In This E-Newsletter:
RentSafe Signs Approved by Council!
I’m pleased to report that my motion to move forward with Colour-coded RentSafe signs, and to reform how buildings are audited, was approved last week by Council in a 20-3 vote. Other motions to increase fines and strengthen enforcement measures were approved unanimously. Together, these initiatives are the most significant step Council has taken to protect tenants since I first introduced the RentSafe program in 2017.
Starting next year, the City will require landlords to post signs on apartment buildings related to property standards violations. Based on the City’s successful DineSafe program, the new rating system will see apartments have a red sign for serious health and safety violations, yellow for more minor infractions, and green for most buildings that are in good repair. The motion also directs Municipal Licensing staff to provide greater weighting in City audits to serious infractions including pests, mold, and inoperable appliances, and a new mechanism for fines that will allow higher monetary amounts and will be harder for landlords to challenge.
Our success was the result of an organized campaign by tenant organizations from across the city including ACORN, the Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations, York South Weston Tenants Union, NoDemovictions and many local tenant associations in Toronto-St.Paul’s, that included canvassing, online petitions and direct advocacy to Councillors.
For more information, please see this article.
Demanding a Public Inquiry About the Eglinton LRT Fiasco
At this month’s TTC Board meeting, I asked the acting CEO, Greg Percy, if Metrolinx will hand over the Eglinton LRT to the TTC so that it would be ready to open this September, as they promised. Percy responded that “it would be a stretch” but said he believes it’ll be sometime in the Fall.
These delays, along with the ballooning costs, are damaging and unacceptable. I have been calling for the province to hold a public inquiry to finally demand transparency and accountability from Metrolinx for the communities and small businesses that have been treated like collateral damage due to their incompetence. This is also important to ensure that their mistakes are not repeated as new transit projects are under way.
Bringing Ontario's First Burn Care Centre to our Community
I'm thrilled to announce our community will host the “Home Away Program,” a first of its kind in Ontario. This program will bring together burn survivors and families across Ontario while receiving care at Sunnybrook Hospital or Sick Kids. Not only will this program be providing survivors and families a place to heal, but it will also act as a public Fire Fighters Museum, located on the first floor.
Last winter I brought forward a motion to City Council to explore the feasibility of this program, and I'm proud to share that during this month's Council meeting, my colleagues and I unanimously adopted City staff’s recommendations to push this meaningful program forward. While I've earmarked a notable contribution of Section 37 funds to support this program, I'll also be working closely with senior levels of government to allocate further funding and support. I'd like to thank the constant and ongoing support of the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters Association, and I look forward to seeing this through with them to its fruition.
Click below to hear more about this initiative!
Speeding up Bus Service on Bathurst
To help address our city's congestion, we urgently need to improve the speed and reliability of our surface transit network. Congestion costs our city billions of dollars annually, impacts our quality of life, and building safe, affordable, and reliable public transit network across our city is a critical part of the solution.
When city staff put forward their proposal for implementing RapidTO on Bathurst south of Bloor, I moved an amendment requesting a plan from staff to speed up transit north of Bloor on the 7 Bathurst bus, to specifically address bunching and delays, which impact 35,000 people everyday who rely on the bus.
Revitalizing the Vale of Avoca Ravine
The Vale of Avoca Ravine, a former destination park in the 20th century, is one of Toronto’s most beautiful ravines, serving as an oasis for thousands of residents just steps from the busy centre of Yonge and St Clair.
Unfortunately, the Vale has experienced significant neglect and has undergone deterioration over the years, with major erosion, structural damage, and invasive species. Due to the impacts of climate change and more frequent storms, this decline is accelerating.
The Midtown Ravines Group has been an ardent, effective, and steadfast advocate for revitalizing the Vale, and fixing the “missing link” in the city’s ravine network by better connecting the Vale to the Don trail.
That’s why I was thrilled to support the revitalization of the Vale of Avoca ravine, alongside Councillor Dianne Saxe from Ward 11, where we successfully negotiated to secure $1.5 million in funding. This is in part thanks to the tireless advocacy and leadership of the Midtown Ravines group.
This funding will go towards a trail master plan, and will serve as the basis for further fundraising from private donors and other levels of government to meet the estimated price tag of $40 million for the ravines total restoration.
This is a major win for our community, and I'm committed to continuing to invest in and restoring our ravines to meet our recreational, flood protection, and climate goals.
Click the link here to read more.
Opening Old City Hall's Doors to the Public
I’ve been advocating for a long time to create a Museum of Toronto at Old City Hall, and to open this beautiful and historic building’s doors back to the public. Under the leadership of our museums’ director, Karen Carter, we’re taking steps to turn this dream into reality.
It was a pleasure to stop by the Old City Hall’s open-air courtyard for a series of pop-up exhibits, including Toronto Treasures, the Block By Block exhibition and Toronto Civic Art Exhibit. These exhibits are helping animate the space and open it up to the public, while the city develops its long-term plan for creating a City of Toronto Museum at Old City Hall. I'm committed to making this vision a reality and will be working closely with Karen and her team.
Little Jamaica Community Land Trust
I’m proud to be working with the Little Jamaica Community Land Trust to ensure the survival of Black-owned and operated small businesses, support their success, ensure that they can afford to remain on Eglinton, and be able to finally chart their own future.
Click below to watch the interview with CityNews and learn more about this project.
New Therme Spa Renderings
The latest Ontario Place Therme Spa renderings are an admission that the private company, along with the Ford government, are scrambling to figure out how to put more lipstick on this massive, tax dollar sucking, island hogging pig.
To support the continued fight to preserve our waterfront and save the Ontario Science Centre, visit Ontario Place for All or Save Ontario's Science Centre to get involved!
Super Clinics - Bringing Important Resources to You
Our Super Clinic is model for how I believe government can work best. We’re bringing services from different levels of government together, and making them easily accessible to you - and right in your community!
Join me and my team for our next Super Clinic at the Yonge Eglinton Community Centre! For more information, check out the info graphic below:
New and Improved Frankel Lambert Basketball Court
What did happen: I worked with Frankel-Lambert residents and their kids to create a fun and revitalized basketball court for the community. What didn’t happen: I took the shot, it absolutely went in, followed by a victorious slow clap scene right out of a John Hughes movie.
Summer Pool Party at Fairbank!
Taste of Indonesia
I joined the Ambassador of Indonesia (and really nice guy), Muhsin Syihab and Toronto’s Indonesian community at The Indonesian Food Festival. I’ve made so many friends in this community that I deeply value and appreciate.
Canadian Stage at High Park
The arts are the soul of our city and deserve our support. Thank you to Monica Esteves, Executive Director at Canadian Stage, and her entire team, for a remarkable production of Romeo and Juliet in High Park. It was truly magical.
Summerfest at the Armenian Community Centre of Toronto
Each and every time I visit with our city’s Armenian community, it really feels like being with family. Thank you so much to the Armenian Community Centre of Toronto for inviting me to join you again at this year’s Summerfest!
For Youth Initiative Marks 30 Years of Impact: Community Celebration and Drive for Back-to-School Essentials
Toronto, ON – For Youth Initiative (FYI), a trusted community anchor in Oakwood-Vaughan and York South-Weston, is celebrating 30 years of service and impact. On Tuesday, August 12, 2025, FYI invites the public to a vibrant community celebration at the Keele Community Hub—an event that will honour local youth leadership and achievement, rally support for back-to-school essentials, and reunite the FYI community past and present.
Since 1995, FYI has supported thousands of young people, primarily Black, racialized, and newcomer youth, through free tutoring, mental health support, job training, mentorship, and culturally responsive programs. FYI serves some of Toronto’s most underserved communities, where youth face systemic barriers to education, employment, and well-being.
A Celebration Rooted in Community, Fueled by Possibility
The 30th Anniversary Celebration will feature food, music, youth-led performances, and awarding $50,000 of scholarship funds in support of local youth pursuing post-secondary education. It also launches FYI’s annual Back-to-School Essentials Drive, helping ensure youth return to school equipped and confident. This year, FYI aims to collect 200+ backpacks filled with age-appropriate supplies for youth aged 4–18+.
Here’s what we’re collecting:
Community members can drop off items weekdays between 10 AM and 4 PM until Friday, August 1 at FYI’s Keele Hub (1652 Keele Street, Unit 108) or donate online to support the purchase of supplies.
Visiting 1400 Bathurst St
There’s someone special at a Community Housing Building at 1400 Bathurst who I admire and respect. Her name’s Nonna Rogers. Whether it be Christmas parties for the kids, or organizing summer BBQs, Nonna has fostered a more safe and caring community with a true sense of belonging.
Porch View Dances in Seaton Village
Each year since 2012, thanks to Karen and Allen Kaeja, local volunteers and sponsors, their Seaton Village community has hosted Porch View Dances. It was such a thrill to watch the beautiful performances, and dance, with such a creative and fun neighbourhood.
Songs of Hope: An Evening of Music and Giving
You can learn more at this link!
Movie Night at Manor Community Green
Music in Suydam Park returns to Forest Hill Village!
The Forest Hill Village BIA is pleased to welcome residents and visitors back for another season of our much-loved acoustic concert series!
Music in Suydam Park takes place every Saturday from July 5th to September 27th, weather-permitting from 1:00pm to 3:00pm, at the small stage near the crosswalk at Spadina Rd. and Coulson Ave.
Grab a snack/drink in the Village and join us in the park for some fabulous music!
To view the full concert schedule, go to this link!
Celebrate History at Old City Hall
Taste of Vietnam
It was a pleasure to celebrate our city’s Vietnamese community at Taste of Vietnam! A festival of culture, music dance and food, and importantly a fundraiser to combat human trafficking and child exploitation. I was proud to support this wonderful event.
Contribute to Parks & Recreations Strategic Plans
The City’s Parkland Strategy and Parks and Recreation Facilities Plan guide growth and investment in parkland and recreation over the next 20 years. Beginning in Fall 2024, thousands of community members have citywide provided feedback to help inform the updates to these plans. This summer you can review and share your feedback on the proposed updates to these plans and let the City know if you think this work is on the right track.
Visit the project webpage to learn more and to complete the online survey open until September 14th, 2025!
Join Us for Our Fun Community Events
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our successful Cedarvale Community Festival! I really appreciated all of the service providers, sponsors, my amazing team and the many residents who made this day so special. Together, we’re creating a real sense of belonging. That’s what community is all about.
We're not done bringing our community together! Join your neighbours at our upcoming events for free ice cream, face painting, raffles and much more! I hope to see you there!
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