Town Hall on my visit to Palestine and Jordan

I recently visited Palestine and Jordan with a group of Members of Parliament and representatives of Canadian aid organizations to see firsthand the situation on the ground and speak directly with Palestinian families. On Friday, I hope you can join me for a town hall where I will share what I saw and leaned, and we can discuss how we can work together for peace.

Date: Friday February 9, 2024

Time: 5:00 PM

Location: Dorset Park Hub, 1911 Kennedy Road, Scarborough

Join us! Scarborough Centre celebrates Black History Month

Please join is for our annual celebration of Black History Month. This year, we celebrate Black Excellence.

Date: Saturday, February 24, 2024

Time: 12:00 PM Noon

Location: Wilmar Heights Baptist Church, 1687 Victoria Park Avenue, Scarborough

Save the date! Women’s History Month event

Our annual recognition of International Women’s Day will be an event with exciting speakers, interactive performance and a showcase of talent and skills. We hope you can join us!

Date: Saturday March 2, 2024

Time: 2:00 PM

Location: Ellesmere Community Centre, 20 Canadian Road, Scarborough

Recognizing Thai Pongal and Tamil Heritage Month

In January we recognized both Thai Pongal and Tamil Heritage Month, and I had the opportunity to celebrate with colleagues and friends at several events. I want to thank the Tamil community for your many contributions to Scarborough and to Canada. You are part of the diversity that makes our community strong.

Thank you for giving back

Congratulations to the Nepalese Blood Donors Association Canada on their second annual general meeting. As a cancer survivor myself I know the importance of blood in saving lives. Thank you to all the donors!

Stories of perseverance at David and Mary Thomson Collegiate

Students at David and Mary Thomson Collegiate Institute got to hear incredible stories of perseverance, and the importance of representation. What an inspiration you are, Selwyn and Marissa!

Welcoming new businesses to Scarborough

It’s always a pleasure to welcome new businesses to Scarborough, and to see them prosper and grow and become part of our community. Recently I welcomed Al barakat’s new supermarket and restaurant located at 2008 Lawrence Ave East. Fresh food, fresh meat and delicious desserts. Home made dessert and food is a must try.

Meeting a talented young local artist

Our community office was visited by a talented young artist yesterday. Thank you Thridev J C for sharing your art with us!

Bringing communities together

In challenging times, communities need to come together. I stood with Minister Kamal Khera and my colleagues as she announced $3 million for the Building Community Resilience fund, to help fund grassroots events that nurture community building across Canada.

Learn more: The Government of Canada launches the Building Community Resilience call to action

Keeping Canadians Safe

The federal government is investing $121 million to help prevent gun and gang violence in Ontario, including auto theft through the Initiative to take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence (ITAAGGV).

We’re also convening a National Summit on Combatting Auto Theft. It will bring together all orders of government, industry and law enforcement partners to collaborate on a coordinated response.

We’re committed to combatting serious and organized crime, reducing gun and gang violence and keeping communities safe.

Learn more: Government of Canada announces federal support to prevent crime and combat auto theft in Ontario

National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action against Islamophobia

On January 29th, we recognized the National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action against Islamophobia, and we honoured the memory of the six people who were killed and the 19 others who were injured during the attack at the Centre culturel islamique de Québec in Sainte-Foy.

For many of us in the Muslim community it shattered our sense of peace. They were just going about their lives. It could have been any one of us.

Canada has seen alarming increases in racism and hate crimes targeting Muslim Canadians in recent months. Islamophobia in our country is a real and troubling fact.

Hatred has no place in Canada, and never will. We will continue to support community organizations and work closely with the Muslim community to build safer and more inclusive Canada for all.

Super Bowl food drive

Scarborough Food Security Initiative and Feed Scarborough are hosting a Super Bowl-themed food drive. Please help if you can. Click to learn more.

Tax Volunteers Needed

WoodGreen’s free tax clinic supports thousands of low-income community members each year to file their tax returns and get access to important credits and benefits.  They have urgent need for committed volunteers  to file tax returns either in-person or over-the-phone.  If you have professional financial skills or just experience filing your own tax return, please consider volunteering your time with this effort.  See the WoodGreen volunteer webpage to apply. 

Free Repair Café

Scarborough Zero Waste is inviting the community to a free “Repair Cafe” where volunteers will help fix damaged clothes and appliances so they can have a second life. February 16, 12:30-2PM at The Hub, Eglinton and Victoria Park.

Birkdale seniors hold health fair

Save the date! Birkdale Seniors are holding a health fair on “aging well” on Friday, March 22nd from 11AM to 2PM at the Birkdale Community Centre, 1299 Ellesmere Road.