Hi Neighbour!
Happy Rosh Hashanah!
To our Jewish neighbours - Shana Tova! Wishing you a sweet and joyful New Year filled with love, laughter, and new beginnings!
THIS SATURDAY, Oct. 5, 1:30pm at North York Central Library - Hope you will join us for the Climate Action Roundtable. We have a roster of well known speakers on the impact of climate change on health AND we will be planning next steps on Willowdale-focused actions to take climate action. Join us and meet fellow Willowdalers who care about the planet! Click Here to sign up.
Spaghetti Town Halls are back! Join us for a great opportunity to connect with your neighbours and discuss how we can improve the community! We are pleased to announce Brebeuf College Jazz Band will be performing at the Newtonbrook East Spaghetti Town Hall. If you would like to contribute a talent to an upcoming Spaghetti Town Hall please let us know! See below for a map of Willowdale if you are uncertain which neighbourhood you live in. Other neighbourhoods will be covered again next April.
Newtonbrook East • Thurs. Oct. 17 • Brebeuf College
Willowdale West • Tues. Oct. 29 • St. Edward the Confessor Church
Willowdale East • Wed. Nov 6 • Willowdale Baptist Church
CLICK HERE to RSVP!
The Noise is back!
After a few months of reprieve, the noise from the Doris/Byng area started up again much to the dismay of many area residents. Some residents have signed a petition which you can Click Here to view.
If you are being bothered by this noise which is quite evident in the late hours of the night, please contact my office. We are looking for a location to measure the sound where it is loudest.
Farewell to the trees at 175 Cummer
This past Monday, my staff and I held a “Farewell Trees Tea Gathering” with the seniors at 175 Cummer. We did this to mitigate the shock that could happen when hoarding goes up and trees are removed. It was an emotional but meaningful time as a group of us walked around the front lawn taking pictures with the trees. One woman shared how one tree has been her longstanding companion in her practice of Tai Chi. Two of the seniors wept.
We knew it would not be an easy gathering, especially for those who have lived at Willowdale Manor for multiple decades. But it was important to me and my team that the seniors know we are walking with them through this transition. I am sure our seniors will be kind and generous as a committee is formed to welcome the new neighbours. However, acknowledging their loss and sadness is also important.
The city is expected to identify an operator by the end of this month, bringing greater clarity to the type of supportive housing offered. It will be helpful for future community engagement meetings for the existing residents to be able to connect directly with the people who will be implementing the housing project.
Meeting a Hero
The Anti-Black Racism Advisory Panel (ARAP) is an advisory body to the Toronto Police Services Board. In a recent meeting, a new co-chair was elected, Asante Haughton. Asante is a mental health advocate, speaker and consultant. I found out he and a fellow advocate created the Toronto Reach Out Response Network, which successfully advocated for establishing a non-policing crisis response unit to care for those facing a mental health crisis. The Toronto Community Crisis Service began piloting in March 2022 and as of last Thursday the service is now available city-wide - including in Willowdale! As someone who has openly shared about the challenges of growing up in Regent Park and dealing with mental health challenges, Asante has overcome tremendous obstacles. It is inspiring to see him use his voice to do something that is changing our city in such a significant way! I look forward to working with Asante and the members of ARAP on creating a work plan and updating our mandate towards a better working relationship with the TPS Board.
Toronto Community Crisis Service (TCCS)
Last week the city announced the launch of TCCS citywide. This is our 4th emergency service. Previously our ward did not have access to this service. Now, if someone is in need of mental health support you can call 211. The service provides a non-police-led, community-based, client-focused, and trauma-informed response to mental health crisis calls and wellness checks. A trauma-informed approach promotes healing and recovery and takes into account a client’s life experiences. Click Here for more information. TCCS also provides:
referrals and connections to other services
resources and information
post-crisis follow-up supports
This is a part of “de-tasking” the police and providing the right support to people. We shall see how much this can impact the response time of police to level one emergencies.
Tomorrow we will share our Connected Community update.
Warmest Regards,
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