Bayview Avenue is one of the busiest major arterial roadways in Toronto and a key north-south travel route for residents of Leaside. In the short time since I was elected as the City Councillor for Ward 15 – Don Valley West, I have already been contacted by several constituents about road safety on Bayview Avenue, near the sharp curve in the roadway south of Moore Avenue, as well as the Pottery Road extension that divides two busy parking lots.
On Thurs., Jan. 2, a vehicle travelling northbound along this stretch of Bayview Avenue crashed into a concrete barrier in the parking lot of the nearby Loblaws. The driver sustained serious injuries but is expected to survive, in part due to the heroic actions of two bystanders who were able to put out the engine fire before first responders arrived on scene. My sincere thanks go out to Jaiden Brown and Cameron Whiddon for bravely stepping in to help save a life.
At our January 2025 meeting of North York Community Council, I moved a motion requesting an urgent road safety review of this location. Of particular concern are the sharp curvature of the road, high vehicle speeds, and the aforementioned Pottery Road extension. I also asked Transportation Services to prioritize reviewing the Toronto Police Service incident report from this collision. When a serious collision occurs, the City of Toronto uses police findings to inform both short and long-term safety improvements, in line with the City of Toronto’s Vision Zero Road Safety Plan.
We are anticipating a report back to North York Community Council with recommendations to improve road safety at this location by the end of 2025.
2025 Agnes Macphail Award Recipient
I want to extend a heartfelt congratulations to Jason Ash, the recipient of this year’s Agnes Macphail Award.
The Agnes Macphail Award was established by the Borough of East York to annually recognize an outstanding volunteer who upholds the values and causes of Agnes Macphail and who lives within the boundaries of the former borough.
Jason was selected by the Agnes Macphail Recognition Committee for his long-standing community leadership in Thorncliffe Park and involvement on local initiatives, including advocating for better local transit. Most recently, Jason co-founded the grassroots advocacy group Save Ontario’s Science Centre, which is dedicated to preserving and protecting this beloved local institution.
I was pleased to present Jason with a certificate recognizing his hard work and dedication at North York Community Council last month. Congratulations, Jason! See page 20 for a full write-up on Jason.
