Community Update: March 20, 2026

March 20, 2026 edition of Councillor Alejandra Bravo's Community Newsletter

In the last two weeks, I have had the privilege of connecting with Davenport-serving organizations and meeting with residents at their doors, at events, and in my office. There is so much leadership and energy in this community. At the same time, there are so many real-world problems to solve, some affecting one household and others affecting our ward and our entire city. I feel grateful to work with you on things big and small.

One example is how Toronto’s poorly designed garbage cans affect quality of life. For 20 years this amenity has been badly delivered, and yet we interact with it so often that doing better is non-negotiable. I’m happy to report that we finally have a plan to fix them, and I thank Mayor Chow for acting quickly on this.

You might wonder how we ended up with these garbage cans that we’ve been dealing with for decades. Back in 2007, City Council approved a deal with Astral Media, a company that is now owned by Bell, to make them responsible for providing the city’s garbage bins in exchange for ad space. That contract was signed at a time when the idea that the private sector is always more efficient than the public sector was widely promoted. But what we have seen with the city’s garbage cans since 2007 is an example of what privatization actually can produce in practice — service that is substandard and often more expensive in the long run.

The contract also put Astral in charge of maintenance, and the company was supposed to respond to reports of severe damage within 24 hours. But we’ve seen that this has not happened. Believe it or not, over the course of the agreement, they’ve tried five times to redesign the garbage cans, with decidedly mixed results.

The 20-year contract with Astral Media ends next year and I’m supporting the Mayor, who is calling for the contract, including design and maintenance, to be brought back in-house and re-establish accountability. If you’d like to share your thoughts on the future of Toronto’s garbage bins, in addition to other street furniture like bus shelters and benches, I invite you to take the City of Toronto online survey before April 2.

I’m looking forward to seeing how we can develop a better design next year. And we also need to improve the way we maintain them and increase collection frequency. Because sometimes seemingly small things like this can go a long way in improving our day-to-day quality of life in the city.

Sincerely,

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

In this Edition

2026 Environment Days Announced
StreetARToronto Meet the Artists: Community Engagement Event
Open House Information Session for Development Applications in the Keele–St. Clair Secondary Plan Area
2026 CaféTO Grant Now Open for Patio and Café Upgrades
Help name our two new electric ferries
Street furniture survey – have your say!
Let the countdown to summer begin! Registration for CampTO begins soon
Stay safe in shared space: Coyotes in Toronto
Open House: Toronto Building Permit Week
World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is March 24

2026 Environment Days Announced

Our 2026 Community Environment Days have been announced! 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.

On Community Environment Days, Toronto makes a big impact on waste reduction, diverting nearly 83,470 kg of electronics, 216,430 kg of household hazardous waste, and 76,220 kg of reusable goods in 2025 alone.

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.

StreetARToronto Meet the Artists: Community Engagement Event

On Wednesday, March 18th, 40 artists will present their design concepts for art on the south side of the Bloor St W underpass, west of Perth Ave. All are welcome!

Find out more about StreetARToronto by clicking here.

Open House Information Session for Development Applications in the Keele–St. Clair Secondary Plan Area

The City of Toronto’s Development Review staff is hosting an information session about the various development sites near Old Weston Rd and St. Clair Ave. As you may already be aware, there are plans under consideration by the City and under appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal that involve large portions of land in this area. This meeting is intended to provide an opportunity for residents to come together, learn more about what is being proposed, and better understand what actions we can take.

Date: Tuesday, March 31

Time: 6:00 to 8:00 pm

Location: St. Matthew Catholic School, 18 Lavender Road

I strongly encourage you to attend, stay informed, and be part of this important conversation. I hope to see you there.

2026 CaféTO Grant now open for patio and café upgrades

The City of Toronto’s CaféTO Grant provides restaurant, bar and café owners with a matching grant of up to a maximum of $7,500 covering 50 per cent of the cost of eligible improvements to patios in the curb lane, on sidewalks and on private property. Eligible businesses must apply before May 7, to be considered. Learn more and apply today at toronto.ca/CafeTOGrant

Help name our two new electric ferries

We’re at an exciting time for our waterfront - investing in a more sustainable future for Toronto. The City is renewing its aging ferry fleet with two new, fully electric vessels that will deliver increased capacity, improved accessibility and a smoother, quieter, more comfortable ride for residents and visitors travelling to and from the Toronto Islands. Now it’s your turn to help shape this exciting new chapter.

Toronto residents are invited to choose from a shortlist of names developed by a committee made up of community members, waterfront and Island stakeholders, and City staff.

Cast your vote online by April 6 at 11:59 p.m. (one vote per household; Toronto residents only) and help shape this exciting new chapter for our waterfront. Winning names will be announced later this spring. Learn more at toronto.ca/FerryNaming

Let the countdown to summer begin! Registration for CampTO begins soon

The City of Toronto offers 185 summer day camp programs for children and youth aged four to 16 across the city. Camps range from general interest to more specialized programs. Families can begin to plan out their summer and build their wishlists ahead of registration at 7 a.m. on:

Tuesday, March 24 – Early Local Registration opens for eligible local residents living near Free Centres offering CampTO programs.
Tuesday, March 31 – General registration opens for all CampTO programs across the city.

This year, there are 35 Free Centres participating in Early Local Registration - check ahead of time to see whether you are eligible to participate. Find all programs, dates and locations on the City’s Online Registration and Booking System.

Stay safe in shared space: Coyotes in Toronto

From foxes, to raccoons, coyotes and deer, Toronto shares its landscape with wildlife every day. Seeing coyotes in the city is a normal part of urban life. As warmer weather brings more outdoor activity, learn how to safely share outdoor spaces, reduce the risk of negative encounters and protect people and pets. A few simple safety tips go a long way in protecting everyone and helping residents and pets enjoy Toronto’s shared spaces. Learn more at toronto.ca/Coyotes.

Open House: Toronto Building Permit Week

The City of Toronto will mark the inaugural Toronto Building Permit Week from March 22 to 28, highlighting the role building permits play in keeping construction safe and compliant. As part of the week, residents can attend a free Open House at Metro Hall on Monday, March 23 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. to speak with City staff about permits, zoning and other requirements before starting a renovation or construction project. Learn more at toronto.ca/BuildSafeTO.

World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is March 24

World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is marked each year on March 24 by organizations around the world to raise awareness about the health, social and economic consequences of TB, reduce stigma and highlight efforts to end the global TB epidemic. The Stop TB Partnership brings together TB experts and affected communities to #EndTB by 2030. Learn more at toronto.ca/TB.

In the Community

It was a privilege to be invited to speak at the Wavelength Music Festival and Conference kickoff.

I met with Toronto Water staff to help resolve an urgent issue impacting two families.

I had a blast taking part in the Geary Art Crawl. It was fun to visit the Clay Paper Theatre workshop and to browse the market and support some local Davenport businesses.

I had the opportunity last week to speak to two groups of students from Rawlinson Community School and Seneca College about City Hall and life as a City Councillor.