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The “Good Education for a Bright Future” tutoring program, run by Rabia Alsabaie through her grassroots organization Happy Moms, Happy Children, is in danger of shutting down due to funding challenges. This initiative has provided essential academic support to children from Grades K to 7 in Regent Park, helping them excel in school and gain confidence. Beyond tutoring, the program offers job placements for local youth, allowing them to serve as mentors and build strong connections with younger students. This approach fosters a supportive learning environment and strengthens social ties within the community. However, the program’s future is at risk as funding from the City of Toronto’s Social Development Plan was not renewed for 2025. Rabia and her team are now scrambling to secure the necessary resources to keep the initiative running. “Education is a lifeline for many families here,” Rabia said, emphasizing that quality learning opportunities can change children’s lives. Despite her o...

As Regent Park undergoes redevelopment, residents face challenges in ensuring their voices remain central. The 6 Mar, 2025 Regent Park Social Development Plan (SDP) Planning Committee meeting underscored the struggle for community-driven decision-making amid bureaucratic hurdles and shifting priorities. The SDP was created to ensure that redevelopment fosters social cohesion, economic development, and meaningful resident participation. However, concerns over governance, transparency, and funding surfaced during discussions. A key focus was the upcoming Regent Park Stakeholders Table on April 3, 2025, where a Jeopardy-style game will educate residents on SDP working groups. Tensions rose over the City of Toronto’s decision to halt honorarium payments for SDP co-chairs in 2024 and discontinue them in 2025, citing an unspecified investigation. Community leaders, including Adonis Huggins and Miguel Avila, called for greater transparency and resident-led decision-making, while Walied Kh...

A local restaurateur shares his journey, community ties, and the impact of rapid neighborhood change. Mizan Bhuiyan, the owner of East Coast Donair, shares his experience running a restaurant in a rapidly changing neighborhood. His menu features a mix of East Coast donair, pizza, tandoori chicken, shawarma, and poutine—offering a diverse selection that caters to the local community. Bhuiyan speaks positively about the neighborhood, emphasizing the supportive nature of the residents. He states that he does not face major challenges running his restaurant and is focused on growing his business. Both longtime customers and newcomers appreciate his food, which helps sustain and expand his establishment. The conversation also touches on the transformation of the area, with new buildings consistently emerging. While some residents welcome this change, others express concerns. One customer, who has lived in Regent Park for six years, acknowledges the neighborhood’s evolving landscape but p...

Marci Ien, the Liberal MP for Toronto Centre, has announced that she will not seek re-election in the 2025 Canadian general election. Ien, who was born in St. James Town, has represented the riding since winning a by-election in October 2020. Appointed Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth in 2021 by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ien worked on issues affecting marginalized communities and supported local initiatives, including funding summer youth positions at Regent Park Focus Media Arts Centre. Before her political career, Ien was known as a broadcaster and co-host of CTV’s The Social. In her announcement video, Ien reflected on her time in office and her connection to the Toronto Centre community. Her departure marks a transition for Regent Park and surrounding neighborhoods, where her work on youth programs and local projects has had a visible presence. As Toronto Centre prepares for new leadership, Ien’s exit leaves questions about the future of community-focused advoc...

As Regent Park undergoes redevelopment, residents face challenges in ensuring their voices remain central. The 6 Mar, 2025 Regent Park Social Development Plan (SDP) Planning Committee meeting underscored the struggle for community-driven decision-making amid bureaucratic hurdles and shifting priorities. In planning for the upcoming Spring SDP Stakeholder's Table meeting, the challenge the SDP Planning Committee faces is, how do you make community meetings more interesting for those attending? In today's meeting members discuss plans for introducing a jeopardy-style game based on the SDP. The last agenda item focused on a discussion of the 2024 and 2025 resident honoraria for the co-chairs currently on hold by the City. After an in-camera discussion on this issue, a decision was made to send a letter to the City requesting clarification and advocating to the City to release the hold. The SDP remains a vital tool to ensure Regent Park’s revitalization prioritizes its peo...

Mayor Olivia Chow unveiled City of Toronto United States Tariff Response: A Strategy to Protect Toronto Businesses, Workers, and Residents during a press conference at Fire Station 334 on Queens Quay West. With her economic action team by her side and a towering 40-foot Canadian flag in the background, Chow outlined a 10-point plan designed to mitigate the impact of new U.S. tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. The plan includes key initiatives such as deferring property taxes for affected industries, launching a “Love Local” campaign to encourage residents to support Canadian businesses, and preventing U.S.-based companies from bidding on city contracts. One of the first actions under this plan is the purchase of 17 new pumper trucks from a Canadian company, ensuring these critical firefighting vehicles are sourced locally. Tariffs on all Canadian goods are set to take effect on April 2, while tariffs on steel, aluminum, and other exports are already impacting businesses. These ...

The 20th Annual Strawberry Ceremony for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Trans, and Two-Spirit people took place outside Toronto Police Headquarters on February 14th. It was a day of remembrance, resistance, and resilience, carrying even greater weight as the first ceremony since the passing of Elder Wanda Whitebird, a guiding force behind this event. Her absence was deeply felt, yet her legacy remained in the voices and prayers of those gathered. Hosted by Audrey Huntley of No More Silence, the ceremony brought together Elders, advocates, and families still seeking justice. Elder Whitebird’s daughter, stood alongside Elder Joyce Carpenter, a mother still searching for her missing daughter. Students from Wandering Spirit School lent their voices in solidarity, ensuring that the next generation carries this fight forward. The crisis continues. More than 4,000 Indigenous women, girls, trans, and Two-Spirit people are missing or murdered in Canada. Despite the National Inquir...

In an interview with the owner of Ticana African Supermarket, Teresa shared insights into the store’s role in providing African food to a diverse and growing customer base. Operating for four to five years, the store initially focused on Congolese products but has since expanded to include items from various African countries such as Nigeria, Rwanda, and Burundi. Teresa mentioned that TikTok trends have increased interest in African cuisine, with customers often arriving with lists of ingredients they've seen in videos. The store has become a go-to place for authentic African items. Teresa reflected on the store’s challenges in building a customer base and highlighted the positive impact of Regent Park’s revitalization on business, attracting people from different cultures and creating new opportunities. While the store hasn't yet participated in community events, Teresa expressed interest in engaging more with the community in the future. The revitalization has also improved ...

Toronto is at the center of growing protests as the Ontario government moves forward with its plan to close five of the city’s supervised consumption sites (SCS), including the one at Regent Park Community Health Centre (RPCHC). Advocates warn this decision will have devastating consequences, particularly for Indigenous and racialized communities disproportionately affected by the opioid crisis. More than 180,000 Ontarians will lose emergency healthcare access when these closures take effect on April 1. For Regent Park and surrounding Downtown East neighborhoods—where harm reduction services are essential—the loss of RPCHC’s SCS means more than just an increase in overdoses. These sites provide critical healthcare access, housing connections, mental health support, and a non-judgmental space for life-saving resources. Without them, vulnerable residents will be forced into unsafe conditions, increasing fatal overdoses and drug use in public spaces. Local harm reduction workers stress th...