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Happy Friday! Hopefully everyone has enjoyed the lingering summer weather.
CORRECTION: My email newsletter sent out yesterday incorrectly stated
the minimum wage paid by GFL for private waste removal service on the west side
of Willowdale. My statement did not include fringe benefits for GFL employees.
The current calculated Fair Wage rate for District 2 (west side of Willowdale)
Waste Collection workers is $30.82 per hour. City workers who do waste
collection on the east side of Willowdale are paid $41.98 per hour. We have
confirmed with City staff that the above wages include fringe benefits and
vacation pay. |
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There was no intention to mislead the public with my letter.
My apology for any confusion that resulted from yesterday’s note.
CALLING ALL LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS: My team is now finalizing
our fall printed newsletter that will be mailed to every household in
Willowdale in October. We would like to invite you to submit your event to be
included in our calendar. Please CLICK HERE and fill out the form.
There are some great activities this weekend:
Common Ground Dance Festival at Lee Lifeson Art Park From Flamenco to Hip Hop you can enjoy a wide variety of performances and even join in a workshop! CLICK HERE to see the schedule and RSVP. The festival runs until Saturday night.
Graffiti Jam at Mel Lastman Square City Lights will be hosting their first ever Graffiti Jam at Mel Lastman Square on Sunday, Sept 23rd from 1-4pm. Come see the amazing graffiti art/writing being done LIVE by well-known graffiti artists. Enjoy great music and look forward to interacting and learning from industry experts!
RBC Race for Kids is also happening on Saturday, so there will be some closures in the morning on Yonge St. and Beecroft.
ATTENTION YOUTH (or Parents of Youth): Next Friday is the FALL LAUNCH of our Willowdale Youth Council! This is a great opportunity to learn more about democracy in action and help strengthen our community. It will be a great opportunity for youth to come together and play video games and board games while discussing future plans of the council. Click Here to RSVP.
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Councillor & Community - Upcoming Events
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Mel Lastman Square - Upcoming Events |
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Willowdale Bike Ride to Downtown Toronto Many thanks to the volunteers and participants who joined me last Saturday, September 14 with 60 Willowdalers with the addition of 20 volunteers and visitors! Together we enjoyed a relaxing recreational 25K bike ride from Avondale Park to St. Michael’s Catholic School downtown. We are especially grateful for the support of Bike Share Toronto that provided free bike share rentals to over half of our participants and the Toronto Community Bikeways Coalition (TCBC) that provided an amazing team of seasoned volunteer marshals. We enjoyed riding along the scenic Don Valley Trail and made a brief stop at Evergreen Brickworks where some riders picked up some snacks at their farmer’s market. Participants of all ages, from 6-year-olds to seniors, embraced biking as a viable travel option across the city. We even had a dog participant who rode on their owner’s carrier! I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to community member Peter Low, TCBC founder Albert Koehl, Cai de Ridder from Bike Share Toronto, and Kin Seong from my staff team who helped make the bike ride safe and a great success! We also thank Lisa Stokes for sharing these great shots from the ride! You can read up on the full account of the ride on her blog - Willowdale Community Ride with Councillor Lily Cheng – Lisa Stokes. We also had a volunteer take drone footage. Stay tuned for the exciting highlight reel! As the city tries to wean people off driving and convince people to try biking, I think it’s important to provide more fun opportunities. I was surprised by how effortless the ride downtown was, which is of course downhill. I celebrated the end of my ride by shopping the St. Lawrence Market before TTCing it back. Several participants rode back to Willowdale - uphill! I think I would try an E-bike rental if I wanted to bike back to Willowdale! |
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Dead Raccoon on Doris
On September 11, a dead raccoon was found on a sidewalk of Doris Ave.
Residents from the building notified 311 requesting a pick up. Yesterday,
community members, including a board representative from a condominium
contacted us. We heard at the last Service Excellence Committee that the city
had changed the service standard for dead animal pickup from 48 hours to 5 days
because calls that deal with live animals are prioritized.
We are now well past the 5 day mark. Unfortunately it
appears many animals have met their demise across Toronto over the past couple
of weeks with a 350-400 carcass backlog. The city is looking at changing the
staffing model for this as currently the staff responding to dead animal pick
ups are specially trained to deal with live animals. Further, there has been an
increase in animal populations, situations and deaths across the city. This may
result in a request for increased staffing for the 2025 budget process.
I am equally frustrated and upset to know a dead raccoon has
been lying in the hot sun on the sidewalk without an expedient removal. I
apologize to all who have had to endure this. When this happened in my
neighbourhood, someone put a small sheet over the raccoon while we waited for
pick-up.
Newtonbrook West Participatory Budgeting
Thanks to all the creative residents who came out to the Newtonbrook West Participatory Budgeting Idea Collection meeting this week. While we don’t think we will see helipads or go-kart tracks on the horizon, picnic benches by Moore Park and ping-pong tables seem like feasible investments that could foster more enjoyment of our parks. |
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Participatory Budgeting Next Steps |
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| Oct 29, 2024 |
Deadline for online submissions. We will then invite people to “like” the submissions on WillowdaleActionHub.ca as part of an online voting process to help shortlist the ideas.
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Nov 15, 2024
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Final ‘like’ counts. Ideas will be shortlisted for review by city divisions. Short list will be based on potential cost, initial feasibility assessment and ‘like’ counts.
| | March 2025 |
City Divisions will submit detailed feasibility and cost for shortlisted ideas.
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April 2025 |
Voting with winning projects brought to City Council for approval. Voting is open only to residents of the designated Participatory Budgeting (PB) neighbourhood.
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Fall 2025 - 2026
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Ideas are implemented.
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Learn more at Lilycheng.ca/pb. Don’t forget to sign up at our community engagement portal (WAH)- WillowdaleActionHub.ca. This platform will be used for information sharing and online engagement related to our PB process. Check out the great ideas submitted so far under the Participatory Budgeting folder on WAH and show your support by liking your favourites!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Warm regards, |
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Click On The Links Below or Scroll Down To Learn More About:
~ COUNCILLOR UPDATES
~ CITY OF TORONTO UPDATES ~ COMMUNITY UPDATES |
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FALL COMMUNITY EVENTS CALENDAR!
Get ready for an autumn of excitement in Willowdale! Looking for fun for the season? Look no further! We've got all the hottest events lined up for you this autumn. From markets to parades, there's something for everyone. Print out our flyer to stay in the loop with all the can't-miss events happening in Willowdale this season!
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SILVERVIEW PARK: COMMUNITY CONSULTATION AND POTLUCK PICNIC
Bring Your Brunch and Join Us for a Picnic as We Shape the Future of Silverview Park!
The City is conducting a study to help determine improvements for Silverview Park, and we want your input! Come picnic with us as we review the two proposed options for the park’s future.
The survey is now live and available to gather your valuable feedback. Access the survey in three different languages by visiting the link in my bio!
When: Sep 22, 2024, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Where: Silverview Park, 23 Silverview Dr, North York, ON M2M 3T6, Canada
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GWENDOLEN PARK: PIZZA PLAYDATE AND PARK CONSULTATION
The City is improving the playground in Gwendolen Park as part
of an ongoing program to enhance playgrounds and play spaces across the city so
that everyone can experience the joys and benefits of play for years to come!
Let’s get together for a Pizza Playdate and Consultation on the future of this
park!
When: Sep 24, 2024, 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Where: Gwendolen Park, 3 Gwendolen Crescent, North York, ON M2N 2L7
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RENEW SHEPPARD STUDY
JOIN US for the ReNew Sheppard East Planning Study Community Consultation! We want to hear from YOU about the future of Sheppard East. Come share your thoughts and help create a planning framework to guide future development for the ReNew Sheppard East Area. Your input will help us refine existing plans and create a vibrant, complete community with better public spaces and housing options.
When: September 24, 6:30 - 8:30 PM Where: Evangelical Presbyterian Church
Let’s plan the future together! See you there!
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WILLOWDALE YOUTH COUNCIL GAME NIGHT
Calling all Willowdale Youth from 16-25 years old for our Willowdale YOUTH COUNCIL Launch GAME NIGHT on Friday, September 27 from 4 PM - 6 PM!
If you are a student passionate about making Willowdale a better place to live, please consider joining us. Help us build a connected community while you learn more about politics and policy that shape our city. This is a great networking and experience building opportunity. Please bring any board games or video games you would like to play with the youth council members!
Please bring one snack (chips, jelly, candy, etc.) to share with everyone for a snack potluck and candy salad!
You can also get your volunteer hours by participating in the Youth Council monthly. We look forward to meeting every month towards building a better Willowdale!
Meet us at North York Civic Centre @ 4:00PM!
Directions to our office:
There are three entrances: North, South, and East (front). Entering from the North or South entrances keeps you on the same floor, but the East entrance requires you to go up one floor. The office is between the dental office and security. If these directions sound too confusing, don't worry! We will be around the area!
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ANNDALE DRIVE STREET PARKING SURVEY
Do you live in Avondale, and close to Anndale Drive? We need your feedback on the Street Parking on the North side, between Tradewind Ave and Leon Dr! CLICK HERE to fill out our survey on Willowdale Action Hub by September 30th!
Councillor Cheng will collect the responses to determine if this change proposal will be brought to North York Community Council. CLICK HERE to stay tuned for updates to be posted on Willowdale Action Hub!
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EARLY SUBWAY CLOSURE
On Friday, September 20, 2024, subway service will end early at 11 p.m. nightly between Sheppard-Yonge and St Clair stations for planned track work. TTC Staff will be available on site to assist customers. Shuttle buses will operate. All TTC stations will remain open for customers to purchase PRESTO fares, tickets and connect to surface routes. Regular service will resume each following morning at approximately 6 a.m. Sheppard-Yonge and St Clair are accessible stations. Two Wheel-Trans vehicles will operate along Yonge Street between Sheppard-Yonge and St Clair stations. If you need any assistance throughout your journey, please speak to any TTC staff member for assistance. To confirm the status of elevators throughout the system, please contact the TTC lift line at: 416-539-5438 (LIFT) for real time information on the status of elevators.
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ROAD CLOSURES AROUND WILLOWDALE ON SEPTEMBER 21
On Saturday, September 21, the RBC Race for the Kids will be held in North York in support of Sunnybrook's Family Navigation Project. This 5K walk/run has been organized with a planning team, which included members of City of Toronto and Toronto Police Services, to minimize the disruptions to North York residents and businesses.
For the complete map of road closures, CLICK HERE!
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SINGLE DAY CLOSURES FROM SHEPPARD YONGE TO ST. CLAIR STATIONS
On Saturday, September 21, 2024, there will be no subway service between Sheppard-Yonge and St Clair stations for planned track work.
TTC Staff will be available on-site to assist customers. Shuttle buses will operate. All TTC stations will remain open for customers to purchase PRESTO fares, tickets and connect to surface routes. Regular service will resume Sunday, September 22, 2024 by 8 a.m. Sheppard-Yonge and St Clair are accessible stations. Two Wheel-Trans vehicles will operate along Yonge Street between Sheppard-Yonge and St Clair stations. If you need any assistance throughout your journey, please speak to any TTC staff member for assistance. To confirm the status of elevators throughout the system, you can contact the TTC lift line at: 416-539-5438 (LIFT) for real time information on the status of elevators.
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METROLINX CONSTRUCTION NOTICES
Please be informed of two Construction Notices for Metrolinx’s Yonge-North Subway Extension Investigation work: • Yonge St. and Drewry Ave: September 23 – October 14. Click Here for more information
• Yonge St. and Patricia Ave: September 23- Nov 1. Click Here for more information
Questions can be directed to YongeSubwayExt@metrolinx.com, or 416-202-7000.
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COMMUNITY CONSULTATION: GROWING SPACE FOR TREES
Trees are critically important
assets to address the climate and biodiversity crisis: they reduce
urban heat and stormwater runoff, provide wildlife
habitat, and clean the air. They also help to make neighbourhoods more
attractive and desirable.
New infill housing will help to
address Toronto's current housing challenges, but it has the potential to
negatively impact Toronto’s tree canopy. Proactive solutions are needed to
ensure that our tree canopy is protected and will have suitable space to grow
as our neighbourhoods continue to develop.
The City of Toronto has one of
the strongest suites of tree protection by-laws in North America. Tree
Protection has been comprehensively addressed in Official Plan policies and
Zoning By-law amendments related to garden suites, laneway suites, and
multiplex housing. While enabling and supporting infill residential
development, the City continues to be proactive in protecting and expanding its
tree canopy, recognizing that both are essential in responding to some of the
city’s most pressing current and anticipated future needs.
Please join us at one of our
consultation events to learn more about actions the City of Toronto is taking
to protect trees, as well as proposals for additional Official Plan and the
City-wide Zoning By-law 569-2013 updates to better protect and enhance
Toronto’s tree canopy during infill housing development.
In-person Community Consultation
(Etobicoke)
Date: September 24, 2024
Time: 6 – 8 pm
Location: Etobicoke Civic
Centre, Etobicoke Council Chambers, 399 The West Mall, Toronto, Ontario
City-wide Virtual Consultation 1
Date: September 25, 2024
Time: 6 – 8 pm
Registration is required through
the following webpage: City Planning Consultations – City of Toronto
City-wide Virtual Consultation 2
Date: September 27, 2024
Time: 12 – 2 pm
Registration is required through
the following webpage: City Planning Consultations – City of Toronto
For questions, please contact enviro-planning@toronto.ca
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SPIDER OPEN DIALOGUE ON VULNERABILITY
SPIDER launched the Open Dialogue on Vulnerability monthly workshop series. The free half-day workshops aim to: - increase awareness about situations impacting vulnerable Torontonians and the programs and services available
- build networks across the service system to create opportunities for operation and system level innovation
When: Friday September 27, 2024
Where: North York Civic Centre – Council Chambers
Time: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Topics:
- Intimate
Partner Violence
- Gender
Based Violence
- Gender
Identity
- Senior
Abuse
- MMIWG2s+ Crisis and IPV/GBV
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WATER REPLACEMENT CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
The watermain replacement on Silverview Drive from Cummer
Avenue to Willowdale Avenue continues to progress well.
Due to some unforeseen circumstances, the completion date
has been extended to September 30, 2024. The attached construction update will
be distributed to the surrounding area shortly.
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NEW BIKE SHARE STATIONS IN WILLOWDALE
Heads up, Willowdale! Our neighbourhood has new Bike Share stations!
- Talbot Rd / Finch Hydro Corridor Trail - 15 docking points
- Willowdale Ave / Bishop Ave -19 docking points
- Yonge St / North York Blvd - 23 docking points
- Yonge St / Sheppard Ave E - 19 docking points
- Kempford Blvd / Yonge St - 19 docking points
- Empress Ave / Yonge St -19 docking points
It's wonderful to know this program is expanding throughout our neighbourhood!
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GRAFFITI JAM AT MEL LASTMAN SQUARE
THIS SUNDAY AT MEL LASTMAN SQUARE!
Come by City Lights Fellowship and Mission's first-ever charity Graffiti Jam this Sunday, September 22 from 1-4pm at Mel Lastman Square!
Established and newer graffiti writers will be spray painting live. Come and watch, interact, and donate a non-perishable item to NeighbourLink North York's food bank, the 415 Food Hub!
Incredible original pieces painted on canvases at the event will eventually be sold through a silent auction to raise funds for the Food Hub!
There will be a DJ spinning good music too! So save the date and come see some cool graffiti and help families in need this weekend!
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BCNA: BACHATA DANCE SESSIONS
The Bayview Cummer Neighbourhood Association is kicking off its Bachata dance sessions again on Tuesday, September 24 at 7:30 PM, with 19 sessions at St. Agnes Catholic School’s gym. Join in on a fun evening of dance, exercise, and community, where you can relax and enjoy the company of friends and neighbours.
No dance experience or partner is required.
The schedule runs until December 17, 2024 and will resume on January 7, 2025, until February 11, 2025.
Any updates will be shared in our WhatsApp Bachata Chat group, so join us to stay informed. To participate, you’ll need to be a BCNA member (or an associate member if you’re outside the area). The fee for the rest of the year is just $10 for a household.
To RSVP, people may send their signup requests to mycommunity@bayviewcummer.ca and include the subject line "Attention: Natasha Mansouri for Bachata Lessons" to be put on the list!
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JOIN THE YORKMINSTRELS SHOW CHOIR
Are you passionate about singing? The YorkMinstrels Show Choir is on the lookout for new members this fall, with a particular interest in welcoming more men. While previous choir or performing experience is preferred, it is not required.
The choir benefits from a fantastic music director and boasts a delightful repertoire that includes Broadway hits, oldies, standards, and seasonal music. Members also enjoy the opportunity to dance and don impressive costumes during performances.
Rehearsals take place on Wednesday evenings at Cummer Lodge. Known for its friendly and inclusive atmosphere, the YorkMinstrels would be thrilled to have new voices join their ranks.
An open rehearsal is scheduled for September 25th, 7:15 PM at Cummer Lodge and all are invited to attend.
For more information, visit yorkminstrels.com or contact them at info@yorkminstrels.com with any questions or to confirm attendance.
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HARVEST BAZAAR
You are invited to the I2CRC Harvest Market on September 25th and 26th from 1:00 PM to 7:30 PM at 53 Cummer Avenue, North York. Discover a stunning selection of handcrafted jewellery, pottery, home décor, visual arts, culinary delights, and unique gift items from talented local and international artisans, all beautifully displayed in the newly renovated venue. The space is warm and inviting, capturing the vibrant colours of the harvest season.
In addition to the incredible artisan offerings, enjoy yoga sessions, live music, prizes, draws, and delicious food. Free parking and no admission fee make it easy for everyone to attend! Come meet the artists and take home some one-of-a-kind treasures. This is a fundraising event for a great cause!
Click Here to learn more!
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RADIO CONTROLLED MODEL BOATING AT MEL LASTMAN SQUARE
Have you ever been interested in trying model boat racing? Accessible, competitive, and inclusive, 2024 is a fantastic year to dive into the sport. The Metro Marine Modellers is an active and passionate group of radio control boaters and boat modellers that are eager to share their pastime with prospective members.
At Metro Marine Modellers, they construct models for fun to museum quality. Building a model to work on the water is more about model engineering, having fun while doing it and having a great day at the pond. All models constructed are a “scaled down” version of a real ship. The model is then “fitted out” for radio control and operates on the water.
Come check it out!
When: Saturday, Sept 28, 10 AM – 4 PM Where: Mel Lastman Square Rink
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FALL FUN FEST
You’re invited to the Salvation Army’s annual kickoff event, Fall Fest! Join us on September 28 from 11 am to 1 pm for a day filled with carnival games, food, a bouncy castle, and fun for all ages.
This is always a wonderful opportunity to come together and kick off the fall programs, and the best part? It’s free!
The event will be held at 25 Centre Ave, right outside in the parking lot.
The team looks forward to seeing you there!
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2024 DIGITAL EXPO: CHAMPIONING TRUTH IN THE DIGITAL ERA
How can we
champion truth in the digital era? Explore the complexities of misinformation
and disinformation in emerging technologies with local agencies and industry
leaders at the FREE 2024 Digital Expo.
Featuring:
- A keynote
with Craig Silverman, journalist and leading expert on online disinformation
- Panel
discussions on misinformation and disinformation in society and in public
education
- An
interactive marketplace featuring TVO, TelusWise, Steamlabs, MediaSmarts and
more
When: Saturday, September 28, 12:30-4:30
pm
Where: North York Central Library
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NORTH YORK YOUTH DROP-IN
The North York Youth Drop-In is a positive space for youth new to Canada to build connections, make friends, and access leadership opportunities.
Join in on Drop-In Hours from September 16 - December 19 for youth settlement support, volunteer opportunities, counselling, workshops, and more!
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THANKSGIVING FOOD BANK POP UP
NeighbourLink North York's monthly Food Hub launched 3 years ago with a Thanksgiving Pop Up! They had 75 households that signed up and at first had no turkeys. By the day of the food bank, it felt like it was raining turkeys with 90 of them to distribute thanks to individual neighbours and community partners! It was a true Willowdale Turkey Miracle!
Now the Food Hub supports 140+ families a month! This year's Thanksgiving Pop-Up is October 11th! NeighbourLink has a few short weeks to raise $6500!
Please consider making a contribution so that they can provide turkeys, chickens, pies and other Thanksgiving staples to families in Willowdale! $50 will support a Willowdale family!
Donate today by visiting www.neighbourlink.org/thanksgiving
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NORTH YORK ARTS PRESENTS: THE ANIMATION PROJECT
Explore the fascinating
world of animation through an engaging and dynamic round of workshops for North
York residents over the age of 55. Discover the art of storytelling, the basics
of animation, and create your own animated short over 3 modules running from
October 22nd – November 23rd (Cohort 2).
Learn more and register HERE!
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A NEWLY PUBLISHED AUTHOR IN WILLOWDALE
Congratulations to Hasib Iftekhar on publishing your book of poetry, Sequence of Dissolution. You may have met Hasib at Mel Lastman Square on Canada Day where he was one of the talented Willowdale residents and authors we proudly showcased.
Hasib’s book, is described as “a poignant and evocative collection of poetry that captures the essence of life’s fleeting moments. Crafted with exquisite language and the deepest of emotions, this anthology explores the human experience in all its complexity—love and loss, joy and sorrow, hope and despair.”
Hasib’s book is now published and available via Amazon.
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NORTH YORK DIWALI FEST
Over the past few years we have seen an increase in Indian neighbours in our community. As such, I was excited to see the great success of last year’s North York Diwali Fest. This year I am pleased to be co-hosting the event which will span two days on October 19–20 at Mel Lastman Square. We want this event to give visibility and build connectivity to the growing Indian community in Willowdale.
If you are interested in joining the planning committee or in being a vendor please email events@northyorkdiwali.com or reach out at 437-258-3065. Additionally, community members can join the Facebook group "Indians in Willowdale"- www.bit.ly/indiansinwillowdale or the WhatsApp Group for the Willowdale Indian Community www.chat.whatsapp.com/De5LjwA2BC62gdk9MkqTlq.
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