Community News Update - February 17, 2023

Dear Community,

Earlier today, myself, Leader Marit Stiles, and MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam joined advocates Erin Lee of Lanark County Interval House and Malcolm Warmerdam, the son of Nathalie Warmerdam, to demand the Ford government respond and take action on the Renfrew County Inquest's recommendations to end intimate partner violence in this province.

These recommendations were published last June and since then, have yet to be publicly acknowledged by the Ford government, let alone acted upon. This is an affront to the three women whose deaths sparked the Inquest, as well as the hundreds more lost to femicide who go unnamed and their families. Each of them deserves justice that comes in the form of never allowing the crime that took their lives to happen again. 

I look forward to calling on this government to do just that next week when the House resumes in person. In the meantime, I am especially thankful to Erin, Malcolm, and the countless advocates who have done the heartwork across this province to ensure the legacy of these women is not lost in lives protected and lives saved. Thank you.

Read our statement.

Monday February 20 is Family Day, and I hope each of you is able to take time this long weekend to rest and reflect upon the importance of community! I for one will be crossing my fingers for more of that beautiful sunshine!

Tuesday, February 21 is Losar. Wishing all those who observe this holiday a very Happy Tibetan New Year of the Water Rabbit 2150!

I hope you'll join me next week on February 23 outside Sunnybrook Hospital to show our support for nurses and front-line health care professionals!

It's no secret that there is a health care crisis in Ontario! By allowing the for-profit delivery of surgeries, Doug Ford has threatened to turn parts of our public health care system into a for-profit model. This will leave MILLIONS of Ontarians behind!

Access to health care should never come down to what's in your bank account.

All Ontarians deserve access to health care when they need it and with only their OHIP card - never their credit card. It's time we show up and show out for more investment in public health care - NOT privatization and cuts!

On February 22 @ 5PM, join me and Toronto Area NDP MPPs along with United Steelworkers, Ontario Coalition of Hospitals United/CUPE, OPSEU, TYRLC, and more at a Rally to Stop Ford's Privatization of Health Care!

WHERE: Hospital Row - College St & University Ave

RSVP HERE!

Throughout February, I'm inviting you to share with us some of your favourite books written by Black authors! Send us a photo of you reading it, or just send us the title - but most importantly: let us know why it's your book pick!

We will be sharing submissions throughout the month of February!

Please consider shopping local and supporting a Black-owned bookstore (shout out to the iconic Burke's Bookstore) or visiting any of our local St. Paul's Toronto Public Library branches that are always ready to welcome you!

Our community member shares the following:

"I love reading children's books to relax. One of my favourite illustrators/children's authors is Christian Robinson. I love seeing characters that look like me when I was a little girl. If only I had one of his books when I was younger! I recommend Christian Robinson's Another."

You can find Christian Robinson's book at your local library branch!

Today, I joined the YMCA for their Black History Month Event: Kujichaguila! Body Stories: Where History, Race and Queerness Intersect. Thank you so much for having me and for facilitating this series of important conversations with folks from across our communities!

Our friends at the Frankel Lambert Outreach Committee (FLOC) are hiring a project coordinator for "Building Community Capacity for Co-op Development in the Frankel Lambert Neighbourhood." If you know of someone who sounds like a good fit for this role, please share this job posting and encourage them to apply by March 3!

On Tuesday, February 21 at 8 PM, I will be joining our friends at Wychwood Barns Community Association in their celebration of Black History Month! You can register here to attend.

On March 4, I will be participating as a panelist at the screening of Below the Belt - a documentary about endometriosis produced by Hillary Clinton, Rosario Dawson, Corinne Foxx, and Mae Whitman.

As critic for women's issues, I was proud to stand in the legislature in support of naming March endometriosis month of awareness. Raising awareness around endometriosis is an important piece of advocacy work for all folks who menstruate, including transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary community members who have a long history of experiencing inequity in the health care system.

This important film highlights the discrimination experienced by people assigned female at birth and the many social taboos that surround menstruation to this day.

I hope you'll consider joining us in what I'm sure will be a lively and informative discussion!

Until March 31, Unison's Oakwood-Vaughan location will be offering an integrated care clinic on Monday evenings from 5:30-8:30PM. Members of the community can drop in to receive COVID vaccines, blood pressure checks, mental health and harm reduction support, and be seen by a physician - no health card required!

Are you a lower-income renter? In 2022, the Government of Canada announced a One-time top up to the Canada Housing benefit - a one-time payment of $500 to help with the cost of rent.

Please see the below for more information about eligibility and how to apply, and be sure to share this widely with your community. Even reaching one more eligible renter will make all the difference!

A reminder to get your tickets to see Jesse Ryan & Kaiso Street Collective TONIGHT at 7PM. See here!

Our friends at Sending Sunshine have reached out to request help from you! These lovely folks are working to combat social isolation and loneliness among senior community members by providing them with handwritten cards.

If you've got a stamp to spare, consider writing an uplifting note to an elder Ontarian to spread a little of our famous Toronto-St. Paul's joy!

Until March 12, you can check out the below exhibit at James Rottman Fine Art gallery at 803 St. Clair Ave W. at Atlas Avenue!

The spectacular Holy Blossom Temple Out of the Cold Community Dinner commenced last night and will be running EVERY THURSDAY at 5PM until March 30th at 1950 Bathurst St (entrance on Dewbourne Avenue)! Spread the word to folks in need!!!! Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers who make services like this possible!

See here for more info!

Doors open each Thursday at 5PM and close at 7PM.

In Solidarity, 

Jill Andrew
Toronto-St. Paul's