E-Blast: Summer in Don Valley North - Community Fun & Climate Action

Summer is just around the corner, and I hope you and your loved ones are looking forward to enjoying everything our vibrant community has to offer. We’ve got some exciting events lined up—and important updates to help keep you safe and cool during the warmer months.

First, I’m thrilled to announce the return of our Annual Summer Celebration! On Saturday, July 5 from 1:00 to 4:00 PM, we’ll be gathering outdoors at Oriole Community Centre for an afternoon filled with fun, food, and community spirit. This is truly one of my favourite events of the year. Whether you’re a long-time resident or new to the neighbourhood, it’s a wonderful opportunity to come together, enjoy a delicious BBQ, take in some live music, play games, and take part in family-friendly activities for all ages. I hope you’ll join us to help kick off the summer season in style!

We’re also looking for high school students to volunteer at the event. If you know a student who needs to complete their 40 community service hours, this is a fantastic chance to get involved. Students can sign up here.

And don’t forget to save the date for our Outdoor Movie Night! Join us on Thursday, July 31 from 7:00 to 11:00 PM at Parkway Forest Park. Bring a blanket, grab some popcorn, and settle in for a relaxing evening under the stars. We’ll be announcing the movie selection soon—stay tuned!

If you can’t wait until July, our friends at the Dallington Pollinators Community Garden are hosting their eighth annual movie night in Dallington Park on Saturday, June 7. Starting at 6:30 PM, they’ll have family-friendly activities including prizes, a scavenger hunt, a colouring contest, and more. The movie—The Wild Robot—will begin at dusk, around 8:45 PM.

Keeping Our Streets Neat This Summer

Every summer, my office hears from residents about the importance of keeping our neighbourhood green spaces looking their best. I’m pleased to share that the City’s 2025 grass cutting program is now underway, with up to seven scheduled cuts running through to November, weather permitting.

These crews handle the basics: picking up litter, mowing the grass to a tidy height, and trimming around poles and signs in the right-of-way. In Don Valley North, that includes our major boulevards, centre medians, and sections of the hydro corridor trails.

It’s a big job, and I know how important it is to keep these areas clean and welcoming. If you notice a City-maintained space that’s been missed or needs attention, don’t hesitate to reach out to my office. We’ll follow up directly with Transportation Services to make sure it’s addressed.

Of course, we also count on residents to do their part. Homeowners are still responsible for maintaining the boulevard in front of their property—keeping grass under 20 cm, clearing weeds and litter, and trimming hedges to a safe height.

Staying Cool and Safe in a Changing Climate

Each summer, it becomes more and more clear that Toronto is feeling the effects of climate change. Longer, more intense heat waves are becoming the norm, and the risks—particularly for seniors and those with existing health conditions—are growing. That’s why keeping residents safe and comfortable during extreme heat has become a top priority.

You might recall that in 2023, I brought a motion to Council asking for a review of our temperature bylaws, because the rules in place simply weren’t keeping up with today’s reality. I still vividly remember visiting three apartment buildings in the ward during an early spring heat wave. Despite outdoor temperatures soaring into the high 80s and 90s Fahrenheit, the heat inside was still blasting. Residents were being virtually cooked in their own homes. The room where I met with tenants was so unbearably hot that I struggled to think clearly—and I wasn’t even the one living there every day.

As a result, the bylaw has been updated to allow landlords to be more responsive and to turn off the heat earlier in the season. But, as we just saw with the recent cold snap, fixed calendar dates are not a reliable way to manage indoor temperatures.

That’s why the City is still exploring the feasibility of moving to a fully temperature-based system. Staff are gathering real-time data and consulting with public health experts, housing inspectors, and other city divisions to look at the condition of buildings, how work orders are handled, and how city-run cooling centres can better serve not only those experiencing homelessness, but also seniors and other vulnerable residents.

The goal is simple: to ensure our policies reflect the actual weather, not the calendar. Residents deserve safe, livable homes that protect their health and dignity in real time. I’ll be following this work closely and will keep you updated as it progresses.

While that work is ongoing, I’m proud to support a new initiative aimed at protecting some of our most vulnerable neighbours: the Air Conditioner Pilot Program for Low-Income Seniors. This thoughtful, equity-focused program will provide free portable air conditioning units to eligible low-income seniors who have health conditions that can be worsened by extreme heat—conditions like asthma, chronic heart or lung disease, and even cancer. Applicants will be selected through a randomized draw and the eligibility criteria is pretty specific, so If you are interested, please take a look at the details carefully.

Applications are now open and will be accepted until Friday, June 6. Seniors—or their caregivers—can apply in the way that works best for them:

• Online at toronto.ca/ACProgram

• By phone at 416-397-2220

• In person at one of the following community hubs from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM:

• Scarborough Civic Centre (150 Borough Dr.): May 27 & June 3

• Regent Park Community Centre (402 Shuter St.): May 28 & June 4

• Keele Community Hub (1652 Keele St.): May 30 & June 6

If you know someone who might benefit from this program, please help us spread the word. Every unit distributed through this pilot could make the difference between comfort and crisis during a heat wave.

Of course, we also know that sometimes you’re just out and about in the city and need a quick place to cool off—especially during a heat wave. While many local businesses have air conditioning, not every space is accessible or clearly marked when you’re in a hurry and the heat is rising.

That’s why the City has created a helpful interactive Cool Spaces Map. Just enter an address or nearby intersection, and you’ll be able to locate the closest place to take a break from the heat—whether that’s a swimming pool, library, community centre, or other public building with air conditioning. You can also browse the map directly and filter by location type, available amenities, and days of operation, so you can find exactly what you need.

As we head into the summer season, I hope you’ll take every opportunity to get outside and enjoy all that Don Valley North has to offer, from our parks and trails to our upcoming community events. At the same time, please take steps to stay safe in the heat, check in on neighbours, stay hydrated, and make use of the City’s cooling resources if needed. Whether it’s a movie night in the park or a cool afternoon at a local community centre, let’s make this a summer to remember, full of connection, care, and community spirit.