Community Update: September 26, 2025

I take my obligation to protect the lives of Davenport residents very seriously. Premier Ford’s unilateral move to ban speed cameras across Ontario is deplorable.

Over the last few years, Davenport residents have seen the benefits of speed cameras. They reduce speeding, make our streets safer, and help save lives. But this week, Premier Ford announced that he plans to reverse this progress and that this proven technology will soon be banned across the province.

Officially known as Automated Speed Enforcement devices, these cameras are often placed near schools or in areas with a history of speeding-related collisions, and they are a valuable tool in our Vision Zero toolkit that also includes road re-engineering and educational initiatives. Research has shown that they work: one recent study saw an 88% reduction in vehicles travelling faster than the speed limit by 20 km/h or more. 

A broad coalition has spoken in favour of speed cameras including the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, and the Researchers at SickKids and Toronto Metropolitan University.

In Davenport, cameras placed near FH Miller Junior Public School, Oakwood Collegiate, and Stella Maris Catholic School have helped keep students safe while walking to or from school or playing at recess. And on Dufferin Street, right next to Dufferin Grove Park, a speed camera aims to slow down drivers where 24-year-old Alex Amaro was tragically killed on her bike in 2020.

Citywide, since 2024, nearly 250 pedestrians and cyclists have either died or have been seriously injured on our roads. This is a crisis, and we need to do more to protect vulnerable road users. With his planned cancellation of the Automated Speed Enforcement program, Premier Ford is once again prioritizing the convenience of drivers over the safety of children, seniors, pedestrians, and cyclists.

With the decision to cancel this program, the provincial government continues to undermine proven public safety measures. The Premier and the province should be leaving it to local decision makers to determine how we design our neighbourhoods, but once the Province introduces the legislation to ban speed cameras, cities across the province must comply.

To move forward with what I can control, I worked to ensure several safety-focused changes were approved at City Hall this month. These changes include:

• Installing speed bumps in the public laneway south of Corby Avenue and west of Caledonia Road to reduce speeding
• Installing speed bumps in the public laneway east of Gladstone Avenue and south of Collahie Street to reduce speeding
• Prohibiting turns on Bloem Avenue to reduce the number of vehicles using the street as a cut-through to avoid travelling along Dufferin Street
• Establishing a community safety zone on Dovercourt Road, between College Street and Dundas Street West
• Extending traffic calming measures on public laneways near Bloor Street West and Gladstone Avenue

I’m also working with Mayor Chow to improve the safety of TTC riders. Starting in mid-November, crisis worker teams will be stationed on TTC subway platforms across Line 1, between Spadina and Bloor-Yonge Station, and available 24/7.

Together, we can make Davenport safer. Join me in telling the Premier to stop undermining proven public safety measures and that speed cameras save lives:

Below, you can find other city-wide and local updates, information on community events, and more.

Sincerely,

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

In this edition

• Enjoy what the City of Toronto has to offer this fall
• Green Bins 101
• Shape your city
• Help our city bloom!
• Toronto for All
• Indigenous Climate Action Grants open for applications
• The Magpie Club: Free Stilting Program
• Supporting vulnerable tenants impacted by Rental Housing Demolition applications
• Adult Learning Program at West Neighbourhood House
• Grand opening of Junction Triangle library
• TTC route changes due to streetcar track renewals
• Temporary changes to the 501/301 Queen streetcar
• In the Community

Enjoy what the City of Toronto has to offer this fall

Try something new this season and explore fall activities for a variety of age groups, interests and skill levels. Explore over 16,300 activities across the city. Registrations are now open at Toronto.ca/FallRec.

Green Bins 101

Sustainability practices start at home. Help reduce harmful land waste by increasing green bin utilization. Almost 40% of what goes into residential garbage cans could go into green bins. Put food waste, pet waste, diaper and sanitary products, tissues and soiled paper towels in the green bin. Learn more on what goes into the green bin on the City’s webpage.

Shape your city! 

Give back to your city by getting involved with local government. Join a City of Toronto board, committee, or tribunal and help shape some of the city’s key services. Qualified individuals are encouraged to apply to a board they are passionate about. Whether it is about real estate or art, there is something for everyone. Apply at Toronto.ca/ShapeYourCity.

Help our city bloom! 

Toronto is home to hundreds of bee and butterfly species that play a vital role in our ecosystem and native species, but need pollinators to help survive. PollinateTO is open for grants up to $5,000 for community led projects that build pollinator habitats. Learn more and apply by Tuesday, October 21st at Toronto.ca/PollinateTO.

Toronto for All

Say no to discrimination and celebrate the diversity Toronto has. Toronto For All is a public initiative highlighting what it means to belong. This year it is supporting 12 community and resident-led groups throughout the city with their projects and events that build inclusion. Find details about this year’s campaign at Toronto.ca/TorontoForAll 

Indigenous Climate Action Grants open for applications

The City of Toronto is offering up to $20,000 in funding to support Indigenous led projects that address climate change. Indigenous led community projects or established non-profit organizations are encouraged to apply by the deadline Wednesday, October 8 on the City’s Indigenous Climate Action grants website.

The Magpie Club: Free Stilting Program

Do you know a young person between the ages of 12 and 18 who'd like to join our Night of Dread FREE stilting workshops on Tuesdays (6 to 7:30 pm) and Sundays (1 to 2:30 pm) in Dufferin Grove Park and become a Magpie Club performer?

Register today by sending an email to [email protected].

Supporting vulnerable tenants impacted by Rental Housing Demolition applications

City Planning has commenced work on reviewing the process for supporting vulnerable tenants impacted by Rental Housing Demolition applications, as directed by City Council in April. Tenants are encouraged to participate in the engagements through a survey, a telephone hotline, and in-person and online sessions via a survey.

Adult Learning Program at West Neighbourhood House

The Adult Learning Program at West Neighbourhood House provides welcoming and supportive one-to-one and small group learning for adults who want to improve their reading, writing, math or computer skills. We work with adults of all ages to help them reach their learning goals and move on to next steps. 

The program is open to anyone over 18 who lives in Ontario and has a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN). In-person classes take place at the West Neighbourhood House location at 1033 King Street West. 

Please contact us at 416-539-9000 or [email protected] to learn more about the program and talk through your goals with a member of our staff. For more information on programs, including scheduling, please visit: westnh.org/learning

Grand opening of Junction Triangle library

The grand opening of Junction Triangle library will take place October 7 at 1:00 pm. There will be a ceremony of speeches and ribbon cutting followed by a day of programming for the community. 

TTC route changes due to streetcar track renewals

Starting Sunday, September 28 at 5:00 a.m., the TTC will begin diverting several streetcar/bus routes to accommodate the King & Dufferin Intersection Streetcar Track Renewal project, which is scheduled to commence the following day, September 29, 2025. You can find additional details, including a map of the diverting routes, on the TTC’s project webpage: ttc.ca/KingStreetTrackRenewal

Temporary changes to the 501/301 Queen streetcar

As part of the TTC's ongoing streetcar track maintenance, TTC crews will conduct rail grinding work on Queen Street West and Fennings Street starting this Thursday, September 25, until Saturday, September 27. Crews will work nightly, between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. To accommodate this work, service on the 501/301 Queen streetcar route will divert in both directions via Shaw Street and King Street. 501 Queen replacement buses will operate on Queen Street West between Bathurst Street and Sunnyside Loop. This diversion information will be posted on the TTC’s website and at affected TTC stops over the coming days.

In the Community

It was great to join the Franco-Ontarian community as they celebrated their flag's 50th birthday today. The Franco-Ontarian flag represents a community that has helped shape both Ontario and Toronto. To my Francophone friends of Toronto and Ontario, merci! 

It was great to meet with so many neighbours at the Oakwood Village Neighbourhood Streets Plan consultation. This is a great community-informed opportunity to make our streets safer.

It was great to attend the closing reception of Mercer Union’s groundwork program. It was a great exploration of new ways to think about the arts and how we can make the arts more sustainable moving forward in our city.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the HappyRock Block Party on Gladstone Avenue. I appreciate all of the organizers and volunteers who worked hard to make it happen.

Thanks to everyone who attended the public consultation for the Caledonia Park Road and Davenport Road Safety Improvements. We appreciate everyone’s thoughts and input on the project plans and look forward to keeping the community updated on the next stages of the project.

Thanks to all of the neighbours who came to Delaware Car Free Day. It was great to see so many people who are passionate about finding new ways to get around the city.

More Updates

• City of Toronto provides low-cost financing and free coaching to help homeowners switch their furnaces to heat pumps
• Toronto celebrates the recipients of the 2025 Mayor’s Community Safety Awards
• City of Toronto and MLSE complete Phase 1 upgrades at Toronto Stadium ahead of FIFA World Cup 26™
• Toronto Paramedic Services welcomes 60 paramedics at finish of 12th annual Ontario Tour Paramedic Ride
• Special preview: Nuit Blanche Toronto 2025 unveiled by curators and artists
• Toronto Paramedic Services holds graduation ceremony and honours Primary Care and Advanced Care Paramedics and Paramedic Services staff
• City of Toronto to honour the 2025 Toronto Urban Design Awards winners
• New ‘Toronto For All’ public education campaign launches today
• Mayor Olivia Chow presents the Key to the City to acclaimed filmmaker Sarah Polley
• City of Toronto outlines new policies and next steps for 120 transit station areas
• City of Toronto and TTC employees aim to raise $2.3 million for United Way Greater Toronto 
• City of Toronto launches registration for fall recreation activities