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SDP Planning Committee meeting 9th Jan 2025

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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. 

Regent Park Past, Present, and Future – Deany Peters' Journey of Advocacy

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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 ...

Toronto Unveils 2025 Budget: 6.9% Tax Hike to Fund Enhanced City Services

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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 ...

Let’s Talk Budget: Engaging Wards 10 and 13 at Toronto’s 2025 Budget Town Hall

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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...

Social Planning Toronto Hosts 2025 City Budget Virtual Town Hall Highlighting Community Concerns

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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...

Regent Park Celebrates Indigenous Storytelling

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 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 ...

City Council Approves Plan to Enhance Shelter Safety Action for Refugees & Asylum Seekers

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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...

Crisis in Our City Network: Eddie Jjumba Urges Change on Refugee Shelter Access—Ombudsman Report

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Pastor Eddie Jjumba of Crisis in our City Network Calls for Immediate Action to Address Discriminationand Inequities in Shelter Access Fred Alvarado – Local Journalism Initiative Toronto's shelter system is failing refugees, especially those from African countries, as they facesystemic discrimination and exclusion. Despite the Ombudsman Toronto Housing Unit Status Report 2024 highlighting these issues, little progress has been made. The Crisis in our City Network, co-chaired by Pastor Eddie Jjumba, is demanding the city take immediate action to address these barriers.Pastor Jjumba recently shared his thoughts with Regent Park TV journalist Fred Alvarado, emphasizing the urgent need for reform. "The system isn’t just broken, it’s discriminatory, especially against African refugees," he explained. "Refugees are being denied basic dignity and access to the resources they need."The network is calling for full implementation of the Ombudsm...

Regent Park Roots: Paul Tobias’ Story of Breaking Barriers

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Paul Tobias’ journey from growing up in Regent Park to becoming a published author and community leader is a testament to resilience and the power of generational change. His life story, shaped by the challenges of public housing, systemic inequities, and racial discrimination, speaks to larger societal issues that demand collective attention. Dimitrije Martinovic – Local Journalism Initiative Paul’s book, written as a reflection on his struggles and triumphs, challenges social stigmas often attached to public housing residents and immigrants. By sharing his personal narrative, Paul highlights the persistence required to rise above systemic barriers while calling for reforms in housing policies and social service accountability. His experience also underscores the need for equitable access to education as a means of breaking cycles of poverty. Education played a central role in Paul’s life and became the legacy he passed on to his children. Through his deter...

Toronto’s Safe Injection Sites Set to Close: A Community Divided

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By Gabriel Meissner Gabriel is a Community Journalist at Focus Media Arts Centre Premier Doug Ford’s government has announced plans to close 10 of Ontario’s 23 supervised drug consumption sites by March 2025, targeting those located near schools and childcare centers. Ford asserts that the closures are necessary to protect children from exposure to drug use and the potential dangers of discarded needles in public spaces. Additionally, he argues that these sites have not demonstrated a significant impact on improving addiction outcomes and may contribute to issues in surrounding neighbourhoods. As an alternative, the government will introduce 19 new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) hubs, which aim to provide a broader spectrum of addiction and homelessness services but will not include supervised drug consumption. The government’s decision has sparked widespread debate, with public health advocates, community leaders, and harm reduction workers voicing ...