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.
Happy New Year! Wishing everyone a joyful and hopeful start to 2026. Even in moments when governments fuel despair, we have the power to choose hope instead. Together, we can reject fear and division, lift one another up, and ensure that the most vulnerable among us are never left behind.
I am pleased to share an important update on the Regent Park revitalization and a major investment secured for the community. Toronto Community Housing and Tridel have finalized a Community Benefits Agreement for Phases 4 and 5 of the Regent Park revitalization. Through this agreement, 26.8 million dollars will be invested directly into programs and supports for Regent Park residents.
On the evening of December 10, 2025, Toronto Community Housing hosted the Regent Park Youth Safety Forum at the Centre of Excellence in the Regent Park Community Centre, in collaboration with the City of Toronto and my office. The event was led by Toronto Community Housing Tenant Services Coordinator Felicia Whyte and supported by multiple teams across Toronto Community Housing and the City, including Parks and Recreation and Social Development staff. Youth, parents, City staff, and community partners came together for an open and collaborative conversation focused on youth safety, wellbeing, and prevention.
Every summer, many residents find themselves living with extreme heat and humidity within their rental units, especially as climate change has continued to make this a more frequent issue. I have been pushing to amend our bylaws to better protect tenants, especially vulnerable residents who may be older or with mobility challenges that do not permit them to easily move to a cooler building for heat relief. Last December, Council took the next steps to introduce a maximum temperature by-law, as well as to require many landlords to implement measures such as cooling rooms to protect their tenants.
Safety is my number one priority in Toronto Centre. A key focus of my term has been improving pedestrian safety through the installation of new traffic control signals and local pedestrian projects. With so much work, I thought it would be helpful to provide information on what has been completed to date, and what work is expected in 2026 and beyond.
February is Black History Month, and I hope you will join me to celebrate with three new heritage plaques that will be installed in Toronto Centre. On February 2 at Inglenook Community School (19 Sackville Street). These plaques will help recognize Henry Brown, Cy McLean and North Star Way.
At our Holiday Banquet on December 5, we honoured our 2025 Toronto Centre Community Builder Award recipients. This year, we awarded 12 outstanding Toronto Centre residents who are dedicated to enacting positive change in their neighbourhoods, three exemplary community organizations that empower and unite the people they serve and, for the first time, recognized City staff and a member of 51 Division who went above and beyond in their roles to make Toronto Centre a more welcoming and inclusive place to live in 2025.
December 5 was a magical evening! I'm incredibly grateful to everyone who attended by Holiday Banquet. I was honored to share a meal wiht you all, as well as recognize the 2025 cohort of my Community Builder Award recipients. I want to give a thank you to M Biryani House for the delicious food, and to all my staff and volunteers who pulled this event together. I want to especially thank Sherwin Lau in my office; this event would have not have been the success it was without his leadership behind the scenes.
As your local Councillor, it's important to me that that our parks, playgrounds, and public spaces remain safe and accessible for everyone, especially our children. At the same time, we must approach the issue of encampments with compassion and a focus on long-term solutions. Recent discussions at City Council have highlighted the challenges we face in balancing these priorities. In this update, I’ll share the latest developments, the steps we’re taking to address encampments near sensitive areas, and how we can work together to create a safer, more inclusive city.
Wishing everyone peace and joy this holiday season. As winter settles in, may we find time to recharge, stay connected, and continue showing up for one another, our schools, and our communities. While the province continues to pass legislation like Bill 33 that harms our children, we need everyone rested and ready to fight back.
Toronto’s Downtown East is a vibrant yet deeply complex community, where the intersection of health, homelessness, and justice presents unique challenges. As we approach the end of the year, the Downtown East Leadership Table convened to discuss critical issues, share updates, and strategize solutions for 2026. From the closure of safe consumption sites to the growing strain on harm reduction services, the conversation highlighted the urgent need for enhanced coordination, community education, and systemic change. This update summarizes key insights from the meeting and explores actionable steps to address the pressing needs of our neighbourhoods.