E-Blast: The Future of Community Engagement

Over the past decade, we’ve made great strides in bringing the voices of Don Valley North residents into City Hall. Whether it was voting on local improvements through Participatory Budgeting, joining our Park Pop-Up conversations during the pandemic, or offering your insights at town halls and resident reference groups, your input has shaped our community for the better.

But the tools we’ve used to empower local voices are changing.

The Province has eliminated the Section 37 community benefit funds that made Participatory Budgeting possible. These were the dollars—negotiated directly with developers and kept right here in Don Valley North—that allowed residents to vote on small-scale local improvements like park upgrades, lighting, and seating areas. We were the first ward in Toronto to pilot this process in 2014, and over the years, it gave residents a real say in how our neighbourhood evolved.  

Now, those funds have been replaced by a city-wide Community Benefits Charge that doesn’t allow the same local discretion. In short: the money that allowed Don Valley North to lead on Participatory Budgeting is gone.

Reaching Residents in New Ways

Even before this change, we were already finding new ways to engage.

During the pandemic, when in-person meetings weren’t possible, we brought engagement outdoors. Our Park Pop-Ups invited residents to drop by our tent for a safe, informal chat with me and my team about everything from vaccine access to traffic concerns. These low-barrier conversations kept us connected when it mattered most.

As public health restrictions eased, we returned to town halls on major issues like transit and tenant protections, and we grew our signature community events, like the annual Summer Celebration that now draws thousands of residents and dozens of local organizations. These moments of connection strengthen community and create space for meaningful dialogue.

Diving Deeper on the Big Topics

We’ve also been exploring new ways to engage more deeply—especially on complex issues.

Most recently, during consultations on “Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods” (EHON), we created a resident reference group: a small, diverse group of local residents who met with us regularly to discuss the policy proposals in detail. Those reference group sessions are still guiding me through multiple EHON council considerations. This is the kind of focused, ongoing engagement that helps us go beyond quick surveys and open houses— it allows real reflection, real learning for everyone participating, and real feedback.

Not every topic needs a broad vote or a crowded auditorium. But when the issue is complex—such as housing, climate action, or city growth—we need more than a single meeting. We need honest conversations, with the right people at the table, and enough time to explore the trade-offs.

Focusing on What Matters Most

The City holds community consultations on a wide range of topics, from local matters like park designs and colour schemes to specific decisions about new developments and technical amendments to citywide policies. These conversations are important, and I encourage you to keep taking part.

Through our work together, I want to focus on the big-picture issues, the ones where your insight can have the greatest impact.

Let’s talk about how we prepare for climate change. What kinds of housing we need and where it should be built. How we keep our neighbourhoods safe, inclusive, and welcoming. What we are prepared to prioritize or compromise when it comes to heritage, green space, and growth.

These are the conversations that will shape our future, and they are the ones I look forward to continuing with you.

Let’s Shape What Comes Next

As we enter this next chapter, I want to be clear: my commitment to community engagement remains as strong as ever. I still believe Don Valley North should strive to be the best model of engagement for the whole city.

It won’t look exactly like it did before. With fewer local dollars to directly allocate, the kinds of questions we engage on will need to evolve. But our goal stays the same: to hear from you meaningfully, respectfully, and often.

This summer, my team and I will be reviewing our engagement strategies—and you’ll see us out in your parks, at your door, and at your local transit stop. We’ll be listening. If you have thoughts on what kind of engagement works best for you, or what topics you’d like us to prioritize, I want to hear them. Just reply to this email, or stop by one of our upcoming events.

Let’s keep Don Valley North a place where residents feel heard—and where local voices continue to shape the future.