By Fred Alvarado Fred is a community journalist with FOCUS MEDIA ARTS CENTRE

RPTV Weekly News Show Episode 67 (Nov 21st to Nov 28th) In this weekly news show hosted by RPTV reporters Kedar Ahmed, Jabin Haque, and Thunder Cloud, we present news that impacts on Toronto's Regent Park and the surrounding areas.

The lead story: TCHC provides update on Regent Park demolition notice for Phases 4 & 5.

The demolition work for 319, 325 and 355 Gerrard St. E. and 274 Sackville St. is in progress according to a news release published on TCHC website last November 8th.  Work is expected to take up to eight months.

City of Toronto approved the demolition of 527 existing social housing units at 325 Gerrard Street East and related addresses at the July 19, 2023 City Council Meeting.

Demolition notice signs are now visible on site at the corner of River St and Gerard St East and Sackville St and Gerard St East.

A team trained to dismantle the structures safely and effectively is working inside the buildings to prepare the site for demolition.

“Demolition is a necessary process to make room for new construction. It is a methodical, technical process involving planning and complex tasks by a team of specialized experts trained to dismantle a structure safely and effectively. This means that there will be times where it appears, on the surface, that demolition work is not progressing because there is no visible teardown of the structure. The team, however, will be tackling the project in a variety of ways. This includes work inside the buildings to prepare the site for demolition,” TCHC wrote in a news release.

Fencing will be installed and parking and pedestrian routes within the area of demolition will be closed as part of their initial preparations.

Tree cutting workers were seen taking down pine and linden trees along Gerrard St East and Sackville St.
TCHC will continue to provide ongoing updates on construction with tenants and neighbours.

Episode 67 features segments on:

0:00 Intro;
01:26 Report of the Regent Park Social Development Plan Stakeholders Table meeting on Nov 27th;
19:31 TCHC provides update on Regent Park demolition notice for Phases 4 & 5;
20:48 21st Annual Regent Park Film Festival returns with 4 days of free movie screenings;
27:08 Toronto Police report significant increase in hate crimes since Israel-Gaza war;
31:41 1 person remains at homeless encampment outside Toronto church after city began to clear site;
33:48 City of Toronto releases new strategy focused on mental health and substance use;
38:53 Ontario and Toronto reach a historic $1.2 Billion funding deal;
49:01 Events and Jobs in Regent Park.