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Ontario’s newly passed Bill 60 is sparking deep concern among tenant advocates and local leaders, especially in neighbourhoods like Regent Park where many residents already face housing insecurity. The legislation expands landlords’ ability to fast-track evictions and restricts what tenants can argue at Landlord and Tenant Board hearings—changes critics say will disproportionately impact low-income families, newcomers, and vulnerable households. Tensions reached a peak at Queen’s Park during the final vote, when protesters shouted “people over profit” before being escorted from the public gallery. Ontario’s NDP has since introduced a motion calling for Bill 60 to be repealed, warning that it will further erode fairness at the already backlogged Landlord and Tenant Board. In Regent Park, where a large share of residents live in rental units—including Toronto Community Housing buildings—advocates fear the legislation will accelerate displacement. With fewer protections and shorter timeli...

On November 25th, the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee gathered at City Hall to review the proposed 2026 budget allocation for Social Development Plan implementation across Toronto’s priority neighborhoods. The discussion highlighted the plan’s success in Regent Park and its potential to guide equitable development citywide. Chaired by Deputy Mayor Amber Morley, the committee heard from residents, advocates, and city staff about the tangible impact of Regent Park’s plan. Outcomes cited included zero gun-related deaths in 2023, expanded youth employment and leadership programs, and strengthened community cohesion. These results showcase how coordinated, resident-led strategies can make neighborhoods safer and more equitable. Speakers emphasized the ongoing challenges facing priority neighborhoods with significant Black and racialized populations, including housing instability, economic pressures, and systemic inequities. Expanding Social Development Plans citywide would ...

As part of our ongoing Indigenous reporting, we share an interview with Ramon Kataquapit, a young leader from Attawapiskat First Nation and founder of the Okiniwak Indigenous Youth Movement. RPTV met Ramon at the Indigenous Youth Gathering and Pow Wow in Regent Park, where he spoke about the urgent need for youth leadership as Ontario moves forward with Bill 5 — a provincial law that opens the door to large-scale development on Indigenous lands without proper consultation. For many Indigenous youth, the response to Bill 5 is about more than policy. It is about defending land, language, identity, and the right to self-determination. Throughout the year, organizers have held gatherings, cultural teachings, and rallies across Toronto, including a summer encampment behind Queen’s Park that called attention to the lack of consent and the ongoing impacts of colonial land decisions. Regent Park TV has followed these actions closely, documenting how culture, ceremony, and community care guide ...

Skilled trade workers rallied outside Queen’s Park after the Ontario government abruptly cancelled 2,600 applications submitted through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). The province suspended the skilled trades stream, citing what it called “systemic misrepresentation or fraud,” and returned all applications without offering individual explanations. Workers Kulginder and Gurjeed told RPTV they followed every requirement. They submitted documents on time, paid the $1,500 application fee, and waited more than a year with almost no communication from the program. Now, they say the province has labelled thousands of honest applicants as fraudulent with no clear evidence. Many workers are facing severe consequences. Some have lost their status, can no longer work, and now struggle to support their families—at a time when housing costs, food prices, and basic expenses are already out of reach for many in Toronto. Kulginder Singh explained that they were trained in Ontario, work ...

Representatives from more than 68 food banks and community groups gathered at Queen’s Park to deliver a clear warning: Ontario’s Bill 60 could worsen housing insecurity and push more residents toward emergency food services already struggling to meet record demand. Speakers at the media conference said the bill would speed up evictions, reduce the time tenants have to catch up on rent, and limit their ability to defend themselves at hearings. Chiara Padovani and Sarah Watson from North York Harvest stressed that food banks are seeing unprecedented demand, driven largely by households spending nearly all their income on rent. Diana Chan McNally, a Community Outreach Worker, highlighted how shelters, municipalities, and frontline agencies are stretched thin, while Megan Kee of No Demovictions emphasized that vulnerable communities would bear the brunt—facing worsening housing and food insecurity as landlords and developers gain more power. For Toronto’s Downtown East, the message hits cl...

Food insecurity in Toronto’s Downtown East continues to reach new and alarming levels, with the Allan Gardens Food Bank now facing one of the highest surges in demand in its history. Each week, hundreds of residents — including many from Regent Park, Moss Park, and Cabbagetown — rely on the service as rising costs and stagnant incomes push more families into hardship. Volunteers say the pressure has never been greater. Paul Uytenbogart, longtime volunteer and former director, describes a growing gap between what the food bank can provide and what the community urgently needs. With limited supplies and no sustained public funding, the strain is becoming increasingly difficult to manage. Uytenbogart emphasized that while volunteers remain committed, elected representatives must pay closer attention to the realities unfolding on the ground. Recent data underscores the severity of the situation. The Who’s Hungry 2025 report shows 4.1 million food bank visits across Toronto. At Allan Garden...

A virtual town hall hosted by MPP Jessica Bell on Monday, November 17 brought residents together to examine how Bill 60 could reshape life in Toronto — from renters’ rights to local planning, sustainable transit, and climate action. Held over Zoom, the event focused on what the province’s proposed changes could mean for neighbourhoods already facing high rents, rapid development, and mounting transit needs. For Regent Park and surrounding Downtown East communities — where most people rent and rely on stable public transit — the concerns raised struck close to home. Participants shared stories about affordability pressures and fears that Bill 60 could accelerate displacement, weaken tenant protections, and give developers more control over neighbourhood planning. Advocates warned that loosening planning rules and limiting community input would make it harder to build fair, climate-resilient neighbourhoods. Speakers also stressed that housing and transit can’t be separated. With rising c...

Toronto City Council has delivered a strong rebuke of Bill 60, the Ford government’s proposal to amend the Residential Tenancies Act. Councillors voted overwhelmingly to oppose the legislation, warning it would weaken tenant rights and accelerate evictions across the city. The province argues Bill 60 will speed up development and reduce Landlord and Tenant Board backlogs. But City of Toronto staff and housing advocates say the opposite — the changes could put thousands of renters at greater risk of losing their homes. At a media conference this week, Mayor Olivia Chow said the bill fast-tracks renovictions and owner move-ins, giving tenants far less time to challenge evictions or seek legal support. Council’s response is not just symbolic. The city is formally requesting that Ontario reinstate full rent control on units built after 2018 and bring back vacancy control — measures aimed at curbing rent hikes and preventing displacement. Chow also pointed to existing supports for strugglin...

A new report from the Chiefs of Ontario reveals that First Nations people are dying from opioid overdoses at nearly nine times the rate of non-Indigenous residents. In 2022 alone, the crisis claimed Indigenous lives across the province at devastating levels, highlighting a widening health and social emergency. Hospitalizations linked to opioid toxicity are also disproportionately high, especially among those living away from their home communities. In downtown east Toronto, including Regent Park, Indigenous residents face an even steeper challenge as several supervised consumption sites have closed in recent months. These sites once offered safe spaces for drug use under trained supervision, access to sterile supplies, and immediate medical support in case of overdose. Research consistently shows that supervised consumption reduces harm, prevents public injection, and connects people to social and health services. Since the closures, staff at local drop-in centres have reported a rise ...

At City Hall, Toronto has taken a step forward in tackling inequities in social housing. On October 28, the Economic and Community Development Committee approved a motion that strengthens accountability in how the city collects and uses eviction data. The decision follows growing advocacy from community groups and residents — including voices from Regent Park — who have urged the city to confront systemic barriers that put low-income and racialized tenants at higher risk of eviction. The motion directs the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Unit to work with Toronto Community Housing (TCHC) and the Housing Secretariat to present updated equity-based eviction data by early 2026. This data will help identify where and why tenants are most vulnerable and guide future housing policy across Toronto. During the meeting, community members emphasized the importance of transparency and evidence-based decision-making, noting that eviction prevention must start with understanding who is most affected....

A new program in Regent Park is helping young people build confidence and practical skills in money management and entrepreneurship. The Youth Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship Program, hosted at the Regent Park Community Centre of Excellence, is an initiative of the Financial Literacy & Entrepreneurial Society Hub (F.L.E.S.H.), a nonprofit dedicated to financial empowerment and equity. F.L.E.S.H. provides culturally relevant and socially responsive financial education through online and in-person workshops, mentorship, and community-based support. The organization’s programs are designed for participants who identify as Black, Indigenous, Women, Persons of Colour, or 2SLGBTQIA+, with a mission to make financial literacy more inclusive and accessible. In Regent Park, the youth-focused workshops guide participants through real-world financial skills — from understanding paycheques and budgeting to saving, building credit, and exploring the basics of starting a small business. ...

A downtown Toronto condo board is taking legal action against a long-standing church and drop-in centre, raising questions about safety, compassion, and the city’s deepening housing crisis. The board of CASA Condos, at 33 Charles Street East, is suing Sanctuary Ministries for more than $2.3 million, alleging that the organization has allowed drug use, violence, and disruptive behaviour to spill into the neighbourhood, creating fear and extra costs for residents. None of these claims have been tested in court. Sanctuary, which has served people experiencing poverty and homelessness for more than 30 years, says the lawsuit misses the larger issue — Toronto’s housing and mental health emergency. The church provides meals, health care, and outreach programs, and members describe it as a lifeline for those living on the margins. The dispute has sparked a broader conversation about coexistence in the city’s downtown east. For Regent Park and nearby communities, the story hits close to home, ...

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...

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 ...

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 ...

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...

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...

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, ...