Community Newsletter: May 26, 2023

Neighbour --

We are entering the season of more outdoor community events and street festivals. Coming up in two weeks from now, I hope you’ll join me at the upcoming Portugal Day Parade on June 10 and the 10th edition of Do West Fest from June 9-11. There are also many other festivals and events happening across Toronto, which you can learn more about here. 

Since the origins of the Davenport Diamond Greenway project, people in our community have been strong advocates for a result that meets the needs of Davenport. Residents have been champions for keeping accountable the promises made to our community. One such community benefit which has not proceeded as promised is an east-west connection path between Antler Street & Lappin Street–something which I have always supported. At the next meeting of City Council, I will be moving a motion to affirm support for a connection between Antler Street and Lappin Avenue, renew dialogue between Metrolinx and the City on this issue, and to examine all tools at our disposal to move this project forward. You can read my full statement on this below. 

As many of you might have seen, a terrible incident at Rawlinson Community School has renewed the conversation about off-leash dogs and safety at local schools and parks. Letting dogs off-leash outside of designated areas is a serious safety concern. As a community, we must commit ourselves to abiding by the rules, keeping dogs on-leash except in designated dog off-leash areas, and keeping kids safe. My office is working with TDSB Trustee Alexis Dawson to support community efforts that include signs, flyers, and education. 

In 2022, the City of Toronto adopted the Oakwood-St. Clair Parks Plan to address a lack of adequate green space in the north-east part of Ward 9. I’m looking forward to working with Parks, Forestry and Recreation to implement this plan to expand existing parks and build new parks and dog off-leash areas. In the meantime, I ask everyone to keep dogs on-leash for the safety of everyone who lives in our community. 

I hope you have been enjoying the good weather and have had a chance to get outdoors and enjoy our beautiful city. As always, my office is here to help–we’d love to hear from you.

Sincerely,

Alejandra Bravo
City Councillor, Ward 9
Davenport

In this edition

• 2023 Mayoral By-Election: Advance Polls
• Statement on Davenport Diamond Greenway Antler-Lappin Connection
• Reminder: Davenport Compost Days
• TTC Track Repairs: College Street, between Dovercourt Rd & Delaware Ave
• Updates to RentSafeTO for 2023
• Register for Summer Recreation Programs
• Toronto Challenge registration now open
• Aboriginal Affairs Advisory Committee engagement review
• Information session for Fall Recreation jobs
• This weekend: Doors Open Toronto is back!
• TPLWU at Word on the Street Festival
• Summer Junction Triangle Craft Show

2023 Mayoral By-Election: Advance Voting

Advance voting for the 2023 Mayoral By-Election runs from June 8 to 13. 

During advance vote, June 8 to 13 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., eligible voters can vote at any of the available voting locations across the city. This convenient option is unique to advance vote for this by-election, because there is only one race and therefore only one ballot at all 50 locations listed on this page.

If you don’t receive a Voter Information Card (VIC) in the mail but you’re on the voters’ list, starting June 1 access your card through MyVote. You don’t need a VIC to vote during advance vote (June 8-13) or on election day (June 26). Learn more.

Statement on Davenport Diamond Greenway Antler-Lappin Connection

Metrolinx’s Davenport Diamond Greenway will deliver much-needed linear green space in our community under the new Davenport Diamond Guideway rail grade-separation project. From the beginnings of this project in 2015, our community has been strongly advocating for a responsive design and community benefits, especially new neighbourhood connections. 

I salute the leadership of residents in keeping accountable promises made to Davenport. One key feature of this project which has not proceeded as promised is an east-west connection path between Antler Street and Lappin Avenue—something which I have always supported.  

An east-west connection from Antler Street to Lappin Avenue would connect residents to local parks, schools, businesses – and to each other. 

While this connection was included in original plans for the Greenway, it was later removed by Metrolinx and deemed “out of scope”, without consulting or notifying the community. The abrupt removal was disappointing and the community’s repeated support for the Antler-Lappin connection shows the project cannot be left in limbo. 

I’m ready to work with Metrolinx and explore all available tools to make the Antler-Lappin connection a reality. At the next meeting of Toronto City Council, I will be moving a motion to affirm support for a connection between Antler Street and Lappin Avenue, renew dialogue between the City of Toronto and Metrolinx on this issue, and examine all tools at the City’s disposal to move this project forward. 

Background

• The Antler-Lappin east-west connection was originally identified as a community priority in a 2015 report from the Residents’ Reference Panel on the Davenport Community Rail Overpass which was assembled by Metrolinx to provide recommendations on the project’s design. 

• The east-west connection was later affirmed by Metrolinx’s 2016 Davenport Diamond Design Direction Report

• In 2018, Metrolinx cancelled the public realm work that had been done to date and produced a new design from scratch that did not include the connection. 

Reminder: Davenport Compost Days

From the below start times until supplies run out, you will be able to come and pick up free loose leaf compost for your garden. Be sure to bring your own containers and shovels!

Members of the Ward 9 team will be on hand with 'Slow Down' signs for your lawn.

TTC Track Repair: College Street, between Dovercourt Rd & Delaware Ave

Updates to RentSafeTO for 2023

Currently, all buildings registered with RentSafeTO are evaluated at least once every three years to identify issues and bring apartment buildings into compliance with City bylaws. Starting in 2023, buildings will now be evaluated every two years to ensure that they are measured consistently and evaluated at the same frequency. This will help to simplify the scheduling of building evaluations, better allocate staff resources, and improve service delivery.

New for 2023

• Evaluation categories
• Weighting of categories that prioritize issues that have a greater impact on tenants
• Evaluation scores that reflect in-suite and common area violations and outstanding property standards orders
• New threshold to determine which buildings are audited and when

Register for Summer Recreation Programs

Are you looking for fun, affordable summer recreation programs? Listings for City of Toronto recreation programs are now online to help residents prepare for registration next month. Residents can find program and registration information on the City’s Summer Recreation webpage.

Registration opens on Tuesday, June 6 and Wednesday, June 7, at 7 a.m. Programs begin on July 4 and run until September 1.

Toronto Challenge registration now open

Toronto Challenge is back better than ever after a three-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bring your family and friends to Nathan Phillips Square for fun activities and entertainment and to raise funds for non-profit organizations that serve seniors in the community as well as in the City’s long-term care homes. Walkers and runners of all ages and abilities are invited to participate. For more information and to register for this year’s milestone event, visit: www.toronto.ca/challenge.

Aboriginal Affairs Advisory Committee engagement review

Toronto City Council is seeking public input on a potential new approach for the Aboriginal Affairs Advisory Committee (AAAC) for this Council term.

The City of Toronto is collecting feedback through a public survey and hosting two sessions for the Indigenous community to provide in-person input. Both sessions are in-person, free and open to Indigenous community members:

• Tuesday, May 30, 2023
  Anytime between 1 – 7 p.m. 
  2-Spirited People of the First Nations
  105 – 145 Front St. E.
• Tuesday, June 13, 2023
  Anytime between 1 – 7 p.m. 
  Regent Park Community Centre
  402 Shuter St.

Information session for Fall recreation jobs

The City is now hiring for fall recreation jobs. Learn more about job opportunities during info sessions that run now to July 25. You can learn about:

• City of Toronto rec jobs available
• The job application process
• How to apply online

This weekend: Doors Open Toronto is back!

The doors of 140 sites for exploration, talk series, walking tours and more will open for the return of Doors Open Toronto on May 27 and 28. This year’s lineup of buildings, city-wide walking tours and special programs is presented by Great Gulf.

TPLWU at Word on the Street Festival

Summer Junction Triangle Craft Show