Gord Perks City Councillor, Ward 4, Parkdale-High Park

This week, the City announced the recipients of the PollinateTO community grants. Through the grants, the City provides funding of up to $5,000 per project for community-led initiatives that create or expand pollinator habitat on public and private lands in Toronto.

I am happy to share that this grant was awarded to several projects in Ward 4. The list of recipients include:

• HPAS Garden Stewards (Annette Street Primary School & High Park Alternative School)
• Parkdale Junior and Senior Public School Garden Committee
• The Junction BIA
• West Bend Green Community

The funded projects will serve as pollinator pathways and also engage and educate the community through a variety of measures.

More information about the grant recipients and their projects is available on the City’s PollinateTO Grants webpage.

The City is also hosting compost days where free compost will be available for pick up. The compost is created from yard waste and organic material collected at the curb throughout Toronto.

Ward 4 Compost Days:

April 28th at 2:00pm at Masaryk Cowan Community Centre (220 Cowan Ave)

April 30th, at 10:00am along Wabash Ave.

May 7th at 10:00am at King George Junior Public School (25 Rexford Rd)

A reminder to please bring your own shovel and containers to pick up compost.

Planting a new tree can provide shade, enhance local biodiversity, improve air quality and even alleviate stress! Take advantage of the Backyard Tree Planting Program from non-profit LEAF (Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests). LEAF offers over 50 native tree and shrub species for residential, multi-unit and commercial properties. Choose from Full-Service or Do-It-Yourself options and receive a consultation with a certified arborist to find the right tree for your space, as well as tree care instructions. Learn more and apply at: www.yourleaf.org.

City Planning is hosting a Community Consultation Meeting on April 20th at 6:00pm to seek community input and feedback on the draft Parkdale Main Street Heritage Conservation District (HCD) Plan in advance of a staff report proceeding to the Toronto Preservation Board and Council in June.

The Parkdale Main Street District includes all properties fronting on Queen Street West from Dufferin Street to Macdonell Avenue/Jameson Avenue and includes several heritage properties along Cowan Avenue. Within the boundary of the HCD there are 101 properties included on the City’s Heritage Register

Please register here for the meeting.

For more information on the HCD Plan and how to join the meeting please see the notice here: https://secureservercdn.net/198.71.233.189/1kc.086.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Parkdale-Main-Street-HCD_CCM_Public-Notice_Final.pdf

On April 12, 2022, City Planning will be holding a city-wide virtual public Open House to hear your thoughts on the draft policy directions related to the Environment and Climate Change.

As the City moves into the final phase of engagement for the Official Plan review they will review and discuss draft policy updates that were approved for consultation by the Planning and Housing Committee on March 25^th (Item PH 32.6)

Join one of the Virtual Open Houses to learn more and ask questions about the draft policies related to the Environment and Climate Change.

For more information please visit: toronto.ca/ourplan

Open House details:

Open House details:
Tuesday April 12, 2022: Afternoon (3:00pm-4:00pm) please register here 
Tuesday April 12, 2022: Evening (6:30pm-8:00pm) please register here

Both meetings will have the same content and format of a presentation followed by a Question & Answer period and a discussion with our City staff panel.

A kiosk in the main lobby of the Traffic Services Station at 9 Hanna Avenue serves as the new Collision Reporting Centre for cyclists and pedestrians.

Individuals involved in a collision where no one needs immediate medical attention can report to this centre.

The kiosk will be open between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. from Monday to Friday, excluding holidays. It will not be available to drivers.

Pedestrians and cyclists may commence their reports online via the following link but the report must be finalized at a Reporting Centre:pedcyclist.accsupport.com/home.

More information on how to report collisions could be found here: www.torontopolice.on.ca/traffic/inacollision.php

Image 1: Opening Ceremony of the Hub at 245 Dunn Ave.

Image 2: Opening Ceremony of the Hub at 4020 Dundas St. W

Toronto Community Housing Tenant Service Hubs are where TCH staff deliver the services and supports that tenants need to have successful tenancies, directly in their communities, close to where they live.  Tenants also have the option of
emailing or calling their Tenant Services Coordinator or the Client Care Centre at 416-981-5500 or help@torontohousing.ca.

Learn more about tenant service hubs here.

Along with the Accessible Housing Network and the City’s Housing Secretariat, I would like to extend an invitation to a virtual town hall on housing accessibility.  More than 22% of Canadians have a disability and town halls like this are an opportunity for us to collectively learn and share our experiences.

When: April 14^th at 6pm
Register: bit.ly/AHN2022

I hope you will be part of this conversation.