August 25, 2023 – Newsletter

Hi Neighbour,

It’s hard to believe – but in just over a week, students and teachers will be heading back to school.

As we prepare for September, I’ll be working hard at committee and Council meetings to represent your views. I have heard from many of you about the need to improve city services and build more affordable housing while ensuring that life remains affordable. Striking that right balance will remain my priority, and I look forward to the September 6th Council meeting where we will discuss a new long-term financial plan for the city.

My office and I are always here to help. Enjoy these last few days of August, and remember there are lots of local stores who have everything you need for new back-to-school clothes and supplies.

See you out there,

– Brad

In This Issue

Updates & Announcements from City Hall

City Hall Updates 🆕

Local Events

Bike Day at DECA’s Farmers Market 🆕
The Danforth East Arts Fair 🆕
Brain Injury Society of Toronto (BIST) 🆕
Annual Show & Shine Classic Car Show 🆕
Harmony Good Food Market

Community Programs & Employment

Centre 55 Seniors Summer Courses
Beaches Sandbox Summer Senior Drop-in Program
Seniors Assistance Home Maintenance (SAHM) Program
Thorncliffe Park Youth Wellness Hub
Canadian Centre for Housing Rights (CCHR)
FREE Vocal Workshops for Ages 14 – 21

Neighbourhood News

2023 Beach Citizen of the Year 🆕
Extended Pool Openings at Ten Outdoor Pools 🆕
Coyote Sightings 🆕

Work in the Ward

Traffic restrictions at Main and Gerrard for Track Maintenance 🆕
Back to school: Transit riders are able to pay debit and credit cards to pay fares! 🆕
Managing Streetcar Traffic and Noise at the Kingston/Queen St Loop 🆕
East-end Transit Changes, including 501 and 503 service
Main Street Subway Station: Bus Loop Rehabilitation
Staircase Repair at Coxwell Subway Station
Outside the ward: Traffic restrictions at Broadview and Danforth Ave Intersection for Streetcar Track Replacement
O’Connor Construction
Hydro Work

Thanks for taking the time to read my bi-weekly newsletter! If you have any events, news, or ideas to share for our next one – please reach out to my office. Send me an email at [email protected], and we can get you included in our next issue.

Updates & Announcements from City Hall

City Hall Updates 🆕

This past week at City Hall, the Executive Committee met to discuss a new long-term financial plan for the city. This included proposals to increase the Municipal Land Transfer Tax for more expensive homes, introduce a commercial parking levy, and ask to implement a new municipal sales tax.

I know that money is tight these days for many families in Beaches-East York, and right across the city. I will be keeping them front of mind, whether we’re discussing property taxes, parking rates, or other fees and costs. I am very concerned about the impact that new parking taxes and an added sales tax would have on our small businesses.

Toronto is facing a stark fiscal reality, and we need to get the city’s finances in order to build an affordable city. The cupboards are bare, and boutique taxes will not be enough to help the city climb out of this fiscal hole. All options must be on the table.

City Hall must also get its own house in order. The public service has grown 25% since 2017, with little in the way of accountability. The city’s operating budget has rocketed from $11 billion in 2018 to $16 billion in 2023. In addition to looking for new sources of revenue, Toronto needs to look for ways to control costs.

Given our city’s unique challenges and the breadth of services we offer, Toronto absolutely needs a new fiscal deal from the provincial and federal government. As one of Toronto’s representatives to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, I will be fighting to ensure we secure this new deal.

Local Events

Bike Day at DECA’s Farmers Market 🆕

Bike Day at the Market is happening on Thursday, August 31, 2023 from 3:00pm to 7:00pm at East Lynn Park. There is plenty to do for bike-lovers of all ages including:

Getting your bike and helmet checked out.
Learning about cargo bikes.
Do a safety quiz and enter to win prizes.
Learn to fix your bike.
Decorate your bike and make buttons with DECA volunteers.
Enjoy music time for the littles.
Enjoy farmers market discounts for bike day attendees.

The Danforth East Arts Fair 🆕

The Danforth East Arts Fair is back again on the weekend of September 16-17, 2023. Held in beautiful East Lynn Park located at 1949 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4C 1J4, the fair showcases the work of an eclectic mix of local artists in a beautiful outdoor setting.

The event runs from 10:00am-6:00pm on Saturday, September 16, 2023 and 10:00am-5:00pm on Sunday, September 17, 2023 rain or shine!

Lunch and snack options are available from local restaurants in the park to satisfy your appetite. Want to bring the kids? No problem. Free children’s activities and crafts will be happening on-site all day. For the adults, you’ll have a soundtrack of live acoustic music serenading you as you go from booth to booth.

There’s something for everyone at the Danforth East Arts Fair. Arts and crafts range in price anywhere from $5 to more than $1,500 from more than 50 artisans. And be sure to enter our contests to win big at the fair!

Brain Injury Society of Toronto (BIST) Heroes Walk, Run, Roll OR Bike 🆕

The Brain Injury Society of Toronto (BIST) is a non-for-profit organization whose mandate is to enhance the quality of life for individuals in the City of Toronto living with the effects of Acquired Brain Injury through education, awareness, support and advocacy. BIST will be organizing a family (and dog) friendly walk, run, roll or bike event taking place on Sunday, September 24, 2023 at Wilket Creek Park located at 1120 Leslie St, Toronto, ON M3C.

This event will be wheelchair accessible and will have tons of prizes for best superhero costumes, a free BBQ and plenty of activities including a bouncy castle and scavenger hunt.

Annual Show & Shine Classic Car Show 🆕

Community Centre 55 is excited to be hosting their Annual Show & Shine Classic Car Show once again this year. Come and check out classic cars, socialize and learn something new. Free admission and great prizes for Car Owners.

This event will be place on Sunday, October 1, 2023 from 10:00am – 2:00pm at Bob Acton Park located at 45 William Hancox Ave, Toronto, ON M4E 3W9.

Harmony Good Food Market

Harmony Good Food Market is organizing an affordable and fresh produce market from now until October 2023. This great initiative, led by Harmony CFC, is promoting an affordable farmers market to shop for fresh local produce and a space to socialize and meet others in the neighbourhood.

This summer, visit the Harmony Good Food Market on Tuesday afternoons from 3pm-5pm! You definitely do not want to miss it.

Community Programs & Employment

Centre55 Seniors Summer Courses

Don’t let the summer heat get you down. Centre 55 is offering two courses for Seniors running from July to the end of August. Contact info below!

Beaches Sandbox Summer Senior Drop-in Program

Beaches Sandbox is offering some great services to assist the seniors community in Beaches-East York!

If you or someone you know needs tech help, look no further. Beaches Sandbox has organized appointment based tech help sessions on Tuesdays between 10am – 12pm.

Beaches Sandbox is also hosting socializing afternoons on Thursdays from 12pm – 2pm. Take some time to drop by this summer!

For more information, email at [email protected] or call 416-928-0755.

Seniors Assistance Home Maintenance (SAHM) Program

The Seniors Assistance Home Maintenance (SAHM) program has been organized to support the seniors community with services ranging from garden and yard work to light housekeeping.

If you or anyone you know is looking for more assistance around their home, contact Kevin at 416-531-8447 or email [email protected] for more information.

Thorncliffe Park Youth Wellness Hub

We’re thrilled to share that as of July 19, 2023, in-person services are now available at the Thorncliffe Park Youth Wellness Hub, a new welcoming space at East York Town Centre that provides health, wellness, employment and other services for youth and young adults! To access services, come by the Thorncliffe Park Youth Wellness Hub during its drop-in hours: Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

It is located at East York Town Centre, 45 Overlea Blvd. (Please use mall Entrance 6; the Youth Wellness Hub is located beside Dollarama). All services are free and open to everyone aged 12 to 25. Youth and young adults do not need a health card, family doctor or medical referral. Services include wellness counselling, peer support, employment services, settlement services, food support, primary care and more. No matter what you might be dealing with, their team can help.

For more information, please visit Thorncliffe Youth Club or follow them on Instagram @ThorncliffeYouthHub.

Canadian Centre for Housing Rights (CCHR)

The Canadian Centre for Housing Rights (CCHR) is providing legal services to tenants living in Toronto. CCHR is Canada’s leading non-governmental organization working to advance the right to housing in Canada. They do this by providing rights-based housing services, delivering education on human rights and housing law, and advancing rights-based housing policy through research, policy development, and advocacy.

CCHR has had a long history of providing legal services to Toronto-based tenants. Their services support renters who face various legal challenges in their housing including maintenance applications, evictions due to renovation or demolition, above guideline rent increases, evictions for landlord’s own-use, and other miscellaneous legal issues.

This resource is available for constituents who may need legal support to stabilize their housing in Toronto. The eligibility criteria to access services is below:

CCHR is committed to providing a safe work environment that is free of abuse, discrimination and harassment, and that respects the dignity, self-worth and human rights of all staff, students and volunteers. CCHR will not tolerate acts of abuse, discrimination or harassment perpetrated against any employee, student or volunteer, including the use of abusive, threatening, harassing or discriminatory language or communications of any kind.

Neighbourhood News

2023 Beach Citizen of the Year Award 🆕

Community Centre 55 is searching for the 2023 Beach Citizen of the Year. If you know of anyone who has shown a long-standing commitment towards improving the community, submit a nomination for their consideration.

The deadline for submissions is next Friday, September 1, 2023 by 5pm.

Visit Centre 55 to find the nomination form and more information.

Extended Pool Openings at Ten Outdoor Pools 🆕

Summer’s not over yet! The City of Toronto has announced that 10 pools will stay open until Sunday, September 24, 2023 including Kiwanis Outdoor Pool at Stan Wadlow Park.

Monarch Park Outdoor Pool will also see extended hours.

Take advantage of the extended hours and stay cool through the summer.

Coyote Sightings 🆕

Seeing more coyotes in your neighbourhood? It’s quite normal to see or encounter more coyotes in parks and green spaces across Toronto. They are typically shy and timid in nature and generally do not pose a danger to people, however they have been known to pose a danger for small pets. Here are a few ways to help keep you and your pets safe:

• Always keep your dog close to you and on a leash, especially in areas where coyotes are known to live.

• Never feed coyotes and do not leave food, including pet food, outside.

• Properly dispose of garbage and waste at home and at parks.

• When encountering a coyote, do not run; instead make a loud noise to scare the coyote away.

• Do not approach coyotes, their dens or their young.

• Do not touch coyotes, even if they appear tame, sick or injured.

Most interactions people have with coyotes are a result of a regular food source, caused by people either intentionally or unintentionally leaving food or garbage behind. Feeding wildlife may seem like the kind thing to do, but it can be very harmful. Letting wildlife forage for themselves is truly the only kindness they need.

The City of Toronto in partnership with Coyote Watch Canada has created an e-learning module that provides a lot of great information about coyote behavior and ways that we can co-exist peacefully with our wild neighbours safely. To learn more, visit toronto.ca/Coyotes.

Work in the Ward

Traffic Restrictions at Main and Gerrard for Track Maintenance 🆕

The TTC is planning to conduct streetcar track work at Gerrard and Main from August 27 to September 3. This work is critical to the resumption of regular 506 Carlton streetcar service through the area and to/from Main Street Station starting on September 3.

The track work will be around-the-clock to ensure quality installation and to fully re-open the intersection to traffic and streetcars on September 3.

During work, the following motorist impacts will be in effect:

Traffic approaching the Gerrard Street East and Main Street intersection will be reduced to one lane in each direction for the duration of the work.
There will be no westbound traffic through the intersection; westbound traffic will be diverted north on to Main Street. The location of the work zone will inhibit left turns. Paid duty officers or flag persons will be on site to direct traffic. Traffic restrictions and the work zone will be cleared once the newly placed concrete has cured adequately for road traffic.

Back to school: Transit riders are able to use debit and credit cards to pay fares! 🆕

Paying your fare on the TTC is now easier than ever! Simply tap your debit or credit card, or use the cards loaded in your mobile wallet on your phone or smartwatch to pay your fare. $3.30 will be deducted from your card. This is the same as the adult PRESTO fare. Visit TTC’s website for more information.

With back-to-school season approaching, students purchasing a Post-Secondary Monthly Pass, must also obtain a valid TTC Post-Secondary Photo ID. Students may purchase their TTC Post-Secondary Photo ID at the TTC Photo ID Office at Bathurst Station. For more information, visit TTC’s website.

Managing Streetcar Traffic and Noise at the Kingston/Queen St Loop 🆕

With construction this summer affecting alternative routes on Broadview, Gerrard, and Coxwell, TTC is limited in end-of-line and turnback/looping options. This means that more streetcars than usual have been using the Kingston/Queen St Loop to turn around.

Starting on September 3, 506 Carlton streetcars will return to Main Street Station and will not operate to Kingston-Queen Loop, resulting in a reduction of cars using the Kingston-Queen Loop. The 505 Dundas streetcars will continue to require the use of Kingston-Queen Loop over the next few months until all work on Broadview Avenue and at Broadview Station is completed; however, for a short period (September 3 to 22,), the 505 Dundas streetcars will be extended to Neville Park Loop instead. During this time, Kingston-Queen Loop may still be used for service adjustments.

The majority of streetcar loops in the city are residential. Resources will continue to be deployed to Kingston/Queen loop as a priority, given the temporary high volume of streetcars that need to use the loop to provide effective service – during the major City/TTC infrastructure upgrades.

Our office is in touch with the TTC regularly to ensure they are lubricating the tracks 3x daily, in order to mitigate some of this additional noise being noticed by residents.

East-end Transit Changes

In response to customer feedback, the TTC has restarted 503 replacement bus service along Kingston Road and Queen Street East. This takes the place of the 501 replacement bus service. 501 streetcar service continues to operate.

Currently, the 503 service is running every 10 minutes seven days a week until 8 p.m. After July 30, this route will return for all day service seven days a week. As of July 30, these vehicles will appear on your transit apps or the service schedule.

As of May 2023, the City of Toronto and Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) started work on infrastructure upgrades at the intersection of Coxwell Avenue and Lower Gerrard Street East/Eastwood Road. As of May 7, the bus/streetcar loop at Main Street Station will be closed for construction to repair structural pavement and the concrete bus platform on the south side of the station. Beginning June 18, several construction projects in the east end of the City will affect TTC bus and streetcar service including the 504 King and 505 Dundas. Starting June 29, sidewalk replacement and road reconstruction will begin on O’Connor Drive from St Clair Avenue East to Bermondsey Road. The TTC is working hard to ensure that customers have as many options as possible to get to and from their destinations.

The impacted stations include Broadview Station, Coxwell Station, and Main Street Station. Please visit TTC’s website for a list of affected routes for more information.

Coxwell Avenue and Lower Gerrard Street East/Eastwood Road Construction

Main Street Station Service Changes

Main Street Subway Station: Bus Loop Rehabilitation

Since May 7, 2023, the bus/streetcar loop at Main Street Station has been closed for infrastructure upgrades. Main Street Station remains open for subway service.

Bus and streetcar routes will be changed accordingly:

62 Mortimer, 64 Main/87 Cosburn, 113 Danforth/135 Gerrard will continue to serve Main Street Station. Temporary stops located on-street.
20 Cliffside will be shortened to Victoria Park Station
62 Mortimer will be extended to Victoria Park Station
23 Dawes will be extended to Eastdale Avenue
506/306 Carlton

In August 2023, replacement buses will operate between Queen St E/Coxwell Ave and Victoria Park station.

Work includes: concrete and asphalt pavement rehabilitation within the bus loop, concrete bus platform rehabilitation, which includes tactile walking surface indicator and fencing replacement throughout the loop.

Staircase Repair at Coxwell Subway Station

As part of the TTC’s state of good repair program, they will be conducting repairs to one of the staircases at Coxwell Station between July 24, 2023 and October 2023. Coxwell Station has two sets of stairs and an escalator taking customers up to bus platform level/street level. During this work, only one staircase will be closed for repair – the escalator, second set of stairs and elevators will remain open for customers. All work will take place behind construction hoarding.

Outside of the ward: Traffic restrictions at Broadview and Danforth Ave Intersection for Streetcar Track Replacement

The City of Toronto’s work to replace TTC streetcar tracks and improve critical infrastructure continues this summer on Broadview Avenue. The City is advancing to the next phase of streetcar track replacement, which will require traffic restrictions at the intersection of Broadview and Danforth Avenues to complete the work safely.

Beginning Monday, August 14, 2023, City crews will work to replace tracks on the north side of the intersection, which is expected to be complete by late August. During construction, motorists and cyclists can expect the following impacts:

Only one shared eastbound lane will be available.
No westbound traffic on Danforth Avenue through the intersection and no southbound traffic on Broadview Avenue.
One northbound lane will be maintained on Broadview Avenue from Gerrard Street East to Danforth Avenue.
On-site signage will mark a detour route for cyclists travelling westbound.

Following the completion of track replacement on the north side of the intersection, work will begin on the south side from late August through the Labour Day weekend. During construction, motorists and cyclists can expect the following impacts:

One shared eastbound and one westbound lane for people driving and cycling on Danforth Avenue through the intersection.
No left or right turns will be permitted at the intersection.
One northbound lane will remain open on Broadview Avenue, from Gerrard Street East to Danforth Avenue, which will permit people to turn right onto Danforth Avenue for eastbound travel only.

Track replacement at the intersection is expected to be completed by Monday, September 4; however, the intersection will need to be fully closed for one day following this work for paving. More details on the timeline for the full-day closure will be available in the coming weeks. People traveling in the area should use alternate routes and allow extra time to get to and from their destinations. Alternate routes to consider include Pape, Donlands and Greenwood Avenues for north/south travel; and Dundas Street East, Gerrard Street East, Mortimer Avenue and Cosburn Avenue for east/west travel.

O’Connor Construction

Starting June 29, sidewalk replacement and road reconstruction will begin on O’Connor Drive from St Clair Avenue East to Bermondsey Road. As part of the work, the contractor will replace sections of damaged sidewalks, excavate the road, and install a new concrete road base. Work will begin on the west side of O’Connor Drive and move over to the east side afterwards. This will see Pedestrian Improvements, Vehicular Traffic Improvements, Sustainability/Green Features, and Underground Infrastructure Improvements.

Hydro Work: Danforth Overhead Rebuild Phase 2A

Toronto Hydro is currently doing some upgrades on Danforth. The boundaries for the project include Dentonia Park Avenue (North), Thyra Avenue (East), Danforth Avenue (South), and Avonlea Boulevard (West).

Thanks for taking the time to read my bi-weekly newsletter! If you have any events, news, or ideas to share for our next one – please reach out to my office! Send me an email at [email protected] and we can get you included in our next issue.

Have questions, comments or concerns? Just hit reply to this email and get in touch with me.

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About Brad Bradford - - -

Toronto City Councillor for Ward 19 Beaches – East York.