Community Update: October 24, 2025

October 24, 2025 edition of Councillor Alejandra Bravo's Community Newsletter

This week marks an exciting step forward for transit riders on Dufferin. RapidTO bus lanes are being installed to make your commute faster and more reliable. These priority lanes aim to greatly improve the speed and reliability of the 29 and 929 Dufferin bus routes, which serve over 40,000 daily riders. Installation will happen in two phases from October 2025 to May 2026, with added traffic signal changes and turn restrictions to keep buses on Dufferin moving.

Leading up to this week’s implementation, I have sought feedback on RapidTO by connecting with residents through door-to-door canvassing and at community meetings. I have heard concerns about the loss of permit parking on Dufferin, availability of overnight parking, and the potential for increased traffic on nearby streets.

In order to address these concerns, I moved a motion at Executive Committee back in July directing staff to explore additional parking for permit holders on nearby streets, in nearby off-street parking lots, and wherever else possible. Staff have confirmed that the Green P Car Park #241, located at 9 Bonar Place, is now available for overnight residential parking at no cost for residents with valid residential on-street permits.

In a report approved at this week’s Community Council meeting, City staff reported back on my direction to add overnight permit parking hours for six Green P parking spaces on Gladstone, north of Bloor, between 12:01 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. Staff also identified eight streets near Dufferin where parking currently alternates between the two sides of the street on the 1st and 16th of each month. This creates parking supply constraints for half of each month at locations where the supply of parking spaces is not equal on both sides. By ending the alternation every two weeks, and designating permit parking on the side of the street with a greater number of parking spots, parking availability will be increased.

Transportation Services has also confirmed that local traffic infiltration will be reduced through new turn restrictions on Dufferin, in order to limit vehicles’ ability to use local neighbourhoods as cut-throughs. Additionally, a street furniture audit on Dufferin will assess the need for garbage cans, benches, bicycle racks, and bus shelters necessary to support increased transit use.

I have also asked Transportation Services to study RapidTO’s impacts on traffic on neighbouring streets in the weeks that follow the installation of the lanes. They have indicated that additional data collection is currently underway to inform recommendations for measures to be implemented on local streets.

On St. Clair, I continue to engage with residents about ways to speed up 512 streetcar service. If you have any thoughts or ideas on how we can improve this vital east-west TTC route, please reach out to our office.

Finally, I’m still deeply concerned about the destructive provincial legislation that Premier Ford introduced earlier this week that bans speed cameras. I know many residents of Davenport are concerned about this dangerous plan, and I will continue to advocate for proven measures like automated speed enforcement to keep residents safe. Join me in telling the Premier to stop undermining proven public safety measures, and that speed cameras save lives:

SIGN THE PETITION

Sincerely,

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

In this Edition

Councillor Bravo’s Halloween Party
Bloorcourt BIA Halloween Block Party
Fairbank Village Pumpkin Giveaway
7th annual Pumpkin Parade at MacGregor Park
Junction Triangle Craft Show
Toronto Public Health RSV Vaccine Clinic
Waste Reduction Week is October 20 to 26
Workers’ Action Centre Wage Theft Report
All Toronto Public Library branches now open on Sunday
Petition: Name the Earlscourt Park pathway after Claude Bergeron
Green P Lot now available for free overnight parking
Construction notice for Ennerdale Road
Toronto Public Health Respiratory Vaccine Clinic for older adults
The City of Toronto’s Small Business Forum 2025
At Home in Toronto exhibition explores the meaning of home
Upcoming permanent closure of Bloor GO platform access at Ernest Avenue

Councillor Bravo’s Halloween Party

Join us on October 31st from 4:00 - 7:00 PM at our community office (1240 Bloor Street West) and Susan Tibaldi Parkette for a family-friendly Halloween event!

Trick-or-treat at our recently-reopened Community Office
Play Halloween-themed games at Susan Tibaldi Parkette
Enjoy pumpkin carving, button making, and apple cider
Learn more about our Rat Response Plan

RSVP NOW

Bloorcourt BIA Halloween Block Party

The Bloorcourt BIA is hosting its inaugural Halloween Block Party and Pumpkin Giveaway on October 26th. Enjoy a pumpkin giveaway, costume contests and lots of treats! Find out more here.

Fairbank Village Pumpkin Giveaway

The Fairbank Village BIA will be hosting their annual Pumpkin Giveaway October 24 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. Find out more here.

7th annual Pumpkin Parade at MacGregor Park

On Saturday, November 1 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM, give your pumpkins one last night to shine at the 7th annual Pumpkin Parade at MacGregor Park (College and Lansdowne). Bring your pumpkins and light them up for all to enjoy. Contact [email protected] for more info or to volunteer.

Junction Triangle Craft Show

Get ready to kick off the festive season at the Junction Triangle Craft Show! This annual celebration features over 40 talented local Makers, Vendors, and Artisans.

Entry is $5, pay-what-you-can, or a small food donation. Your contribution welcomes the whole neighborhood and helps make a difference. Find it at Casa Da Madeira, a fully accessible building right on Dupont in the heart of the community. Find out more.

Waste Reduction Week is October 20 to 26

October 20 to 26 is Waste Reduction Week! Reduce your waste by refusing single-use & takeaway items, repairing & repurposing old clothes and borrowing/renting less frequently used items, such as sports equipment. Learn more ways to reduce your waste at toronto.ca/reduce-reuse.

Workers’ Action Centre Wage Theft Report

Our neighbours’ wages are being increasingly stolen by employers because the provincial government makes it just too easy. We all lose when employment laws are broken. More services are needed in communities when families are deprived of income and basic worker rights.

The Workers’ Action Centre has released their new Wage Theft Report which exposes the systemic wage theft epidemic facing workers in Ontario, reports on new stats from research conducted with over 500 workers and puts forward solutions needed to tackle wage theft.

On Tuesday, October 28, they are holding a one hour webinar on the report and their campaign against wage theft. Learn more here.

All Toronto Public Library branhces now open on Sunday

Starting October 19, all Toronto Public Library branches will be open Sundays year-round 12:00 – 5:00 PM. That’s more than 12,000 extra hours a year to read, explore or unwind.

For Davenport, that means two branches will now be open on Sundays that previously were not: Dufferin / St. Clair and the new Junction Triangle branch. Find out more here.

Petition: Name the Earlscourt Park pathway after Claude Bergeron

We have received a community request to name the central pathway through Earlscourt Park after community member Claude Bergeron. Mr. Bergeron used his professional skills to develop the initial plan for the path, as well as his great diplomacy to advocate for the project over the course of 17 years.

Sign your name to support this request by filling out the form on this page.

Green P Lot now available for free overnight parking

As part of the implementation of priority bus lanes on Dufferin Street, Toronto Parking Authority’s Green P Car Park #241, located at 9 Bonar Place, is now available for overnight residential parking at no cost for residents with a valid residential on-street permit. Please ensure your permit is clearly displayed in your windshield for enforcement staff.

Construction notice for Ennerdale Road

Toronto Hydro is upgrading the electrical distribution system near sections of Ennerdale Road,

Dynevor Road and Branstone Road to facilitate the City of Toronto work. Work is expected to take place from October 2025 to February 2026. Work includes relocating overhead electrical cables and installing a hydro pole on City-owned property.

Toronto Public Health Respiratory Vaccine Clinic for older adults

Toronto Public Health is hosting a Respiratory Vaccine Clinic to help protect older adults from serious respiratory illness. Appointments are available between 9:30 – 3:30 PM on Friday, October 31 at the North York Civic Centre. Adults aged 65 and older can get their COVID-19 and/or flu vaccines, and adults aged 75 and older can also get an RSV vaccine. It is safe and convenient to get these vaccines at the same time.

The City of Toronto’s Small Business Forum 2025

The City of Toronto’s Small Business Forum takes place Wednesday, October 29 at Meridian Hall, 1 Front Street East, from 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM This free, signature event celebrates and supports small businesses through a day of inspiration, learning and connection. This year’s theme, Small Business, Big World, explores global trends, export opportunities and supply chain strategies. The Forum is designed to empower entrepreneurs to grow internationally by connecting with industry leaders, business innovators and City programs. Learn more.

At Home in Toronto exhibition explores the meaning of home

Discover rarely seen artifacts from the City’s collection alongside items from community members at the Market Gallery’s free At Home in Toronto exhibition on now until November 30. From a World War One soldier’s return ticket home to family heirlooms passed through generations and artworks by celebrated Toronto artists, the exhibition invites visitors to explore the many ways we define, create, and carry home with us. Learn more.

Upcoming permanent closure of Bloor GO platform access at Ernest Avenue

On Saturday, November 1, Metrolinx will be closing the Ernest Avenue access to the Bloor GO Station platform for track and noise wall construction. A detour will be in place until the Randolph Avenue pedestrian access pavilion is completed in early 2026. Find out more here.

I have heard from community members about the difficulties that this closure will cause and I am working with Metrolinx and the City to try to find a solution to preserve access to the Bloor GO Station.

In the Community

It was great to join Regal Heights community members at the Florence Watts plaque unveiling on Daffodil Hill.

I was happy to meet with the CEO and team of Safehaven to discuss their redevelopment project on Bloor. This new site will expand access to specialized, community-based care to those with complex medical needs.

I toured the modular housing building at 321 Dovercourt with TNG CEO Bill Sinclair to discuss building improvements, youth job programs, and other opportunities for the City to support the community.