Community Newsletter: Winter storm, warming centres, and more

Neighbour --

This holiday season I’ve had the chance to attend community events, school craft fairs, and do some shopping at local Davenport businesses in order to prepare for the holidays. 

Earlier this month, I joined the Fairbank Village BIA for their ‘Light Up the Holidays’ event and tree lighting. I had the chance to meet families at Perth Ave PS for the Junction Triangle Craft Show, and had the pleasure of dropping into the Federation of Portuguese-Canadian Business & Professionals’ holiday party. It’s been wonderful to see our community getting in to the festive spirit. 

Last weekend, I also joined the Mayor of Toronto and AnaBela Torbada from the Little Portugal Toronto BIA on Dundas West to promote shopping local and supporting the businesses impacted by recent emergency construction work. My team worked closely with Toronto Water, TTC, and other City divisions to ensure that the road work could be done as quickly as possible. With coordination and communication, we were able to get the work completed and the street re-opened on Monday, weeks ahead of schedule. 

This week I want to send my warmest holiday wishes to you and yours, with all the best for a new year full of peace and progress. This will be my last community newsletter of 2022, and I look forward to connecting with you in the new year. 

Sincerely,

Alejandra Bravo
City Councillor, Ward 9
Davenport

In this Edition

• Winter Storm Updates
• Statement on Warming Centres
• Update on Brock-Sheridan Emergency Work
• Holiday Service Advisories

Winter Storm Updates

The Chief Medical Officer of Health has issued an Extreme Cold Weather Alert. Learn more about preventing cold-related illness and staying warm here. 

Several changes have been made to the delivery of City-run services and programs as a result of today’s storm, including the opening of warming centres, activation of snow clearing operations, and closure of all library branches, child care centres, vaccination clinics, Toronto History Museums, and most recreation centres, arenas, & conservatories.  

You can find the latest detailed information about today’s storm on my website, here.

Statement on Warming Centres

Yesterday, Councillors Ausma Malik, Gord Perks, and myself issued a statement, calling for the opening of the City’s Warming Centres on Thursday in advance of the winter storm: 

“With cold weather and freezing rain arriving today, we have a duty in our city to protect one another. Each day, over 100 people are turned away from central intake because there is no space available in our shelters, which are stretched to capacity. The City of Toronto’s extreme cold weather alert policy only triggers the opening of emergency Warming Centres when temperatures dip below -15 degrees celsius, a threshold that forces people to risk their health and safety on the streets in snow, rain, and winter weather. 

City staff have confirmed that Warming Centres are scheduled to open on Friday at 7 pm. As members of the Toronto Board of Health, we have expressed our concern and asked for options to increase the hours and locations of Warming Centres and drop-ins, starting tonight. At the January meeting of the Board of Health, we will be requesting a review of the City’s extreme cold weather alert policy and ways to move forward that can provide better protection for people who are experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness. Protecting people must be our top priority.”

I’m glad to share that following the calls from community leaders and the release of the above statement, the City opened Warming Centres yesterday evening ahead of schedule, providing important shelter for vulnerable Torontonians during this winter storm.

Update on Brock-Sheridan Emergency Work

On Monday, the TTC completed the restoration of overhead streetcar electrical and was able to reopen Dundas Street West, between Brock Ave. and Sheridan Ave, to all vehicle traffic. 505 Dundas streetcar service has also been restored. Thank you to all the local leaders and community members who advocated for this work to happen quickly and supported one another throughout the process.

Holiday Service Advisories

TTC Holiday Schedule

Throughout the holidays, the TTC will run on modified schedules as follows:

Sunday, December 25

• Regular Sunday service
• Subway service and most routes will start at 8 a.m.

Monday, December 26

• Regular Holiday service
• Subway service and most routes will start at 6 a.m. and will follow a Sunday schedule
• Routes that do not normally operate on Sundays will not run on December 26

Tuesday, December 27

• Regular Holiday service
• Subway service and most routes will start at 6 a.m.

Wed., December 28, Thurs. December 29, and Fri. December 30

• Regular weekday service

New Year’s Eve – Saturday, December 31

• Ride free from 7 p.m. on December 31 to 8 a.m. on January 1
  • You do not need to tap your PRESTO card or pay a fare during this time. 
• Subway service will be extended until approximately 3 a.m. 

For the full TTC Holiday Service information, including the detailed New Year’s Eve schedule and information on getting to the City of Toronto’s waterfront fireworks show, click here. 

Toronto Public Library hours

• Saturday, December 24 - Christmas Eve - Open from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
• Sunday, December 25 - Christmas Day - Closed
• Monday, December 26 - Closed for Christmas Day holiday 
• Tuesday, December 27 - Closed for Boxing Day holiday
• Saturday, December 31 - New Year's Eve - Open from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
• Sunday, January 1 - New Year's Day - Closed
• Monday, January 2 - Closed for New Year’s Day holiday

Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation

Some recreation centres, arenas, and conservatories will be closed during the holiday season. Check Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation’s Recreation Centre Closures & Service Alerts page before you go.

Alejandra Bravo, City Councillor
Ward 9 • Davenport

Toronto City Hall
100 Queen Street West, Suite C42
Toronto, ON M5H 2N2

Telephone: 416-392-7012
Email: [email protected]