CITY COUNCILLOR
LILY CHENG
WILLOWDALE WARD 18

During our budget meeting, news began trickling in about a school shooting in British Columbia. As I listened to interviews with residents of Tumbler Ridge on the radio, I was transported back to our own tragedy, the shock, the grief, and the heavy days that followed as we learned more about the victim and the perpetrator. In those moments, you remember how fragile life can feel, and how much a community matters. We Love Willowdale is a movement that was born out of the Yon

As you may have heard in the news, the chief of Toronto Police Service and York Regional Police announced the results of Project South, a major criminal investigation that has led to the arrest of seven Toronto Police Service officers and one retired officer, facing serious criminal allegations. In response, the Toronto Police Service Board has underscored that public trust in policing is fundamental and that allegations of this nature are taken extremely seriously. Click H

Over the weekend, a neighbour reached out to our office about the Lillian Park entrance off Whitman Street, which had been blocked by a snowbank following heavy plowing. With the historic snowfall we’ve experienced, small pathways like this can easily be missed, but this entrance is well-loved and heavily used by the community. The resident noticed someone taking the long way around, highlighting the importance of accessible paths for everyone. Thanks to their quick reporting

Today, we capped off a multi-week Budget Committee journey  by presenting a set of recommendations to the Mayor, who will release her version of the Budget on February 1 . I am grateful to all Willowdale residents  who stayed engaged—from the initial consultation at Memorial Hall, to the Willowdale Youth Council information session with deputation training, to our Virtual Budget Town Hall (see photo below) and this week’s Budget Deputation Meetings, where we heard a wide rang

Thank you to everyone who joined our virtual town hall on Toronto’s proposed 2026 City Budget. Residents shared thoughtful questions and feedback on affordability, growth pressures in Willowdale, community safety, housing, youth programs, and climate action. Below, you will find more information on our discussion, along with links to the presentation and budget notes. Budget Priorities Mayor Olivia Chow emphasized a focus on affordability, service stability, and maintaining f

On Tues. Jan 20 and Wed. Jan 21, I attended the Public Deputations on the 2026 City Budget to hear Torontonians input. Here's what we heard: Residents repeatedly emphasized that Toronto’s public health, mental health, and social services are under severe strain . Frontline workers and community members described staffing shortages, burnout, wage disparities, and retention challenges that are limiting access to preventive care, Indigenous health programs, sexual health service