Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy

The Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy (TSNS) is the City of Toronto’s action plan for building partnerships in Toronto’s neighbourhoods so they can succeed and thrive. The strategy supports community well-being by partnering with residents, community agencies and businesses to invest in people, services, programs and facilities in Neighbourhood Improvement Areas (NIA’s). The strategy strengthens the social, economic and physical conditions and delivers local impact for city-wide change.

TSNS Mission

To achieve equitable opportunities across all Toronto neighbourhoods by:

Activating people
Activating resources
Activating neighbourhood friendly policies

TSNS Vision

No matter what neighbourhood Torontonians call home, there are equitable opportunities for well-being.

Download the TSNS & Action Catalogue

TSNS: Then & Now

In 2005, City Council identified 13 Priority Neighbourhoods as part of the Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy. In 2011, residents, businesses and agencies from across Toronto helped review the Strategy and suggested ways to improve it. The Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy (TSNS) included their suggestions and reflects how neighbourhoods are doing now, with an updated list of Neighbourhood Improvement Areas.

Throughout 2019, City staff partnered with residents, agencies and businesses to begin the TSNS evaluation process. Feedback was collected through online surveys, focus groups, and at a Neighbourhood Summit event.

In March 2020, Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy activities were paused in order for City staff to support the emergency needs of vulnerable residents, families and communities through the TO Supports: COVID-19 Equity Action Plan. City staff and United Way of Greater Toronto developed the Community Coordination Plan to inform and collaborate with local community agencies to connect residents to resources, services, programs, and partnerships during the COVID-19 pandemic. City staff continue to work with local agencies across the City to operate the Community Coordination Plan to support issues management, donations, and service coordination for the City’s most vulnerable individuals and families.

Beginning in spring 2022, City staff will begin a process to reconnect and reengage local residents and community-led groups with ongoing opportunities to participate in City strategies and action plans, including the Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy.

Key engagement activities will include:

A spring relaunch, in partnership with Social Planning Toronto, of the Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy Advisory Group to ensure resident input on Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy resident engagement and priority setting.
An online survey for local residents and community-led groups and a series of Community Information Meetings for that includes an update on the structure of Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy engagement.
A fall start-up of networking opportunities for local resident and community-led groups to reconnect to resources, information and skill building opportunities.

TSNS 2020 Reports

Download Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy 2020 Reports

About Toronto Neighbourhoods

The City of Toronto now has 158 social planning neighbourhoods. Neighbourhood designations help City staff collect data, plan, analyze and forecast City services. While these neighbourhoods may not fully encompass every historical, cultural, ethnic or economic neighbourhood area, they do provide a way for planners and researchers to track information about them over time. Learn more about updates to Toronto’s social planning neighbourhoods.

Urban Health Equity Assessment and Response Tool (HEART) Domains

In 2014, the City used the Urban Health Equity Assessment and Response Tool to score neighbourhoods under five domains of neighbourhood well-being. The five domains were:

Economic Opportunities: The Economic Opportunities theme is about the economic status that neighbourhood residents can achieve; it includes income levels and quality job opportunities.
Social Development: The Social Development theme is about the opportunities and connections that help residents reach their full potential; it includes education, literacy, and access to social, recreation, and cultural services.
Participation in Decision Making: The Participation in Decision Making theme is about the opportunities for neighbourhood residents to get involved in making local and city-wide decisions; it includes voting in elections and working with neighbourhoods to make plans and priorities.
Healthy Lives: The Healthy Lives theme is about the physical and mental health of neighbourhood residents; it includes medical care, disabilities and illnesses that residents live with, and the number of years that residents live in good health.
Physical Surroundings: The Physical Environment theme is about the natural and built environment in the neighbourhood, community, or workplace; it includes access to transportation, parks and green spaces, public meeting spaces, and air quality.

The Urban HEART scores helped the City identify 31 Neighbourhoods Improvement Areas for additional investment through the Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy.

Neighbourhood Action Plans

The following action plans outline the structure of Toronto Strategy Neighbourhood Strategy 2020, and highlights the work that happened in the 31 Neighbourhood Improvement Areas (NIAs), as well as the actions developed by residents, community agencies and City Divisions at 15 Neighbourhood Planning Tables:

Download the Local Neighbourhood Action Plans

Neighbourhood Planning Tables from 2015-2020

The City worked with residents, community agencies and businesses in 31 Neighbourhood Improvement Areas (NIAs) to make changes that strengthened neighbourhoods. 15 Neighbourhood Planning Tables represented the 31 NIAs and Neighbourhood Action Plans were developed by each Neighbourhood Planning Table to track investments in the neighbourhood.

Learn more about each Neighbourhood Planning Table.

Resident Advisory Committee from 2015-2020

The Resident Advisory Committee was made up of one resident volunteer and one resident alternate from each of the City’s 31 Neighbourhood Improvement Areas (NIAs) and 8 Emerging Neighbourhoods (ENs). The Committee’s work is guided by the TSNS vision and mission, with a primary focus on activating people, resources, and neighbourhood friendly policies.

Learn more about the TSNS 2020 Resident Advisory Committee.

2022 Engagement

The City of Toronto is working with Social Planning Toronto to create a Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy Advisory Group. The Advisory Group will be made up of residents from 33 Neighbourhood Improvement Areas and 10 Emerging Neighbourhoods.

The Advisory Group will provide input on:

City-wide networking
Priority setting and implementation that is responsive to the priorities of advisory members
An equitable approach to neighbourhood wellbeing and resiliency to address challenges that have surfaced and/or been exacerbated due to COVID-19
Neighbourhood-level strategic planning and coordination
Succession planning for community leadership
Strengthening the connection between systems-level coordination, strategic planning at the CCP clusters, and locally determined community priorities
Engagement of equity-deserving groups, including but not limited to Persons with Disabilities and Indigenous, Black, Racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities

Neighbourhood Grants from 2017-2021

From 2017 to 2021, the Neighbourhood Grants program offered grants of $1,000-$3,000 to resident-led groups to help them animate their neighbourhoods with events or activities. A maximum of $5,000 was available for each of the 39 identified neighbourhoods (31 Neighbourhood Improvement Areas and 8 Emerging Neighbourhoods).

Toronto Strong Neighbourhood Strategy 2020 Community Development Officers and Social Planning Toronto worked with residents and their Neighbourhood Planning Tables to support resident-led groups through the application process.

2022 Neighbourhood Grants

City Staff are in the process of redeveloping the Neighbourhoods Grants program. More information will be available in summer 2022.

Local Champions Network

The Local Champions Network is a dynamic group of grassroots leaders that worked together to build the capacity of resident leaders to create local impact for city-wide change. The network continues to collaborate on an ongoing basis.

The Centre for Connected Communities supported the Network by providing:

Connections to ongoing capacity building opportunities, people, resources and tools that help members meet their individual and collective goals
Facilitation of annual event and collective priority setting processes
Referrals to relevant potential employment opportunities

Partnership Opportunities Legacy Fund (POL) from 2015-2020

The Partnership Opportunities Legacy Fund (POL) provided investments starting at $50,000 to improve city owned or leased spaces within Neighbourhood Improvement Areas (NIAs). POL funds support small capital projects, such as new or updated sports pads, parks, activity rooms and/or gardens. The application process was led by resident groups from NIAs and supported by Neighbourhood Planning Tables, as well as City Agencies and Divisions.

The impact of POL projects has been felt through communities in the following ways:

Residents and community groups were supported to participate in the improvement of their neighbourhood’s physical surroundings
Project applications were collaboratively developed by local groups, City Agencies or divisions, service providers and City Councillors
Projects added to the quality of life of residents and improvements made to community spaces are long lasting

POL Funded Projects, 2015-Present
Year	Project Name (Address & NIA)	Operating Agency/Division	Project Description & $ Invested	Status
2015	Mornelle Court Hub 90 Mornelle Court Mornelle Court (Morningside)	Toronto Community Housing	Renovations to space at 90 Mornelle Court to develop a community hub and computer lab $380,000	Completed
2016	1021 Birchmount Hub 1021 Birchmount Road Birchmount Eglinton East (Ionview)	Toronto Community Housing	Develop a youth space at 1021 Birchmount Basketball Court Revitalization: replace basketball court that was previously removed $450,000	Completed
2016	Gilder Drive Recreational Rejuvenation 31 Gilder Drive Eglinton East	Toronto Community Housing	Repair community garden Complete playground equipment upgrades New basketball court $450,000	Completed
2016	2585 Jane Street Basketball Refurbishment 2585 Jane Street Downsview-Roding-CFB	Toronto Community Housing	Refurbish the recreation area with a half basketball court, field and a seating area with benches/picnic tables $50,000	Completed
2016	Allied Neighbourhoods Community Kitchen 2467 Eglinton Avenue East Kennedy Park	Parks, Forestry and Recreation	Update kitchen at Don Montgomery Community Recreation Centre into an accessible, industrial kitchen $365,000	Completed
2016	Youth Friendly Space 23 Grandravine Drive York University Heights	Parks, Forestry and Recreation	Develop youth space at Grandravine Community Centre with 10 computers with applicable software, couches, TVs, video game consoles, audio system, and projectors $80,000	Completed
2016	Elm Park Splash Pad Elm Park/Gosford Avenue Black Creek	Parks, Forestry and Recreation	Build a new splash pad in Elm Park $50,000	Completed
2016	Driftwood Outdoor Basketball Pad Revitalization 4401 Jane Street Black Creek	Parks, Forestry and Recreation	Revitalize the outdoor basketball pad located at the Driftwood Community Centre $150,000	Completed
2016	Community Revitalization Ionview Park 90 Ionview Road Birchmount Eglinton East (Ionview)	Parks, Forestry and Recreation	Build a new playground for Ionview Park $221,862	Completed
2016	Spenvalley Park Splash Pad 130 Spenvalley Park Glenfield Jane-Heights	Parks, Forestry and Recreation	Build a splash pad in Spenvalley Park $450,000	Completed
2016	Dawes Road Hub 416 Dawes Road Taylor Massey	Toronto Public Library	Design and development of hub space on the second floor of the Dawes Road Library $1,200,000	In Progress
2017	Kingston Galloway Partnership Opportunities 4301 Kingston Road Kingston Road Orton Park (West Hill)	Toronto Community Housing	Update indoor and outdoor recreation spaces $400,000 (anticipated for 2019)	Completed
2017	Lawrence Galloway Community Project 4100/4110 Lawrence Avenue East Kingston Road Orton Park (West Hill)	Toronto Community Housing	Update outdoor spaces with play areas $250,000 (anticipated for 2019)	Completed
2017	Lawrence Orton Splash Pad and Outdoor Area Revitalization 3945 Lawrence Avenue East Woburn	Toronto Community Housing	Update outdoor spaces with play areas $184,000 (anticipated for 2019)	Completed
2017	Rec Room Rejuvenation/ Markham and Eglinton 3171 and 3181 Eglinton Avenue East Scarborough Village	Toronto Community Housing	Renovate community rooms at 3171 and 3181 Eglinton Avenue East $170,000	Completed
2017	415 Resident Space Accessibility Redesign 415 Driftwood Avenue 1st Floor, South Space Black Creek	Toronto Community Housing	Renovate the resident space on the main floor of 415 Driftwood Avenue including: Kitchen installation, upgrade washrooms, flooring and entrance $126,000	Completed
2017	Gordonridge Community Grow 10, 20, 30, and 40, Gordonridge Place Kennedy Park	Toronto Community Housing	Kitchen retro-fit in community room $105,110	Completed
2017	The Roding Park Refresh Project 600 Roding park Downsview-Roding-CFB	Parks, Forestry and Recreation	Build stage, new playground, adult exercise area and butterfly and pollinator gardens $600,000	Completed
2017	Revitalization of Friends of Angela James Arena Project 165 Grenoble Drive Flemingdon Park	Parks, Forestry and Recreation	Build heated viewing area with rubber flooring extending around the Angela James Arena apron $520,000	Completed
2017	Gaffney Park Improvements 73 Terry Drive Rockcliffe Smythe	Parks, Forestry and Recreation	Installation of Senior Playground, Junior Playground, Armour Stone Seating Wall, Chess Tables, Exercise Equipment, LED Pole Lighting, Heritage Plaque and New Benches $438,000	Completed
2017	1652 Keele Alliance Welcoming Initiative 1652 Keele Street Keelesdale Eglinton	Facilities	Upgrade of first floor including: Lobby area, upgrades to hallways and floors and new multipurpose room with audio and video equipment $884,791	Completed
2018	Islington St. Andrews Common Area Revitalization 2063, 2067 Islington Avenue Kingsview Village	Toronto Community Housing	Upgrade to community kitchen and common room $200,000	Completed
2018	Agnes Macphail Community Kitchens Upgrade Project 444 Lumsden Avenue Taylor Massey	Toronto Community Housing	Upgrade of two community kitchens $100,000	Completed
2018	Bring on the Shade at Oakdale Park 350 Grandravine Drive Glenfield Jane-Heights	Parks, Forestry and Recreation	Build a shade structure with picnic tables, lighting, and an extended concrete pad $240,000	Completed
2018	Fairhaven Renewal 100 Golfwood Heights Kingsview Village the Westway	Parks, Forestry and Recreation	Upgrades to park area including new seating options, lighting along pathways and play/social gathering area, the replacement of dilapidated spray features for the wading area $240,000	Completed
2018	Fountainhead Park Enhancements 445 Sentinel Road York University Heights	Parks, Forestry and Recreation	Park enhancements including additional gathering space area with shade shelters, games tables, picnic tables, water bottle filling station, Tree planting, walkways, benches and play areas $290,000	Completed
2018	Henrietta Park Activation Project 1A Henrietta Street Rockcliffe Smythe	Parks, Forestry and Recreation	Build new playground, new lighting standards, Soccer pitch, butterfly garden, new trees planted to the east of the playground, and two new benches, with Stone amphitheater with seating (community movies) $360,000	Completed
2018	Thorncliffe Park Hub 45 Overlea Boulevard Thorncliffe Park	Social Development Finance Administration & The Neighbourhood Office	Hub space development at the East York Mall $1,000,000	Planned
2018	Don Montgomery Allied Neighbourhoods Community Kitchen 2467 Eglinton Ave E	Social Development Finance Administration & Parks, Forestry and Recreation	Upgrade of kitchen $250,000	Completed
2019	Pelham Garden Community Kitchen & Park Improvement 61 Pelham Garden	Social Development Finance Administration & Toronto Community Housing	Upgrade of Kitchen and Park $300,000	In Progress
2019	Project Susan/Residents of Susan 3847 Lawrence Ave East	Social Development Finance Administration & Toronto Community Housing	$210,000	In Progress
2020	UrbanArts Eco-Rejuvenation & Innovation Garden Project 5 Bartonville Ave East	Social Development Finance Administration	$300,000	Planned
2020	Vibrant Park Space Project 116 Close Ave Parkette	Social Development Finance Administration & Parks, Forestry and Recreation	$270,000	In progress
2020	Dentonia Park Enhancements/Youth Awoken 80 Thyra Ave	Social Development Finance Administration & Parks, Forestry and Recreation	$135,000	In Progress
2020	Runnymede Park Animation Plan 221 Ryding Ave	Social Development Finance Administration & Parks, Forestry and Recreation	$94,000	In progress

Community Hubs

City of Toronto Community Hubs are designed to house City services, non-profit partner services and offer community space to local community groups in the surrounding neighbourhoods.

You can find a wide range of programs, services and community space all available in a single location.

For information regarding specific programs, services and available space in your area please contact the Community Hub you are interested in directly.

Hub Name

Address

Programs & Services

Contact Information

Keele Community Hub

1652 Keele Street

Toronto, Ontario, M6M 3W3

5 Non-Profit Community Organizations & The City of Toronto’s Social Development Finance and Administration, Community Development Unit
Agencies that provide on site programs and services include:
- For Youth Initiative
- Woman Abuse Council of Toronto
- Midaynta Community Services
- York Hispanic Centre

Community Hub Coordinator: Melodie Anderson

E-mail: melodie.anderson@toronto.ca

Phone: 416-392-2981

Dawes Road Library & Community Hub

416 Dawes Road

Toronto, Ontario,
M4B 2E8

The entire Dawes Road library branch will be reconstructed at its current location and expanded to also include a Community Hub run by the City of Toronto. All public spaces will be revitalized to ensure that they meet the needs of our vibrant community.

Email drstaff@tpl.ca anytime with your suggestions or questions.