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.
I was delighted residents from across Ward 13 come together for a festive evening this past December 11 at the St. Lawrence Hall.
The reconstituted Historic Queen East Business Improvement Area (BIA) held its first annual general meeting (AGM) with business owners and commercial property owners between Victoria Street to River Street on December 4, 2024. While the BIA was unable to pass a budget, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our volunteer-based board of management. Their tireless efforts in organizing this event and articulating their visions at the AGM were instrumental in recruiting new board members for its 2025 strategic plans.
The final City Council meeting of 2024 was momentous as we bid farewell to Dr. de Villa as our Medical Officer of Health and attended to items that addressed housing, rental standards and road safety.
