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City of Toronto announces the recipients of 2022 Regent Park SDP Grant and conditionally allocates 2023 funds

The Regent Park Social Development Plan, commonly referred as the SDP, is a community wide initiative aimed at fostering social inclusion and cohesion. The plan revolves around four priority areas: Community Building, Safety, Employment & Economic Development and Communications. The City of Toronto provides funding in the amount of $500,000 yearly to support the priority areas of the SDP. In previous years funding decisions were made by community members of the SDP in partnership with the City. For the 2022 funding year, funding recommendations were made by a small review panel comprised of residents of the Regent Park community. On December 12, 2022, the City of Toronto’s Community Funding Unit announced the recipients of 2022 Regent Park Social Development Plan Grant. According to the announcement, 26 proposals were submitted funding totalling $1.8 million. Out of these project proposals eight projects were approved for the 2022 SDP funding. 2022 SDP Recommendations Toro

SWEA Toronto brings Swedish Christmas Fair to Regent Park

Recently, The Swedish Christmas Fair 2022 hosted by SWEA Toronto took place in Regent Park at 585 Dundas St East. The Swedish Christmas Fair attracts thousands of people each year who come to experience Swedish Christmas food, design, folk art, crafts, and traditions. The admission was free. Members of the community enjoyed Swedish food at the Café, the Lucia procession, the Swedish Folk Dancers and Singers, the Book Corner, and the vast selection of Swedish design products and folk art for sale. Lisa Quondamatteo, President of SWEA Toronto, spoke to our own RPTV Reporters Jabin Haque and Victoria Nanneti about this year’s Christmas fair in Regent Park. Jabin Haque — What are expecting to see this year? Lisa Quondamatteo — This year there will be Swedish food that you can buy or bring home, a lot of candies because Swedes love candies, we have Swedish design items, things like candles and kitchen towels, lots of folk art, crafts from leather work, we also have books in Sw

Songs From The Journey 2022

 On November 23rd and 24th, of 2022, the Daniels Spectrum Arts Centre featured the World Premiere of "Songs From The Journey", a performance of the greatest hits from "The Journey" musical.   There have been multiple productions of "The Journey" musical between 2013 and 2018, all celebrating the transformation of Regent Park. Storylines for each production evolved as the revitalization unfolded, highlighting key milestones experienced by residents of the community.   In 2022, in celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Daniels Spectrum, many of the past performers returned to the stage to present "Songs From The Journey". The songs were woven together with a storytelling narrative written by Mitchell Cohen, Trevlyn Kennedy and Heela Omarkhail. Canadian stage icons Jackie Richardson, Alana Bridgewater and Gavin Hope brought the songs to life, along with local stars Trevlyn Kennedy and Charlotte Siegal and music by "The Journ

Regent Park Phases 4 & 5 Rezoning Update Meeting

Toronto Community Housing (TCHC), the lead developer of Regent Park, and Tridel, development partner for phases 4 & 5 of Regent Park, hosted a virtual meeting with the Reset Team/Consultant Team to discuss the key principles of the rezoning proposal. The meeting included new updates to the proposal and details of the plans that are moving forward in the new year (2023). Tridel’s commitment includes a social and economic development program valued at $26.8 million that will benefit the tenants and residents of Regent Park. The community plays a direct role in providing input to the the community on their priorities for the new developments of Regent Park. Phases 4 and 5 of the revitalization of Regent Park are the final phases of Regent's revitalization plan and cover Regent Park's full geographical width from Parliament Street to River Street and along Regent Park's northern street of Gerard. The meeting also included recently newly-elected Ward 13 city co

Regent Park SDP Community Building Working Group Meeting of January 11, 2023

The Community Building Working Group is one the four working groups of the Regent Social Development Plan (SDP), a community-wide initiative aimed at fostering unity and togetherness among all the different residents and stakeholder groups in the community. In the first meeting of 2023, the Regent Park Community Building Working Group members came together on January 11, 2023, to discuss current and future activities. The meeting was chaired by Joel Klassen, an agency representative from YSM and co-chair of the Community Building Working Group. The business of the meeting began with a report from the Access to Recreation Coordinator, Ismail Afrah. Ismail began his report by reminding members that he is taking over the responsibilities and activities that was coordinated by resident Mary Henkelman , who resigned from the Access to Recreation committee. Access and Recreation has been working with the City Parks and Recreation to set up an advisory to help inform programmin

10th Anniversary of the Daniels Spectrum Centre

By Dawar Naeem Dawar Naeem, a community journalist with Focus Media Arts Centre, interviews many people at the big celebration to honour the 10th anniversary of the Daniel Spectrum Centre, including people who have initiated and facilitated some of the many programs there, those involved with its building and development, and many people who have participated in many of its programs.  Daniels Spectrum is a community hub in Toronto’s Regent Park neighbourhood. Its is located at 585 Dundas street east. It opened to the public in September 2012. Daniels Spectrum is home to many outstanding arts-based and community-focused organizations that make Daniels Spectrum a special place to work, play, study and get creative. Daniels Spectrum is named in recognition of a bighearted gift from The Daniels Corporation and The John and Myrna Daniels Charitable Foundation. It is a joint venture between Artscape, Toronto Community Housing, The Daniels Corporation and the Regent Park commun

City of Toronto Announces Recipients of 2022 Regent Park SDP Grant

Welcome to RPTV Weekly News Show Episode 42. In this weekly news show hosted by RPTV reporters Kedar Ahmed, Fred Alvarado, Jabin Haque, and Victoria Nanneti, we present news that impacts on Toronto's Regent Park and the surrounding areas. Episode 42 features the following stories, which also includes segments from recent, longer programs by Focus Media, (full program times indicated) including: City of Toronto announces the recipients of the 2022 Regent Park SDP Grant and conditionally allocates 2023 funds (01:23 min); A feature "In Memory" of Barbara Helen Castledine (07:15 min); and another "In Memory" of Christian Yombo (09:56 min). Report of Changing Cultures of Regent Park—A multimedia final exhibition (11:15 min); Healing As One Celebrates the FIFA World Cup Final (20:05 min); Advocates call for more access to warming centres (21:40 min); Toronto City Council approves 2023 Housing Action Plan for the 2022-2026 term of  Council (22:46 min); C

Rezoning of Regent Park 2022

 The Regent Park Neighbourhood Association hosted a meeting for the residents of Regent Park on the 3rd floor of Daniels Spectrum. Regent Park Neighbourhood Association (also known as RPNA) is an association that “seeks to foster an inclusive, diverse, and healthy neighbourhood association in which all residents feel at home.” The purpose of this meeting was to update and engage community members on the Re-zoning application submitted by Tridel and Toronto community housing for the phases 4 and 5 of the Regent Park revitalization. The meeting was centred around the important knowledge of what was happening around the Re-zoning, what were the community benefits related to the project, to urge people to join the Regent Park Community Benefits Coalition, and teach people how to engage and support each other during the critical time for the community. The Phases 4 and 5 of the Regent Park revitalization are bordered by Gerrard Street and Oak Street to the north and south, and

10th Anniversary of the Daniels Spectrum

  The Regent Park celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the Daniels Spectrum, the Daniels corporation and its stakeholders. Daniels Spectrum is a community hub in Toronto’s Regent Park neighbourhood. Its is located at 585 Dundas street east. It opened to the public in September 2012. Daniels Spectrum is home to many outstanding arts-based and community-focused organizations that make Daniels Spectrum a special place to work, play, study and get creative. Daniels Spectrum is named in recognition of a bighearted gift from The Daniels Corporation and The John and Myrna Daniels Charitable Foundation. It is a joint venture between Artscape, Toronto Community Housing, The Daniels Corporation and the Regent Park community. Daniels Spectrum is open to the community, and it is made for a variety of cultural uses. Within these walls you’ll find dancing, art-making, singing, music playing, learning, socializing, community building, mentoring, collaborating etc. The Daniels Spectrum is animated wi

Regent Park FEMME Collective!

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Femme is a collective of two young women reaching out to other you women to join their community group called “Femme”. They meet up and discuss important events and issues, while doing workshops and cool activities. The goal of the project is to allow culturally diverse young women to create new and memorable experiences, make new friends, gain sisterhood, and build leadership. Located in Regent Park, in the Daniel Spectrum Arts Center. Meetings take place in the third floor community meeting room, every Wednesday from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. The program started in July 2022 and will be completed in April 2023. The experiences gained during the project could have life-long benefits. Offering young people in the community an opportunity to create a youth oriented magazine. Participants would be engaged with photography, print journalism, and magazine design. An honorarium of $300.00 is provided to each participant. Some of the members have claimed the project is both fun and entertain