Enhanced Outreach for St. James Park
Since last fall, I have been advocating for enhanced resources to address the encampment in St. James Park. I’m pleased to share that earlier this month, the Encampment Office implemented the Enhanced Outreach Model (EOM), which will remain in place until the encampment is resolved. The EOM provides City staff with resources to engage in enhanced supports and outreach to unhoused folks living in large park encampments.
These resources include, dedicated office space for housing staff to work from on site, a 24/7 Community Safety Team and onsite Corporate Security with the City of Toronto. The EOM was introduced as part of the City’s new encampment strategy last year and resulted in the successful conclusions of various large scale encampments in the downtown including Allan Gardens, Trinity Square Park, Clarence Square Park and Little Norway Park in Ward 10.
You may have noticed a trailer has been stationed in the park. This is being used as a touchdown space for the many outreach and support personnel who are working around the clock to connect the people in encampments with housing plans and social supports and to prevent new encampments from being set up.
In my last update, I shared my stance on the Tiny Tiny Homes (TTH) and hopes for Toronto to develop a micro-shelter program. As of now, only two TTH remain in St. James Park, down from five. The founder of TTH removed three structures of his own accord after the people living in them were connected to housing. While I’m glad to see these structures removed after fulfilling their purpose, my request for the City to look into developing a proper micro-shelter program remains open.
In seeking an update, I submitted an administrative inquiry to City Council in March. In his response, Gordon Tanner, General Manager of Toronto Shelter and Support Services (TSSS), has indicated that staff have completed a preliminary assessment on the feasibility of micro-shelters and recommend that the City move forward with developing a micro-shelter program. At this time, a suitable location has not been identified. Further information regarding site design, scale and functionality will be included in the TSSS Annual Infrastructure Report to Council in July 2025. While this update does not directly address the ongoing impacts of encampments, I look forward to a more comprehensive report this summer.
Allan Gardens
It has been just over six months since City staff successfully resolved the Allan Gardens encampments by permanently housing 98 encampment users and referring a further 433 to indoor shelters. I am pleased to say that the park remains free of encampments as we head into the spring season this year. It has been a long and difficult road, but I am so glad to see the park returned to the community after years of neglect and misuse in the years immediately post-COVID. Our public green spaces serve as precious third spaces (a neutral public space outside of home and work) where people can relax, socialize, and build relationships. This is especially true in the downtown east, where vertical communities are plentiful and green space is sparse.
Please note that the Sacred Fire space in Allan Gardens is not an encampment. For more information on the Sacred Fire, please read my update from earlier this year. You may also connect with the Indigenous Affairs Office directly by emailing [email protected]
Looking ahead, I am excited about the much-anticipated opening of the Palm House on May 14th. This event will feature an opening ceremony followed by an open house, where community members can explore the newly renovated Palm House and our new administration building, complete with state-of-the-art washroom facilities. For more information on community events including events in Allan Gardens, check out my events page here: http://chrismoise.ca/events.
Trinity Square Park
Switching focus to another success story, I'm pleased to share that the encampment at Trinity Square Park was also resolved earlier this month. Trinity Square Park is one of Toronto’s premiere green spaces, nestled neatly by the Marriot Hotel and CF Eaton Centre. The park serves as a lunch time gathering space for Toronto’s professional workforce during the week and a tourist destination for curious visitors.
Since the start of the year, City staff have diligently worked to reduce 40 encampments in the park, successfully referring users to indoor shelter accommodations. This effort has restored Trinity Square Park to the community, making it once again available for bookings and community events.
Last year, the park's Clocktower was also revitalized, thanks to the creative vision of Jane Rosenberg and Studio in partnership with the Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area. This beautifully illuminated Clocktower now enhances the park and its labyrinth, which was recently identified as one of the top 10 Legacy Labyrinths in the world.
As we look to the future, I invite all residents to embrace the opportunities our parks offer. Whether you're interested in an energetic workout, a lively setting for family outings, or the ideal venue for community events, our city parks are here for you. By actively using these green spaces, we not only enhance our community but also ensure they flourish and remain engaging throughout the year.
For those interested in hosting gatherings, keep in mind that our parks can be reserved for community events. This is a wonderful way to bring people together and make use of these beautiful spaces. To learn more about how you can reserve a park for your next event, please explore our parks permitting process here: https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/venues-facilities-bookings/booking-park-recreation-facilities/general-booking-terms-conditions/
I look forward to joining the community at events in parks across Toronto Centre this spring and summer!
