Hi Neighbour,
As summer officially turns to fall, I hope everyone is settling into their new routines.
This week, Toronto and East York Community Council met. I brought forward a number of road safety measures developed with members of our community, and they received the unanimous support of the committee. Read my City Hall Updates below for more details.
I’ve also had a great time getting out and about, both in our community and across the city.
Last weekend, I joined Branch 11 on Dawes Road to celebrate the anniversary of the Battle of Britain and the start of Royal Canadian Legion Week. Thank you for the many Legion volunteers for your continued service to Veterans and to our entire community.
We also celebrated 50 years of exceptional long-term care being offered at True Davidson Acres!
The staff and administration pulled all the stops for an incredible group of residents and I was honoured to take part in the milestone celebration.
I was delighted to partner with the Danforth East Community Association to bring the Danforth East Arts Fair back to East Lynn Park. It was a perfect day to shop around for some local art work, try some new food and spend time with our neighbours.
I had the opportunity to celebrate and stand alongside Toronto’s incredible Ukrainian community: both during the Bloor-West Village Toronto Ukrainian Festival, and during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Toronto. I had the opportunity to meet Ukrainian government officials, and to ensure they felt our support for their cause.
The resilience and pride of our Ukrainian community is inspiring, and I stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Ukraine as they turbulent and terrifying circumstances during their fight against Russia. We will continue to welcome those seeking refuge and support them as they rebuild their lives here.
Finally, Davidson’s Valu-Mart at Danforth and Woodbine is supporting the Purolator Tackle Hunger campaign. Stop by and purchase a pre-packaged bag of food items until Thursday, October 5, 2023, and support the Feed Scarborough food bank.
Thank you Doug and his Valu-Mart team for generously hosting this initiative.
As always, my office is here to help you with any questions or concerns you have. Reach out anytime.
See you out there,
– Brad
In This Issue
Updates & Announcements from City Hall
- City Hall Updates 🆕
Local Events
- The Beach & East Toronto Historical Society 🆕
- Panel of Professionals from Diverse Fields: Beyond COVID-19 🆕
- DECA Story Trail
- Nuit Blanche East Danforth
- Brain Injury Society of Toronto (BIST)
- Annual Show & Shine Classic Car Show
- Harmony Good Food Market
Community Programs & Employment
- SING Toronto 🆕
- SCHC – Fall Bereavement Support Groups 🆕
- The Neighbourhood Group – Job Assistance
- TPS Youth in Policing After School Program
- Woodgreen’s Meals On Wheels: Volunteers Needed
- Seniors Assistance Home Maintenance (SAHM) Program
- Thorncliffe Park Youth Wellness Hub
Neighbourhood News
- Back to School – Road Safety 🆕
- Bob Acton Park Preliminary Masterplan Survey 🆕
- Public Consultation: Public Electric Vehicle Charging
- Housing Rights Advisory Committee
- Extended Pool Openings at Ten Outdoor Pools
- Coyote Sightings
Work in the Ward
- Ted Reeve Arena – Noise Exemption 🆕
- Construction work on Don Mills Road Bridge to restrict Don Valley Parkway lanes overnight
- TTC service changes effective September 3, 2023
- Back to school: Transit riders are able to pay debit and credit cards to pay fares!
- Staircase Repair at Coxwell Subway Station
- O’Connor Construction
- Hydro Work: Danforth Overhead Rebuild Phase 2A
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 🆕
Earlier this week, the Toronto & East York Community Council met at City Hall to discuss everything from housing to road safety.
I was pleased to gain my colleagues’ support on some big wins for Beaches-East York, including:
- New traffic calming measures to make our streets safer, including a dedicated school bus loading zone and pick-up area for parents of Secord Elementary
- Continuing work under the City’s Tenants First initiative in partnership with non-profit housing operators to ensure that affordable homes here in #BEY stay affordable
- A new name for the public lane off Morton Road in recognition of the Scarboro Farm Dairy, which operated here in East York from 1925 to 1950
By working together, we’ve made more road safety improvements over the past five years than any other ward in the city. If you have ideas on how your neighbourhood streets could be made safer, please reach out to my office – we’re here to support you.
Local Events
The Beach & East Toronto Historical Society 🆕
The Beach and East Toronto Historical Society will be hosting a talk and presentation with Golf Historian Ian Murray on Wednesday, September 27, 2023 from 7pm – 8:15pm. Ian will share stories about his illustrious golf ancestors and the early days of the old Toronto Golf Club that was located in the Beach area. He will also include stories about the history of the house at 17 Gledhill Avenue, that his great-grandfather built in the 1890s.
The talk will be held at the Beaches Sandbox, centrally located at Queen and Lee – south side of Queen just east of Lee. There is an elevator to the 2nd floor and the space is fully accessible. Parking is available steps away at the Green P on Lee Avenue.
For more information, visit: The Beach and East Toronto Historical Society.
Panel of Professionals from Diverse Fields: Beyond COVID 🆕
The Membership Committee for Leaside East-York University of Women have planned a special virtual event on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 from 7pm – 8:30pm.
It is a panel discussion from various perspective entitled “Beyond COVID”. The three panelists will be looking at COVID from a sociological, health and financial perspective. Participants are able to register at [email protected].
Dr. Janine McCready, an infectious disease physician who worked closely with East York schools during COVID-19 will be one of the panelists. Dr. McCready is currently a physician at Michael Garron Hospital in Beaches-East York as well. There will be a Q&A period at the end of the session.
DECA Story Trail
Small businesses are the backbone of our community and are facing a more competitive landscape as a result of competition from online retailers, effects of the pandemic, and rising costs. The Story Trail offers an innovative way to bring people back to our local small businesses, including the DECA Farmers’ Market, and to encourage them to get outside and explore our local neighbourhood.
How to play:
- Register as a participant in the DECA Story Trail by visiting this link.
- Visit the participating retailers in any order you’d like and find the QR Code that is hidden in each shop.
- Open the camera on your smart phone and scan each QR Code to reveal the special animal character hidden in that location.
- Record the name of the kind of animal you find in each location.
- When you’ve found 11 characters visit DECA Tent at the East Lynn Park Farmers’ Market any Thursday 3-7pm until October 12, 2023, to receive your Story Trail completion button and a promotion pack from local businesses.
- If you choose, continue to collect all 22 characters! Then, when you’re done, return to DECA Tent at the East Lynn Park Farmers’ Market to be entered into a reoccurring draw to win prizes from businesses along the Danforth beginning July 21st through October 6th!
Take a picture, video or screenshot and share on social media if you’d like! @danforth.east.community #DECAstorytrail
Nuit Blanche East Danforth
Nuit Blanche East Danforth is coming back to the east end for its third time! Please mark your calendars for TONIGHT (Saturday September 23rd, 2023) from 7pm-7am along Danforth Avenue between Donlands and Woodbine TTC Stations!
People of all ages are invited to come out to experience 30+ contemporary art installations that explore the theme, “The Future of the Danforth”, imagining the strip 200 years in the future. To learn more about the artists, installations and events running all night long, visit here: East End Arts 2023
Hope to see you all there for #nbED23! And thanks to East End Arts, the Danny BIA and Native Women in the Arts for making it happen!
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.
Register here to sign up for 15km or 35km bike ride.
Register here to sign up for the 1km or 5km walk, run or roll.
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 held 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.
Visit the Harmony Good Food Market on Tuesday afternoons from 3pm-5pm! You definitely do not want to miss it.
Community Programs & Employment
SING Toronto 🆕
SING! Toronto International Vocal Arts Festival in partnership with the Redwood Theatre will be organizing a singing program with the finest instructors, Randolph Academy’s Jeannie Wyse and Latoya Hall-Downer.
They welcome all who want to learn and sing! To learn more, visit: singtoronto.com.
SCHC – Fall Bereavement Support Groups 🆕
Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities is a not-for-profit organization that provides a variety of holistic programs to support the health and well-being of the community. One of the programs offered is the Bereavement Peer – Support Groups. They provide several different types of virtual and in-person options.
For more information, please visit: SCHC – Bereavement Care.
The Neighbourhood Group – Job Assistance
The Neighbourhood Group is offering FREE Employment Services to help you prepare for and find work. Whether you’re out of school and looking for a job, new to Canada and want your first Canadian work experience, looking to change your career, or trying to get back into the workforce, they have various training programs, work placements, workshops, online job board, and resource centres.
For more information, visit The Neighbourhood Group.
TPS Youth in Policing After School Program
The Toronto Police Service’s Youth in Policing Initiative program is currently hiring for the 2024 Winter/Spring After-School program!
This program enhances the link between the police and the neighbourhoods they serve. This initiative gives young people an opportunity to develop job skills while fostering positive partnerships with the Toronto Police Service.
Youth ages 15 to 18 who reside in the City of Toronto are employed through the summer and throughout the year, working alongside police officers and civilian staff in a wide range of roles. The program is not unique to Toronto, as it was created and funded by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, and is now used throughout the province.
The application deadline is on September 30th, 2023. Visit Toronto Police Careers for more information.
Woodgreen’s Meals On Wheels: Volunteers Needed
WoodGreen is one of the largest social service agencies in Toronto with a Meals On Wheels program that has operated for over 25 years in Toronto’s east end to residents who reside anywhere from the Don Valley Parkway in the west to Victoria Park Avenue to the east, and south of Danforth Avenue to Lake Ontario.
WoodGreen Community Services is seeking help from local residents for the Meals On Wheels program, a service dedicated to increasing food security and independent living for seniors and adults with disabilities.
They are looking for volunteer drivers, usually with their own vehicles, who transport the Meals from Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital in Riverdale which provides the meals. They are also looking for volunteer runners, who package the Meals on route and deliver them to seniors who may otherwise be left without an accessible source of nutritious food.
For more information on the Meals On Wheels program and to volunteer as a DRIVER or RUNNER, please send an email to [email protected], or call 416-405-5059.
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 in-person services are 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.
Neighbourhood News
Back to School – Road Safety 🆕
What is the City of Toronto doing to increase road safety around schools?
The City continues implementing several Vision Zero Road Safety Plan actions, programs and initiatives to protect students, parents, guardians and teachers on the roadway. These include mobile speed cameras, school crossing guards, school safety zones, pedestrian head starts, speed limit reductions and in-road flexible speed signs.
How many School Crossing Guards are there in Toronto?
There are 851 school crossing guards placed at intersections across the city to help children safely cross the street and remind motorists of the presence of pedestrians at key intersections.
How many School Safety Zones are there in Toronto?
The City has installed 413 School Safety Zones – a designated stretch of roadway which includes school safety zone signs and a variety of measures such as watch your speed signs, improved pavement markings, flashing beacons and more – around Toronto and aims to complete 80 more by year’s end.
To learn more, visit: Vision Zero Road Safety Plan.
Bob Acton Park Preliminary Masterplan Survey 🆕
The City is improving Bob Acton Park and is developing a new masterplan which will serve as a guide for future park enhancements. The masterplan will explore various amenities, such as new AODA-compliant features, community gardens, pollinator gardens, trees, plantings, and other improvements identified by community members.
The survey closes on September 27, 2023, at 11:45pm. Visit Bob Acton Park Preliminary Masterplan Survey to participate now.
Public Consultation: Public Electric Vehicle Charging
Tell us about your public EV charging needs! We want to ensure public charging is available across Toronto when and where current and future EV drivers need it.
The City of Toronto is developing a Public Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Network Study to help ensure public charging is available across Toronto when and where it’s needed. We need input from all Toronto residents — current and potential EV owners and drivers and non-drivers — to help identify where and when public charging will be needed in Toronto for current and potential EV drivers, and better understand how public EV charging fits into an equitable low carbon transportation system.
You can provide your input by responding to an online survey and/or by joining an in-person open house or virtual webinar to meet with City staff, ask questions and provide feedback. For more information, Electric Vehicles – City of Toronto.
To participate in the survey, visit Public EV Charging Network Study.
Housing Rights Advisory Committee
Starting September 8, 2023, the City of Toronto will begin accepting applications for the recruitment of public members for the City’s new Housing Rights Advisory Committee (HRAC).
Interested residents can apply at www.toronto.ca/ShapeYourCity. The application period will remain open until October 13, 2023 and the nominated candidates are expected to be considered by City Council in December following a recommendation from the Civic Appointments Committee.
Extended Pool Openings at Ten Outdoor Pools
This is the final weekend to enjoy one of the 10 pools that the City of Toronto announced will remain open until Sunday, September 24, 2023 including Kiwanis Outdoor Pool at Stan Wadlow Park and Monarch Park Outdoor Pool.
Take advantage of the extended hours and nice weather this weekend!
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
Ted Reeve Arena – Noise Exemption 🆕
The Ted Reeve Arena renovation is nearly complete! As one of the final stages of the renovation, hockey rink slabs will be poured during the first week of October (October 3 – October 5, 2023). This work will require 30+ concrete trucks over a 24-36 hour period.
While this is an exciting step to reopening this wonderful community asset, it will involve a noisy two days as the concrete must be poured continually. To ensure that it is a seamless process, the City of Toronto has provided a Noise Bylaw exemption for the contractors to successfully complete this critical stage of work. The contractor has been instructed to minimize all noise, but some noises (like the backing up of concrete trucks) is unavoidable due to health and safety regulations.
We ask for your patience as we all look forward to the Ted Reeve Arena being back up and running
Construction work on Don Mills Road Bridge to restrict Don Valley Parkway lanes overnight
Starting Tuesday, September 5, the City of Toronto will undertake overnight planned construction on the Don Mills Road Bridge over the Don Valley Parkway (DVP), to provide structural maintenance of the bridge thereby prolonging its lifespan.
To complete the work safely, there will be nightly traffic restrictions on the DVP near Don Mills Road. The City is committed to planning construction in a way that minimizes the disruption to the public as much as possible and is why work is being done overnight when traffic volumes are lower.
The restrictions will be in place from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., Monday to Friday, and 11 p.m. to 9 a.m., Saturday and Sunday.
From Tuesday, September 5 until Friday, November 3, the following overnight restrictions will be in effect:
- southbound and northbound DVP will be reduced to one or two lanes
- southbound off-ramp to southbound Don Mills Road will be closed
- southbound DVP on-ramp from northbound Don Mills Road will be closed
- northbound DVP off-ramp to northbound Don Mills Road will be closed periodically
This work involves cleaning and coating the structural steel on the bridge, which will help protect the structure from corrosion, prevent costly repairs and extend its service life.
During construction, people travelling in the area should consider alternate routes and allow extra time to get to and from their destinations.
Full details of this work are available on the City’s website: Don Mills Road Bridge Rehabilitation over the Don Valley Parkway.
TTC service changes effective September 3, 2023
Since September 3, 2023, there have been several changes made to streetcar routes in the east-end. There will be a reduction of streetcars using Kingston-Queen Loop as 506 Carlton streetcars return back to Main Street Station. 505 Dundas streetcars will also be extended to Neville Park Loop for a few weeks, between September 3 and 22. See further details below:
501 Queen
The 501 Queen route will generally operate along the following sections until further notice, unless a temporary diversion is required such as upcoming work at Queen and De Grassi (see below).
- West-end: 501 Queen streetcars will operate between Roncesvalles Avenue and McCaul Loop (Queen and McCaul). Once construction along The Queensway is completed, streetcars are anticipated to resume travel as far west as Long Branch Loop.
- Downtown: 501B Queen replacement buses will continue to operate between Queen Street/Bathurst Street and Broadview Avenue/Gerrard Street, diverting around the Queen Street closure due to Ontario Line work.
Starting yesterday (September 22) at 10 p.m., 501D Queen buses will operate in the east end on Queen Street between Church Street and Neville Park Loop.
Starting October 8 until further notice, the 501D Queen route will convert into a streetcar service.
Queen and De Grassi anticipated work
There will be diversions required in the east-end during work at the Queen Street East and De Grassi Street bridge – approximate dates are September 24 to October 2. Detailed diversion information including dates are available and will continue to be updated online here. The attached flyer has been developed and will be handed out to customers.
503 Kingston Rd
- 503 Kingston Rd bus will continue to operate between Bingham Loop and King and York streets.
505 Dundas
- From September 3 to 22, 505 Dundas streetcars will operate between Dundas West Station and Neville Park Loop (turning both ways via Dundas Street, Broadview Avenue and Queen Street).
- After September 22, 505 Dundas streetcars will resume operating between Dundas West Station and Kingston-Queen Loop.
506 Carlton
- 506 Carlton streetcars have returned to Main Street Station, operating through the east-end regularly.
- 506C Carlton replacement buses will no longer be operating due to the resumption of 506 Carlton streetcars to Main Street Station.
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.
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.
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.
O’Connor Construction
Since June 29, 2023, the sidewalk replacement and road reconstruction has been ongoing at 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. 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 - - -
