Your Community

Istar Restaurant, located close to Islington Avenue and Dixon Road in Etobicoke, has become a popular spot for Somali cuisine.

With over 60 per cent of its population made up of visible minority groups, it’s an understatement to say Kingsview Village-The Westway is diverse. Bordered by Highway 401 and The Westway, this suburban…

As ‘Your Community’ highlights Kingsview Village-The Westway in Etobicoke, Nick Westoll visits Istar Restaurant to hear how it has become a thriving hub for Somali cuisine and community members.

The Green Line team visited Kingsview Village Jr. Public School to learn how CILAR and GlobalDWS are working with students from grades 2 to 5 to demystify AI and robotics.

East Scarborough Storefront, which focuses on supporting resident-led initiatives, is located on Lawrence Avenue East near Galloway Road.

For some, school is stimulating. But for others, it can be really rote — a learning style that doesn’t suit everyone. That’s why one group in Scarborough launched an innovative teaching model…

As ‘Your Community’ tours Kingston Galloway Orton Park, Nick Westoll visits East Scarborough Storefront. The non-profit has various services to support neighbourhood residents, but the organization’s main goal is to support resident-led initiatives.

The Green Line team visited Willow Park Jr. Public School in Scarborough to learn how The Reading Partnership is bringing together local non-profits, parents and schools to improve children’s literacy in the neighbourhood.

Toronto is growing every day — not just in terms of people, but prices, too. Buying a home, especially, seems like a pipe dream in today’s housing market. But one group in Bloordale Village believes…

As ‘Your Community’ visits Bloordale Village, Nick Westoll speaks with members of the Bloordale BIA about the Toronto neighbourhood and efforts to highlight small businesses.

The Green Line team checked out a co-owned house in Toronto’s west end to learn how two or more people can pool resources and buy a property together.

Mashud Siddique handed out 1,000 free rotis from his Vena’s Restaurant near Bloor and Lansdowne. This isn’t the first time Siddique has handed out free food. He’s done it off and on since 1998 after a…

With warmer winters and hotter summers, Torontonians are feeling the effects of climate change. So, one neighbourhood is working to build a more sustainable future at the hyperlocal level. In The Pocket,…

Kapapamahchakwew – Wandering Spirit School is an Indigenous-focused school in east-end Toronto. It has around 160 students and 20 staff.

The Green Line team spoke with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority to learn how it’s helping residents build a Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Plan. 

As ‘Your Community’ visits The Pocket neighbourhood in Toronto, we got a chance to visit the TDSB’s Kapapamahchakwew – Wandering Spirit School to learn more about how it is supporting and empowering Indigenous students. Nick Westoll reports.

School is back in full swing and students are juggling classes, life and work. But all work and no play can leave you feeling empty. That’s why one company in the Garden District is trying to combat loneliness…

City of Toronto workers attended Allan Gardens Friday morning to begin a day-long clearout of a long-standing encampment.

The Green Line team visited Toronto Metropolitan University to learn how students are combating isolation in the city. 

The City of Toronto moved to clear encampments at Allan Gardens after more than a year of efforts to do so. Nick Westoll speaks with a community advocate and Coun. Chris Moise to get their reactions.

Bordered by the busy Gardiner Expressway, Mimico-Queensway has seen a lot of traffic spill into its streets over the years. In 2015, residents decided to speak out against speeding vehicles. Nine years…

As ‘Your Community’ visits Etobicoke, Mimico Village is seeing a growing number of visitors from across the GTA who are coming to visit businesses like SanRemo. Oti’s Barber Shop is also a destination for big-name athletes. Nick Westoll reports.

The Green Line team drove west to Mimico-Queensway to learn how residents worked with their local councillor and the City of Toronto’s Transportation Services to build a neighbourhood-specific road safety plan.

Toronto Wildlife officials continue saving animals from the toxic sludge that poured into Mimico Creek after an industrial fire in Etobicoke last week. Videographer Audra Brown has more on the continued search.

One new walking tour in the downtown East End neighbourhood of Blake-Jones is teaching locals about Toronto’s rich Black history. Between 2007 and 2019, outdoor basketball nets were removed from schools…

The Green Line team walked with Lanrick Bennett Jr. to learn how his new walking tour is raising awareness about Black figures and historical events in Toronto’s East End.

As ‘Your Community’ visits the Blake-Jones neighbourhood, the Eastview Neighbourhood Community Centre serves as a vital hub for this area. Nick Westoll has more.

The TTC is holding its annual public open house on Sept. 16, 2023, in support of United Way Greater Toronto. Nick Westoll toured Greenwood Shop with the facility’s manager to get a preview.

One group in South Riverdale is working to make swimming accessible for all genders in Toronto by launching the city’s first-ever gender-diverse swim program in open waters. Cherry Beach has made…

Leslie Lookout Park is located just east of downtown Toronto on Leslie Street and south of Commissioners Street. It will open on Sept. 14.

Planning and consultations for the McCleary District and the Villiers Island precincts in the Toronto Port Lands area is still continuing.

The Green Line team hit up Cherry Beach to learn how the Toronto Queer Swim Club is making open water swimming accessible to all genders.

One group in Cabbagetown is making the most of summer foot traffic by launching a unique walking tour to support local businesses. At the height of COVID-19, Cabbagetown’s main street businesses took…

For nearly half a century, residents in Cabbagetown gather for a weekend to celebrate their community. As ‘Your Community’ visits Cabbagetown, Nick Westoll has more on the annual event.

The Green Line team walked around Cabbagetown to take the neighbourhood BIA’s unique tour that aims to support small businesses and highlight local history.

Movie lovers are flocking to Toronto this weekend to kick off the week-long Toronto International Film Festival. There are no scheduled subway closures this weekend, but there is a late subway opening…

One soccer group in the Scarborough suburb of Wexford is helping make the move to Toronto a little easier for refugees and other newcomers. “The area that we’re in, we have a lot of families, refugees…

The Taste of Lawrence food festival in Scarborough is marking its 20th anniversary. It will be held on part of Lawrence Avenue East between July 5 and 7. Wexford Heights BIA co-chair Yani Zhao tells us what we can expect.

The Taste of Lawrence, Scarborough’s largest street festival, has taken over part of Lawrence Avenue East. More than 150 vendors are participating in the 20th annual event.

Nick Westoll speaks with Scarborough Centre Coun. Michael Thompson about the history and the importance of the Taste of Lawrence festival.

For many African, Caribbean and Black communities, braiding is part of their self-care routine. That’s why a new salon in Keelesdale-Eglinton West is putting a twist on the braiding experience by…

Final work is underway at Mount Dennis station in west-end Toronto and a contract to build platforms at Caledonia station is out for bidding.

As ‘Your Community’ visits the neighbourhood of Keelesdale-Eglinton West, Nick Westoll looks at how this area and others nearby are set to see a surge of new transit services in the coming years.

CityNews recently toured Mount Dennis station. Along with several TTC bus routes, GO Transit and UP Express trains will eventually stop at the station. It will also be the initial western terminus of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT when it opens.

Although it’s only a few subway stops from the downtown core, the neighbourhood of Wychwood is a lot less hectic. Among its many green spaces is the Mashkikiiaki’ing, or Medicine Earth garden, a community…

Wychwood Barns in the heart of the Wychwood neighbourhood has become a destination for the arts. It’s also home to environmental groups like EcoSpark. Nick Westoll has more.

As Your Community visits the neighbourhood of Wychwood, Nick Westoll gets a tour of Wychwood Barns to learn more about the facility.

The Green Line team visited the Mashkikiiaki’ing or Medicine Earth garden to learn how Indigenous folks are keeping their cultural traditions alive in Toronto.

Transitioning from school to work isn’t easy, and it can be even harder for youth who’ve been in the criminal justice system. But one group in Dorset Park believes everyone deserves a second chance. From…

Winston Churchill Collegiate Institute is at the heart of Dorset Park. Staff and students are working together to foster inclusivity.

As people continue to talk about social media reviewer Keith Lee’s food tour of Toronto, a few of his stops happened in Scarborough. However, if you visit Dorset Park, Kennedy Road has around 100 food businesses to visit. Nick Westoll has more.

Located in the heart of Scarborough’s Dorset Park neighbourhood, Winston Churchill Collegiate Institute is an important community hub. Nick Westoll has more on the efforts to boost inclusivity and make school welcoming for all.

One group in Willowdale is helping underserved women gear up for job interviews with the help of fashion. But it’s more than just clothes, it’s about feeling confident. Willowdale is a lively suburb…

A community centre in the west end of Willowdale has become a destination for residents, providing a wide-range of needed programming. Bathurst-Finch Hub spokesperson Julie Callaghan points out that…

The Green Line team took the TTC to Willowdale to learn how Dress for Success’ programs help local women gain employment.

Nick Westoll gives us a tour of the Bathurst-Finch Hub where a local non-profit provides community support.

The Cedar Ridge Creative Centre in Scarborough has been municipally run since 1978. Its mission is to provide support for artists.

A local group is working to bring bicycle culture to Scarborough. Scarborough Cycles is a bike hub in Golfdale-Cedarbrae-Woburn run by community health centre Access Alliance, and funded by the City…

Students and staff at Cedarbrae Collegiate Institute are working on two major events for April 25, 2024. There will be a wellness and empowerment day along with a school-wide luncheon. Nick Westoll speaks with several of the organizers.

The Green Line team visited Golfdale-Cedarbrae-Woburn to learn how one local bike hub is filling in transportation gaps.

One theatre program in Flemingdon Park is working to make sex education less intimidating to youth. The North York neighbourhood became a flashpoint in 2015 during the controversy over Ontario’s updated…

Flemingdon Park is one of Toronto’s most troubled neighbourhoods, but, as Kevin Frankish reports, there are some working hard to bring some light and hope to the community.

With nearly 1,800 students from various backgrounds, Mark Garneau Collegiate Institute in Flemingdon Park is among Toronto’s biggest high schools. So when it comes to ensuring every student can have…

Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute in Flemingdon Park is one of Toronto’s biggest high schools and it is equipped with a commercial teaching kitchen. As Nick Westoll reports, students are working to make sure the community is fed.

Little Ethiopia is largely concentrated on Danforth Avenue between Greenwood and Coxwell avenues in Toronto.

For those with disabilities, attending a show at just any Toronto venue isn’t that simple. That’s why one local theatre in Greenwood-Coxwell is trying to change that. The Redwood Theatre has been a…

While many might associated Danforth Avenue with Greektown, there are other cultural districts on the vital east-end Toronto corridor. One area that continues to thrive is Little Ethiopia. Nick Westoll has more.

The Green Line learned how the theatre’s innovative technology helps people with hearing loss feel sound.

St. James Town, a culturally diverse neighbourhood just north of Cabbagetown, is popularly known as “a world within a block.” More than 20,000 residents live within roughly half a square kilometre….

The Corner provides a wide variety of social, health and economic supports for residents in the downtown Toronto neighbourhood of St. James Town.

The Green Line team spoke with St. James Town Co-Op to see how they’re building climate resilience and feeding residents through the OASIS Food Hub.

In the downtown Toronto neighbourhood of St. James Town, ‘The Corner’ is a non-profit agency providing a wide variety of community programs. Nick Westoll visits the organization’s share and reuse space to learn more.

The Junction Residents Association has developed the ‘Hate has no home here’ campaign.

DJ equipment costs a pretty penny and this financial barrier blocks many Torontonians from learning the artform. The Junction’s DJing community has seen ups and downs since the COVID-19 pandemic flatlined…

The Green Line visited The Junction to learn how Offshore Studio is helping locals learn DJing skills without the financial stress.

In order to build inclusivity in The Junction neighbourhood, a group of residents has developed the ‘Hate has no home here’ campaign. Nick Westoll has more.

In the north end of Toronto, the neighbourhood of Downsview is best known for its urban park.  Nestled in this expansive green space is the Toronto Black Farmers and Food Growers Collective, which…

A planning process is underway for the massive 520-acre Downsview site. It’s expected there will be 100,000 people living in the area by 2050.

The Green Line team spoke with the Toronto Black Farmers and Food Growers Collective to learn how they’re empowering local residents in Downsview by teaching them how to farm.

The company leading the massive redevelopment of the Downsview airport lands is preparing to shut down the airfield in mid-2024 as work to transform the 520-acre site over 30 years ramps up. Nick Westoll reports.

Healthcare providers can now prescribe a trip to the Toronto Zoo as part of a new service that encourages locals to get out and enjoy nature to improve their mental health. So, the next time you visit…

The Malvern Family Resource Centre is an in-demand hub of various supports and programming in Morningside Heights and northeast Scarborough. Nick Westoll has more on what’s on offer.

The Green Line took a trip to the Toronto Zoo in Morningside Heights to learn how a new service is enabling medical professionals to prescribe a visit to the zoo for mental health care.

The Malvern Family Resource Centre is located on Littles Road in the middle of the Scarborough neighbourhood of Morningside Heights.

Scarborough Health Network has begun on a 10-year plan for redeveloping Birchmount Hospital. Also, a health hub is being built in L’Amoreaux.

Public art downtown is plentiful, but not all local artists have the same access to the resources everywhere in the city, including the Scarborough neighbourhood of L’Amoreaux. One organization, Next…

As Scarborough and the region continue to see an influx of new residents, planning is underway for a massive expansion at Birchmount Hospital. Nick Westoll has more on what this means for the L’Amoreaux neighbourhood and the surrounding community.

The Green Line checked out the VIEWS mural program in L’Amoreaux to learn how it’s helping local youth bring public art to Scarborough.

The Green Line team visited Scadding Court Community Centre to learn how their unique structure empowers them to run programs for the community, by the community.

Stella’s Place has provided mental health support to youth and young Toronto adults for 10 years. Since March, it has been in Alexandra Park.

Starting fresh in a new city — let alone a new country — can be overwhelming. But in the downtown west-end Toronto neighbourhood of Alexandra Park, a local community centre is helping newcomers…

Stella’s Place settled into its new space in Alexandra Park early in 2023, but for a decade it has provided mental health supports and services to people between 16 and 29 years old. Nick Westoll has more on the Toronto organization.

As Your Community visits Downtown Yonge East, CityNews visits The Teresa Group to learn more about its services.

A charity in Downtown Yonge East is working to make counselling and therapy more accessible, especially in a neighbourhood dominated by students. The direct and surrounding area, which houses universities…

In the heart of Downtown Yonge East, The Teresa Group is working to provide valuable supports to Toronto children and families affected by HIV and AIDS. Nick Westoll reports.

Hard Feelings is new to the Downtown Yonge East neighbourhood and has begun surveying to identify gaps in mental health aid. Its goal is to support local families and students with its low-cost counselling and programming.

Mounting food costs in recent years have left many Toronto families struggling to put food on the table. That’s why one Weston-based organization is taking a creative approach to fighting…

At ArtScape Weston Commons, many community organizations involved in the arts call this building home. UrbanArts is one of the core groups here and for 35 years they’ve been working to build up Weston…

The Green Line team visited Frontlines, a youth charity in Weston, to learn how its unique program is teaching 18-to-29-year-olds how to cook for community members.

Urbanarts is celebrating more than 3 decades of providing a safe space for artists in the Weston community to express themselves in creative ways. Nick Westoll has more on how the community staple empowers art enthusiasts.

Stella’s Place has provided mental health support to youth and young Toronto adults for 10 years. Since March, it has been in Alexandra Park.

Starting fresh in a new city — let alone a new country — can be overwhelming. But in the downtown west-end Toronto neighbourhood of Alexandra Park, a local community centre is helping newcomers…

Stella’s Place settled into its new space in Alexandra Park early in 2023, but for a decade it has provided mental health supports and services to people between 16 and 29 years old. Nick Westoll has more on the Toronto organization.

The Green Line team visited Scadding Court Community Centre to learn how their unique structure empowers them to run programs for the community, by the community.

When it comes to community advocates, Sureya Ibrahim is well-known. In fact, she has been dubbed by some as the mayor of Regent Park She works with Mothers for Peace, a tight-knit organization that…

The Green Line team visited Regent Park to learn more about its new virtual community bulletin board, Hello Neighbour.

Mothers of Peace was born out of tragedies, but spreading light and love is also part of its focus. Nick Westoll has more on how the Regent Park community organization is helping to strengthen the neighbourhood.

A new app tailor-made for Regent Park is all about sharing news for community, by community. Hello Neighbour is a hyperlocal way to stay connected for Regent Park residents, and its creators now want…

All summer long, the last Sunday of the month is pedestrians-only in Kensington Market. It’s a chance to listen to live music, do a bit of shopping, and more. Here’s a look at what the market has to offer.

The El Mocambo in the Toronto neighbourhood of Kensington-Chinatown has been operating since this late-1940s.

Toronto’s Chinatown on Spadina and Dundas has witnessed a lot of ownership changes over the years. In March 2023, a condo developer purchased 315 to 325 Spadina Ave. to build a 13-story, mixed-use building,…

Mother’s Dumplings, a family-owned restaurant located on Spadina Avenue in Toronto’s Chinatown, is known for its homemade dishes. Husband and wife duo, Zhen Feng and Richard Stuart, first opened the…

Romeo and Karen Burton started their restaurant, Romeo’s Island Grill in September 2019, hoping to bring the flavours of Jamaica to the wider Rexdale community. “It’s our roots we’re both from Jamaica…

This year marks the 50th anniversary since hip-hop became established as both a musical genre and culture. In Toronto, neighbourhoods like Malvern and Rexdale are credited with producing the most hip-hop…

CityNews visited the Toronto community of Mount Olive – Silverstone – Jamestown to learn about the facilities as part of ‘Your Community.’

The North Kipling Community Centre and Rexdale Community Hub provide vital services to residents in the Mount Olive – Silverstone – Jamestown community. Nick Westoll has more on the centres and the connection to Toronto Raptors forward Dalano Banton.

Like many of Toronto’s distinct multicultural neighbourhoods, Little Portugal has seen changes fuelled by redevelopment and other factors. Nick Westoll has more on the efforts to preserve Portuguese and Lusophone culture.

Murals along Dundas Street West in Little Portugal are one of the ways the community’s history and culture are being preserved.

The Good Fork, located near Dundas Street West and Dufferin Street, is bringing Anatolian cuisine to Little Portugal in Toronto. It was started by two brothers, Ali and Tolga Yalcin. “We are Kurdish…

Emerging artists don’t often get their start in major galleries, but rather through grassroots collectives in unassuming parts of our city. BONAFIDE, a new local arts collective is pushing the definition…

Said to be the oldest bar in the city, The Wheatsheaf Tavern has been a staple of the West Queen West neighbourhood since it first opened in 1849. Through the years, the bar that sits at the corner…

As Your Community focuses on West Queen West, CityNews toured the CAMH grounds on Queen Street West to learn more about the organization.

A local cafe along Queen St. West has become a music haven for nearby residents, offering vinyls and live music. Brandon Rowe has more.

Toronto’s last municipal election in October saw the lowest voter turnout in history at just 30 per cent. That’s why a group of young Torontonians are trying to motivate people to vote in the upcoming…

Henry Farm is something the president of its Community Interest Association calls Toronto’s “best kept secret.” The small community in the northeastern part of Toronto was first established in 1809…

The online bakery ito Desserts and Gifts, based in the Henry Farm community near Don Mills Road and Sheppard Avenue East, offers a combination of French and Japanese pastries. The mini cake business…

The community centre in Henry Farm is helping seniors socialize by spreading the joy of music. Brandon Rowe has more on the program a number of people take part in every single week.

Dan Berry takes a look at the history of the Henry Farm community, who it was named after, and how it’s evolved over the last couple centuries.

Read this story on The Green Line Editor’s note: Olivier prefers the word “homeless” over the term “unhoused” since he strongly identifies with the former term. The “Golden Age of homelessness”…

Harbord Village in the University neighbourhood of Toronto is home to the well-loved Tranzac Club, but not-so-well-known are the impressive garage murals in nearby David French Lane that the club played…

Tranzac is a non-profit venue in Toronto’s University neighbourhood. CityNews videojournalist Daniel Berry has the details on how an ex pat gathering place became a nurturing home for Toronto’s independent artists of all mediums.

What do the late John Lennon, The Toronto Argonauts and Olympian Usain Bolt have in common? They all performed at Varsity Stadium. The location has been a home for sports since 1898, but the stadium…

In this edition of Your Community, CityNews spoke with three community advocates who share their pride for the Jane and Finch neighbourhood.

A new centre opening in the Jane and Finch area is taking a holistic, community-driven approach to addressing youth violence in the city. The Youth Association for Academics, Athletics and Character…

A decade ago, the Mohammed family started Debes Roti and Doubles, a staple for Trinidadian food in Toronto’s Jane and Finch community. The first location, which is now closed, was started by Jenny and…

Many people don’t know that Cabral “Cabbie” Richards spent his younger years growing up in Jane and Finch. Brandon Rowe got the opportunity to speak with the journalist about his upbringing and career.