CITY COUNCILLOR
LILY CHENG
WILLOWDALE WARD 18

Over the past four years, I have had the privilege of meeting you in parks and condo lobbies, at town halls and community events, and through countless emails and conversations. As Willowdale has continued to grow, change and welcome people from around the world, those connections have shaped how I serve. I have always believed the best decisions are made when residents are heard, and communities work together. Rather than beginning with predetermined answers, I begin by list

I was delighted to join residents, community partners, and local students for the ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the extension of John Mackenzie Park. This exciting addition enhances an already valued community space with a beautiful new pollinator garden, welcoming seating areas, and an expansion of the Parkview Neighbourhood Community Garden. What makes this project especially meaningful is its connection to education. The expanded community garden will support hands-o

We hosted our annual Edithvale Movie Night on Friday, July 17 in partnership with Toronto Parks and Recreation, bringing residents together for an evening of family-friendly fun and neighbourhood connection. A heartfelt THANK YOU to our Parks staff, whose dedication, flexibility, and professionalism made the event possible despite changing air quality conditions throughout the day. When conditions temporarily improved that afternoon, staff quickly adapted plans to open the pa

I recently joined Urban Forestry and Transportation Services staff on a site walk across Yonge Street corridor to review existing boulevard planters and identify opportunities to enhance our public spaces. Together, we assessed planters throughout the area and selected approximately 28 locations for priority attention this year, as well as 33 planters for removal. Our goal is not only to determine which planters should be removed or improved, but also to ensure that any new p

With the municipal election communications blackout beginning on August 1, our office will temporarily pause sharing community updates and events through our usual communication channels. To help neighbours stay connected, we have updated the Community Events Calendar on our website with upcoming events happening this fall. You can find it by visiting lilycheng.ca/events and scrolling to the bottom of the page, where you’ll find a clickable, interactive calendar. Tip: You can

Like so many Torontonians, I was heartbroken by the tragic violence at Salsa on St. Clair. What should have been a joyful celebration of culture, music and community instead became a scene of unimaginable loss. My deepest condolences go to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives, those recovering from their injuries, and everyone whose sense of safety was shaken. My thoughts are also with the festival organizers, volunteers, local businesses and the entire S

HL34.4 - Public Health Role in Indoor Air Quality The Board of Health moved to strengthen public health efforts around indoor air quality. Toronto Public Health will continue sharing practical, evidence-informed guidance to help residents improve air quality at home, work with schools and community partners to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses, and promote the City's indoor air quality resources for employers and building operators. The board also directed City staff t

Despite the heat, nearly 2,500 residents came out to make this Summer Environment Day a huge success. Thank you to everyone who stopped by! It was wonderful to see so many neighbours taking advantage of the opportunity to safely dispose of household hazardous waste, donate unwanted household items, browse the seed and book exchange, and connect with one another. We've already received great feedback about how well organized the event was and how much people appreciated having

My thoughts are with the families, firefighters, emergency personnel, Indigenous communities, and volunteers on the front lines of the devastating wildfires burning across Northern Ontario. Hundreds of wildfires remain active across Canada, with more than 100 burning in Ontario alone. Entire communities have been forced to evacuate, and many families face heartbreaking uncertainty as crews continue working around the clock to protect lives, homes, and critical infrastructure.

Midway through the campaign, with T-shirts and materials already printed for Ward 29, the province reduced the number of council seats, and the former councillor who had endorsed me suddenly became my opponent. My daughter was still a toddler and joined me for some of her very first canvassing experiences. This photo recently resurfaced, reminding me of the road that brought me to this moment as I wrap up my first term on City Council. Running against an incumbent, I knew my

Many residents have reached out asking why the Steeles Avenue Bridge rehabilitation over the Don River appears to have little visible construction activity. I wanted to share an update on what's happening behind the scenes. During the early stages of construction, crews discovered previously unidentified telecommunications cables beneath the bridge. Before rehabilitation work can safely continue, these utility lines must be relocated in coordination with the utility companies

Excitement is building in Willowdale as Ontario's largest T&T Supermarket prepares to open at Empress Walk this fall, and it's right on schedule! I recently had the pleasure of meeting with T&T CEO Tina Lee to discuss the important role local businesses play in strengthening communities, supporting economic growth, and celebrating Toronto's incredible diversity. Tina shared how the company's values have guided T&T's remarkable growth across Canada and its recent expansion int

Construction is continuing on the Yonge North Subway Extension, and residents may notice increased activity at Centerpoint Mall over the coming months. Last month, crews mobilized at the mall to begin demolition of the former Hudson's Bay building. Work is currently focused on interior demolition and will later move to the exterior of the building as part of preparations for the future subway extension. Here's what to expect: Construction is expected to continue through Decem

Last week, I canvassed local businesses along Yonge Street with Metrolinx staff to discuss the upcoming road closures and rerouting of Yonge Street associated with the Yonge North Subway Extension project. Starting at Otonabee Avenue, we visited local businesses to provide information about the upcoming Yonge Street closure, answer questions, and ensure business owners were aware of the Metrolinx Business Support Program, including the opportunity for eligible businesses to s

On June 29, 2026, I joined City Planning staff, residents, and a representative consultant from the project team for a Community Consultation Meeting regarding the proposed development at 5400 Yonge Street and 15 Horsham Avenue. The application proposes to amend the zoning by-law to increase the height of the approved development from 32 storeys to 45 storeys for a mixed-use building at the southwest corner of Yonge Street and Horsham Avenue. Residents were informed that the

It was wonderful to attend the volunteer gathering and sign unveiling at the Edithvale Pollinator Garden. I enjoyed a walk-through tour and was so impressed by the diversity of plants and the incredible care that has gone into bringing this beautiful garden to life. It is amazing to see how this once ordinary space has become a thriving habitat for pollinators. I even got to see photos of the fascinating bees and butterflies that now call the garden home. Visitors can now sca

NY34.6 - Metrolinx Yonge North Subway Extension - Long-Term Temporary Road Closures, Time Extension of the Temporary Delegation of Authority This week, North York Community Council approved the next phase of the Yonge North Subway Extension project, authorizing a series of long-term temporary road closures and traffic changes required to reroute Yonge Street across the Centrepoint Mall parking lot to construct the future Steeles Station. The Yonge North Subway Extension will

This summer, I was pleased to celebrate the opening of Creative Chapter 1, a contemporary art exhibition presented by Orkid Gallery at the Meridian Arts Centre from June 19 to 21. This inspiring exhibition brought together the work of contemporary artists and showcased the dedication of a local art gallery and the vision of its founder to create new opportunities for artists to share their work in spaces that are not always accessible to them. By bringing this exhibition to a

Over the past year, the City of Toronto has made one of its largest-ever investments in student nutrition, recognizing that access to healthy food is essential to student success. As families continue to face rising grocery costs and affordability pressures, expanding school-based nutrition programs helps ensure that more children have access to nutritious food during the school day. Through this investment, the City has expanded the Student Nutrition Program to reach more st

Welcome to July! I hope everyone had a wonderful Canada Day and enjoyed celebrating with family, friends, and neighbours. It was great to see thousands of you at Mel Lastman Square for another incredible Canada Day celebration hosted by the Yonge North York BIA. A big thank you to Laura Burnham, Domenic Imbesi, and the entire YNYBIA team for all of their hard work in making the day such a success, especially in the sweltering heat. I was joined by Mayor Chow, MPP Stan Co, and