Special Community News Update - Intimate Partner Violence Study Phase 3
Community News Update - January 10, 2025
Dear Community,
We are an incredible community. Despite individual and collective challenges, differences in opinions and lived experience we're still here — together.
However, politics has been discouraging for far too long. Many of you have shared your fatigue with "politics as usual". We continue to live with a broken political system that produces election outcomes most neither want nor see themselves reflected in. Some of you may have even lost hope. Trust me, I know because I've felt it too—too many times to count.
Bringing solid solutions, your stories and ideas to Queen’s Park, only to have most of them shut down by the Conservatives, who have often abused their power, hasn’t been easy. It's at those moments that I think back to June 2018 when many of you elected me to serve as your MPP for our Toronto—St. Paul's community. We did what many naysayers said was impossible because we did it together.
We built a team, hundreds of eager volunteers strong, from across the city. We worked our butts off, and those who could, donated their hard-earned dollars to help get me elected.
In 2022, we did it again, despite the smear campaigns. Some of you joined me and said, “Hey Jill, I may not be NDP but I believe in you, your work ethic, and I’ve seen what you’re trying to do for and with our community. I’m in.”
We can’t give up—certainly not now. That’s why I’m running again. I’m asking you to lend me your trust and confidence once more.
Our community needs a politician who will not lie to you or speak from both sides of their mouth just for votes. One who doesn’t pretend everything is alright when it clearly isn’t for too many of us.
We need a politician who can lead and also listen. Someone who can stand beside—and behind when necessary. We need someone who will share their stance on tough issues; who, if they do not know the answer, isn’t ashamed to admit it—then put in the effort to find out.
I’ve worked hard to be the type of politician our community needs—the type of politician you trust me to be. Standing up for you at Queen’s Park, fighting and winning for us, creating better paths forward for our community and for Ontario is a privilege.
As the the possibility of an early provincial election looms, we need to be ready. That's why I'm inviting you to join me on Saturday, January 25th at 2 PM at Gatherings Resto Bar for my nomination meeting to officially declare me as the official Toronto—St. Paul's candidate in this election—whenever it may be. To be ready in the face of the growing speculation, this important step must be done, and it cannot happen without you.
I hope you can make it! There will be entertainment, refreshments, and special guest speakers.
In solidarity,
Dr. Jill Andrew, PhD
MPP, Toronto--St. Paul's
In today's newsletter:
Recognizing that it's impossible to capture a full week of news in a single newsletter, please see the highlights below:
- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's resignation
- Trump, Tariffs and the threat to Ontario
- Jill in Community
- Upcoming Events
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Resignation
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that he would be resigning as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, and stepping down as Prime Minister once a new Liberal leader is chosen. I'd like to thank Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his service to our country.
I also want to extend a deep thank you to his family and loved ones - especially his children.
Those of us who have had the rare opportunity to be elected know that it comes at a great cost to those closest to us.
Trump's Tariff Threat
It's been a devastating week in geopolitics as we inch closer and closer to Trump's inauguration day and the real and continued threat of 25% tariffs on all Canadian goods.
Many of you have reached out to express your deep concern. Community, New Democrats will fight like hell against these tariffs and to protect Canadian jobs. Right now, we need leadership at all levels of government that will put the needs of working people first for a change. Doug Ford has had a seven-year-long track record of not putting people first, of not investing in our jobs, health care, housing, and education.
But we are ready to work with anyone, including the Premier, if that meanswe don't lose a single job in key industries like auto, dairy, and forestry. These are serious existential threats. When Canadian jobs and our livelihoods are at risk, we need to work together to fight back.
DAYS OF SIGNIFICANCE
Orthodox Christmas
Merry Christmas to Orthodox Christians in our St. Paul's and community and beyond who celebrated on Tuesday!
I hope you were able to gather with family and loved ones to celebrate in whatever way is meaning to you.
We introduced and passed the Orthodox Christian Week Act last session, which will be recognized during the week beginning on Orthodox Easter Sunday for the first time in Ontario this year!
JILL IN COMMUNITY
Community Health Care Canvass
Over the weekend, I was out speaking to neighbours in the Wychwood area about the growing concerns in our public health care system. I'm going to continue to fight to ensure that health care remains public so all you ever need is your health card and never a credit card to access it! Our neighbours were also eager to chat about other issues, including the early childhood educator shortage, childcare, education, tenants rights and responsibilities, the Eglinton LRT, bike lanes and more.
There's never a dull moment here in St. Paul's and thankfully, I had some incredible volunteers with me to gather signatures on our petition of the day: Fix the Family Doctor Shortage. Thanks to all who came out, and thank you to all the community members who signed their names!
Want to join us? Team Jill is going out this Sunday, January 12th at 12 PM. We're meeting at St Clair Station. You can sign up using the button below.
Meeting of the Minds T.A.L.K
Last night I attended a community Zoom meeting hosted by Meeting of the Minds (MOTM) to discuss strategies to uplift Black youth in our education system, help them access the services and resources they need at school, and develop opportunities for them to thrive!
As a province, we need to be doing more to support Black youth, address structural anti-Black racism that continues to permeate the education system, and invest in our children's futures. I'd like to thank all of the hundreds of parents and community members who participated yesterday, and the organizers for hosting!
COMMUNITY NEWS BULLETIN 📌
Local Artist Feature
Congratulations to local artist Aquil Virani on the completion of 10-years of birthday art projects! Here is some more information from the artists about the 10th contribution to his series:
For 10 consecutive years since 2015, artist Aquil Virani has created a new art project to mark his birthday on January 15. This year, he is designing book covers for 34 imaginary memoirs with titles that have been crowdsourced from the public.
He started by asking online: "What would be the title of your imaginary memoir?" He took each unique title – some serious, some funny, all interesting – and put his graphic design skill set to the test, crafting a creative design for each idea.
"We all have an interesting story to tell," says the Toronto-based artist of Indian and French heritage. "I want to empower people, to say that your story matters, and that we are listening."
Virani also found the "imaginary memoir" question illuminating as an exercise in identity-forming and self-expression. "What parts of ourselves do we include in one book title? And what parts of ourselves do we leave out? What story do we want to tell about ourselves? It's important for us to assert our right to be represented on our own terms."
Click here to watch the video and read more about the project.
Contact artist Aquil Virani directly by email ([email protected]) or by phone at 514 677 4137.
Honoured with the Mayworks Creative Maverick Award last month, Aquil Virani is an award-winning visual artist and filmmaker – of Indian and French heritage – who often integrates public participation into his creative process. With support from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council and the Toronto Arts Council, Virani has recently collaborated with the Aga Khan Museum, the ROM, and the Canadian Museum of Immigration, among others. Learn more at aquil.ca.
OVCO: Introduction to Bicycle Mechanics
OVCO is building kids programming in our Hub at the former Vaughan Road Academy. We will be having an "Introduction to Bicycle Mechanics: Be Ready For The Spring" course for ages 10-16. 6 Tuesday sessions for only $150 altogether, between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., totalling 12 hours of hands-on bicycle mechanics.
This includes six sessions:
1) Tuesday, January 28th, 2025
2) Tuesday, February 4th, 2025
3) Tuesday, February 11th, 2025
4) Tuesday, February 18th, 2025
5) Tuesday, February 25th, 2025
6) Tuesday, March 4th, 2025
Participants will get a chance to deconstruct bicycles of different types so they understand the mechanics of bikes such as the drive train, wheels, and braking. This workshop teaches skills that participants can use to repair, maintain and build their own bicycles! Tools and bicycles will be provided for participants to work on. The workshop series is facilitated by Arthur Gron, a member of OVCO and local cycling advocate who has cycled-toured extensively in Ontario and Quebec for more than a decade, including the Waterfront Trail from Windsor to Montreal.
Contact [email protected] or [email protected] to register.
Registration ends January 20th.
Save the Date - A Remarkable Assembly
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario's Women's Forum brings together 124 young women and gender diverse individuals from across Ontario each year for a full-day program in Toronto to promote citizenship and public engagement through education and empowerment. The forum will feature a variety of engaging events, including panels, workshops, and networking opportunities.
This year's forum will take place on Tuesday, March 4th, 2025.
Applications are NOW OPEN. Click here to apply.
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.
#FlashbackFriday to this "dashing" pair!
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