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  2. Celebrating One Year as MPP, International Women's Day Events, Ontario NDP Summer Internship Program, and more

Celebrating One Year as MPP, International Women's Day Events, Ontario NDP Summer Internship Program, and more

For some, politics is personal – it’s about growing a career. For me it can only be about growing a community.

It’s been almost a year since I was sworn-in as your MPP for Parkdale—High Park. It truly is the honour of a lifetime to serve our riding as your representative in provincial parliament.   

As we near the one-year milestone, I’ve been reflecting on why it is that I decided to run for elected office—and to run as a New Democrat.

The main reason? I believe in abundance.

I know that in a province as wealthy as ours, we have the resources for everyone to thrive.

And yet, in my previous role as a United Church minister, I saw families harmed every day by politicians who pretend there’s not enough to go around—that is, until it comes to payday for their insider buddies.

I was heartbroken by moms who came to my office on school days with their kids in tow because they couldn’t afford to buy them lunch.

By refugees forced to sleep on frozen winter sidewalks because there were no shelter beds in Toronto—one of the largest cities in North America.

By families lined up at food banks, exhausted after working multiple jobs, because they still couldn’t make ends meet.

I knew there needed to a systemic fix, not just the charitable side of things. We needed to bring real solutions.

The Ontario NDP is serious about strengthening our province and making life better and more affordable for all Ontarians.

We’re fighting to double the supply of deeply affordable housing, and to bring in real rent controls, pharmacare, and consumer protections so that no one ever has to choose between essentials like food, housing and medication.  

We’re committed to bolstering the public systems Ontarians rely on and are proud of. We know that to build a more stable and prosperous society we must invest in public health care, education, child care and transit—and double social assistance rates so no one falls through the cracks.

That's how we build community. That's how we make a movement to last.

So thank you for your trust this past year, and for working together for a brighter Parkdale—High Park.

TONIGHT: Save OSAP Town Hall 

JOIN US AT THE SAVE OSAP TOWN HALL IN PARKDALE—HIGH PARK! FREE PIZZA PROVIDED! 🍕

The NDP is bringing students, campus organizers, unions, and workers together from across Toronto to fight back.

Get informed, get organized, and demand better for students in Ontario.

Join us to #SaveOSAP! Comment “Save OSAP” to receive the link to RSVP!

Date: Tonight, Thursday, March 12th
Time: 7:00pm (doors open at 6:30pm)
Location: Lithuanian House (1573 Bloor St W, Toronto)

International Women's Day

For over 100 years, International Women's Day has been a rallying point in the movement for gender equality and workers' rights.

How empowering it's been to take part in IWD celebrations throughout the city this year! I heard from so many women who are leading in the labour movement, in gender justice, and women who are future leaders ready to step up.

United Steelworkers International Women's Day Brunch

A room full of women as strong as steel! 💪I spent an energetic and inspirational morning at the United Steelworkers International Women's Day Brunch.

Unions are vital in the fight for gender equality, and for securing workers' interests like pay equity and empowering diversity in our work force. The labour movement and the women's movement go hand in hand. Solidarity sisters!

International Women's Day Toronto March

I was proud to march in Toronto's International Women's Day Parade with my Ontario NDP colleagues and so many community members standing up for gender equality. As Shadow Minister for Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity, I’m reminded that the fight for women’s rights is also a fight for economic justice: for fair pay, secure work, and opportunities for women and gender-diverse people to thrive.

Lieutenant Governor's Celebration for International Women's Day

It was an honour to take part in the Lieutenant Governor's "With an Open Heart: Letters to Tomorrow's Leaders" at Queen's Park in celebration of International Women's Day. I was there with other MPPs from across parties, but we were all really there for women leaders of the future. 

I was particularly glad to be there with Milen Negash, a terrific young leader. Ontario's future is in good hands.

Ontario Legislature's Women in Parliament Event 

What's it really like to take a seat, as a women, in the chamber? Is social media a social good or ill?

These were some of the questions we explored at the Women in Parliament event at Queen’s Park in celebration of International Women’s Day.

Thank you to everyone who participated and for bringing your thoughtful questions to the panel. The room was full of future leaders!

OFL's Union Threads: A Craft‑In for Women’s Power

For generations, women and their work have been ignored or downplayed, which made a craft-in the perfect place for discussing the political and social justice issues shaping women’s lives and workplaces. Many a revolutionary action in the women's movement was sustained through craftivism.

As we celebrate 50 years of the OFL's Women Committee, it was powerful to gather to stitch, knit, bead, and colour while building solidarity across generations and across Ontario.

Thank you, OPSEU/SEFPO for hosting us at your Toronto location!

Parkdale—High Park Happenings

Last week, the NDP Caucus hosted an Iftar reception at Queens Park.
Hundreds of folks came to break their fasts with us and celebrate some of the month of Ramadan with us. The kindness, the generosity, and the diversity of the Muslim communities in the GTA was wonderful to share in.

Muslims have been in Canada since the 1800s and last night we got to see a documentary about the origins of the Jami Mosque, the oldest mosque in Toronto situated in Parkdale—High Park.

Moments like this remind us that the story of Ontario is really a story of communities coming together; bringing our traditions, our faiths, and our cultures into shared spaces. Happy to be able to host that space.

Ramadan Mubarak ☪️✨

I remember, over a decade ago, going to Sistering to volunteer. Now I have the great honour of presenting them a scroll on behalf of the leader of the Ontario NDP, Marit Stiles, in recognition of the Ontario Trillium Grant they received to improve safety and welcome of the women and gender diverse people who use their services.

I also got to take part in the inaugural Sistering walk, a fundraiser to support the important work of caring for those who are economically vulnerable.

On March 10, we remember the courage of the Tibetan people who rose up in Lhasa in 1959 to defend their freedom, their faith, and their homeland. Their peaceful uprising was brutally suppressed, forcing His Holiness the Dalai Lama and tens of thousands of Tibetans into exile.

Sixty-seven years later, Tibetans continue their non-violent struggle for justice, dignity, and the right to preserve their culture and identity.

In Parkdale-High Park, we are home to the largest Tibetan diaspora community outside of India. I am so proud to serve as MPP for the Parkdale neighbourhood - the heart of Toronto's Little Tibet - where we are enriched every day by Tibetan language, culture, faith, and community leadership.

Today, we honour those who resisted oppression in 1959 and we stand in solidarity with Tibetans everywhere.

Tashi Delek. Free Tibet.

Newcomers are exciting conversation partners, and I'm so grateful to have been invited by Parliamentary Protocol and The Parkdale Intercultural Association to answer questions about my roll as MPP.

We spoke about the importance of diverse voices in our democratic process. Diversity strengthens our politics, and it is my hope that everyone who calls Parkdale-High Park home gets involved in up caring for one another.

Community Bulletin

Parkdale Day – Saturday, March 28, 2026

Project Parkdale, in partnership with Made You Look and The Heart Market, invites the community to celebrate Parkdale Day, a full-day neighbourhood celebration taking place on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

Parkdale Day will feature a range of community-driven activities across the neighbourhood, including:

  • The Archrival Parkdalephoto exhibit at the Parkdale Library
    • Curated neighbourhood walking toursfocused on experience and learning, including history walks, a Dessert Walk, and a tour exploring planned condo developments
    • Local markets, special prix-fixe menus, activations, and pop-up events throughout the neighbourhood

A robust and growing list of local businesses and community organizations are participating, with new events and partners being added daily.

The full list of activities, participating businesses, and updates can be found here:
https://www.projectparkdale.com/parkdale-day-2026

Parkdale Day celebrates the neighbourhood’s diverse culture, small businesses, and community spirit, bringing residents together to explore, connect, and support the area.

Hi Members, Neighbours and Friends,

We’re putting out a final call for artists and creators to build PASSAGEWAYS for Taste of the Junction 2026 on Saturday, June 27 (11 AM–7 PM) at the Green P Lot (385 Pacific Ave at Dundas).

Passageways are five immersive, walk-in cultural installations, each created inside a 10×10 tent. With Toronto hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup™, we’re expecting 10,000 visitors, an expanded footprint with 50+ vendor tents, and a family-friendly Play Zone at Darren’s No Frills (372 Pacific Ave).

5 commissions available: $3,000 (all-in) per installation
Deadline: Friday, March 13, 2026
Important: No on-site power (designs must work without electricity)

👉 Read the full Call for Artists + submission requirements here.

To apply, email your proposal to Audrey at [email protected] with the subject line: Passageways Proposal – [Your Name] – [Cultural Theme]

Thanks for helping us bring the Junction’s cultural stories to life. We can’t wait to see what you create.

Questions welcome anytime.
~The Junction BIA Team

Latest posts

Upcoming Events: Skating, Tenant Town Hall, Lunar New Year, and more!

February is shaping up to be quite a busy month! We have a lot of great events coming up in the riding and at Queen's Park: skating parties, tenant and education town halls, Lunar New Year celebrations and more. I've included all the details below. 👇

As this is the first newsletter of February, I also want to wish everyone a happy Black History Month and recognize the many contributions Black Canadians have made to Parkdale­—High Park and our province! 

I look forward to seeing you in the community in the coming weeks. 

With warmth and gratitude,

Alexa

Won't you be my neighbour?

I hope this message finds you safe and warm. Winter has hit hard these past weeks, and global news has hit even harder.

Between the frigid temperatures and record snowfall, Toronto is still digging itself out from the largest winter storm in our city's history--and the snowiest January to boot! 

It's been a challenge, but as always our community has pulled together: shoveling sidewalks for seniors, helping neighbours dig out cars and laneways, and bringing those in need to warming shelters. It's mutual care and generosity such as this that strengthens our communities and helps builds our resilience.

We see this in the example of our Minnesota neighbours, who have shown up bravely day after day in the depths of winter to protect their communities from the ICE threat. To stand against authoritarianism and white supremacy and try to help one another--as Renée Good and Alex Pretti heroically did--even to their very last breath. 

American journalist Ana Marie Cox wrote last week on how Minnesota's longstanding tradition of mutual aid enabled its rapid mobilization against ICE--building the community connections, response networks and habits of helping that have been essential to their response. As she says, "truly resilient communities don’t arise out of an emergency. They come together before that through a thousand little acts on a regular basis."

So in the weeks and months ahead, let's keep coming together as a community, both in joyful times and times of hardship. Because it's these connections more than anything that will help us protect one another--and our democracy. Click on the video below for my further thoughts on events in the US, their connection to Ontario politics and what we can all be doing to better help our neighbours:

With warmth and gratitude,

Alexa 

Kicking Off 2026 in Parkdale—High Park

Happy New Year, Parkdale—High Park!

With the start of the new year comes a lot of exciting things ahead. Our constituency office reopened last week, and my team and I are back and ready to serve and support our community.

As you may have heard, the upcoming legislative session has been pushed back by an additional six weeks and will now resume on March 23. While the Ford government may be on vacation, we’ll be right here in Parkdale—High Park, continuing to work on the issues that matter most to this community.

From my community skate parties to advocacy for tenants, women in the workplace, and the environment, here’s a sneak peek at some of what we have planned in the months ahead:
 
  • Community Skate Party — Save the Date! Keep an eye out for an upcoming announcement about my Community Skate Party on February 20 and 22. As winter winds down, join me for a chance to get outside and enjoy the season while it lasts—with free skating and hot chocolate. I hope to see you there!

    Feb. 20th at Rennie Park Rink - 4-8 pm

    Feb. 22nd at High Park Rink - 12-6pm
 
  • Tenant Meetings & Town Halls: During this legislative break, I’ll be holding tenant meetings and town halls across our riding to hear directly from tenants about the housing issues that matter most to them. These conversations are an important opportunity to connect, share information, and ensure tenant voices are heard and brought back to Queen’s Park in March.
 
  • Environment: Join me on January 27 as I moderate a timely and urgent discussion on Extreme Wildfire Events in Urban Environments, alongside environmental advocates Peter Tabuns (MPP, Toronto–Danforth), Dr. Anabela Bonado, and John Vaillant. You can register to attend HERE. For more details, scroll down to view the event poster.
 
  • Women’s Advocacy: Building on Phase 1 of the Women in the Workforce Plan, I’ll be continuing to advance conversations and advocacy around women’s rights in the workplace. More details on upcoming engagements will be rolled out soon.

As always, thank you for staying engaged and connected. I look forward to seeing many of you out in the community in the weeks ahead.

With warmth and gratitude,

Alexa
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About

Parkdale—High Park NDP

Email:
Address:
137 Roncesvalles Ave, PO Box 97022
Toronto, ON M6R 3B3

Community Office

Email:
Phone: 416-763-5630
Address:
2849 Dundas St W
Toronto, ON M6P 1Y6