movement and sign my petition!
On a lighter note, I am excited to invite you to join me on an extraordinary journey as we explore the peculiar proclivities of the Ford government at Queen's Park. Watch the video here!
AGO Galery workers are on week three of a historic strike. Show your solidarity with them as they fight for decent work and a fair future. Where: The AGO, 317 Dundas Street West When: Saturday, April 13, 1 PM
This survey aims to gather insights, suggestions, and priorities from Regent Park residents to inform the neighbourhood's sustainable growth and enhancement of the Social Development Plan. To ensure that your voice is heard and considered, they kindly ask you to take a few moments to fill out the Social Development Plan survey to participate in the consultation process. Your participation will help them better understand our diverse community's needs and aspirations. Please click here to access the survey: If you have questions or require further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact [email protected] or Community Development Worker Olanike at [email protected]
On April 17, 2024, from 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Metrolinx will host a virtual session for community members to learn more about the next phase of construction for the future Ontario Line station in Corktown. Join to hear more about the work underway, including construction methods and timelines for this work. For online registration, please follow this link.
Date: April 18, 2024 Time: 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM Location: 306 Gerrard Street East RSVP: RSVP link Calling all community leaders! At this focus group, YSM wants to hear from YOU about how the they can enhance the tools they offer for community development. Join YSM to:
Refreshments and childminding will be provided, so come hungry for great conversation and collaboration. An honorarium will be paid out to residents following the event. Please RSVP to secure your spot at this dynamic event.
Corporate landlords are killing affordable housing with above-guideline rent increases (AGIs), renovictions, demovictions and other predatory tactics to exploit more money out of tenants. The Ontario PC Government is complicit. Doug Ford could save at-risk buildings if he wanted to. ACORN is organizing mock funerals in 6 cities across the province on April 18th to demand immediate action to stop the murder of affordable housing by corporate greed and government inaction. Toronto action details: When: Thursday, April 18th, 1 PM Where: 437 Jarvis Street, where tenants are fighting an AGI
DATE: Thursday, April 18, 2024 TIME: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM LOCATION: Virtual/Online via Zoom Please join Trustee Williams for a Ward 10 Forum with Trustee Williams to discuss the ways we can support student literacy and numeracy. TDSB staff will make elementary school and secondary school presentations. They will also have updates from the Trustee and Superintendents. Everyone is welcome. How to Register: Please Sign Up Here to confirm your attendance. We look forward to seeing you there!
April is Earth Month, when we recognize the need to be environmentally conscious and take care of our one and only planet. I hope that you can attend one of the city’s many cleanups in Toronto Centre. Look below to find one in your neighbourhood! Yonge and Dundas SquareHosted by Downtown Yonge BIA Date and Time: Friday, April 19 at 8:30 AM Meeting Point: Yonge-Dundas Square What to Bring: Comfortable clothes, reusable water bottles, boots, and your enthusiasm! The DYBIA will provide supplies and refreshments after clean-up. Register at: [email protected] and state how many people will be in your party. Moss Park Hosted by the City of Toronto. Date and Time: Friday, April 19, 12 PM - 1 PM Meeting Point: Shuter and Pembrooke What to Bring: Comfortable clothes. Gloves, garbage bags, and refreshments will be provided. St. Lawrence Hosted by A Greener Future, Cigarette Butt Cleanup *Participants must be 19+ Date and Time: Saturday, April 20, 10 AM - 1 PM Meeting Point: Berczy Park & Toronto Sculpture Garden What to Bring: Equipment (gloves, upcycled container), weather appropriate clothes Register at: [email protected] or https://www.agreenerfuture.ca/ Corktown Date and Time: Saturday, April 20, 10 AM - 1 PM Meeting Point: Sackville playground What to Bring: Weather appropriate clothing. Bags and equipment are provided. For more information: [email protected] Bay St Hosted by the Mayor Date and Time: Saturday, April 20, 10 AM Meeting Point: 1055 Bay Street What to Bring: Sensible shoes and gloves. Bags and equipment provided Free St James Town Dog Wellness Clinic Pop-UpHosted by the Toronto Humane Society and the City of Toronto, St. Jamestown is hosting a FREE Dog Wellness Clinic Pop-Up Date and Time: Friday April 26, 10 AM - 1 PM Location: Wellesley Community Centre, 495 Sherbourne Street Appointments are required! Be sure to register in advance at The Corner. Register in person at 200 Wellesley Street East, by phone at 416-964-6657, or by email at [email protected]
Corktown is promoting the growth of native trees by giving them away in a special Earth Month event! Deadline to place an order is Saturday, April 20. Find more information here. Tree Pickup - May 11, 10 AM -1 PM Pickup Location: 513 King Street East
Date/Time: Weekly from Monday to Friday | 9 AM - 8 PM Location: Daniel Spectrum (585 Dundas Street East) Prepare your taste buds because The Regent Park Cafe is opening its doors at The Daniel Spectrum (585 Dundas St E, first floor) and they’re ready to party! It's a vibrant hub of local foods, flavors, passionate entrepreneurs and community connections. Join them to indulge in delicious bites and meaningful interactions. Stay in the loop with all the excitement – follow them on Instagram for exclusive updates: https://www.instagram.com/regentpark.cafe/
The Cabbagetown Festival is one of Toronto’s longest-running and most beloved street festivals, and this year it will be returning, bigger than ever! They are inviting over 75,000 locals and visitors across the GTA to enjoy a family-friendly, entertainment-packed weekend, including live music performances, fantastic food, Kid’s Zone, and over 200 unique vendors from Cabbagetown and beyond! The Cabbagetown Festival is celebrating its 45th year - after returning with a bang last year, the festival is primed to become one of the most-anticipated events in Toronto! Starting at $230 for the lowest vendor level for two days, they invite business owners to apply to join them as a vendor as we celebrate this milestone. Dates: September 7 and 8 Location: Parliament Street and Carlton Street, Cabbagetown, Toronto Apply and pay by May 31 to take advantage of this early-bird pricing! Prices go up June 1, as long as space remains available! CabbagetownTO.com @CabbagetownBIA
Toronto Public Health (TPH) encourages eligible residents to get vaccinated against mpox (formerly monkeypox) after confirming an increase in cases since the start of the year. To provide low-barrier, convenient, and equitable access to vaccination, TPH is hosting a series of clinics starting April 3. Walk-in and booked appointments are available. You can book appointments here. The vaccine is free of charge, and an OHIP card is not required. In addition to TPH-hosted clinics, residents can inquire about vaccine availability where they currently access sexual healthcare services. Eligible individuals who have not been vaccinated against mpox are encouraged to get their first dose of the vaccine as soon as possible, with a second dose given at least 28 days later. The vaccine becomes most effective after two weeks. Individuals planning to travel soon are encouraged to get vaccinated before leaving, as cases are being reported in various regions around the world. Vaccination can protect against the mpox virus and help reduce serious symptoms. Individuals who received a smallpox vaccination in the past are not protected against mpox. They should get vaccinated against mpox as soon as possible for the best protection. For more information including eligibility requirements, visit the City’s mpox webpage here. |
Dear Neighbour, Next week, on Wednesday, April 10, my Bill, the Intimate Partner Violence Epidemic Act, will be debated at second reading. If passed, the Ford Conservative government will finally declare intimate partner violence (IPV) an epidemic in Ontario. It is the first recommendation to the Government of Ontario from the Renfrew County Inquest’s 86 recommendations. Since its release in 2022, 94 municipalities across Ontario, including Toronto, have made this important declaration following the Coroner’s Jury. Declaring IPV an epidemic will signal that the Ford Conservatives are committed to addressing the lack of oversight, accountability and systemic conditions that led to the triple femicide of Carol Culleton, Nathalie Warmerdam and Anastasia Kuzyk in Renfrew County in 2015. Despite reports and communication from the World Health Organization, US Centre for Disease Control, and Statistics Canada that gender-based violence and intimate partner violence is a serious and pervasive social issue that is preventable. As recently as last June, the Ford Conservatives still refused to name IPV as an epidemic. Their latest excuse is, “it is not an infectious or communicable disease.” My Bill will ensure that IPV is declared an epidemic in Ontario and that the Ford Conservatives move forward with the critical work and investments needed to prevent further intimate partner violence in Ontario. Co-sponsors for the Bill, MPPs Lisa Gretzky, Jill Andrew, Peggy Sattler and I invite you to join advocates from across Ontario at Queen’s Park at 4 PM on Wednesday, April 10 for a reception and to watch the historic live debate in the chamber at 6 PM. It is important to have survivors, families, advocates, and community members come together and show this government how important and necessary it is for the province to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic in Ontario. Please extend this invitation to those who have interest in this issue and ensure that they RSVP to reserve a seat. Where: Queen’s Park, 111 Wellesley Street West When: Wednesday April 10, 2024 Reception: 4 - 5:30 PM Refreshments will be served Live Debate: 6 PM RSVP here. More details will be sent after the RSVP is received. Can’t attend? Join us in urging support for Bill 173 to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic. Together, we can enact meaningful change, fostering a community where safety and compassion prevail for every individual.
I know that some community members will not be able to attend this event as it is likely that Eid will fall on the 10th of April this year. I am sorry that these events are conflicting. Despite the diversity of our province, the legislature does not schedule days off for non-Christian religious holidays. On that note, I want to extend a very heartfelt Eid Mubarak to everyone celebrating Eid and the end of the holy month of Ramadan next week. I will be celebrating with my family, and I know my son cannot wait. Yours in community service,
Kristyn Wong-Tam MPP, Toronto Centre
Join us on Sunday, April 7th at OPSEU (31 Wellesley St E) for our annual general meeting! Hear from me about the work that the Ontario NDP team and I are doing at Queen's Park to fight back against Doug Ford's agenda,Trustee Deborah Williams on her work at the TDSB, along with federal nomination candidates, Brian Chang and Samantha Green, on their visions for the riding. Outgoing executive members will provide updates on the work we've done over the past year to organize locally. Following the AGM, join us at O'Grady's (on the corner of Maitland St & Church St) for an informal meet-and-greet to allow members and supporters to meet with our federal nomination candidates, light refreshments will be provided. Toronto Centre NDP AGM
Last Sunday, a peaceful march for Palestine was abruptly halted by Toronto Police at the intersection of Parliament Street and Gerrard Street East. Numerous videos circulating on social media depict marchers and bystanders being obstructed by a significant presence of police officers, some mounted on horses, converging from all directions. The right to Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Assembly are sacred in our democracy. While these rights are not unlimited, it does not appear that the extraordinarily high bar required to infringe on these fundamental freedoms was met. Torontonians have a right to demonstrate and proclaim their solidarity with civilians in Gaza. These rights do not cease to operate when they are exercised in a largely racialized neighbourhood such as Regent Park. Both local residents and march participants were intimidated by the swift escalation initiated by law enforcement, resulting in some individuals being forcefully pushed to the ground. I am informed that the police reportedly issued no audible or repeated warnings to the group of marchers or bystanders before these altercations and subsequent arrests. Toronto Police have also informed me that enforcement was taken against the leading truck under the Highway Traffic Act. This explanation does not satisfy the concerns brought to me from bystanders in the neighbourhood about why people were caught at a dangerous standstill. I want to underscore my steadfast opposition to the controversial police tactic known as “kettling”. This method has faced widespread criticism for its indiscriminate containment of crowds, often ensnaring innocent bystanders and journalists. Torontonians never want to see the regrettable events of the G20 Summit in 2010 repeated. I have listened to stories of what happened that substantiate how the movement for Palestinian human rights is not being policed equally with other movements. Toronto has a long history of racialized residents facing over-policing and violence. The peaceful marchers, local residents, and all citizens of Toronto deserve transparency regarding yesterday's events. To build community trust, I call on the Toronto Police to promptly provide a detailed account of their actions, including the reasons behind the arrests. Transparency and accountability are needed to begin repairing trust.
Access to healthcare is made harder by language barriers. I became all too familiar with this experience when my parents’ Chinese-speaking doctor announced his retirement two years ago. Almost 10,000 Torontonians are in my parents' situation, all still looking for a new doctor after five Chinese-speaking doctors in Chinatown retired recently. Thank you to MPP Jessica Bell, MPP Chris Glover, and the outstanding healthcare professionals who joined us on Wednesday for a roundtable on Chinese language-specific healthcare. We received important advice from healthcare professionals who work in Chinatown and with the Chinese Canadian community every day about the importance of linguistically and culturally appropriate care. Health care is a right in this province. The Ontario NDP will always put patients first and advocate to move administrative burdens off of doctors to free up their time to see patients. As more Ontarians struggle to find in-language primary care in their communities, this issue is more important than ever.
Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster has mismanaged multi-billion dollar transit projects, including the Eglinton Crosstown and Mimico GO Station Transit-Oriented Community. Yet Vester is the 5th highest-paid public servant in Ontario, earning more than $900,000 a year. Communities across Ontario have been calling for Metrolinx to change how they interact with communities for decades. Yet their most recent public outreach campaign was to insult Ontarians who were understandably frustrated by endless delays and closures. Phil Verster has advocated for a privatized transit construction model that uses public money but has failed entirely to deliver projects on time and within budget. Metrolinx projects are consistently behind schedule and over budget. Phil Vester needs to be fired. If you agree, sign the petition HERE.
OPSEU SEFPO Local 5115 workers – the frontline workers at Regent Park Community Health Centre went on strike for fair wages. They have finally won a fair deal and are in the process of ratifying a new tentative collective agreement. The Ford government is starving public health care and their wages were frozen by Bill 124 during an affordability crisis. These health care professionals are doing some of the most difficult work in the province in Ontario's epicentre of a poisoned drug supply and overdose crisis. They cannot do this work with unlivable wages. They went on strike not just for themselves, but for the health and well-being of everyone in Regent Park.
It was an honour to support the Ramadan Iftar in Regent Park this week. In recognition of the last 10 days of the holy month, my team and I distributed all-natural Palestinian medjool dates to foster communal sharing. Thank you to the organizers and volunteers who ensured everyone was fed while fasting themselves. My gratitude also goes out to the many sponsors who generously donated to make the iftar accessible to all.
The Ontario government has put school boards across the province in a very challenging position, forcing them to continue to make cuts year in and year out. Currently, the TDSB is projecting a $27.6M shortfall – the TDSB simply does not get enough funding from the province to cover its operating costs. Join me and MPP Jessica Bell for a one-hour update with our School Board Trustee Deborah Williams, Education Critic Chandra Pasma, Elementary Teachers of Toronto President Helen Victoros to learn more about the budget, have your questions answered, and find out what the school community and community at large is doing to fix our schools. I want our kids to get an excellent public-school education. The path to great schools is smaller class sizes staffed with caring teaches and educational assistants, well-maintained energy efficient schools, and real investment in special education to ensure every child can succeed. Date: Tuesday, April 9 Time: 7pm-8pm Location: Zoom, RSVP Here
The BIA and the 519 cordially invite you to attend an Eclipse Viewing Party from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM on Monday April 8 at Barbara Hall Park. This is a once in a 375 year event! The peak event occurs at 3:19 PM. RSVP here to attend.
Do you use Wheel-Trans? Want to learn how to appeal your conditional status? Attend this online training over Zoom to learn: - What is the Family of Services program - How to appeal your Conditional status - Tips for your OT assessment (Functional Assessment Test) - How to get support with your appeal - How to get more involved WHEN: April 10, 2024, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM ASL interpretation will be provided.
The Cabbagetown Festival is one of Toronto’s longest-running and most beloved street festivals, and this year it will be returning, bigger than ever! They are inviting over 75,000 locals and visitors across the GTA to enjoy a family-friendly, entertainment-packed weekend, including live music performances, fantastic food, Kid’s Zone, and over 200 unique vendors from Cabbagetown and beyond! The Cabbagetown Festival is celebrating its 45th year - after returning with a bang last year, the festival is primed to become one of the most-anticipated events in Toronto! Starting at $230 for the lowest vendor level for two days, they invite business owners to apply to join them as a vendor as we celebrate this milestone. Dates: September 7 and 8 Location: Parliament Street and Carlton Street, Cabbagetown, Toronto Apply and pay by May 31 to take advantage of this early-bird pricing! Prices go up June 1, as long as space remains available! CabbagetownTO.com @CabbagetownBIA
DATE: Thursday, April 18, 2024 TIME: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM LOCATION: Virtual/Online via Zoom Please join Trustee Williams for a Ward 10 Forum with Trustee Williams to discuss the ways we can support student literacy and numeracy. TDSB staff will make elementary school and secondary school presentations. They will also have updates from the Trustee and Superintendents. Everyone is welcome. How to Register: Please Sign Up Here to confirm your attendance. We look forward to seeing you there!
Friends of Regent is hosting a community cleanup as part of Clean Toronto Together! Date: Saturday, April 20, 2024 Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Location: Regent Park Big Park (620 Dundas St. E) - Meet by the bake oven Let's clean up Regent Park together. Hope to see you there!
Toronto Public Health (TPH) encourages eligible residents to get vaccinated against mpox (formerly monkeypox) after confirming an increase in cases since the start of the year. To provide low-barrier, convenient, and equitable access to vaccination, TPH is hosting a series of clinics starting April 3. Walk-in and booked appointments are available. You can book appointments here. The vaccine is free of charge, and an OHIP card is not required. In addition to TPH-hosted clinics, residents can inquire about vaccine availability where they currently access sexual healthcare services. Eligible individuals who have not been vaccinated against mpox are encouraged to get their first dose of the vaccine as soon as possible, with a second dose given at least 28 days later. The vaccine becomes most effective after two weeks. Individuals planning to travel soon are encouraged to get vaccinated before leaving, as cases are being reported in various regions around the world. Vaccination can protect against the mpox virus and help reduce serious symptoms. Individuals who received a smallpox vaccination in the past are not protected against mpox. They should get vaccinated against mpox as soon as possible for the best protection. For more information including eligibility requirements, visit the City’s mpox webpage here. |
Dear Neighbour,
This week, Doug Ford’s PC government released their 2024-2025 Budget. This could have been a budget of hope and investment for Ontario, but instead, it was an uninspired, business-as-usual document that failed to meet the moment.
I know the people of Toronto Centre are looking for better health care and homes they can afford. That is what you deserve from your leaders. Instead, you got an uninspired, business-as-usual statement from a government that is out of touch and out of ideas.
If you’re looking for hope and change, I’m sorry to say that Ford’s budget is not for you.
This budget was an opportunity for Ford’s Conservatives to finally deliver real solutions for Ontarians. I was ready for them to surprise me and make the necessary investments. But instead they chose to stick to the status quo and double down on their failed policies.
All of this just means that we have more hard work to do. The Ontario NDP has workable, common-sense ideas we have presented to the government over and over. I would have been more than happy to have them steal our homework, but I guess they are too proud. I made the short comedic video below summarizing how much of a let down Ford's new budget is.
An NDP budget would:
Marit Stiles and the Ontario NDP will deliver the homes, health care, and hope that people are looking for.
That NDP budget is possible, but first, we have to elect an NDP government in Ontario. And one of the best ways to help with that is to make a donation to the cause.
March 31st is the deadline to meet our Q1 fundraising goal - will you chip in to help us reach it?
I hope that you enjoy a wonderful long weekend with loved ones and I want to share a special greeting to those celebrating Easter and the final week of Ramadan. I additionally wish everyone a happy Trans Day of Visibility on March 31.
Yours in community service,
Kristyn Wong-Tam
MPP, Toronto Centre
In this Newsletter |
Court Backlogs Ruin Lives |
Today I was joined at Queen’s Park by Cait Alexander and Emily Ager, two survivors of gender-based violence who never received justice due to Ontario’s broken court systems. They both bravely told their stories in a press conference, which you can watch here.
Both Cait and Emily took their alleged abusers to court. Cait told me that her ex-boyfriend brutally beat her, and Emily shared that she was sexually assaulted in her own home.
But neither received a full trial. Cait and Emily both had their cases tossed, not due to lack of evidence or merit, but because of lengthy court delays. In Cait’s case, eight charges were laid against her ex-boyfriend. All of the provincial charges have been stayed and all she has been able to secure is a peace bond.
Emily had one day in court, where she testified and was cross-examined, but that date was rescheduled twice before it took place. Both times it was cancelled due to a lack of adequately staffed courtrooms. After that first day in court, the judge decided the case had merit and should go ahead. However, the next available court date was over three months away, which meant that the case surpassed the 18-month Jordan timeline, and the case was tossed out.
Cait and Emily have said that their experiences have been re-traumatizing and dehumanizing.
Delayed court hearings ruin lives and threaten our communities. They rob victims and survivors of justice, allow violent offenders to walk free, and keep wrongfully accused people in pre-trial detention unnecessarily.
I was hopeful that the new budget would include new, adequate court funding. It didn’t. Court backlogs were not mentioned once. Bail was not mentioned once. Pre-trial detention was not mentioned once.
The horrific experiences of Cait and Emily are a shameful stain on Ontario and show that we need to get smart on crime to tackle these backlogs. Their stories have only served to reinvigorate me in my quest to end the backlogs and get Ontario’s justice system moving again.
Fired PC Staffers on Sunshine List |
The Narwhal has delivered incredible and political earth-shaking journalism over the last year, and I want to highlight this new article. With the Trillium, the Narwhal has uncovered that the two senior Ford staffers who resigned last year because of their involvement in the Greenbelt scandal received exit packages that paid a full-year's salary. You cannot make these headlines up. And thinking of our neighbours striking for fair wages at the Regent Park Community Health Centre -- this is an outrageous double standard. Ford is comfortable subjecting front-line health care workers to illegal wage restraints like Bill 124, but will give his buddies who lined developers pockets a year of free money.
The Politicization of Ontario’s Tribunals |
Unfortunately, it is not just Ontairo’s courts that are in shambles, tribunals are also struggling with debilitating backlogs. Over the past several weeks, this government has been dealing with the fallout from the public learning about how they are politicizing the court appointment process, but it is much worse in the tribunals system as there is no appointment committee process, the government simply appoints tribunal leadership directly.
Tribunals Watch Ontario has published a statement on this politicization of the tribunal appointments process. You can read the entire statement here, but the thesis of it is that this PC government is appointing their friends and allies, including former party staffers and candidates, who have run for the PCs to critical tribunal positions. These appointments are happening even though many of the appointed people have no expertise in the area of law they are supposed to be working within. This means that, despite being adequately staffed, the backlog is growing at an alarming rate as high-level staff and adjudicators learn on the job.
These tribunals are critical to the justice system in Ontario. This government is not only letting them erode but actively facilitating that erosion through bogus appointments.
I have brought this issue up time and time again, but the Attorney General has brushed me off. I will not stop raising the issue and proposing solutions.
TCNDP 2024 Annual General Meeting |
Join the Toronto Centre NDP Riding Association on Sunday April 7th at OPSEU (31 Wellesley St E) for our annual general meeting!
You’ll here from me on the work I and the Ontario NDP team are doing at Queen's Park to fight back against Doug Ford's agenda, as well as Trustee Deborah Williams on her work at the TDSB, and federal nomination candidates Brian Chang and Samantha Green on their visions for the riding. Outgoing executive members will provide updates on the work we've done over the past year to organize locally.
Meeting registration will open at 12:30 pm, and the meeting will be called to order promptly at 1:00 pm.
When: Sunday April 7th, 12:30 PM
Where: OPSEU, 31 Wellesley St E
One Hour Education Update |
The Ontario government has put school boards across the province in a very challenging position, forcing them to continue to make cuts year in and year out. Currently, the TDSB is projecting a $27.6M shortfall – the TDSB simply does not get enough funding from the province to cover its operating costs.
Join me and MPP Jessica Bell for a one-hour update with our School Board Trustee Deborah Williams, Education Critic Chandra Pasma, Elementary Teachers of Toronto President Helen Victoros to learn more about the budget, have your questions answered, and find out what the school community and community at large is doing to fix our schools.
I want our kids to get an excellent public-school education. The path to great schools is smaller class sizes staffed with caring teaches and educational assistants, well-maintained energy efficient schools, and real investment in special education to ensure every child can succeed.
Date: Tuesday, April 9
Time: 7pm-8pm
Location: Zoom, RSVP Here
Intimate Partner Violence Epidemic Act Debate |
Intimate partner violence is an epidemic in Ontario. THe government needs to recognize that.
Please join me at Queens Park on Wednesday April 10th at 4pm as the Ontario Legislature debates: Bill 173 Intimate Partner Violence Epidemic Act, 2024. This Bill is co-sponsored by MPP Lisa Gretzky, MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam, MPP Jill Andrew and MPP Peggy Sattler.
It is important to have survivors, families, advocates and community members come together and show this government how important and necessary it is for the province to declare Intimate Partner Violence(IPV) an epidemic in Ontario.
Where: Queens Park, 111 Wellesley St W
When: April 10, 2024
Reception: 4 PM - 5:30 PM
Refreshments will be served.
Debate: 6 PM
RSVPS are required in order to attend the debate and reception. Please also bring one piece of government ID to show at security when you enter the building.
Indigenous Languages Allowed in the Chamber |
Until this past week, Indigenous languages were not allowed to be spoken in the Legislature beyond a few words here and there. That is reprehensible.
But thanks to the advocacy of my colleague, MPP Sol Mamakwa, the Standing Orders of the Ontario Legislature have been amended to allow Indigenous languages spoken in Canada to be spoken in the chamber.
I am so proud of MPP Mamakwa and looking forward to healing Anishinaabemowin much more often in the chamber.
Moss Park Community Info Fair |
Thank you to everyone who attended the Moss Park Community Information Fair, organized by Neighbourhood Information Post. It was a major success! I saw many residents there connecting with local organizations that provide important community programs. It was great to connect with Moss Park residents who are passionate about their neighbourhood. Thank you to the Neighbourhood Information Post for putting this event together and the sponsors who make these community moments possible.
This event is where we also unveiled our newly designed Toronto Centre tote bag! It features the 506 Carlton streetcar covered in Toronto’s iconic and loveable raccoons. We will be giving them out at community events across the riding over the coming year so watch out!
Special thanks to our intern Samantha for her creative vision on this project. We wish her all the best as she starts a new chapter beyond the office next week.
TO Live Townhall |
It was an honour to attend TO Live’s “St Lawrence Centre Next” town hall this week. At this event, I learned from a dedicated group of architects about their bold new designs for the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts. This redesign will create a new cultural hub in the city that I can’t wait to visit. However, this project will need all hands on deck to succeed, including support from private donors, municipal, provincial and federal government. We must work together to build bold, innovative spaces like these.
Regent Park CHC on Strike |
Starving Community Health Centers of the funding they need hurts all Ontarians, yet that is what Doug Ford’s latest budget does. We deserve so much better.
This week I stood in solidarity with striking workers at the Regent Park Community Health Centre. Their benefits have been frozen for 30 years and their recent wage increases do not align with inflation. Many cannot afford to live on their income while supporting some of Toronto Centre’s most vulnerable. These workers save lives every day, and their working conditions are unacceptable. They continue to strike for better working conditions and I will continue to support them in their quest for a fair contract.
Local Community News |
No Demovictions Toronto - City Hall Committee |
An important Toronto Planning and Housing Committee meeting is coming up on April 5th and No Demovictions Toronto wants a contingent of supporters to attend!
Motions at this meeting (if passed) will slightly improve displacement for demovicted tenants and hold developers accountable for ensuring the long-term stock of rental housing in Toronto.
But City Planning stands against these motions and does not want them to pass.
Join No Demovictions Toronto on April 2nd @ 12 PM at Toronto City Hall if you think that passing these motions is crucial!
When: Tuesday, April 2nd, 12 PM
Where: Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West
Click here for all of the details.
Toronto Intergenerational PartnershipsYard Work Help |
Spring is in the air!
If you are a senior or know one who needs help with outdoor work like grass cutting, leaf raking, or light gardening, Toronto Intergenerational Partnerships can help!
Toronto Intergenerational Partnerships is a non-profit service agency that has been in existence since 1986. For more information, visit their website here.
St. Lawrence Market Arts at the Market |
Arts at the Market celebrates the unique talents of local artisans who offer high-quality handmade goods for sale at the St. Lawrence Market. These artisans will fill the outdoor spaces of the Market with fresh, new, lively, and creative energy from April through October, animating and adding vivacity to the Complex.
Are you an artist, craftsperson, or designer? Do you want to sell your high-quality handmade goods at one of the world’s top markets? If so, we’d love for you to be part of Arts at the Market!
Apply by April 1 for early admission to the 2024 program.
Applications and details available here.
Cabbagetown Cares Fundraiser
|
Announcing the Cabbagetown Cares Fundraiser! From March 1 to March 30, 2024, The Cabbagetown BIA is teaming up with Dixon Hall and Saint Luke's United Church to support our neighbours.
As food insecurity continues to rise in Cabbagetown, St James Town, and Regent Park, it's more important than ever to lend a helping hand. That's where YOU come in!
Simply shop at any of the 14 participating businesses throughout March, where a portion of proceeds from select items will be donated to the fundraiser. All donated proceeds will be split between the Dixon Hall and St Luke's Church meals programs. It's that easy!
Click here for the full list of business offers.
Cabbagetown Festival 2024 Vendor Registration |
The Cabbagetown Festival is one of Toronto’s longest-running and most beloved street festivals, and this year it will be returning, bigger than ever!
They are inviting over 75,000 locals and visitors across the GTA to enjoy a family-friendly, entertainment-packed weekend, including live music performances, fantastic food, Kid’s Zone, and over 200 unique vendors from Cabbagetown and beyond!
The Cabbagetown Festival is celebrating its 45th year - After returning with a bang last year, The Festival is primed to become one of the most-anticipated events in Toronto! Starting at $230 for the lowest vendor level for two days, they invite business owners to apply to join them as a vendor as we celebrate this milestone.
Dates: September 7 and 8
Location: Parliament Street and Carlton Street, Cabbagetown, Toronto
Apply and pay by May 31 to take advantage of this early-bird pricing! Prices go up June 1, as long as space remains available! CabbagetownTO.com @CabbagetownBIA
Exhibit Opening: Blueprint |
BLUEPRINT asks: “Who gets to be beautiful?”
This exhibit runs March 2-31, 2024 at 420 Queen Street East
BLUEPRINT is a collection of mixed media collages created by Zandra Jack, a Toronto-based digital artist who works under the pseudonym, UNKWNZJ.
With a passion for altering geometric and curvilinear forms, UNKWNZJ’s work is a unique departure from more traditional modes of portraiture that lean on being as naturalistic to the human form as possible. Her subjects often don enlarged facial features and intensely darkened skin, aspects that she further amplifies with her use of bold color and intricate patterns. UNKWNZJ’s distinct creations exist as a disruption to the prevailing standards of beauty. BLUEPRINT challenges the status quo by paying homage to the unconventional; the features of black beauty that are undervalued yet paradoxically commodified in society.
We would also like to extend a warm invite to audiences to take part in an in-person, interactive workshop that will be led by UNKWNZJ:
When: Saturday March 16, 12-4 PM
Where: 420 Queen Street East
Through hands-on activities and guided instruction, participants will create mixed media artworks by experimenting with various materials and collaging techniques to bring forth their own artistic visions. This event is free of charge, but space is limited. Please RSVP here.
Ward 10 Forum: Supporting Student Literacy and Numeracy |
DATE: Thursday, April 18, 2024
TIME: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
LOCATION: Virtual/Online via Zoom
Please join Trustee Williams for a Ward 10 Forum with Trustee Williams to discuss the ways we can support student literacy and numeracy. TDSB staff will make elementary school and secondary school presentations. They will also have updates from the Trustee and Superintendents.
Everyone is welcome.
How to Register: Please Sign Up Here to confirm your attendance.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Dear Neighbour,
This week, we learned something shocking: Ford’s plan for phase two of the Ontario Place redevelopment seems to include paving over parts of Lake Ontario to make room for more development. This is after they gave themselves sweeping powers to skip environmental assessments and change zoning without consulting Toronto City Council.
Ford and his Ministers must come clean about their plan for Ontario Place, which has been shrouded in secrecy and reeking of backroom deals since the start. Every week, there seems to be more evidence that Ford’s Conservatives don’t want the public to know the truth about their plans.
Global News published an excellent report on documents obtained by the NDP through Freedom of Information (FOI) that reveals evidence of “Phase II” plans to fill in the lake at East Island. You can read the report here.
If it wasn’t bad enough that Ford’s Conservatives are using hundreds of millions of public dollars to subsidize a private luxury spa, going so far as to build them an underwater parking lot with public money, now they’re looking to pave over part of the lake.
I agree with my colleague, NDP MPP Chris Glover, who said, “With this secret plan to fill in the lake, it’s no wonder Ford’s Conservatives exempted the redevelopment of Ontario Place from environmental laws. A taxpayer subsidy, parkland giveaway, and now environmental devastation, there’s more than enough reasons to stop this project.”
The Ontario NDP put forward a motion this week at the Standing Committee for Government Agencies to review Ontario Place, this was eventually voted down by the Conservatives in another clear attempt to cover their tracks.
Ontario Place is a gem that should be able to be enjoyed by all Ontarians, not just a playground for the rich. This government needs a reality check - they were not elected to serve their wealthy friends to the exclusion of all others.
I will never stop fighting for you.
Kristyn Wong-Tam
MPP, Toronto Centre
In this Newsletter |
Ford Denies 2.2M Ontarians a Family Doctor |
On Monday the Ontario NDP tabled an Opposition Day Motion to put patients first and solve the family doctor crisis in Ontario. This was a common sense motion that would have reduced the paperwork burden on existing family doctors and increased their capacity to see new patients. The government voted it down.
There are currently 2.2 million Ontarians who do not have a family physician; their health is at imminent risk because of their lack of access to primary health care. Amid this chronic shortage, family physicians spend an average of 20 hours a week doing paperwork: burgeoning insurance forms, sick notes, and requests for prescriptions. This represents up to 40% of their working time.
One solution put forward by the Ontario NDP is for the province to provide support to primary care providers that would free up their time to see patients instead of pushing paperwork.
If every family doctor across Ontario had access to an integrated primary care team with sufficient nurses, interdisciplinary health, and administrative staff to reduce the load of paperwork, the time freed up would be equivalent to adding 2,000 doctors to the system. An estimated additional 2 million Ontarians could have a family doctor. The difference that would make to our healthcare system is almost unquantifiable. It would free up spaces in our emergency rooms, catch serious illnesses earlier, and help people live longer healthier lives.
Instead of adopting this common sense motion to get Ontarians the care they need, this government continues to push for privatized care that prioritizes those who can pay for access.
But this is not over. We will continue to fight until every single person in Ontario has a family doctor.
Federal Government Adopts NDP Motion on Palestine |
Last week, I told you about the Federal NDP MP Heather McPherson’s motion concerning the humanitarian crisis in Palestine.
This past Monday, it was debated, and many last-minute revisions were made in order for the Liberals to come on side. This resulted in a watered-down version of the original motion that softened both mentions of Palestinian Statehood and the sale of military goods with Israel. Even with those changes, it is still a groundbreaking and deeply necessary motion at this time of humanitarian crisis and near-famine in Gaza.
You can watch MP McPherson’s powerful and heartwrenching debate here and read all about the events of the evening as reported by CBC here and by the Toronto Star here.
So much more must be done by Canada and the international community to answer the call of the people of Gaza for a ceasefire, humanitarian aid, and a just and lasting peace in the region.
Regent Park Community Health Centre Strike |
Workers at Regent Park Community Health Centre take care of our community. We need to show them solidarity now as they strike for fair wages and benefits. Their benefits have been frozen for over 30 years -- and this is unacceptable. Their picket lines will go from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM on Monday and they are asking community members to show up in Solidarity. It was an honour to join them and show support today!
Local Community News |
350 Bloor St. East Community Consultation Meeting |
Back in 2022, the City of Toronto invited interested parties to participate in providing concerns and feedback about the redevelopment proposal for 350 Bloor St. East. BENA became an active participant and has provided concerns and feedback throughout the redevelopment process. Thank you to our residents who have also registered and shared feedback! The project has progressed through several milestones (e.g. shadow impacts) and it is now entering the Construction Management planning stage. It is also going to the Toronto East York Community Council in early April. BENA is providing residents with an update at this upcoming meeting:
When: March 25, 2024; 7:00 pm
Where: Zoom (Registration required)
What: Update on 350 Bloor St. East redevelopment, prior to TEYCC
Register in advance here.
Toronto Intergenerational PartnershipsYard Work Help |
Spring is in the air!
If you are a senior or know one who needs help with outdoor work like grass cutting, leaf raking, or light gardening, Toronto Intergenerational Partnerships can help!
Toronto Intergenerational Partnerships is a non-profit service agency that has been in existence since 1986. For more information, visit their website here.
Beyond Labels Queer Fashion Show |
Passion for fashion? Beyond Labels is a Queer Fundraising Fashion Show!
Get ready to experience the vibrant world of queer fashion and breathtaking drag performances by:
Naomi Leone https://www.instagram.com/naomileone_/
Ella Mayo https://www.instagram.com/ellamayoreally/
Event Details: March 26th, 6 pm onwards @ 918 Bathurst Centre.
Tickets: $15 - hurry, they're going fast!
Visit @beyondlabelsfashionshow or www.beyondlabel2024.com for more details.
St. Lawrence Market Arts at the Market |
Arts at the Market celebrates the unique talents of local artisans who offer high-quality handmade goods for sale at the St. Lawrence Market. These artisans will fill the outdoor spaces of the Market with fresh, new, lively, and creative energy from April through October, animating and adding vivacity to the Complex.
Are you an artist, craftsperson, or designer? Do you want to sell your high-quality handmade goods at one of the world’s top markets? If so, we’d love for you to be part of Arts at the Market!
Apply by April 1 for early admission to the 2024 program.
Applications and details available here.
St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts Transformation |
You’re invited to view the future of the transformed St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts!
The design team of Hariri Pontarini Architects and LMN Architects with Smoke Architecture and Tawaw Architecture Collective will present their inspired design concepts for STLC to become a multi-faceted performing arts destination. This bold reimagining includes two state-of-the-art performance halls along with creative spaces and studios, rehearsal rooms, and informal gathering areas. The team will demonstrate how the building extends an open embrace to the city to create an energized arts corridor and a new pulsing heart in downtown Toronto.
Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and share feedback. For those unable to attend in person, we invite you to join us via livestream at stlcnext.org. The livestream link will open 30 minutes prior to the start of the meeting on March 26.
Tuesday, March 26, 2024
6 pm – 8 pm (doors open at 5:30 pm)
St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, Jane Mallett Theatre, 27 Front St. E.
Cabbagetown Cares Fundraiser
|
Announcing the Cabbagetown Cares Fundraiser! From March 1 to March 30, 2024, The Cabbagetown BIA is teaming up with Dixon Hall and Saint Luke's United Church to support our neighbours.
As food insecurity continues to rise in Cabbagetown, St James Town, and Regent Park, it's more important than ever to lend a helping hand. That's where YOU come in!
Simply shop at any of the 14 participating businesses throughout March, where a portion of proceeds from select items will be donated to the fundraiser. All donated proceeds will be split between the Dixon Hall and St Luke's Church meals programs. It's that easy!
Click here for the full list of business offers.
Cabbagetown Festival 2024 Vendor Registration |
The Cabbagetown Festival is one of Toronto’s longest-running and most beloved street festivals, and this year it will be returning, bigger than ever!
They are inviting over 75,000 locals and visitors across the GTA to enjoy a family-friendly, entertainment-packed weekend, including live music performances, fantastic food, Kid’s Zone, and over 200 unique vendors from Cabbagetown and beyond!
The Cabbagetown Festival is celebrating its 45th year - After returning with a bang last year, The Festival is primed to become one of the most-anticipated events in Toronto! Starting at $230 for the lowest vendor level for two days, they invite business owners to apply to join them as a vendor as we celebrate this milestone.
Dates: September 7 and 8
Location: Parliament Street and Carlton Street, Cabbagetown, Toronto
Apply and pay by May 31 to take advantage of this early-bird pricing! Prices go up June 1, as long as space remains available! CabbagetownTO.com @CabbagetownBIA
Exhibit Opening: Blueprint |
BLUEPRINT asks: “Who gets to be beautiful?”
This exhibit runs March 2-31, 2024 at 420 Queen Street East
BLUEPRINT is a collection of mixed media collages created by Zandra Jack, a Toronto-based digital artist who works under the pseudonym, UNKWNZJ.
With a passion for altering geometric and curvilinear forms, UNKWNZJ’s work is a unique departure from more traditional modes of portraiture that lean on being as naturalistic to the human form as possible. Her subjects often don enlarged facial features and intensely darkened skin, aspects that she further amplifies with her use of bold color and intricate patterns. UNKWNZJ’s distinct creations exist as a disruption to the prevailing standards of beauty. BLUEPRINT challenges the status quo by paying homage to the unconventional; the features of black beauty that are undervalued yet paradoxically commodified in society.
We would also like to extend a warm invite to audiences to take part in an in-person, interactive workshop that will be led by UNKWNZJ:
When: Saturday March 16, 12-4 PM
Where: 420 Queen Street East
Through hands-on activities and guided instruction, participants will create mixed media artworks by experimenting with various materials and collaging techniques to bring forth their own artistic visions. This event is free of charge, but space is limited. Please RSVP here.
Ward 10 Forum: Supporting Student Literacy and Numeracy |
DATE: Thursday, April 18, 2024
TIME: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
LOCATION: Virtual/Online via Zoom
Please join Trustee Williams for a Ward 10 Forum with Trustee Williams to discuss the ways we can support student literacy and numeracy. TDSB staff will make elementary school and secondary school presentations. They will also have updates from the Trustee and Superintendents.
Everyone is welcome.
How to Register: Please Sign Up Here to confirm your attendance.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Regent Park Cafe is Officially Open! |
After the Regent Park Cafe launch, they are now open and operational every Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 8 PM. If you are near Daniels Spectrum at 585 Dundas St. East, pop in for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!
We have all seen the ads for the new Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent. Many of us have even watched the first few episodes. But what if I told you there is a new series in town? It is just as gripping and shocking but even more upsetting because it is unfolding in front of us in real time. Introducing: Law & Order Queen’s Park: Greenbelt FOI This video is hilarious and was a lot of fun to put together, but the subject matter is serious. Our Premier is under criminal investigation by the RCMP. Ministers and senior staff went to great lengths to conceal their work, using code words like G*, deleting correspondence, and using personal email addresses to conduct government business. The only reason that we know as much as we do about this corruption scandal is because of the hard work of the Ontario NDP and outside advocates filing Freedom of Information requests to uncover the truth. The NDP’s most recent FOI yielded 3,776 pages of documents from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, many bearing code words and acronyms clearly meant to conceal the actual topic of conversation. I will never stop pushing for the truth. There must be consequences for those who tried to trade away our precious Greenbelt and further enrich their wealthy friends. In sad local news, two people were killed and three others injured this week by Arnold and Dundas St. E. The violence seems to have erupted within one family, with a young man allegedly killing his father and brother and wounding his mother. This is devastating. My thoughts go out to all those feeling fresh loss and to those reliving the trauma of past events. Amid this tragedy, I am also in awe of neighbour Hani Afrah, who bravely ran into the house where the violence began after the injured mother called for help for her toddler, who remained in the house. Hani Afrah took brave steps to ensure that the child was safe. When events like this happen, it is natural to feel scared. I hope that we can all carry that fear and sadness in the community alongside the knowledge that so much work has been done to create peace in Regent Park and beyond. That work is ongoing and full of hope. If you are looking for ways to get involved, I would encourage you to reach out to Regent Park Mothers of Peace, Regent Park Shoot for Peace, and the Regent Park Social Development Plan Committees. So much incredible work is already happening in the community, and there’s always more to do. As your provincial representative and the Critic for the Attorney General I am leading the calls for real bail reform. Bail should be compassionate, while also ensuring that the 15-30 most dangerous people who are caught and released regularly finally encounter a bail system that holds them accountable. The bail system in Ontario should not let people who pose an active threat back to the streets where they hurt people. I helped write the committee report on the modernization of the bail system in Ontario, which you can read here. I know it is just a report, but it is the first step the government is taking before bringing forward new legislation with concrete changes to the bail system. I have been working alongside frontline workers, families, and justice experts to develop real proposals to fix Ontario's justice system. I will let you know when these plans are ready soon through this newsletter.
I know that many of you are as concerned about the ongoing war on Gaza as I am. I am incredibly proud of the strong and principled stance that the NDP has taken since the beginning of the conflict. On Monday, the NDP's motion to combat the humanitarian crisis in Gaza will be put to a vote. We need this motion to pass to push the Liberal government to action. I encourage everyone to reach out to Justin Trudeau and request that he and his MPs support the motion. I also want to wish a happy St. Patrick's Day to everyone celebrating. It is an honour to serve you,
Kristyn Wong-Tam MPP, Toronto Centre
The Toronto Centre Federal NDP is gearing up for the next federal election since it could be right around the corner. The first step is nominating a candidate to run under the NDP banner. Two prospective candidates have put their names forward for the upcoming nomination race. Voting to select a candidate will take place at the upcoming nomination meeting, the details of which will be shared soon. All Toronto Centre residents who signed up to be members of the NDP at least 45 days before the nomination meeting are eligible to vote. If you want to become a member, you can do so by clicking here. If you are not sure if you are a member or if your membership is still active, you can reach out to [email protected], and they will check for you. This year, we have two prospective candidates: Brian Chang and Samantha Green. Both of these incredible people have websites where you can learn about their priorities, and community involvement, and get a sense of them as people. I encourage you to check them out: Click HERE to visit Brian Chang’s website
Being an activist and caregiver is hard work and can be emotionally all-consuming. I know this firsthand. This is why I am eager to share 52 Weeks to a Sweeter Life, a new book released by award-winning author and psychotherapist Farzana Doctor. 52 Weeks to a Sweeter Life is a practical workbook that explores self-care from an inside-out and collective approach. This book is for anyone who works with people or causes and who has struggled with burnout, vicarious trauma and finding balance. Limited tickets are available for the Toronto launch of this important book on March 21. Farzana will be in conversation with Judy Rebick at Caversham Booksellers, and I guarantee you will learn something new about self and community care. To get your free event ticket, please register here.
Ontario is in a family doctor crisis. In 2022, 2.3 million Ontarians did not have a family doctor, a number that is projected to grow to 4.4 million by 2026 if nothing is done. Currently, family doctors in Ontario spend as many as 19 hours per week —40 percent of their time—following up with patients, filling out forms and performing other administrative work that could be done by administrative staff and other interdisciplinary health staff. It doesn’t have to be this way. We can free up doctors’ time by getting them access to an integrated primary care team to take this administrative work off of their plate. This change would be equivalent to adding 2,000 doctors to the system. The current family doctor shortage not only puts Ontarians' health at risk, but it’s also putting tremendous strain on our already-overburdened emergency rooms. This is a smart, simple solution to fix the massive patient backlog and get people the care they need today. We have been hearing horrific stories from Ontarians who are trying to find a family doctor, including this shocking story from an Ottawa patient who was charged $110 for routine cancer screening because the screening was done by a nurse practitioner instead of a doctor, something that was not well communicated by the clinic she went to. I, along with the Ontario NDP caucus, are calling upon this government to hire more administrative and interdisciplinary health staff so that doctors can spend more of their precious time providing much-needed care to their patients. NDP Leader Marit Stiles tabled this solution in the legislature last week and will force a vote on Monday. I will update you on the result in next week’s newsletter.
This week my staff and I held our annual Staff Retreat, where we set goals and created plans for the year to come. It was wonderful to reflect on the work we have done over the past year, celebrating our wins and reflecting on areas where we can improve. In 2024, we are excited to host community events that bring people together, champion your legislative priorities, and continue providing the constituency services that you depend upon.
This week, the Toronto Star published this excellent article, “Rent controls work: They don’t reduce housing supply, but they do limit profit”. The article argues that bringing back rent control for all units in Ontario, not just those occupied before 2018, would be better for the market as a whole and prevent rent gouging. This is something that affordable housing advocates have known for years. The Ontario NDP has been advocating for not only the return of full rent control since the policy was enacted but also for “real rent control,” sometimes called vacancy de-control, to become law in Ontario. Real rent control would mean that a unit’s monthly rent would have to follow the annual guideline rent increase even if a tenant moved out and the unit was re-rented by a new tenant. Currently, in Ontario, when a tenant moves out, the landlord can raise the rent as much as they want. While I encourage you to read the whole article, I want to share some of my favourite quotes: “In recent years, new studies have demonstrated that rent controls work. They stabilize rent increases without negative effects. Provincial governments could put an end to skyrocketing rents right now — if they were really interested in doing so.” “In 2020, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) analyzed the impact of rent controls on construction. The study compared Canadian cities with and without rent controls. Since the CMHC has a wealth of data, it used a time series going all the way back to 1971 — almost 50 years of data at the time. The key finding of the study was that “There was no significant evidence that rental starts were lower in rent control markets than in no rent control markets.” “Between 2022 and 2023, landlords in Ontario increased rents in vacant units by an average of 36%. Bringing back controls on vacant units would prevent abusive increases. It would also remove the financial incentive for evictions and other tactics used to displace tenants.”
Sherbourne Health Centre is hosting a Trans and Non-Binary Career Fair! When: March 21, 2024, 1 PM to 4 PM Where: Sherbourne Health Centre, 333 Sherbourne Street. This event aims to provide opportunities for Sherbourne Health's trans and non-binary service users and community members to connect with prospective employers committed to diversity and inclusion. These employers have attended a presentation on creating supportive work environments for trans and non-binary employees.
The Cabbagetown BIA is looking for a new Marketing & Events Coordinator! This team member works as part of a close-knit team to assist in the implementation of marketing strategies and coordinate promotional activities, including activations and events such as The Cabbagetown Festival. Assists with connecting people, businesses, and public spaces, collaborating with partners to acquire and retain a vibrant mix of retail, and attracting more people to the area. This is a part-time, contract position running from April 15 - December 20, 2024. Applicants will ideally be between the ages of 15-30 years old, as funding for this position comes from the Canada Summer Jobs Program See the full posting here.
A six-week virtual group program led by mental health counsellors, this group explores mindfulness as a practice for managing difficult emotions, as well as cultivating greater self-compassion and self-care. Learn more here. Who: Participants who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour Next Sessions: Tuesdays from 1:30 – 2:30 PM Program starts on March 26 Registration required. Call Gouri (647-299-1464) or Dyshni (437-324-9514)
Since 2011, Jamii has been fostering connections among Esplanadians, a diverse community of individuals spanning all ages who reside, work, study, and walk on The Esplanade. Through immersive artistic experiences, we breathe life into public spaces within The Esplanade neighbourhood and our home, The Jamii Hub, crafting whimsical environments that not only cultivate shared memories among our community members but also strengthen the social bonds woven throughout our neighbourhood's fabric. Jamii has exciting events focusing on art, movement, learning and community building happening every day of the week! Click here to learn more.
Arts at the Market celebrates the unique talents of local artisans who offer high-quality handmade goods for sale at the St. Lawrence Market. These artisans will fill the outdoor spaces of the Market with fresh, new, lively, and creative energy from April through October, animating and adding vivacity to the Complex. Are you an artist, craftsperson, or designer? Do you want to sell your high-quality handmade goods at one of the world’s top markets? If so, we’d love for you to be part of Arts at the Market! Apply by April 1 for early admission to the 2024 program. Applications and details available here.
You’re invited to view the future of the transformed St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts! The design team of Hariri Pontarini Architects and LMN Architects with Smoke Architecture and Tawaw Architecture Collective will present their inspired design concepts for STLC to become a multi-faceted performing arts destination. This bold reimagining includes two state-of-the-art performance halls along with creative spaces and studios, rehearsal rooms, and informal gathering areas. The team will demonstrate how the building extends an open embrace to the city to create an energized arts corridor and a new pulsing heart in downtown Toronto. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and share feedback. For those unable to attend in person, we invite you to join us via livestream at stlcnext.org. The livestream link will open 30 minutes prior to the start of the meeting on March 26. Tuesday, March 26, 2024 6 pm – 8 pm (doors open at 5:30 pm) St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, Jane Mallett Theatre, 27 Front St. E.
Announcing the Cabbagetown Cares Fundraiser! From March 1 to March 30, 2024, The Cabbagetown BIA is teaming up with Dixon Hall and Saint Luke's United Church to support our neighbours. As food insecurity continues to rise in Cabbagetown, St James Town, and Regent Park, it's more important than ever to lend a helping hand. That's where YOU come in! Simply shop at any of the 14 participating businesses throughout March, where a portion of proceeds from select items will be donated to the fundraiser. All donated proceeds will be split between the Dixon Hall and St Luke's Church meals programs. It's that easy! Click here for the full list of business offers.
The Cabbagetown Festival is one of Toronto’s longest-running and most beloved street festivals, and this year it will be returning, bigger than ever! They are inviting over 75,000 locals and visitors across the GTA to enjoy a family-friendly, entertainment-packed weekend, including live music performances, fantastic food, Kid’s Zone, and over 200 unique vendors from Cabbagetown and beyond! The Cabbagetown Festival is celebrating its 45th year - After returning with a bang last year, The Festival is primed to become one of the most-anticipated events in Toronto! Starting at $230 for the lowest vendor level for two days, they invite business owners to apply to join them as a vendor as we celebrate this milestone. Dates: September 7 and 8 Location: Parliament Street and Carlton Street, Cabbagetown, Toronto Apply and pay by May 31 to take advantage of this early-bird pricing! Prices go up June 1, as long as space remains available! CabbagetownTO.com @CabbagetownBIA
BLUEPRINT asks: “Who gets to be beautiful?” This exhibit runs March 2-31, 2024 at 420 Queen Street East BLUEPRINT is a collection of mixed media collages created by Zandra Jack, a Toronto-based digital artist who works under the pseudonym, UNKWNZJ. With a passion for altering geometric and curvilinear forms, UNKWNZJ’s work is a unique departure from more traditional modes of portraiture that lean on being as naturalistic to the human form as possible. Her subjects often don enlarged facial features and intensely darkened skin, aspects that she further amplifies with her use of bold color and intricate patterns. UNKWNZJ’s distinct creations exist as a disruption to the prevailing standards of beauty. BLUEPRINT challenges the status quo by paying homage to the unconventional; the features of black beauty that are undervalued yet paradoxically commodified in society. We would also like to extend a warm invite to audiences to take part in an in-person, interactive workshop that will be led by UNKWNZJ: Through hands-on activities and guided instruction, participants will create mixed media artworks by experimenting with various materials and collaging techniques to bring forth their own artistic visions. This event is free of charge, but space is limited. Please RSVP here.
FoSTRA (Federation of South Toronto Residents Associations) warmly invites you to the next in a series of free educational events on the theme of Housing for All, which will be held: Thursday, 21 March 2024, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM Franz Hartmann, Coordinator for the Alliance for a Liveable Ontario, presents “A Blueprint for Solving the Housing Crisis in Ontario.” Check out more details below and in the attachment. Click here to register to attend and ask a question of Franz Hartmann before the webinar.
After the Regent Park Cafe launch, they are now open and operational every Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 8 PM. If you are near Daniels Spectrum at 585 Dundas St. East, pop in for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!
GOOD TO BE GOOD is pleased to announce a fifth cohort for the Change Make-Her program! This FREE interactive virtual program is for women and gender-diverse folks* interested in developing their entrepreneurship and leadership skills through mentorship-based training workshops, community building, peer support, resource-sharing, and other opportunities. The program is a unique development opportunity explicitly created to extend the capacity of new and early entrepreneurs through a low-barrier, inclusive, and compassionate approach. Entrepreneurship is challenging to navigate—layering being a woman or gender-diverse with intersecting identities adds another path to navigate. We believe that entrepreneurism can be a meaningful pathway to confidence, community, and independence for women and gender-diverse people facing multiple barriers. Applications are now OPEN for the Change Make-Her program! To register, email Arezoo Najibzadeh at [email protected] or sign up here. Please note that applications close Sunday, March 17.
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