An application notice has been submitted to amend the Official Plan and Zoning By-law to convert this site from a Neighbourhood (4-stories) to a Mix-Use development (consisting of 25 and 21-storey towers).

More detailed information on this development is available by contacting the City Planner, Doris Ho, at (416)338-1264 or Doris.Ho@toronto.ca. Quote Application Number: 22 198105 STE 04 OZ.

Today is the last day for advance voting. The polling station at the Masaryk-Cowan Community Recreation Centre at 220 Cowan Ave. closes at 7 PM. Your other opportunity is on October 24 at 1499 Queen St. West. Bring your voter card and identification that has your address.

Here are two interesting sites:

Find out how your views align with each of the candidates.  Use the Toronto Star’s Vote Compass.
https://votecompass.thestar.com/toronto2022

Check out the ArtsVote 2022 Report Card for candidates for the upcoming municipal election. ArtsVote aims to provide an overview of the candidates and their understanding of the issues facing the arts community.
https://www.artsvote.ca/artsvote-2022/report-card-2022/

This upcoming October 24th municipal election besides electing a Mayor and City Councillors includes electing school board Trustees for Public – English & French and Catholic – English & French.

These four positions cover different geographic areas. Here are the candidates in the Wards that encompass Parkdale. The list below includes all the candidates names (in alphabetical order) running with their contact information – not all candidates included their contact information on the List of Certified Candidates for Trustee:

Toronto District School Board Ward 7 (Public)

Dhami, Paul
Francis, Theresa – https://votetheresafrancis.com/
Graham, Christina
Gural, Roxanne – https://www.facebook.com/RoxanneGuralforTrustee
King, Debbie – https://www.debbieking.ca/
Michaels, Chris – https://chrismichaelsfortrustee.ca/
Severn, Christopher
Tarade, Daniel

Toronto Catholic District School Board Ward 4

Davis, Jo-Ann – https://joanndavis.ca/
Lubinski, Teresa – https://www.teresalubinski.com/
Poplawski, Barbara – https://www.barbarapoplawski.ca/

Conseil scolaire Viamonde Ward 4 – Ouest (Publique)

Oger, Geneviève – http://csv.genevieveoger.com/en/home/

Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir Ward 3 – Toronto Ouest

Dufour Séguin, Nathalie

Elections Canada is reviewing changes in our electoral district. This includes an area expansion and name change. The recommendation is to change the name to Taiaiako’n—High Park. There is a major concern for us Parkdalians with the removal of Parkdale. The PRA preference would be to keep Parkdale in our riding name – by making it Taiaiako’n – Parkdale – High Park. https://redecoupage-redistribution-2022.ca/ebv/en/?locale=en-ca&prov=on

Our provincial MPP Bhutila Karpoche is proposing a virtual meeting – Bhutila would explain the Commission’s proposed name change and lead a conversation on the significance of “Parkdale” as part of our riding name. She will also go over how you can submit feedback to the Commission should you wish to. Any thoughts or feedback you have would also be more than welcome.

The meeting will be held over Zoom on Tuesday, September 20, from 1:00 – 1:30 PM. RSVP to BKarpocke-QP@ndp.on.ca

It’s been a long 2 years since we were able to gather together to celebrate the Roncesvalles Polish Festival and the unique heritage of this neighbourhood.

Building on the long history of the Polish Festival, that will include fan favourites, like Polka and pierogis, together with a renewed focus to celebrate a broader range of local artists, musicians and, of course, food.

Well-known as one of Toronto’s most vibrant, unique, and creative communities, attendees will find a fantastic variety of global cuisines from local eateries, as well as performances by talented local artists and musicians, including Indigenous programming and family-friendly activities.

Whether it’s your 1st or your 15th, welcome to Roncesvalles Polish Festival!

Hallmark Sun Life has submitted a development application for 340-376R Dufferin St. and 2 Melbourne Ave. Their proposal plans for 4 towers ranging in height from two mid-rise buildings (6 and 11-storeys) and two tall buildings (21 and 25 storeys) above a series of linked base buildings that are configured around a courtyard and privately-owned publicly-accessible open space (POPS).

Here is a link to the Application Materials for this development. We suggest that you start with the “Planning Rationale“ document to give you a bit of history and rationale for what is being proposed.

We would like to bring to your attention that looking to the West the development is moving into a well-established historically mature neighbourhood of low-rise housing – Parkdale. To the East of the development are historically industrial lands following the rail tracks. Lands along the rail line have traditionally been zoned industrial and rezoned to mixed-use (i.e. commercial on the ground floor and residential above). The tall towers in this proposal look to the East for reference and validation and tend to skew the conversation. Community benefits need to be more fully discussed.