City Council, ACT Now National Conference on Black Mental Health and Wellness, many grants and upcoming community consultation!

Happy Council Week!

Last week, I was honoured to join TAIBU Community Health Centre and the Public Health Agency of Canada at the ACT Now! National Conference on Black Mental Health and Wellness. As Chair of the Board of Health, recognizing that medical racism continues to exist and manifests into lower rates of preventative testing; and more critical health outcomes for those who look like me is only the first step to addressing those issues. I enjoyed the sharing of Afrocentric knowledge that took place at the conference, and I am inspired to continue bringing that knowledge into the conversations I have at City Hall. 

This week is important, with a large City Council agenda and many items of interest. Please have a look at the agenda and submit comments for items you'd like your opinion noted on! Rest assured, I will continue to work hard to represent the best interests' of Toronto Centre residents throughout the Council meeting this week. I wish everyone a wonderful week up ahead!

I hope you find this e-newsletter informative, I encourage you to share it with your neighbours and encourage them to sign up for monthly updates and other notices at www.chrismoise.ca. You can also sign up for our SMS updates as well by texting (647) 424-3257.

Yours in service,

Chris Moise

1. Community Environment Day
2. Join the 2SLGBTQ+ Advisory Committee
3. Constituency Office Grand Opening
4. New Park on Richmond Street East
5. Moss Park Market
6. Park People Grants
7. Vaccination Options
8. Programs, Grants and Awards
9. Upcoming Community Consultation
10. Mayoral By-Election Dates

The Ward 13 office is hosting our Community Environment Day on Saturday, April 22nd from 10:00AM to 2:00PM at The Big Park in Regent Park. Come by and pick up leaf compost, donate items in good condition for reuse, and dispose of unwanted items!

RSVP Here!

Are you a passionate member of, or an ally to, 2SLGBTQ+ communities in Toronto, who wants to champion 2SLGBTQ+ priorities and equity in Toronto? Help shape your city by applying for the City of Toronto’s Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (2SLGBTQ+) Advisory Committee for its 2023 – 2026 term. Learn more and apply by Sunday, April 2nd.

Apply Here!

Great news! The Ward 13 team will have our very own constituency office at 329 Parliament Street. We will be able to connect with residents in the community and host meetings outside of our City Hall office. I’m excited to connect with residents in a more local setting when our office opens. We will host a grand opening on April 29th, 2023 at 1:00PM. Please RSVP below!

RSVP Now!

A new park is coming to Richmond Street East, west of Ontario Street! Please share your feedback to help shape the new park's design.

Visit Toronto Centre Projects to review draft park design options, provide your feedback, and learn more about park design and naming opportunities!

Online Survey: Friday, March 3rd to Sunday, April 2nd
Survey Link: Here

Building Roots is an organization in Moss Park that created a market with space for the community, providing fresh fruits and vegetables since 2013. Building Roots was initially founded in response to a lack of access to fresh food and agricultural growing space across Toronto. The Moss Park Market continues to operate every Saturday from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM at 260 Queen Street East (Queen and Seaton Streets). The market offers fresh, healthy, and accessible food for all through a pay-what-you-can model. I encourage the community to visit and say hello!

You may have noticed the second, brand-new shipping container next to our Moss Park Market. Building Roots call it the Gathering Space – a place where community members can come together to share, learn, and enjoy. The Building Roots team is actively working on planning community programs, events, and workshops for the new season. Stay tuned for future announcements!

Park People is offering micro-grants for different initiatives around Toronto!

In partnership with the City of Toronto, Park People works with grantees to mobilize, activate and explore Toronto’s ravines. Park People and our many ravine park groups also take part in the City of Toronto’s Ravine Days. The $2500 micro grants will help communities host two simple, creative and engaging environmentally-focused events in their local Toronto ravine from June 1 to November 1, 2023. The application deadline for the InTO the Ravines Grants is Wednesday, April 12, 2023.

Apply Now!

The Sparking Change program engages hundreds of park leaders in Toronto’s equity-deserving communities. In 2022, Sparking Change awarded 20 grants to BIPOC-led park initiatives in the City of Toronto including 14 groups that led events in Neighbourhood Improvement Areas. In 2023, Sparking Change Toronto's $2,500 grants will help active BIPOC-led resident groups and equity-deserving communities host an outdoor activity in their local park or green space before November 30, 2023. The Sparking Change Toronto Grants application deadline is Wednesday, April 12, 2023.

Apply Here!

Toronto Public Health (TPH) provides appointment and walk-in vaccination opportunities for individuals who are yet to be vaccinated or are eligible for a COVID-19 booster dose. Bivalent booster vaccines are available for anyone five years of age and older. Health cards are not required.

All TPH immunization clinics are open Tuesdays through Fridays from noon to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Details are available on the City's COVID-19: City Immunization Clinics webpage.

TPH is also helping Toronto students catch up on lifesaving vaccines they may have missed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents and guardians of children from four to 17 years of age can book vaccinations for diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcal disease, pertussis (whooping cough) and varicella (chickenpox) at TPH immunization clinics. Ontario's Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) requires these nine children's vaccines. Students in grades 7 to 12 can also continue to access vaccines for human papillomavirus, meningococcal and hepatitis B at these clinics. There is no fee for children to receive these vaccines, and a health card is not required.

Appointments are preferred, though walk-ins will be accommodated based on capacity. Appointments can be made online through the TPH appointment booking system.

Mobile clinics continue to offer COVID-19 vaccines for eligible residents ages five and older. Vaccines for children six months and older are also available at select mobile clinics. A health card is not required. Appointments are not necessary to visit a mobile clinic. Book here.

Great news for small businesses-- CafeTO Applications have opened! Local restaurant and bar owners and operators interested in expanding outdoor dining space into curb lanes and sidewalks through the City of Toronto’s CaféTO program can apply for permits online below until today, Tuesday, March 28 at 11:59 p.m.

Apply Now to CafeTO

The City of Toronto’s CaféTO Property Improvement Program provides restaurant, bar, and café owners with a matching grant covering 50%, up to $7,500 towards the cost of improvements to patios in the curb lane, on sidewalks and on private property. Funded by the Federal Economic Development Agency for South Ontario, this program is part of the Toronto Main Street Recovery and Rebuild Initiative. Applications are now open and will be accepted until Friday, June 30, or when funds are expended. Priority will be given to applicants with temporary curb lane platforms. 

Apply to the CafeTO Grant Now

The City of Toronto implemented a small business property tax subclass that provides a reduction in the tax rate for eligible small business properties. For 2023, the applicable tax rate reduction is 15 percent of the commercial rate for both the municipal and education portion of taxes. If your property is eligible for the small business tax subclass there is no need to apply – the reduced tax rate will be reflected in your final property tax bill. You can search by address to find out if your property is located within the small business subclass designated areas. Property owners who believe they have an eligible property that has not been included can file a Request for Reconsideration by Monday, April 3rd.

File Now

The Pam McConnell Award for Young Women in Leadership is now accepting applications! The award is open to young Toronto women, between the ages of 16 and 29, who demonstrate exceptional leadership, and a commitment to social justice and inspire other young women. Applications are due by April 3, 2023, at 11:45PM.

Nominate Someone!

The City of Toronto is accepting applications for the Youth Violence Prevention Grant to support the de-escalation of violence in priority Toronto communities. The Grant, which will be open for applications until Tuesday, April 11 at 12:00p.m., will see $2.2 million in total funding allocated to approved local community agencies in priority community zones that have been identified across Toronto.

Apply Now!

The City of Toronto is accepting applications for its capacity-building grants for Indigenous-led grassroots groups and collectives. Groups can apply for one grant each of up to $20,000, with a total of $450,000 available funding in 2023. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis starting today until Thursday, September 21. Applications will be assessed and grant recipients will be selected throughout the application period, on a quarterly basis, with deadlines on Tuesday, March 21, Wednesday, June 21, and September 21. Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as funding may be allocated before the final September 21 deadline.

Apply Now!

There is an upcoming Community Consultation Meeting for a new development in our ward, please see below for more details:

Development Address: 47-65 Huntley Street
Date: Monday, April 3rd, 2023
Time: 6:00PM to 7:30PM
Link to register for attendance: Register Here

The Mayoral By-election Dates have been set, please see below for nomination dates and schedule a day to go vote!

• Nominations will open Monday, April 3 at 8:30 a.m.
• Nominations will close Friday, May 12 at 2 p.m.
• Advance voting will take place Thursday, June 8 to Tuesday, June 13
• By-election will be held Monday, June 26