​It was a full house at the College Street United Church on Thursday September 24th!  The event was well attended by the community and there were some interesting questions asked by residents.  Candidates responded to 5 questions: global issues IRG/protest rights, Bathurst parking restrictions negatively affecting businesses, Palmerston street congestion, reform needed for Toronto Community Housing and how to fight the removal of bike lanes on Bloor, Yonge and University. 

Audience questions that were asked only include: harm reduction, car subsidy increasing property tax, climate/TransformTO, increasing TTC bus service, Toronto Senior Strategy ineffectiveness, personal safety on the streets, policy opposition to Mayor, Toronto Police Service budget increase and Bickford Centre substandard maintenance. 

Thank you to the candidates, Keenan Courtis, Terri Hawkes, Mike Layton, Karina Lemke, Alice Li, Gian Pileri, Paul Viret and Diana Yoon, for participating.  Appreciation to Gus Sinclair for moderating.

The debate was organized by ABC Residents Association, Annex Residents Association, Bay Cloverhill Community Association, Harbord Village Residents Association, Palmerston Area Residents Association and Seaton Village Residents Association. 

​For the latest information visit https://www.baycloverhill.com/queens-park-north.html. A new page on the Queen’s Park North forest has been launched.  A letter was sent to City Council in June 2026 with concerns about the Concept Plan motion.
 
The full staff report was released on June 9th.  Various meetings have been held with the Friends of Queen’s Park, as well as the City.
 
Concept plan elements:

• Learning Forest with elevated tree walk and understory planting area to be fenced
• King Edward VII statue to be relocated to SE corner
• Commemorative gardens in south end
• Wellesley streetscape improvements
• Café and washroom in centre of park
• Water feature, performance platform, council fire
• Great white oak bench to be kept
• Restoration of J. Austin Floyd fountain
• Running path to be maintained
• Pathways and benches updated
• New wayfinding and improved entry areas
• 30% of design drawings completed with community update to be scheduled

 
A 13 person Detailed Design Working Group advisory panel has been formed with meetings planned from September to December 2026.  Outstanding items are the Urban Forest Management Plan, Description of Cultural Heritage Values, Public Art Plan, Café Operations Plan, Operations and Maintenance Plan and Programming Framework.  Mulching and tree pruning will be starting in November 2026.  There will be a 2nd design review by Design Review Panel and Indigenous engagement in Fall 2026.  The final design and construction bid process will take place in Winter 2026, when a 20 seat advisory board to be formed, including BCCA and Friends of Queen’s Park North membership.  Phased construction for the north section of the park is planned for Spring 2027 to 2028, with the south section construction scheduled for Spring 2028 to Fall 2029.

Production issues have delayed installation of the Primrose statue plaque in Clover Hill Park that was planned for July 2026.  A work order has been submitted for reinstallation of the St. Nicholas sign at Wellesley.  Additional drainage will be installed at the Clover Hill splash pad in Spring 2027 to redirect water drainage away from grass areas.  Volunteers installed ‘Don’t Ride on the Sidewalk’ decals on Monday June 22nd.
 
All residents are encouraged to vote and increase the typically low 20% of voter turnout.  Information on the municipal election is available at www.baycloverhill.com/elections.  Vote in person on Monday October 26th from 10 am to 8 pm.  Advance voting is from Tuesday October 6th to Sunday October 11th from 10 am to 7 pm.  Register for vote by mail register now available; votes must be received by Wednesday October 14th at 12 noon.  TDSB School Trustee boundaries changed in April 2026, the Bay Cloverhill neighbourhood is now in Ward 7 instead of Ward 10.  General election info at https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/elections/candidate-list/.
 
There are 53 registered candidates for Mayor.  The incumbent Olivia Chow was elected in 2023 as Mayor.  She was a Councillor from 1991 to 2005 and NDP MP for Trinity Spadina from 2006 to 2014. Olivia unsuccessfully campaigned for mayor in 2014.  High profile candidates are Brad Bradford, a former planner and has been the Beaches-East York Councillor since 2018; and Chris Alexander, a former diplomat and Conservative MP, was Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.
 
University Rosedale Ward 11 is 14 square kilometres.  It includes the University of Toronto St. George campus and notable neighbourhoods like Yorkville, Rosedale, The Annex and Discovery District.  The average number of renters is about 50%, which is typical for Toronto .  The population was just over 102,000 in 2021.  The average household income of about $170k exceeds the city average of $129k.  There are 9 candidates for Councillor: Keenan Courtis, Dana Fisher, Terri Hawkes, Mike Layton, Karina Lemke, Alice Li, Huy Leiu, Gian Pileri and Diana Yoon.  The incumbent Councillor Dianne Saxe is running in Toronto Danforth Councillor.  Mike Layton was the area Councillor from 2010 to 2022.  Dana Fisher is a legal aid lawyer. Terri Hawkes is a voice actor and part of Annex Residents Association.  Alice Li is a Chartered Professional Accountant.  Diana Yoon is an affordable housing worker, ran for MP Spadina Fort York in 2019, and she withdrew from University Rosedale Councillor election in 2022.
 
Toronto Centre Ward 13 is the smallest ward in the City at 6 square kilometres.  Notable neighbourhoods include Church Wellesley Village, Regent Park, St. James Town, and Cabbagetown. About 75% of Toronto Centre residents rent, well above the city average of just under 50%. One of the most densely populated in Toronto with almost 117,000 residents in 2021.  The area has seen above average growth. There are 11 candidates: Joe Cadeau, Tom Cai, Victoria Davis, Morgan Harris, Walied Khogali Ali, Norman MacLeod, Cleveland Marshall, Chris Moise (incumbent), Curran Stikuts, Daniel Tate and Nicki Ward.  Curran Stikuts was endorsed by MPP Wong-Tam, he has worked at The 519. Walied Khogali Ali is the Co-Chair of Regent Park Neighbourhood Association.  Cleveland Marshall has run previously for mayor, MP and Toronto Centre Councillor.  Daniel Tate is the Executive Director of IntegrityTO.  Nicki Ward has run in 6 municipal, federal, provincial elections since 2018.
 
There are 4 school boards in Bay Cloverhill: Toronto District School Board Ward 7, Toronto Catholic District School Board Ward 9, Conseil scolaire Viamonde Ward 3 – Centre, Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir Ward 3- Toronto Ouest.  Voting is restricted to residential owners or renters who direct property taxes to support a school board, plus meet religious and/or language criteria.  Supervisors were appointed by the provincial government for TDSB and TCDSB in June 2025.  The maximum number of wards was reduced to 12 in April 2026.  Details on Trustee candidates www.baycloverhill.com/elections
 
Resurfacing and utility work on Breadalbane is complete, with the Neighbourhood Project in progress, including pedestrian crossing to Opera Place Park, benches and pollinator planters. Grosvenor and Queen’s Park Crescent resurfacing and Toronto Water watermain work continues, completion Q4 2026.
 
The patio was installed at Shamshiri.  There were traffic issues during the Trans March and Dyke Rally on St. Joseph Street. The possibility of local access on St. Joseph Street was raised at Toronto Centre Ward Council.  Sewer rehabilitation on St. Joseph from Queen’s Park East to Yonge is underway. Extra fencing was installed on the St. Joseph pollinator gardens near Yonge due to vehicle collisions.
 
Since the last meeting, there have been many new restaurants:  99 Grill Burger & Steak, 692 Yonge; Banh Mi Sala, 879 Bay; Leena’s Cookies, 14 Irwin; Mia Brunch Bar, 21 Grenville; Sushi 9, 76 Grenville; TeaByDo, 672 Yonge and Chef Reza, 570 Yonge.  Two restaurants are under construction: Xi Noodle House, 510 Yonge and Daymi, 586 Yonge.  Numerous restaurants have closed or relocated: Centre Street Deli, Diner’s Corner, Firkin on Bay, Mars Village Eatery, Monga Chicken, Not Just Noodles. Sol Pizza, Thai Express and The Oaks Kafe.  Fat Bastard Burrito is temporarily closed.
 
$120k in Section 37 funds from Immix 494 Yonge have been allocated for pole wraps on existing hydro poles and traffic signal poles along the Clock Tower Trail route.  Council approved 2026.MM43.25 Authorization to Release Section 37 Funds for Clock Tower Trail Wayfinding and Placemaking Pole Wraps in July 2026.  The wayfinding graphics will provide visual cues.  A memo has been sent to BIA’s regarding pole wrap usage.  A new website page is available www.baycloverhill.com/ctt.
 
Resurfacing and utility work on Breadalbane is complete, with the Neighbourhood Project in progress, including pedestrian crossing to Opera Place Park, benches and pollinator planters. Grosvenor and Queen’s Park Crescent resurfacing and Toronto Water watermain work continues, completion Q4 2026.
 
Sewer and TTC track replacement continues on College and Carlton Streets.  Streetcars are on diversion with partial bus replacement. There is no westbound vehicle traffic on College Street from Bay Street to Yonge Street but it should be restored by the end of September.  Work on Carlton Street from Yonge to Church was completed in mid-September.  Updates at www.toronto.ca/CollegeCarlton and www.ttc.ca/CollegeStreet .
 
T.O. Inview provides interactive information on infrastructure projects at https://map.toronto.ca/toinview/.  Current projects in our neighbourhood on Bay, College, Charles, St. Joseph, Breadalbane, Grosvenor, Terauley includes sewer replacement; Rogers, Beanfield, Toronto Hydro utility work and road resurfacing and sidewalk expansion.
 
Permanent curb and road cut restorations were completed on Irwin Street in mid-August.   Tree bed expansions and surrounds will be installed on both sides of St. Nicholas from Phipps to Irwin and both sides of Irwin from St. Nicholas to Bay in front of the townhouses/Polo I/Polo II.

The Zoning Bylaw Amendment and construction staging area for 2G 26 Grenville/27 Grosvenor was passed at Toronto East York Community Council on July 8th.  Construction on the south side of Grosvenor from December 2026 to March 2028, the north side of Grenville from September 2026 to March 2028 and on St Vincent Lane from September 2026 to March 2028.  More information at www.grenvillegrosvenor.com.
 
The Official Plan Amendment Zoning Bylaw Amendment for the 1075 Bay development passed at Toronto East York Community Council on July 8th and at City Council on July 29th-31st as item 2026.TE34.32.  There was an amendment to permit parking.  There will be a pedestrian walkway from Inkerman to St. Mary.  We are advocating for parkland instead of cash-in-lieu as well as conversion of the adjacent unused laneway to green space.

Al R. asked about the status of the proposed Kelly Library development.  St. Mike's last advised that they would wait to start until construction was complete at the nearby Basilian Brothers project. 

​There were a dozen community meetings attended with elected officials, city staff and residents.  Details are available in the meeting presentation at https://www.baycloverhill.com/information.html.

There are currently 2 vacant director positions for 3 year terms starting January 1st.  An individual must be an active Building Representative for at least 6 months and be nominated by 2 Building Representatives at the meeting.  No nominations were received.
 
In July, the federal government put a pause on the expansion for jets at Billy Bishop Airport.
 
The province appeal was successful in removal of bike lanes on Bloor, Yonge and University outlined in Bill 212, Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act.  Queen’s Park Crescent not specifically detailed, but appears to be included in the planned removal of bike lanes.
 
One of the community garden signs had to be installed in the Irwin garden.  Mulch, soil and pine cones have been put into the St. Joseph pollinator gardens.
 
The Greater Yorkville Residents Association and Bloor Yorkville Business Improvement Area advocated for two way traffic flow on Charles Street West between Yonge and Balmuto at the Toronto and East York Community Council item 2021.TE26.83 and again at the September 18, 2025 meeting item 2025.TE25.64 for a city transportation study in Q4 2025 with potential implementation in Q1 2026.  Transportation Services issued a report in March 2026.  There was no consultation with BCCA and we have concerns about safety with vehicle speeds increasing, and the loss of street parking.
 
The residences at 44 St. Joseph and businesses at 1033 Bay have experienced problems with trespassers and break ins.  They undertook a recommended Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design assessment, which has resulted in a reduction of incidents.
 
It has been suggested that perennials would improve the planters on the north side of Breadalbane, by Dr. Lillian MacGregor Park.

Events until the end of the year were reviewed.  Details at https://www.baycloverhill.com/specialevents.html.