Catch da Flava Online

Overdoses are climbing sharply in Toronto, and frontline workers say the March closure of several supervised consumption sites is a key driver. In Regent Park, the Bevel Up harm reduction site once offered a critical safety net. Now, staff at local drop-ins are on the front lines of a crisis that is growing by the month. According to the Toronto Drop-In Network—representing more than 50 organizations—overdoses inside drop-in spaces have nearly tripled in just three months. The numbers tell a grim story: in April, overdoses rose 75%. By May, the increase reached 175%. In June, the spike hit 288%—all within centres meant to offer food, warmth, and community support. Drop-in staff are doing everything they can: administering naloxone, calling paramedics, and working to keep people alive. But advocates stress these spaces were never designed to replace the medical oversight and harm reduction services provided by supervised consumption sites. The province’s new HART hub model, intended as ...

At Queen’s Park, community leaders, students, and education advocates gathered to voice strong opposition to Bill 33—a proposed provincial law that would mandate School Resource Officer (SRO) programs in Ontario schools. Recently, Policing-Free Schools hosted a press conference on the South Lawn, warning that the legislation could override local school board decisions and reintroduce police into classrooms across the province. Before the press event, Regent Park TV’s Fred Alvarado interviewed Toronto Centre MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam, who has been outspoken against the bill. “Our schools need care, not criminalization,” Wong-Tam stressed. Toronto Police say they have no plans to revive the SRO program, which was ended in 2017 after students—particularly Black, Indigenous, and racialized youth—reported feeling unsafe and targeted. But with Bill 33 advancing, those protections could be rolled back. As the school year approaches, advocates are calling for investments in guidance counsellors, me...

Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) has released an update on the Regent Park Revitalization, marking a pivotal moment in one of Canada’s largest community redevelopment projects. The report, presented to the Board of Directors on July 18, 2025, covers progress across all five phases, outlines construction timelines, and highlights a community-wide vote on how to allocate $26.8 million in community benefits. Since the project began in 2006, the revitalization has transformed much of the neighbourhood into a mixed-use, mixed-income community. The first three phases, completed with the Daniels Corporation, delivered over 1,400 rent-geared-to-income units, 427 affordable rentals, and new parks, retail, and community spaces. Tridel Inc. is now the development partner for the final two phases. Phase 4 and 5 will deliver hundreds of new homes and civic amenities. Building 4A, a 271-unit TCHC rental at Gerrard and Dreamers Way, is set to start construction in September 2025 after del...

The grounds of Queen’s Park became the final stop in a youth-led movement that stretched 700 kilometres from Timmins to Toronto. The 7th Fire Youth: Call to Action rally, held on August 8, marked the culmination of a three-week ceremonial walk organized by Tristan Ashishkeesh and guided by Mahmo Inninuwuk Wiibuseego-Stamok. Walking beside him were Sage Iahtail and Todd Spence, who set out on July 15 to challenge Ontario’s Bill 5 and Canada’s Bill C-5—laws they say threaten First Nations rights, lands, and futures. Craig Koostachin also began the journey but was forced to withdraw after doctors warned of severe health risks. At each stop, the walkers carried their message to communities, building momentum for the Toronto rally, where more than 80 people gathered in ceremony, song, and solidarity. Mushkegowuk Council Grand Chief Leo Friday, Deputy Grand Chief Amos Wesley, and Chief Sylvia Koostachin-Metatawabin joined the call, emphasizing the urgency of protecting Indigenous voices in d...

This unwavering resilience was on full display at the upcoming Moss Park Safety Meeting, led by the City of Toronto’s Identify IMPACT Program. Safety in Moss Park is not just a policy issue—it is a lived reality, shaped by those who experience it daily. Residents are gathering not just to voice concerns, but to demand meaningful action and create solutions on their own terms. This meeting is about more than just crime or city services—it is about reclaiming power in a neighbourhood that has long been shaped by decisions made elsewhere. Today, the people of Moss Park take another step toward defining their own future. The meeting closed with a moment of recognition—awards were given to outstanding community members for their contributions, underscoring the critical role these gatherings play in fostering unity. By celebrating the work of local leaders, the event reinforced a simple truth: lasting change begins with those who care enough to take action. 

On February 27, 2025, the Planning Committee for the Regent Park Social Development Plan (SDP) convened to finalize details for the upcoming Stakeholders Table Meeting. Key attendees included Michael Rosenberg, Sarah-Jane Growe, Walied Khogali Ali, Kedar, Adonis Huggins, Deany Peters, and Farid from the Daniels Spectrum. Brandy Skinner facilitated the meeting, focusing on finalizing the event logistics and securing a location.

On Monday, March 3, Romero House hosted the annual Howcroft Lecture at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church. This year’s talk, Dignity in Crisis: The Complexity of the Refugee Experience, was delivered by Dr. James Orbinski, a renowned physician, humanitarian, and former president of Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders. Dr. Orbinski has spent decades on the front lines of global crises, providing medical care in war zones and refugee camps. His work has shaped humanitarian aid policies and championed refugee rights, earning him a Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of Médecins Sans Frontières in 1999. His lecture addressed issues that resonate with Regent Park, a community shaped by immigrant stories. During his talk, Dr. Orbinski highlighted that the refugee experience doesn’t end upon arrival. Many face the daunting challenge of navigating complex systems, healing from trauma, and finding a sense of belonging. He reminded the audience that 123 million people worldwide are currently ...

The Regent Park Social Development Plan (SDP) Planning Committee recently held a meeting to discuss several key issues, including preparations for the upcoming Stakeholder Table meeting and the honorarium process for 2025. The honorarium process, which compensates Co-Chairs and other key members for their time and contributions, has been a topic of ongoing discussion between the SDP and the City of Toronto. The most pressing issue discussed at the meeting was the honorarium process for 2025. This is particularly important as it impacts the Co-Chairs of the SDP and others who receive honorariums for their involvement in the plan's activities. The committee agreed on the need to set up a meeting with City staff to gain clarity on the revised honorarium process for the Co-Chairs in 2025. There are also concerns regarding outstanding payments for 2024, which remain unresolved. The City of Toronto had communicated to the SDP that all honorarium payments for 2023 would be honoured. How...

On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, residents, community leaders, and local organizations came together in the Community Living Room at Daniels Spectrum for the latest Regent Park Social Development Plan(SDP) Stakeholders Table meeting.  Dawar Naeem  – Local Journalism Initiative The event served as a vital platform for cross-sector collaboration and community-driven dialogue, with a shared goal of fostering a safer, more inclusive, and opportunity-rich Regent Park. The Stakeholders Table, held quarterly, is a cornerstone of the SDP process. It provides an open space where progress is assessed, concerns are addressed, and new ideas are generated—all in support of the SDP’s central aim: to build social cohesion and inclusion in Regent Park. Attendees heard updates from the plan’s four working groups—Community Building, Communications, Employment &Economic Development, and the Safety Network. Each group shared ongoing initiatives and highlighted the collab...

At a time of rising concern for public education in Toronto, Regent Park TV sat down with TDSB Trustee Deborah Williams for an important conversation about what’s happening behind the scenes. Fred Alvarado – Local Journalism Initiative The interview, recorded at the Focus Media Arts Centre in Regent Park, comes days after the Ontario government placed the Toronto District School Board—and three other major boards—under provincial supervision. Trustee Williams, who represents Ward 10 (University–Rosedale and Toronto Centre), explains what this decision means for students, families, and communities like Regent Park in Toronto’s Downtown East. Since June 27, elected trustees have been stripped of their ability to make decisions, hold meetings, or connect with constituents using board resources. Williams challenges the province’s justification of “financial mismanagement,” pointing instead to chronic underfunding and a growing political agenda that includes Bill 33—a prop...

Recently, Toronto residents joined a virtual Education in Crisis Town Hall, organized by Toronto Centre MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam, to address the Ontario government’s recent decision to place four more school boards—including the Toronto District School Board (TDSB)—under provincial supervision. The panel featured MPP Jessica Bell, TDSB Trustee Deborah Williams, Sandra Huh from the Ontario Autism Coalition, and student senator Amontaye Mullings, who shared powerful insights on how these changes affect students, families, and democratic accountability. Panelists raised concerns about the sudden removal of elected trustees’ communication tools, including email and phone access. Oversight of Ontario’s largest school board has now been assigned to Rohit Gupta, a former Metrolinx advisor with no background in education. Gupta has not made himself available to answer public questions. Trustee Deborah Williams, who represents Toronto Centre, had previously shared her concerns with Regent Park TV. ...

Neighbours from across Toronto’s Downtown East gathered at 51 Division on June 14 for an open house that turned the police station into a hub of community engagement and connection. Fred Alvarado  – Local Journalism Initiative Held from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at 51 Parliament Street, the 51 Division Open House welcomed residents from Regent Park, Moss Park, St. James Town, and surrounding communities. The afternoon featured cruiser tours, mounted police, drone demos, and food, all aimed at connecting residents with officers and the services available in their neighbourhoods. RPTV’s Fred Alvarado was on location and spoke with several participants. The Aboriginal Peacekeeping Unit highlighted their work supporting local outreach. Sergeant Jeremy Boyko shared updates on the Neighbourhood Officer Program and its continuing work in Regent Park and Moss Park. Councillor Chris Moise, who attended the event, emphasized the success of the Neighbourhood Officer Program, which o...