Community Newsletter: June 9, 2023

Neighbour --

Our democracy is precious—it only works when people are engaged and make their voice heard. In this mayoral by-election, we all have an important opportunity to exercise one of our fundamental democratic rights: voting. 

I encourage you to vote in the advance polls which run until June 13, 10am to 7pm each day. 

In Ward 9, the advance voting locations are:

• Joseph J Piccininni Community Centre
  1369 St. Clair Ave W, Toronto, ON, Canada

• Mary McCormick Recreation Centre
  66 Sheridan Ave, Toronto, ON, Canada

New this year: Toronto Elections is allowing voters to cast their ballot at any of the fifty advance voting locations across the city during the advance voting period.

If you can't vote during the advance polls, Election Day is June 26, from 10am to 8pm. On Election Day, you must vote at your assigned voting location, which you can find on your Voter Information Card or by searching here. 

This weekend, I'm looking forward to participating in the annual Portugal Day Parade on Saturday and the 10th edition of Do West Fest. Stop by our booth and say 'hello' to members of the Ward 9 team. 

You can find community updates and other news below.

Sincerely,

Alejandra Bravo
City Councillor, Ward 9
Davenport

In this edition

• Community Consultation Meeting: 1293 Bloor St W
• Statement on life-threatening collision at Oakwood and Holland Park
• City of Toronto issues 2023 final property tax bills
• CCST Call for New Board Members
• Tonight: Films on Shortt - Thor: Love and Thunder
• McRoberts Avenue Street Party
• Summer Recreation Registration Open
• Junction Triangle Craft Show
• Fairbank Summerfest
• Concerts on Connolly
• Weston Village Yard Sale
• In the community
• Other updates

Community Consultation Meeting: 1293 Bloor St W

City staff invite you to join a virtual Community Consultation Meeting on June 13, 2023, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. for a proposed Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment to facilitate a 28-storey mixed-use development at 1293-1301 Bloor Street West & 510-514 Lansdowne Avenue.

A total of 230 residential units are proposed including 22 rental replacement units for 18,145 square metres of residential floor space. A total of 247 square metres of retail floor space is proposed on the ground floor. A total of 38 underground parking spaces are proposed with access from Lansdowne Avenue.

For more information on the proposed development, please visit: www.toronto.ca/1293BloorStW.

You can register for the virtual meeting here: https://toronto.webex.com/weblink/register/r4428ed51aa5c159dac6c0238256ee86d

Statement on life-threatening collision at Oakwood and Holland Park

Last week, a terrible collision occurred at Oakwood Avenue and Holland Park Avenue which resulted in a pedestrian with life-threatening injuries.

My deepest sympathies are with the victim of the accident, her family and community at this difficult time. As a resident of the area, I feel the urgency personally, particularly knowing that there have long been concerns about traffic safety along Oakwood Avenue. 

I will continue to advocate for urgent action for Davenport, and for the entire City, which requires speeding up the changes we know will make our streets safe for everyone. 

City of Toronto issues 2023 final property tax bills

The City of Toronto has started to issue 2023 final property tax bills, the second of two tax bills mailed to property owners each year. The 2023 interim tax bill was mailed in January. New this year, residents can register for the City’s new electronic billing (eBilling) option and receive their property tax bill in electronic format.

Also new, the City is including a message in the final property tax bills encouraging residents and businesses to urge the Government of Canada to honour its funding commitment to Toronto. Toronto needs the federal government to provide promised support of $235 million for the City’s COVID-19 impacts for 2022, to match the Province’s commitment. The Government of Canada has not provided funding that was promised largely for pandemic transit and homelessness costs. More information can be found on the City’s website.

The City is reminding property owners that payment due dates for final tax bills under the three-instalment plan are July 4, August 1 and September 1.

For property owners enrolled in the Pre-Authorized Tax Payment program, the 2023 final tax due dates are:

• Two-instalment plan: July 4
• Six-instalment plan: July 4, August 1 and September 1
• 11-instalment plan: July 17, August 15, September 15, October 16, November 15 and December 15

Property owners can make payments through MyToronto Pay; banks or financial institutions using online banking, telephone banking, at a teller or ATM; by enrolling in the Pre-authorized Tax Payment program; or by cheque.

CCST Call for New Board Members

One year after incorporating, and in a moment of foundational growth, the Community and Cultural Spaces Trust (CCST) is seeking its first full Board of Directors. This working board will play a key role in determining the future of the trust and will also serve as CCST’s core group of volunteers, driving the trust’s daily operations.

CCST is a new land trust dedicated to the long-term preservation of affordable space and land for arts, culture and community activities in Ward 9 (Davenport), Toronto. Building on the successes of the community land trust movement and other community ownership models, our goal is to mitigate the current displacement of arts and community organizations from Davenport, and from Toronto more broadly.

CCST exists as a result of years of community organizing for equitable and inclusive development in the area. The initial funds that the trust holds were secured through a historic community benefits settlement with the developers of the public school lands at the southwest corner of Bloor Street and Dufferin Street. More information about CCST’s mandate, founding principles and history can be found in our Terms of Reference for New Board Members and on our website at https://www.communityculturalspacestrust.ca.

CCST’s founding board has spent the past year laying the groundwork for the trust to thrive. We have developed relationships and networks, researched models and opportunities, invested the trust’s initial assets and established administrative policies and systems. CCST is now in a position to grow significantly under the strategic leadership of a diverse and representative board.

We are looking for applications from people who are energetic, active listeners and good collaborators. The ideal applicant should be excited to grapple with complex decision-making in an imperfect context. Our goal is to develop a board whose actions will be guided by our founding principles, ongoing community input, lived experiences relevant to CCST’s mandate and cross-sector professional expertise. The cultural land trust and social purpose real estate movements are gaining exciting momentum but preserving affordable space for community and arts uses in Toronto’s current real estate market will be challenging! We are looking for board members who are up for working in a dynamic team to take on that challenge. Previous board experience is not required for these positions. All board positions are strictly volunteer.

CCST’s board will maintain a majority of Ward 9 community members but we welcome applications from people who are not based in Ward 9. We will prioritize applicants with expertise in:
● Organizational development;
● Community-based governance;
● Asset management;
● Research;
● Legal knowledge;
● Fundraising;
● Social media content and digital outreach.

We also particularly encourage you to apply if you identify as:
● An artist/arts worker who is a member of at least one equity-deserving group;
● A person with lived experience of displacement from a studio, rehearsal or community space;
● A youth (under age 30);
● A person who works, leads or regularly volunteers at a community-based or
equity-focused organization.

Board composition will be carefully considered when reviewing applications.

If this sounds like an exciting opportunity, please express your interest to join CCST’s board via this form.

Further information about this opportunity can be found in CCST’s Terms of Reference for New Board Members. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out via email to [email protected]

Tonight: Films on Shortt - Thor: Love and Thunder

McRoberts Avenue Street Party

Summer Recreation Registration Open

Are you looking for fun, affordable summer recreation programs? Residents can find program and registration information on the City’s Summer Recreation webpage.

Registration is open!

Junction Triangle Craft Show

Fairbank Summerfest

Concerts on Connolly

Weston Village Yard Sale

In the community

Today, I was pleased to co-host the raising of the Flag of Portugal at City Hall ahead of tomorrow's Portugal Day. Over half a million Portuguese-Canadians made Toronto their home. I’m so proud to represent the heart of the Portuguese community in Davenport. 

I was glad to join TTCRiders and Toronto & York Region Labour Council to speak with people outside Dufferin Station and calling on mayoral candidates to commit to reversing TTC cuts. I ride the TTC every ay and see the impact of reduced service, delays, and fare hikes. We all deserve better. 

It was great to meet with the team from Safehaven. This dedicated and caring team provides important residential and respite care for people with complex needs. For 30 years, Safehaven have helped thousands of people and their families with fantastic care.

Davenport neighbours were out in full force at the Ontario Federation of Labour's Enough Is Enough rally. It was an energizing day with community members and workers calling on the Ford government to fund the needs of Ontarians and make life more affordable.

Happy Pride! So glad to join Pride Toronto, council colleagues and community members to raise the Progress Pride Flag at City Hall to kick-off Pride Month. First and foremost: pride is a protest. This month, let's keep working towards a freer future for all. 

It was great to see everyone at the Carleton Village Fun Fair! So great to see families out and about, and hear from neighbours about their questions, concerns, and ideas. 

Thanks to everyone who joined us for our Compost Days held at parks across Davenport! I'm happy to provide this free compost—made of Toronto's own yard waste—for use in neighbours' gardens. There will be one last opportunity to pick up free compost at our second Community Environment Day at Loretto College School on July 16. 

Other updates

• Update on City of Toronto’s encampment outreach services with release of the Dufferin Grove report
• Toronto Public Health advises residents to avoid contact with raccoons to protect against injury and rabies
• Toronto’s favourite summer foodie event, Summerlicious, returns July 7 to 23
• City of Toronto announces new Indigenous Climate Action Grants
• City of Toronto brings 17 new inductees into the Toronto Sport Hall of Honour
• Toronto Elections takes steps to secure mail-in voting drop boxes after location vandalized
• City of Toronto expands aid to Ukraine with three more vehicle donations
• City of Toronto marks School Crossing Guard Appreciation Week
• City of Toronto Mental Health Roundtable calls for increased collaboration and funding to meet city’s urgent challenge
• City of Toronto lifeguards set to return to Toronto beaches 
• City of Toronto encourages residents to keep cool with tips to beat the heat during upcoming hot weather
• City of Toronto marks Indigenous Peoples Month in June with the Na-Me-Res Pow Wow and Indigenous Arts Festival
• City of Toronto updates on shelter system pressures and calls for a sustainable, fair funding model to support people experiencing homelessness