Useful Links

Politicians

…these are the folks who are elected to represent you:

 Municipal – Gord Perks, City Councillor
Contact information: http://www.gordperks.ca/contact/
Sign up for Gord’s newsletter, The Park Post, on http://www.gordperks.ca. Click on “Blog Sign Up”.

Provincial – Cheri DiNovo, MPP
Contact information: http://www.cheridinovo.ca/blog/Contact/
Sign up for Cheri’s Parkdale-High Park e-Newsletter on the left side of her website, http://www.cheridinovo.ca. Click on “Subscribe to our Newsletter”.

Federal – Arif Virani, MP
Contact information: https://avirani.liberal.ca/
Sign up to receive emails from Arif on his website: https://avirani.liberal.ca/mp-service/sign-up-for-our-newsletter/. Enter your email address and click on “Subscribe”.

Community Development

Parkdale Village Business Improvement Association (BIA) – a voice for the business community along Queen Street West from Roncesvalles Avenue to Dufferin Street. It is committed to improving and promoting the Parkdale Village area through investment and advocacy.
Parkdale Community Development Group – fostering the healthy social and economic development of Parkdale. Events include the Queen West Art Crawl.
Painting Our Stories – Community Mural Project
Parkdale Project Read – Literacy in Parkdale
Evergreen – An organization devoted to creating greener, healthier schools, communities and homes.
The Maytree Foundation – Private foundation committed to reducing poverty and inequality in Canada and to building strong civic communities.
Centre for Urban and Community Studies – A Case Study of Toronto’s West-Central Neighbourhoods
Toronto Public Space Committee – Dedicated to protecting our shared common spaces from commercial influence and privatisation.

Tenant, Housing & Advocacy

PARC – Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre works with members on individual issues of poverty, mental health, addictions, homelessness and food security.
St. Christopher House – An organization with a 92 year history of committment to community development
Parkdale Community Legal Services – Offers legal services to low-income residents of Parkdale
The Federation of Metro Tenants’ Association – A non-profit that advocates tenants’ rights.
Ontario Tenants Rights – A collection of links related to rental housing.
West Lodge Tenants Association – a resource for residents and prospective tenants of 103/105 West Lodge Avenue.
PNLT – Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust is a community land trust in Parkdale led by a group of residents and organizations trying to protect the social, cultural and economic diversity of Parkdale by redefining how land is used and developed.

Media / Blogs

Parkdale on Facebook – like us on Facebook.
The Parkdale News – a weekly on-line edited by our very own Clair Culliford.
Parkdale Liberty Villager – published by Metroland, a Torstar company.
The Gleaner – serving Toronto’s downtown west neighbourhoods with local news.
Torontoist – “about Toronto and everything that happens in it”.
Spacing Toronto – published three times per year, with a focus on getting readers to think critically about the urban landscape.
The Little Paper – a great information source for families with kids.
You Grow Girl – an on-line community for gardeners.

Whatever you call it, here’s how to connect with your City government:

City of Toronto 

City of Toronto – The main website to access city services for those living, working and visiting Toronto.
311 – Dial 311 or consult this site to get information or action on any aspect of Toronto’s Municipal Services.
Parkdale Library – hours of operation, directions, upcoming events and other information about our local library branch.
Meeting Monitor – Monitor the status of agenda items during City Council, Community Council and Standing Committee meetings.
Tenant complaint process – A step by step process to get action if your apartment is in need of repair.
Councillor Gord Perks – Parkdale’s municipal councillor. (his website)

Demographic Profiles

South Parkdale, Neighbourhood Profile – Mostly included in the area served by the PRA
Roncesvalles, Neighbourhood Profile – Partly included in the area served by the PRA
Parkdale – High Park, Ward Profile – Includes both of the above neighbourhoods

Other

Public Interest – Develops outreach strategies for public sector and non-profit organizations.