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The Regent Park Social Development Plan (SDP) Network’s Safety Working Group, also known as the Regent Park Safety Network (RPSN), met on March 16 for its monthly meeting, bringing together key agencies and community stakeholders to share updates and address ongoing safety concerns in the neighbourhood. The meeting was facilitated by Leonard Swartz, Co-Chair of the RPSN, and included updates from partners such as the Toronto Police Service, Toronto Fire Services, Toronto Community Housing, and the City’s Community Safety Unit. A representative from the Toronto Police Service shared the latest crime statistics from 51 Division, which includes Regent Park. According to the update, crime levels are slightly higher compared to the same period last year, from January to March 2025. However, no major incidents were reported at the time. Community members also raised concerns about ongoing safety challenges in the neighbourhood. Toronto Fire Services highlighted important fire safety issues, ...

 The Regent Park Community Health Centre has officially opened its Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub, joining Ontario's growing network of treatment-focused centres aimed at supporting people experiencing addiction, homelessness, and mental health challenges. Serving Regent Park and neighbouring communities including Moss Park, Cabbagetown, and St. James Town, the HART Hub brings together addiction treatment, primary care, mental health services, housing support, and case management under one roof to provide coordinated, long-term care. The opening comes as Ontario continues its shift away from provincially funded supervised consumption sites. The provincial government has invested approximately $550 million to establish 28 HART Hubs across the province, describing the initiative as a recovery-focused approach that combines healthcare, social services, and supportive housing. Unlike supervised consumption sites, HART Hubs do not provide supervised drug consum...

A long-planned affordable housing project at Gerrard Street East is moving forward with a revised proposal that would increase the number of residential units being built at the site, while continuing to include space for Yonge Street Mission’s community programs The project, which is located at 306-310 Gerrard Street East, has been in development for several years. YSM, a Toronto-based organization providing community support services, purchased the properties throughout the years of 2009 and 2016, and has operated out of the site for roughly a decade. The original application was submitted to the City of Toronto on February 17, 2022. The proposal involved demolition of the existing low-rise buildings and construction of a 10-storey mixed-use development designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects, and developed with The Daniels Corporation.  The previous proposal included 194 residential units, along with both office and retail space on the lower floors. Through the City’s Open Door A...

Toronto is moving to expand its community-based mental health crisis response system across the TTC, following a July 21 Executive Committee discussion that highlighted the success of the Toronto Community Crisis Service (TCCS). Launched in 2022, the 24/7 service has responded to nearly 50,000 calls and dispatched mobile crisis teams in more than 41,000 cases. The city is now working to expand the service across the TTC, building on a pilot currently operating along part of Line 1. The discussion is particularly relevant for residents in Regent Park, Moss Park, St. James Town and surrounding communities, where residents, families and community workers regularly encounter the broader challenges connected to mental health, housing and access to support. During the meeting, speakers described how crisis workers can offer an alternative to police when police are not required. “People experiencing mental health crisis are increasingly met by trained crisis workers instead of an immediate po...

On May 21, 2026, members of the Regent Park Social Development Plan (RPSDP) Network’s Planning Committee gathered on Zoom for a Meeting focused on advancing plans for the upcoming stakeholders’ table and related activities. The meeting was facilitated by the co-chair of the Network, Tamanna Yeasmin and Adonis Huggins and brought together committee members, working group representatives, and community partners.              The meeting opened with a brief check-in and recap from the previous session. Tamanna confirmed that Levi Collins had been elected as co-chair representing Toronto Community Housing (TCHC), and later in the meeting Rabia Alsabaie confirmed that she could fill the market-housing co-chair position for the Community Building working group. The conversation then shifted to a proposal on what Community building working group could look like moving forward. Adonis outlined a workshop-based approach led by ArtHubs, with support from Yonge S...

A virtual town hall hosted by Toronto Centre MPP Chris Glover brought together waterfront users, residents, scientists and environmental advocates to examine the proposed expansion of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. At the centre of the discussion was a presentation by waterfront advocate Ron Jenkins, who outlined concerns about the scale of the proposed expansion and its potential impacts on Toronto Harbour. The proposal would extend the airport farther into Lake Ontario, including an approximately 750-metre western extension and a 150-metre eastern extension. Jenkins said the project could also expand marine exclusion zones and create new challenges for boaters navigating the Western Gap. “Small recreational boats would be further constrained at the entrance to the Western Channel,” Jenkins said, citing earlier environmental analysis of a smaller proposed runway extension. “No mitigation is available to ease the challenge of navigating the entrance to the Western Channel.” Jenkins...

 The future of one of the final development sites in Phase 3 of the Regent Park revitalization sparked a wide-ranging public debate at Toronto and East York Community Council, where residents, community advocates and planning professionals weighed the benefits and concerns surrounding the proposed redevelopment of 500 Dundas Street East. The proposal would permit a 35-storey mixed-use building with 413 homes, including plans for 65 permanent affordable rental units, subject to funding approvals. Following public deputations and committee debate, councillors voted to recommend approval of the zoning bylaw amendment and forward the application to Toronto City Council for a final decision. While many deputants agreed Toronto needs more housing, much of the discussion centred on a key question raised repeatedly by Regent Park residents: who will benefit from the affordable housing being created, and will current community members be able to remain in the neighbourhood? Several resident...

 As Regent Park continues its multi-phase revitalization, growing density is bringing a fresh surge of foot and vehicle traffic to its core. Anchored by thriving community hubs like the Regent Park Aquatic Centre and Daniels Spectrum, local corridors are busier than ever.  To address this, the Toronto and East York Community Council is evaluating a key street safety proposal from Transportation Services targeted at the intersection of Sumach Street and Dundas Street East. Sumach Street currently sees roughly 3,000 vehicles daily navigating its narrow two-lane design. Currently, drivers can legally pull over along the curb to load and unload cargo near the corner. However, larger delivery trucks and idling vehicles frequently obstruct sight-lines for drivers turning south off Dundas Street East, creating serious hazards for pedestrians crossing the street. To solve this, the city is proposing a strict "No Standing" regulation along the west side of Sumach Street, extending 20 ...

 The Regent Park Social Development Plan (RPSDP) Network’s Safety Working Group, also known as the Regent Park Safety Network (RPSN), convened on June 22, 2026, for its monthly meeting. Facilitated by RPSN Co-Chair Leonard Swartz, the session brought together community organizations, residents, and public agencies to discuss neighbourhood safety, share vital updates, and confront complex local challenges by prioritizing community cohesion over heavy-handed enforcement. A major focal point of the meeting was the evolving nature of local safety. Representatives from the Toronto Police Service noted that while many municipal resources are currently focused on FIFA-related traffic management in Toronto’s downtown core, Regent Park has remained relatively quiet. However, frontline realities quickly shifted the conversation toward health and social support. Anthony Lamanna, representing the City's Community Safety Unit (CSU), highlighted a recent public health warning regarding a spike i...

 On June 29, community advocates, students, health-care campaigners, climate activists and Indigenous solidarity groups gathered at Queen's Park to raise concerns about what they described as a growing pattern of privatization, environmental deregulation and cuts to public services under the Ontario government. The grassroots rally brought together organizations including Climate Fast Action, Ontario Students Against Austerity, the GTA Health Coalition and Indigenous solidarity networks connected to Grassy Narrows First Nation. Speakers connected issues often discussed separately—from proposed AI data centre expansion and electricity policy to hospital funding, OSAP reductions and environmental protection—arguing that they are part of broader decisions shaping the future of Ontario's public services. For many Toronto neighbourhoods, organizers said, these debates are reflected in everyday challenges, including rising living costs, longer health-care wait times, under-resourced ...

 Toronto City Council is calling for expanded supportive housing as the city continues to face rising homelessness, shelter pressures, and a growing demand for affordable housing — issues that continue to impact communities across Toronto, including Regent Park and surrounding neighbourhoods. At a recent council meeting, the Housing Rights Advisory Committee presented recommendations focused on increasing supportive housing options for people transitioning out of homelessness, particularly those experiencing complex mental health, substance use, and housing stability challenges. Established in 2023, the committee advises the city on policies and programs that advance the human right to adequate housing. Members highlighted that Toronto’s housing system remains under significant pressure, with shelter capacity stretched and demand for rent-geared-to-income housing continuing to exceed available supply. For communities like Regent Park, where a large number of residents rely on affor...

 For many residents of 200 Wellesley Street East, the concerns raised at a community safety town hall earlier this year remain unresolved. Three months after Toronto Community Housing pledged improvements to security, communication and fire safety, tenants say many of those commitments have yet to materialize. At a recent tenant meeting, residents gathered alongside members of the Toronto Tenants Union to discuss ongoing issues including repeated false fire alarms, pest infestations, broken laundry facilities, criminal trespassing and safety concerns in the building, which is home to more than 1,300 people. Long-time tenant Randy Alexander said residents continue to experience the same problems despite repeated appeals for action. "None of those promises have been delivered so far. They promised monthly meetings after our town hall, but that has never happened. We've only ever asked Toronto Community Housing to fulfill its legal obligations to provide a safe and secure place t...

 On June 26, Toronto City Council has voted to move forward with the recognition, restoration, and expansion of the AIDS Memorial at Barbara Hall Park, adopting a motion that recognizes the site as a place of national importance while supporting the Echoes project proposal as a guiding framework for its future. The decision followed a thoughtful debate at City Hall, where councillors discussed how the city should honour decades of community engagement while responding to calls from HIV/AIDS organizations and LGBTQ2S+ advocates seeking stronger commitments to protect the memorial's legacy. City staff told council that more than 2,000 community members and over 20 organizations participated in consultations over the past three and a half years. According to staff, residents consistently called for a park that is safer, more accessible, and respectful of both the AIDS Memorial and the Trans Memorial as places for reflection and remembrance. "We've undertaken extensive engagem...

 The Regent Park Social Development Plan (SDP) Network Planning Committee met on May 14 to advance its social development agenda. Facilitated by Tamanna Yeasmin, the productive session focused on immediate community recruitment, strategic grassroots partnerships, and expanding global recognition. The meeting kicked off with a major strategy session for the upcoming Stakeholder Table meeting. Addressing new recruitment  across its four main working groups—Community Building, Safety, Employment and Economic Development (EED), and Communications—the committee decided to pivot the upcoming event into a effective community recruitment drive. To maximize neighbourhood engagement, the team brainstormed several interactive components. The event will officially launch the Network’s new website and WhatsApp channels, alongside the distribution of printed brochures and copies of Catch Da Flava magazine. To keep the atmosphere lively and educational, neighbours can participate in an SDP-t...

 People with lived experience of homelessness took their concerns directly to Toronto's Housing Rights Advisory Committee, urging City officials to place dignity, housing and human rights at the centre of decisions affecting unhoused residents. Invited to present before the committee, the Toronto Underhoused and Homeless Union (TUHU) shared the experiences of more than 300 members who have faced homelessness or inadequate housing across the city. Through outreach in shelters, encampments and drop-ins, the member-led organization said it is witnessing growing displacement, increasing security enforcement around Union Station and worsening conditions for people with nowhere else to go. "As people with lived experience of homelessness and housing insecurity, we understand firsthand what is needed to improve our lives and create lasting solutions to homelessness," the organization told committee members. "Too often, however, our voices are overlooked and our experiences ...

 For Lynn Walker, Toronto's housing crisis is a daily reality shaped by survival, grief and an unwavering commitment to people living without housing. As a grandmother, survivor of the Allan Gardens encampment and founding member of the Toronto Underhoused and Homeless Union (TUHU), she has spent years fighting for people experiencing homelessness while mourning friends and community members who never made it off the streets. Regent Park TV first captured Walker on camera in 2023 during a housing justice rally in Toronto's Downtown East, where she reflected on spending more than two years living in a tent at Allan Gardens after losing her housing. "They spent four years trying to evict me," Walker said. "I ended up in Allan Gardens." Living in the encampment exposed her to both hardship and solidarity. "I've watched so many people die in the parks," she said. "They're human beings like everybody else. If they don't have a blood fam...

 Barbara Hall Park was at the centre of a wide-ranging discussion at Toronto's Economic and Community Development Committee on June 9, as residents, advocates, and health professionals shared their perspectives on safety, public access, and the future of one of downtown Toronto's most significant community spaces. The committee considered a proposal from Toronto Centre Councillor Chris Moise that would continue reviewing the community-led Echoes proposal for the Toronto AIDS Memorial and launch a public engagement process to assess local support for possible nighttime closures of the park. Located in the heart of the Church-Wellesley Village, Barbara Hall Park is home to the Toronto AIDS Memorial and the Trans Memorial, two sites that hold deep significance for the 2SLGBTQ+ community. The park also serves as an important gathering space for residents, visitors, and vulnerable community members. The meeting began with an update from city staff on the Barbara Hall Park revitaliza...

Catch: Tell us about your experience of growing up in the community. How long have you lived in Regent Park? Regent Park has been a consistent and formative presence in my life. My connection to the community began during my elementary years at Nelson Mandela Park Public School, and I have remained closely connected since then while continuing my education through high school and university. My academic work at the University of Toronto is in an HBSc program, with an interdisciplinary focus on the study of religion across diverse traditions, including Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, and secular thought. This has shaped my approach to ethical reasoning, inclusive leadership, and thoughtful decision-making. I have gained research-focused experience within major public institutions, including The Hospital for Sick Children and the University Health Network, where professionalism, accountability, and discretion are essential. While these experiences have influenced my path, Regent Park cont...

 On March 16th 2026, planning committee members of the Regent Park Social Development Network and members of the Regent Park Neighbourhood Association,  joined the 22 other neighbourhood representatives from across the City of Toronto, to participate in discussions related to the new formation of a city wide advocacy group known as the Coalition for Responsible Community Development. The aim of this new coalition is to build a network of neighbourhood groups from across the City of Toronto dedicated to the funding and support of community-led Social Development Plans and Community Development Plans. The Coalition argues that every neighbourhood in Toronto should have the resources to plan and shape its future and through the development of community-led Social Development Plans (SDPs) and Community Development Plans (CDPs). Social Development Plans (SDPs) and Community Development Plans (CDPs) like the Regent Park Social Development Network, strengthen neighbourhood safety, ec...

 In 2003, when Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) began submitting plans to the City for the transformation of Regent Park, from 100% Public Housing to a mixed income and mixed-use community,  the approval from City Council required TCHC to work collaboratively with Regent Park residents and local agencies to develop and implement a Social Development Plan (SDP).  The Regent Park SDP would ensure that redevelopment would not just be about building new housing and facilities but would positively change the quality of life experienced by Regent Park residents - which at that time were exclusively socio-economically challenged TCHC Tenants living in rent geared to income (RGI) units. Regent Park would be the very first redeveloped TCHC community to have a SDP which would give community members a say in what they felt would improve the lives of residents in the new Regent Park.   To meet City Council’s requirement, the city’s community development staff wo...

 Elena Taghizadeh. is a familiar face in Regent Park, where she has long been a resident and an advocate for the community. As co-chair of the SDP Network’s  Employment and Economic Development Working Group (EED), Elena has witnessed firsthand the implementation of the SDP. She believes in its power to bolster local entrepreneurship in Regent.  One can look at the Carousel Cafe & Bistro as a successful impact of the EED’s work.  The Carousel Cafe & Bistro, located in the Community Living Room of the Daniels Spectrum, provides opportunities for local Regent Park food vendors to partner with the cafe to sell their foods in the cafe and be part of the catering business. The establishment of the Carousel Cafe was a direct result of the three month Cafe Pop Up Project that was initiated by EED working in collaboration with Centre for Social Invention (CSI).  The project provided an opportunity for local food vendors to pilot their business by selling their f...

The Regent Park Social Development Plan (SDP) Network’s Safety Working Group, also known as the Regent Park Safety Network (RPSN) is one of the four working groups of the SDP Network, The Safety Network, facilitated monthly by co-chairs, Leonard Swartz and Ina Labauschagen, brings together key agencies and community stakeholders who are working in the area of safety including the Toronto Police Service, Toronto Fire Services, Toronto Community Housing Community Safety Unit and elected representatives. At the March 16, 2026, monthly meeting of the Safety Working Group, Leonard Holder, the District Chief of Toronto Fire Services highlighted important fire safety issues, with a strong focus on the risks associated with e-bikes. Residents were advised not to store e-bikes inside residential units due to the potential dangers posed by lithium-ion batteries. According to Leonard even lithium-ion batteries on cell phones can be hazardous. Fire officials noted that clearer policies and gui...

 A recent virtual panel on the future of work is sparking important conversations for communities like Regent Park, where many residents rely on app-based jobs to make ends meet. Held on April 14, the event “Gig Work – Delivering an Insecure Future for Many?” brought together researchers, organizers, and policymakers to examine how platform-based work is changing employment across Ontario. The discussion was moderated by Jessica Bell and featured economist Jim Stanford, gig worker organizer Jennifer Scott, and policy researcher Deena Newaz. The conversation focused on a growing shift: stable jobs with benefits are being replaced by short-term, app-based work with fewer protections. “This isn’t a new system,” said Stanford. “Telling poor people to do low-paid tasks for others is as old as capitalism.” He challenged the idea that technology is driving these changes, arguing instead that it’s about “how the work is organized and who benefits.” For workers on the ground, the reality is...

On March 24, The Toronto Police Service announced Task Force Guardian and a Counter-Terrorism Security Unit, describing the initiatives as a response to a more complex and evolving public safety environment. At a media conference, Chief Myron Demkiw, alongside Deputy Chief Frank Barredo, said the goal is to improve how police detect, prevent, and respond to threats, including extremism, hate-related incidents, and other public safety concerns. As part of this rollout, Task Force Guardian will increase police visibility in everyday public spaces—transit areas, community hubs, and places of worship. Officers may also be seen carrying tactical gear, including patrol rifles. Police say this is meant to deter incidents and allow for faster response, not to signal an immediate threat. Officials say the move is about preparedness and adapting to both global tensions and local safety demands. Task Force Guardian will also work alongside existing specialized and emergency response units already...

At Toronto City Hall, city officials, community leaders, and residents gathered to assess five years of Toronto’s Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism—an initiative with direct impact on neighborhoods like Regent Park and Moss Park. The update, presented at the Economic and Community Development Committee, outlined progress made since the plan’s launch, including expanded investments in Black-led initiatives and the completion of many targeted actions. But for residents in the Downtown East, the conversation quickly turned to what remains unresolved. “We’re seeing progress on paper,” said community advocate Walied Khogali during the meeting. “But on the ground, families are still struggling with food insecurity, housing instability, and unemployment. The reality hasn’t changed enough.” Across Regent Park and Moss Park, where many Black families live, systemic barriers continue to shape daily life. As redevelopment transforms the area, residents say the pressures are not just about...

Residents of 200 Wellesley Street East are raising ongoing safety concerns, calling for faster and more visible action inside one of St. James Town’s largest high-rise buildings. At a tenant meeting held April 1 at Wellesley Community Centre, residents, housing officials, and police gathered to discuss conditions in the building. The meeting brought together the Toronto Housing Community Safety Unit, Toronto Police 51 Division, the St. James Town Safety Network, the St. James Town Residents Council, and the 200 Wellesley Tenants Association, along with Councillor Chris Moise and Toronto Community Housing (TCHC) staff. While police presented data showing a decline in major crimes, residents questioned how those figures reflect their lived experiences. “Our concerns aren’t perception… we are experiencing the violence,” one resident said. Constable Victor Espinoza-Parent noted that assaults, thefts, and shootings are lower compared to last year. “If I’m basing on last year, we’re under...

At Toronto City Hall on April 9, 2026, the Economic and Community Development Committee heard a wide-ranging discussion on community development and equity planning, with strong input from Regent Park residents, members of the Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee, and the newly-formed Coalition for Responsible Community Planning calling for more consistent, community-led investment. The item focused on how the city’s community development plans, inclusive economic development frameworks, and equity-based tools can better guide public investment across neighbourhoods. At the centre of the discussion was community benefits planning—how growth and redevelopment can be more directly tied to local priorities and long-term neighbourhood well-being. For Regent Park residents, the conversation reflected ongoing questions about how equity is defined and how resources actually reach communities most affected by redevelopment and displacement pressures. Mohammed, vice-chair of the City’s Confront...

Safety, housing issues, and community well-being remain urgent concerns for residents across Moss Park—especially for tenants navigating daily challenges inside their buildings while thinking about the future of their neighborhood. On March 26, 2026, residents, community members, and local partners gathered at 295 Shuter Street for a Moss Park Safety Network meeting focused on tenant safety and neighborhood concerns. The session, moderated by Abel Tesfaldet from the City of Toronto’s Violence Intervention & Support Unit, brought together Toronto Police 51 Division, Toronto Community Housing staff, and tenant leaders. But it was residents’ voices that defined the tone of the meeting. Police updates showed a mixed picture. According to Toronto Police 51 Division, overall crime statistics in the area have decreased compared to the same period last year, including fewer assaults and break-ins. “We’re under every type of offense compared to last year,” said Sergeant Robert Chevalier, po...

A new chapter in the redevelopment of Regent Park began on March 2, 2026, as government officials and Toronto Community Housing broke ground on a new affordable housing tower at the southeast corner of Gerrard Street East and Dreamers Way. The 26-storey building will bring 271 affordable rental homes to the neighbourhood as part of Phase 4 of the Regent Park Revitalization. According to project details, the development will include 136 replacement rent-geared-to-income (RGI) units for residents displaced during earlier phases of redevelopment, along with 135 new affordable rental homes intended to expand the supply of lower-cost housing in the community. The building will also include indoor and outdoor community spaces and a mix of unit sizes, with an emphasis on family housing. If construction proceeds as planned, tenant occupancy is expected in 2029. The project represents more than $219 million in public investment, including $50.7 million from the City of Toronto, $86 million from...