I join our community in mourning the loss of Bilkis Khanam and extend my deepest condolences to her friends and family.
Bilkis was killed on the evening of July 18th when she was struck by a car in the pedestrian crossing at Queen and Sackville.This devastating incident serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to enhance safety measures at our city's intersections.
This week I will be bringing a motion to City Council requesting that the intersection of Queen and Sackville, along with all pedestrian crossings located on a streetcar route, be upgraded with traffic signals. Because this process can often take over a year, I am also asking that these upgrades be prioritized and expedited. Pedestrian safety remains a top priority and I hope to continue working with the community to identify areas for improvement.
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.