Community Update: December 19, 2025

December 19, 2025 edition of Councillor Alejandra Bravo's Community Newsletter

In this last e-newsletter of the year I want to wish you rest, joy, and peace during the holidays, and all the best for you and yours in 2026.

This week was also the last meeting of Toronto City Council. I focused on the issues that I’ve most been hearing matter to Davenport residents during the door-knocking I’ve done over the past few weeks and months, at community meetings, and in your messages to my office.

Fast, reliable TTC service is a priority across our Ward and our City, and I was glad to speak at Council in support of advancing signal priority on our streetcar network to get streetcars moving faster. As a daily transit rider and as a TTC board member, I know how critical this is. The motion was supported by a majority of councillors, along with changes to speed up travel times on the new Finch LRT line.

For services like public transit in our city to work, we need to invest in them. That means everyone contributes their fair share, including those who can afford to pay a little bit more in Toronto, Canada’s most unequal city. I supported the motion from Mayor Chow to increase our “mansion tax” – the City’s graduated land transfer tax rate on homes that sell for over $3 million, (you can watch my full speech here). Now that it’s been approved, the City could generate $152 million in 2026 – money that I voted to allocate directly to Toronto residents’ top priorities: transit and housing.

I also wanted to thank the Davenport residents and groups who reached out to my office to share concerns about changes that would redesignate certain school properties on Concord, Dewson, and Ossington. While the Planning report did not indicate that the sites would necessarily be redeveloped, there was significant concern about the potential loss of these important public assets at a time when the Provincial government is interfering with school boards’ jurisdiction and depriving the public of democratic elected school trustee representation. I moved a motion to remove the school sites in Davenport from the report, and to direct City staff to remove any public school properties from future stages of the Avenues Policy Review, so we can ensure these important lands are protected.

In early January, City staff will present their recommendations for the 2026 municipal budget, which the Mayor and members of the Budget Committee will consider. I want to hear your thoughts on how we can best invest in our city. You can get involved in the budget process by making a deputation to the Committee, attending my Davenport Budget Town Hall meeting on January 21 (more details below), or by completing our budget survey that will go out early next year.

Finally, while we are enjoying time with family, many of us will be concerned about the wellbeing of our neighbours, especially as the winter season continues. This week, the City opened the Better Living Centre at Exhibition Place for the winter, which provides 24-hour respite and services for up to 250 people each night. Since taking office in 2022 I have consistently fought for 24-hour respite to be opened and for support spaces so that people can have a safe place to come indoors, sleep, and get connected to supports.

The Centre is part of the City’s Winter Services Plan, which includes an additional 1,275 spaces in shelters, housing and warming centres. The City is also increasing hours at drop-in support programs that provide meals, showers, health services, and assistance for people living outside, which I have championed as the Chair of the City’s Economic and Community Development Committee. A report outlining the growing pressures on our emergency shelter system and recommending City responses was also endorsed by Council this week.

While these are important measures, I know that much more needs to be done. The solution to our affordability crisis is safe and secure housing that people can afford. This winter, 370 supportive housing and social housing units are also opening up to help people transition to permanent housing. We all benefit when people have the opportunity to come inside and access permanent solutions to homelessness.

It has been a privilege to serve you this year, to advance your priorities, and to work together for Davenport.

Thank you,

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

In this Edition

Your 2025 Budget Investments
City Budget 101: Community Briefing
TTC Fare Capping Coming in 2026
Changes to Blue Bin Recycling Starting January 1, 2026
2026 Waste Collection Schedules and Waste Management Guide
Construction notice on Dupont for Davenport Diamond Greenway
Community Drop-in for New Family Shelter at 108 Harrison Street
Applications Open: 2026-27 Cultural Festivals Funding Program 
Call for Proposals: Nuit Blanche Toronto 2026
FIFA World Cup 26 Match Schedule
Committee of Adjustment: New Purpose Statement and Service Commitment
Get Vaccinated ahead of the holidays
Cold Weather Safety Tips!
Winter Weather: Working Together
City of Toronto New Year’s Eve 2025
New Year’s Skate Parties on January 4

Your 2025 Budget investments

As we look back on the past year, together, we are making life more affordable and getting results across the city and in our communities. Together, we’re building a city that works for you.

Your investments in 2025:

Stopped TTC fare increases for the second year in a row while adding service.
In partnership with the Province of Ontario, completed Gardiner Expressway construction in half the time.
Hired more firefighters, paramedics and police officers so help is there when you need it.
Got more affordable housing built and more housing projects started.
Increased basement flooding protection subsidies and introduced a program to help with furnace upgrades.
Opened all 100 library branches on Sundays for more family time.
Provided 55.5 million nutritious meals to more than 295,000 kids in school, saving families on groceries.

Learn more and get involved in next year’s Budget process at toronto.ca/Budget.

Davenport resident and civic leader Erella Ganon featured in this photo

City Budget 101: Community Briefing

Join Councillor Bravo and City of Toronto Staff for a breakdown of the 2026 City Budget and Q&A afterwards on February 5, 2026 from 6:30 - 8:00 pm at New Horizons Tower. Find out more info about the 2026 budget process here.

What will be covered:

How the City budget process works
What Council is being asked to vote on
How these decisions shape everyday life in Davenport
What it means to debate a budget in an election year

RSVP HERE

TTC Fare Capping Coming in 2026

It was a pleasure to join Mayor Olivia Chow to announce that fare capping will be coming in 2026. With the high cost of a $156 monthly pass, many people need a system that is more flexible and fair. With fare capping, every trip after the 47th ride is free for the rest of the month. This is a major step forward for transit riders in our city. This announcement reflects years of work by community members who spoke up and demanded better. Their voices made this possible.

As a councillor and TTC Board Member, I will continue to support fare capping through the upcoming City Budget process and work to lower the cap in the future so that transit remains accessible for everyone. Read more here

Changes to Blue Bin Recycling Starting January 1, 2026

Toronto’s Blue Bin recycling will be managed by Circular Materials as of January 1, 2026, following a provincial requirement. Your collection day stays the same and Green Bin organics remain weekly. During the first collection week in January (Jan 2–7), both garbage and recycling will be collected to support the transition.

Check your January schedule at toronto.ca/collection-schedule and set out both garbage and recycling on your first collection day.

2026 Waste Collection Schedules and Waste Management Guide

Arriving soon! The 2026 Waste Collection Schedules and Waste Management Guide are being mailed to Toronto residents. The Waste Collection Schedule tells you when to put out your garbage, recycling, Green Bin organics and more. Looking for tips on how to keep waste out of landfill? Refer to the Waste Management Guide. Both are also available online at toronto.ca/waste-guide-schedules

Construction notice on Dupont for Davenport Diamond Greenway

To support ongoing work on the Davenport Diamond Greenway, crews will begin constructing new sidewalk ramps on the south side of Dupont Street between Campbell and Lansdowne. This work includes demolition of the existing sidewalk and retaining wall, utility upgrades beneath the new sidewalk, and the relocation of a traffic signal. During this phase, the south sidewalk, bike lane, and eastbound traffic lane will be closed, with traffic shifted to the north side of the street. One crosswalk west of Lansdowne will also be temporarily closed to maintain a safe work zone. Nearby residents may notice noise, dust, and intermittent night work while these improvements are underway. Pedestrians and cyclists should follow posted detours. Find out more here

Community Drop-in for New Family Shelter at 108 Harrison Street

108 Harrison Street will soon welcome a new family shelter operated by Red Door Family Shelter, supporting up to 32 families. Community members are invited to a drop-in night on Thursday, January 15, 2026, 6:00 - 8:00 pm to meet Red Door staff, City partners, and Councillor Alejandra Bravo, and learn about this new community resource. For more info: toronto.ca/108Harrison

Applications Open: 2026-27 Cultural Festivals Funding Program 

The City of Toronto’s Cultural Festivals Funding Program supports local recurring festivals that foster community engagement and highlight diverse artistic voices. Applications are now open for the 2026-27 program cycle, with a deadline of Friday, February 13, 2026, at 4 p.m. Details and application forms are available online.  Find details and apply 

Call for Proposals: Nuit Blanche Toronto 2026

The City of Toronto invites artists to submit proposals for Nuit Blanche 2026. Submissions are accepted for Independent Projects, open to Toronto based artists, and Open Call Projects, open to Canadian and international participants. Selected projects may receive funding support of up to $20,000. The deadline to apply is January 9, 2026. Learn more and apply

"Forever Bicycles" by Ai Weiwei at Nuit Blanche Toronto, 2013

The FIFA World Cup 26 Match Schedule

The wait is over – we know which national teams will play in Toronto during the FIFA World Cup 26™. Toronto’s historic first match on June 12, 2026, featuring Canada’s Men’s National Team, will be against the winner of European Playoff A (either Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Northern Ireland or Wales). View Toronto’s full match schedule or visit FIFA.com for the full tournament schedule.

Committee of Adjustment: New Purpose Statement and Service Commitment

The Committee of Adjustment makes decisions on small property changes, such as minor variances or land severances, that many homeowners or neighbours encounter at some point. To help people better understand and navigate this process, the City has released a new Committee of Adjustment Purpose Statement and Service Commitment document and a plain-language Participation Handbook. These materials explain, in straightforward terms, what the Committee does, how hearings work and what residents and applicants can expect at each step.

Get Vaccinated ahead of the holidays: Flu, COVID-19, and RSV

Toronto Public Health (TPH) has notified physicians to expedite flu (influenza) vaccination for their patients due to increased influenza activity, as per communications from Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health. TPH is also urging all eligible residents to get vaccinated against flu, COVID-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) as soon as possible to help protect people against respiratory viruses heading into the holiday season. Learn More: toronto.ca/RespiratoryViruses

Cold Weather Safety Tips!

Stay safe this holiday season! Cold-weather illnesses can vary in form and severity. Frostnip causes brief numbness, frostbite can damage tissue and hypothermia can be life-threatening. Keep warm, dry, and alert when temperatures drop. For cold-weather safety tips, visit toronto.ca/StayWarm.

Weather Winter, Together

Winter weather can bring challenges for everyone and we all have a role to play. Residents and businesses can support winter safety by clearing snow and ice from the sidewalk in front of or next to their property when snow accumulation is less than 2 cm. Learn more about the City’s winter plan, stay updated on winter operations, and find resources at toronto.ca/winter.

City of Toronto New Years Eve 2025

Ring in the New Year with a free, festive countdown to 2026 along Toronto’s stunning waterfront.

The celebration kicks off on December 31 at 10 p.m. Enjoy pop-up performances, lively entertainment and a spectacular 10-minute midnight fireworks display lighting up the city skyline and visible from anywhere with a view of Toronto’s inner harbour or can be watched live on YouTube. Full event details are available at toronto.ca/NYE.

New Year’s Skate Parties on January 4

Glide into 2026 at free New Year’s Skate Parties presented by Desjardins Financial Group and hosted by Mayor Olivia Chow and Members of Council. The celebrations take place Sunday, January 4 from 1 to 5 p.m. at:

Nathan Phillips Square (100 Queen St. W.)
Colonel Samuel Smith Park (65 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Dr.)
North Toronto Memorial Community Centre (200 Eglinton Ave. W.)
McCowan District Park (150 McCowan Rd.)

Enjoy free skate rentals, DJs, hot chocolate and other fun activities — plus meet the Mayor and City Councillors to share greetings for the new year. More information: toronto.ca/SkateParty

In the Community

I was glad to attend the Metrolinx open house about the future St. Clair - Old Weston Station. Davenport residents showed up to ask for the province to fix the bottleneck at St. Clair and Old Weston Road.

MPP Marit Stiles and I were thrilled to see the huge turn out for our year end skating party! It might have been cold outside but the good company, hot chocolate, and sunshine kept us warm all afternoon.

Grateful to celebrate Christmas with Davenport seniors at JJP Community Centre and Abrigo Centre. These spaces are true community anchors, offering care, connection, and support to so many. It is an honour to represent them.

Community Update: December 19, 2025