Starting January 1, 2026, the City of Toronto will no longer manage recycling collection. Under the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act of 2016, this responsibility will shift to producers, with Circular Materials taking over Blue Bin collections for all residential properties, schools, long-term care facilities and retirement homes.
At our April City Council meeting, we adopted a comprehensive Congestion Management Plan which includes a series of measures designed to keep everyone's commute safe and efficient. Here are a few key highlights of the plan which have the most impact on Ward 13:
I am happy to share that after years of advocacy and a year and a half since my motion was adopted by Council, we now have a comprehensive City-Wide Dog Off-Leash Strategy in place. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Toronto Dog Park Community, Paws for Parks, and the residents of Toronto Centre for their persistent advocacy and input throughout this process.
The City of Toronto has officially opened applications and renewals for the 2025 CaféTO curb lane program.
I was delighted residents from across Ward 13 come together for a festive evening this past December 11 at the St. Lawrence Hall.
I hope you and your family have had a relaxing–or at the very least, enjoyable–holiday season. My team definitely needed the break, but I know we’ve already to roll up our sleeves for 2025.
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.
I take great pride in the strides we have made here in Ward 13 to connect encampment residents to housing, particularly with the successful resolution of the Allan Gardens encampment last October. To date, Allan Gardens remains free of any new encampments. Our dedicated City staff have displayed remarkable persistence and resolve, and for that, I thank them.
While summer days are long behind us, the magic of the holiday season lies ahead to keep our hearts warm. Whether you are visiting friends and family or relaxing at home, I hope you find some time to relax and make some space for yourself.
November 18 was a day I had anticipated with a heavy heart since Dr. Eileen de Villa first announced her retirement earlier this year. That day, we sat at the table together for the final Board of Health meeting with her as our Medical Officer of Health.
On November 16, I gathered at the Toronto Public Library’s Parliament Street Branch to celebrate the Moss Park Community Cookbook launch. The event brought together residents, community leaders and food lovers to honour the incredible stories and recipes that make Moss Park such a vibrant place. Below, please find my recipe for banana bread with ginger and blueberries!
City Council made progress in addressing the housing crisis at its meeting on November 13 and 14 by implementing a Rental Renovation Licence By-law and expanding incentives for purpose-built rental housing. They also had important conversations about the City’s economy and cultural plan.
On Friday, October 18, City staff cleared the remaining encampments from Allan Gardens after nearly two years of outreach and relationship building. Over that time, 98 people were permanently housed and a further 433 people were connected to indoor shelter accommodation. This is a huge milestone and I am proud of the humanitarian approach we took to get here, but the work does not end with Allan Gardens. Encampments remain across the ward, most notably in Moss Park, St. James Park and Trinity Square Park.
While much of City Council’s first session back from recess was spent discussing Billy Bishop Airport, there were also updates on the Student Nutrition Program, Vacant Home Tax and Congestion Management.