Community Update: April 14, 2023

April 14th, 2023 edition of Councillor Alejandra Bravo's Community Newsletter

Neighbour --

I have heard from many of you with concerns about the future of Ontario Place. While not located in Ward 9, Ontario Place is a treasured public asset that serves people from across Toronto. At this week’s meeting of Toronto & East York Community Council, I heard from many Torontonians who want to ensure that the public interest is protected in any plans for the site.

In late 2022, the City of Toronto received a development application for Ontario Place from Infrastructure Ontario, including amendments to the Official Plan and Zoning By-law. This application proposes a 65,000 square metre private spa and entertainment facility on the West Island, 22,000 square metre entrance building on the mainland connecting to the spa & West Island public realm, five-level underground parking structure with a one-story building on top, changes to the public realm, retention and adaptive-reuse of the pods and Cinesphere, a public realm Master Plan for the East Island, Central Waterfront & Mainland, and more. You can review the full application here.

I oppose the province’s plan for a private, heavily-subsidized spa on public lands at Ontario Place. I believe that the future of public lands should be determined by a public process that is accountable, transparent, and has our city’s best interest front and centre. It's concerning that the province has made this application with little input from Torontonians.

Public space serves an immeasurable social purpose and is an important part of building a green, liveable city. It should be accessible to everyone. There is an opportunity to create an amazing public space at Ontario Place that will bring people to Toronto’s waterfront. I support the work of Councillor Ausma Malik–whose ward contains Ontario Place–and her advocacy for a better process to determine the future of Ontario Place.

In the next week, there are in-person (Saturday, April 15) and online (Tuesday, April 18) opportunities to attend a public meeting on the development application for Ontario Place. I’ve included the details below.

As a reminder, I hope you will join us at our Office Opening Celebration tomorrow at 1240 Bloor St. W. from 12pm-2pm. It will be a great opportunity to meet our Ward 9 team and talk with neighbours. You can RSVP here.

See below for local updates, including on upcoming Community Environment Days, Compost Days, and more!

Sincerely,

Alejandra Bravo
City Councillor, Ward 9
Davenport

In this edition

Tomorrow: Office Opening Celebration
Community Environment Days
Davenport Compost Days
Local community clean-ups
Opening of seasonal park washrooms and water fountains
COVID-19 Spring Booster
Circular Economy E-Update Newsletter
Public Meeting: Ontario Place
Request for Proposals: Multi-Unit Residential Acquisition Program
National Volunteer Week
STI Awareness Week
Neighbourhood Land Trust: Hiring Property Asset Manager
Lead a Jane's Walk
Community Events
Other updates

Tomorrow: Office Opening Celebration

RSVP

Community Environment Days

Join Councillor Alejandra Bravo and the City of Toronto's 2023 Community Environment Day! This is an opportunity to properly dispose of electronic, hazardous, and other kinds of waste which you can't put at the curb. Donation will also be accepted for re-use.

Community Environment Days is one of many ReduceWasteTO programs and initiatives supporting the City’s Long Term Waste Management Strategy. This program helps reduce the amount of reusable or recyclable waste going to landfill and allow for safe disposal of household hazardous waste.

May 7 // 10am - 2pm
Dufferin Mall, 900 Dufferin St.

July 16 // 10am - 2pm
Loretto College School, 151 Rosemount Ave

Items for Drop-Off and Pick-Up

Pick up:

Free bagged compost

Drop off for recycling or proper disposal:

Donate items for reuse:

Sporting goods
Books (excluding textbooks)
Cameras, CDs, DVDs and Blu-rays
Dress-up clothing and costume jewelry
Clothing, footwear, accessories, linens, etc.
Small household items
Musical instruments, board games
Eyeglasses, walking aids, hearing aids, etc.
Non-perishable food for donation

Please do not bring:

construction waste
air conditioners
garbage and Blue Bin recycling
wood
cassette and videotapes
commercial/industrial hazardous waste
tires and scrap metal

Davenport Compost Days

From the below start times until supplies run out, you will be able to come and pick up free loose leaf compost for your garden. Be sure to bring your own containers and shovels!

Members of the Ward 9 team will be on hand with information about municipal services, 'Slow Down' signs for your lawn, and more.

McCormick Park	May 13, 11am
Bartlett Parkette	May 16, 2:30pm
Charles Caccia Parkette	May 23, 2:30pm
Roseneath Park	May 27, 11am
Earlscourt Park	May 28, 11am
Wadsworth Park	June 6, 2:30pm
Perth Square Park	June 8, 2:30pm

Local community clean-ups

Toronto’s annual spring clean up, Clean Toronto Together, is happening from April 21 to 23. Several community clean-ups are being hosted throughout Davenport! You can join in on an existing clean-up or host your own in your local park.

On Saturday, April 22 (Earth Day) or Sunday, April 23, community groups, families and individuals are encouraged to visit a local park or other public space to help cleanup litter – such as small plastics, cans, bottles and other waste. Taking part is easy:

Select a public space that needs your help such as a park, sidewalk, ravine or beach.
Pick a time that works for you. We recommend a maximum of one hour.
Register your cleanup. Registering your cleanup helps to avoid duplicate cleanups at the same location, and helps the City plan for special litter collection, if required.
Gather supplies for your cleanup, including litter bags, gloves, trash grabbers (optional), hand sanitizer, and water/snacks.
On cleanup day, share a photo of your cleanup in progress – using hashtag #cleantoronto

Safety tips and other guidance will be provided to registered participants prior to the cleanup weekend. If you need garbage bags and/or nitrile gloves for your clean-up, please let my office know by emailing [email protected].

Clean-Ups Happening in Davenport

West Toronto Railpath
April 22 // 10am - 11am
Hosted by Metrolinx
Register here by April 14, 11:59pm

Fairbank Village BIA (1988 Eglinton Ave W)
April 22 // 11am - 1pm
Hosted by Fairbank Village BIA
Learn more

Nairn Parkette
April 23 // 12pm - 2pm
Hosted by the North Corso Resident Association

Opening of seasonal park washrooms and water fountains

The City of Toronto is preparing for openings of seasonal park washrooms. When daytime and evening temperatures are consistently above zero degrees for five consecutive days with no risk of frost damaging pipes, the City’s skilled teams – including specialized plumbers and irrigation technicians – get to work. Temperatures are warm this spring and, at this point and based on available weather forecasts, the City expects to start opening the first seasonal washroom as soon as next week.

Once the first washroom is open, staff expect it will take crews about three weeks (by early May) to get all seasonal park washrooms, including any fountains and bottle-filling stations that may be attached to those washrooms, open and ready for the public. Staff estimate it will take crews about six weeks following the opening of the first washroom to open standalone fountains.

COVID-19 Spring Booster

Certain people who are at high risk of severe illness and hospitalization receive a spring booster dose if it has been at least six months since their last COVID-19 dose or infection.

Book an appointment

Circular Economy E-Update Newsletter

The City of Toronto is launching Circular Economy E-updates! The new email newsletter will highlight sustainable consumption and circular economy initiatives, events and opportunities in Toronto and worldwide. Sign up today.

The circular economy is a strategy that aims to reduce waste and maximize resources by moving away from the linear take-make-and-dispose approach to a more circular system that focuses on product longevity, renewability, reuse and repair as well as resource recovery. Transitioning to a circular economy will play a key role in building a resilient, inclusive, green, and prosperous future for Toronto residents and businesses. Learn more on the City’s Circular Economy webpage.

Public Meeting: Ontario Place

Infrastructure Ontario has submitted a combined Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment application for the redevelopment of Ontario Place. The application includes and Official Plan Amendment and Rezoning application for public realm, shoreline, heritage and underground parking proposals for the non-tenanted lands and for private entertainment, recreation and wellness uses on the West Island on behalf of Therme.

The proposal submitted on November 25th, 2022 is the first phase of planning applications, with other planning applications to follow.

The City of Toronto is acting as the approval authority in the review of the applications. Infrastructure Ontario is acting as the applicant and project manager.

In Person:

April 15 // 12:30pm - 4:30pm
Beanfield Centre, 105 Princes Boulevard at Exhibition Place
12:30 – 1:30pm (overview)
1:30 – 4:30pm (Themed breakout discussions)

Virtual:

April 18 // 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Join online by Webex
Visit www.toronto.ca/CPconsultations for the registration link under "955 Lake Shore Boulevard (Ontario Place)" and instructions on how to join. We encourage you to join ten minutes before 7:00 p.m. to allow time to log on.

Request for Proposals: Multi-Unit Residential Acquisition Program

The City of Toronto launched its second annual request for proposals (RFP) for the Multi-Unit Residential Acquisition (MURA) program to protect affordable rental housing for Toronto residents.

This RFP provides $21.5 million in City funding and incentives to qualified non-profit housing providers, including Indigenous housing providers, cooperatives and community land trusts.

Eligible properties include small apartment buildings of up to 60 units and multi-tenant houses (also known as rooming houses) where affordable rental housing is at risk of being lost. Under MURA, apartment buildings are eligible for up to $200,000 in acquisition and renovation funding per unit; multi-tenant houses are eligible for up to $150,000 per dwelling room.

A virtual information session will be held for interested non-profit housing providers.

Date: April 25
Time: 9:30-11 a.m.
Meeting Link
Webinar number/Access code: 2467 895 0457
Webinar password: MURA2023 (68722023 from phones and video systems)
Join by phone: +1-416-915-6530 Canada Toll, or +1-613-714-9906 Canada Toll (Ottawa)

Learn more

National Volunteer Week

Volunteering is one of the largest social movements in our city—thank you to every volunteer who has given back to make Toronto a stronger and more vibrant place to live. If you're looking to join in, visit VolunteerToronto.ca to explore the 500+ roles currently available.

STI Awareness Week

Toronto Public Health (TPH) is marking STI Awareness Week (April 9 to 15) by encouraging residents, particularly young adults who are sexually active, to get tested for sexually transmitted infections (STI) and to contact the Sexual Health Infoline Ontario (SHILO) for free, anonymous and inclusive sexual health information, support and referrals.

TPH runs SHILO in partnership with the Ministry of Health and offers a province-wide, free, anonymous eChat and phone service. SHILO counsellors provide reliable information and assistance on sexual health topics, including STIs, STI testing, HIV (PrEP, PEP and point-of-care tests), birth control, pregnancy options and referrals to sexual health clinics and community agencies. Residents can connect with sexual health counsellors in English, French and other languages by phone or in English via eChat seven days a week. Learn more at www.sexualhealthontario.ca.

Neighbourhood Land Trust: Hiring Property Asset Manager

Check out this job opportunity with the Neighbourhood Land Trust:

The Neighbourhood Land Trust (NLT), the charitable arm of the Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust (PNLT), is seeking an experienced, detail-oriented, and motivated Property Asset Manager to lead our capital repair program and ensure our portfolio of affordable housing buildings in the best possible shape for our members. This role requires a passionate professional who can handle a large workload, create and manage asset management systems, and who is a self-directed leader.

This role is crucial in supporting the Land Trust’s success as Toronto’s first neighborhood-based Community Land Trust (CLT). Since our incorporation in 2014 and registration as a charity in 2017, NLT has acquired 84 properties with a total of 205 rental units that are operated as permanently affordable housing. We are currently in the second year of a five-year portfolio-wide capital repair program funded by the City of Toronto and CMHC, aimed at bringing our aging portfolio into a State of Good Repair and implementing accessibility and sustainability improvements. We have also developed a Sustainability and Social Procurement Framework to ensure that investments in our portfolio generate additional social and economic value for the local community.

As the Property Asset Manager, you will play a central role in supporting the stewardship and growth of NLT’s portfolio. This position offers the opportunity to join a small, dynamic, and interdisciplinary staff team that supports an organization with a bold, progressive vision.

The ideal candidate will be a mid-career or senior-level professional with a background in architecture, building science, construction management, or an equivalent field, along with a strong commitment to neighbourhood inclusiveness and social equity. We strongly encourage applications from residents of Parkdale or neighbouring communities and equity-seeking groups.

Learn more

Lead a Jane's Walk

Love your community? You should lead a Jane's Walk!

Jane’s Walk is an annual festival of free, community-led walking conversations, held in Toronto May 5-7, 2023.

Anyone can lead a Jane's Walk because everyone is an expert in their own experience of the places they live, work, and play. Anyone means you!

A Jane’s Walk is a walking conversation—not a lecture. Jane’s Walks are often walking tours, but they can also be bike rides, poetry readings, performance art, games, and more.

Learn how to share and and celebrate your community on the Jane’s Walk website.