Happy Lunar New Year Neighbours! Hi Neighbour ! I hope you’re having a great week! Budget time continues at City Hall and this week we’ve gotten to hear from hundreds of deputants across Toronto sharing their thoughts and feelings on the budget. Thank you to all who tuned in to our Toronto City Budget 101 Webinar. You can watch the video by clicking here.
I’m a strong believer that in order to create change, we need to be informed and engaged. It is inspiring to see so many who are actively participating in the budget process. If you follow my social channels, I post live links when there are Council or Committee meetings so that you can experience democracy at work. I hope watching these meetings will inspire you to get more involved in the process of creating change within our city. Upcoming Events: Saturday, January 21, 2pm @ North York Public Library - Lunar New Year Craft Day. Parents can call 416-395-5630 or visit the children's department in person to sign up. Monday, January 23, 6:30pm via Webex - Community Consultation 5320-5334 Yonge St & 5294-5306 Yonge St. Hosted by Senior Planner Stephen Gardiner and Planner Heather Au. Sunday, January 29, 3 - 5pm @ Mel Lastman Square / North York Centre Food Court - Willowdale Celebrates Lunar New Year. TDSB Trustee Dr. Weidong Pei and I will attend as special guests. Sunday, January 29, 2 - 4pm @ North York Public Library - Lunar New Year Craft activity in participation with Willowdale Celebrates Lunar New Year event. Parents can call 416-395-5630 or visit the children's department in person to sign up. Saturday, February 11, 3 - 5:30pm @ John McKenzie Historic House - Neighbourhood Networking Event. Hosted by Willowdale Central Ratepayers Association (WCRA).
Stay Tuned: A Community Liaison Committee for the shelter at 5800 Yonge Street will be launched in the coming months. We met with facilitator Jane Farrow today to discuss the parametres of our upcoming work together. We will be hosting a Community Safety Townhall next month to discuss the many safety concerns heard across our community. Roadwork on Hendon Ave. just west of Yonge St. relating to preparations for the future extension of the subway will begin in the coming weeks. We will share updates as we receive them.
As we round out the week, I want to wish a Happy Lunar New Year to all our Asian neighbours celebrating! 2023 is the year of the Rabbit - considered one of the luckiest of all twelve animals. The Rabbit symbolizes longevity, peace and prosperity in Chinese culture. 2023 is predicted to be the year of hope, which I think is exactly what is needed. The last few years have been challenging for many, so I wish an abundance of hope, peace and prosperity as we look to the year ahead! Warmest regards, Lily Cheng Toronto City Councillor Ward 18 Willowdale Councillor_Cheng@toronto.ca 416-392-0210 |
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Scroll down to find out more about: Community Events Community Consultations Mitchell Field Warming Centre Update Controlling the Pigeon Population Vacant Home Tax Declaration Reminder Community Round Table Opportunities
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Thank you to Wei Lee and OMNI Television for hosting me to speak about the challenges of the Toronto City Budget. |
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There are two events happening in Willowdale to Celebrate Lunar New Year: LUNAR NEW YEAR CRAFT DAY Hosted by the North York Public Library Saturday, January 21, 2023 - 2pm North York Public Library is planning a Lunar New Year Craft Day for kids 12 and under. To register your child, call 416-395-5630. WILLOWDALE CELEBRATES LUNAR NEW YEAR A group of neighbourhood organizations have partnered to bring us this fantastic event including: NeighbourLink North York, Korean Canadian Business Association, The Cross-Cultural Community Services Association, GWL Realty Advisors, Toronto Asian Parents Association and Panda Mandarin Mel Lastman Square / North York Centre Food Court Sunday, Jan 29, 2023 – 3 - 5pm Ring in the Lunar New Year with neighbours! Join special guests Councillor Lily Cheng and TDSB Trustee Dr. Weidong Pei for a Willowdale Lunar New Year Celebration complete with a lion dance that is sure to be lucky. In partnership with several organizations featuring varying performances, a variety of craft activities, storytime and treats. Both an indoor and outdoor event, come out and celebrate all that the celebration has to offer! We will also be playing lunar new year music for everyone to skate to!
RSVP Here: https://willowdalelunarnewyear.eventbrite.ca
Sunday, January 29, 2023 – 2pm Hosted by the North York Public Library North York Public Library presents a lantern-making and puppet-making program at Willowdale’s Lunar New Year event. There will be 2 sessions running from 2:00 to 3:00pm and 3:00 to 4:00pm in Room 2/3. To register: Parents can call 416-395-5630 or visit the children's department in person to sign up. Take-home craft kits are also available while quantities last. |
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NEIGHBOURHOOD NETWORKING EVENT Hosted by: Willowdale Central Ratepayers Association (WCRA) Location: John McKenzie Historic House Saturday, February 11, 2023 – 3 - 5:30pm The WCRA recognizes that the pandemic has taken a toll on us, and the need for community support has never been greater. We are keenly aware of the challenges that community groups face in terms of volunteer support and the current state of apathy across the city. Members of the WCRA have made a choice. We choose "do good for our community." We have seen the power in acts of kindness, and the mental health benefits that come from volunteering. We have also seen the good that comes from constructive discussion and engagement with others. Join us and your neighbours for this community networking event. You and/or members of your association / community group are invited to attend. RSVP Here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/neighbourhood-networking-event-tickets-514117217437 |
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COMMUNITY CONSULTATIONS Monday, January 23, 2023 – 6:30 - 8:30pm 5320-5334 YONGE ST and 11 CHURCHILL AVE & 5294-5306 YONGE STREET From 6:30 - 7:30pm Stephen Gardiner, City Senior Planner, will discuss 5320-5334 Yonge Street and 11 Churchill Avenue. This is an application to permit a 36-storey mixed-use building (114.52 metres) with a 7-storey podium along Yonge Street with a 12-storey building (42.37 metres) along Canterbury Place. The proposed gross floor area is 38,036 square metres including 36,278 square metres of residential area and 1,758 square metres of non-residential area for a Floor Space Index of 10.3. A total of 232 vehicular parking spaces and 357 bicycle parking spaces are proposed. From 7:30 - 8:30pm Heather Au, City Planner, will discuss 5294-5306 Yonge Street. This is an application to permit a 43-storey (132.4 metres) mixed-use building with a 4-storey podium, containing 395 residential units and a gross floor area of 29,119 square metres. The building will have a Floor Space Index of 8.99 times the area of the lot. A total of 260 parking spaces and 306 bicycle parking spaces are proposed. RSVP Here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/community-consultation-5320-5334-yonge-st-5294-5306-yonge-st-tickets-519228174447 |
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MITCHELL FIELD UPDATE - Warming Centre & Programming Mitchell Field Community Centre will continue to be used as a warming centre during extreme cold weather events to ensure our neighbours experiencing homelessness have a warm place to go.
When the warming centre is not operational, Mitchell Field Community Centre is open Monday to Friday, 8am - 9pm and 8am - 8pm on weekends. The indoor track is free and the weight room is open to those who purchase a membership. The Winter 2023 programming includes: basketball, badminton, volleyball, soccer, floor hockey, pickleball, and open gym with caregiver drop-in programs.
For more information about programming and the centre, please call the front desk at 416-395-0265 or visit Mitchell Field Community Centre for up-to-date alerts and schedules. Brochures are available at the front desk with program dates and times. They encourage our neighbourhood to visit the website or call ahead before attending programs in case of a schedule change to avoid disappointment. They are offering CampTO programming during March Break and Summer. March Break Camp registration is open and Summer Camp Registration is on February 11, 2023. They are continuing to expand their programming for Spring 2023.
The City of Toronto also offers a recreation fee subsidy to help residents access recreation programs. More information and applications can be found here: Welcome Policy Application. Paper applications are also available at the centre.
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CONTROLLING THE PIGEON POPULATION The Toronto pigeon population has grown significantly over the last few years that it is now impacting the city in various ways, including hindering some condo dwellers from enjoying their balconies because of the pigeon droppings. In recognition of this increase, the City will be working with pigeon rescue groups this year to implement humane control measures in areas that are known to have large pigeon populations. Part of this strategy includes exploring the use of a pelleted food that acts as a contraceptive. This type of program will decrease the targeted pigeon population by 50 per cent annually.
Just a friendly reminder to residents that feeding pigeons is highly discouraged.
Learn more about this initiative here: https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/animals-pets/wildlife-in-the-city/pigeons/
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VACANT HOME TAX DECLARATION REMINDER A reminder that all Toronto residential property owners must submit a declaration of their property’s 2022 occupancy status by February 2, 2023. The online declaration portal is now open here.
For more information on the Vacant Home Tax including how to file in-person or by mail visit: https://www.lilycheng.ca/post/vacanthometax
If you require extra help to submit your declaration, our team will be available next week at North York Civic Centre on Wednesday, January 25, and Friday, January 27 to assist. Please contact us to schedule an appointment if you require an alternative day/time (Councillor_Cheng@toronto.ca / 416-392-0210). |
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COMMUNITY ROUND TABLE OPPORTUNITIES I’m creating 3 Community Round Table working groups that cover Safety, Poverty Alleviation and Climate Change. If you would like to take part and share in the shaping of these initiatives in Willowdale, please sign up on my website www.lilycheng.ca. These will commence in the next month or two and we’ll have more details soon. |
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If this email was forwarded to you and you’d like to sign up for future newsletters, you can do so at www.lilycheng.ca --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Building a Connected Community in Willowdale. |
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