Happy 75th Anniversary, CCRA!
Congratulations CCRA on 75 great years! I had the honour of serving as CCRA President from 2015-2017. It was daunting to take over the role of president from Jeff Forsyth, but it was an honour to serve our community and witness the amazing advocacy and dedication of local volunteers. The leadership of current President Kathy Rowe over the past seven years has been unwavering and inspiring.
I have many fond memories thanks to CCRA. Some of my favourites include watching the Port Union Plaza mural take form, attending dances, concerts and festivals with neighbours, and reading our local Centennial News with my CCRA mug on Saturday mornings. Thank you to all the CCRA executive and volunteers that make our Centennial community such a wonderful place.
Your Toronto Zoo is 50!
This summer, we celebrated 50 years of memories at the Toronto Zoo and recognized their leadership in animal care, conservation, education, and environmental stewardship.
This year, the zoo also welcomed visitors to the new greenhouse, featuring immersive botanical displays that provide food and habitat for the zoo’s animals. Two beautiful, accessible boardwalks also opened this year. One is named the “David C. Onley Trail” and is dedicated to our wonderful local resident who passed away last year.
In July, we broke ground for the new Community Conservation Centre and Front Entrance. In partnership with the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC), the centre will feature multiple labs and classrooms for UTSC researchers and students. It will also house the zoo’s endangered turtle conservation centre and an engaging river otter habitat.
‘Solve the Crisis’ Together
I have the honour of representing Toronto at the Ontario’s Big City Mayors meetings. We have launched the “Solve the Crisis” campaign to take action on homelessness, addiction and mental health.
The campaign requests the provincial government to:
- Appoint a single minister to address the full spectrum of housing needs, as well as mental health and addictions;
- Strike a task force with stakeholders to develop a Made in Ontario Action Plan;
- Provide municipalities with tools and resources to transition those in encampments to more appropriate supports;
- Commit to funding the appropriate services these individuals need; and
- Invest in 24/7 Community Hubs/Crisis Centres.
The impacts of homelessness are growing. We have more than 12,000 people in our shelter system, we turn away an average of 226 people daily, and we have more than 430 encampments. In Toronto, 76 percent of people experiencing homelessness have one or more health issues, including addiction, mental health, or chronic medical conditions.
To relieve pressure on emergency centres and first responders, we need crisis centres across Toronto, including in Scarborough. I will continue this advocacy as I represent our beautiful community of Scarborough-Rouge Park at Toronto City Hall.
Visit solvethecrisis.ca to learn more and show your support.