Community News Update - October 4, 2024
Community News Update - June 28, 2024
Dear Community,
Let me be clear, the fight for our Science Centre is far from over – it's only just begun. The future of the Science Centre is not in Ford's hands. It's in ours. It's in yours.
Yesterday, I joined colleagues, labour leaders, and organizers from Save Ontario's Science Centre for a press conference calling on Doug Ford to reverse this shameful decision and save the Science Centre. Doug Ford and his friends think they can close the doors on a beloved, world-class cultural institution with less than a day's notice and no one would bat an eye? Think again! We won't let him get away with it.
We're keeping pressure on the government, working with our communities to show Ford he can't get away with this. Yesterday, we launched our campaign to Save the Ontario Science Centre – to keep the pressure on this government and work with the community to reverse this decision. Join us in the fight. Let's get our beloved Science Centre reopened and make sure the necessary investments are made so future generations can keep finding inspiration in this important cultural gem. REPAIR. RESTORE. REVITALIZE.
We know Doug Ford's government never intended to keep the Science Centre open. This is part of their broader pattern of eroding public goods as they are doing to our hospitals, schools, public lands, and child care. This pattern must end.
I am thinking of every parent whose summer childcare plans relied on the Science Centre's camps and programs. I am thinking of every child who will miss out. I am especially thinking of the workers whose jobs were jeopardized in a matter of hours. Ford can't just eliminate hundreds of high-skilled, good jobs in the community. I am thinking of the residents of Thorncliffe and Flemingdon Park who've benefitted from this community asset for decades. This hurts us all.
CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT OUR FIGHT
Have a memory to share about the Science Centre and how Ford's callous decision impacts you? CLICK HERE to share your story!
ADD YOUR NAME to save the Ontario Science Centre!
Happy Pride Weekend!
Happy Pride Weekend! I hope everyone has a fabulous, fun, and safe weekend celebrating! There's a FULL lineup of events over the weekend. CLICK HERE for the full festival lineup and don't miss this year's Pride Parade on June 30th at 2 pm.
Come visit the ONDP booth at the Pride Festival at North side of Wellesley just West of Church!
Canada Day
This Canada Day, I acknowledge that the land I live on is the traditional territory for many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples, and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples. Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.
As we acknowledge this Canada Day on Native land, my wish is that we acknowledge what's best about this country, while reckoning its ongoing legacies of racism, colonialism, and genocide. I wish you a safe and reflective holiday. We mustn't forget that Canada is a country born out of colonization and we live with this legacy to this day. I've always said that the best way to show love to our country, our province, and our world is to demand better of it. We must fully reckon with Canada's past and recommit to dismantling the deeply-rooted systemic oppression that continues to exist within all our institutions, and continue to imagine and fight for the Canada we all deserve.
Join team Jill at Salsa on St Clair!
Next weekend is Salsa on St. Clair! Join us July 6th & 7th for the 20th anniversary of the festival and help us run the MPP Jill Andrew booth. We're going to have a massive presence at the festival this year!
Available shifts include:
DAY 1: Saturday, July 6th, 2024
- 11 AM to 1 PM - Including Set Up
- 1 PM to 4 PM
- 4 PM to 7 PM - Including Take Down
DAY 2: Sunday, July 7th, 2024
- 11 AM to 1 PM - Including Set Up
- 1 PM to 4 PM
- 4 PM to 7 PM - Including Take Down
Meet us at our Community Office at 803 St Clair Avenue West. We look forward to seeing you there!
JILL IN COMMUNITY
Helena Avenue Street Party
On Saturday, I joined some incredible community members for the Annual Helen Avenue Street Party! The possibility of being rained out didn't deter people from enjoying the fun. I had a blast taking in the live music, and even sang a song myself - Wind Beneath My Wings, anyone?!
Thank you to Emily and neighbours for welcoming me and see you next year!
Hillcrest Community School Graduation
Congratulations to the Grade 6 graduates from Hillcrest Community School! Thank you to Principal Cornell, Ms. Ing, and ALL the teachers, staff, parents, guardians and caring adults who helped these kids make it across the finish line. I know these kids will be successful in their future endeavours and have so much to be proud of!
It was an honour to address the class and be able to emphasize the importance of being human, being kind, and staying true to your values. I wish them all the best as they move on to their next chapter!
Rally for the Ontario Science Centre in Wells Hill Park
Last weekend, I was proud to stand with our community at Wells Hill Park in Toronto-St. Paul's community. We sent a clear message to Premier Ford to keep the Science Centre open. As this story continues to develop, I am grateful to our community who continues to voice their concerns.
Climate Corner by SCAN! Toronto 🌎
Surviving a heat dome
Our summers are getting hotter. We all need to adapt, including our governments.
What can the provincial government do?
Due to lack of funding, Toronto schools are falling apart and unable to maintain a good state of repair. Additionally, they are dangerously hot in the summer. Many schools have no air conditioning or windows that open. Their heating systems are major sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Ideally, the province would fund ground-source heat pump retrofits for these schools. These retrofits would both reduce emissions and provide efficient cooling. Schools are a part of the community and should be able to serve as cooling centres.
What can the City of Toronto do?
Tenants in apartments without air conditioning are at risk. Toronto has a minimum temperature by-law in the winter, but no maximum temperature by-law in the summer. A coalition of environmental groups is championing a by-law to come into effect in 2025. It would set a maximum temperature of 26C. Your local councillor can help to make this happen. Let them know that you support it.
The City needs to ensure that trees are not only planted, but also maintained. It’s hot work, but the resulting shade is worth it.
Our city must have a sufficient number of accessible cooling centres to protect people who are housed without air conditioning - and people who are unhoused. We do not want to see more deaths due to heat stroke.
What can you do?
We have suggested before that If you live in an apartment, when the temperature reaches 30+ degrees, consider designating floor captains to check on people. If you are part of a community group, you can support vulnerable people living without air conditioning, such as seniors and people with disabilities. Work out a system to check in on them. A simple buddy system can prevent severe illness due to heat exhaustion.
If you own a house, consider switching from gas heating to an air-source heat pump, which will provide not only heating in the winter, but also very even cooling at a set, safe maximum temperature.
Heat pumps, green roofs, urban green space, building insulation and water conservation are all measures that work together towards reducing emissions and maintaining a safe environment.
But most critical of all: we have to push our governments to reduce fossil fuels in favour of renewable energy sources. Adaptation can only go so far, as temperatures inch towards 40 degrees and beyond.
COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD 📌
Little Jamaica Festival
The York Eglinton BIA's Little Jamaica Festival is back for another year!
- July 13th: 11 AM to 9 PM
- July 14th: 11 AM to 7 PM
Join the community for delicious food, music, games and fun for everyone! The festival takes place along Eglinton W between Dufferin to Marlee.
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Hillcrest Village Community Players Summer Party
Hillcrest Village Community Players invites you to attend their Summer Party!
Join them for an unforgettable evening of live music, incredible food, refreshing drinks, and good vibes all around. They will also be announcing their Season 4 production!
WHERE: Friday, July 12 @ Album Studios
MYBIA Summer Fest
Get read for the biggest event ever hosted by MYBIA!
The MYBIA Summer Fest will a lineup of small businesses and talented artists - an unforgettable celebration of our Midtown-Yonge community!
SAVE THE DATE:
📆 July 20th, 2024
⏰12 pm - 7 pm
📍 MYBIA area from Kay Gardner Beltline to Soudan Avenue. They'll have a bustling hub at Lolla Road.
Don't miss out on this fantastic event!
Pink Banana Sparkles Anxious Shark Kickstarter Campaign
🌟 Introducing Anxious Shark by Pink Banana Sparkles! 🌟
Shannon is the founder of Pink Banana Sparkles, an art-based business in our community. Shannon has designed a plushie with a character she created, named Anxious Shark, and is currently crowdfunding to be able to get the plushie manufacturered/into production for regular sales.
Click here to read more about Anxious Shark and support Shannon's Kickstarter Campaign!
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]
Eglinton Way BIA Farmers' Market
Join the Eglinton Way BIA every Sunday from June to October at the Eglinton Way BIA Farmers’ Market! Located at 125 Burnaby Blvd, come by between 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM for fresh produce, local vendors, live music, kids’ activities, and vibrant energy.
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
