Community News Update - October 25, 2023

Dear Community,

Earlier this week, my colleagues tabled a motion calling for the government to get back into the business of building homes. The motion called for the establishment of a new public agency – Homes Ontario – which would build 250,000 new AFFORDABLE and non-market homes to be operated by public, non-profit, or co-op housing providers.

Today, this government STRUCK IT DOWN, sending a clear message that they DO NOT want affordable homes in this province. This comes at a time when the Premier is being investigated for his own mishandling of housing in this province. Surprise, surprise.

Community, you know as well as I do that we are in a full-scale housing crisis. Now is the time for BIG solutions. Although the Premier may not be interested in showing leadership, we'll keep fighting to make sure EVERYONE has an affordable place to call home.

Housing is a HUMAN RIGHT. Full stop.

Click here to read the full press release.

Across Ontario, this government is knowingly pushing tenants onto the STREET through demovictions, risking their dignity, safety, and HUMAN RIGHT TO HOUSING.

Today, I stood in the House to demand the Premier offer REAL protections for them by saying NO to demovictions and YES to real rent control.

I would like to send a big THANK YOU to No Demovictions for their steadfast commitment to a province that works for all of us. I am DEEPLY inspired by your work!

Click here to watch my question to the Premier.

In other Queen's Park news, my colleagues are set to debate the Protecting Vulnerable Persons in Supportive Living Accommodation Act in second reading today.

First tabled in November 2022, this act is CRUCIAL to preventing UNSAFE and INHUMANE living situations by requiring supportive living homes to become licensed. In 2022, a Toronto Star investigation uncovered HORRENDOUS conditions in some supportive living homes, including bed bugs, rodents, and piles of garbage. It is long past time to END the UNACCEPTABLE treatment of some of our province's most vulnerable communities. This bill seeks to do just that.

You can read the full press release here.

Holy Blossom Temple's Out of the Cold community dinner is set to return Thursday, November 2nd. Doors will open at 5pm at 1950 Bathurst St. (the entrance is off Dewborne Rd) and activities will continue until 7:30pm.

The dinner will repeat EVERY THURSDAY until April 18th, 2024. PLEASE spread the word to folks in need! And as always, a BIG thank you to ALL the wonderful volunteers who make this possible. Your HEARTwork is noticed & appreciated! 💙

As we approach the colder months, this is a good reminder to get up-to-date on your COVID-19 boosters. The XBB 1.5 updated boosters are NOW available. I got mine last week and encourage you to join me!

Consult this page for information about where you can get vaccinated.

The AMAZING folks at Ben Nobleman Park Community Orchard are running a VERY exciting virtual apple-tasting session. See below for event details from their team:

Mark your calendars! Our highly anticipated *4th Annual Virtual Apple Tasting Fundraiser* is just around the corner and this year, we're taking it to a whole new level!

🌟 This year we've curated a selection of apples, each with a distinct flavor profile, to help you hone your ability to taste and identify unique apple flavors.

📅 Event Date & Details:

Apple Collection: Saturday, November 4, 2023, between 9am and 11am at Wychwood Barns Market.
Live Zoom Apple Tasting: Wednesday, November 8, 2023, from 7pm to 8.30pm.

🌟 If you want to participate you'll need to book your ticket now as we have a limited number of tickets available and this event sells out every year.

For just $20 (plus a small Eventbrite fee), you'll experience:

A unique chance to taste yet-to-be-released apple selections, courtesy of the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre. These apples are not available anywhere else!
Learn from Dr. Amy Bowen, the director of the Consumer, Sensory & Market Insights group at Vineland, as she guides us on how to expertly evaluate apples.
Gain insights from Rachael LeBlanc, apple breeder and research scientist at Vineland, on the intriguing process of developing new apple varieties.
The discussion will be moderated by Susan Poizner of OrchardPeople.com, and the coordinator of The Ben Nobleman Park Community Orchard.

🍏 Get Your Apples & Access:
With your ticket, you'll receive:

A bag with six exclusive apples. Remember to pick them up at the specified date and time!
An invitation to our live Zoom apple tasting session.

Reserve your spot today and dive into a world of apple flavors like never before:

🍎 CLICK TO RESERVE YOUR TICKETS HERE 🍎

Calling all talented musicians of Toronto-St. Paul’s! Hillcrest Village Players are now seeking virtual band auditions for their upcoming production of Footloose.

Click here for more information about Hillcrest Community Players!

Click here to submit your audition!

James Rottman Fine Arts invites you to check out their upcoming exhibition, “They Were Never Robots”. The lines between human and robot are blurred in this latest exhibition from artist James Kirkpatrick.

The exhibition will run from October 28 to December 23 at the James Rottman Fine Art Gallery.

Click here for more information!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Drag Queen Gila Munster is hosting her 5th annual fundraiser and variety show: The 8 Gays of Channukah.

The event is raising funds for Machane Lev, a 2SLGBTQ+ Jewish summer camp and is an opportunity to showcase queer Jewish JOY at a time when both are challenged.

The event is taking place Sunday, December 17 from 7-9 PM.

Click here for tickets!

Over a span of four days in our city, there were seven preventable overdose deaths. Please let this be the sign you need to carry a Naloxone kit.

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,