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!
May 31, 2024 Newsletter
Dear friend,
This week, history was made at Queen’s Park. My friend and colleague, Ontario NDP Deputy Leader Sol Mamakwa, delivered his speech in Anishinaabemowin, the Indigenous language of the Anishinaabe people, also known as Oji-Cree, in the chamber. Until recently, the Standing Orders of the Legislature only allowed English and French to be spoken in the chamber. However, thanks to his advocacy, the list has been expanded to include Indigenous languages spoken in Canada.
MPP Mamakwa’s speech was incredibly moving. He shared how speaking his language connects him to community, culture, and family and is an act of resistance against colonial structures. One of my favourite parts of this historic moment was when he spoke about learning the language from his mother, who shared teachings with him as they enjoyed and lived on their land together. Kezia Mamakwa was in the chamber to watch her son make history, and I can only imagine her enormous pride that day, especially since she was also celebrating her 79th birthday! The Mamakwa family was joined by over 100 guests in the chamber, who were there to hear Sol speak. Many traveled from remote and northern communities to hear their Indigenous language spoken in the legislature. It was an incredible moment to bear witness to.
MPP Mamakwa leveraged this golden media opportunity to secure a big win for his community. During question period, as he has done before, he asked Doug Ford if the Conservatives would finally fund an expanded long-term care home in Sioux Lookout, something they have promised to do since 2018. This time, Ford made a clear commitment to fund the necessary 76 beds. The Ontario NDP will still need to hold the government accountable for delivering on this promise, but it is a positive step forward that we should be proud of. Elders in Sioux Lookout should not be forced to move hours and hundreds of kilometres away from their families and communities just to receive care.
You can watch MPP Sol Mamakwa’s speech here in Anishinaabemowin with English subtitles.
As Pride Month begins on June 1, let me be the first to wish you a Happy Pride Month! To mark this fabulous time of the year, the Toronto Centre NDP has created a special Pride event to bring us all together in song, dance and glitter.
Our Pride and Politics fundraiser at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, featuring magnificent drag artists Messy Margaret and Amora, is coming up in less than a week! Special fabulous guests include Marit Stiles and the Ontario NDP caucus. Tickets are selling fast, and I can’t wait to see you all there!
When: Thursday, June 6
Time: 6 - 9 PM
Where: Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander St
Yours in community service,
Kristyn
Kristyn Wong-Tam
MPP, Toronto Centre
| In This Newsletter |
- Pride Flag Raising and Picnic at Queen's Park
- Pride Weekend Volunteers Needed
- Fix Ontario Court Delays
- NEW Canary District Residents Association
- Designated Safe Zones in Rafah are Bombed
- Childcare Day of Action
- Happy 135th Anniversary Trinity St Paul’s!
- News about Glad Day
- Backspot Film Out Today!
- Local Community News
|
Pride Flag Raising and Picnic at Queen's Park |
Everyone is invited to the Pride Flag Raising at Queen's Park this Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at 12:15 PM in front of Queen's Park. There will be a celebratory picnic on the front lawn immediately after! I am thrilled to be collaborating with the Ontario Public Service and the Legislature on this event.
| Pride Weekend Volunteers Needed! |
Come and celebrate pride with us and connect with your community. The Ontario NDP will be running a table all Pride weekend and walking in each major parade! You can sign up for a volunteer shift at the links below. You can choose to help with the NDP booth, walk in one of the parades that weekend or both! See you there!
Friday June 28th:
Walk with the Ontario NDP in the Trans March (Friday June 28)
Table for the Ontario NDP on Friday Evening
Saturday June 29th:
Walk with the Ontario NDP in the Dyke March (Sat June 29)
Table with the Ontario NDP on Pride Saturday June 29th at 1PM
Table with the Ontario NDP on Pride Saturday June 29th at 3PM
Table with the Ontario NDP on Pride Saturday June 29th at 4PM
Sunday June 30th:
Walk with the Ontario NDP in the Pride Parade (Sun June 30)
Table with the Ontario NDP on Pride Sunday June 30th at 1PM
Table with the Ontario NDP on Pride Sunday June 30th at 3PM
Table with the Ontario NDP on Pride Sunday June 30th at 4PM
| Fix Ontario Court Delays |
Justice stalls when Ontario courts crawl, and under Ford's mismanagement, we've seen a historic decline in access to justice due to record-high case backlogs. This past week I asked the government if they were proud of the headlines coming out about our clogged courts. They dodged the question as usual.
Ford must listen to court and tribunal staff and victims of crime and work hard to clear the backlogs in our courts expeditiously. The time for action was 2018, the year they formed government.
I met with the Ontario Bar Association, Ontario’s largest law association, this week. They presented several common-sense and straightforward recommendations to speed up our courts without compromising the justice system's integrity. I look forward to working with the OBA to bring their recommendations to the government.
Take action now! Tell Ford he must clear the backlog and get Ontario’s justice system moving again. Sign the petition here.
| NEW Canary District Residents Association |
Last weekend, I proudly participated in the launch of the Canary District Neighbourhood Association, Toronto Centre’s newest neighbourhood association!
After many years of working with the West Don Lands Committee, I am thrilled to see this vibrant community come together and organize in one of Toronto's most innovative and exciting new landmark neighbourhoods. They have already fostered connections with surrounding communities, and I am excited to see how they will grow and work together. As always, I stand ready to help!
Do you reside in the Canary District and want to get involved? Learn more here.
|
Designated Safe Zones in Rafah are Bombed |
This week, I was honoured to join CUPE Ontario’s Convention to hear the ICJ High Commissioner from South Africa speak. His words, “Inaction in the face of ongoing genocide reduces our own humanity,” are powerful. One must reflect on them when reading the news about the Israel and Hamas war.
Days ago, we saw some of the deadliest violence inflicted on civilians living in Rafah. The outcry from the international community, including from Israel’s traditional allies, condemning the killing was quick.
An assault by Israel’s military forces on tents in Tel al-Sultan unleashed horrific consequences, murdering 40-50 civilians and injuring at least 200 more. This happened a week after Israel had dropped leaflets instructing civilians to move to Tel al-Sultan as a safe zone and two days after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel’s occupying forces to halt the assault on Rafah. Despite Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (who the International Criminal Court’s Chief Prosecutor is seeking a warrant for on account of war crimes and crimes against humanity) calling the event a “tragic mistake,” Israel’s military proceeded to bomb another designated safe zone — the Al-Mawasi refugee camp — two days later, killing at least 21 more people.
Canada’s NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh condemned Israel’s attacks on civilians, calling on Trudeau to support the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court processes and impose immediate sanctions on Israel. He did so while also calling for the immediate release of hostages and a permanent ceasefire.
Israel’s reputation is becoming severely damaged as a result of their government’s plausible genocide. This was reinforced this week when Aryeh Neier, a human rights advocate whose family survived the Holocaust, and who founded the American Civil Liberties Union and Human Rights Watch, spoke on CNN, calling Israel’s war on Gazans a genocide. You can watch that interview here.
The suffering, violence and death must end. Those who have the power to stop the killing must understand that peace will not come from the launching of another missile. I will continue to pray for all those who have lost loved ones and call on the Canadian government to work towards a peaceful resolution for all people.
It is also tragic to see how acutely the war is affecting people in Toronto, both emotionally as we see mass death and devastation on our screens, but also through the acute increase in hate crimes we have seen since the conflict began. These hate crimes have largely been directed at Jewish, Muslim, and Arab people. The Toronto Star published a piece about this rise in hate that I encourage you to read. Now, more than ever, Ontario needs a robust anti-hate strategy.
| Childcare Day of Action |
Last Saturday, I was joined by Marit Stiles and passionate childcare advocates to share the Ontario NDP’s plan for childcare with the people of Cabbagetown and St James Town.
After sharing a coffee at Johnny G's Cafe, we gathered petitions signatures calling for a real childcare workforce strategy.
Let's ensure childcare workers and all families get the support they need! Add your name here.
|
Happy 135th Anniversary Trinity St Paul’s! |
On Monday, I joined the Trinity St-Paul’s United Church community to wish them a happy 135th birthday! TSP has centered the values of service, social justice, and love for their neighbour in everything they do. They have been an affirming spiritual home for so many Two-Spirit, Queer, and Trans Ontarians for decades. I cannot wait to see them grow over many more decades, especially with the unstoppable Rev. Cheri DiNovo leading them into the future.
| News about Glad Day |
As you may have heard, Glad Day Bookshop on Church Street is in financial trouble and have reached out to the community for support. You can learn more about their situation and how to support them here.
Glad Day Bookshop is the oldest Queer bookstore in the world. I first discovered them as a gay teenager, looking for stories and books reflecting my lived experience.
Over the past fifty-five years, they have evolved beyond book sales and are a bonafide cultural treasure. We can not afford to lose them. Today, Glad Day Bookshop is a non-profit community cultural space struggling through the affordability crisis we all face.
I am calling on the government to do much more to protect rare and unique cultural spaces like Glad Day from rising costs. Rising rent, insurance, and loan expenses are knee-capping small businesses and non-profit organizations across Ontario. We must find solutions. Glad Day and the Queer community need to know the government has our back 365 days a year and not just during Pride.
| Backspot Film Out Today! |
Calling all movie buffs, queer film lovers, and sports enthusiasts!
Starting today at the Yonge-Dundas Cineplex, you can watch Backspot, an incredible queer film about the brutal world of competitive cheerleading. Backspot was created by local filmmakers and features our beloved local Drag King Manny Dingo as himself!
Many of you will recognize the star, Devery Jacobs, as the face of the hit TV show Reservation Dogs. The film, produced by Elliot Page, also features a standout performance by Evan Rachel Wood.
| Upcoming Community Events |
| Toronto Public Wifi Strategy Consultation |
The City of Toronto is kicking off consultations for an expanded free public wi-fi strategy!
Beginning Thursday, May 30, the City of Toronto will hold a series of public consultations to inform an expanded Free Public Wi-Fi Strategy based on considerations including how residents use free public Wi-Fi, which City spaces could benefit from it, steps the City can take to enhance the experience of getting online and ways to monitor quality and identify areas for improvement. In addition to public consultations, the City is working with community organizations across Toronto to facilitate in-depth discussions with people with lived experience in the digital divide.
Consultations
Virtual consultations will be held on:
- Tuesday, June 18, from 1 to 2 PM
In-person consultations will be held on:
- Tuesday, June 4, from 2 to 4 PM at the Driftwood Community Recreation Centre, 4401 Jane St.
- Thursday, June 13, from 6 to 8 PM at the Heron Park Community Centre, 292 Manse Rd.
Participants have the option to join virtual consultations by phone. More information about timing, locations and dial-in details for virtual consultations can be found on the City’s website.
|
Children’s Book Bank Drag Queen Storytime |
The Children's Book Bank is hosting Drag Queen Storytime with Gila Münster this Saturday!
Date: Saturday, June 1, 2024
Time: 1:30 PM
Location: Daniels Spectrum - 585 Dundas St. E, Suite 260
The Children's Book Bank is also open Monday-Thursday in Regent Park, providing free books for kids!
Open Monday-Thursday from 10am-6pm and Friday-Saturday from 10 AM -3 PM
Where: 585 Dundas St E Suite 260
All children and families welcome! Adults must bring a child with them.
| Regent Park Summer Safety Jam! |
Daniels, TCHC, Tridel & Community Safety Partners are busy preparing for Summer Safety Jam 2024! My office will also have a table at the event!
Date: Saturday June 1
Time: 12 - 6 PM
Location: Big Park (Regent Park, 600 Dundas St. E.)
Come and enjoy:
- Halal & Veg BBQ
- Bouncy castle
- DJ & live band
- Giveaways & raffle
- Community & Revitalization updates
- Bazaar
- Kids activities
- Cotton candy & snacks
| The Village Quarterly Community Meeting |
Join the Conversation with the Toronto Police’s Quarterly Meeting in the Village. It is an opportunity to meet your neighbourhood community officers, receive updates on critical incidents and ask questions.
When: Tuesday June 4, 7 - 8 PM
Where: 518 Church Street, 2nd Floor (O’Grady’s)
| Don Yard Community Open House |
Metrolinx will be hosting an in-person community open house specifically for the work happening in the Don Yard as part of the Ontario Line project. This event offers an opportunity for the wider community to learn about the upcoming construction in the Don Yard, including the building of a new bridge that will carry the Ontario Line tracks over the DVP and Don River, as well as the cut-and-cover tunnel and portal. Additionally, you'll have the chance to meet the project constructor for the Don Yard.
Date: Wednesday, June 5
Time: 6 - 8 PM
Location: Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane
| Dixonlicious |
Don't miss this chance to be part of an unforgettable evening of delicious food and drinks in support of Dixon Hall's food programs!
When: June 6, 6 - 9 PM
Where: Daniel Spectrum, 588 Dundas Street East
Get your ticket and join the fight against food insecurity here.
| National Day Against Gun Violence |
This year marks the second annual National Day Against Gun Violence in Canada, which takes place on the first Friday of every June. Gun violence has devastating impacts on our neighbourhoods and no family is ever the same if a loved one is killed by a firearm. Central to ending gun violence and getting firearms off our streets is stopping gun violence well before it starts, this happens with prevention, community investments to address the root causes of violence.
Join us in Regent Park at Daniels Spectrum at 585 Dundas Street East on Friday June 7 for a day of reflection, conversation and education on how we can work together to end gun violence and heal for good. There will be a rally and march starting at 1 PM followed by workshops, performances and a film screening.
To reserve your spot, please click here.
| Canvass with Kristyn for the Toronto-St. Paul's By-Election |
As you may know, there is a Federal By-Election happening in Toronto St. Pauls right now after the retirement of former Minister Carolyn Bennett. Canada's NDP is running an amazing candidate, Amrit Parhar, who is a long time community organizer at the Institute for Change Leaders. I will be joining Amrit's team on Saturday June 14th at noon to help with the advanced polls. Click here to sign up and join me. You can also help our on June 8th for their day of action, or sign-up to volunteer at other times here.
|
45th Toronto International Storytelling Festival |
Storytelling Toronto's 45th annual Toronto International Storytelling Festival, Many Voices Tell A Story, will run from June 9-17, 2024, at many venues across Toronto, including Regent Park.
Storytelling Toronto is partnering with the Friends of Regent Park to host an event at the Regent Park Community Centre on Sunday, June 16, from 10:30 AM - 5 PM. Find out more here.
Kristyn Wong-Tam
Kristynwongtam.ca
May 24, 2024 Newsletter
Dear Neighbour,
Warm weather has arrived in Toronto Centre! I hope that everyone is enjoying the temperatures, spending time in our beautiful parks, and getting excited about all of the fabulous summer festivals that are coming our way these next few months. However, heat can also be dangerous. Hot apartments, working in the heat, and prolonged outdoor heat exposure can all cause heat-related illnesses. My NDP colleague MPP Peter Tabuns just launched a campaign to combat climate-driven heat stress in workplaces, in collaboration with the Ontario Federation of Labour.
The City of Toronto will open cooling centers during heat waves but also has cool spaces open all summer in the form of community centers, libraries, and more. A map of all the cool spaces in the city can be found here. So much must be done to keep people safe in the heat. I continue to push for the city and province to mandate a maximum safe indoor temperature for tenants, the same way that we have minimum temperatures in the winter.
I have also been working with the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and have met with Ontario’s Chief Coroner about heat-related deaths. This work is still in its early stages, but I hope to have an update for you soon.
On Saturday, the NDP is hosting coffee with Marit Stiles and flyering in our neighbourhood. Ontario needs properly implemented $10/day childcare, not a government that keeps dragging its feet. Ensuring safe, affordable, and high-quality childcare would make an incredible difference for Ontario families everywhere. A group of volunteers and I will be joining the Ontario NDP Leader, Marit Stiles, to talk to neighbours about childcare and listen to their priorities so that we can bring them back to Queen’s Park.
Time is running out to get your tickets to our iconic Pride and Politics fundraiser! Don’t miss out on an evening of fabulous performances, refreshments, and catching up with progressives from across the city. The ticket price is eligible for a generous tax rebate!
Yours in community service,
Kristyn
Kristyn Wong-Tam
MPP, Toronto Centre
In This Newsletter |
- Take your MPP to School Day
- Visit to Met Radio at TMU
- ICC Seeking Warrants
- Backlogs at the Human Rights Tribunal
- Therme’s Immersive Queen’s Park Experience
- New Street Food Night Market in Toronto Centre
- Inside Out Begins this Week!
- Local Community News
Take your MPP to School Day |
On Tuesday, I visited Jarvis Collegiate Institute for Take Your MPP to School Day with TDSB Trustee Deborah Williams.
We joined two grade 10 and 11 law and civics classes and had the opportunity to speak about our path to public office and how students can get involved in their local communities.
Visiting Jarvis Collegiate was eye-opening. Despite underfunding, teachers and education workers at Jarvis support students to achieve their full potential every day. Education is an investment that pays for itself, the Minister of Education should know this. Students deserve our best and I am proud to continue fighting for increased investments in education so that per-student funding grows at least at the rate of inflation.
Visit to Met Radio at TMU |
Congratulations to MET Radio on receiving the Resilient Communities Fund grant to expand your Radio Everywhere program and outreach efforts. Community radio is more important than ever for skill-building and creative expression.
Local news matters and I encourage everyone to check out their work and listen live!
ICC Seeking Warrants |
This Monday, the International Criminal Court (ICC) made history when their Chief Prosecutor announced that he is seeking to obtain arrest warrants for political leaders from the governments of both Hamas and Israel.
The three Hamas leaders are Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri, and Ismail Haniyeh. Warrants are being sought for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed on the territory of Israel and the State of Palestine as part of an illegal attack on civilians, taking hostages, and the widespread use of rape as a weapon of war.
ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan repeated the ICC’s calls for the immediate release of Israeli hostages when announcing that his office is seeking these warrants.
The ICC is a different body than the International Court of Justice (ICJ): the ICC oversees the prosecution of individuals for international crimes; the ICJ oversees the prosecution of states for international crimes. The ICC is a court of last resort. It only prosecutes cases when a state’s judicial system fails to prosecute crimes committed outside of their borders. The ICJ did also make news today by ordering Israel to halt military operations in Rafah.
The two Israeli leaders for whom warrants are being sought are Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The charges against Israeli leaders are the result of Israel’s use of starvation as a method of warfare and intentional attacks against civilians. Mr. Khan said, “Israel, like all States, has a right to take action to defend its population. That right, however, does not absolve Israel or any State of its obligation to comply with international humanitarian law. Notwithstanding any military goals they may have, the means Israel chose to achieve them in Gaza – namely, intentionally causing death, starvation, great suffering, and serious injury to body or health of the civilian population – are criminal.”
Chief ICC prosecutor Karim Khan added that, “Since last year, in Ramallah, in Cairo, in Israel and in Rafah, I have consistently emphasized that international humanitarian law demands that Israel take urgent action to immediately allow access to humanitarian aid in Gaza at scale. I specifically underlined that starvation as a method of war and the denial of humanitarian relief constitute Rome Statute offences. I could not have been clearer. As I also repeatedly underlined in my public statements, those who do not comply with the law should not complain later when my Office takes action. That day has come.”
Canada is a signatory to the Rome Statute, and I believe that Canada should defend work to realize an international rules-based order. Mr. Khan put this well when saying, “Today we once again underline that international law and the laws of armed conflict apply to all. No foot soldier, no commander, no civilian leader – no one – can act with impunity. Nothing can justify wilfully depriving human beings, including so many women and children, the basic necessities required for life. Nothing can justify the taking of hostages or the targeting of civilians.”
Put most simply, if Canada believes in an international rules-based order, Canada must accept that the rules apply to all people and all countries. Even our allies. Even ourselves.
Mr. Khan’s announcement is historic. This is the first time that the ICC has sought to obtain a warrant against leaders who are political allies of Western countries. It is unacceptable that Mr. Khan was threatened by Western governments when announcing that he was seeking these charges and told that the ICC was only “built for Africa and thugs like Putin”.
A warrant is not a conviction. If the charged leaders of Hamas and Israel are innocent, they should have nothing to fear from the kind of impassioned judicial process that the ICC administers.
Mr. Khan’s announcement that he is seeking these warrants is worth watching or reading in full.
Backlogs at the Human Rights Tribunal |
Ontario’s Human Rights Tribunal (HRTO) is badly failing Ontarians. The backlog is currently three years long and growing, despite fewer cases being received this year than in 2015. On top of that, the tribunal is delivering a shockingly low number of actual resolutions to the cases it does get through. A baffling 96% of final decisions in 2023-24 were “jurisdictional or procedural” dismissals of applications. This means that the application was closed before the applicant was able to make an oral argument or attempt mediation. 80% of the HRTO's dismissed applications are due to applicants abandoning their cases. Applicants give up because they have no legal representation or have been waiting for updates on their cases for three or more years. In many cases, even if they won the case, so much time had passed that there was no reasonable solution that could be implemented.
For some time, it has been clear to me that this government wants to destroy Ontario’s tribunals, making them so slow and ineffective that people know that filing an application is futile. This will give the government reasonable grounds to cut funding to the tribunals, privatize them, or further decimate their ability to deliver justice outside of the courts. The backlog at the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal means that it is failing to uphold its mandate and that human rights in Ontario are under severe threat. Discrimination cannot happen unchecked in Ontario, yet it currently is. That is a disgrace.
If you are interested in this issue I encourage you to read the entire press release from Tribunals Watch Ontario. They are an incredible source of information and tireless advocates for impartial, effective tribunals that serve Ontarians well.
Parody Alert! Therme’s Immersive Queen’s Park Experience |
You've heard of Therme's artificial nature spa at Ontario Place. Now get ready for their artificial Queen's Park experience, where you can imagine what it's like to have a functional provincial government.
Watch the video here!
New Street Food Night Market in Toronto Centre |
Toronto Centre is now home to a new night market, Hangout Street, where you can enjoy delicious street food right on the border between Regent Park and Corktown. Hangout Street currently houses seven restaurants in shipping containers and will remind you of Stakt Market. It is located at 181 Parliament Street, just north of Queen.
Visitors can enjoy tamales, poutine, Jordanian food, all-day breakfast, churros, and more. What a fun summer addition to our community!
Inside Out Begins Tonight! |
Tonight is the first night of Inside Out, Toronto’s 2SLGBTQIA+ film festival. If you have never attended, I encourage you to do so! Inside Out brings some of the best queer and trans films of the upcoming year to our city and you have a chance to see them before their wide release. I would especially recommend the shorts program “Local Heroes”, where short films from Toronto filmmakers are spotlit. Ontario has so much talent, behind and in front of the camera. I can’t wait to catch a few films this year.
You can find the full schedule and more information about the festival here. The festival is hosted at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, but virtual streaming options are also available for many films!
Local Community News |
Flora's Walk: A Day of Community and Remembrance |
When: May 25, 11:15 AM - 1:00 PM
Where: Allan Gardens, Toronto
Flora's journey to motherhood was filled with both joy and challenges, shining a light on the importance of mental health support during the perinatal period. Despite her unwavering determination and the love of her family, Flora tragically lost her battle with perinatal mental health just weeks after our Doula services ended. Her story serves as a poignant reminder of the need for perinatal mental health awareness and the impact of Doula support during this critical phase.
Learn more and register here.
Regent Park Summer Safety Jam! |
Daniels, TCHC, Tridel & Community Safety Partners are busy preparing for Summer Safety Jam 2024! I will be attending alongside my staff and hosting a booth, please stop by as we join the community to promote safety in Regent Park.
Date: Saturday June 1
Time: 12 - 6 PM
Location: Big Park (Regent Park, 600 Dundas St. E.)
Come and enjoy:
- Halal & Veg BBQ
- Bouncy castle
- DJ & live band
- Giveaways & raffle
- Community & Revitalization updates
- Bazaar
- Kids activities
- Cotton candy & snacks
The Village Quarterly Community Meeting |
Join the Conversation with the Toronto Police’s Quarterly Meeting in the Village. It is an opportunity to meet your neighbourhood community officers, receive updates on critical incidents and ask questions.
When: Tuesday June 4, 7 - 8 PM
Where: 518 Church Street, 2nd Floor (O’Grady’s)
Walking with the NDP in Pride |
Join the NDP as we celebrate this Pride Season in Toronto from Friday, June 28th to Sunday June 30th. There are many opportunities to get involved, from volunteering at our table to walking with us in the Parade, we would love for you to join us! For more information, check out the following links:
Don Yard Community Open House |
Metrolinx will be hosting an in-person community open house specifically for the work happening in the Don Yard as part of the Ontario Line project. This event offers an opportunity for the wider community to learn about the upcoming construction in the Don Yard, including the building of a new bridge that will carry the Ontario Line tracks over the DVP and Don River, as well as the cut-and-cover tunnel and portal. Additionally, you'll have the chance to meet the project constructor for the Don Yard.
Date: Wednesday, June 5
Time: 6 - 8 PM
Location: Young Centre for the Performing Arts, 50 Tank House Lane
Toronto International Storytelling Festival |
Storytelling Toronto's 45th annual Toronto International Storytelling Festival, Many Voices Tell A Story, will run from June 9-17, 2024, at many venues across Toronto, including Regent Park.
Storytelling Toronto is partnering with the Friends of Regent Park to host an event at the Regent Park Community Centre on Sunday, June 16, from 10:30 AM - 5 PM. Find out more here.
National Day Against Gun Violence |
This year marks the second annual National Day Against Gun Violence in Canada, which takes place on the first Friday of every June. Gun violence has devastating impacts on our neighbourhoods and no family is ever the same if a loved one is killed by a firearm. Central to ending gun violence and getting firearms off our streets is stopping gun violence well before it starts, this happens with prevention, community investments to address the root causes of violence.
Join us in Regent Park at Daniels Spectrum at 585 Dundas Street East on Friday June 7 for a day of reflection, conversation and education on how we can work together to end gun violence and heal for good. There will be a rally and march starting at 1 PM followed by workshops, performances and a film screening.
To reserve your spot, please visit the link here.
Spring Housing Clinics in Toronto Centre |
If you're on the Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) Housing Centralized Waiting List (CWL) or need help applying for RGI housing, we have great news for you!
Councillor Chris Moise’s office is collaborating with Access to Housing and Housing Help Centres to host MyAccesstoHousingTO Sign-Up Clinics for Ward 13 residents from May 9 to May 31. They are also collaborating with Social Development, Finance & Administration (SDFA) staff on two dates to provide additional services.
During these clinics, staff from Access to Housing and Housing Help Centres will be present to assist you with the following:
- Sign up on the new MyAccesstoHousingTO system to maintain your application and receive important updates;
- Assist you with application updates and explain the choice-based housing offer process and how to express interest and
- Help you with your housing application.
To best help you, please bring the following if you need help with registering your current application in the MyAccesstoHousingTO online portal:
- Proof of status in Canada for all household members;
- 2022 or most recent 2023 Notice of Assessment for all household members over the age of 16 and are working full or part-time; and
- Your housing file number.
Additional staff from Social Development & Finance Administration’s Human Services Integration will be on site on Saturday, May 11 at the Wellesley Community Centre and Thursday, May 30 at the Regent Park Community Centre to assist with the following subsidies:
- Welcome Policy recreation fee subsidy;
- Fair Pass Transit Discount Program;
- Child Care Fee Subsidy; and
- Medical benefits (incontinence supplies, hearing aids, mobility aids and more).
To learn more about the dates for these housing clinics, click here.
NIP's Service Application Support Event |
Neighbourhood Information Post’s Service Application Support Event will take place on May 30 from 10 AM to 2 PM at the Parliament Street Public Library.
They will provide help with resume preparation, applications to the Toronto Rent Bank/Energy Assistance and assist with the completion of Permanent Residence Cards.
Registration is required. Click HERE to register or call 416-924-2542.
Student Grants for Sustainable Futures |
Foundation for Environmental Stewardship, is a youth-led, youth-serving Canadian non-profit that aims to empower youth to create a more sustainable and prosperous future for all. They have officially opened up our grant application for Cycle 2 of funding! Funding for Net-Zero offers $2,500 - $15,000 grants to student-led projects across Canada, that reduce emissions at their schools (grades 6-12).
At its core, this project aims to connect students with educational and hands-on experiences for a net-zero ‘now’. The programs focus on enhancing youth climate education and action—so students can be the leaders and changemakers of a great transformation starting in their own schools.
Applications are open NOW until September 12! They’re encouraging anyone who wants to receive updates about our funding and free resources to sign up for our sign up for their mailing list.
Dixonlicious |
Don't miss this chance to be part of an unforgettable evening of delicious food and drinks in support of Dixon Hall's food programs!
When: June 6, 6 -9 PM
Where: Daniel Spectrum, 588 Dundas Street East
Get your tickets here and join the fight against food insecurity.
Toronto Centre Tenants Union Demoviction Survey |
Are you a tenant in Toronto Centre who is concerned about your home being demovicted? Want to learn more about demoviction and get involved in the tenants union?
Click here to take their survey and get connected with the Toronto Centre Tenants Union!
Regent Park’s Newest Street Needs a Name! |
Calling all community members in Regent Park! Have a knack for naming streets? TCHC needs your help naming a new street that will be built as part of Phase 4 of the revitalization, connecting Oak Street and Gerrard Street East.
Here’s your chance to leave a lasting mark on your neighbourhood! Review the City’s naming guidelines and submit your suggestion with a brief explanation to [email protected] by May 24, 2024.
Then join us at our annual Summer Safety Jam for an informal “dotmocracy” vote!
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 PM to 7:30 PM. Learn more and register here.
Regent Park Pride Community Block Party |
Join Regent Park community members for their Pride Community Block Party on June 14th from 3 PM - 9 PM on Regent Park Boulevard!
There will be live music and entertainment, local vendors, crafts and kids activities, ice cream, and a cookie bar!
My First Pride Parade Contingent 2024 |
My First Pride is coming back for its 3rd year!
Is this your first time celebrating Pride? Want to make it memorable? Looking to meet new friends? Join Pride Toronto in celebrating with My First Pride, and be a part of one of the world’s largest Pride parades.
Pride Toronto’s My First Pride Contingent is a place for anyone celebrating Pride for their first time, and who want to participate in Pride Toronto’s Pride Parade. Whether you’re a newcomer to Canada, or a new member of the 2SLGBTQI+ community, find fun, excitement and friends within this welcoming group.
Register HERE!
Songs from The Journey |
Exciting news: this year's Songs from The Journey is set to grace the stage of The Royal Conservatory of Music’s Koerner Hall on June 21st! As always, the association is committed to ensuring that Regent Park residents have the opportunity to attend. To facilitate this, we're offering complimentary tickets for community members, alongside round-trip transportation between Regent Park and Koerner Hall on Friday, June 21, 2024.
The attached flyer provides information on the availability of free tickets for pickup at Daniels Spectrum starting Tuesday, May 14, 2024.
Good Food Market Corktown |
I was thrilled to join Corktown neighbours at the Little Trinity Good Food Market launch at 425 King Street East last week. This program runs every Wednesday from 5 to 7 PM. They offer affordable groceries, which are hard to come by these days. Thank you to Little Trinity Church & FoodShareTO, for teaming up to tackle food insecurity.
May 17 2024 Newsletter
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10 May 2024 Newsletter
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Dear Ben, I am pleased to share with you that Toronto Centre elected our federal candidate this past Saturday, Dr. Samantha Green!
Samantha is a beloved and respected family doctor in Regent Park, University of Toronto professor, and a long-time advocate focusing on climate action and social justice. She is deeply connected to Toronto Centre and is raising three energetic children with her husband in Moss Park. I am excited for you to meet Samantha and feel her overflowing joy and commitment to make our communities the best that they can be by investing in our people, neighbourhoods and public services. You can learn more about Samantha here, and watch out for her at our upcoming canvasses and community events. One exciting event that you will certainly catch Samantha at is our upcoming Pride and Politics fundraiser!
The Toronto Centre NDP Riding Association is hosting a joyful Pride & Politics fundraiser at the iconic Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Enjoy captivating drag performances by Messy Margaret and Amora, refreshments, and a chance to celebrate Pride while supporting the Ontario NDP! Join us Thursday, June 6, 2024, at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander Street, Toronto. I am so excited by the strong NDP energy that is coming out of Toronto Centre right now!
This Mother's Day, I want to honour the incredible mothers in my life, especially my own mother, Mee Ling and my mother-in-law, Maggie. Throughout my wife's treatment, they showed unwavering support by caring for our son daily, allowing Farrah to heal and me to continue working. Even during the most challenging times, their love and presence have been a beacon of strength. They provided our son with care, support, and a safety net, showing us the true meaning of motherhood. So much love also goes to Farrah for being such a wonderful mother to our son; even in the hardest year, you have worked tirelessly to be present for him every day with care and compassion. I cherish our journey as mothers together, and raising our son fills me with hope for building a better world. Happy Mother's Day to everyone celebrating this weekend, and to those who find the day complicated, may you be surrounded by love that brings you ease. Yours in community service, Kristyn
Kristyn Wong-Tam MPP, Toronto Centre
Next week, I will likely have the opportunity to debate the underfunding of Ontario’s public elementary and high schools. If this issue affects your family, I want to hear about it and bring your stories to the Conservative government. Reply to this email with your story; I will do my best to incorporate it into my speech!
The bill I am co-sponsoring with MPP Catherine Fife, Lydia's Law, will be debated in the legislature on May 15 at 6 PM. This important legislation seeks to bring accountability and transparency to the handling of sexual assault cases in Ontario. Lydia’s Law is named in honour of Lydia, a survivor of sexual assault who was forced to wait for almost two years to see justice. She does not want other young women to experience this painful delay in justice. You can read more about Lydia’s Law and sign the petition in support here.
This ban imposed by the Speaker is grossly unjust and unfair. The keffiyeh is a cultural piece of clothing like many others. It should be allowed so that Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim Ontarians can express their culture in their seat of government. This week, we had a partial win, as the ban was lifted in the legislative precinct, meaning that it can be worn in all parts of the building except for the legislative chamber, including the public, media and Speaker’s galleries. While this is a step in the right direction, many people, including the influential editorial boards of Canada’s largest media outlets, agree that this selective rule is out of step with even the UN and the Israeli parliament. Doug Ford needs to do the right thing and move a government motion to reverse the ban. The Speaker has made it clear that procedurally, a government motion is the only thing that will change his mind. He has told us that an Opposition Day Motion would not change anything, which is frustrating. It is heartbreaking that we have to fight over something so simple and symbolic when Palestinians and Israeli hostages in Rafah are facing air strikes and a ground offensive on a massive scale. Hundreds of thousands of people, many of them children, are now being told to flee the last place in Gaza that they were told was safe. With borders closed and aid trucks blocked, there is nowhere that is ready to receive this massive influx of people already dealing with injuries, hunger, and massive trauma. The next few days are likely to be horrific. Please keep your eyes on Rafa this weekend, and if you can, show up in solidarity at the student encampments at the University of Toronto. The division that the Speaker’s ruling is worsening is a real threat. I am deeply aware of the rising tide of antisemitism, islamophobia, and anti-Palestinian racism in our society — and I am committed to fighting it wherever it appears. I have repeatedly called on the Ontario government to develop a real anti-hate strategy with full funding to combat rising antisemitism, islamophobia, and anti-Palestinian hate. This plan would have been a wonderful thing to unveil on Monday in acknowledgement of Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), but instead, this government continued to fail to address hate in Ontairo.
On Thursday, I had the honour of speaking to my colleague MPP Wayne Gates’ motion to establish an Ontario Caregiver Benefit. This benefit would compensate the millions of caregivers in Ontario who provide care on a full-time or part-time basis to a loved one, something that they currently do out of the goodness of their hearts. Currently, this care often comes at a financial cost to the caregiver, most of whom are women. These caregivers sometimes even leave their jobs or cut back on their hours to accommodate their caregiving responsibilities. It’s long past time to provide a benefit for the people who are putting in long hours to make sure loved ones are cared for. During my speaking time, I was able to share my family's story of caregiving. Over the past year, as my wife has gone through cancer treatments, my family has been incredibly blessed to be surrounded by a team of joyful, loving caregivers in the form of our friends and family. They have been indispensable, caring for Farrah, attending appointments with her, spending time with our son, and making sure we have prepared food when there was no time to cook. The MVP in all of this has been my mom, who has stepped up to care for Farrah, my son, and my father, who also received a cancer diagnosis this year. Mom has always been the strongest person in my life, and I am so lucky to have her. You can listen to my speech here. Nova Scotia has a program that offers caregiver benefits. This motion would let Ontario join as a leader in this important initiative.
The Ontario NDP has publicly released nearly 4,000 pages of government records that we believe provide further evidence about the Ford government’s corrupt Greenbelt scheme. Obtained via Freedom of Information request from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the documents reveal Ford government officials covering their tracks and concealing their intentions to give preferential treatment to certain speculators as they planned to remove 7,400 acres of land from the Greenbelt. The documents also point to officials in the Premier’s office having greater involvement in the Greenbelt scheme than was previously disclosed. On Monday, NDP MPPs questioned the Auditor General and ministry officials at a Public Accounts Committee hearing to review the AG’s special report on the government’s changes to the Greenbelt. The FOI records include the following revelations:
This past Sunday, I attended the Forsythia Festival in Cabbagetown, and it was a massive amount of fun, as it always is! I donned my yellow-est outfit and was thrilled to walk in the parade with our new Federal NDP candidate, Samantha Green and the Cabbagetown community. Happy Forsythia Festival!
Join The 519 during Rainbow Week of Action – together with our communities, allies, and partner organizations serving LGBTQ+ refugees – to amplify our urgent plea for support for LGBTQ+ refugees. It will be held from 11 AM to 1:30 PM at Barbara Hall Park! I will be there to speak, and joined by Fae Johnstone, Executive Director and Co-Owner of Wisdom2Action (W2A), Lisa Duplessis, Director of Programs and Community Services, and Debbie Douglas, Executive Director of the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI).
If you have questions about the event feel free to email [email protected] or visit ArmyofLovers.ca.
Isabella Street is one of Toronto's most rapidly changing streets, with many high-rise towers proposed along its length. Canadian musician Neil Young lived on the street in the 1960s. The opening lyrics to his song Ambulance Blues discuss the neighbourhood and redevelopment of the street in the 1960s "Back in the old folky days The air was magic when we played The riverboat was rockin' in the rain Midnight was the time for the raid Oh, Isabella, proud Isabella They tore you down and plowed you under You're only real with your make-up on How could I see you and stay too long?" The tour will start in front of the ArQuives (34 Isabella Street) at 11:00 AM on Saturday, May 11, 2024. This walking tour will cover the history of Isabella Street and then wind its way through the Upper Jarvis and Church-Wellesley Village. Particular focus will be on the area's rich music history (including the neighbourhood haunts and hangs of Neil Young, Frank Sinatra, Elvis, the Rolling Stones, and Gordon Lightfoot). There will also be a focus on the area's 2SLGBTQ+ history and how development is changing the neighbourhood. The tour will last 1½ to 2 hours. The tour will end at Barbara Hall Park where the 519 Church Street Community Centre and Dead Dog Records are hosting a vinyl records swap/sale from 11.00 AM to 3.00 PM. For more information on the sale, please click here.
St James Town Residents Council is very proud to announce their final symposium program & lineup for their St James Town 2024 SUMMIT - Emerging Innovations & Ideas. Join on May 11 from 9 AM to 3 PM for a gathering of some of the most vibrant & dynamic emerging grassroots organizations of current & future game changers in St James Town & Toronto Centre! The event will be held at the Wellesley Community Centre, 495 Sherbourne Street. Please register via [email protected].
Dates: May 14-19, 2024 Location: Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas St E) The Paprika Festival, is a youth-run performing arts festival celebrating the work of young and emerging artists in the GTA every May in Regent Park. The festival is coming up, running May 14-19 at Daniels Spectrum The entire festival is free / by-donation and designed so that folks can come by any night to hang out, meet other people, do something fun, and then catch a performance. Check out the festival website and see what's going on! Folks can book FREE tickets to any in-person festival performance in Aki Studio directly through the Native Earth Box Office, and reserve your spot for community events in Daniels Spectrum Community Living Room and Terrace via Eventbrite.
Are you a tenant in Toronto Centre who is concerned about your home being demovicted? Want to learn more about demoviction and get involved in the tenants union? Click here to take their survey and get connected with the Toronto Centre Tenants Union!
If you're on the Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) Housing Centralized Waiting List (CWL) or need help applying for RGI housing, we have great news for you! Councillor Chris Moise’s office is collaborating with Access to Housing and Housing Help Centres to host MyAccesstoHousingTO Sign-Up Clinics for Ward 13 residents from May 9 to May 31. They are also collaborating with Social Development, Finance & Administration (SDFA) staff on two dates to provide additional services. During these clinics, staff from Access to Housing and Housing Help Centres will be present to assist you with the following:
To best help you, please bring the following if you need help with registering your current application in the MyAccesstoHousingTO online portal:
Additional staff from Social Development & Finance Administration’s Human Services Integration will be on site on Saturday, May 11 at the Wellesley Community Centre and Thursday, May 30 at the Regent Park Community Centre to assist with the following subsidies:
To learn more about the dates for these housing clinics, click here.
Calling all community members in Regent Park! Have a knack for naming streets? TCHC needs your help naming a new street that will be built as part of Phase 4 of the revitalization, connecting Oak Street and Gerrard Street East. Here’s your chance to leave a lasting mark on your neighbourhood! Review the City’s naming guidelines and submit your suggestion with a brief explanation to [email protected] by May 24, 2024. Then join us at our annual Summer Safety Jam for an informal “dotmocracy” vote!
The 519's Health Justice Hub is hosting Workshop Wednesdays on Housing Rights and Tenant Organizing every Wednesday from 6 PM to 7:30 PM. Learn more and register here.
Join Regent Park community members for their Pride Community Block Party on June 14th from 3 PM - 9 PM on Regent Park Boulevard! There will be live music and entertainment, local vendors, crafts and kids activities, ice cream, and a cookie bar!
My First Pride is coming back for its 3rd year! Is this your first time celebrating Pride? Want to make it memorable? Looking to meet new friends? Join Pride Toronto in celebrating with My First Pride, and be a part of one of the world’s largest Pride parades. Pride Toronto’s My First Pride Contingent is a place for anyone celebrating Pride for their first time, and who want to participate in Pride Toronto’s Pride Parade. Whether you’re a newcomer to Canada, or a new member of the 2SLGBTQI+ community, find fun, excitement and friends within this welcoming group. Register HERE!
Exciting news: this year's Songs from The Journey is set to grace the stage of The Royal Conservatory of Music’s Koerner Hall on June 21st! As always, the association is committed to ensuring that Regent Park residents have the opportunity to attend. To facilitate this, we're offering complimentary tickets for community members, alongside round-trip transportation between Regent Park and Koerner Hall on Friday, June 21, 2024. The attached flyer provides information on the availability of free tickets for pickup at Daniels Spectrum starting Tuesday, May 14, 2024.
I was thrilled to join Corktown neighbours at the Little Trinity Good Food Market launch at 425 King Street East last week. This program runs every Wednesday from 5 to 7 PM. They offer affordable groceries, which are hard to come by these days. Thank you to Little Trinity Church & FoodShareTO, for teaming up to tackle food insecurity.
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May 3, 2024 Newsletter
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Dear Sasha, Spring has sprung! After a very rainy April, it fills me with joy to see flowers blooming, trees thriving, and people heading outside all over Toronto Centre to enjoy the beautiful sunshine. This weekend will be a busy one in the riding, and I can’t wait to see everyone out and about!
On Saturday, the Toronto Centre NDP is hosting their Federal Nomination Meeting, where we will choose who will run for the NDP in the next federal election. We have two incredible candidates, Brian Chang and Samantha Green. Any riding would be lucky to have either of these high-quality candidates running for them, so we in Toronto Centre have an important choice to make! If you are a member in good standing of the NDP and live in Toronto Centre, you can vote in the nomination! You may confirm your membership status by emailing [email protected]. Please know that you must have signed up as a member 45 days before May 4, 2024 to be eligible to vote. Voting in the nominations process is a fantastic way to participate in your local democracy and it is one of the few times where your vote holds the most direct power. If you are not an NDP member in Toronto Centre, you are still welcome to attend as an observer. The nomination meeting will be held in the afternoon of Saturday, May 4th, in the gymnasium at Winchester Junior & Senior Public School, located at 15 Prospect Street (near Parliament & Ontario Street). Registration begins at 1 PM and closes at 2 PM sharp. Make sure you are registered before 2 PM to ensure that you receive your ballot and are able to vote. Please note, you will not be able to vote, if you are not in line to register by 1:59PM. Sunday will be another fun and busy day! The Toronto Marathon is happening in the morning and it travels along the perimeter of Toronto Centre along Yonge Street, Rosedale Valley Road, Bayview Avenue, and Front Street. I wish all of the runners a safe and fun race. On days when Toronto is hosting big sporting events including charity runs and marathons, the regular commute can be more complex. I encourage you to plan ahead, check TTC notices, give yourself extra time, and use these interactive maps to understand which roads will be closed.
The annual Forsythia Festival will also be held on Sunday, and I can’t wait. I will be joining hundreds of families from the Cabbagetown community, wearing yellow, to welcome spring and celebrate the blooming of the forsythia. Come out and join me in the festivities with our soon-to-be elected new federal candidate. Be there to congratulate them in their first official function as the NDP flagbearer when the federal election is called. The Forsythia Festival Parade will start at the corner of Sumach and Winchester Street at 10:30 AM (please be at the corner by 10:15 AM wearing something yellow). After the parade, join us at Wellesley Park from 11 AM to 3 PM. This annual neighbourhood celebration will include fun activities, a bouncy castle, a magician, a beer garden and more. See you there!
May is Jewish Heritage Month! Across Toronto, the Jewish community has made invaluable contributions to the cultural tapestry of our city, from the bustling streets of Kensington Market to the historic synagogues dotting our neighbourhoods. Jewish heritage and history are woven into the very fabric of our province. Despite the strides we've taken, antisemitism remains an issue we must all work together to address. Let's come together to honour Jewish Heritage Month and redouble our efforts to safeguard the well-being of every member of our community by eliminating hatred in all its forms. Yom HaShoah or Holocaust Remembrance Day begins on Sunday, May 5 and ends at nightfall Monday, May 6. It is a day of commemoration for the six million Jewish people and five million others who perished in the Holocaust due Nazi persecution. The horrible consequences of the Holocaust are not just stories of the past but lessons for today and the future. To say, “Never again, never forget” is an act of love and resistance. Love for all human life and human rights — resistance against all tyranny and the destruction of others. Putting the lessons of the Holocaust into action means we rise against discrimination, violence and hate in all its forms, especially and including antisemitism.
The month of May is also Asian Heritage Month, a great opportunity to recognize the many contributions of the diverse Asian community in Ontario and Canada. Asians have faced multiple hardships in Canadian history from the racist policies turning away the Komagata Maru, Japanese internment camps or the Chinese Head Tax & Exclusion Act to the rise of Anti-Asian racism during SARS & COVID. These experiences cannot be forgotten nor the lessons learned. Asian Canadians are proud to call Canada home and we are determined to work together to build up a stronger and more just country for all. Let’s celebrate our heritage and honour the countless sacrifices of those who came before us. Happy Asian Heritage Month! 祝大家亞太裔加拿大人傳統月快樂! Yours in community service, Kristyn
Kristyn Wong-Tam MPP, Toronto Centre
Caregivers across Ontario do essential, often unpaid work to support their loved ones. It’s time we recognize the value of this incredibly important and intensive work. The Ontario NDP has long championed creating a benefit to compensate this invaluable but often unpaid labour. This Thursday, the house will vote on NDP MPP Wayne Gates' motion to create an Ontario Caregivers' Benefit.Any one of us could become a caregiver for a loved one. We need to make sure the tools are available when they’re needed. This benefit does not negate the importance of expanding our existing homecare and long-term care system, which is failing seniors and those with disabilities in Ontario — but would fix a significant hole in our safety net that most families confront during their lives.
The Toronto Centre NDP Riding Association is hosting a joyful Pride & Politics fundraiser at the iconic Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Enjoy iconic drag performances by Messy Margaret and Amora, light refreshments, and a chance to celebrate Pride while supporting the NDP! Join us Thursday, June 6, 2024, at Buddies in Bad Times, 12 Alexander Street, Toronto.
Student movements have been society's moral compass for generations. Their tactics are often blunt and bring powerful establishments great discomfort. That's the point. Students know firsthand what it feels like to be overpowered. Everyone should listen to the pain and grief students feel watching the plausible genocide Gaza. The right to peacefully protest is integral to our democracy. Our university campuses have always been protected spaces for free speech and the free exchange of ideas. Campuses must also be safe spaces for students of all backgrounds. I know that many Jewish students are feeling particularly vulnerable on university campuses during a time of increased antisemitism. There is no place for antisemitism in our communities, our places of work or in our schools. I hope to see student and faculty leadership and university administrations strive to ensure that all students are safe. I visited the U of T encampment yesterday and it was extremely peaceful. Students were requesting garbage bags to ensure they could take care of the grounds and maintain a safe space for everyone. I encourage university administrations to engage with students and faculty to hear their concerns and keep campuses safe and peaceful.
For six straight years, education funding has failed to keep pace with inflation under this Conservative government's watch. This chronic underfunding, to the tune of $2.7 billion, has left our education system facing significant challenges: larger class sizes, teacher and education worker shortages, and a worsening crisis in mental health and violence. This week, we learned that even as our schools are in crisis, Ford is once again providing annual funding that falls below the rate of inflation and enrollment growth, while claiming that it was a historically high investment. Since 2018, education funding is down $1,357 per student when accounting for inflation; a total of $2.7 billion overall. Doug Ford and Stephen Lecce shouldn't balance their books at the expense of our kids. Students deserve the necessary support to succeed. The government’s announcement this week only increases per-student funding by 1.9% this year, well below Budget 2024’s predicted inflation rate of 2.6% for 2024. While additional supports for reading and math are welcome, they are meaningless if children don’t have teachers. Right now, specialized teachers are being pulled from their assignments to cover classrooms. We need to see an education plan that respects our hardworking teachers, education workers, and principals who allow our schools to function everyday. That means addressing staff shortages, the lack of mental health support, and the increasing challenge of violence.
Doug Ford’s patronage appointments only continued this week, with a former PC Party Vice-President receiving an Ontario Judgeship. Judicial appointments in Ontario should be based on merit, not political affiliation, yet Doug Ford continues to openly admit that he wants Ontario’s judges to be “like-minded” and that he is purposefully appointing conservative-leaning judges. The Ontario NDP and I will continue to advocate for a well-staffed, impartial judiciary that keeps Ontarians safe and moves cases through the court process efficiently.
The Ford PCs announced this week that they are opening a new regional office in Ottawa If this improves services for the people of Ottawa or makes coordination between the provincial and federal governments, then I welcome it. However, Ford has appointed a former PC candidate to head this new regional office, following his pattern of patronage appointments regardless of merit. I find it hard to believe that this failed Conservative candidate is the best person for the job when he famously skipped out on an opportunity to connect with voters during his campaign.
In honour of Doctor’s Day in Ontario on May 1st, let us recognize your Doctor! If your physician practices or lives in Toronto Centre, we will send them a token of our appreciation. Tag them in my post on social media, DM me, or email my office at [email protected] with you doctor’s contact information! If you are one of the many people in Toronto Centre looking for a doctor, you can reach out to Ontario’s Healthcare Connect. Their mandate is to connect Ontarians with primary healthcare providers.
Are you a youth pursuing construction related post-secondary studies? Apply for the BOLT Award and receive up to $5,000 towards tuition costs. Wide range of programs qualify, including urban planning, civil, mechanical, electrical engineering, architecture, sustainable energy and building technology, and so much more! Application deadline is May 10th, 2024. Applications and more details can be found here
I was thrilled to join Corktown neighbours at the Little Trinity Good Food Market launch at 425 King Street East last week. This program runs every Wednesday from 5 to 7 PM. They offer affordable groceries, which are hard to come by these days. Thank you to Little Trinity Church & FoodShareTO, for teaming up to tackle food insecurity.
On May 9th, Aditi Mehta will lead the last Ask Series event on the topic of "Youth, Race, and Faith in Toronto’s Regent Park". Aditi Mehta, Assistant Professor of Urban Studies at @uoft, will explore the importance of incorporating diverse perspectives, particularly those of Black and Muslim youth, in urban studies to better understand intersectional identities and built environment experiences. Don't miss this transformative discussion on inclusive urban studies. The event will take place from 6 to 8 pm at 540 Dundas Street E, childminding and refreshments. You can sign up and register here!
Join The 519 during Rainbow Week of Action – together with our communities, allies, and partner organizations serving LGBTQ+ refugees – to amplify our urgent plea for support for LGBTQ+ refugees. It will be held from 11 AM to 1:30 PM at Barbara Hall Park! I will be there to speak, and joined by Fae Johnstone, Executive Director and Co-Owner of Wisdom2Action (W2A), Lisa Duplessis, Director of Programs and Community Services, and Debbie Douglas, Executive Director of the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI).
If you have questions about the event feel free to email [email protected] or visit ArmyofLovers.ca.
St James Town Residents Council is very proud to announce their final symposium program & lineup for their St James Town 2024 SUMMIT - Emerging Innovations & Ideas. Join on May 11 from 9 AM to 3 PM for a gathering of some of the most vibrant & dynamic emerging grassroots organizations of current & future game changers in St James Town & Toronto Centre! The event will be held at the Wellesley Community Centre, 495 Sherbourne Street. Please register via [email protected].
Exciting news: this year's Songs from The Journey is set to grace the stage of The Royal Conservatory of Music’s Koerner Hall on June 21st! As always, the association is committed to ensuring that Regent Park residents have the opportunity to attend. To facilitate this, we're offering complimentary tickets for community members, alongside round-trip transportation between Regent Park and Koerner Hall on Friday, June 21, 2024. The attached flyer provides information on the availability of free tickets for pickup at Daniels Spectrum starting Tuesday, May 14, 2024.
The 519's Health Justice Hub is hosting Workshop Wednesdays on Housing Rights and Tenant Organizing every Wednesday from 6 PM to 7:30 PM. Learn more and register here.
Are you in need of income support? Have questions about ODSP, OW, Old Age Security, CPP, EI, or other free/low-cost resources? St. Michael’s is running workshops on income support programs for agencies and service providers. If you would like to host a workshop, contact Naomi at her email [email protected] 416-864-6060 ex 76806.
Prepare your taste buds because The Regent Park Cafe is opening its doors at The Daniel Spectrum (585 Dundas St East, first floor) and they’re ready to party! It's a vibrant hub of local foods, flavors, passionate entrepreneurs and community connections. They are open weekly from Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 8 PM. Join them to indulge in delicious bites and meaningful interactions. And stay in the loop with all the excitement – follow them on Instagram for exclusive updates here.
The Cabbagetown Festival is one of Toronto’s longest-running and most beloved street festivals, and this year it will be returning, bigger than ever! They are inviting over 75,000 locals and visitors across the GTA to enjoy a family-friendly, entertainment-packed weekend, including live music performances, fantastic food, Kid’s Zone, and over 200 unique vendors from Cabbagetown and beyond! The festival is primed to become one of the most-anticipated events in Toronto! Starting at $230 for the lowest vendor level for two days, they invite business owners to apply to join them as a vendor as we celebrate this milestone. Dates: September 7 and 8 Location: Parliament Street and Carlton Street, Cabbagetown, Toronto Apply and pay by May 31 to take advantage of this early-bird pricing! Prices go up June 1, as long as space remains available!
Toronto Public Health (TPH) encourages eligible residents to get vaccinated against mpox (formerly monkeypox) after confirming an increase in cases since the start of the year. To provide low-barrier, convenient, and equitable access to vaccination, TPH is hosting a series of clinics starting April 3. Walk-in and booked appointments are available. You can book appointments here. The vaccine is free of charge, and an OHIP card is not required. In addition to TPH-hosted clinics, residents can inquire about vaccine availability where they currently access sexual healthcare services. Eligible individuals who have not been vaccinated against mpox are encouraged to get their first dose of the vaccine as soon as possible, with a second dose given at least 28 days later. The vaccine becomes most effective after two weeks. Individuals planning to travel soon are encouraged to get vaccinated before leaving, as cases are being reported in various regions around the world. Vaccination can protect against the mpox virus and help reduce serious symptoms. Individuals who received a smallpox vaccination in the past are not protected against mpox. They should get vaccinated against mpox as soon as possible for the best protection.For more information including eligibility requirements, visit the City’s mpox webpage here. |
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Toronto Centre NDP · 65 Shuter St, Box 81, Toronto, ON M5B 1B2, Canada |
April 26, 2024 Newsletter
Dear Neighbour,
Our advocacy is working. Regular people and the media are waking up to the fact that Ontario’s justice system is not serving those who need to access it and that the endless court backlogs are making our communities less safe and less equitable places to live.
This week, I was invited to speak on The Agenda with Steve Paikin about Ontario’s court backlogs and our failing justice system. Lawyer Stephanie DiGiuseppe from Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP and intimate partner violence survivor Cait Alexander joined me. Ontario’s administration of justice is falling apart. Serious charges are being dropped simply because of unconstitutional trial delays.
Drunk driving, sexual assault, and human trafficking cases are being thrown out. This is heartbreaking and demoralizing for the many survivors who bared their souls on the stand for nothing. At the same time, over 80% of people in detention centres on any given day are awaiting trial. They have not been convicted of any crime and may be innocent. Yet they are forced to wait in custody while their families scramble to cover childcare, make up for lost income, and deal with the emotional upheaval of having a loved one in custody.
Ford is doing nothing to address the backlogs. Court staff shortages are preventing victims from receiving justice, but he is not taking the decisive action we need to solve this problem and hire more workers. The Ontario NDP and I will continue to demand that our crumbling court system receive the investments and attention it needs to serve our province and keep our communities safe. All Ontarians deserve justice in a timely and efficient manner.
Watch my segment on the Agenda: Is Ontario's Justice System Failing Victims? | TVO Today
In addition to the crisis in our justice system, the affordable housing emergency in Ontario is reaching a fever pitch. I know many tenants in Toronto Centre are at risk of demoviction, experiencing precarious housing, and battling rising rents. These problems are endemic across the city and the province. The Ontario government must commit to building deeply affordable purpose-built rental homes, something the private sector will not do for us as its corporate objective is to create shareholder wealth, not public housing.
It has been disappointing to see the PC government downgrade their goal of 1.5 million homes to 1.5 million “spaces” so that they can count long-term care beds and dormitory rooms as permanent housing, a unit of measure not agreed to by the Canadian Housing Mortgage Corporation. This is the kind of slippery behaviour we know Ford for, but it is still disappointing and deserving of pushback. We must build homes for people, not profit. We need real and serious solutions to Ontario's housing crisis.
That is why your Official Opposition NDP tabled a motion this week calling for the government to “take decisive action to increase the supply of affordable and non-market housing.” We don’t just need McMansions on the Greenbelt or AirBnB condo flips; we need actual homes built where people want to live that are truly affordable, stable, and not controlled by foreign investors just looking for the largest return on their investment. Housing is a human right. Let's start treating it like one. Join me and sign the petition here.
Yours in community service,
Kristyn Wong-Tam
MPP, Toronto Centre
In this Newsletter |
- Federal Nomination Candidates Debate
- On Sale Now: Pride & Politics Fundraiser!
- Keffiyeh Ban Fight Continues
- AGI Townhall
- Canvass with Kristyn
- TDSB Facing Major Funding Shortfall
- Lydia’s Law - Justice for Survivors
- Happy Passover
- Community Cleanups
- Local Community News
Federal Nomination Candidates Debate |
The Toronto Centre NDP is hosting a Federal Candidates Debate on Monday, April 29th, at 6:30 PM.
The debate will take place virtually on Zoom, hosted by yours truly, Kristyn Wong-Tam.
During the debate, you'll hear from our exceptional candidates, Brian Chang and Samantha Green, as they outline their experience and policy positions, describe their background, and explain why they're the best people to represent the NDP in Toronto Centre for the next federal election.
On Sale Now: Pride & Politics Fundraiser! |
The Toronto Centre NDP Riding Association is hosting a joyful Pride & Politics fundraiser at the iconic Buddies in Bad Times Theatre.
Enjoy iconic drag performances by Messy Margaret and Amora, light refreshments, and a chance to celebrate Pride while supporting the NDP!
Join us Thursday, June 6, 2024, at Buddies in Bad Times, 12 Alexander Street, Toronto.
Keffiyeh Ban Fight Continues |
As I detailed in last week's newsletter, the Speaker of the Ontario Legislative Assembly has ruled that keffiyehs are political symbols and should not be worn at the Ontario Legislature. I strongly disagree with the Speaker’s position, as the keffiyeh is, first and foremost, an important cultural symbol for Arabs with a history going back to the 7th century.
On Thursday, the Ontario NDP, for the third time, tried to reverse this racist and discriminatory ban. A ban that shamefully forced political staff, Ontario Public Service staff, interns, stakeholders, and the general public to remove an important cultural symbol of their identity from entering the democratic House of all Ontarians.
This fight is on behalf of Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim residents, but it is also a fight for all of us. Everyone should be free to wear their cultural attire and symbols in the Legislature. This ban threatens that freedom for everyone and sets a dangerous precedent. My friend, MPP Joel Harden, articulated this point very well by wearing his family’s tartan in the chamber, which the British once banned for being tied to Scottish culture and, therefore, a threat to their rule.
Marit Stiles states in her letter, “Wearing cultural & national clothing items in our Assembly is something we should be proud of. It is part of the story of who we are as a province. Palestinians are part of that story, and the keffiyeh is significant not only to them but to many in the Arab and Muslim community.”
Shortly after we made our letter public, all other party leaders, including the Premier, came out in agreement.
Following this letter, we put forward a unanimous consent motion to acknowledge that the keffiyeh is a culturally significant item and should be permitted to be worn in the house. This failed, with conservative MPPs voting against it. You can watch that happen here.
Yesterday, MPP Sara Jama was asked to leave the chamber for daring to defy the keffiyeh ban. She rightly refused to follow such an unjust rule.
We will keep the pressure on the Ford government to reverse the keffiyeh ban. They have a majority government and entirely control the Standing Orders (the procedural rules that govern Queen's Park). Ford can prove that his opposition to the ban is sincere at any time by moving a motion to overrule the Speaker. Despite what he says, Ford does have the power to make that change. Please sign our petition and join the call to reverse the keffiyeh ban here.
AGI Townhall |
NDP Housing Critic MPP Jessica Bell is hosting a town hall to help tenants challenge Above Guideline Increases (AGIs). Know your rights and learn to advocate for yourself in the face of rental increases!
When: Wednesday, May 1, 6:30 PM - 8 PM
Where: Meeting Room at Friends House, 60 Lowther Avenue, OR ONLINE
All are welcome! RSVP 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.
TDSB Budget Townhall - Major Funding Shortfall |
On Wednesday, April 16, TDSB board Chair Rachel Chernos Lin wrote a public letter to Minister of Education Stephen Lecce warning that funding shortfalls will jeopardize student and community programming.
The TDSB has already cut $64.7 million from its spending, and trustees approved an additional reduction of $17 million earlier this month. Despite these reductions, the school board still faces a $26.5 million deficit for the 2025/2026 school year.
I encourage you to learn more about these issues and work with parents, education workers, and students to advocate for high-quality public schools. Students receiving high-quality public education isn’t just a parents' issue. A well-educated population with strong critical thinking skills makes every community better.
The TDSB is holding a series of roundtables across the city for parents to learn more about what’s at stake. I encourage you to attend.
Central Budget Town Hall
When: Tuesday, April 30, 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Where: In Person in the TDSB Boardroom, 5050 Yonge Street, Toronto, or Online via Zoom
Please RSVP online here.
RentSafeTO Strengthened |
The City of Toronto is expanding the scope of the RentSafeTO program to help tenants living in apartment buildings that don't meet safety standards. This will include increased inspections, from every three years to every two, and greater enforcement abilities.
You can learn more about the program here and read more about the updates to the program here.
Lydia’s Law - Justice for Survivors |
The bill I am co-sponsoring with MPP Catherine Fife, Lydia's Law, will be debated in the legislature on May 15 at 6 PM.
This legislation seeks to bring accountability and transparency to the handling of sexual assault cases in Ontario.
Lydia’s Law is named in honour of Lydia, a survivor of sexual assault who was forced to wait for almost two years to see justice. She does not want other young women to experience this painful delay in justice.
These delays are not just delays, however. If they go on long enough, they turn into denials of justice.
In 2016, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled on R vs. Jordan, establishing deadlines for completing a trial—30 months in Superior Court and 18 months in provincial and youth courts.
Since the Jordan ruling came into effect in the summer of 2016, 86 Ontario sexual assault cases have been thrown out due to delays, which is a quarter of all Jordan applications filed in the sexual assault cases in that time frame (as of November 2023).
The Jordan ruling holds Ontario courts to a standard of efficiency, which is admirable. We do not want to see trials delayed and delayed and delayed. The problem is that Ontario courts are understaffed and have not been scaled up to meet the increase in population that we have experienced. And so many cases are being thrown out simply due to delays. This is a failure of our justice system. We need a justice system where the Jordan ruling lights a fire under the justice system to keep courts moving efficiently, not set them an impossible task.
Lydia’s Law calls on the Attorney General to take recommendations one and three from the Auditor General’s 2019 report. The bill also requires the Attorney General to review the efficiency of the Victim Quick Response Program as a replacement for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board in supporting survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking and report the results to the Assembly within one year. Finally, every police service that receives a sexual assault complaint from a person who is 16 years of age or older shall make the person aware of the Independent Legal Advice Program that is delivered through Ontario Victim Services of the Ministry of the Attorney General.
Happy Passover |
Chag Pesach Sameach to all who celebrate. Passover commemorates the liberation of the Ancient Hebrews from slavery in Egypt and their journey to freedom. I have had the pleasure of attending many Passover celebrations over the years. This Passover, I had the opportunity to host a Seder dinner of my own for the first time.
Thank you to Judy Perly from the Free Times Cafe for catering our delicious Seder meal. We gathered around the Seder plate, enjoyed traditional foods and discussed the story of the Jews' exodus from Egypt and oppression. Passover reminds us to fight for a future where we all can live in peace, dignity, and safety. I wish everyone in Toronto Centre and beyond a very happy Passover.
Community Cleanups |
The rain and snow didn't stop community members from helping at Community Clean Ups in Toronto Centre. I stopped by St. Lawrence, Corktown, and Regent Park to join friends and neighbours in making Toronto a cleaner and healthier city. Thanks to everyone, especially local organizers, who took part in this great initiative!
Michelle Senayah Lane |
I met Michelle Senayah over a decade ago, and during that time, we worked together to build up OpenStreetsTO and the Laneway Project. She was a visionary urbanist who transformed Toronto for the better. Family and friends dearly miss her. The Michelle Senayah Lane unveiling brought everyone together again in her honour. Thank you to her family, friends, and organizers for carrying Michelle's legacy forward.
Local Community News |
Spring Housing Clinics |
Are you on the rent-geared-to-income (RGI) housing centralized waiting list (CWL)? Do you need help applying for RGI housing? If yes, Councillor Moise invites you to join him at the upcoming housing clinics. Registration is encouraged but walk-ins are welcome.
When: April 25, 26 and May 2,3 from 1- 3 PM and 4 - 6 PM
April 27 from 11 AM - 2 PM
Where: Regent Park Community Centre, 2nd Floor, 40 Shuter Street
Please bring proof of status for all household members, the most recent Notice of Assessment for all household members over the age of 16.
Register: chrismoise.ca/events
Questions? Call 416-392-7902 or email: [email protected]
Good Food Market Corktown |
I was thrilled to join Corktown neighbours at the Little Trinity Good Food Market launch at 425 King Street East.
This program runs every Wednesday from 5 to 7 PM. Affordable groceries are hard to come by, so thank you, Little Trinity Church & FoodShareTO, for teaming up to tackle food insecurity.
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]
Momentum Rainbow Week of Action |
Just like everyone in Canada, queer and trans people deserve the freedom to be ourselves, to be safe in our communities, and treated with dignity. Through a National Rainbow Week of Action from May 11th to 17th 2024, people across Canada are lifting up our voices to urge governments and elected officials at every level to take action for Rainbow Equality and address rising hate.
You can read the full list of demands here.
Rainbow Week is holding a rally in support of these demands and the rights of queer and trans people to live safely. The rally will be at Barbara Hall Park on May 16th at 11:30AM. See you there!
SLNA REmarket Waste Reduction |
The SLNA Waste Reduction Group is hosting its 10th REmarket event on June 12 and 13, 2024.
Bring your hard-to-recycle waste, donatable items, and items needing repair! Check HERE for the full list of items they accept.
Regent Park Youth Crisis Care Fund |
The Regent Park Youth Crisis Care Fund is available to support youth from Regent Park between the ages of 12-29 who are experiencing a crisis. Funding priority will be given to applications that meet the criteria and guidelines.
YCCF Guidelines:
- The application must be completed by a youth worker, agency or community leader affiliated with an agency or SDP working group.
- At the time of application, the Youth must be from Regent Park, experiencing homelessness, or living precariously in an adjacent community.
- The incident must have occurred within the last 12 months of application. If it has been longer than that, please provide reasoning.
- Applicants can receive up to $500 per application of funding to support youth per month.
- Funds are available for transportation, temporary safe housing, pest control supplies, prescriptions, including medical aid, and food.
- Applicants will receive a response within five business days of review.
- All information gathered will be confidential, and youth identities will remain anonymous.
Apply here or email [email protected] for more information.
Songs from The Journey |
Exciting news: this year's Songs from The Journey is set to grace the stage of The Royal Conservatory of Music’s Koerner Hall on June 21st! As always, the association is committed to ensuring that Regent Park residents have the opportunity to attend. To facilitate this, we're offering complimentary tickets for community members, alongside round-trip transportation between Regent Park and Koerner Hall on Friday, June 21, 2024.
The attached flyer provides information on the availability of free tickets for pickup at Daniels Spectrum starting Tuesday, May 14, 2024
The 519 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.
Workshops on Income Support Programs |
Are you in need of income support? Have questions about ODSP, OW, Old Age Security, CPP, EI, or other free/low-cost resources? St. Michael’s is running workshops on income support programs for agencies and service providers.
If you would like to host a workshop, contact Naomi at 416-864-6060 ex 76806 or [email protected]
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.
April 12, 2024 Newsletter
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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. |
April 5, 2024 Newsletter
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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.
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. |
March 29, 2024 Newsletter
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:
- Invest in Ontario’s publicly-funded and publicly-delivered healthcare system and provide immediate support for community mental health programs, long-term care, and home care
- Remove tolls for truckers on the 407 to reduce congestion on the 401
- Make strategic investments to recruit and retain health care workers
- Get the government back in the business of building homes with Homes Ontario and end exclusionary zoning
- Take on climate change and save people money with support for home energy retrofits and energy-efficient heat pumps.
- Address staffing shortages in public schools and reverse cuts to get kids the supports they need
- Keep our colleges and universities open with stable funding and increased operating grants
- Lift people out of legislated poverty by doubling ODSP and OW rates
- Help families get the childcare they need by funding the long-delayed $10-a-day childcare
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
- Fired PC Staffers on Sunshine List
- The Politicization of Ontario’s Tribunals
- Indigenous Languages Allowed in the Chamber
- Moss Park Community Info Fair
- TO Live Townhall
- Regent Park CHC on Strike
- Local Community News
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
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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!
March 22, 2024 Newsletter
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 2.2 million Ontarians a Family Doctor
- Federal Government Adopts NDP Motion on Palestine
- Regent Park Community Health Centre Strike
- Local Community News
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
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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!
March 15 Newsletter
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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.
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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