Dear Community,
Don't forget! TOMORROW is the first day of one of our favourite annual traditions: SALSA ON ST. CLAIR! Come on down between 12PM and 7PM and say hi!
A little birdie told me there may be some sort of dance competition? Featuring a certain MPP?
My office will have a booth set up just across the street from 803 St. Clair Avenue West - please make sure you swing by to say hi, sign a few petitions, grab a tenant guide, or check out our SWAG.
I can't wait to reconnect with all of you! Make sure you STAY HYDRATED!
On Wednesday, I wrote about the unfair allocation of resources this government perpetuates, and it only seems to be getting worse, folks.
I recently sent a letter to Premier Ford and Minister of Education Stephen Lecce after being made aware that a school attended by many youth in our community, Rawlinson Community School, has had to beg for resources from parents to provide what should be a very basic necessity: comfortable temperatures.
Unfortunately, this government seems to be more than fine with students attempting to learn in classrooms sweltering above 30 degrees. We can't expect our publicly funded schools to rely on the generosity of parents - many of whom are already strapped trying to keep up with the rising cost of housing, transit, and groceries.
I wonder, Premier: why is the comfort of members of the government more important than the safety of our schools' staff and students? From where I stand: this is unconscionable.
This government needs to act swiftly to ensure that not only do our schools maintain a comfortable and safe temperature through all seasons, but that all buildings within our province institute a safe maximum temperature.
Read my letter below.
This week, I also spoke with The Toronto Star about Ontario's gender wage gap.
Women workers are earning an average of 87 cents for every dollar earned by similarly skilled men, and this gap significantly widens when the workers are Black or Indigenous.
The many, many hours of unpaid labour done each day by women - from childcare, to home care, to elder care - literally fuel our province.
When women and girls thrive, though, whole communities thrive! It's high time this government put their money where their mouth is and commit to closing this gap FOR GOOD!
Read the article HERE.
On a different note, I had the wonderful privilege of attending the opening night of our community member Alicia Payne's play, PAZ, which placed 3rd in Toronto Fringe New Play Contest!
PAZ was inspired by Payne's experiences working as a live-in caregiver abroad and explores the question: can you love another person's child as if they were your own?
Payne also spent time undertaking research speaking with Filipina live-in nannies and caregivers who provided needed feedback before production. Let me tell you: this careful dedication and nuance SHOWS.
There are so many fantastic plays being produced in St. Paul's right now, and I encourage you to check out one or many if you have the time!
At Tarragon Theatre, you can see:
They Go Low, We Go Laugh
i carry your hearth with me
And at The Spadina Museum, you can see:
The Will Of A Woman
If you have donations to spare, please consider bringing them down to Marian Engel Park on Saturday between 11AM - 1PM! If you need some extra groceries, come on down no questions asked (we have tote bags)!
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,
Jill Andrew
Toronto-St. Paul's
