Community Update: June 25, 2025

Neighbour --

With the extreme heat wave, many in our community have been struggling to stay cool and have concerns about people who are vulnerable to the elements. As the effects of climate change are felt more intensely each year in our community, we need to take action to adjust the City’s response and ensure that everyone in our neighbourhoods have what they need to get through the heat.

Working with Mayor Chow, I’ve seconded a motion at City Council this week on a range of actions to improve the City’s heat response and provide critical protections. 

This includes deploying more City water trucks to high-needs areas and providing 500,000 water bottles to frontline agencies for distribution to people in need; partnering with the Red Cross to increase outreach to vulnerable people, with an emphasis on seniors, during heat waves and high temperatures; and asking City staff to consider restoring 24/7 public cooling centres to the heat response plan which were phased out in 2019.

This suite of actions also includes direction to ensure that medical staff are available if needed to support uninterrupted operational hours at pools and recreation centres during extreme heat events, as well as heat-contingency plans for CampTO program locations—this will help to avert some of the outdoor recreation closures we saw this past weekend while protecting our frontline staff. 

I’ll also be pushing for additional actions to increase access to indoor cool spaces for people in need this summer, including emergency funding to community agencies who could provide 24/7 space during heat warnings.

In Davenport, my team and I are working to ensure that local recreation facilities are getting the attention they need as we head further into summer. Outdoor pools, splash pads, parks, and more are all crucial parts of our communities, and it’s a priority for me that they are clean, fully operational, and meeting your expectations. If you see an issue, please let my office know or contact 3-1-1 and we will take action on it.

Sincerely,

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

In this edition

• Keep Toronto Beautiful
• Update on Giovanni Caboto Outdoor Pool
• Creating an All-of-City Approach to Homelessness
• Canada Day activities and fireworks across Toronto
• Tips to beat the heat this summer
• The City's future electric ferries: Vote on what's inside the ride
• Love Local this Summerlicious! July 4 to 20
• Listening to residents of multi-tenant houses
• Public consultation on Building Emissions Performance Standards
• Clubs That Care: Youth Leadership Micro-grants
• Metrolinx: Construction Update - Davenport Diamond Greenway
• Metrolinx: Davenport Road - Fire Hydrant Installation (Davenport Diamond Guideway)
• Concerts on Connolly
• Free Summer Architecture & Design Camp for BIPOC Youth
• In the community

Keep Toronto Beautiful

Mayor Olivia Chow launched a new citywide initiative called Keep Toronto Beautiful aimed at keeping public spaces clean, safe and well-maintained. A clean city impacts public health, the environment, the economy and overall quality of life.

From now through fall, 300 to 400-person cleaning blitz crews will harness their energy to clean and refresh specific high cleaning-need areas. This work will include:

• Removal of graffiti, weeds and litter from streets, sidewalks, parks and other spaces
• Tree maintenance on streets and in parks
• Installing more than 600 new garbage and recycling bins in high-usage parks
• Intensified enforcement and clean-up of illegal dumping hotspots
• Street sweeping and clean-up of boulevards and laneways
• Repairs to potholes, bike lanes and bike rings
• Repainting pavement markings, including crosswalks, to improve road safety

These blitzes, planned for several Saturdays over a three-month period, are in addition to proactive daily patrols by City crews to identify and maintain areas in need of attention.

The City is also putting extra care into public parks and pools this summer with daily clean-up efforts that include repairing benches, picnic tables and other equipment, graffiti removal and litter pickup, as well as hiring up to 30 students to join summer park cleaning teams and adding more custodial staff to maintain 21 outdoor pools.

Update on Giovanni Caboto Outdoor Pool

Since the opening of Giovanni Caboto Outdoor Pool at the beginning of this season, there have been some challenges flagged to my office by residents about operations that have resulted in unpredictable closures and disruptions. 

These closures have highlighted facility management challenges that I want to see resolved, and my office will be working to ensure that a more proactive approach is taken to find solutions for the long-term. 

I will be meeting with senior Parks & Recreation management staff to create a plan to address outstanding challenges so that we can return Giovanni Caboto Outdoor Pool to normal operations and eliminate unplanned closures and disruptions. When more information and further updates are available, I will share them with you.

Creating an All-of-City Approach to Homelessness

At Economic and Community Development Committee last week, I moved a motion to call for an all-of-city response to the urgent need of people who are unhoused in our city, and the importance of streamlining and improving the services that can support them. My motion, which was approved, directs City staff to develop an inventory of programs and services offered by City divisions and partners, and governance options to ensure that we are maximizing the support that people are provided and the pathways out of homelessness.  

Planned 2025 Tree Planting in Davenport 

I've worked with the Environment, Climate and Forestry division to get this year's plan for tree planting in Davenport finalized. I'm happy to share this map with planned locations for new trees in our Ward. It also highlights some tree planting that happened with Rawlinson Community School students in May, and some planned community events in August at Earlscourt Park. 

Canada Day activities and fireworks across Toronto

Celebrate everything you love about Canada on Tuesday, July 1 with fun daytime activities, live music, markets and more at locations across Toronto, followed by fireworks at select City locations. Find more information on the City’s Canada Day webpage.   

A reminder that fireworks are only permitted on private property until 11 p.m. on Canada Day and Victoria Day. A permit is required to set off fireworks on all other days. Fireworks are not permitted in city parks or on beaches, balconies, streets, parking lots or a property that is not owned by the person setting off the fireworks. Know the rules and find more information about the use and sale of fireworks on the City’s Fireworks webpage. 

Tips to beat the heat this summer

Toronto has just experienced its first significant heat event. Toronto Public Health (TPH) reminds all residents that everyone is vulnerable to the negative health impacts of hot weather, including heat stress, heat stroke and even death. Heat-related illnesses are preventable. As temperatures and humidity rise in Toronto, it is important to actively take steps to keep cool and stay healthy. Find helpful tips on the City’s Staying Healthy in Hot Weather webpage.   

The City’s future electric ferries: Vote on what’s inside the ride

The City is investing in two new electric ferries to improve the passenger experience to Toronto Island Park. The new ferries will move more people, faster and more sustainably. Residents can help shape how the inside of the new ferries will look and feel through an online survey, open now until Wednesday, July 2. Access the surveyand find more information on the City’s Electric Ferries webpage.  

Love Local this Summerlicious! July 4 to 20

Toronto’s favourite culinary celebration is back! This Summerlicious is about more than just enjoying delicious dishes – it’s about showing love and support for the local restaurants that give Toronto its flavour. From July 4 to 20, more than 220 restaurants are serving up three-course prix fixe menus that celebrate everything from comforting classics to exciting global dishes. Reservations open Thursday, June 19. Find more information on the City’s Summerlicious webpage. 

Listening to residents of multi-tenant houses

On March 31, 2024, the City’s new licensing rules for operators of multi-tenant houses came into effect. These rules aim to expand housing options in Toronto and ensure tenants have safe, well-maintained places to live. The City is looking for feedback from tenants, operators, neighbors, advocacy groups and the general public on the implementation of these new rules through an online survey. Take the survey and find more information is available on the City’s Multi-Tenant (Rooming) Houses webpage. 

Public consultation on Building Emissions Performance Standards

Existing buildings account for 56 per cent of the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Toronto, mainly from the use of fossil fuels like gas for space and water heating. To significantly reduce emissions and improve the well-being of our environment and its residents, the City is proposing a policy that will introduce building emissions performance standards (BEPS) for existing buildings.   

Building owners and residents are invited to one of four virtual town halls on June 24, 25, July 8 and 9 to learn and provide input on the proposed standards for Toronto prior to going to City Council in October. An online survey will also be available for residents to provide input feedback from Tuesday, June 24 to Wednesday, July 16. Register for a virtual town hall and find more information on the City’s Building Emissions Performance Standards webpage.  

Clubs That Care: Youth Leadership Micro-grants

Makers Making Change is a program of Neil Squire, a non-profit organization that empowers people with disabilities through technology. Funded by Government of Canada, the Clubs That Care Micro-grants supports youths ages 15-30 in making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities.

Successful applicants will:

• Receive a $3,000 micro-grant
• Engage 10 volunteers through build events
• Complete and deliver 20 assistive technologies to Canadians with disabilities
• Purchase tools, 3D printers, and supplies to host build events 

Eligibility

• Applicant must be youth ages 15-30 (inclusive) at the time of application
• Must be living in Canada
• Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or has been granted refugee status in Canada
• Complete an online application and provide three references
• Share updates of your deliveries

Metrolinx: Construction Update - Davenport Diamond Greenway

Metrolinx: Davenport Road - Fire Hydrant Installation (Davenport Diamond Guideway)

Concerts on Connolly 

Free Summer Architecture & Design Camp for BIPOC Youth

In the community

My team and I are continuing to knock on doors on Dufferin Street to hear your thoughts about the proposal for priority bus lanes. I have been taking this feedback to City staff as the proposal evolves before being presented to Executive Committee.

It was great to join FCJ Refugee Centre for their annual general meeting. FCJ Refugee Centre is a welcoming place for people coming from across the world seeking refuge, support, and new beginnings in our city. I’m proud of the work they do in our Davenport community.

It was great to connect with the team at Springboard at their open house on their upcoming project at 976 College Street. Their proposal includes affordable housing for adults with developmental disabilities, and you can learn more here. 

Thanks to everyone who joined me for Community Environment Day at Loretto College School! It was great to connect with everyone and engage in creating a more sustainable community.

Thanks to New Horizons Seniors for hosting a meeting to get updates for the community on the development at Bloor-Dufferin — it was a great discussion about the future of our Davenport community.