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A powerful march for justice filled downtown Toronto on Friday, October 24, as youth, families, and community members gathered for the Save Our Children Rally at Queen’s Park. Organized by the ENAGB Indigenous Youth Agency, the demonstration called for unity and accountability to protect children impacted by violence. The march began at Nathan Phillips Square and moved to Queen’s Park, where participants delivered a petition demanding stronger youth protections, justice reforms, and deeper community investment. The rally was held in memory of eight-year-old Jahvai Roy, an Anishnaabe and Bajan boy tragically killed by a stray bullet while lying in bed beside his mother in North York on August 16. His death has sparked citywide grief and urgent calls for action against gun violence, particularly affecting Indigenous and racialized children. Speakers at Queen’s Park connected the crisis to poverty, trauma, and systemic neglect, urging long-term investments in prevention and healing. The e...

St. James Town, one of Toronto’s most diverse and densely populated neighbourhoods, continues to show how creativity and care can build belonging even in challenging times. Known for its tall apartment towers and aging infrastructure, this community thrives on the resilience and imagination of its residents. Earlier this month, Regent Park TV visited St. James Town for the unveiling of Many Peoples Under One Sky – Winchester Park Mosaic, a public art project celebrating unity and cultural pride. Among the performers was opera singer Pepper Espin (they/them), who performed alongside the Epic Choir, their powerful voices filling the park with a sense of hope and connection. Born in Mexico, Espin is an opera singer, drag performer, and peer support worker who rebuilt their life in Toronto after surviving a transphobic attack in 2021. When they arrived, they found refuge and friendship at The Corner on Wellesley Street East — a vital hub where neighbours help one another find stability and...

New permit parking rules prioritize TCHC residents, easing pressures from ongoing revitalization in Regent Park. A long-standing concern in Regent Park is finally being addressed as the City of Toronto introduces overnight permit parking to support local residents. For years, Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) tenants saw their above-ground parking lots disappear during revitalization. With limited underground spots available, many families were left competing for scarce parking options. Now, thanks to a new policy passed by City Council, overnight permit parking will provide relief and stability for residents who rely on their vehicles. The new Permit Parking Area 7L covers several streets within Regent Park, bounded by Gerrard Street, Shuter Street, Parliament Street, and River Street. Importantly, eligibility is focused on TCHC residents, ensuring that affordable parking spaces benefit those most affected by revitalization. Market-rate buildings with their own ...

At a recent Toronto Executive Committee meeting chaired by Mayor Olivia Chow, community leaders, housing advocates, and residents spoke out against devastating federal and provincial funding cuts to the city’s shelter and housing programs. In neighbourhoods like Regent Park—where many newcomers and refugees continue to rebuild their lives—these cuts are deeply personal. They threaten the city’s ability to provide basic shelter, leaving thousands at risk of homelessness. Currently, 3,420 refugees, nearly 40 percent of all clients in Toronto’s shelter system, rely on city shelters each night. But reductions to the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit and federal refugee shelter funding have left a growing gap—one that could lead to higher property taxes or force people back onto the streets. At City Hall, speakers urged the federal government to restore the $107 million in funding, remove restrictive shelter stay limits, and create a coordinated national response to refugee housing...

In Winchester Park, residents of St. James Town gathered to unveil “Many Peoples Under One Sky,” a vibrant mosaic created through collaboration between local artists, residents, and community partners. Led by the St. James Town Residents Council, ReDefine Arts, and the City of Toronto, the project was supported through Councillor Chris Moise’s participatory budgeting program. The mosaic stands as a tribute to the neighborhood’s diversity, resilience, and shared identity — values that have long defined this downtown community. The celebration featured performances by RAW Taiko, the Epic Choir, and opera singer Pepper Espin, filling the park with rhythm and song that reflected the spirit of unity behind the artwork. Randy Alexander, co-chair of the St. James Town Residents Council, said residents were deeply involved in every step — from designing to placing each tile — transforming the project into a true expression of collective effort. Councillor Chris Moise highlighted that the mosai...

Regent Park residents came together for an important community dialogue focused on safety, awareness, and empowerment. The “Know Your Legal Rights When Interacting with Law Enforcement” workshop, held at 180 Sackville Street, marked the launch of the Safety Awareness and Wellness Workshop Series organized by the Regent Park Safety Network. Co-chaired by community leaders Leonard Swartz and Haidja Abubakar, the Safety Network continues to bring residents, service providers, and advocates together to strengthen collaboration and promote safer neighbourhoods. The workshop was led by Nat Paul, Director of Education at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), who emphasized that understanding legal rights is essential to building community confidence. “Legal education shouldn’t be limited to classrooms — it’s crucial in community spaces and newcomer organizations where people experience these realities firsthand,” Paul said. Participants explored sections of the Canadian Charter of ...

As part of ongoing Truth and Reconciliation efforts in Toronto, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and the Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre are collaborating to create meaningful employment and training opportunities for Indigenous youth. The initiative reflects a growing commitment to reconciliation through action—bridging access to jobs, mentorship, and cultural connection within the city’s workforce. At the Indigenous Legacy Gathering, Jessica Dewitt, TTC’s Indigenous liaison, shared how the organization’s first-ever Reconciliation Action Strategy is helping to build pathways for Indigenous participation in the transit system. Dewitt emphasized that these initiatives go beyond employment—they affirm representation, belonging, and inclusion within public institutions. During the Indigenous Youth Gathering in Regent Park, Brant, Bear Clan from Serpent River, described how summer placements and apprenticeships offered through Council Fire provide youth with hands-on experi...

The long-vacant property at 214–230 Sherbourne Street has become a symbol of Toronto’s deepening housing crisis — and the site of a determined community campaign to reclaim it for social housing. For more than two years, 230 Fightback, a grassroots coalition of residents and anti-poverty advocates, has challenged corporate developer KingSett Capital, demanding that the property be converted into affordable housing rather than luxury condominiums. The group argues that this fight is about more than one address — it’s about the right of low-income residents to remain in their communities. At a recent community block party outside the property, residents gathered with signs reading “We won’t be locked out of our community.” The event featured food, music, and speakers from across the city who are part of similar housing struggles. Activist John Clarke of 230 Fightback said the group is pushing back against “corporate speculation and political inaction.” Longtime advocate Gaetan Heroux rec...

From our community here in Regent Park, we’re highlighting The Word on the Street Toronto 2025, a free annual literary festival celebrating storytelling, imagination, and ideas. While the event took place outside our neighbourhood, its commitment to amplifying Black, Indigenous, and underrepresented voices connects deeply with the values we hold in Regent Park—community, justice, and inclusion. The festival underscored how stories can defend rights, affirm identity, and create spaces where diverse perspectives are heard. For communities like ours—where residents often face systemic barriers—literature becomes a bridge to advocacy, representation, and social change. This year, Regent Park TV interviewed authors, writers, and publishers from across Canada, including long-time participant Sam Burke of Burke’s Bookstore, who has championed Black authors and storytellers since the festival’s early years. We also spoke with Sienna Tristen, Director of Programming at Word on the Street, along...

Toronto Centre MP and Canada’s Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, Evan Solomon, is preparing to open his new constituency office at 409 Parliament Street, near the busy intersection of Gerard and Parliament in Regent Park. Designed as a welcoming and accessible hub, the office will allow residents to meet in person, raise local concerns, and access federal services. RPTV visited the site and documented the exterior, where a truck was parked as final preparations were underway. While the interior remains under wraps, a team member confirmed off-camera that a grand opening will soon be held to welcome the community. The move follows an incident at Solomon’s former office over the Labour Day weekend, when pro-Palestine posters, a political cartoon, and the name of a journalist killed in an Israeli airstrike were plastered on the entrance. Solomon condemned the vandalism, stressing that peaceful protest is a democratic right but intimidation has no plac...

Recently, Indigenous youth took centre stage to share their priorities on health, housing, and culture with federal leaders. Hosted by Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre at the Spirit Garden in Nathan Phillips Square, the dialogue offered a rare opportunity for youth to speak directly with Crown–Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty and Toronto Centre MP Evan Solomon. Guided by Andrea Chrisjohn of Council Fire, Indigenous youth spoke candidly about the challenges they face every day, including access to safe and affordable housing, mental health supports, food security, and the preservation of their language and culture. They emphasized the importance of being included in decisions that affect their lives and communities, showing a strong commitment to shaping a future where youth voices are not just heard but actively drive meaningful change. Terra Roy, an Anishinaabe Nation representative on the Ontario First Nations Young Peoples Council, stressed the impor...

 In a major step toward addressing systemic anti-Black racism, the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee has adopted a motion introduced by Walied Khogali Ali, a Regent Park resident and committee member. The motion urges the City to implement key recommendations from the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s (OHRC) From Impact to Action report, which examines the prevalence of anti-Black racism within both the Toronto Police Service (TPS) and the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC). Dawar Naeem – Local Journalism Initiative This motion called on the City to invite the OHRC to present its findings, providing valuable insights into how Black Torontonians, particularly those in diverse and mixed-income neighbourhoods like Regent Park, are disproportionately affected by systemic racism. Regent Park, one of Toronto’s most diverse and historically under-resourced communities, is home to a significant number of Black residents who have long faced systemic challenges in pu...

Residents filled the Regent Park Community Centre on 10th September for a town hall hosted by Ward 13 Councillor Chris Moise and his staff. The meeting gave the community an opportunity to hear updates on city priorities while raising concerns on issues ranging from housing and safety to recreation access. Councillor Moise highlighted the City’s updated approach to homelessness and encampments. The protocol, he explained, emphasizes engaging individuals, connecting them with supports, and offering pathways into housing before removing unoccupied structures. Moise pointed to recent successes in moving people into shelter and housing, while stressing the need for compassion and consistency. Community safety was another top concern. Moise detailed quarterly meetings with Neighbourhood Community Officers and monthly Community Safety Network sessions, designed to keep communication open between residents and police. He also introduced improvements under the Downtown East Action Plan Reset, ...

On September 30th, communities across Toronto came together to observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day. The day honors the children who never returned home from residential schools and the survivors who live with their legacy. In a neighbourhood like ours, where many Indigenous residents live, the day carries deep meaning. It reminds us that reconciliation is not symbolic—it must be rooted in action and justice. We began at a Na-Me-Res gathering, an organization supporting Indigenous men experiencing homelessness and poverty. Executive Director Steve Teekens reflected on the 94 Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Ten years later, only 14 have been implemented, a shortfall that underscores the urgency of real progress. At Nathan Phillips Square, during the Indigenous Legacy Gathering, EJ Kwandibens, cultural educator and artist, spoke on the power of storytelling, consent, and even difficult conversations as essenti...