Community Update: April 17, 2026

April 17, 2026 edition of Councillor Alejandra Bravo's Community Newsletter

In Davenport, small businesses are at the heart of our local economy. We value the people who provide us with goods and services within our neighbourhoods – and nothing demonstrates this better than the story of cobbler Alazar Beyene and local resident Marsha Shandur.

Last fall, Alazar faced a serious challenge when his shoe patching and stitching machine broke down. Without the machine, he was at risk of losing the business he had built over decades. Marsha was determined to keep Alazar running his shop in Dufferin Mall, Moneysworth and Best Quality Shoe Repair, so she set up a fundraising page. The community rallied its support and within three weeks the page had raised enough to cover the costs of the machine.

This week, I was so grateful to be invited by Marsha and welcomed by Alazar at his store to celebrate the arrival of his new machine. The additional funds raised will be donated to the Maquila Solidarity Network, a Toronto-based organization that supports better wages and working conditions for garment workers.

Stories like this are a powerful reminder of how important our local artisans and tradespeople are to the fabric of our neighbourhoods. It also shows what’s possible when a community comes together with a shared purpose to support one another and build something stronger in the process. Solidarity is alive in Davenport.

At the recent Economic and Community Development Committee meeting, City staff gave an update on the work I’ve championed to help small businesses thrive. We have launched a business license portal to make it easier for business owners to update and renew their license, and created a dedicated Business Licensing Information Phone Line (416-392-6700) to help with questions. At this meeting we also approved an update on the rules around street vending to make it easier for carts to sell more kinds of goods, and reduced the fees so that there can be more opportunity for vendors.

This summer, the City is also proposing to launch a food and beverage pilot in some parks, which would allow mobile vendors to set up in specific park areas. If Council approves the pilot, there would be more options for tasty snacks and (non-alcoholic) beverages available, with an emphasis on offering diverse options that are locally-sourced and affordable.

All of the above is about creating economic development in our city that benefits everyone – not just large corporations. I have worked with organizations, experts, and City staff during the last eighteen months to create an Inclusive Economic Development Framework as part of the Action Plan for Toronto’s Economy. This Framework requires the City to measure economic success in terms of good jobs and opportunities for residents in local communities, not just in productivity or dollars for those at the top. We are all part of the economy, and should all get to share and enjoy the benefits of growth.

Sincerely,

Alejandra Bravo
City Councillor • Ward 9 • Davenport
Chair, Economic & Community Development Committee

In this Edition

Community Cleanup: Dufferin and St. Clair
2026 Community Environment Days and Compost Days around the corner
Take my 2026 Snow Response Survey
A quick summary on what’s already happened
Development Application for 1167 to 1175 Bloor Street West, 34 to 42 Brock Crescent and 90 Croatia Street
Green P offering free EV charging across entire network during Earth Week
Toronto Public Health helping students catch-up on routine vaccines
Air Conditioner Assistance Program
Clean Toronto Together – April 24 to 26
Take steps to prevent basement flooding
Leaf it to us: How to set out yard waste for safe collection

Community Cleanup: Dufferin and St. Clair

Join us at Dufferin and St. Clair for a community cleanup day on Saturday, May 9th from 10:00 to 12:00. Meet us at the Santa Chiara Parkette to say hello, enjoy a refreshment, and grab some gloves and garbage bags for the cleanup. To celebrate the return of warmer weather and the spring season, participants are also invited to pick up a Basil plant starter kit.

2026 Community Environment Days and Compost Days around the corner

Our 2026 Community Environment Days are just around the corner! Join us on Sunday, April 26 at the Dufferin Mall parking lot and Sunday, May 31 at Loretto College to dispose of household hazardous waste, donate goods, and recycle electronics.

Community Environment Days play a key role by keeping recyclable and reusable items out of landfills while ensuring hazardous materials like paint, batteries, and light bulbs are disposed of safely. Residents can also take advantage of free compost and purchase kitchen containers for organics (while supplies last). Learn more at toronto.ca/environment_days.

2026 Compost Days are also coming up. On Compost Days, residents can pick up free, loose compost for gardening. Make sure to bring a shovel and a container to carry it home!

Please note that the Compost Day at Charles Caccia Park scheduled for Saturday, April 18 has been cancelled due to construction taking place at the park.

Take my 2026 Snow Response Survey

This year we experienced another tough winter where Davenport residents did not get the level of service we deserve.

Continuing my efforts from the Snow Town Hall meeting I hosted with City staff in February, I want to hear about your experiences and suggestions on how the City’s snow response can be improved.

A quick summary on what’s already happened:

Last year, the City did an in-depth review of its winter response contracts, which were approved under former Mayor John Tory and remain in effect until 2029.
From a citywide perspective, staff highlighted the key areas for concern include sidewalk clearing, and plowing on residential streets. Monitoring tools don’t reliably confirm actual conditions, and the current contracts lack the flexibility and surge capacity needed for rapid snow removal in response to major storm events.
In our community of Ward 9 - Davenport, the main issues identified were narrow and rigid sidewalks which cannot be serviced by standard sidewalk plows, as well as infrequent servicing times, and insufficient snow removal.

At my Snow Town Hall meeting, I heard about accessibility challenges for residents due to snow, as well as parking and safety issues that impacted residents in Davenport. This survey is another opportunity for you to share your experiences with this year’s snow response, and what changes you would like to see.

TAKE THE SURVEY

I’ll be using your survey submissions and feedback to bring recommendations to Council about our winter and snow response going forward.

Development Application for 1167 to 1175 Bloor Street West, 34 to 42 Brock Crescent and 90 Croatia Street

The City of Toronto’s Development Review Division has received an application to amend the Official Plan and Zoning By-law to permit a 14 storey mixed-use building at 1167 to 1175 Bloor Street West, 34 to 42 Brock Crescent and 90 Croatia Street.

Join City of Toronto staff at the virtual community consultation meeting on Thursday, May 7, 2026 from 6:00 - 7:30 pm where you can learn about the proposal, provide comments, ask questions, and speak with the project team.

Visit www.toronto.ca/CPconsultations for the registration link and instructions on how to join.

Green P offering free EV charging across entire network during Earth Week

To celebrate the continued growth of electric vehicle adoption and our growing charger network, Green P will offer free EV charging across our entire network during Earth Week, giving Torontonians an opportunity to experience Green P’s reliable charging in their neighbourhoods.

Offer details:

Available from April 20 to April 24 (Earth Week)
Applies to 500+ Green P EV charging stations across Toronto
Includes on-street and off-street Level 2 chargers, as well as Level 3 fast chargers
Standard parking fees will continue to apply where applicable

Today, nearly 80% of Torontonians live within 5 km of a Green P charger, reflecting the rapid expansion of Canada’s largest municipally owned EV charging network. This initiative aligns with the City of Toronto’s TransformTO Net Zero goals by making EV charging more accessible and visible for residents.

We’ve attached our campaign visuals, should you wish to share this opportunity with your constituents through your channels. More information about Green P EV charging locations can be found at: EV Charging - Green P Parking

Toronto Public Health helping students catch-up on routine vaccines

Toronto Public Health (TPH) is hosting student vaccine clinics to help school-aged children catch up on any missing routine vaccines. Routine vaccines are based on Ontario’s publicly funded immunization schedule and play an important role in keeping children safe against serious infections like measles, polio, whooping cough and more. Parents/guardians should check their child’s vaccination records for any missing vaccines and book an appointment at an upcoming clinic to get them back on track.

See upcoming dates/locations & book an appointment: TPHBookings.ca

Air Conditioner Assistance Program

The City of Toronto is expanding its Air Conditioner Assistance Program to help more residents stay safe and cool this summer. This year, the City will provide at least 1,000 free portable air conditioners through a draw for eligible residents, including low‑income seniors with health needs, pregnant individuals and families with infants living in apartment buildings without air conditioning.

Learn more about eligibility and how to apply: toronto.ca/ACProgram

Clean Toronto Together – April 24 to 26

Celebrate Earth Month by helping keep Toronto clean. Join thousands of residents, families, businesses and community groups in the annual citywide cleanup from April 24 to 26.

Register by April 22 to choose your cleanup location from a pre-approved parks list, pick up supplies and receive a participant toolkit. Registering for your community clean up in advance will help the City coordinate clean up locations, arrange waste collection and recognize the impact of volunteer efforts across Toronto’s parks and public spaces. Learn more at toronto.ca/CleanToronto.

Take steps to prevent basement flooding

Every house is at risk of basement flooding, even if it has not happened before. It’s essential that homeowners take steps to help protect their property. Learn simple actions you can take to reduce the risk of basement flooding at toronto.ca/BasementFlooding

Leaf it to us: How to set out yard waste for safe collection

The City collects yard waste – including small tree branches, weeds, brush and mulch – every other week on regularly scheduled garbage collection days from mid-March to mid-December. This helps divert more than 85,000 tonnes of yard waste away from landfill each year. Find out what is and is not accepted in the yard waste program and how to properly set out your waste at toronto.ca/YardWaste