Joint statement with Councillor Ausma Malik on Hanlan's Point and the Toronto Island Park Master Plan.
Torontonians know and recognize Hanlan’s Point, Canada's oldest continuous queer space, to be a safe, public, and precious place that has deep meaning and connection to Toronto’s 2SLGBTQ+ community.
We have seen the important concerns expressed about the Toronto Island Park Master Plan, and specifically the future of Hanlan’s Point that are being voiced online. We have reached out to the organizers, and look forward to working together to address these concerns. The Toronto Island Park Master Plan is not yet finalized, and there are opportunities to improve the outcome of this process.
We have had conversations with City staff, who have assured us that a built concert space is not part of the Master Plan but we need clarification on what is meant by festival space that is referenced in current documents and whether it reflects community feedback.
To that end, the Toronto Island Park Master Plan team is hosting an additional Public Meeting specifically about Hanlan’s Event Space on Thursday February 23rd at 5:30PM. Sign up to participate in this virtual meeting at: HanlansFeb23.eventbrite.com
Through their iterative public engagement process, the City is looking for ways to expand the clothing-optional beach, to improve safety and access, and to approach decision-making that prioritizes ecological integrity and sustainability across Toronto Islands.
The Toronto Island Park Master Plan process is very much ongoing. As local City Councillors, we wish to see Hanlan’s Point celebrated and preserved as the safe, public, accessible, vibrant, and queer-friendly space it has been for many generations. We will continue to focus on advocating for, respecting, and honouring the history and members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Find more information about the Toronto Island Park Master Plan at: toronto.ca/IslandMasterPlan
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City Councillor for Ward 13 Toronto Centre, Chris Moise
City Councillor for Ward 10 Spadina-Fort York, Ausma Malik
Lace up your skates and join the Friends of Regent Park, Parks and Recrearation and me for a free Family Day Skate in Regent Park! Saturday, February 14, 2026, 12:00-6:00 pm at the Regent Park Ice Rink, 480 Shuter Street.
A huge thank you to everyone, including residents, business leaders and their associations, who wrote to Mayor Chow and the Budget Committee to demand that the Downtown East Action Plan (DEAP) be fully funded. Thanks to your support, funding for the DEAP will increase from $756,000 to $1.4 million this year. The plan will need a full $2.2 million in 2027, so I hope you will continue to support this significant work next year. This critical funding supports our Clean Streets teams and Community Safety initiatives to ensure our neighbourhoods are clean, safe, and welcoming.
Last December, I wrote about the impact of Premier Ford’s Bill 60, Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025’s impact on renters. The impact of Bill 60 goes beyond the Premier’s fight against bike lanes in Etobicoke; it threatens to derail any current or future transportation project in Toronto that dares impact a lane of traffic.
The City is accepting applications for its new Material Exchange Directory, a user‑friendly online resource that will showcase local programs helping Torontonians sell, buy donate or trade materials instead of sending them to landfill. Launching later in 2026, the directory will help residents, community groups and businesses find local organizations that support the reuse, resale or donation of excess goods and materials, including household items, equipment and building materials.