December 2025 Holiday Newsletter
In this issue of my e-Newsletter, you will find information on:
City of Toronto Updates
Making City Events More Accessible
Supporting Youth with Disabilities
Changes to Blue-Bin
2025 Vacant Home Tax Declaration Reminder
Celebrate the New Year on Toronto’s Waterfront
Cavalcade of Lights at Nathan Phillips Square
Winter warming centres & cold weather safety
Snow clearing & sidewalk maintenance expectations
Scarborough North Updates
Asian Garden at Cynthia Lai Park
Scarborough North Budget Consultations Wrap-up
2025 Merry Malvern Holiday Market & Toy Drive
TTC Updates
Scarborough Busway Acceleration
Speeding Up LRTs and Streetcars
TTC Holiday Train
Free TTC Service on New Year’s Eve
Get Involved
Bernice Redmon Commemorative Petition
2026 City Budget Survey
What’s Coming in the New Year?
Dear Friends and Neighbours,
As 2025 comes to a close, I want to take a moment to thank you for your continued trust, your engagement, and your care for our community. Serving Scarborough North has been a privilege, and this past year has reinforced for me just how strong, diverse, and resilient our neighbourhoods are.
This year brought real challenges, from housing affordability to transit reliability, but it also brought progress. Together, we’ve moved forward on accessibility, inclusion, safer streets, and better transit for Scarborough North and for Toronto as a whole.
Just as importantly, 2025 was a year of showing up and staying connected. From Merry Malvern and ice cream socials to job fairs, basketball court meetings, and office pop-ups across the ward, I had the opportunity to meet thousands of residents where you live, work, and gather. These conversations whether about transit, safety, jobs, or neighbourhood concerns, continue to shape the work I bring to City Hall. I’ve also introduced a Ward 23 Progress Map for you to take a look at all the progress we’ve made together in our community.
This year, we also hosted three budget consultations, hearing directly from residents about your priorities and the investments you want to see in our community. That feedback is already informing our work as we head into the 2026 City Budget, and I look forward to continuing those conversations in the new year.
As we enter the holiday season and prepare for 2026, I hope this update helps you stay informed, connected, and supported. My team and I remain here for you during the holidays and beyond and I look forward to seeing many of you again in the months ahead as we continue this work together.
Wishing you and your loved ones a safe, joyful, and peaceful holiday season.
Yours sincerely,
Jamaal Myers
City of Toronto Updates
Making City Events More Accessible (EC25.12)
Too many City-run events still have barriers that prevent people with disabilities from fully participating.
My motion supports the creation of a practical, easy-to-use accessibility handbook for event organizers — with clear guidance, plain language, and simple checklists to build accessibility in from the start.
Accessibility should never be an afterthought. When we bring people together, everyone deserves to be able to take part fully and with dignity.
Supporting Opportunities for Youth with Disabilities
Youth with disabilities deserve real pathways into civic leadership.
My motion directs City staff to explore a structured fellowship program that offers meaningful work, mentorship, and hands-on experience in City Hall — not token placements.
Inclusive leadership strengthens our institutions and ensures City decisions reflect the full diversity of Toronto.
Changes to Toronto’s Residential Recycling Program
Starting January 1, 2026, residential recycling collection will transition to a new province-mandated system.
The City of Toronto will no longer collect residential recycling
A new provider, Circular Materials, will be responsible for recycling collection and services
This change is required under provincial regulation (O. Reg. 391/21 – Blue Box)
Important:
There are no changes to your recycling routine until December 31, 2025.
For missed pickups or bin repairs in 2025, continue to contact 311.
Starting January 1, 2026, recycling service requests will be handled by Circular Materials via their customer service line and website.
Vacant Home Tax – 2025 Declaration Reminder
Homeowners must declare their property’s 2025 occupancy status by April 30, 2026.
The Vacant Home Tax encourages owners of unused residential properties to rent or sell them, helping increase housing supply across Toronto. Revenue from the program supports affordable housing initiatives citywide.
Support is available in more than 180 languages by calling 311.
Residents who prefer to file their declaration in person or need additional assistance can visit the following City service counters:
Scarborough Civic Centre,
150 Borough Drive, Scarborough
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Services: 311 counter support; Property tax and utility inquiries and payments; Assistance related to Vacant Home Tax declarations
Toronto City Hall,
100 Queen Street West, Toronto
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Services: 311 counter support; Property tax and utility inquiries and payments
If you have questions or need help navigating the Vacant Home Tax declaration process, my office is also available to help connect you with the right City resources.
Winter Warming Centres & Cold Weather Safety
As winter sets in, the City of Toronto activates additional warming centres and emergency supports during extreme cold weather to help residents stay safe.
Warming centres provide a safe, heated place to rest, access washrooms, and connect with supports — particularly for people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. Locations and hours are expanded when cold weather alerts are issued.
Residents are encouraged to:
Check on seniors, neighbours, and anyone who may be vulnerable to cold
Dress in layers and limit time outdoors during extreme cold
Call 311 to find the nearest warming centre or to request outreach support for someone in need
Protecting health and safety during winter is a shared responsibility, and City services are in place to support residents through the coldest months.
Snow Clearing & Sidewalk Maintenance – What to Expect
The City of Toronto has a coordinated snow response plan to keep roads, sidewalks, and transit routes safe and accessible throughout the winter.
After a snowfall:
Main roads and transit routes are prioritized for plowing and salting
Residential streets are cleared as conditions allow
Sidewalks are typically cleared within 12 to 24 hours, depending on snowfall amounts
Property owners are responsible for clearing snow and ice from sidewalks adjacent to their homes or businesses, as required by City bylaw.
If you encounter unplowed streets, icy sidewalks, or blocked bus stops, you can report concerns to 311. If an issue remains unresolved, residents are encouraged to contact my office with your 311 case so we can follow up with City staff.
Keeping Scarborough North moving safely in winter requires coordination — and timely reporting helps ensure issues are addressed as quickly as possible.
Celebrate the New Year on Toronto’s Waterfront
Ring in 2026 with a free celebration along Toronto’s waterfront.
On December 31, enjoy pop-up performances, live entertainment, and a spectacular midnight fireworks display stretching from Sherbourne Common to Toronto Music Garden.
Cavalcade of Lights – A Toronto Tradition
The City’s Cavalcade of Lights continues through January 7 at Nathan Phillips Square.
Enjoy the illuminated tree, festive skating, and thousands of glowing lights nightly from dusk until 11 p.m. Free skate rentals are available on Saturdays during the festival.
Scarborough North Updates
Asian Garden at Cynthia Lai Park
This project is about more than design — it’s about recognition, representation, and belonging.
Scarborough is one of the most diverse communities in Toronto, and our public spaces should reflect the people who live here. The Asian Garden honours the histories and contributions of Asian communities that have helped shape our city.
Permanent cultural investments strengthen civic pride and ensure our neighbourhoods feel seen and valued.
Thank you to the community members and advocates who shared their voices and helped move this project forward.
2026 Budget Consultations Wrap-up
This fall, I hosted three Budget 2026 consultations for Scarborough North — two in-person meetings and one virtual town hall — to give residents accessible ways to engage with the City’s budget process.
Held in collaboration with Althea Hutcherson, Executive Director, Financial Planning Division, City of Toronto, these sessions focused on how Toronto’s budget works and where residents want to see investments prioritized, including transit, housing, community services, and neighbourhood infrastructure.
Thank you to everyone who participated and shared their perspectives. Your feedback will help guide my advocacy as the City Council considers the 2026 Budget in the months ahead.
2025 Merry Malvern Holiday Market & Toy Drive
On December 6, it was wonderful to see the community come together at my third annual Merry Malvern Holiday Market and Toy Drive. The event brought neighbours, families, and local vendors together to celebrate the season while supporting children and families in our community.
Thanks to your generosity, the toy drive collected donations that will help make the holidays brighter for local families. Events like Merry Malvern reflect the spirit of Scarborough North — caring, inclusive, and community-led.
Thank you to everyone who attended, donated, volunteered, and helped make the day such a success.
Community Centre Holiday Hours
During the holiday season, community recreation centres may operate on reduced hours or be closed on statutory holidays, and some locations may also close temporarily for annual maintenance. Before heading out for drop-ins, gyms, pools, or programs, please check your centre’s hours in advance.
Learn more (official City links):
Find your community recreation centre (location pages include hours): Recreation Centre Listings
Recreation centre closures & service alerts (holiday/maintenance closures): Recreation Centre Closures & Service Alerts
311 Toronto (help finding a centre’s hours/accessibility info): 311 Toronto
TTC Updates
Scarborough Busway Accelerated to 2026
Construction of the Scarborough Busway is now scheduled to be completed by September 2026, earlier than originally planned.
This dedicated bus corridor will provide faster, more reliable trips for thousands of riders while the subway extension continues.
As both TTC Chair and Scarborough Councillor, accelerating this project was one of my priorities — and it’s a key step toward delivering the quality transit Scarborough has long deserved.
Speeding Up LRTs & Streetcars
Rapid transit has to be rapid.
After riding the new Line 6 Finch West LRT, it was clear we need to move faster. That’s why I brought this work forward to the TTC Board immediately after launch.
This motion focuses on:
Stronger transit signal priority
Clearing bottlenecks at key intersections
Operational changes that improve speed and reliability
When transit is slow, congestion grows, and riders lose time. Riders deserve better — and we are pushing for real, measurable improvements in 2026.
TTC Holiday Train Returns
The TTC Holiday Train is back from December 10, 2025 to January 5, 2026, bringing festive cheer to riders across Line 1. The beautifully decorated subways will operate daily during regular service hours from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The holiday celebration extends beyond the subway, with four Holiday Streetcars also rolling out across the city — including one fully decorated streetcar inside and out for an immersive festive experience, and three streetcars with holiday-wrapped exteriors spreading seasonal cheer along their routes.
Free TTC Service on New Year’s Eve
Ride the TTC for free from 7:00 p.m. on December 31 until 8:00 a.m. on January 1.
Whether you’re heading to a celebration or finishing a late shift, your ride home is covered.
Get Involved
Bernice Redmon Commemorative Petition
Support the effort to honour Bernice Redmon’s legacy and contributions to our community.
2026 City Budget Survey
Have your say on City priorities as we prepare for the 2026 Budget.
Stay Tuned For
City Budget 2026 Launch
Tamil Heritage Month
Black History Month
Lunar New Year
Scarborough Community Iftar