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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...

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...