The City is marking Emergency Preparedness Week this May 4 to 10 by highlighting the importance of preparing a Grab and Go Bag. During an emergency, being able to grab a pre-prepared bag of essentials may help ensure a speedy evacuation for your household.
Youth Week is Thursday, May 1 to Wednesday, May 7 – an annual week celebrating and encouraging youth engagement. During Youth Week, young people can take part in free events that focus on visual and performance arts, personal development and civic engagement mixed with some fun! In Toronto Centre, stop by the STOMP Urban Dance Competition & Showcase on May 3 for an afternoon of art and performances!
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.
Great news, Regent Park! The Regent Park Community Centre and Pam McConnell Aquatic Centre are offering early access to recreation program registration—exclusively for residents of our neighbourhood.
If you’re like me, you’ve been seeing more e-scooters around our streets lately, and wondering what the City is doing about it. Right now in Toronto, e-scooters are not allowed on the roads, side walks, paths and bike lanes. While a ban exists on paper, it is not actively enforced, and these devices continue to be used across the city, including in Toronto Centre.
Every year, the City plans and proactively plants thousands of trees on streets, in parks and in natural areas. You can look forward to seeing more trees in neighbourhoods over the coming months. My office sometimes gets questions about how and where the City chooses to plant trees; please read on for more information.
The City of Toronto’s CaféTO Grant provides restaurant, bar and café owners with a matching grant of up to a maximum of $7,500 covering 50 per cent of the cost of eligible improvements to patios in the curb lane, on sidewalks and on private property. The deadline for applications to the 2025 CaféTO Grant is Wednesday, June 4 or when all grant funding has been exhausted.
I would like to congratulate MP-Elect Evan Solomon on their election as the Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre.
I look forward to working with you to support our community and the City of Toronto, supporting our housing and shelter infrastructure needs and advocating for our shared interests abroad.
Birds play a crucial role in our ecosystem. But did you know that window collisions kill 16 to 42 million birds annually in Canada? Let’s make our city a safer place for them!
Cherry blossoms (Sakura trees) will be appearing at locations across the city over the coming weeks. Cherry blossoms typically last four to 10 days and blooms are expected to peak this year in late April to early May, depending on weather and neighbourhood conditions. There are more than a dozen locations to enjoy this annual rite of spring, many of which are easily accessible by public transit. Learn more on the City’s Cherry Blossoms webpage.
Coming into effect on Thursday, July 31, landlords in Toronto must obtain a Rental Renovation Licence before asking tenants to move out of a rental unit for renovations that require vacant occupancy. The new bylaw, which aims to curb bad faith evictions and protect tenants from the practice of “renovictions,” outlines clear requirements for licensing, tenant notification and temporary accommodation or compensation. Landlords are encouraged to review the full requirements and prepare in advance. Find more information on the City’s Rental Renovation Licence Bylaw webpage.
In March 2023, City Council introduced a new set of regulations for multi-tenant houses (also known as rooming houses) to create safer and more affordable housing options while ensuring uniform standards city-wide. With the new rules now in effect, it’s important to remind residents what they mean in practice. These changes impact tenants, landlords, and communities alike, so staying informed is key.