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Regent Park entrepreneur Rashmi Shrestha has turned her passion for the food industry into a thriving business despite economic challenges. Having worked in the food sector for over 15 years, including a managerial role at Whole Foods, she decided to establish her own Asian fusion restaurant, Bowl and Snacks. Her menu features a diverse range of dishes, from sushi to Nepalese, Indian, and Indonesian cuisine, reflecting both her culinary expertise and heritage. Rashmi, a Nepalese immigrant who moved to Canada in 2008, has called Regent Park home for over 16 years. She praises the community's support, crediting locals for helping her business stay afloat. However, she acknowledges the difficulties of running a small restaurant in a neighborhood facing economic struggles, homelessness, and transient customers. Despite these obstacles, Rashmi remains optimistic about the future. To stay competitive, she plans to expand her digital marketing efforts, recognizing that social media outr...

Regent Park entrepreneur Rashmi Shrestha has turned her passion for the food industry into a thriving business despite economic challenges. Having worked in the food sector for over 15 years, including a managerial role at Whole Foods, she decided to establish her own Asian fusion restaurant, Bowl and Snacks. Her menu features a diverse range of dishes, from sushi to Nepalese, Indian, and Indonesian cuisine, reflecting both her culinary expertise and heritage. Rashmi, a Nepalese immigrant who moved to Canada in 2008, has called Regent Park home for over 16 years. She praises the community's support, crediting locals for helping her business stay afloat. However, she acknowledges the difficulties of running a small restaurant in a neighborhood facing economic struggles, homelessness, and transient customers. Despite these obstacles, Rashmi remains optimistic about the future. To stay competitive, she plans to expand her digital marketing efforts, recognizing that social media outr...

As 2024 ends, Regent Park and downtown Toronto grapple with housing affordability, sustainable transportation, and public health crises. Kristyn Wong-Tam, MPP for Toronto Centre, addresses these pressing issues, advocating for bold, community-focused solutions, she was interviewed by RPTV Reporter Jabin Haque. Wong-Tam calls for urgent action to save consumption and treatment services threatened by Bill 223, warning of increased opioid deaths without these critical supports. Premiere Ford's plan, says WongpTam, will not be able to address the increased stress his plan put on the health care system. As 2024 concludes, Wong-Tam’s message to Toronto Centre residents is clear: resilience and community-driven solutions are key. She remains committed to affordable housing, safer streets, and equitable healthcare for all.

Check out highlights from the Regent Park Social Development Plan (SDP) Planning Committee’s first meeting of 2025, held on January 9th. Led by Elena Taghizadeh, Co-Chair of the Employment and Economic Development working group, the committee discussed key issues shaping the future of Regent Park. Topics include the role of the SDP’s four working groups—Safety, Communication, Employment and Economic Development, and Community Building—along with debates on inclusivity and voting processes. The meeting also covered crucial updates from the Funding Committee, focusing on the need for a strategy to secure additional funding for Regent Park, especially in light of the $26.8 million community benefits fund from the new developer, Tridel, for phases 4 and 5 of the redevelopment. Stay tuned for a deep dive into these vital discussions and how they aim to shape a brighter future for all Regent Park residents, both TCHC and market rate. 

Deany Peters has been a pillar of the Regent Park community since 1981, dedicating her life to fostering civic engagement and advocating for social change. For over three decades, she worked as a Community Development Worker at the Regent Park Community Health Centre, all while serving on numerous non-profit boards. Her tireless dedication earned her the Sir James Woods Award for Community Development in 2013, a testament to her unwavering commitment to improving her neighbourhood. When reflecting on her early years in Regent Park, Deany recalls the deep sense of community that inspired her. From local gatherings to grassroots initiatives, these experiences not only left a lasting impression on her but also motivated her to empower others to take action. She acknowledges the challenges residents faced when initiating programs independently, often encountering resistance from city officials. Yet, these obstacles only fueled her resolve to advocate for the neighbourhood she loves. The ...

Mayor Olivia Chow and Budget Chief Councillor Shelley Carroll, alongside City Manager Paul Johnson and Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Stephen Conforti, have introduced Toronto's 2025 budget, a comprehensive $18.8 billion operating plan alongside a historic $59.6 billion capital investment. Fred Alvarado – Local Journalism Initiative The proposed 6.9% tax hike, comprising a 5.4% residential property tax increase and a 1.5% boost to the City Building Fund, aims to fund crucial projects in transit, housing, and public safety, as outlined in the 2025 staff-prepared operating and capital budgets. The operating budget includes $94 million in new investments to improve transit, public safety, and community services while addressing affordability. The capital budget, the largest in Toronto’s history, focuses on maintaining infrastructure, supporting climate action, and advancing state-of-good-repair projects. To enhance affordability, the budget expands food programs ...

On January 16th, 2025, Councillor Chris Moise of Ward 13 and Deputy Mayor Councillor Ausma Malik of Ward 10 co-hosted the annual Budget Town Hall Meeting at Toronto City Hall. The event featured key speakers, including Mayor Olivia Chow and Budget Chief Councillor Shelley Carroll, providing residents with a comprehensive overview of the city’s 2025 budget. Fred Alvarado – Local Journalism Initiative Anthony Ng, Director of Financial Planning and Management, and Mervyn Mendoza, Manager of Financial Planning, led the staff presentation, detailing the fiscal strategies behind the $18.8 billion operating plan and the record-setting $59.6 billion capital investment. This ambitious budget includes a proposed 6.9% tax increase aimed at enhancing transit, housing, and critical infrastructure projects. Throughout the two-hour session, residents from Wards 10 and 13 engaged in a lively Q&A session, voicing their concerns about how the budget's focus on affordability, publi...

On January 16, 2025, Social Planning Toronto hosted a virtual Budget Town Hall, offering a platform for community leaders and residents to dissect the 2025 City Budget and its implications. The event featured prominent voices like Sara Beyer from the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights, Diana Chan McNally of The Shift, Daniella Leacock from the Toronto Drop-In Network, and Stephen Mensah of the Toronto Youth Cabinet. Fred Alvarado – Local Journalism Initiative Beth Wilson from Social Planning Toronto opened with a detailed "City Budget 101" presentation, illuminating the 2025 budget's core elements. Subsequent speakers delivered critical insights, advocating for budget priorities that address housing affordability, bolster community services, and enhance youth programs. A significant point of contention was the proposed $46.2 million budget increase for the Toronto Police Service. Community members strongly opposed this allocation, arguing that the funds s...

 At Daniels Spectrum in Regent Park, the community gathered to celebrate the launch of Niizh, a play by award-winning Anishinaabe playwright Joelle Peters. Hosted as part of the Toronto Lit Up program by Playwrights Canada Press, the event spotlighted Indigenous storytelling in an intimate setting filled with connection, creativity, and community spirit. Dawar Naeem – Local Journalism Initiative Niizh tells the heartwarming story of Lenna, a young woman from a reserve preparing for her first year of college, and her meet-cute with Sam, who has recently returned to the community after years away.The play captures the bittersweet highs and lows of a rural teenage upbringing, filled with Indigenous humor, small-town charm, and dream-like interludes. It’s a coming-of-age love letter to community,exploring themes of love, identity, and the complexities of leaving home. The Toronto Lit Up program, led by the Toronto International Festival of Authors and the Toronto Arts ...

On December 18th, 2024, Toronto City Council approved the Shelter Safety Action Plan, a three-year initiative aimed at improving safety and services in city shelters, particularly for asylum seekers and refugees. The plan includes increased funding for community organizations providing temporary shelterand expanded housing options tailored for refugees. Fred Alvarado – Local Journalism Initiative The plan includes 14 actions based on a CAMH study, addressing issues like violence and harassment by tackling underlying causes and enhancing support for staff and clients. Amendments to existing contracts were also approved to enhance lodging and community safetyservices, ensuring better support for asylum seekers. The council's decision reflects its commitment toproviding equitable access to shelter services, regardless of immigration status. The motion to adopt the Shelter Safety Action Plan was moved by Councillor Alejandra Bravo, Chair of the Economic and...