Dear Community, 

Ford's Education Minister Todd Smith resigned on Friday, coming as a shock to all of us. This news comes less than three months after he was given the role. To abandon the role weeks before school starts leaves our school communities, especially students, teachers, education workers, and parents with too many questions. 

Ontarians deserve a government that treats the Ministry of Education—our children's education and the system that cares for our youngest community members as valuable, not trivial. 

The education system and childcare sectors are in crisis. So the fact that a brand new Education Minister and Minister in charge of Child Care abruptly jumps ship, immediately after this government announced its long-delayed child care funding formula, is a huge cause for concern. Todd Smith was supposed to be the spokesperson for this plan. How seriously does the Ford government take our families?

This new plan, I might add, fails to meet the moment. After foot-dragging and question-dodging by this government, we are FAR behind the 86,000 promised new child care spaces, and nearly halfway through the rollout period. While businesses will be able to recover some of the costs incurred under this program, without raises for our early childhood educators (ECEs), we will continue to lose the workers who care for our community's children. The government's announcement does not include a plan or funding to recruit, train, and retain workers in this sector. 

Community, you deserve a government that puts children first. We need a funding formula that ensures all costs are recovered, and a workforce strategy to make jobs in child care good careers, including implementing a wage grid and decent work standards. I will continue to call for just that. 

In today's newsletter

Due to technical difficulties, my regular Friday newsletter is out today. Thank you for your understanding. Recognizing that it's impossible to capture a full week of news in a single newsletter, please see the highlights below:

• My Back-to-School Supplies Drives are happening next weekend!
• Rising homelessness numbers
• Community engagement at Rastafest
• The Toronto Pan Afrikan Film Festival
• Local community events
• And more!

Back-to-School Supplies Drives

My annual Back-to-School Supplies Drive is back! Let's show our young learners just how much Toronto—St. Paul's believes in their potential. 

As always, we we invite the community to bring donations of NEW school supply items, and take what they need - no questions asked. We are now seeking donations to ensure our tables are fully stocked!

If you would like to donate but are unable to make the dates below, please get in touch with my office to arrange a drop-off. Email [email protected], or call us at 416-656-0943. 

Date 1:
Saturday, August 24th
Cy Townsend Park (455 Winona Dr)
11 AM to 1 PM

Date 2: 
Sunday, August 25th
Oriole Park (201 Oriole Pkwy)
11 AM to 1 PM

Spread the word! We'll have FREE ice cream on site both days to keep us cool in the summer heat.

Homeless in Ontario on the Rise

Ontario's homeless population has grown to over 234,000 people. This is nine times higher than previously assumed – and this estimate is likely lower than the true reality.

This is up over 200,000 from 21,000 in 2018. This is unacceptable. 

Let me be clear, this is a result of poor social and economic policy by this Ford government. At least 234,000 Ontarians are actively living without stable shelter while this government's housing solutions continue to fall short of expected targets – this government’s OWN targets, I might add. We mustn't forget 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, women fleeing violence, newcomers and refugees, BIPOC folks, and people whose identities have been historically made marginalized who are all disproportionately impacted by this crisis. 

This government has deepened the housing crisis and is failing to cooperate with municipalities to enact real strategies to reduce homelessness. We have a moral obligation to act. We need to act urgently to fix the housing, healthcare, affordability, and mental health crises, and ensure that Ontarians across our province have access to their basic needs. Today, I renew my call for the immediate implementation of a Homeless Task Force. Read more about the ONDP housing plan here. 

JILL IN COMMUNITY

Rastafest

Thank you to everyone who came to the Rastafest launch on Friday in our Little Jamaica community! I was honoured to offer FREE patties to the community from our very own Kingston 12 Patty Shop and to recognize Canadian Reggae legends, Jay Douglas and Leroy Sibbles. 

Rastafest is Canada's largest celebration of Rastafari culture and heritage and takes place in the heart of our Little Jamaica community. Special thank you to Masani Montague for all your work in making this festival possible. Due to the severe weather warning on Saturday, we unfortunately had to cancel our community outreach engagement at the festival. However, I am deeply grateful that we had the opportunity to be in community with you all on Friday.  Click here to learn more about the festival! 

Toronto Pan Afrikan Film Festival

Friday evening I joined community members at the Nia Centre for the Arts for opening night of the second annual Toronto Pan Afrikan Film Festival. It was my pleasure to attend the Gala screening of the Black Beauty Effect: The Crown Effect by Andrea Lewis. I am grateful for the opportunity to speak with guests, organizers and filmmakers alike. 

I want to give a special thank you to Lori Beazer, who continues to provide us with beautiful cultural spaces where we can tell our stories, connect with our culture and heritage, and see ourselves represented. Lori is also one of the powerhouses behind the Afro-Caribbean Farmers Market - she's incredible! Lori, your efforts, determination, and presence are seen and appreciated. 

St. Paul's, the festival's programming continues until Monday! Come watch one (or many!) of the beautiful films screening at Nia Centre (524 Oakwood Avenue) between 5:00 and 11 PM!

Visit the TPAFF website for the complete programming: https://tpaff.com/festival

Canadian Council of Black Parliamentarians Summit

Last week, I attended the Canadian Congress of Black Parliamentarians (CCBP) Summit in Ottawa. The CCBP brings together Black Canadian elected officials from across the country to collaborate on issues affecting the diaspora and share ideas for building our futures. It was a deep honour to join 45 Black politicians from different levels of government and across all parties. We all share a steadfast commitment to building equity for Black communities everywhere.

It was wonderful to meet so many incredible elected officials, including the Hon. Greg Ferguson, Speaker of the House of Commons, MLA David Shepherd (Alberta), MLA Suzy Hansen (Nova Scotia), and Minister Uzoma Asagwara (Manitoba), and so many others. I am deeply grateful to the Hon. Michael Coteau and the CCBP for organizing this summit in our nation's capital. 

Black Student Summer Leadership Program

This week, I visited the TDSB Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement's Black Student Summer Leadership Program. This program allows Black secondary students to explore different career pathways and receive mentorship, training, and skills development in sectors where Black professionals are too often underrepresented. I was grateful for the opportunity to speak with students and learn from young leaders as they presented their Your Participatory Action Research presentations — AND recommendations! Congratulations on your hard work!

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD 📌

CALL FOR ARTISTS!

The Yonge + St Clair BIA is looking for local artists to help beautify the Midtown community. See their callout below:

CALL FOR ARTISTS🎨😊

Two inspirational art opportunities:

1. Help turn two mundane electrical boxes into a nature themed mural🌳… and/or
2. Turn a plain brick wall into an iconic mural embodying the local culture🎭

🗣️Apply now: Link here
📆Deadline: Sept 2, 2024

These require two separate proposals from individual artists OR a team of artists.

Free Trees

Saturday, September 21st, the Oakwood Vaughan Community Organization will be distributing free tree saplings, in large pots between 10 AM to 7 PM. 

Location: Pick-up is done locally

Pre-registration is required. Please include your name, contact information, and what type of tree(s) you would like. These trees are for private properties only, that a person has permission to plant on, and are provided by a City of Toronto Forestry Grant. 

For more information, contact: [email protected] or [email protected]

Mount Pleasant Village BIA - Movie in the Park

Bring the entire family and enjoy our FREE movies in the park! Mount Pleasant Village BIA presents a different film favourite each Tuesday night starting July 30th, 2023. All shows start at dusk. Bring a chair and a blanket. The BIA will also be collecting donations for the Daily Bread Food Bank each Tuesday night. 

July 30th will start at 8:45 PM. 

Location: Manor Community Green - 196 Manor Rd East

Forest Hill Village BIA - Music in Suydam Park

Forest Hill Village BIA's much-loved acoustic concert series, Music in Suydam Park is back for another season!

Concerts take place every Saturday afternoon from 1-3 pm throughout July, August and September. Weather permitting.

Click here for their full concert schedule!

James Rottman Fine Art

Check out the new exhibition at James Rottman Fine Art!

John Eric Laford: OJIBWE LEGENDS
Exhibition Dates: July 13 - September 14, 2024
Location: 830 St Clair Avenue West
Tues to Saturday, 11 am to 5 pm and/or by appointment.

Born on the West Bay of Manitoulin Island in Ontario, John Eric Laford was a celebrated Anishinaabe Canadian artist who passed away in 2021. Laford was inspired by the Ojibwe legends and stories of his elders on Manitoulin Island. Laford was the grandson of hereditary chief Dominic Migwans and Ann Commando.

In this exhibition visitors to the gallery will enjoy Laford's interpreted visions, stories and legends of his elders through the artist's dynamic and visually striking paintings. Laford used various materials including paper, birch bark, canvas, pine, cedar and pipestone as surfaces to depict his stories in paint. The artist's works are poignant studies of all creation, including the spirits, elders, animals, birds and plants.

Laford's paintings have been collected and exhibited by The Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, The Museum of Anthropology, Vancouver, British Columbia, The Canadian Museum of Civilization, Hull, Quebec, The Museum of Modern Art, New York, and several other public art museums worldwide.

Sprint Senior Care - Call for Volunteers!

I would like to share this appeal for volunteers from Sprint Senior Care. Volunteers are needed to:

• Deliver healthy and affordable meals to seniors
• Provide security checks
• Reduce Isolation

You will need to have a car and a valid driver's license to help, but gas reimbursements are available. To volunteer call 416-481-0669 ext. 8723 or e-mail [email protected]

Local Farmers' Markets

Wychwood Barns Farmers' Market

• Every Saturday from 8 AM to 1 PM at the Wychwood Barns

Davisville Farmers' Market

• Every Tuesday from 3 PM to 7 PM in June Rowlands Park

The Eglinton Way Farmers' Market

• Every Sunday from 8 AM to 1 PM at 125 Burnaby Blvd. 

Afro-Caribbean Farmers' Market

• From 11 AM to 3 PM on July 7th, 21st and 28th and August 11th and 25th, and September 8th, 22nd and 29th at Reggae Lane (1531 Eglinton Ave W - Green P Parking Lot)

The BFBG Awards

The Black Fashion & Beauty Gala is making its return September 29th, 2024. This year's theme is The Awakening of Black Fashion: A Journey of Resilience and Creativity. 

Click here to learn more about this year's event. 

Learn4Life Regisration

Learn4Life Registration Opens August 14th
 
Looking for something fun to do this fall? The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) offers a wide range of Adult General Interest and Seniors Daytime classes through the Learn4Life program. These classes provide an excellent opportunity to learn new skills, stay active, and connect with others in your community. Led by expert instructors, Learn4Life offers courses in Arts, Business, Computers, Cooking, Crafts, Dance, Finance, Fitness, Languages, Music, Sports, Sewing, and much more! Registration opens on August 14th.

Click here to learn more about. 

Learn to Prevent an Overdose

Each year across Ontario, thousands of lives are lost to overdoses. We need every level of government to prioritize implementing harm reduction strategies to combat these senseless deaths, and you can help.

As many of you know, Naloxone is a medication that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, and these kits are FREE with training at participating pharmacies across the city. Together, we can prevent unnecessary deaths and work toward a more compassionate society that is safe safe for everyone.

Find a pharmacy with Naloxone kits near you, and make sure you can recognize the signs of an overdose.

'

In solidarity, 

Dr. Jill Andrew, Ph.D

MPP, Toronto-St. Paul's