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Disseminating information residents to underemployed residents of Regent Park The Regent Park Social Development Plan, also known as the SDP, is a community- wide initiative aimed at fostering unity and togetherness among all the different residents and stakeholder groups in the community. The Employment and Economic Development Working Group, known as the EED Working Group, is one the four working groups of the SDP. The working group is made up of residents, grassroots groups and organizations serving Regent Park. The goal of the EED committee is to increase employment rates and entrepreneurial opportunities for residents of Regent Park. Considered among the lowest income neighbourhoods in Toronto, antidotal evidence suggests that many Regent Park households are struggling with employment barriers related to language, lack of skills, lack of accreditation, mental health, Islamophobia, systemic racism and more. On Tuesday, January 17th ,2023, the EED Working Group held a hybrid...

The Regent Park Social Development Plan, also known as the SDP, is a community wide initiative aimed at fostering unity and togetherness among all the different residents and stakeholder groups in the community. The Social Development Plan is built around 4 areas of priorities of the SDP. Each priority area is represented by a different committee. The SDP committees are Safety, Communications, Employment and Economic Development and Community Building. In addition to the four committees, there is a SDP Planning Committee, comprised of members  and stakeholders that meets weekly to help guide the activities of the SDP.    The first SDP Planning Committee of the 2023 year took place on January 12, 2023, at 1 pm over Zoom. The meeting was chaired by Greg Gary, an agency chair of the SDP.   The January 12, 2023, planning committee meeting focused almost entirely on concerns related to the SDP funding, namely the City of Toronto’s staff decision to allocat...

The Regent Park Social Development Plan, also known as the SDP, is a community- wide initiative aimed at fostering unity and togetherness among all the different residents and stakeholder groups in the community. The Employment and Economic Development Working Group, known as the EED Working Group, is one the four working groups of the SDP. The working group is made up of residents, grassroots groups and organizations serving Regent Park. The goal of the EED committee is to increase employment rates and entrepreneurial opportunities for residents of Regent Park. Considered among the lowest income neighbourhoods in Toronto, anedotal evidence suggests that many Regent Park households are struggling with employment barriers related to language, lack of skills, lack of accreditation, mental health, Islamophobia, systemic racism and more. ‘ On Tuesday, January 17th, 2023, the EED Working Group held a hybrid meeting at the Daniels Spectrum Arts Centre, from 5-7 pm. The meetin...

The Regent Park Social Development Plan, commonly referred as the SDP, is a community wide initiative aimed at fostering social inclusion and cohesion. The plan revolves around four priority areas: Community Building, Safety, Employment & Economic Development and Communications. The City of Toronto provides funding in the amount of $500,000 yearly to support the priority areas of the SDP. In previous years funding decisions were made by community members of the SDP in partnership with the City. For the 2022 funding year, funding recommendations were made by a small review panel comprised of residents of the Regent Park community. On December 12, 2022, the City of Toronto’s Community Funding Unit announced the recipients of 2022 Regent Park Social Development Plan Grant. According to the announcement, 26 proposals were submitted funding totalling $1.8 million. Out of these project proposals eight projects were approved for the 2022 SDP funding. 2022 SDP Recommendations Toro...

Recently, The Swedish Christmas Fair 2022 hosted by SWEA Toronto took place in Regent Park at 585 Dundas St East. The Swedish Christmas Fair attracts thousands of people each year who come to experience Swedish Christmas food, design, folk art, crafts, and traditions. The admission was free. Members of the community enjoyed Swedish food at the Café, the Lucia procession, the Swedish Folk Dancers and Singers, the Book Corner, and the vast selection of Swedish design products and folk art for sale. Lisa Quondamatteo, President of SWEA Toronto, spoke to our own RPTV Reporters Jabin Haque and Victoria Nanneti about this year’s Christmas fair in Regent Park. Jabin Haque — What are expecting to see this year? Lisa Quondamatteo — This year there will be Swedish food that you can buy or bring home, a lot of candies because Swedes love candies, we have Swedish design items, things like candles and kitchen towels, lots of folk art, crafts from leather work, we also have bo...

 On November 23rd and 24th, of 2022, the Daniels Spectrum Arts Centre featured the World Premiere of "Songs From The Journey", a performance of the greatest hits from "The Journey" musical.   There have been multiple productions of "The Journey" musical between 2013 and 2018, all celebrating the transformation of Regent Park. Storylines for each production evolved as the revitalization unfolded, highlighting key milestones experienced by residents of the community.   In 2022, in celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Daniels Spectrum, many of the past performers returned to the stage to present "Songs From The Journey". The songs were woven together with a storytelling narrative written by Mitchell Cohen, Trevlyn Kennedy and Heela Omarkhail. Canadian stage icons Jackie Richardson, Alana Bridgewater and Gavin Hope brought the songs to life, along with local stars Trevlyn Kennedy and Charlotte Siegal and music by "The Journ...

Toronto Community Housing (TCHC), the lead developer of Regent Park, and Tridel, development partner for phases 4 & 5 of Regent Park, hosted a virtual meeting with the Reset Team/Consultant Team to discuss the key principles of the rezoning proposal. The meeting included new updates to the proposal and details of the plans that are moving forward in the new year (2023). Tridel’s commitment includes a social and economic development program valued at $26.8 million that will benefit the tenants and residents of Regent Park. The community plays a direct role in providing input to the the community on their priorities for the new developments of Regent Park. Phases 4 and 5 of the revitalization of Regent Park are the final phases of Regent's revitalization plan and cover Regent Park's full geographical width from Parliament Street to River Street and along Regent Park's northern street of Gerard. The meeting also included recently newly-elected Ward 13 city co...

The Community Building Working Group is one the four working groups of the Regent Social Development Plan (SDP), a community-wide initiative aimed at fostering unity and togetherness among all the different residents and stakeholder groups in the community. In the first meeting of 2023, the Regent Park Community Building Working Group members came together on January 11, 2023, to discuss current and future activities. The meeting was chaired by Joel Klassen, an agency representative from YSM and co-chair of the Community Building Working Group. The business of the meeting began with a report from the Access to Recreation Coordinator, Ismail Afrah. Ismail began his report by reminding members that he is taking over the responsibilities and activities that was coordinated by resident Mary Henkelman , who resigned from the Access to Recreation committee. Access and Recreation has been working with the City Parks and Recreation to set up an advisory to help inform programmin...

By Dawar Naeem Dawar Naeem, a community journalist with Focus Media Arts Centre, interviews many people at the big celebration to honour the 10th anniversary of the Daniel Spectrum Centre, including people who have initiated and facilitated some of the many programs there, those involved with its building and development, and many people who have participated in many of its programs.  Daniels Spectrum is a community hub in Toronto’s Regent Park neighbourhood. Its is located at 585 Dundas street east. It opened to the public in September 2012. Daniels Spectrum is home to many outstanding arts-based and community-focused organizations that make Daniels Spectrum a special place to work, play, study and get creative. Daniels Spectrum is named in recognition of a bighearted gift from The Daniels Corporation and The John and Myrna Daniels Charitable Foundation. It is a joint venture between Artscape, Toronto Community Housing, The Daniels Corporation and the Regent Park co...

Welcome to RPTV Weekly News Show Episode 42. In this weekly news show hosted by RPTV reporters Kedar Ahmed, Fred Alvarado, Jabin Haque, and Victoria Nanneti, we present news that impacts on Toronto's Regent Park and the surrounding areas. Episode 42 features the following stories, which also includes segments from recent, longer programs by Focus Media, (full program times indicated) including: City of Toronto announces the recipients of the 2022 Regent Park SDP Grant and conditionally allocates 2023 funds (01:23 min); A feature "In Memory" of Barbara Helen Castledine (07:15 min); and another "In Memory" of Christian Yombo (09:56 min). Report of Changing Cultures of Regent Park—A multimedia final exhibition (11:15 min); Healing As One Celebrates the FIFA World Cup Final (20:05 min); Advocates call for more access to warming centres (21:40 min); Toronto City Council approves 2023 Housing Action Plan for the 2022-2026 term of  Council (22:46 min); C...