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.

We are glad to see you back CNE – Aug. 19 to Sept. 5.

We Parkdalians will of course complain about the increased traffic, the congestion, and access to our very private park that we have to share for 18 days.

Stage 2 work is expected to be completed on September 3, 2022. Upon completion, all travel lanes on The Queensway (Parkside Drive to Roncesvalles Avenue) will be restored, and King Street West will also re-open at the KQQR intersection and northbound access to Sunnyside Avenue from The Queensway will be reinstated. The 501/301 Queen streetcar will also resume regular service via Queen Street West and The Queensway.

The final stage of construction is expected to start on September 4, 2022. This stage will require a full road closure of Roncesvalles Avenue from Queen Street West to Harvard Avenue. The planned TTC platform work from Harvard Avenue to Dundas Street West will require short-term lane closures and parking disruptions.

The City invites you to attend a virtual Public Information Event to learn more about the construction/improvements completed to date and what to expect during the final stage of construction work. This will be taking place Thursday, July 28th at 6:30 PM.

To register for the event, please see the following link:
https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/get-involved/public-consultations/infrastructure-projects/king-queen-queensway-roncesvalles-construction/news-construction-kqqr-construction/

Toronto East York Community Council (TEYCC) will discuss a development proposal at 2-24 Temple Ave. and Dufferin. A report recommends that the City Solicitor, with the appropriate City staff, attend the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) hearing to oppose the application in its current form and to continue discussions with the applicant to resolve outstanding issues. The OLT has scheduled a hearing for September 26, 2022. We kindly ask that you join to share your thoughts and comments at this TEYCC meeting – Zoning By-law Amendment Application – Request for Direction Report.

Proposed Zoning By-law Amendment to allow a 16-storey residential building with 275 residential (condo) units, including rental replacement units at 2-24 Temple Ave. The proposal will require the demolition of 9 existing houses.

Date: Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Time: 11:00 am or as soon as possible thereafter
Place: Register to Comment or Speak (2-24 Temple Ave) > http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2022.TE34.55.