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St. Lawrence Community Recreation Centre Update

As many in the community know, the air conditioning at the St. Lawrence Community Recreation Centre has not been functioning this summer. While staff has been exploring repairs, the temperatures within the building have been dangerous to both residents and employees alike, reaching above 40C.

As many in the community know, the air conditioning at the St. Lawrence Community Recreation Centre has not been functioning this summer. While staff has been exploring repairs, the temperatures within the building have been dangerous to both residents and employees alike, reaching above 40C. Under those conditions, it is with great regret that Howie Dayton, Director of Community Recreation at the City, informed me today that the SLCRC will close until end of the day Monday to find an approach to allow the centre to reopen.

Although staff have tried their best to secure a replacement or temporary air conditioning solution for the facility, after much investigation it was determined that this will not be possible due to the current structural capacity load limitations of the facility roof. Staff are now actively working on long-term replacement options that will address the air conditioning, ongoing leaking issues and overall structural improvements to the roof.

Additional funds will be requested through the 2024 Capital Budget submission for the design and construction of a new roof and chiller replacement (air conditioner), but final decisions on funding will be determined through the overall budget approval process. I will push City staff and work with my City Council colleagues to bring the SLCRC back to normal operations as soon as possible.

In the meantime, staff are scoping the project timeline, necessary consulting services and preparing for the budget process to consider the possibility of reallocating State of Good Repair funding to accommodate this work. A critical Building Condition Assessment will also be completed in the short-term to accurately assess work that is required, the associated costing and impacts to timing. As staff works towards implementing this long-term solution, I will provide updates related to the project scope and timeline and will share more information once the design consulting firm is hired and scope, timelines and costing becomes more clear.

In the interim, staff will evaluate options over the weekend and Monday to allow the SLCRC to reopen. The heating systems in the building have not been impacted, so the centre will still be usable when temperatures drop. Users of the SLCRC will be directly notified by staff about impacts to any programming, including potential impacts to St. Lawrence Co-operative Day Care users.

Climate change affects everyone, but it is especially our most vulnerable residents, including the underhoused, children and seniors, that bear the brunt of the rising temperatures that are being experienced across the globe. The SLCRC was one of the few spaces in the neighbourhood dedicated as a cooling centre, and its loss, even if temporary, is unacceptable.

My office will work with City staff to find alternative cooling spaces that local residents can access while this work is accelerated and underway.

If you have any concerns or suggestions, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office.

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The City of Toronto recognizes that protecting the existing rental housing stock is incredibly important to ensure renting is an attainable housing option for residents, especially seniors, students and families.

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Join me on Monday, April 15 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the Wellesley Community Centre to learn more about our Rental Demolition & Replacement process from City Staff, how our policy has evolved over time, steps I've taken to address the gaps in the Tenant Assistance and Relocation Package secured by the City, what advocacy is being done at the provincial level by our MPP Wong-Tam, and what your rights are as a tenant.

Feel free to join us online! Click on the following link to join the event and ask questions: https://chrismoise.ca/live

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On Saturday, April 20 you can join me and my team and  The Friends of Regent Park at the bake oven in Regent Park to clean the park, as we will be providing garbage bags and gloves for a community wide park clean up! 

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If you are a concerned resident, member of the community or a community organization who is interested in helping clean your local park, ravine, sports field or trail, register your team at the Clean Toronto Together website. You can also contact our office to request and pick up clear garbage bags and nitrile gloves. Help your community sparkle this Earth Day!

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City Hall Office

Email:
Phone: (416) 392-7903
Address:
100 Queen St W, Suite A5
Toronto, ON M5H 2N2

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Phone: (416) 392-7904
Address:
329 Parliament Street
Toronto, ON M5A 2Z3
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City of Toronto
311 Toronto