Community Update: June 26, 2026

At City Council this week, I championed and delivered a plan to protect renters from the very real dangers of heat in our rapidly warming cities. The debate over a maximum indoor temperature began long  before I became a Councillor, though Toronto for years has had a  minimum heat requirement – landlords are required to keep apartments at a minimum temperature of 21 degrees between October and May. As summers become hotter and heat waves become more frequent, many Torontonians, particularly seniors and those living in older apartment buildings without air conditioning, are increasingly vulnerable to dangerous indoor temperatures. Extreme heat is now more dangerous to health and life than extreme cold.

Yesterday, City Council voted 23-1 for Toronto to have a maximum indoor temperature bylaw next summer, meaning landlords are responsible for their units to stay cool enough to protect renters’ health and wellbeing. Toronto will be the first large city in Canada to do so, and echoes commitments New York City has made around protecting renters, though their bylaw doesn’t go into force until 2030. 

For weeks my Chief of Staff and I have been meeting with City staff and with tenant and climate groups, including the Toronto Environmental Alliance and tenant advocacy leaders ACORN, to create a roadmap for better protecting residents during periods of extreme heat, and I was glad to see my Mayor Chow and my Council colleagues endorse this work. I know many of you have been wanting to see this and I am happy that we have finally delivered it.

Another important item on the Council agenda this week was the securing of $1.5 billion for Toronto from the Federal and Provincial Governments, to compensate the City for reduced development charges. This money will not only go towards paying for much-needed investments in our public transit, water and sewer systems, and road repair, it will also help create more affordable housing. With more funding capacity, Toronto can expand our purpose-built rental incentives. This City program has already created more than 8,000 units – a quarter of which are set at affordable rents. Now, the City will be supporting the creation of 10,000 more apartments that will include at least 2,000 affordable units.  

We’re moving forward on other key areas, including finalizing the upload of the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway to the Province of Ontario. First confirmed as part of the Toronto-Ontario New Deal negotiated by Mayor Chow, this report at Council confirmed the final stages of the Province’s responsibility for the expressways, including the significant capital repair costs. At Council we also learned that the Ontario Provincial Police will be taking responsibility for law enforcement on these highways. This should result in a decrease in costs for the Toronto Police, which I will be closely looking for in their 2027 budget submission. 

I hope you are enjoying  the official start of summer and I look forward to seeing you this season at the many wonderful community events that will continue all across Davenport, including my outdoor movie night at Earlscourt Park! More details are below.

Sincerely,

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

In this Edition

• Join me at our outdoor movie night on July 9 at Earlscourt Park
• Join me to inaugurate the expansion of Geary Avenue Park
• Community Cleanup: Bloor and Dufferin
• Celebrate Canada Day!
• FIFA World Cup 2026™ traffic management plan
• Soccer for All – New mini-pitches across Toronto
• Make a splash at the City’s outdoor pools this summer!
• Leash your dog – no excuses!
• West Nile virus awareness
• TRANScendTO 2026
• Help keep Toronto clean – Please don’t litter

Join me at our outdoor movie night on July 9 at Earlscourt Park

Join us to watch Pixar's "Hoppers" on the big screen at Earlscourt Park on July 9th! 

Don’t forget to bring a blanket or fold-up chair to sit on and make sure to grab some free popcorn when you arrive. Find us at the northwest corner of the park near Caledonia and St. Clair. Thank you to our partners at TCEU Local 416 for helping put the event on.

Join me to inaugurate the expansion of Geary Avenue Park

Join me and City of Toronto staff to inaugurate the expanded Geary Avenue Park. Enjoy free refreshments, a face painter, and other park activations.

The event will begin at 12:30 pm, followed by a ribbon cutting at 1:00 pm.

Community Cleanup: Bloor and Dufferin

Join us for a community cleanup at and around the intersection of Bloor and Dufferin in collaboration with the Bloordale and Bloorcourt BIAs. Meet us at the northwest corner of the intersection. Free gloves and garbage bags will be available for the cleanup. Refreshments will also be provided. The cleanup will also feature a presentation from City staff on our Rat Response Plan.

Celebrate Canada Day!

Celebrate everything you love about Canada on July 1 with fun activities, live music, markets and more at locations across Toronto, followed by fireworks at select City of Toronto locations. Learn more.

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. Know the rules and find more information about the use and sale of fireworks on the City’s Fireworks web page.

FIFA World Cup 2026™ traffic management plan

Despite an influx of visitors to Toronto for FIFA World Cup 2026™, the City’s plan to manage traffic is working well. The plan is focused on a transit-first approach, encouraging people to consider modes of transportation other than driving. We’re happy to report that thousands of fans have been walking and cycling to matches and events. Thank you, Toronto, for taking our advice to leave the car at home and to arrive early at games. For information on getting around and road restrictions, visit torontofwc26.ca/getting-around.

Soccer for All – New mini-pitches across Toronto

Soccer for All is creating more free ways for children and youth to play, learn and connect through soccer, with new mini-pitches in parks across Toronto and free scheduled programming as part of summer CampTO and seasonal instructional recreation that supports access, inclusion and community participation. Soccer For All is a FIFA World Cup 2026™ Toronto Legacy Program.  

Learn more: toronto.ca/SoccerForAll

Make a splash at the City’s outdoor pools this summer!

As of Friday (June 26), all City-owned outdoor and wading pools will be operating on a full-time summer schedule, open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Splash pads are open and operate daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Residents are advised to check individual location schedules online before visiting. More information can be found on the City’s swimming web page.

Leash your dog – no excuses! 

If you’re a Toronto dog owner, this is your reminder that all dogs must be leashed in public places, except in designated off-leash areas. Remember to maintain control of your dog at all times. Leashing your dog protects you, your dog, other residents and dogs in the community and prevents negative encounters with wildlife. Learn more at toronto.ca/LeashYourDog

West Nile virus awareness

Mosquito and West Nile virus activity increase with warmer weather, making summer the highest risk season for transmission. Toronto Public Health is monitoring mosquito activity and treats standing water in catch basins and other locations with larvicide to help reduce mosquito populations.

TRANScendTO 2026 

The City of Toronto is partnering with LGBT YouthLine and the Toronto Kiki Ballroom Alliance to host TRANScendTO 2026 on June 25 for youth. This free, one-day event for Two-Spirit, trans and non-binary (2STNB) youth will feature workshops on topics like crisis support, résumé writing and job preparation, as well as peer-led meet-up spaces, creative activities and opportunities to connect in an affirming and welcoming environment. 

Event details: Learn more about TRANScendTO 

How to attend: Register here

Help keep Toronto clean – Please don’t litter

With summer weather upon us and FIFA World Cup 2026™ in our city, more residents and visitors are spending time outdoors and in Toronto’s public spaces. You’re reminded to dispose of waste where it belongs – please don’t litter. Let’s keep Toronto clean.

In the Community

It was nice to get outside and join neighbours to help clean up the area around a future entry point to the West Toronto Railpath extension. This was a group effort by Toronto Transportation Services staff, Metrolinx, and the amazing leadership of Friends of the West Toronto Railpath. Thank you neighbours! 

I was so happy to attend the first ever West End Family Pride at Dovercourt Park. This community led celebration was a huge success and so much fun. Congratulations!

I had a blast marching in the Portugal Day Parade on St. Clair and attending the festival at Earlscourt Park. Parabéns e força!

I accompanied the Little Portugal BIA at the inauguration of a beautiful new mural called Conceicao by artist Hanna Lucatelli. See it in person at 1630 Dundas Street West. This adds another outstanding work in the Dundas West Open Air Museum, a public art treasure in Davenport.

I celebrated National Indigenous Peoples Day by attending the Na-Me-Res Community Festival and Pow Wow at Dufferin Grove Park. Thank you Na-Me-Res.

I always enjoy visiting neighbours to hear about local priorities, traffic safety measures, and other urgent concerns.

More Updates

• City of Toronto celebrates National Indigenous Peoples Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day with two days of free cultural programming
• Making a splash: City of Toronto opens 15 outdoor pools early for the season
• Toronto and Ontario invest in the return of Taste of the Danforth
• City of Toronto secures $1.5 billion in Canada-Ontario Partnership to Build funding to support housing and reduce development charges
• City of Toronto celebrates the reopening of Kidstown Water Park
• Taste the “World in a City” — Summerlicious reservations now open