Congratulations, Councillor Parthi Kandavel SCRO congratulates Parthi Kandavel, our new City Councillor for Ward 20, Scarborough Southwest. SCRO looks forward to developing a mutually supportive relationship with our new councillor, as we work together for a better Scarborough.
Thank you to Scarborough United Neighbourhoods for your community engagement leadership
SCRO thanks Scarborough United Neighbourhoods for providing community engagement leadership in the Ward 20 by-election, enabling voters in Scarborough Southwest to learn about the candidates and make wellinformed voting decisions. SUN provided multiple opportunities for the candidates to meet the voters, in different places and using a variety of community engagement formats.
SCRO encourages all Scarborough community associations to learn from SUN. SUN has developed variations on the traditional all-candidates meeting model that most community associations use, which are worth considering for future elections. SCRO was pleased to be able to provide background support to SUN and event facilitation expertise. Here is another example of how Scarborough-focused civic organizations can work together to make a bigger impact and to serve our communities well.
SCRO pre-budget submission to the Ontario government: more transit, please!
Toronto’s population is projected to grow by 700,000 over the next 30 years. Realistically, at least 175,000 of them will come to Scarborough. Many condo buildings are now in the planning stage to enable this. How will we all get around? We’re not building any more roads. We’ve got gridlock now and our buses are jammed! The only solution is higher order public transit … and lots of it.
SCRO’s annual pre-budget submission this year to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs was heavily focused on public transit and, in particular, getting our three levels of government to work together, to convert talk into action. We need our governments to work together on the following:
an extension of the Eglinton East LRT from Kennedy Station, to University of Toronto Scarborough and then to Malvern
construction of the Scarborough busway, to provide an express bus service in place of the decommissioned Scarborough RT until the subway extension opens
construction of the Sheppard Avenue transit extension, for which community consultations are now under way.
Here is SCRO’s full presentation: https://scro.ca/2024-ontario-budget-consultation/ Enhanced public transit for Scarborough is an advocacy priority for SCRO at this time. We would welcome your comments on this at our upcoming town hall (see below) or you may contact me directly.
SCRO online town halls continue. Please join us on January 30. SCRO strives to advocate to all levels of government, public officials, and policy makers to advance Scarborough-wide priorities. To do this well, it’s important that we periodically check in with our fellow passionate Scarborough residents. Our next online town hall is on January 30 at 7:00 pm. Please mark your calendars. Registration info to follow. Join us and share your passions and priorities for Scarborough. Your input will help to steer SCRO’s advocacy.
You may also discover how you can become more involved with SCRO through these discussions. Questions? Please contact us at scrorenewal@gmail.com. Let’s all work together for a better Scarborough, the place we are proud to call home.
Mayor’s lunch in Scarborough: April 3, 2024
The Scarborough Business Association is once again holding its annual Mayor’s Lunch on Wednesday, April 3 at University of Toronto Scarborough. Mark your calendars now for one of the most important gatherings of Scarborough civic leaders in 2024. Registration details will follow from SBA.
Happy holidays from SCRO! As we wind down for the holidays, SCRO wishes you all a restful and joyous holiday season.
Larry Whatmore
President Scarborough Community Renewal Organization
Larry.Whatmore@rogers.com
(416) 562-2101
