Shelley Carroll
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With the municipal election period beginning on August 1, this will be my last weekly E-Blast you'll receive until after Election Day. During the election blackout period, Members of Council are prohibited from distributing community newsletters, E-Blasts, flyers (except in emergencies), or organizing and hosting community events such as community meetings, Environment Days, or movie nights from…
Next week marks the final Council meeting of this term, and I’ll be sending one last E-Blast to update you on the important decisions we make before Council rises for the municipal election period. Before we get there, I wanted to continue a tradition I’ve always enjoyed at the end of each Council term: taking a moment to reflect on what we’ve accomplished together here in Don Valley North. Four…
Last Sunday, I was having a rant at dinner to my husband that if I couldn’t clean up certain development sites in my ward of Don Valley North, my intersections would soon look like The Bronx in the eighties. My grandson looked up and said, “What does that mean, The Bronx in the eighties?” I had to explain that while I was exaggerating for effect, I was describing a time in history when a collapse…
While recently we have seen a noticeable uptick in development application activity in Don Valley North, it’s still far less than we have seen in years past. However, a clear pattern is emerging in Don Valley North. Rather than brand-new proposals, much of what we're seeing are developers with existing approvals returning to request additional height. This isn't happening in a vacuum; new…
Happy Canada Day! It was wonderful seeing so many of you out celebrating at community events across Don Valley North yesterday. I always enjoy catching up with neighbours, hearing what's on your mind, and celebrating everything that makes our community so special. Now, I'm looking forward to my favourite event of the year—our annual Summer Celebration, and I hope you'll join me! We can even cheer…
This week marked the penultimate Council meeting of the term, and the agenda reflected that timing. Much of our work focused on routine planning and transportation items that need to move forward before the election break. Alongside that day-to-day business, Council also considered several major items, including landmark negotiations and agreements with the Provincial and Federal governments that…
If you've called my office about a pothole, an overflowing garbage bin, overgrown grass, a missed collection, or any number of neighbourhood concerns, you've probably had my team offer to file a 311-service request on your behalf. Or you’ve contacted 311 yourself, either by phone, using the app or filing out the online form. Reporting issues through 311 helps City staff identify problems quickly…
This week at Economic and Community Development Committee, we received an important update on Toronto's daytime drop-in network and the work underway to strengthen these services across the city. Last summer, I wrote about Toronto's plan to build new shelter spaces. The City's Street Needs Assessment showed that more than 15,000 people rely on shelters and emergency supports, and it confirmed the…
Every summer, I spend time visiting parks, community centres, neighbourhood events, and youth programs across Don Valley North. Some of my favourite conversations are with young people who are trying something new, whether it's their first summer job, a leadership program, a basketball league, or a community arts project. I remember speaking with a young resident last summer who told me that a…
Back in 1982, when Italy won the World Cup, my husband and I were young newlyweds. When the tournament began weeks earlier, I quickly discovered just how passionate my husband and father-in-law were about “The Beautiful Game.” By the time the final match arrived, I was completely swept up in the excitement right alongside them. As soon as the game ended, we jumped on the subway and headed to St.…
