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  Regent Park's vaccination clinic played its part in contributing to Ontario’s earlier than expected reopening!  As the numbers of administered doses rise and COVID cases begin to drop, Ontario begins phase 3 of the reopening plan days earlier than expected. Ontario's chief medical officer of health Kieran Moore says “Over 200,000 (people a day) are coming forward to get immunized.” Vaccination and pop-up clinics are at the forefront of getting Ontarians vaccinated, and one of the recurring vaccine clinics is located in Regent Park! The Regent Park Community Centre located on 402 Shuter Street, has been doing pop-up clinics in the neighbourhood for the past few weeks. The pop-up entrance is on the north side of the building and is prioritizing residents and essential workers of Regent Park. There is no registration or identification required however, attendees are encouraged to bring their health cards. The pop-up provides the Moderna vaccine for those over the age of 18...

 220 Oak Street Renewal - A make-over is coming for a Regent Park landmark – new exterior and improved interior elements. 220 Oak Street is a Toronto Community Housing (TCH) high rise apartment building located on the edge of Regent Park. It stands at 27 stories and was completed in 1972. The residents are comprised mostly of low income families, single dwellers, seniors, young adults, unemployed people, students, and people with Physical and Mental health issues. The location has been identified as “one of TCH's most trouble addresses” (Betsy Powell, Toronto Star, Jan. 15, 2019). But the image of a troubled spot is about to change. Perhaps as an extension of the Regent Park revitalization project, or perhaps on the grounds of its own particular circumstances, the wheels of change have been set in motion. Toronto Community Housing is teaming up with LGA Architectural Partners to provide a substantial make-over to both the exterior and interior elements of the building. In...

Ramadan is observed by Muslims globally as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and harmony. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It lasts twenty-nine to thirty days, from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next. This month holds great importance for Muslims, as it is the first time, Allah (God) revealed the Quran (Holy book) to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The fasting during this month is considered as one of the five pillars Islam. While fasting, it is prohibited from eating and drinking between the dawn and sunset. The month is observed to feel the pain and suffering for those in vulnerable states such as hunger, poverty and need. The month of Ramadan provides an opportunity for Muslims to reflect on the circumstances of people, and they collectively perform social charities; distribute food, clothes and perform other community building activities. However, with the second consecutive year of COVID-19 pandemic, the Muslims have experienced difficulty in obse...

Re-imagining the St. James Town West Park through collaborations between City of Toronto, urban planners, consultation firms, youth, Indigenous leaders and St. James residents and community members. St. James Town is in the early stages of being revitalized. The overall goal is to bring significant improvements to the public and open spaces. One of these public places scheduled for redevelopment is the St. James Town West Park, located on the East side of Sherbourne Street just south of Howard Street. It is a key thoroughfare and gateway to the St. James Town Area. The park which measures 4200 sqm (by comparison Dundas Square is 3800 sqm and a Soccer Field is 4050 sqm), is used by area residents as: a place to relax; to enjoy nature; to sit and eat a meal; to spend time with a friend or to be a lone; to walk a pet; as a children’s playtime area; and to engage in sports and games activities. In densely populated areas where the majority of residents live in high-rise dwellin...

A St. James Town teacher in Toronto, expresses full support for on-line education. For almost two years, Toronto and many parts of Ontario has been dealing with the lockdown. Education wise, students are either homeschooling, involved in virtual schooling or some form of mixture of the two. One thing we do know is that students are not having the same experiences they used to have as part of a regular school day. As we move from the vaccine era and are preparing for a return to physical schooling next year, the question that is raised is how much of virtual schooling will be here to stay? Will cost cutting governments use the covid experiment of the past two years to reduce teachers and increase class sizes by putting more of the curriculum on-line? To answer this question, many are now trying to assess the effectiveness of virtual education. Rox Hayward, a teacher at Rose Avenue Public School in the community of St. James Town, Toronto, discusses the positives and negati...

June 7th Community Vigil in Regent Park to honor the victims of Kamloops Residential School and Afzall family killings. On the evening of June 7th, 2021, the Regent Park community held a candlelight vigil in the big park. It was estimated that over two hundred people attended the event. The vigil, which was organized by Mothers of Peace and hosted by Sureya Ibrahim, was held in memory of 215 children found buried on the Kamloops Residential School and the London, Ontario murder of members of the Afzaal family including Salman Afzall, his wife Madiha Afzaal, Yumna Afzaal - their 15-year daughter and Mr. Afzaal's mother. Their 9-year old son, Fayez Afzaal was also seriously injured. The Afzaal family, was brutally run over by a truck on June 6, 2021, as they walked a pedestrian path in London, Ontario. At the vigil the attack was widely condemned as an act of terrorism, hate and Islamophobia. Several members of the Muslim community that spoke, expressed their concerns for their fa...