The Toronto Community Champion Award provides residents with an opportunity to shine a spotlight on community organizations and the work they do to strengthen neighbourhoods and benefit the health and well-being of community members and residents.
The Changing Cultures of Regent Park and Downtown East
Recently, Indigenous youth took centre stage to share their priorities on health, housing, and culture with federal leaders. Hosted by Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre at the Spirit Garden in Nathan Phillips Square, the dialogue offered a rare opportunity for youth to speak directly with Crown–Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty and Toronto Centre MP Evan Solomon. Guided by Andrea Chrisjohn of Council Fire, Indigenous youth spoke candidly about the challenges they face every day, including access to safe and affordable housing, mental health supports, food security, and the preservation of their language and culture. They emphasized the importance of being included in decisions that affect their lives and communities, showing a strong commitment to shaping a future where youth voices are not just heard but actively drive meaningful change. Terra Roy, an Anishinaabe Nation representative on the Ontario First Nations Young Peoples Council, stressed the importance of…
Toronto Centre MP and Canada’s Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, Evan Solomon, is preparing to open his new constituency office at 409 Parliament Street, near the busy intersection of Gerard and Parliament in Regent Park. Designed as a welcoming and accessible hub, the office will allow residents to meet in person, raise local concerns, and access federal services. RPTV visited the site and documented the exterior, where a truck was parked as final preparations were underway. While the interior remains under wraps, a team member confirmed off-camera that a grand opening will soon be held to welcome the community. The move follows an incident at Solomon’s former office over the Labour Day weekend, when pro-Palestine posters, a political cartoon, and the name of a journalist killed in an Israeli airstrike were plastered on the entrance. Solomon condemned the vandalism, stressing that peaceful protest is a democratic right but intimidation has no place.…
Residents filled the Regent Park Community Centre on 17th September for a town hall hosted by Ward 13 Councillor Chris Moise and his staff. The meeting gave the community an opportunity to hear updates on city priorities while raising concerns on issues ranging from housing and safety to recreation access. Councillor Moise highlighted the City’s updated approach to homelessness and encampments. The protocol, he explained, emphasizes engaging individuals, connecting them with supports, and offering pathways into housing before removing unoccupied structures. Moise pointed to recent successes in moving people into shelter and housing, while stressing the need for compassion and consistency. Community safety was another top concern. Moise detailed quarterly meetings with Neighbourhood Community Officers and monthly Community Safety Network sessions, designed to keep communication open between residents and police. He also introduced improvements under the Downtown East Action Plan…
This month marks five years since Samuel Kisitu arrived from Uganda in September 2019, fleeing political persecution under President Museveni’s 40-year dictatorship. In exile, he named himself “Freeman” and put on the red beret of the People Power Movement, inspired by Bobi Wine’s call for democratic change. He is now a proud member of the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change and the National Unity Platform – People Power Movement, Canada Chapter. His journey in Toronto has carried him from nights at Dominion Church’s temporary shelter to reuniting with his family and welcoming a new child. Before finally securing affordable housing in December 2023, he was among more than 15,000 people experiencing homelessness in the city. Along the way, he became a contributing voice in Toronto’s Downtown East, helping organize during last year’s refugee housing emergency, when African-led groups and churches stepped in to shelter asylum seekers as the city’s system buckled under…
Regent Park’s Big Park was alive with music, food, and community spirit on Sunday, August 31, as hundreds of residents gathered for the 34th Annual Sunday in the Park. The long-standing tradition, organized by local groups and volunteers, once again brought neighbours together for an afternoon of cultural performances, games, and shared meals. Running from noon to 5 p.m., the event offered something for all ages. Families enjoyed children’s games, bingo, and face painting, while the main stage showcased live music and cultural performances reflecting Regent Park’s diversity. Local vendors and community organizations set up booths throughout the park, offering resources and services to residents. From housing and job opportunities to healthcare support and other civic issues, groups were on hand to connect with neighbours and provide help where it was needed most. A highlight of the day was the free community BBQ, where volunteers served food to long lines of neighbours,…
RPTV’s Indigenous coverage continues with highlights from a recent media conference hosted by the Chiefs of Ontario during the 2nd Annual First Nations Community Wellness Conference in the heart of Toronto. The event brought together First Nations leadership, youth representatives, and community advocates to address urgent challenges affecting communities across Ontario — including those living in Toronto. Speakers discussed the social determinants of health impacting First Nations communities, such as housing, infrastructure, education, land-based connections, and economic stability. Leaders also raised serious concerns about the impacts of Bill 5 and Bill C-5, which they argue threaten Treaty rights and First Nations sovereignty. Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict was joined by Chief Shelly Moore-Frappier of Temagami First Nation, Chief R. Donald Maracle of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, and Kyra Willoughby from the Ontario First Nations Young Peoples Council. This…
At Queen’s Park, NDP-MPPs and community advocates came together to demand immediate action on Ontario’s escalating overdose crisis. Among them was Toronto Centre MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam, who joined Dr. Robin Lennox, Alexa Gilmour, community advocate Diana Chan McNally, and parent Heather Robinson, whose son David tragically died of an overdose at just 17. Last year, Ontario lost 2,244 people to drug overdoses. Since the onset of the poisoned drug supply, more Ontarians have died from overdoses than from COVID-19, yet the province still lacks a coordinated strategy to address this public health emergency. Speakers stressed that the closure of Safe Consumption Sites has worsened conditions across Ontario, forcing people into streets, parks, and alleyways, while increasing overdose risks and creating unsafe environments for entire communities. For Toronto’s Downtown East — including Regent Park and Moss Park — the crisis is deeply personal. These neighbourhoods are among the…
At Queen’s Park, NDP-MPPs and community advocates came together to demand immediate action on Ontario’s escalating overdose crisis. Among them was Toronto Centre MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam, who joined Dr. Robin Lennox, Alexa Gilmour, community advocate Diana Chan McNally, and parent Heather Robinson, whose son David tragically died of an overdose at just 17. Last year, Ontario lost 2,244 people to drug overdoses. Since the onset of the poisoned drug supply, more Ontarians have died from overdoses than from COVID-19, yet the province still lacks a coordinated strategy to address this public health emergency. Speakers stressed that the closure of Safe Consumption Sites has worsened conditions across Ontario, forcing people into streets, parks, and alleyways, while increasing overdose risks and creating unsafe environments for entire communities. For Toronto’s Downtown East — including Regent Park and Moss Park — the crisis is deeply personal. These neighbourhoods are among the…
The Focus Media Arts program will be offering free documentary filmmaking workshops through September 30th to December 3rd 2025. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 5pm to 7pm Ages 15-30.
Toronto’s bylaws require landlords to maintain indoor temperatures of at least 21 °C from October 1 to May 15 and, for units with air conditioning, no more than 26 °C from June 1 to September 30.
Get a tree planted in your backyard at a subsidized cost.
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Toronto’s Downtown East was home to an inspiring moment of Indigenous-led healing on July 23. Hosted by the Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre, the 2025 Indigenous Health Gathering took place at the Spaces Building in Moss Park. Under the theme Healing Our Inner Child, the event welcomed community members into a day of ceremony, care, and connection. The Red Bear Singers—residential school survivors—opened the gathering with traditional songs and drums, grounding the space in cultural presence. Around the hall, Indigenous health organizations shared tools and knowledge, including Toronto Public Health, CAMH’s Shkaabe Makwa, and 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations. RPTV’s Thunder Cloud interviewed First Nations participants and health advocates, spotlighting services rooted in Indigenous knowledge and addressing the needs of urban Indigenous communities. A powerful teaching came from Anishinaabe Grandmother Vivian Recollet, spirit name Bigasohn Kwe, who spoke on the…
The City of Toronto officially renamed the Sumach-Shuter Parkette to Louis March Park, in honour of the late community leader and anti-gun violence advocate. A ceremony on July 20 brought together elected officials, community organizers, and residents to recognize March’s decades-long commitment to youth, justice, and healing. The event, held in Regent Park, featured a land acknowledgment, a libation ceremony, spoken word performances, and tributes from those who worked closely with March. Mayor Olivia Chow, Ward 13 Councillor Chris Moise, and MPP Chris Glover all delivered remarks highlighting March’s influence across Toronto, particularly in communities most impacted by violence. Louis March founded the Zero Gun Violence Movement and worked tirelessly to address the root causes of youth violence. His outreach extended to neighbourhoods like Regent Park, where he often collaborated with local organizations, supported grieving families, and organized events promoting peace and…
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Early Saturday morning, a vehicle crashed into the front of Café ZUZU, a well-known café in Toronto’s Regent Park neighbourhood, near the corner of Dundas Street East and Sackville Street. Toronto Police say they responded to the single-vehicle collision just before 4:30 a.m. A 36-year-old woman was arrested at the scene for suspected impaired driving. Photos from the crash show shattered glass, twisted metal, and significant damage to the café’s front entrance. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, as Café ZUZU was closed when the crash occurred. Despite the destruction, Café ZUZU has already reopened. Staff, with the help of emergency responders and support from the local community, acted quickly to clean up and restore the space. For many in the area, the café is more than a restaurant — it's a key part of the neighbourhood and a place where people come together. RPTV reporters Jabin and Miguel visited the crash site and spoke with Tyler Rutherford, Director of…
The recent renaming of the Sumach-Shuter Parkette to Louis March Park has ignited tensions in a neighbourhood. The change, passed at Toronto City Council in May and led by Councillor Chris Moise, is meant to honour the late community leader and founder of the Zero Gun Violence Movement. March, who passed away in 2024, was widely admired for his advocacy in youth empowerment, violence prevention, and justice reform. But for some residents of Trefann Court and the surrounding Corktown area — who live closest to the parkette — the renaming has raised questions not about the man being honoured, but about the process behind the decision. “This is our park — our choice — and that was taken away from us,” said Shane Omar, a resident of Regent Park for over 20 years. “The city says it wants to be transparent, but this wasn’t transparency.” The parkette, affectionately known by locals as “Stinky’s Park,” sits just east of Parliament Street, near Sumach and Shuter. It was…
At a time of rising concern for public education in Toronto, Regent Park TV sat down with TDSB Trustee Deborah Williams for an important conversation about what’s happening behind the scenes. The interview, recorded at the Focus Media Arts Centre in Regent Park, comes days after the Ontario government placed the Toronto District School Board—and three other major boards—under provincial supervision. Trustee Williams, who represents Ward 10 (University–Rosedale and Toronto Centre), explains what this decision means for students, families, and communities like Regent Park in Toronto’s Downtown East. Since June 27, elected trustees have been stripped of their ability to make decisions, hold meetings, or connect with constituents using board resources. Williams challenges the province’s justification of “financial mismanagement,” pointing instead to chronic underfunding and a growing political agenda that includes Bill 33—a proposed law that would bring police back into…
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