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Today, Council is sitting down to consider the final 2022 Budget. You’ve probably heard me say before that our budget is much more than just a bunch of numbers. It is a foundational document that sets our priorities for the coming years and shows what we value as a city. That’s why I work so hard to hear from our community on what we need to see prioritized during budget each year. It was great to hear from so many of you at my 2022 Budget Town Hall last month. One thing in particular has come up more and more often in my conversations about the budget: fighting climate change. Cities really are the governments with the greatest opportunity to do climate change work, as we’re the government closest to the ground and the one delivering the bulk of infrastructure, often on behalf of all three orders of government. However, property tax alone can’t get this job done. We need to work in partnership with all orders of government, and some arm’s length agencies and corporations, to tackle our looming climate crisis. Council requires staff in every division to put a climate lens on the budgets they draft, but we don’t always highlight the climate work these divisions are doing. There’s enough going on to fill dozens of pages. To boil it down, consider this review of 2021 achievements included in the Budget presentation for Infrastructure and Development Services: A sample of 2021 climate successes. This represents only a small portion of the climate work our City divisions did last year. All of this work and more is part of our long-range climate change strategy, TransformTO. Not every part of TransformTO has been funded yet, but with each year’s Budget we implement more of the plan and make it part of our ongoing services. Many of these ongoing services are designed to make climate-friendly options attractive and attainable, whether that’s for our single-family homes, small businesses, or even our hospitals. Incentivizing every sector to reduce their emissions and use a climate lens to guide their actions is essential to fighting climate change. For instance, the City of Toronto provides low-interest financing to large emitters to retrofit their buildings, in turn reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. This program is targeted at places like commercial and industrial buildings, multi-residential, hospitals, schools, and our hospitality sector, because research shows these are the biggest energy guzzlers and emitters. There is a parallel program for individual homeowners called the Home Energy Loan Program. With these programs, the City leverages its own below-prime lending ability to offer the most attractive rates possible to encourage homeowners, businesses, and institutions alike to lower their own carbon footprints and their energy costs at the same time. It’s a real win-win. These programs will be crucial this year in particular, as both market interest rates and energy costs begin to climb. We already have many programs in place to move us toward our TransformTO goals, but there is much more work to be done. Here’s a snapshot of some of our climate focuses for 2022: These are goals for our Infrastructure & Development Services, where a lot of climate-intensive work can be done. However, it doesn’t include the massive work being undertaken by other divisions like the TTC or the Toronto Atmospheric fund, for instance. While some of our climate goals and programs might be listed under one division, work is often happening on multiple fronts to achieve those goals. Expanding electric vehicle (EV) charging is a good example. Right now, there are multiple EV charging programs happening in the city. The City has directed Toronto Hydro to expand on-street EV charging options, and they will install 17 new EV super-charging stations across the city this year. The Toronto Atmospheric Fund (TAF) is making use of $2 million in funding from the Federal Government to incentivize condo corporations and landlords to install EV charging in older buildings. By working on multiple fronts, we can really create comprehensive programs to make climate-friendly options more accessible and attainable across the city. I also want to touch on the work we’re doing at the TTC, as transportation is a key area where we need to lower our emissions. There is a climate lens on just about everything in the TTC capital plan, because fossil fuels make the equation pretty straightforward. Gas-powered cars are the biggest contribution to our carbon footprint. The more we can encourage mass transit travel, the more we can reduce our footprint. If, on top of that, we can electrify as much of the TTC fleet as possible, we more than double the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Here is a short list of investments being made or included in the TTC budget over the next 10 years: This chart is information-packed, but it shows all the work TTC is doing to fight climate change. Click on the image to view a larger version of the chart. The largest number on that TTC list is the purchase of electric buses. We are grateful for a major investment in this program from the Federal government that has allowed us to order more of these vehicles. However, by the time these buses are delivered, we know ridership on our bus system in particular will have grown so much that we’ll need even more new vehicles to maintain service, and we’ll need those vehicles to be electric. There’s no way of knowing if the necessary funds will be invested by other governments. There’s also a small number at the top, $100,000 for bike parking facilities at some stations. We need to follow the lead of many European and Asian cities to make sure bike parking is available at all subway and Crosstown stations, and some key express bus stops. This helps make transit more accessible and ensures the journey to get on transit is carbon-free. Currently, we don’t have enough funds for these bike parking stations—yet another case where we could meet our climate goals faster in partnership with the Federal and Provincial governments. We are investing hundreds of millions of dollars in climate action this year, but this work will never be done. We need to fund every action in our TransformTO plan if we want to reach net zero emissions by 2040. In particular, we need to see more from other levels of government. We need funding from the Provincial Government to tackle big items like retrofitting our public housing, and a better Transit Investment Climate Plan from the Federal Government that actually lays out how they will invest in transit in our major cities over the next 20 years. I will keep working to make sure the City puts a climate lens on everything we do: every building we approve, every vehicle we buy, every incentive we can afford to offer to reduce your own family’s impact on our planet. I want to make sure my grandkids are able to enjoy our beautiful city for as many years as I have, so let’s keep tackling climate change one budget at a time. Planning & Development Updates Upcoming Community Meeting: 123 Parkway Forest Drive Wednesday, February 23, 2022 at 6:30 PM City Planning staff will be hosting a virtual community meeting to hear from residents about this development application, which proposes to demolish five of the 10 existing townhouses and redevelop the site with a 29-storey residential building containing 339 units. The existing 19-storey residential building would remain. The Preliminary Report, which outlines the application, is available here. You can join the meeting online by WebEx or call in by phone. Please register here and you will receive further instructions by email. As always, our office will keep you informed and involved after the initial community consultation. Public Health Guidelines Update The Provincial Government has announced the following changes to public health measures effective starting today (February 17, 2022): Indoor social gatherings for up to 50 people Outdoor social gatherings up to 100 people No capacity limits in the following indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is required, including: Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments Non-spectator areas of sports and recreational fitness facilities, including gyms Cinemas Meeting and event spaces Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments Indoor areas of other settings that choose to “opt-in” to proof of vaccination requirements Retail limited to the number of people who can maintain two metres physical distance Personal care services limited to the number of people who can maintain two metres physical distance, with no limits if proof of vaccination requirements are in place 50% capacity in spectator areas of sports facilities, concert venues and theatres Indoor religious services, rites and ceremonies, including weddings and funerals, capped at the number of people that can maintain two metres of physical distance, with no limit if proof of vaccination is required No limit on attendees at outdoor religious services, rites or ceremonies, including weddings and funerals If public health and health care indicators continue to improve, the following public health measures will come into effect on March 1, 2022: Capacity limits lifted in all indoor public settings Proof of vaccination requirements lifted, with businesses being allowed to implement them voluntarily Other protective measures, such as mask/face covering requirements and active/passive screening of patrons, will be in place Public health units can deploy local and regional responses based on local health indicators For more information on these changes, visit the link below: In line with these changes, the City of Toronto is resuming additional services including: All City-operated community centres and indoor sport and recreational fitness facilities, including pools, indoor arenas and gyms, are now operating at full capacity. Other non-sport or fitness indoor actives that do not require proof of double vaccination are open with public health requirements and capacity restrictions of 50% Starting next week, civic centres including Toronto City Hall will reopen for in-person counter services, including payments for property taxes, utilities and parking violations and more. For more information on City Services is available at the link below: Upcoming Vaccine Clinics in Don Valley North Oriole Community Centre Clinic (2975 Don Mills Rd. W.) North York General Hospital is running a walk-in vaccine clinic at Oriole Community Centre every Wednesday (12 PM to 3 PM) and Thursday (1:30 PM to 5:30 PM) until further notice. First, second, and third doses of Pfizer and Moderna are available, and all ages (5+) are welcome. For more information, visit the link below: Booking Vaccine Appointments COVID-19 vaccine appointments for first and second doses are available for those ages five and older. Third dose appointments are available for those ages 18 and older. Appointments cam be booked through the provincial booking system online or by phone: Online: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/ Phone: 1-833-943-3900

Last week, my team and I were able to hold our first in-person meeting of the Don Valley North Youth Council. I made a promise during the last election, when we learned that our municipal wards would be doubling in size, that I would create a Youth Council to ensure that our young people could still have their voices heard under this new governance model. One of our many virtual Youth Council meetings. By the time we were ready to meet with our first Youth Council cohort, the city was locking down. My team, our new Youth Council members, and I all agreed that we shouldn’t delay, so the Don Valley North Youth Council ended up being one of my earliest virtual meetings. As we now know, the pandemic has lasted far longer than anyone imagined it would back in March 2020. These Youth Council members have been invaluable in keeping me in touch with how youth are being impacted by COVID-19, lockdowns, virtual education and more. After almost two years of virtual meetings, I was so grateful to finally meet this year’s Youth Council in person. Our first meeting at Parkway Forest Community Centre was certainly an adjustment, but a welcome one. We always start our meetings by giving every member a chance to share what’s on their mind or bring up anything they’re hearing from their friends and classmates. Every time I meet with this great group of young people, I’m reminded of how hard our youth are being hit by COVID-19. I’m somewhat prepared for this from all of the time I spend listening to my own teenaged grandchildren and their friends, but it’s still jarring to hear. Two years of changing restrictions and discretionary rules has really created anxiety for young people. They aren’t sure what opportunities are even available for them anymore, and don’t know who to ask for help. They’ve missed out on formative years with their classmates, not just in the classroom but in their other activities as well. Needless to say, all of this global uncertainty has made many youth even more worried about their futures as they look to make the change from high school to adulthood. I committed to bring some guests to our next meeting to help our Youth Council members navigate what’s coming next. It was great to finally get our Youth Council together in person last week. I’m sure many of us look at the young people in our lives and see them scrolling on their phones or playing PS5 without a care in the world, but trust me, the future is always on their minds. Not only are they navigating the pandemic, they also have to grapple with huge issues looming over their future like the climate crisis and housing unaffordability. That’s why it’s so essential to make sure youth have their voices heard. However, it’s not all doom and gloom. Our young people are also incredibly resilient, creative, and hopeful. I had a great experience on Monday morning thanks to one of our Youth Council members, David Jeong, who is a student leader at Seneca College. He invited me to provide the opening address at Seneca’s Sustainability Hackathon. A hackathon is a platform for students to find technological solutions to some of the biggest challenges we’re all facing today. It’s a great way to keep young innovators collaborating with each other virtually. These events are also well-sponsored by corporate and government partners, so they keep young folks connected with the world they will one day be working in. I was very proud to hear Seneca College’s President singing the praises of our own David Jeong for his role in organizing the event. To learn a bit more about these hackathons, check out this video narrated by David himself: During my opening remarks, I congratulated the students participating for focusing the hackathon on sustainability. These youth and student innovators were preparing to face our climate crisis head-on and answer some of the biggest questions about how to solve it, such as what role municipal governments play, what social responsibility looks like in the private sector, and how we reach net zero emissions quickly enough to curb the worst effects of climate change. Watching these young people dedicate so much time and energy to tackling these pressing questions gave me tremendous hope. We know that our youth are the key to creating the kind of city we need in the future, because that is the very city they will be inheriting from us. I’m making sure that we look at everything that comes across my desk through a youth lens, especially as we look to move out of this pandemic and get our local economy back on track. My team and I are always looking for new ways to support our young people, including those who might not gravitate to a governance setting like the DVN Youth Council. For instance, we have a more informal Youth Network that offers more casual settings for youth to hear each other’s ideas. That provides me with the youth lowdown on how to improve community spaces. Let us know any ideas you have on the best way to help amplify the voices of our youth. I had a blast at our Youth Network launch last fall, where I got the chance to hear some great ideas on how to improve our community spaces. As we finally get the chance to get together again, let’s make sure our youth get back on the road to their futures. All of our futures depend on the lives that the next generation can build in Toronto, so let’s make sure we’re setting our young people up for success. Save the Date: Senior Services Town Hall This April, my team and I will be hosting a Senior Services Town Hall in partnership with Toronto Seniors Services. This event will give an overview of the services the City offers to seniors and provide residents with an opportunity to share their thoughts on how they can be improved. Please RSVP below at the link below to get updates on this event: Planning & Development Updates Prepared by Tom Gleason, Chief of Staff New Development Applications 500 Sheppard Avenue East Though just outside the boundaries of Don Valley North, the development application at 500 Sheppard Avenue East (the northwest corner of Bayview and Sheppard) will certainly have an impact on our community and can set a precedent for future growth in the area. The application proposes a 35 and 39-storey mixed use building with a total of 928 dwelling units. The overall floor space index (FSI) of the proposed development is 10.12 times the site area. This is far above what's been permitted in the rest of the corridor, which has generally stayed closer to approximately 4.0 times the site area considered under the secondary plan for the corridor. 235 Yorkland Boulevard Another application that has the potential of setting a new precedent for development in our ward is the new application at 235 Yorkland Boulevard. This site is currently zoned as General Employment Areas, a designation affirmed in the ConsumersNext Secondary Plan, but this application is seeking to add residential uses to the site and maintain the existing amount of employment use. The proposed development would have four 45-storey towers on two shared podiums. The towers would be split into two blocks: one located to the north of the existing 12-storey office building, and one to the south. The applicant is proposing a new public park to front on Yorkland Boulevard on the eastern side of the site. Due to the conversion that would be required for this site, there are many legal and planning considerations that staff are working through before they submit a preliminary report on this application. We will keep the community updated as more information is available. Be sure to sign up for site-specific updates on our website: https://shelleycarroll.ca/developments/235-yorkland-boulevard OLT Appeal Settlement Offer: 630-686 Finch Avenue East Just as the last E-Blast was being sent out, we received word that the City had received a final settlement offer from Tridel for the application at 630-686 Finch Avenue East, This application had been appealed to the Ontario Land Tribual in the fall. Last night, Shelley hosted a community meeting with local residents where City Planning was able to walk through the details of what has been proposed to the City, in advance of the matter being considered by City Council next Wednesday. The City Solicitor is reporting directly to Council as they need direction on what to do with this settlement offer before the Ontario Land Tribunal Case Management Conference on Monday, March 28th. The settlement proposes to change the orientation of the building to be set further away from the Banstock neighbourhood and toward Finch. Lot coverage decreases from 67.6% to 46.6%, setbacks from Banstock have increased from 8.91m to 24.5m, and a new Privately Owned Public Space is proposed at grade on Banstock to provide separation from the building. The full breakdown of the changes, as well as architectural drawings outlining the built form, setbacks, grade changes, vehicular access, and shading is available here: Also available at this link are the settlement offer letter and the notification of the Case Management Conference. What is a Case Management Conference? A Case Management Conference (CMC) is a pre-hearing in which the Ontario Land Tribunal assigns the adjudicator, identifies all parties and participants, determines the key issues raised in the appeal, and determine the logistical details of the hearing process. The Tribunal can also direct the parties to come to a settlement at this stage. Those interested in this Case Management Conference can view the notice here. Make sure you receive site-specific updates by signing up on our website: https://shelleycarroll.ca/development-updates Public Health Guidelines Update As of March 1, 2022, the Provincial Government has put the following public health measures into effect: Capacity limits have been lifted in all indoor public settings Proof of vaccination requirements have been lifted Businesses and organizations may choose to require proof of vaccination upon entry Other protective measures, such as mask/face covering requirements and passive screening of patrons remain in place For more information on these changes, visit the link below: Upcoming Vaccine Clinics in Don Valley North Parkway Forest Community Centre (55 Forest Manor Rd.) North York General Hospital is running a vaccine clinic at Parkway Forest Community Centre on the following dates: Tuesday, March 8: 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM Tuesday, March 15: 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM First, second, and third doses of Pfizer and Moderna are available, and all ages (5+) are welcome. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome from 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM while supplies last. For more information, visit the link below: Oriole Community Centre Clinic (2975 Don Mills Rd. W.) North York General Hospital is running a walk-in vaccine clinic at Oriole Community Centre every Wednesday (12 PM to 3 PM) and Thursday (1:30 PM to 5:30 PM) until further notice. First, second, and third doses of Pfizer and Moderna are available, and all ages (5+) are welcome. For more information, visit the link below: Booking Vaccine Appointments COVID-19 vaccine appointments for first and second doses are available for those ages five and older. Third dose appointments are now available for those ages 12 and older. Appointments cam be booked through the provincial booking system online or by phone: Online: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/ Phone: 1-833-943-3900

There was a lot going on at North York Community Council yesterday. My fellow North York Councillors and I considered dozens of development-related items, so much so that a downtown Councillor wouldn’t have felt out of place if they accidentally logged onto our NYCC meeting. I was also thrilled to see us make progress on local community safety initiatives and the naming of our new community centre on Sheppard Avenue. Read on to hear more about these important items and how they impact our community here in Don Valley North. Development, Development, Development There were six different reports from staff presented at NYCC yesterday requesting direction from Council to oppose developments at their Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) appeals. These six applications that staff recommend we oppose would create 2816 units of housing combined, if all are approved. This includes one development application in Don Valley North: 680-688 Sheppard Avenue East. A rendering of the proposed development at 680-688 Sheppard Avenue East. You may remember from a past E-Blast that the OLT is the latest name for the Provincially-appointed development appeals body, and we’re seeing a troubling trend of more and more developers trying to sidestep Council by appealing to the OLT. Often, staff request direction to go to these OLT hearings with a conditional settlement that they negotiated after the developer filed the appeal. The impending appeal forces the applicant and City Planning to resolve outstanding issues, and the settlement avoids a long, combative tribunal. In these six cases, however, staff said the differences were too far apart to even try to compromise. They want to attend the OLT and state on the record how far off the mark these developments are. This is not a decision City Planners take lightly. They know we have a shortage of housing for future generations, especially affordable housing. They only recommend opposing at the OLT when an applicant has no regard for our Official Plan or our carefully crafted guidelines for low rise, mid-rise, and high rise buildings. Building guidelines are kind of like cheat sheets for builders and architects. They lay out what sort of built forms will be more readily approved in different areas of the city. We also have easily accessible zoning guidelines and green building standards that could, if followed, see an application get approval from Planning and Council in a pretty short amount of time. Yesterday, we saw six applicants who chose to go far beyond these guidelines. We need housing, but we also need good planning and compliance with our policies. At NYCC yesterday, we also saw 13 preliminary reports for new applications. Together, these applications give staff 7102 units of housing to consider. Of course, all of these will go out to the community for consultation. From first glance, it looks like a few of these new applications are similar to the developments staff recommend we oppose at the OLT. I can’t say this enough: Yes, we need housing of all types right now, but we cannot abandon the principle of good planning. It is a quality of life issue now and for the next 100 years. An early rendering of the application at 11 Greenbriar Road. Funnily enough, Don Valley North had the smallest application on the list: 11 Greenbriar Road. This newest application in our ward only proposes 29 units, but my team and I have concerns about other applications pending along Greenbriar Road and nearby Talara drive. I will review this application carefully to ensure it sets the right precedent for future development in this area. There was one item for Don Valley North on the agenda that I think provides some welcome perspective on our planning process. Staff presented a draft plan of subdivision to address all necessary infrastructure and rights of way for the Amexon development at 1200 Sheppard Avenue East, across from Leslie subway station, known as Central Park. It can seem terrifying to think of 7102 units of condos and apartments being applied for at the same time, but the 1200 Sheppard Ave E plan shows us that they don’t all get approved at the same time and they certainly don’t get built simultaneously. It has been my observation that developers sometimes apply for their permissions based on political timing, both provincial and municipal. Once they have their permission, they can wait as long as they want to start building. For example, the above Amexon development got OMB approval (a former version of the OLT) back in 2013, at the same time Tridel applied with TCHC to revitalize the Villaways community just across the ravine. The Villaways and Scala are pretty much done, and Central Park has just put up its sales centre. These developments might get approvals, but that doesn’t mean they are anywhere near breaking ground. I know development is a big concern for many in our community, which is why I always want to keep you up to date on broader trends and the specifics of applications. Remember, notices for all of our community consultations always appear in the E-Blast right below this column. Safety on Blue Ridge Road I met with staff earlier this month to discuss the best ways to improve safety on Blue Ridge Road. We are making progress with our community safety improvements on Blue Ridge Road. Some will remember that we have been trying since just before the pandemic to adjust the cul-de-sac at the end of this street. While Transportation staff do not recommend installing permanent bollards here, we made another site visit with them on a snowy afternoon that gave them a new idea. I moved alternate recommendations to allow staff to survey and measure out their new solution, and we will consult with local residents before it comes back to NYCC for approval. I will keep working to make sure the community’s safety concerns on this street are properly addressed. Naming Our New Community Centre & Library Finally, my fellow Councillors and I adopted the recommendation from staff to name our new community centre and library in line with the lane they sit on and the nearby park: Ethennonnhawahstihnen’. Ethennonnhawahstihnen’ is a Huron-Wendat word meaning “where they lived good, beautiful lives.” City staff and the Toronto Public Library Board both feel that naming these new community assets in line with the street and park continue an important piece of Indigenous placemaking our community started back in 2018. Huron-Wendat Associate Chief William Romain joined our community council session yesterday and spoke to why this act of Indigenous placemaking is so important. He thanked our community for our support and acknowledged the land as a place where life is still good and beautiful. This naming is a real, concrete step towards advancing our commitments to Truth and Reconciliation. The community centre, library, lane and park all honour the history and languages of the Indigenous peoples who called this land home and continue to today. I’ll leave you with the video that my staff and I made explaining the history of this site and the meaning behind this name. I know the pronunciation may be hard at first, but it really is easy once you get the hang of it. More importantly, it shows our community’s deep commitment to the pursuit of truth and meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. Check out this video my team and I made on the pronounciation of Ethennonnhawahstihnen' and the significance of this name. Public Health Guidelines Update If public health and health care indicators continue to improve, the Provincial Government has said that the following public health measures will come into effect on March 1, 2022: Capacity limits lifted in all indoor public settings Proof of vaccination requirements lifted, with businesses being allowed to implement them voluntarily Other protective measures, such as mask/face covering requirements and active/passive screening of patrons, will be in place Public health units can deploy local and regional responses based on local health indicators For more information on these changes, visit the link below: Upcoming Vaccine Clinics in Don Valley North Oriole Community Centre Clinic (2975 Don Mills Rd. W.) North York General Hospital is running a walk-in vaccine clinic at Oriole Community Centre every Wednesday (12 PM to 3 PM) and Thursday (1:30 PM to 5:30 PM) until further notice. First, second, and third doses of Pfizer and Moderna are available, and all ages (5+) are welcome. For more information, visit the link below: Booking Vaccine Appointments COVID-19 vaccine appointments for first and second doses are available for those ages five and older. Third dose appointments are now available for those ages 12 and older. Appointments cam be booked through the provincial booking system online or by phone: Online: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/ Phone: 1-833-943-3900

The long, long problem of affordable child care is finally solved. The constant challenges of affordability for parents, living wages for early childhood educators, and supply of nearby spaces have all been overcome. Oops, early April Fools! To hear the Prime Minister and Premier describe it, you would think that we closed the book on child care in our country when Ontario finally put the last provincial signature on the National Child Care Strategy after months of delay. As my grandson likes to say, “Psyche!” The devil is always in the details when governments collaborate, and there’s still much heavy lifting to be done to ensure that $10-a-day child care becomes truly accessible to all. Don’t get me wrong—this is a huge victory for Toronto families, but that doesn’t mean the work is done. The Federal Government is providing an enormous amount of money to each province, over $10 billion in Ontario alone, in exchange for the provincial delivery of child care systems that will guarantee parents pay no more than $10 per day by 2025. I’ve been fighting for a better child care system here in Ontario for a long time, and I am genuinely happy to see our province sign on to a program that will radically change our country for the better. All the way back in 2013, I opened a Twitter account called @10dollardaycare to whip up a movement around this important issue. I had recently gotten my hands on a report outlining the financial details of Quebec’s child care system, which at the time cost parents a mere $7 per day. I reasoned that with a few tweaks and ways to create more spaces, we could make this work in Ontario. Unfortunately, the movement didn’t get very far at that time. Toronto parents were on their way to paying the current rate of $2000 a month per child, spaces were beyond short, and no one thought $10-a-day was possible. The economic and social case for affordable child care was strong when I tweeted this in 2013, and it's even stronger today. Since 2013, some progress has been made on the number of child care spaces and subsidies in Ontario. The Kathleen Wynne government increased child care funding, and paired with some funds from the City of Toronto we were able to open new centres across the city. The development community was even required to contribute in some cases, like in Parkway Forest. Soon, Ethennonnhawahstihnen’ Community Centre will include another developer-funded child care space. However, there’s still a massive waitlist for subsidized child care and it puts enormous burden on families. The current Federal Government had promised to take steps towards a national child care strategy back in 2015, but with entrenched systems so varied from province to province it needed the perfect tipping point to open the door to change. Finance Minister and working mom Chrystia Freeland recognized the pandemic as that tipping point: Centres were locked down, the fee structure was collapsing, and the Federal Government suddenly had to provide funds to keep centres afloat. Minister Freeland tasked Finance staff with figuring out how to transition the emergency funding into a permanent program that would change the way child care is offered in our country. She announced her plan in April 2021. I also harkened back to my 2013 child care advocacy last April, when Minister Freeland announced the $10-a-day child care plan. On Monday morning, after months of delay, Doug Ford became the last premier to sign on to the Federal $10-a-day plan. Outwardly, the Premier told us the delay was caused by negotiations for an extra year of funding. That’s not actually true, since the Prime Minister has already indicated that his government is setting up this child care system to stay in place for decades. However, let’s give the Premier some credit. Ontario has a complex child care system, with a combination of not-for-profit and for-profit centres across the province. I suspect the delay had to do with figuring out how to make the deal work within this tricky system. You have likely read the promised changes in the newspaper. Parents will see a 25% reduction of fees as early as May and a 50% reduction by the end of the year. Child care workers will be guaranteed a minimum wage of $18/hour or $35,000/year. There will also be capital funding to create 56,000 new spaces by 2025. This is where we start to see there’s still work to be done. A reduction in fees will create an increased demand for child care spaces, plain and simple. 56,000 new spaces over the next three years is actually fewer than the number of new spaces created in Ontario over the past three. We also know that a living wage in Ontario is $22/hour, and we need to offer a true living wage to attract more workers to support these much-needed spaces. Even if Premier Ford delivers on all of his promises, there still won’t be enough child care available in Toronto to give every mom the chance to get back to work or school. There certainly won’t be enough if he falls short on any one of them. To truly be able to offer $10-a-day childcare to every family in Ontario, we’re going to need to up our game and create more spaces for our kids. Here’s my promise: I will do everything it takes to make this deal work for Toronto families. I feel confident speaking for most of my Council colleagues and the Mayor when I say that we all want this deal to work. We have always spoken up for a National Child Care Strategy, and we know this is more necessary now than ever as we look to our post-pandemic economic recovery. Our Children’s Services staff will report on this deal as soon as possible, as they still have no details on how the deal would work in Toronto. When we do get this report at the Economic and Community Development Committee on which I sit, I’ll pore over every word and roll up my sleeves to help. To know how to make this system work best for families and child care operators here in Don Valley North, I need to hear from you. Let me know your initial thoughts on this deal. What questions and concerns do you have? What parts of child care service are the most important to you? Your own children or grandchildren may only need care for a few more years, but your feedback is invaluable in building a system that works for their children one day. I’m excited about this $10-a-day deal, but let’s not view this as the end of the child care discussion. Let’s view it as the beginning, and work together to create a system that can truly support children and families for generations to come. Planning & Development Updates Upcoming Community Meetings 11 Greenbriar Road Community Consultation Meeting TONIGHT: Thursday, March 31, 2022 @ 7:00 PM City Planning staff will be hosting a virtual community meeting to hear from residents about the development application at 11 Greenbriar Road. The Preliminary Report initially proposed a four-storey building with 29 units, which has since been revised to the current proposal for a three-storey building with 20 units. Register for the community consultation at the link below: RapidTO Phase 2 Public Meeting: North York Tuesday, April 5, 2022 @ 6:30 PM City staff have launched Phase 2 of the City's three-phase RapidTO consultations. During this phase, the project team is looking for feedback on the list of roadways to be prioritized for study, consultation and installation over the next 10 years. Register for the North York-specific community meeting below. Upcoming Vaccine Clinics in Don Valley North Parkway Forest Community Centre (55 Forest Manor Rd.) North York General Hospital is running a vaccine clinic at Parkway Forest Community Centre every Wednesday in April from 4:30 - 7:30 PM. First, second, and third doses of Pfizer and Moderna are available, and all ages (5+) are welcome. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome while supplies last. For more information, visit the link below: Oriole Community Centre (2975 Don Mills Rd. W.) North York General Hospital is running a vaccine clinic at Oriole Community Centre every Wednesday (12:00 - 3:00 PM) and Thursday (4:00 - 7:30 PM) in April. First, second, and third doses of Pfizer and Moderna are available, and all ages (5+) are welcome. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome while supplies last. For more information, visit the link below: Meet Rui Saude, our Don Valley Northerner of the Week! Rui is the community representative at the Sparroways. He is always looking out for his neighbours, and dedicates his time to managing a variety of programs. He runs the community food program, helps residents fix up their bicycles for free through the Bike Club, and has also helped facilitate a clothing program. Thank you Rui for all that you do for your community! Nominate a Neighbour! Do you know someone in your neighbourhood who makes a difference? Someone who is committed to bettering their community and always there to help out their neighbours? Nominate them for Don Valley Northerner of the Week! To submit a nomination for Don Valley Northerner of the week, please send the following information about the person you are nominating to councillor_carroll@toronto.ca: Name A short blurb (~100 words) about why you are nominating them (how they support/contribute to the community, etc.) I know so many of you help out your friends and neighbours in a number of ways, so please nominate anyone in your community who you feel makes a difference. My team will contact you if we select your nominee as Don Valley Northerner of the Week!

A Note on Mask Mandates Ending Today, I want to take a deep dive into the challenges faced by our renters here in Don Valley North and the many resources available, but first I want to touch on the upcoming changes to mask mandates that many of you have likely heard about. This week, our Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Eileen de Villa, brought a recommendation to Council for the City to harmonize as much as possible with the Provincial guidelines coming into effect on March 21st. This was voted on yesterday so you may have seen it in the news. I supported this recommendation on the condition that communications be very clear on two points. First, I want everyone to remember that both the Province and the City agree that it is too soon to drop masking rules on public transit. The longest bus rides are the usually the most crowded routes, so masking and caution should continue until further notice. Secondly, no matter what the rules are for any setting, no one should ever be pressured to remove their mask if they want to continue to wear one. We don’t know each other’s medical history so we have no right to judge anyone who chooses to exercise an abundance of caution. More info on these changes will be available below this column. Now, back to our topic for this week. Protecting Renters in Our Neighbourhoods The pandemic has been hard on all of us, and I know that there have been some particularly tough challenges for renters. Many folks in the community have gotten in touch with my office about problems in their rental building or unit, from neglected repairs to eviction issues. Of course, these issues existed before the pandemic, but the financial strains many have faced throughout COVID have made them worse. On top of that, the pandemic has made it harder for renters to get to know other tenants in their building and deal with these issues together. Making sure our tens of thousands tenants are connected to the supports they need is one of my top priorities. I always enjoy meeting with tenant-focused organizations, like ACORN, to chat about the best ways to support and protect our tenants here in DVN. Earlier this week, I had a meeting with Willowdale Community Legal Services, our local legal aid clinic. My team had let me know that we’ve been getting a lot of calls from tenants lately, especially related to high rent increases. Willowdale helps with a number of legal issues, but housing and tenant rights is one of their biggest files, so I made sure to get the info we needed from them on how to best support our tenants with this issue and the many others they face. During our meeting with Willowdale, they let us know that questions about Above Guideline Increases (AGIs) is one of the most frequent calls they get, so much so that they just call them “aggies” for short. Each year, the Province sets a Rent Increase Guideline (this year it’s 1.2%). We need rent controls in our dense housing market, but they can disincentivize landlords from keeping their buildings in good shape. Landlords can appeal to the Provincial Landlord and Tenant Board to issue a higher rent increase, but only for specific reasons like undertaking major capital work, improving safety elements, or property tax increases. While these increases must be approved by the Provincial Landlord and Tenant Board, some AGIs are submitted to tenants without proper approval. If you think you have a case to appeal the increase, or if you want to learn more about what to do when you receive one, it’s important to act quickly. Getting in touch with your local legal aid clinic, like Willowdale Legal, can help you determine if your landlord is appealing for fair expenditures and arm you with the information you need to appeal if necessary. The earlier you get advice when dealing with a landlord/tenant issue, the greater chance you have of solving it without major upheaval. Reaching out as an individual renter does work, but remember this: There is strength in numbers. If you're experiencing an issue in your building, odds are that your neighbour is too. If your building doesn’t have a tenant association, consider working together with your neighbours to launch one. The Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations (FMTA) is a great resource for kick-starting this process. They can help you set up a tenant association in your building so that you and your neighbours can tackle any challenges you face together, whether it’s building standards or appealing an AGI. Of course, not every renter lives in an apartment building. Willowdale Legal also gets hundreds of inquiries from tenants renting from individual owners, whether in a condo building or a house. Often, your individual landlord isn’t as well capitalized as a major apartment landlord, and this has led to some fraught living situations during the pandemic. While renters living in these settings may not be able to form a tenant association, you can absolutely still reach out to Willowdale Legal, FMTA, and a number of other resources to help with any challenges you’re facing. The City also has dedicated supports for renters. RentSafeTO is the team tasked with making sure multi-residential apartment buildings are meeting all City bylaws and maintenance standards. I’m constantly working with some of my Council colleagues to improve this program and make sure the right bylaws are in place to protect tenants in these types of buildings. The City also offers the Toronto Rent Bank, which provides grants to folks who are behind on their rent, along with a slew of other programs and supports. Twice a year, Josh on my team puts together a DVN Tenant Guide with helpful seasonal tips and a directory of organizations that can help renters. We drop off physical copies to many of our buildings, but you can also check out our guides online at shelleycarroll.ca/tenant-guides. I highly suggest any renter checks out these handy resources so you know what’s available to you. Our 2021 Winter Tenant Guides provide helpful tips on navigating the winter season as a renter. With so many different organizations out there to support tenants, it can be hard to know who to turn to first. Remember that my office should be your first stop for a couple of reasons. First, my team is the absolute best at understanding your tenant issue and pointing you in the right direction. Second, hearing from you helps me know which policy changes I need to fight for at Council so that we can tackle the biggest issues facing tenants together. Never feel guilty about seeking out tenant supports if you’re in a tough spot or you think your rights are being impinged. My team and I are here to help and advocate for you at City Hall. March Break We’ll be taking a short break from the E-Blast next week, but my office will still be open to answer all of your calls and emails. Keep scrolling through the E-Blast to find some great events and activities the whole family can enjoy right here in Toronto. If you find something really great to do around town, send it my way on Instagram or Twitter so I can share your ideas for how to enjoy a Toronto March Break. Public Health Guidelines Update The Provincial Government has announced that Ontario will remove the mandatory masking requirement for most settings on March 21, including schools, restaurants, stores, movie theatres, and more. Masks will continue to be required in the following settings until April 27: Public transit Health care settings Long-term care and retirement homes Congregate care settings Shelters For more information on these changes, visit the link below: City Council & Committee Meetings Transitioning to Hybrid Model Starting March 21, Toronto City Council and Committee meetings will transition to a hybrid model. Members of the public will be able to choose to attend and make deputations either in person or virtually. As of this date, the public will be allowed to access public areas beyond the counters at City Hall and civic centres. For more information, visit the link below: Upcoming Vaccine Clinics in Don Valley North Parkway Forest Community Centre (55 Forest Manor Rd.) North York General Hospital is running a vaccine clinic at Parkway Forest Community Centre on Tuesday, March 15 from 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM. First, second, and third doses of Pfizer and Moderna are available, and all ages (5+) are welcome. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome from 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM while supplies last. For more information, visit the link below: Oriole Community Centre Clinic (2975 Don Mills Rd. W.) North York General Hospital is running a walk-in vaccine clinic at Oriole Community Centre every Wednesday (12 PM to 3 PM) and Thursday (1:30 PM to 5:30 PM) until further notice. First, second, and third doses of Pfizer and Moderna are available, and all ages (5+) are welcome. For more information, visit the link below: Booking Vaccine Appointments COVID-19 vaccine appointments for first and second doses are available for those ages five and older. Third dose appointments are now available for those ages 12 and older. Appointments cam be booked through the provincial booking system online or by phone: Online: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/ Phone: 1-833-943-3900

This week, my fellow Councillors and I received an update from the team at Shelter, Support, and Housing Administration (SSHA) on our emergency shelters. These sites were set up quickly in 2020 to provide COVID relief to our shelter system and ensure that shelter residents were able to physically distance. They have been essential in providing housing and a wide array of supports to those most in need during this challenging time. Now, as we begin to look beyond the pandemic, SSHA staff have prepared a report on how to transition out of these temporary sites. Many shelters have had to change their operations to better protect shelter residents throughout the pandemic. We know that folks enter the shelter system for a variety of reasons, many of which have been exacerbated by the pandemic. Currently, 34% of individuals in the shelter system are refugees and refugee claimants. This number is high because each person in the shelter system is counted as an individual, so each member of a refugee family in a shelter is counted individually. Another 15% of people in our shelter system have been recently evicted, sometimes while still employed. Shelter caseworkers work very hard to try to rehouse these individuals before chronic homelessness sets in. The remaining percentage come into the shelter population with various challenges, including fleeing spousal abuse and suffering from mental health issues including addiction. Since the beginning of the pandemic, all three orders of government have acknowledged the heightened vulnerability to COVID-19 for residents in our shelter system because of how crowded shelters typically are. The Federal Government moved quickly in 2020 to provide funding to Toronto and other cities with high shelter populations to create emergency shelters with enough space for residents to safely distance. These have predominantly been set up in hotels, as most travel has ceased over the pandemic. We have two such sites here in Don Valley North. This chart shows the shelter system capacity from fall 2019 to present. “COVID-19 Programs” refers to the number of residents in emergency shelters. Click on the image to view a larger version. SSHA staff anticipate that they will soon be able to begin winding down operations in some of these emergency hotels. It’s important to note that this transition is designed to be gradual, as it is based on the City’s goals of building more support into homeless population services and helping as many people as possible transition to permanent housing. Our emergency facilities will be decommissioned in phases of five shelters at a time, with an emphasis on finding the best possible placement for each resident. Some shelter residents will move back into shelters that can serve more individuals post-pandemic, while others will be ready to take advantage of other housing opportunities. I know that some in the community will not be happy about the gradual nature of this plan. It means extending our leases on hotel facilities for another year. During this time, shelter residents will move out in two phases and then repairs will be completed. SSHA staff will then report back on lessons learned, next steps in the transition, and hopefully more housing opportunities in 2023. Right now, the report from SSHA lists a wide range of potential housing opportunities that will be available for shelter residents to transition into housing. With the support of non-profit partners and Federal funding, the City will deliver more than 2,800 homes, including: 150 supportive homes through new partnerships with non-profit housing providers and private market landlords 50 additional homes through rent supplements 550 homes through the TCHC Rapid Rehousing program 1,000+ new supportive homes through the Modular Housing Initiative and Rapid Housing Initiative 1,000 Canada-Ontario Housing Benefits Above is a rendering of a Rapid Housing Initiative site, dedicated to help those experiencing homelessness secure permanent housing. All of the opportunities above come from very specific funding programs and initiatives. It is important that these not be confused with the affordable housing units you hear about when we are working on new developments in the ward. These programs sit at very different points along the housing spectrum, and are targeted towards different groups. Shelter accommodation is at one extremely end of the housing spectrum. It accommodates individuals and families who have lost all access to housing. Then, there are various types of supportive and transitional housing for folks who are exiting the shelter system and trying to establish stable housing. Next comes rent-geared-to-income, or social housing. Further along, there are the affordable units that are often included in new developments. These units are at a much higher income point on the affordability spectrum. This graphic from the City really helps show the wide range of programs and options along the housing spectrum: A graphic illustrating the housing spectrum. Click on the image to view a larger version. At a recent community meeting about the proposed development at Tyndale, neighbouring residents were shocked to learn that the affordable units being proposed in this development would likely rent for between $1300 and $1800/month. “That doesn’t seem very affordable,” said one homeowner. I had to explain that affordable housing doesn’t only refer to those in social housing or receiving government benefits. If you’ve owned your home for a long time, like me, you may not realize that very hardworking individuals, couples, and families are earning wages that just haven’t kept pace with market rents. With so many types of housing along the affordability spectrum, it’s easy to get them confused. Whenever housing opportunities of any kind are created, planners and Councillors have to be very up front about which type of housing it is. Some residents in our neighbourhood have called my office worried that the type of affordable housing in a building could change somewhere along the way. This is never the case. Affordable units are approved only after it is crystal clear which type is being proposed and which funding program will be accessed. 121 Parkway Forest Drive is an affordable rental building here in Don Valley North built all the way back in 2006. So what do we know? We know that opportunities all along the housing spectrum are essential to support a wide range of Torontonians. When it comes to those currently in our emergency shelters, we need to make sure enough options are available to support their transition out. Otherwise, we’ll end up turning thousands of homeless individuals out on the streets, creating a whole new set of problems. The City is continuing to work to expand our housing policies, in concert with our Federal and Provincial partners, to make sure we’re supporting Torontonians all along the housing spectrum. Whether that's creating more modular housing for those transitioning out of shelters, negotiating more affordable units into new growth projects for young people and families, or expanding ownership options in our neighbourhoods, these policies are essential to creating a liveable Toronto for current and future generations. Toronto has long been a place that has supported those who need it most. We know that today, that help is needed more than ever. Whether housing support is needed by a young family working hard but struggling to make ends meet, or refugees fleeing from conflict as we’re now seeing in Ukraine, we need to meet our modern day housing challenges with the same gravitas and humanity as we have in past. Don Valley Northerner of the Week We're kicking off Don Valley Northerner of the Week! Each week, we’ll be giving a shoutout to one local resident who supports their community here in Don Valley North. Read on to meet our inaugural Don Valley Northerner of the Week and to learn how to nominate someone in your neighbourhood! Our first Don Valley Northerner of the week is Teresina Stanichevsky. It’s nearly impossible to list all of the wonderful things Teresina does for her community in this short of a space. She runs the cooking program at Working Women’s Community Centre, and works closely with local food banks and other organizations to promote food access to those most in need. She has also worked tirelessly as a local Vaccine Ambassador to connect with neighbours and run events to help encourage a wide range of residents to get vaccinated. Whatever the problem, Teresina never hesitates to reach out and help a neighbour in need. Nominate a Neighbour! Do you know someone in your neighbourhood who makes a difference? Someone who is committed to bettering their community and always there to help out their neighbours? Nominate them for Don Valley Northerner of the Week! To submit a nomination for Don Valley Northerner of the week, please send the following information about the person you are nominating to councillor_carroll@toronto.ca: Name Address A short blurb (~100 words) about why you are nominating them (how they support/contribute to the community, etc.) I know so many of you help out your friends and neighbours in a number of ways, so please nominate anyone in your community who you feel makes a difference. My team will contact you if we select your nominee as Don Valley Northerner of the Week! Planning & Development Updates Upcoming Community Meetings Sheppard Avenue East Study Kick-off Meeting Monday, March 28, 2022 @ 6:30 PM City Staff are undertaking a review of the Sheppard Avenue East Secondary Plan between Bayview Avenue and Leslie Street. Register for the first community consultation at the link below: 11 Greenbriar Road Community Consultation Meeting Thursday, March 31, 2022 @ 7:00 PM City Planning staff will be hosting a virtual community meeting to hear from residents about the development application at 11 Greenbriar Road. The Preliminary Report initially proposed a four-storey building with 29 units, which has since been revised to the current proposal for a three-storey building with 20 units. Register for the community consultation at the link below: RapidTO Phase 2 Public Meeting: North York Tuesday, April 5, 2022 @ 6:30 PM City staff have launched Phase 2 of the City's three-phase RapidTO consultations. During this phase, the project team is looking for feedback on the list of roadways to be prioritized for study, consultation and installation over the next 10 years. Register for the North York-specific community meeting below. Upcoming Vaccine Clinics in Don Valley North Parkway Forest Community Centre (55 Forest Manor Rd.) North York General Hospital is running a vaccine clinic at Parkway Forest Community Centre on Tuesday, March 29 from 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM. First, second, and third doses of Pfizer and Moderna are available, and all ages (5+) are welcome. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome from 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM while supplies last. For more information, visit the link below:

Sheppard Avenue East needs its subway extension, and we need it a lot sooner than Doug Ford will build it. With the Provincial election right around the corner, I’ve launched a campaign to convince him and every party leader that our neck of the woods is worth investing in right now. Click on the image above to visit the website and take action to support the Sheppard Subway extension. Before the pandemic, the Sheppard Subway was delivering over 16 million rides a year. With an extension to McCowan, we could create a functional loop with massively increased ridership potential. The real question is why we haven’t already done this when we know how worthwhile it is. I was recently chatting with a young adult in Don Valley North who didn’t know how we ended up with a famously short Line 4. It’s quite a story, so let’s review. I’ll try to be brief. When the Sheppard Subway was first approved all the way back in 1986, it had an interesting route. Planners thought that the suburban city centres would be the fastest-growing centres of employment, so the proposed Sheppard Subway would have travelled out to Kennedy and then veered south at a diagonal to end at Scarborough Town Centre. The Provincial government was set to fund most of it, with North York and Scarborough chipping in for their respective portions. A map of "Network 2011", the transit plan proposed in 1986 that listed the Sheppard Subway as top priority. Then, Mike Harris was elected premier. The Sheppard Subway was already well underway and the Eglinton Subway had just broken ground, but Premier Harris was shocked at the transit investments that were envisioned. He hadn’t run on investment, he had run on cutting costs. He shut down the Eglinton project in its infancy and ordered the Sheppard Subway to end at Don Mills before the costly tunnel under the Don Valley Parkway could begin. By the time a different premier and a new mayor were re-envisioning transit mobility, the original Sheppard Subway route didn’t make sense. Employment was moving back into the downtown core and there were new and improved transit options available. Premier Dalton McGuinty and Mayor David Miller saw light rail transit as a more viable option, as LRTs had become much higher performing and less expensive to build. The plan was to revitalize and extend the Scarborough RT up to Sheppard Avenue East & Markham Road, and build a Sheppard LRT that would connect at Markham and extend out to Meadowvale. Work began on these projects until another political change stopped the work. A map of the "Transit City" LRT plan proposed by Mayor Miller in 2007. Mayor Rob Ford didn’t know that the Scarborough RT replacement was entirely off-road and out of car traffic. He was not a great reader of reports. He cancelled the Scarborough RT replacement and Sheppard expansion, sinking $140 million already spent to widen Sheppard Avenue to accommodate the project. The Province took control of the Sheppard and Eglinton projects shortly after. Many of you already know that there was a lot of political infighting for years after that. What matters, in my view, is the stalled position we’re in now. The lack of an actual subway extension hasn’t stopped developers from speculating along Sheppard. We’ve seen many buildings go up based on the assumption of future transit along this corridor, and this pattern is continuing. There is now enough housing and ridership along Sheppard to fully support the Sheppard extension being a subway. Despite this, Premier Ford’s plan doesn’t note whether his planned Sheppard extension is a subway or an LRT. The Sheppard extension also appears to be dead last on the list of priorities, with no details or timeline. If you talk to Metrolinx, the Province’s transit project agency, they’ll tell you that we can expect the Sheppard extension around 2040. Here in Toronto, we know that every transit line takes longer than proposed. 2040 becomes 2050, and a few blizzards and supply chain problems later, opening day becomes 2060. We’ve already waited 30 years for this extension. We can’t wait any longer. Our community is growing now, and we need answers. When Provincial candidates come to your door in the coming weeks, I want you to ask every single one of them to commit to prioritizing the Sheppard Subway extension. It’s not enough for them to stand on our doorsteps and promise we’ll get a subway. Demand that they tell you when you can expect to ride it. We know that subway lines take a minimum of 12 years from the first design to the first rider, so we need to get started now. Premier Ford needs to promise that, if re-elected, he will start designing the Sheppard East extension immediately. It’s the only way we can hope to see this line open by 2035. For candidates from other parties, the pitch is simple. Any other party is sure to tweak Doug Ford’s plan, as incoming governments always do. Make them promise that they will make the one tweak that makes the most environmental and economic sense: get the Sheppard Subway extension underway on day one. Imagine what life could be like with a real investment in transit infrastructure in our suburbs. If we can connect Line 4 out to Scarborough, we’re really starting to talk about suburban journeys that are faster by transit than by car. This would radically change mobility in the east end of our city and create a job and economic uplift that would be off the charts. The residents of North York, Scarborough, and all transit riders in Toronto have waited long enough for the Sheppard Subway extension. Let’s get it built now. Planning & Development Updates Prepared by Tom Gleason, Chief of Staff Coming to North York Community Council: April 20, 2022 22-36 Greenbriar Road A few months ago, a new development application popped up in BlogTO. Block Developments has purchased a run of semi-detached houses along Greenbriar Road, just south of Sheppard, and are looking to replace them with a 24-storey residential building. The Preliminary Report, which outlines the application and only requests for City Planning to come out to consult with the community, is available here. The community meeting is currently being scheduled for May or June. For questions on the specifics of the application, you may contact the City's Planner reviewing the application directly: Michelle.Charkow@toronto.ca 2135 Sheppard Avenue East As mentioned several months ago, Tribute Communities has submitted a development application for 2135 Sheppard Avenue East that would change their Ontario Municipal Board-approved 4-storey commercial building into a 12-storey mixed-use building. Through advocacy, Shelley was able to prevent a premature appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal and preserve the space for the grocery store that was committed to during Tribute's last proposal on this site. The Preliminary Report, which outlines the application and only requests for City Planning to come out to consult with the community, is available here. The meeting is currently being scheduled for May. For questions on the specifics of the application, you may contact the City's Planner reviewing the application directly: Philip.Liu@toronto.ca Notices for both community meetings mentioned above will be mailed out by the City Clerk and we will include the registration details in a future E-Blast. Should you have any questions about the process for these applications, please don't hesitate to be in touch. You can also sign-up for site-specific updates at the links in the titles above. Fourth Dose Eligibility Appointments for fourth doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are now available to: Residents age 60 and older First Nation, Inuit and Métis individuals and their non-Indigenous household members age 18 and over Book your fourth dose appointment through the Province's online COVID-19 vaccination portal (https://covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/) or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900. Eligible residents can book their fourth dose if at least five months have passed since receiving their third dose. For more information, visit the link below: Upcoming Vaccine Clinics in Don Valley North Parkway Forest Community Centre (55 Forest Manor Rd.) North York General Hospital is running a vaccine clinic at Parkway Forest Community Centre every Wednesday in April from 4:30 - 7:30 PM. First, second, and third doses of Pfizer and Moderna are available, and all ages (5+) are welcome. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome while supplies last. For more information, visit the link below: Oriole Community Centre (2975 Don Mills Rd. W.) North York General Hospital is running a vaccine clinic at Oriole Community Centre every Wednesday (12:00 - 3:00 PM) and Thursday (4:00 - 7:30 PM) in April. First, second, and third doses of Pfizer and Moderna are available, and all ages (5+) are welcome. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome while supplies last. For more information, visit the link below: Meet Brad Fonseca, our Don Valley Northerner of the Week! Brad is a perennial advocate in the Brian Village neighbourhood. Thanks to his advocacy, the crossing guard program at Brian Public School was improved to help students and their parents get to school safely. It’s clear in everything Brad does how much he cares about his community, whether he’s championing public libraries or getting the ball rolling on an issue for a neighbour. Nominate a Neighbour! Do you know someone in your neighbourhood who makes a difference? Someone who is committed to bettering their community and always there to help out their neighbours? Nominate them for Don Valley Northerner of the Week! To submit a nomination for Don Valley Northerner of the week, please send the following information about the person you are nominating to councillor_carroll@toronto.ca: Name A short blurb (~100 words) about why you are nominating them (how they support/contribute to the community, etc.) I know so many of you help out your friends and neighbours in a number of ways, so please nominate anyone in your community who you feel makes a difference. My team will contact you if we select your nominee as Don Valley Northerner of the Week!

After taking a break from Council in March, we came back with a packed agenda this week. Read on for updates on some of the biggest items we considered and their impacts on our community here in Don Valley North. Yesterday at Council, we recognized the countless community ambassadors and Vaccine Engagement Teams who have worked and continue to work tirelessly to keep our communities safe against COVID-19. Actions to Advance Truth and Justice for Indigenous People in the City of Toronto: Reconciliation Action Plan 2022-2032 There are many Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 2015 report that require action from municipalities to be realized. Toronto’s Reconciliation Action Plan will guide our City’s actions to advance truth, justice and reconciliation for Indigenous people for the next decade. There are many actions the City is focused on in the first year of implementation, including conducting city-wide reconciliation audits, improving relationships with Indigenous organizations and treaty partners, and supporting Indigenous place-keeping. We’ve started this work but it is work that will never be finished, and I’m glad to see the City implementing this plan to guide our actions in every single division. Toronto's Bid to Participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026 It was with a healthy dose of skepticism that I supported the Mayor and Executive Committee’s motion for Toronto to investigate a bid to host the 2026 World Cup. The pandemic has tightened the City’s budget, to say the least, but we also know how much our hospitality and tourism sectors are hurting. I want to make it clear that so far, all we have done is accepted a nomination to be able to submit a bid. Mayor Tory made it very clear that he is proceeding with extreme caution. The next step is to work with our Provincial and Federal governments to gauge their support and see what they would be willing to contribute to this. An event as large as the World Cup could never be executed without all three orders of government in lockstep. Council will get a report on those negotiations in June before committing any funds. Supporting Restaurants in Toronto: Recovery and Renewal We know that so many of our restaurants have been hard hit again and again over the course of this pandemic. Council approved a motion that will see the City continue many of its restaurant support programs, including sidewalk cafes and outdoor live music options. Staff are also looking into the feasibility of making these programs permanent, as they’ve certainly made our city more vibrant and supported our local businesses in the warmer months. Updating Toronto's Food Charter for All I was very glad to see Council move forward with an updated Food Charter for our city. I worked very closely with community groups and staff on the implementation of our first Food Charter, which is focused on developing programs and empowering communities who are the most impacted by food insecurity. Here in Don Valley North, I worked with North York Harvest to support the creation a community food space in Oriole Community Centre to advance our Food Charter commitments. It’s been over twenty years since the first Food Charter was adopted, so it’s high time we update this document and make sure it reflects the current situation. So many groups are doing important work tackling food insecurity in our communities, and a new Food Charter will ensure that the City’s actions are guided by the people doing that work and those most impacted by it. Extension of the UrbanHensTO Backyard Hens Pilot Program Council voted to extend the urban hens pilot we launched a few years back to the end of March 2023. The pilot applies to a limited number of wards (it does not cover Don Valley North) in which residents are able to keep up to four backyard hens in enclosures. The pilot has been very successful and there is a proposal to allow backyard hens city-wide. Council has asked for one more report from staff in January 2023 to get a bit more information on the impacts of extending this program across the city. I hope this report continues to be as positive as the data we’ve seen from the pilot so far. I know some folks in the neighbourhood are concerned about backyard chickens. Know that participation has been very limited thus far. Less than 1% of households each ward have signed up to take part in the pilot, because keeping hens is hard work and requires thorough City inspection. When done properly, these backyard hens can be a great step towards food security and a fun hobby for many in our city. ModernTO: Unlocking Eight City-Owned Properties ModernTO is a vast initiative that our real estate division brought forward at the beginning of this term to look at ways to repurpose City-owned public land. While the full initiative will take many years to implement, we saw some of the biggest ModernTO pieces launched for action at this Council session. Out of the eight properties that staff will look at in the report, two really exemplify the ModernTO concept: the TTC headquarters at Yonge and Davisville and the Toronto Community Housing (TCHC) headquarters near Rosedale Station. Both facilities no longer adequately accommodate their current users. Instead of looking for a quick sale to the private sector, staff will study these sites and see if they can be redeveloped into affordable housing, a new City administrative building, or even a community facility like a library or community centre. Once sold, public land can never be affordably restored to the public domain. While making a quick buck can be tempting, in the long run it is much more lucrative for us to hold onto these publicly-owned sites to support the delivery of our City’s most essential initiatives. Cycling Network Plan: Cycling Infrastructure Installation & ActiveTO Cycling Network Expansion Project Updates Each quarter, Council gets an update on our Cycling Network Plan. The big item of discussion this quarter was the extension of the ActiveTO pilot on Yonge St between Bloor and Davisville. Staff are requesting this extension so that they can conduct further analysis, especially as we are still waiting to see a full return to normal traffic patterns as we re-open. Mayor Tory moved a motion to have staff report back on this extension in January with more data from local businesses and the TTC. Here in North York, the Sheppard-Willowdale resurfacing project, which is west of Don Valley North, was approved to move forward for construction this summer. This includes the creation of some safer cycling infrastructure. Our own much more extensive Sheppard Reconstruction project between Bayview and Leslie was not included in this report. Based on feedback from our community, staff are refining the design and will come back for another community consultation meeting later this year. If you want more information on this project or to share your questions and comments, you can contact Aadila Valiallah, Senior Coordinator, at aadila.valiallah@toronto.ca or 416-338-2985. You can also learn more about the project at www.toronto.ca/SheppardAvenueEast. To close, I want to tell you about the speech we heard in Council this morning by the Mayor of Kyiv, live from Ukraine. Mayor Vitali Klitschko spoke to Toronto directly and his words moved me and my colleagues to tears several times. He asked us to do something very specific: he begged us to do all we can to stop Russian propaganda. On his behalf, I ask you to be vigilant on social media and call out misinformation when you see it. Ukraine is not the aggressor in this war. We must do all we can to protect Ukraine’s democracy and its millions of citizens under attack. Planning & Development Updates Upcoming Community Meetings Tyndale Virtual Community Meeting: OLT Appeal, Proposal Update & What’s Next Wednesday, April 13, 2022 @ 6:30 PM Join me, my team, and City Planning staff for a virtual meeting to learn about the current status of the Tyndale development application, provide feedback on the current proposal to City Planning, and learn about how the process changes now that the developer has appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal. For more information and to register for the meeting, visit my website: Fourth Dose Eligibility Appointments for fourth doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are now available to: Residents age 60 and older First Nation, Inuit and Métis individuals and their non-Indigenous household members age 18 and over Appointments will be available for all five City of Toronto immunization clinics from April 9 to 23, with more appointments being released soon. Eligible residents can book their fourth dose if at least five months have passed since receiving their third dose. Book your fourth dose appointment through the Province's online COVID-19 vaccination portal (https://covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/) or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900. For more information, visit the link below: Upcoming Vaccine Clinics in Don Valley North Parkway Forest Community Centre (55 Forest Manor Rd.) North York General Hospital is running a vaccine clinic at Parkway Forest Community Centre every Wednesday in April from 4:30 - 7:30 PM. First, second, and third doses of Pfizer and Moderna are available, and all ages (5+) are welcome. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome while supplies last. For more information, visit the link below: Oriole Community Centre (2975 Don Mills Rd. W.) North York General Hospital is running a vaccine clinic at Oriole Community Centre every Wednesday (12:00 - 3:00 PM) and Thursday (4:00 - 7:30 PM) in April. First, second, and third doses of Pfizer and Moderna are available, and all ages (5+) are welcome. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome while supplies last. For more information, visit the link below: Meet Jane Robertson, our Don Valley Northerner of the Week! As President of the Bayview Village Association, Jane is constantly championing the interests of her community. She is always quick to foster community dialogue, connecting her neighbours with the resources they need time and time again. She brings a positive outlook and a productive attitude to every meeting she attends. Thank you, Jane, for all of the work you’ve done to bring together the Bayview Village community. Nominate a Neighbour! Do you know someone in your neighbourhood who makes a difference? Someone who is committed to bettering their community and always there to help out their neighbours? Nominate them for Don Valley Northerner of the Week! To submit a nomination for Don Valley Northerner of the week, please send the following information about the person you are nominating to councillor_carroll@toronto.ca: Name A short blurb (~100 words) about why you are nominating them (how they support/contribute to the community, etc.) I know so many of you help out your friends and neighbours in a number of ways, so please nominate anyone in your community who you feel makes a difference. My team will contact you if we select your nominee as Don Valley Northerner of the Week!

This certainly hasn’t been the spring most of us were hoping for. We had a serious dusting of snow on Monday and it seems that the virus is making another round in many of our circles, but I still have faith that brighter days lie ahead. I found a daffodil while I was out dropping off Please Slow Down lawn signs in the neighbourhood yesterday and just had to take a picture with it. My team and I have organized some great opportunities to connect with the community in the coming weeks. Of course, we all have to be careful to protect our health and we have made sure measures are in place for that, but many of us are itching to get back to connecting with our neighbours in person. I know I am, so let’s take a look at these exciting upcoming events. Seniors Services Town Hall This coming Wednesday, we are hosting a Senior Services Town Hall in the Seneca Village Community Centre gymnasium (1700 Finch Avenue East) from 1:00 – 3:00 PM. I know that the past two years have been quite isolating for many seniors. Questions, concerns, and worries tend to pile up while you’re stuck at home, and I want you to have a chance to talk about those with me, my team, and City staff. We’ve had some great virtual events over the pandemic, but I know that these are often not the preferred format, especially for some of our seniors. I’m so glad that we’ve been given the green light to hold our town hall in person. My team and I will all be masked up and will encourage you to do the same. Then, we’ll all get the chance to gather and talk about the many services available to seniors here in Don Valley North. Another reason to come by my Seniors Services Town Hall is to grab a copy of our brand new DVN Seniors Guide! I also want to hear from you on what more the City can do to support you. It’s up to us to work together to make our neighbourhoods work for seniors. Living needs to be pleasant and affordable, and neighbourhoods need to be safe and walkable. These are things we can’t lose sight of. I hope you’ll come to our town hall ready to discuss the issues that matter to you most and what changes you want to see in your neighbourhood. Pleasant View/Brian Village Participatory Budgeting You may have noticed that we are conducting a Participating Budgeting (PB) process in Pleasant View/Brian Village. I want to tell you what PB is all about because it may be coming to your neighbourhood soon. Participatory Budgeting happens in hundreds of cities around the world. Simply put, it’s a way for people to choose how public money is spent. It’s a very straightforward process but it can take a bit of time. Here’s how it works: Residents of a specific area are given a budget for neighbourhood improvements, and they brainstorm ideas for new capital amenities that could benefit their community, like improvements to their local parks or a nearby street. Next, we pass the ideas off to City staff to professionally cost out each idea and vet it for viability. Projects that are deemed viable and are within the available budget are then placed on a ballot, and everyone living inside the PB area is invited to come out and vote for their favourite projects. The most popular project is chosen, and then additional projects from down the list are added based on popularity and whether they fit into the remaining budget. A photo from our 2019 PB process in Parkway Forest. While Toronto chose not to have a permanent PB program built into our budget, I always try to negotiate that a portion of any community development funds we receive are allocated using a PB process. I’ve seen year after year that both residents and staff learn a lot from this process. Residents learn why things cost as much as they do and why they take so long to construct. Staff get an in-depth look at community needs and priorities, and this helps them allocate other dollars from their general budget. While the process works best if you can do all of the steps in-person, we’ve found a way to move parts of it online to be able to keep bringing this opportunity to our communities here in Don Valley North. We piloted this partially-virtual PB process in Henry Farm last year. We did the initial idea gathering session online, and my staff and I met virtually with City staff to understand their vetting and rationale for each idea. We worked with the local residents’ association to get the final list of ideas circulated throughout the neighbourhood, and then invited everyone in the community out to our in-person vote day. We held the vote day in Havenbrook Park and were blessed to have a lovely summer evening and a huge voter turnout. A photo from our most recent PB vote day in Henry Farm last summer. This spring, we’re doing the same thing in Pleasant View/Brian Village. We held the virtual brainstorming session a couple of months ago, and the ideas have now been vetted and costed by staff. There’s a great ballot of projects ready to be voted on. If you live in the neighbourhood (the area bounded by Van Horne, Victoria Park, the 401 and the 404), you may find a neighbour of yours dropping by to ask you to support their idea. I hope you’ll give them a minute of your time and thank them for being such an active member of our community. As always, it only takes a few minutes to vote. Come join us in Clydesdale Park on Saturday, May 7 from 1:00 – 4:00 PM and vote for the projects you want to see implemented. We will be outside where we can mask, distance, and be safe. You can find more information on the vote day and the list of projects on the ballot at shelleycarroll.ca/participatory-budgeting. I learned how to facilitate these PB processes from PBNYC, one of the world’s leading agencies to support the use of participatory democracy in cities. They have a great video that shows why this is such a powerful process for communities. I know I’ve shown this video before, but it still demonstrates the PB process better than any other I’ve seen. In the coming months, many of us will need to relearn how to be actively engaged in our communities. For some, the pandemic has already brought us closer to our neighbours, but for others it’s hard to get back out and try to get back to “normal” after a couple years of isolation. Know that my team and I will be with you every step of the way and do everything we can to help bring our communities together as we head toward recovery. Fourth Dose Eligibility Appointments for fourth doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are now available to: Residents age 60 and older First Nation, Inuit and Métis individuals and their non-Indigenous household members age 18 and over Book your fourth dose appointment through the Province's online COVID-19 vaccination portal (https://covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/) or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900. Eligible residents can book their fourth dose if at least five months have passed since receiving their third dose. For more information, visit the link below: Upcoming Vaccine Clinics in Don Valley North Parkway Forest Community Centre (55 Forest Manor Rd.) North York General Hospital is running a vaccine clinic at Parkway Forest Community Centre every Wednesday in April from 4:30 - 7:30 PM. First, second, and third doses of Pfizer and Moderna are available, and all ages (5+) are welcome. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome while supplies last. For more information, visit the link below: Oriole Community Centre (2975 Don Mills Rd. W.) North York General Hospital is running a vaccine clinic at Oriole Community Centre every Wednesday (12:00 - 3:00 PM) and Thursday (4:00 - 7:30 PM) in April. First, second, and third doses of Pfizer and Moderna are available, and all ages (5+) are welcome. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome while supplies last. For more information, visit the link below: Meet Shyamal Ray, our Don Valley Northerner of the Week! Shyamal has long been a committed community volunteer in Parkway Forest. Whether he’s spending his time helping out Friends of Parkway Forest Park or promoting vaccines in his community through North York General Hospital’s Vaccine Engagement Team, everyone can always count on Shyamal to be there for his neighbours. Nominate a Neighbour! Do you know someone in your neighbourhood who makes a difference? Someone who is committed to bettering their community and always there to help out their neighbours? Nominate them for Don Valley Northerner of the Week! To submit a nomination for Don Valley Northerner of the week, please send the following information about the person you are nominating to councillor_carroll@toronto.ca: Name A short blurb (~100 words) about why you are nominating them (how they support/contribute to the community, etc.) I know so many of you help out your friends and neighbours in a number of ways, so please nominate anyone in your community who you feel makes a difference. My team will contact you if we select your nominee as Don Valley Northerner of the Week!

On one of the first warm evenings in April, I took my fourteen year old grandson Tristan to the driving range. An elite league basketball player, Tristan is used to hours of daily training in a gym. With COVID-19 cases still raging in Toronto, I knew it would be months before he’d be able to play sports indoors again. Tristan was getting really down about it, so I told his mom that golf was the answer. A safe but challenging outdoor activity. I didn’t give the kid a driver on his first trip out. Just as my dad had done with me, I gave him a 5-iron and a bucket of balls and said, “Get an easy swing going, make contact with the ball, and we’ll rent you a driver the next time we come out.” Of course, there was no next time. The very next weekend, all outdoor sports facilities were shut down by provincial order. As the weeks go by and the sun finally seems here to stay, I am more and more struck by the foolishness of restricting outdoor exercise options. I’ve heard from many of you here in Don Valley North who feel the same way, particularly about golf and tennis closures. Last summer, tennis clubs and golf courses were able to open with new rules to keep players safe, including social distancing, masking, and minimizing indoor clubhouse use. There’s no question that we were in very different shape back in June 2020 than we are today, but many athletes from these clubs and courses are wondering why they can’t be trusted to play by those rules again. Today, of course, we’re still in the thick of a third wave fueled by variants of concern that are more infectious and deadly than the virus we faced at the beginning of the pandemic. In response to rising case numbers, the Premier implemented a whole slew of measures intended to stop the spread of COVID-19. This stay-at-home order was extremely cautious on some fronts and closed all outdoor sports facilities, along with the usual list of indoor closures. The only trouble with this is that the Provincial government’s own Science Table, a body of doctors who evaluate the latest science on COVID-19, didn’t advise the Premier to implement many of these measures. Instead, the Science Table was advising the government to focus on stopping indoor transmission, particularly in large indoor workplaces that are driving this third wave. Some people are finding creative ways to keep enjoying outdoor recreation. Ontario’s scientific experts have publicly disagreed with closing outdoor sports like golf, tennis, or even skate parks. What the Science Table knows now, and didn’t in early 2020, is that with careful distancing very few cases are transmitted outdoors, even with these new variants. The Science Table has also noted that these restrictions disproportionately impact children and those who don’t have access to their own greenspace like a backyard. Simply put, the science just doesn’t back up this decision. There are a number of sports you can safely engage in while maintaining two metres of distance, like golf and tennis. The most important thing is to remember social distancing rules before and after the game, when it’s easier to let our guard down and socialize. I don’t want to make this entirely about picking on the Premier. As I’ve said before in my E-Blasts, it’s extremely difficult to lead during a crisis. I know Doug Ford is worn out from navigating uncharted territory for over a year, and he did move quickly to reverse the two most unpopular orders he announced: closing off playgrounds and having police conduct random stops and carding. When you lead, you have to listen to those around you. I hope that the Premier will really start listening to the Science Table and implement the measures they are recommending, like comprehensive paid sick leave, as opposed to measures that aren’t backed up by science. Many influential voices are encouraging Doug Ford to reconsider the restrictions on outdoor activities when the stay-at-home order is reviewed on May 19, even if indoor closures are still necessary. Last summer, Mayor Tory joined me at Parkway Forest Community Centre to kick off the first day of CampTO. On Tuesday, during the Economic and Community Development Committee meeting, I spoke with Parks and Recreation staff about their summer plans. They have been recruiting, training and pre-hiring youth to lead safe outdoor activities this summer, with a particular focus on youth from equity-deserving communities. If we get the go ahead, these young people can help staff outdoor sports clubs and deliver outdoor park and CampTO programming, giving us and our kids more opportunities to safely enjoy the outdoors. I know that many of us are feeling restless. We’ve lived through this pandemic for over a year, and I know we all want things to go back to normal, whatever that might look like. There are many more vaccine shipments headed for Canada over the next few weeks, so keep planning for your family’s vaccinations as soon as you qualify using the links below. Keep adhering to the current stay-at-home order, which does allow you and your family to get out for a walk, run or bike ride. We will get through this. And cross your fingers. We could be lacing up tennis and golf shoes very soon.

There’s nothing I love more at this time of year than a sunny spring walk in our beautiful neighbourhoods. There are so many sights to take in, from flowers blooming in front gardens to the natural beauty of our ravines. However, there is one thing I know many of us dread seeing when the warmer weather rolls around: those pesky LDD Moths and caterpillars. For those of you lucky enough not to have seen one (or hundreds) of these on your street last year, the above photos show the LDD Moth (formerly known as the Gypsy Moth) in both its caterpillar and adult moth stages. These creatures may be tiny, but as caterpillars they can wreak serious havoc on our trees, especially oaks. Unfortunately, the species is so well established in North America that there’s no way to completely eradicate them. Instead, we have to focus on what we can to do control the population and protect our trees from severe defoliation. These recent cold snaps may have staved them off for a few more weeks, but the caterpillars will start hatching soon. I want to make sure you have all the information you need to stop these moths in their tracks as best you can. Let’s take a look at what the City is doing to treat our neighbourhoods this year and what you can do to deal with LDD moths on your trees. A severely defoliated oak tree. The biggest change to the City’s LDD Moth Treatment Program this year is the use of aerial spraying in certain areas. Many of you reached out last year with questions about why the City wasn’t doing a broader pesticide application given how severe our outbreak was. The City only uses aerial sprays when the LDD moth population rises to very serious levels and when they spread to many new areas of the city, as is the case this year. It’s thanks to dedicated residents like yourself who reported LDD Moth sightings in your neighbourhood that the City was able to develop a more comprehensive treatment strategy for this season. The City has a helpful interactive treatment map that shows the exact locations that will receive aerial spraying from mid-May to mid-June. If you’re in an affected area, you should have already received a notice in the mail. Rest assured that the product they are spraying is not toxic to humans, birds, mammals, or other insects, including bees. Rather than spraying a chemical, they’re actually spraying a bacteria that occurs in nature and only targets caterpillars and young moths. Pretty neat! The image below is taken from the City’s map and shows which areas in Don Valley North will receive spraying: Click the above image to view the full Interactive Treatment Map. City staff have also been hard at work completing the other pieces of the pest management strategy, including physically removing egg masses from many of our trees and completing some localized pesticide applications. When you still see caterpillars around your neighbourhood next month, it may seem like nothing has been done at all, but rest assured that these treatments stop millions of caterpillars from hatching each year. It’s important to remember that the City only treats City-owned trees, found in parks, on boulevards, and on some front lawns. The City can’t treat private trees in backyards, which is why it’s so important that everyone takes steps to treat LDD moths on their property. So what can you do? It depends on what stage the moths are in. Right now, the caterpillars haven’t hatched yet, so you still have time to remove egg masses from your trees if you see them. My team and I put together a helpful video a couple of summers ago showing how to safely and effectively remove egg masses from your trees: Once the caterpillars hatch, you can fasten some burlap around the base of your trees to trap them. Once trapped, deposit them in a bucket of soapy water, leave them for a couple of days, and dispose of them in the garbage. Of course, the most important thing you can do at any point in the year is report any sightings of LDD Moths, caterpillars, and egg masses on any trees in your area. These reports are what allow staff to develop a comprehensive treatment program for the following year, and ensure that the hardest-hit areas are receiving proper treatment. The City has updated its reporting tool this year to be even easier to use: This form is the best way to report LDD Moth sightings, because staff get all the details they need from you directly. If you’re having any issues with the form, you can also make a report by calling 311 or reaching out to my office. My team and I are always here to answer your questions and pass the message along to staff if you notice a new trend or any issue on your street. LDD Moths are a real nuisance for our neighbourhoods, but I’ve seen how hard our community has worked to deal with these pests already. Outbreaks like the ones we’ve been seeing tend to last anywhere from three to five years, so I’m hopeful that we’re nearing the end of severe infestations here in the City. If we keep working together, we can help protect our beautiful natural spaces here in Don Valley. Broken Bins I wanted to quickly touch on another topic I’ve been hearing about recently: broken garbage and recycling bins. There was a very informative article in the Star last weekend on this topic that’s worth the read. Reporter Richard Warnica noticed that the west end, where our private contractor GFL collects bins, has a higher rate of broken and cracked bins than the east end, where City employees collect the garbage. He found a lot of different reasons for the broken bins, not least of which is the lack of care that GFL staff were taking when loading the bins onto their trucks’ mechanical arms. From my perspective, he left out another reason for broken bins that can happen anywhere in town. It is the fact that bins age. If any of your bins are looking worse for wear, it’s very easy to have them replaced. You can request a new bin online or by calling or emailing 311. As always, if you run into any issues with your bin replacement, don’t hesitate to contact my office. My team is happy to assist. Planning & Development Update Redevelopment of Fairview Mall Last week, Cadillac Fairview announced that our own Fairview Mall will be the latest to follow a growing trend in Toronto and North America: the redevelopment of shopping centre parking lots into mixed use and residential buildings. Similar projects are already underway at Yorkdale, Sherway Gardens, Cloverdale and Galleria malls. Don Valley North is no stranger to this sort of development. Bayview Village Mall had its own master plan approved by the Ontario Land Tribunal back in 2020. All these projects are a reflection of the changing economics of shopping centres. In order to sustain and continue to attract major stores, malls are looking to bring more residents on-site and create community hubs. Even now, Fairview Mall is a key community, economic, and transportation hub for our community, supporting thousands of jobs and tens of thousands of transit riders daily. Any proposed development plan needs to acknowledge this reality and engage the community in envisioning how the redevelopment can best support the needs of current and future residents. As Toronto continues to grow, especially around key locations like Don Mills subway station, we need to work collaboratively and creatively to build strong, transit-oriented communities with built-in community assets like greater local job opportunities, community spaces, expanded libraries, child care, and parks. But this work can't be done without the community. That's where you and I come in to work together. Over the coming months and years, I hope you will join me and City Planning in this process. In July, we will have the first of many community meetings to shape the future of this important site for decades to come. Be sure to reach out to my office if you'd like regular updates on this project in particular. Upcoming Vaccine Clinics in Don Valley North Oriole Community Centre (2975 Don Mills Rd. W.) North York General Hospital is running a vaccine clinic at Oriole Community Centre every Wednesday (12:00 - 3:00 PM) and Thursday (4:00 - 7:30 PM) in April. First, second, third, and fourth doses of Pfizer and Moderna are available, and all ages (5+) are welcome. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome while supplies last. For more information, visit the link below: Meet Mary Khan, our Don Valley Northerner of the Week! Mary never hesitates to support her neighbours with any issues that arise. She wouldn’t admit it herself, but she is a true leader in her building and always has the best interests of other tenants at heart. She has been instrumental in connecting residents with community organizations and other local supports. Mary’s neighbours truly appreciate her ongoing commitment to improving their building and advocating for them as a collective. Nominate a Neighbour! Do you know someone in your neighbourhood who makes a difference? Someone who is committed to bettering their community and always there to help out their neighbours? Nominate them for Don Valley Northerner of the Week! To submit a nomination for Don Valley Northerner of the week, please send the following information about the person you are nominating to councillor_carroll@toronto.ca: Name A short blurb (~100 words) about why you are nominating them (how they support/contribute to the community, etc.) I know so many of you help out your friends and neighbours in a number of ways, so please nominate anyone in your community who you feel makes a difference. My team will contact you if we select your nominee as Don Valley Northerner of the Week!

While the census might not seem like the most exciting thing, I always look forward to poring over the new data when it comes out. The way our population changes, and most importantly where it changes, has huge impacts on our city, especially when it comes to creating neighbourhoods that are affordable and liveable for all. The Toronto Star recently put out maps showing the population change across Toronto, and what they showed in Don Valley North was a bit of a shocker. We may be inundated with development applications at the south end of our ward, but did you know that throughout most of the ward our population is actually shrinking? Toronto population growth from 2016-2021, with Don Valley North outlined in green. Click on the image to view a larger, interactive version of the map. Above is a map of population change across our city, with Don Valley North highlighted in green. That map shows us that we’re experiencing rapid population growth along transit lines, where the Province’s growth policies incentivize it. The surprise on the map is that almost all other areas of the city indicate a slightly declining population. This trend holds true here in Don Valley North. Our population along Sheppard from Bayview to Victoria Park (along the subway line) increased by almost 7000 people, but in all other areas it shrunk by over 3000. The neighbourhood that experienced the greatest population decline was Don Valley Village, down 14.3% or 414 people. Second place, by percentage, is Bayview Woods, down 7.8%. It is, however, a larger geographical area, so Bayview Woods’ population reduced by 417 people. Another notable trend is the decrease in children in our ward. Our population in the 0 – 14 age group is down by 500, with the vast majority of that decline happening north of Finch. Overall, our ward grew by 3700 residents, but as we can see that growth is not spread evenly across neighbourhoods. North York population growth for children ages 0 - 14, with Don Valley North outlined in bright green. Note that purple represents population decline while green represents population growth. Looking at those numbers may put you to sleep, but for governments this information is gold. Population counts are how we plan for the future, especially when it comes to keeping our infrastructure, our services, our schools, and our housing options up to snuff. To put this all into perspective, I chatted with the members of our Don Valley North Youth Council last Friday about what these changes mean for their futures. I started out our meeting by posing a question to them: “Where do you think you’ll be living in ten years’ time?” I had my staff and myself answer as well, which gave us broad cross-section of answers from a range of age groups. Our Youth Council members are a bunch of smart and realistic kids. No one thought they’d be living in a New York City penthouse by the time they’re 30. Out of a dozen, two said their studies might take them out of town and that they didn’t know if they would be able to afford to come back. A couple said they would still be in their neighbourhood near family, while the rest wanted to move downtown closer to universities but doubted that they’d be able to afford it. Everyone feared they might not be able to afford to move out before they turned thirty. A picture from our Youth Council meeting last Friday. My answer to my own question showed one of the biggest housing challenges we’re facing in Toronto: I don’t plan to move out of my house in ten years’ time. These days, a person in their early 70s can stay pretty healthy and will likely stay in their home, possibly well into their 80s or even 90s. It’s wonderful to see how many people are able to age in place in the neighbourhoods they love, but it is limiting what’s available for young people desperate to find a family home. Now ask yourself, did you spend time fretting about what kind of housing you could afford when you were a teenager? These days, young people worry about it a lot. At Youth Council, we talked about what the City and other governments are doing to help with their future housing concerns. You’ve likely seen a slide like this if you’ve attended a development consultation recently. Planners like to show this to explain the spectrum of housing types across our city. The slide above was created by Urban Minds, and not-for-profit that specializes in engaging youth to help plan cities for the future. It does a great job showing the current situation in Toronto. At one extreme end of the spectrum, we have Torontonians sleeping in parks, which is why we need to keep running our emergency shelters. At the other extreme, we have volumes of market housing in the form of resale homes, new-build monster houses, and condos. The real supply problem lies in the middle, and this is the type of housing that many people of all ages need these days: affordable housing. This is where those census demographics become very important. There are parts of our city that are growing as fast as they comfortably can, and the fact of the matter is not all growth can happen right next to existing transit. City Planners need to look at the areas of our city that are shrinking, and figure out how to bring people back. That means creating affordable housing and making sure all of our neighbourhoods are liveable and properly serviced. Quality of life can’t be taken for granted when we plan for our future. As for the Youth Council members who looked at the census with me, they want what you want, dear reader: a safe, affordable, and vibrant place to live, with reliable infrastructure and good community facilities for them and their future kids. They’re prepared to live just about anywhere in the city to find affordable homes. I know that I didn’t worry about my future home or city services when I was in my teens. Hearing these young people raise these concerns about their future, I vowed to myself that I will do whatever I can to help them stay in the city they love. We’ve got affordable housing underway, but we need to do more, especially in the parts of our city that are shrinking. If we do this right, we can help young people get their first homes while our seniors age in place, all the while making sure we’re creating truly liveable communities. Upcoming Vaccine Clinics in Don Valley North Oriole Community Centre (2975 Don Mills Rd. W.) North York General Hospital is running a walk-in vaccine clinic at Oriole Community Centre every Wednesday (12:00 - 3:00 PM) and Thursday (4:00 - 7:30 PM) in May and June. First, second, third, and fourth doses are available for those eligible. For more information, visit the link below: Parkway Forest Community Centre (55 Forest Manor Rd.) North York General Hospital is running a walk-in vaccine clinic at Parkway Forest Community Centre every Wednesday from 4:00 - 7:30 PM in May and June. First, second, third, and fourth doses are available for those eligible. For more information, visit the link below: Meet Louise Veffer, our Don Valley Northerner of the Week! Louise was nominated by one of her neighbours who sees how much work Louise puts into her garden and how much joy it brings to the neighbourhood. When the garden is in full bloom, folks from all over the neighbourhood stop by to admire it and often thank Louise when they see her. Louise is also always the first one to report any issue on her street to the City, from water main breaks to trees that need pruning. Thank you, Louise, for brightening your neighbours' spirits and looking out for the community. Nominate a Neighbour! Do you know someone in your neighbourhood who makes a difference? Nominate them for Don Valley Northerner of the Week! To submit a nomination, please send a short blurb (~100 words) about the person you are nominating to councillor_carroll@toronto.ca. My team will contact you if we select your nominee as Don Valley Northerner of the Week!