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.
Protecting your skin from the sun is the best way to prevent skin cancer. Wear sunscreen, stay in the shade and wear protective clothing, a hat and sunglasses. The City is once again partnering with the David Cornfield Melanoma Fund and the Douglas Wright Foundation to offer Toronto residents and visitors free sunscreen through #BeSunSafe dispensers at select parks, beaches and camp sites. This year, the program has expanded to City golf courses, so that golfers can be protected while out on the greens.
Explore Toronto’s vibrant music scene with Music Compass, a project by the City of Toronto and Destination Toronto. Music Compass celebrates the city’s rich musical landscape by spotlighting local music. In neighbourhoods across Toronto, residents and visitors can scan QR codes on sidewalk decals to browse a list of live music venues, record stores and listening lounges in the area.
Wildfire smoke season in Ontario runs from April to October and exposure to smoke can cause throat and eye irritation, coughing, headaches, or more serious issues such as trouble breathing and chest pain, especially in vulnerable groups. Toronto Public Health monitors the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) to guide public messaging. To protect your health, reduce smoke exposure and check AQHI regularly.
In the Downtown East, homelessness, mental health and substance use are significant challenges that require a thoughtful spectrum of response strategies. Some interventions must proactively support individuals to prevent critical incidents, while other interventions need to keep people safe in crisis situations. The Downtown Community Outreach Response and Engagement (CORE) Team and the Toronto Community Crisis Service (TCCS) are two new approaches that I have pushed for implementation in the Downtown East.
On June 10 at the Wellesley Community Centre, tenants, housing advocates and community members interested in housing rights gathered for the final Toronto Centre Talks (TC Talks) of 2025 to learn about tenant rights and housing issues in Toronto. The event brought together a panel of dedicated experts who provided insight into tenant protections, legal supports and City housing programs.
Join me on July 19, when my office will host our third annual Community Environment Day at Regent Park. Every year, I’m so happy to see so many community members come to drop off and recycle their hazardous waste, electronics and shredding. For Regent Park this year, we have bagged compost again; ot was so popular that we ran out by 1:00 pm, so come early!
The unveiling of "March of the Dragon," a vibrant new 2SLGBTQ+ mural at the entrance of Wellesley TTC Subway Station, took place on Saturday, June 21– right in time for Village Fest and Pride Festival 2025! Designed by artist Jieun Kim in collaborative consultation with my office, the Church Wellesley Neighbourhood Association, Church-Wellesley Village BIA, and Pride Toronto, the project was funded completely by section 37 funds through my Participatory Budgeting process from 2023 and led by STEPS Public Art.
At our meeting on June 25 and 26, City Council wrangled with permitting sixplexes city-wide, committed to universal school food program, and continued work to keep people moving during the temporary closure of King Street East and Church Street.
What do you do when you have issues with a privately owned laneway owned by someone who died a century ago? Colloquially referred to as “orphaned laneways,” these spaces can create significant challenges for both public and private interests. Read on for more information.
I am so excited to share that Melanin Market is launching in Sankofa Square on Wednesday, June 25 from 2:00pm to 9:00pm; a new public market celebrating Black, Indigenous and racialized creativity, entrepreneurship and community.
With summer in full swing, extreme heat has and will be expected to hit Toronto. I encourage everyone to review my resources on spaces you can go to escape high temperatures as well as City by-laws related to air conditioning so you can keep yourself and your family safe.