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This month, as communities mark Truth and Reconciliation, attention turns to the daily realities Indigenous children and families face in Toronto. The legacy of residential schools and child welfare policies continues to leave trauma, displacement, and barriers to culturally safe supports. In Regent Park and across downtown east Toronto, many families live with these challenges every day. Native Child and Family Services of Toronto is one agency responding to these challenges. Founded in the 1980s by First Nations and Métis leaders, it is child-centered, family-focused, and community-driven. Its programs are rooted in culture, respect, and grounded in self-determination. At their recent open house, families gathered at 30 College Street and 185 Carlton Street to explore services, enjoy Indian tacos, and visit the Mooka’am art show, themed Strength in Our Ancestors. Senior clinician Adrian Cocking explained how art has become a pathway to reclaim identity and healing, while Charlene Ava...

Community members gathered at Queen’s Park on Saturday, September 14, for a rally against gun violence, honoring victims and families while continuing the legacy of community leader Louis March, founder of the Zero Gun Violence Movement, who passed away in July 2024. The event marked the conclusion of the Peace March 2025, bringing together mothers, survivors, advocates, and community organizations to share stories, call for action, and highlight the importance of healing. The rally was not only a response to recent tragedies but a collective remembrance of all victims, including 8-year-old JahVai Roy, killed by a stray bullet in North York last month. His mother, Holly Roy, delivered a moving speech about her grief and the urgent need for community support. Gun violence disproportionately affects Black communities and other marginalized groups, including Indigenous residents, with deep social and emotional consequences for families. Youth in particular face heightened risks, as povert...

This month marks five years since Samuel Kisitu arrived from Uganda in September 2019, fleeing political persecution under President Museveni’s 40-year dictatorship. In exile, he named himself “Freeman” and put on the red beret of the People Power Movement, inspired by Bobi Wine’s call for democratic change. He is now a proud member of the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change and the National Unity Platform – People Power Movement, Canada Chapter. His journey in Toronto has carried him from nights at Dominion Church’s temporary shelter to reuniting with his family and welcoming a new child. Before finally securing affordable housing in December 2023, he was among more than 15,000 people experiencing homelessness in the city. Along the way, he became a contributing voice in Toronto’s Downtown East, helping organize during last year’s refugee housing emergency, when African-led groups and churches stepped in to shelter asylum seekers as the city’s system buckled under pressure. Samuel’s c...

As the new school year approaches, families, students, and educators in Toronto face uncertainty over proposed changes under Bill 33, which would mandate police in schools, including the School Resource Officer program. Advocates warn the bill distracts from the real need: a chronically underfunded education system and community-based supports. On August 27, Policing-Free Schools and supporters held a back-to-school teach-in and protest at Queen’s Park. The event featured speeches from youth organizers, local advocates, and community leaders, alongside campaign activities like petition signing. Attendees emphasized the bill could disproportionately impact racialized, Indigenous, and newcomer students in neighborhoods like Regent Park, Moss Park, and St. James Town. TDSB Trustee Deborah Williams, representing Ward 10, explained that elected trustees have been stripped of decision-making powers, limiting families’ ability to advocate for their schools. Bill 33 would centralize control pr...

Every August, Toronto gathers to mark International Overdose Awareness Day — a time to remember lives lost and reflect on the urgent need for compassion and change. At the corner of Queen Street East and Sherbourne, Moss Park has long been a gathering place for Toronto’s First Nations community and harm reduction advocates. In 2022, ceremonies, healing circles, and community celebrations were held here to honour those lost to overdose — guided by Indigenous leaders who cared deeply for their people, as First Nations remain among the most impacted by the ongoing drug poisoning crisis. Today, as construction for the new Ontario Line reshapes the area, the memories and teachings rooted in Moss Park continue to endure. International Overdose Awareness Day comes amid a worsening crisis. Since the Ontario government began closing supervised consumption sites in March 2025, overdoses have surged. According to the Toronto Drop-In Network, June 2025 alone saw a 288% increase in overdoses, leavi...