The provincial government announced today that tunnelling has officially begun for the downtown segment of the Ontario Line. Two tunnel boring machines are about to begin digging twin tunnels which will run six kilometers from the launch shaft near Exhibition Station to the Don Yard, just west of the lower Don River.

In the same announcement, Metrolinx confirmed the new names chosen for several downtown stations “that better reflect well-known Toronto neighbourhoods.”

• Corktown will be known as Distillery District;
• King-Bathurst will be known as King West,
• Queen-Spadina as Chinatown, and
• Riverside-Leslieville as Leslieville.

March 30, 2026 | TORONTO, ON — The Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario today announced their commitment to a cost-sharing agreement alongside the City of Toronto to advance Waterfront East Transit — a landmark commitment to unlock housing, connect communities, and drive economic growth along Toronto’s eastern waterfront.  

More than a transit project, Waterfront East Transit is a critical piece of infrastructure needed to help revitalize Toronto’s Eastern waterfront. By extending higher-order transit across the eastern waterfront to the Port Lands at the new Island called Ookwemin Minising, the project will unlock new neighbourhoods, connect people to jobs and destinations, and provide the certainty needed to deliver thousands of new homes.

Waterfront East Transit will ultimately support approximately 75,000 homes, helping to address Toronto’s housing needs while enabling long-term growth for the city, region, and country.

The project will serve more than 150,000 people who will live and work along the eastern waterfront and accommodate over 50,000 daily riders, connecting into a broader transportation network that includes new roads, trails, bridges, and streetcars, integrated with other major public transit hubs.  

Public investment in enabling infrastructure delivers economic growth. Alongside the recently announced $975 million tri-government investment in enabling housing infrastructure on the waterfront, Waterfront East Transit is expected to create more than 100,000 jobs and generate more than $13.2 billion in economic value, delivering lasting economic impact locally, provincially, and nationally.

Today is another advancement in the continued commitment of all three levels of government to work together to deliver the infrastructure required to build connected, inclusive, and complete communities on Toronto’s waterfront. 

Source: Waterfront Toronto​

​​The park block between Lower Jarvis Street and George Street and the park block between Lower 
Sherbourne Street and Princess Street, is planned to close as of March 16, 2026, to prepare for the first 
phase of construction at David Crombie Park. The closure date is subject to change based on weather 
and site conditions. Street access will remain open.

Construction at David Crombie Park will begin in March 2026 and proceed in phases to allow the 
community to continue using most park spaces and pathways throughout the project. The overall project 
is anticipated to be complete in 2028.

During construction, nearby residents can expect typical construction-related impacts, including noise, 
construction activity, and temporary changes to pedestrian circulation. Access to building lobbies and 
residential entrances will be maintained at all times. Where short-term detours are required, clear signage 
will be installed and maintained to help guide pedestrians safely around the work zone.

For more project information: toronto.ca/DavidCrombiePark

Waterfront Toronto is excited to share a new immersive experience that brings into focus the transformation of public spaces happening around Quayside. 

This interactive experience highlights how work today is setting the foundation for new homes, future transit, and a vibrant, people‑first community. Take a look and discover how today’s progress is building tomorrow’s waterfront. 

Link: https://www.waterfrontoronto.ca/qipr-experience/

​Note: the animation is accessible with embedded transcripts and was created without sound.

What is happening?

• From Friday, January 30, at 11 p.m., to Monday, February 2, 2026, at 5 a.m., sections of the Don Valley Parkway (DVP) and Gardiner Expressway will be closed to traffic to allow construction crews to move the eastern section of the new Lower Don Bridge over the DVP to its permanent location. Refer to the map below and the “Traffic Details” section below for more detailed information.
• This work coincides with additional road works the City of Toronto is carrying out within the closure area. These include road maintenance, survey work and bridge rehabilitation.
• This work is scheduled on the weekend to minimize traffic impacts during the work week. The closure will ensure that all activities are completed as safely and quickly as possible.
• No pedestrian impacts are expected.

Traffic details

• Sarting at Bayview Avenue on the DVP, all southbound traffic lanes will be closed until meeting with the Gardiner Expressway, where the lanes will continue to be closed westbound until Lower Jarvis Street. Access will be blocked to the Bayview Avenue on-ramp heading southbound. The Lower Jarvis Street on-ramp for westbound traffic will remain open.
• Starting at Bay Street on the Gardiner Expressway, all eastbound traffic lanes will be closed until meeting with the DVP, where lanes will continue to be closed northbound until Eastern Avenue. Access will be blocked to the Gardiner Expressway on-ramps heading eastbound at both Rees and Bay streets. Access will also be blocked to the DVP on-ramp heading northbound on the Don Roadway.
• A northbound detour is in place using Jarvis Street and Queen Street East. A southbound detour is in place using Bayview Avenue, Gerrard Street, and Jarvis Street.

Toronto Public Library
St. Lawrence Branch Relocation – Update

Moe Hosseini-Ara, the City Librarian, has released a report dated December 1 updating the information on the relocation of the St. Lawrence Branch of the Toronto Public Library (TPL).
https://blogs.tpl.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/27-st-lawrence-branch-relocation-update.pdf

The following are extracts from that report:

• “The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the acquisition of 339 Queen St. East to establish a new district branch for the community, replacing the existing and much smaller St. Lawrence branch which is currently classified as a neighbourhood branch.
• “The property transaction closed November 21, 2025, as a result the details of this transaction may now be made public.
• “This location will provide a much-needed larger district library while also offering additional benefits by relocating TPL’s Information Technology Services (ITS) department from 120 Martin Ross Avenue, allowing that property to be transferred to the City for use in supporting broader City priorities.
• “The building at 339 Queen Street East is a recently renovated three-story heritage building with approximately 40,000 square feet of space comprised of 30,000 square feet above grade and 10,000 square feet in the lower level. The three floors above grade are ideal for a district branch and the lower level will serve as the future site of TPL’s Information Technology Service offices and data centre.
• “The relocation and significant expansion of the St. Lawrence branch helps to achieve various strategic plan priorities and goals including:
  • “Enhancing physical spaces to provide welcoming, safe, inclusive, and sustainable multi-use environments;
  • “Establishing spaces that build resilience and belonging in every neighbourhood;
  • “Creating in-branch environments that connect neighbourhoods and communities, offering opportunities for partnerships, civic engagement and resident participation.
• “The [current] St. Lawrence branch at 171 Front Street East, is a City-owned/Toronto Community Housing Commission (TCHC) site. The branch is 4,833 square feet and is both significantly undersized and has substantial state of good repair issues due to the overall condition of the facility and ongoing building maintenance issues resulting from the residential housing located above the branch.
• “The relocation of St. Lawrence branch has been part of TPL’s capital plan since 2008, recognizing the requirement for a larger branch to meet the needs of this underserved community. Three locations have been previously considered:
  • “281 Front Street East (the former site of the Library processing centre);
  • “271 Front Street East (the site of the former First Parliament of Canada);
    • “271 Front Street East was expropriated by the Province and the future of a library being built on this site was uncertain; and
  • “125 The Esplanade;
    • “[options explored] for the 125 The Esplanade site … include[d] other City and community uses, including affordable housing to be co-located with the library.
• “The building at 339 Queen Street East – [the] new location for the St. Lawrence branch delivers a much-needed larger library in a substantially shorter timeframe and at lower cost than any of the previously considered locations.”

The St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association supports the accelerated timeframe made possible by the acquisition of 339 Queen St. E. for the new TPL district branch, and will continue to advocate strongly with TPL to provide selected neighbourhood library services in the western portion of the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood.

Note: This work may begin as early as October 3, 2025.

To support construction of the future station at Corktown, Metrolinx crews will be installing new overhead electrical connections to supply additional power for equipment on site. The overhead wiring will be installed over Front Street East.

To ensure public safety during the installation process, all lanes and sidewalks on Front Street East from Berkeley Street to Parliament Street will be fully closed for up to two nights. 

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
[Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.]
The day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.
This federal statutory holiday was created through legislative amendments made by Parliament.

Wear orange
Both the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day take place on September 30.
Orange Shirt Day is a commemorative day led by Indigenous communities to raise awareness about the intergenerational impacts of residential schools on children, families, and communities. It honours Indigenous children who were lost in the residential school system.
The orange shirt symbolizes the loss of culture, freedom, and self-esteem that many Indigenous children experienced. This day reminds us that “Every Child Matters”.
On September 30, all Canadians are encouraged to wear orange to honour the thousands of Survivors of residential schools.

Celebrate at Nathan Phillips Square, September 29 and 30
Join the Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre for the Annual Indigenous Legacy Gathering , a vibrant, free celebration of Indigenous culture, community and intergenerational connection held at Nathan Phillips Square on September 29 and 30. All are welcome to attend.
​
Truth and Reconciliation Commission and its calls to action
There were 140 federally run residential schools in Canada that operated between 1867 and 1996. Survivors advocated for recognition and reparations and demanded accountability for the intergenerational impacts of harm caused. Their efforts culminated in:

• the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement
• apologies by the government
• the establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
• the creation of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission ran from 2008 to 2015 and provided those directly or indirectly affected by the legacy of the residential schools policy with an opportunity to share their stories and experiences. The Commission released its final report detailing 94 calls to action. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a direct response to Call to Action 80, which called for a federal statutory day of commemoration.