Community News Update - August 9, 2024

Dear Community,

Tuesday, August 6th marked the 62nd anniversary of Jamaica's Independence! I was proud to join dignitaries, colleagues, and community members at Queen's Park for a flag raising in recognition of this important occasion. Let us celebrate the culture, contributions and achievements of Jamaican people in Ontario and beyond 365 days a year!

I am beyond grateful to represent Little Jamaica, an invaluable community in the heart of our St. Paul's riding. We must continue to work together to ensure the governments of the day never forget how necessary it is to support our community members and small businesses and to ensure that all development centres community consultation and benefits local residents. 

It was wonderful to see Consul General Mr. Kurt Davis and Mrs. Younna Bailey Magalhães at Tuesday's ceremony! It was also great to be joined by Mr. David Betty, the President of the Jamaican Canadian Association, and the many dignitaries in attendance, including the Consul General of Grenada, the Consul General of Guyana, as well as elected representatives from the Jamaican Diaspora Advisory Board.

Revisiting the Greenbelt Grab Scheme

A year ago, Doug Ford and the Conservatives’ scheme to destroy the Greenbelt was abandoned after weeks of opposition from myself and the ONDP caucus. We were joined by farmers, Indigenous community leaders, environmentalists, and YOU our very active local St. Paul's community who refused to stand by and watch this back room deal happen without fighting back. We fought and we won this battle together.

The auditor general’s report revealed the extent of the lies and corruption hidden at the centre of their scheme, which continues to be investigated by the RCMP. This was a massive win for the environment and Ontarians, who mobilised alongside us to ensure the Greenbelt was kept out of the developer’s hands.  

The Tories’ designs for the Greenbelt were never about addressing our housing crisis. Their sole aim was to line the pockets of their developer buddies, a fact that we have since brought to light and continue to investigate. 

Housing is a human right, and housing needs to be done right. We believe in addressing the diverse needs of those living in the province. 

The real solution to our housing needs comes through advocating for tenants’ rights and making an honest commitment to building homes people can afford within the communities they love.

Building on the Greenbelt was never a real solution, and Doug Ford's government STILL has not met his own housing targets.

You can read more about the ongoing investigation into the Greenbelt grab scheme here. Let’s make sure this never happens again.

The Tories let down ACTRA Workers

Doug Ford and his PC government  continue to show their disrespect for workers and workers rights.

During the recent LCBO workers strike, Ford was sharing maps to undermine the strike, and labour's efforts to ratify an agreement and defend public revenues.

Ford is not new to gutting public coffers. Instead of making maps to attack unionized workers, should have been making maps for Ontarians to find a family doctor - all 2.4 Ontarians and counting who DO NOT have access to primary care.

We have also seen the Ford government’s disrespect for locked-out ACTRA workers. 
 
Members of the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) have been in a labour dispute for nearly two-and-a-half years, and in May, they rallied outside of Queen’s Park to call for support. This dispute prevented them from working in professional commercial acting jobs, and, rather than supporting ACTRA, the Ministry of Labour put out a casting-call in mid-July that specifically requested non-union actors. 
 
The Ministry of Labour’s Communication staff posted on X, formerly Twitter, “The Ministry did not issue this casting call. This was posted by a casting agency without the government’s awareness or approval.” However, members of ACTRA are sceptical about such a statement, with Kate Ziegler telling CBC News, “Casting doesn’t act alone.” 
 
I asked about the government’s role in this dispute during a previous question period, and the response was, “[the] government does have a role here.” That role should be to stand up for a fair deal for workers, not to hire scabs. 
 
We remain committed to providing protections for performers and supporting all workers, not furthering the precariousness they experience.

You can see our press conference about this here.

International Cat Day

Thursday, August 8th was International Cat Day! As a proud "Childless Cat Lady," I had a lot of fun recreating the iconic Taylor Swift Person of the Year cover. If you squint really tight, Josephine and I look identical to her! 

Anyone who knows me knows I adore my two darling cats, Josephine Baker and Dorothy Dandridge. Thursday was a perfect opportunity to celebrate the feline friends in our lives and recognize the immense joy and benefits that pet ownership provides to our mental health and well-being. I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I do!

JILL IN COMMUNITY

Toronto Caribbean Carnival King & Queen Showcase

I hope everyone who attended had a fabulous time at the Toronto Caribbean Carnival—formerly Caribana! It was wonderful to kick off the festivities at the King & Queen Showcase. I got to spend it with my two favourite Queens — my beloved partner, Aisha and my mom. It was a dream come true to be back at Caribana with my mom for the first time since I was a kid. It was also great to run into Councillor Chris Moise, former MP Dr. Jean Augustine, and so many other elected colleagues and friends! 

I'd like to express my deep gratitude to Toronto Caribbean Carnival CEO, Mischka Crichton and Festival Chair, Jennifer Hirlehey, and your entire team of staff AND volunteers who make this event possible. This was an extraordinary carnival season full of memories. 

Blockobana - Toronto Black Pride

I also had an excellent time last week at Blockobana, THE Toronto Black Pride party! This annual event is a celebration of the African, Black, and Caribbean 2SLGBTQIA+ community! It was wonderful to see so many old and new friends. Thank you to the Blockorama & Blackness YES organizers for your efforts in organizing this event.

It was also great to see friends from Women's Health in Women's Hands Community Health Centre! This organization provides racialized women, trans and non-binary clients from African, Black, Caribbean, Latin American and South Asian communities in the GTA with culturally safe, relevant, and responsive health care services. Thank you for your continued dedication to community care.

I also ran into the ICONIC Canadian singer Gary Beals! I was TOTALLY star struck 

2nd Annual Toronto Patty Festival

Our St. Paul's community also brought the Carnival HEAT. I had so much fun at the 2nd annual Toronto Patty Festival on Saturday!

This festival, in the heart of our Little Jamaica community, is a celebration of Toronto's favourite unofficial snack food! Our local Kingston 12 Patty Shop was ON POINT. I highly recommend the Ackee Saltfish and Callaloo Saltfish. Special shout out to Classic Juice Company for the phenomenal sorrel. It was so wonderful to be in community with friends, family, local residents, and visitors from far and wide. Thank you to the York Eglinton BIA and Lori from the Afro Caribbean Farmers Market for once again hosting this fabulous event!

Music in Suydam Park

Last weekend, I took in the sounds of the Cecil Street Syncopators at the Forest Hill Village BIA Music in Suydam Park! If you haven't already, check out this beautiful summer music series. The program runs every Saturday from 1 to 3 pm now through September. 

My mom loved it and said it reminded her of her visits to the Royal Conservatory of Music a million moons ago when I was a student pianist. 

Meeting with Dr. Larissa Vingilis-Jaremko

On Tuesday I met with Dr. Larissa Vingilis-Jaremko, the Founder and President of the Canadian Association for Girls in Science (CAGIS). CAGIS is Canada's largest and longest-running STEM Club for girls and gender-diverse youth and Dr. Larissa is also a member of our St. Paul's community! We discussed the importance of real investment in STEM education and promoting diversity in STEM for young women. And guess what? Closing the Ontario Science Centre won't help this cause. 

Thank you, Dr. Larissa, for your passion and dedication to your work. I am proud to support CAGIS in all that they do to break barriers in STEM! 

Climate Corner by SCAN! Toronto 🌎

Today's newsletter features a Climate Corner written by Mike and Lyba from SCAN! Toronto. Read below:

Safer cycling – good for people, great for the planet
 
Active modes of transportation include cycling and walking.  The goal is to reduce the number of vehicles on the road to reduce emissions. 
 
Cycling in the city has been getting better, with more separated lanes and more dedicated trails.  Both make it easier for cyclists to safely get around the city.  We can make it even better by: 

• ensuring a sufficient budget for maintaining and repairing bike lanes
• adding physical separation between cars and bikes
• installing bike parking facilities at subway stations
• continuing to add to the cycling network
• improving transitions/crossings on the trails

 
What makes a good bike lane better?
 
In Copenhagen, the city removes snow from bike lanes before it removes snow from the rest of the road.  They recognize that the maintenance and repair of bike lanes isn’t just about comfort for cyclists; it is also about safety.  Bumps and potholes in the cycling lane can cause a cyclist to go head over heels.  That is both dangerous - and a deterrent to would-be cyclists. Similarly, some bike lanes on major streets are currently just a painted line on the road.  This is not safe for either cyclists or vehicles.  Good fences make good neighbours. A curb or other physical separation between cars and bikes will keep both safer. 
 
Mixing it up for commuters
 
The ability to park a bike at a subway station, particularly outside the city centre, is an important part of mixed modes of transportation for commuting.  “The last 5 kilometres” from the nearest subway station to the person’s home is the hardest to deal with for the transit system.  Bicycling is a good option for this part of the commute.  Secure bike parking helps makes it more attractive for a commuter who wants to use both modes of transportation.
 
Adding to the cycling network
 
 The City’s cycling map https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/913d-Toronto-Cycling-Map-2024-digital-v3-alt-secured.pdf shows the current bike lanes.  They need to expand lanes outside the city centre. As the network becomes increasingly complete, people are more likely to think about bicycling as a viable transportation option.
 
Bikes on trails
 
The trails in city ravines and belt lines are great, but they could be even better if the transitions where they meet roads at level crossings were standardized. For example, a high curb at a crossing is a deterrent to cyclists.  The pleasures of cycling in a ravine or on a trail are enhanced by adjacent grassy locations.  Imagine using these spaces for outdoor art exhibits, music and, of course, food.  Bring on the fun in summer!

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD 📌

Midtown Market

The Yonge + St Clair BIA is holding a pop-up market August 13-15!

Get ready for 3 evenings of vintage clothing, local vendors, great music and more! Come on out to enjoy the summer weather and celebrate this up-and-coming area!

📅AUG 13-15
🕔5PM-8PM
📍1501 Yonge, just north of St. Clair station.

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 Night 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 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 Exhibition

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

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 Registration

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