November 12, 2026
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Since my last update, I've had the honour of being re-elected as City Councillor for York Centre-Downsview and to continue serving this wonderful community. I want to sincerely thank residents for placing their trust in me once again. As we begin a new term at City Hall, I remain committed to advocating for our neighbourhoods, businesses, and delivering meaningful improvements while ensuring our community’s voice is heard.
This fall, I was delighted to join the DUKE Heights BIA for the official unveiling of its Streetscape Improvement Project. As a longtime advocate for public art, it was wonderful to see this initiative come to life, bringing new vibrancy and character to York Centre-Downsview while creating a more welcoming community for residents and visitors alike.
On a construction note, there’s still a major water infrastructure project taking place in the area. Local streets such as St. Regis Crescent, Tuscan Gate, Ceramic Road, Ashwarren Road, Bakersfield Street, Steeprock Drive, Rimrock Road, Whitehorse Road, Chesswood Drive, and Sheppard Avenue will be impacted by rotating lane closures as watermain and line rehabilitation takes place. This is to ensure a secure and uninterrupted supply of water to local businesses and homes.
Along Keele Street, significant progress has been made on the Keele Subtrunk Sanitary Sewer project, which will increase sewer capacity and support the area’s growing infrastructure needs. I am pleased to report that traffic lanes have reopened as of October 28, following underground construction work designed to minimize surface disruption.
Throughout the summer, I worked to strike a balance between those enjoying concerts at Rogers Stadium and nearby residents impacted by the sound. I also implemented a traffic management plan and will continue to prioritize strengthening it to reduce congestion and minimize disruptions to surrounding neighbourhoods. Since my last update, I have met with the acoustic engineering firm conducting a sound study of the venue and am working toward developing a sound mitigation plan to address these concerns. There is still more work to be done, and I remain committed to finding solutions that work for our community.
As I begin another term, I look forward to continuing our work within the DUKE Heights BIA. Thank you once again for your continued support. I wish all residents a safe and enjoyable start to the holidays.
Sincerely,
James Pasternak
Toronto City Councillor
Ward 6 – York Centre
