CITY COUNCILLOR
LILY CHENG
WILLOWDALE WARD 18

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

MM42.36 - Public Realm Planters on Yonge Street: Interim Management and Long-Term Governance I often hear complaints about the condition of the planters along Yonge Street. Empty tree pits, weeds, overgrown roots and neglected landscaping create an impression that does not reflect North York Centre's role as one of Toronto's premier civic, business and cultural districts. The reality is that this has been a problem for decades. Over the years, developers have installed plante

On behalf of the residents of Newtonbrook West, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Rob, Gabriel and Nathan from Newtonbrook East for stepping up to support our Goulding Movie Night. When we encountered some technical challenges, they showed up, rolled up their sleeves, and did whatever was needed to ensure the hundreds of residents who came out could enjoy Elio. Their willingness to give their time and lend a hand helped make the evening a success. Fittingly, the

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Willowdale’s Youth Employment Fair at Mitchell Field Community Centre. This event was co-hosted by my office, NeighbourLink North York, JVS, and the North York Cluster to help connect youth with employers, employment resources, and opportunities to take the next step in their career journey. We had a strong turnout with almost 700 job seekers in attendance. The strong turnout was both encouraging and sobering. It showed how many young

I was honoured to join the North York Garden Club, led by President Christina Pierroz, for the unveiling of its 100-Year Commemoration Plaque at Mel Lastman Square. The plaque has been beautifully installed, where visitors attending performances and community events can enjoy this tribute to one of North York's longest-standing community organizations. The plaque celebrates a remarkable legacy of neighbours coming together to share gardening tips, exchange seeds, learn from o

There were very few dry eyes at Randall Linton’s book launch for This Little Light of Mine: A Father’s Memoir on His Daughter’s Brief but Deeply Significant Life. Randall, a local community leader and former President of the North York Rotary Club, shared heartfelt excerpts that beautifully captured his daughter Elisa’s spirit and the profound impact she had on her family and everyone fortunate enough to know her. Elisa was diagnosed at the age of four with Sanfilippo syndrom

As another school year comes to a close, it was wonderful to celebrate with students, families, and community partners at Avondale Public School's Bike to School Day. Seeing so many families choose to bike together was a great reminder that active transportation not only supports healthier lifestyles but also creates meaningful opportunities to spend quality time together and connect with neighbours. Parents and students also had the opportunity to share their ideas for futur

On June 15, 2026, City Planning hosted a Community Consultation Meeting on a development application at 11 to 21 Johnston Avenue, located east of Yonge Street and south of Sheppard Avenue. Thank you to everyone who attended and shared thoughtful feedback. The applicant is proposing a 48-storey purpose-built rental building with 524 residential units, including: 334 one-bedroom units, 136 two-bedroom units, and 54 three-bedroom units. The proposal also includes retail at gra

I recently met with the team at Interval House, Canada’s first shelter for abused women and their children, to learn more about their critical work supporting survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). Since opening in 1973, Interval House has provided safety, advocacy, and hope to thousands of women and children across Toronto. As a provincially funded violence against women shelter, it relies on both government funding and private partnerships to deliver essential servic

Many thanks to the incredible team of moms at Avondale Public School who help distribute snacks to 1,000 students as part of the Student Nutrition Program, which has now been expanded city-wide. This is the first year of the city-wide expansion, and there is still much to learn as we work to improve and strengthen the process moving forward. These volunteers put in tremendous effort each day, including washing and preparing produce, carefully managing allergy restrictions, an

Getting active at Edithvale Park is now easier than ever! The City of Toronto has launched its first-of-its-kind self-serve sports equipment lending pilot, giving residents free access to equipment for outdoor recreation. Using the Equip Sport app, you can unlock the locker, borrow equipment, and return it when you're finished so others can enjoy it too. This innovative pilot makes it easier for everyone to get outside, stay active, and make the most of our local parks. If yo