With the municipal election period beginning on August 1, this will be my last weekly E-Blast you'll receive until after Election Day. During the election blackout period, Members of Council are prohibited from distributing community newsletters, E-Blasts, flyers (except in emergencies), or organizing and hosting community events such as community meetings, Environment Days, or movie nights from our City Councillor offices. While our outreach activities are paused, my con

Next week marks the final Council meeting of this term, and I’ll be sending one last E-Blast to update you on the important decisions we make before Council rises for the municipal election period. Before we get there, I wanted to continue a tradition I’ve always enjoyed at the end of each Council term: taking a moment to reflect on what we’ve accomplished together here in Don Valley North. Four years ago, Toronto was emerging from one of the most challenging periods in its

Last Sunday, I was having a rant at dinner to my husband that if I couldn’t clean up certain development sites in my ward of Don Valley North, my intersections would soon look like The Bronx in the eighties. My grandson looked up and said, “What does that mean, The Bronx in the eighties?” I had to explain that while I was exaggerating for effect, I was describing a time in history when a collapse in the economy, both locally and nationally, brought the Bronx Borough of New

While recently we have seen a noticeable uptick in development application activity in Don Valley North, it’s still far less than we have seen in years past. However, a clear pattern is emerging in Don Valley North. Rather than brand-new proposals, much of what we're seeing are developers with existing approvals returning to request additional height. This isn't happening in a vacuum; new Provincial policies are actively encouraging taller buildings and greater density across

Happy Canada Day! It was wonderful seeing so many of you out celebrating at community events across Don Valley North yesterday. I always enjoy catching up with neighbours, hearing what's on your mind, and celebrating everything that makes our community so special. Now, I'm looking forward to my favourite event of the year—our annual Summer Celebration, and I hope you'll join me! We can even cheer on Team Canada together! You're Invited! Join me on Saturday, July 4 at Orio

This week marked the penultimate Council meeting of the term, and the agenda reflected that timing. Much of our work focused on routine planning and transportation items that need to move forward before the election break. Alongside that day-to-day business, Council also considered several major items, including landmark negotiations and agreements with the Provincial and Federal governments that will have lasting impacts on Toronto’s future. These decisions span housing affo

If you've called my office about a pothole, an overflowing garbage bin, overgrown grass, a missed collection, or any number of neighbourhood concerns, you've probably had my team offer to file a 311-service request on your behalf. Or you’ve contacted 311 yourself, either by phone, using the app or filing out the online form. Reporting issues through 311 helps City staff identify problems quickly and prioritize repairs and maintenance where they are needed most. But if you've

This week at Economic and Community Development Committee, we received an important update on Toronto's daytime drop-in network and the work underway to strengthen these services across the city. Last summer, I wrote about Toronto's plan to build new shelter spaces. The City's Street Needs Assessment showed that more than 15,000 people rely on shelters and emergency supports, and it confirmed the need for additional shelter infrastructure in every part of Toronto, especially

Every summer, I spend time visiting parks, community centres, neighbourhood events, and youth programs across Don Valley North. Some of my favourite conversations are with young people who are trying something new, whether it's their first summer job, a leadership program, a basketball league, or a community arts project. I remember speaking with a young resident last summer who told me that a recreation program had completely changed the course of his summer. Instead of spen

Back in 1982, when Italy won the World Cup, my husband and I were young newlyweds. When the tournament began weeks earlier, I quickly discovered just how passionate my husband and father-in-law were about “The Beautiful Game.” By the time the final match arrived, I was completely swept up in the excitement right alongside them. As soon as the game ended, we jumped on the subway and headed to St. Clair Avenue West and Dufferin Street to celebrate with thousands of Torontonians

This week at City Council, we considered a wide range of items focused on community safety, housing, affordability, infrastructure, and neighbourhood quality of life. Many of these discussions reflected conversations I have been having directly with residents across Don Valley North about the issues affecting daily life in our communities. Below is a summary of several items from this week’s Council meeting, along with a preview of next week’s North York Community Council ag

At a recent neighbourhood Town Hall in one of Don Valley North’s oldest high rise condominium complexes, many residents raised concerns about the cleanliness and upkeep of our parks, roads, and public spaces. It is, after all, that time of year when finally it is still light out when you walk the dog after dinner. You are my eyes on the streets and in our parks when you get outside with the Springtime. I want you to know that these concerns are being heard, loud and clear.

There is something truly special that happens when my team and I sit down with senior residents. My team and I have held a couple of neighbourhood seniors roundtables recently, and these conversations give us an irreplaceable perspective on life in Don Valley North. Senior residents bring insight into the economic pressures being felt day to day, the accessibility challenges that exist on the ground, and the very real difficulties that come with the pace of change in a maturi

City Council met again last week and has made several important decisions that will affect daily life across Toronto and here in Don Valley North. From major investments in safer street lighting and smarter traffic signals, to improvements in tenant protections, housing access, and community programming, these updates reflect the practical steps the City is taking to improve safety, accessibility, and quality of life. I want to share what these changes mean for you and how th

At next week’s North York Community Council meeting, one of the most important items for Don Valley North residents will be the Peanut Streets Plan report. I want to take some time to explain how we got here, remind everyone what a Neighbourhood Streets Plan is, and what I will be recommending as we move forward. You might remember from an E-Blast I wrote in 2024 that The Peanut neighbourhood was selected for the 2023–2024 Neighbourhood Streets Plans (NSP) program cycle.

Over the past several months, my office has received a significant volume of calls and emails from residents who were understandably shocked and confused by unexpectedly high water bills. This issue also came up directly at our recent Seniors Roundtable, where many participants shared their frustration and worry. I covered what was going on in an E-Blast in October 2024, but it’s clear that it’s time for an update! As a reminder, the City of Toronto is dealing with a city-wid