Summer 2025 Newsletter

Sixplex Update:  Yes, Strength in Numbers!

You’ve heard it often at HVVRA meetings: “The larger our membership, the louder our voice!”  Never has that been truer than on June 26^th when Residents Associations (RAs) from across the city came together to oppose Planning’s Sixplex as of right proposal.

The message was loud the clear: As of Right is Wrong!
City Council took notice when Councillors Parthi Kandavel (Ward 20 Scarborough Southwest) and Stephen Holyday (Ward 2 Etobicoke Centre) presented an Open Letter to Council requesting a deferral of sixplex approvals as of right signed by 52 RAs from across the city. (Click <here> for letter).

While opposition to sixplexes as of right had been voiced by numerous RAs and dozens of residents for months, it was the survey results which CERA (Coalition of Etobicoke Residents’ Association) presented at the June 14^th Planning and Housing Committee (PHC) meeting that really got the opposition ‘ball’ rolling. 

At that meeting, CERAs efforts were highlighted by Ward 2 Councillor Stephen Holyday who adamently pointed out that CERA’s survey garnered five times the number of respondents from Etobicoke and Scarborough, in less than 3 weeks!, than City Planning’s survey did in six months: “This group of 9 RAs out-surveyed you!” 

It required surveys, thousands of emails, depositions at Planning and Housing Committee by CERA, FONTRA, SUN, and others, a campaign by CERA to lobby City Councillors, and finally, passionate arguments made during five hours of debate at City Council, for residents’ voices to be heard. Council listened to judicious concerns about the lack of proper planning and regulation in the proposal, inadequate concrete data, and the premature speed with which “as-of-right” multiplexes and sixplexes were being forced on to Toronto’s stable neighbourhoods.

In the end, Councillor Gordon Perks, (Ward 4 High Park) sensing defeat for sixplexes altogether, modified his motion for sixplexes as of right, to sixplexes as of right only in nine wards within the City of Toronto/East York and Ward 23. 

HVVRA along with 51 other RAs in suburban Toronto is grateful to Councillors Holyday and Kandavel for hearing our collective opposition to sixplexes as of right. 

Key outcomes from the June 25 Council meeting:

• Legitimate Concerns, not NIMBYism: While media often labeled opposition to sixplexes as NIMBYism, Residents Associations demonstrated the proposal lacked sufficient fact-base data to justify as-of-right and ignored or downplayed infrastructure deficiencies.
• Planning had overlooked the need for proper amenities and regulations — including Parking, Garbage storage, Green Space, Fire Safety measures, and Infrastructure Upgrades. Without these safeguards, neighbourhoods are at risk of basement flooding, illegal rooming houses, and increased nuisance issues. 
• As-of-right removes any need to provide notice to neighbours and facilitates overreach by developers at the Committee of Adjustment.
• More data is needed before moving ahead. The Ward 23 pilot, (Councillor Myers) does not yet have a single sixplex built — so why rush forward without evidence? 
• Still no regional breakdown of Committee of Adjustment (COA) data: How many multiplexes have been built? At what cost? Are the rents actually affordable? What is the feedback from neighbours? Staff have yet to provide this critical information.
• Council voted that nine wards allow sixplexes, instead of a citywide rollout. 
• Councillors have the option to “opt in” their ward to allow sixplexes at any time. 

 Where are sixplexes currently permitted?
· Ward 4 – Parkdale–High Park
· Ward 9 – Davenport
· Ward 10 – Spadina–Fort York
· Ward 11 – University–Rosedale
· Ward 12 – Toronto–St. Paul’s
· Ward 13 – Toronto Centre
· Ward 14 – Toronto–Danforth
· Ward 19 – Beaches–East York
· Ward 23 – Scarborough North (pilot area)

The HVVRA, and on behalf of CERA, urges residents to continue to stay involved in issues impacting our neighbourhood, city, and country. Your voices need to be heard. 

New Humbertown Retailers

While the renovations of the north wing of Humbertown are underway, retailers are back in the south wing and open for business!  While we are happy to welcome back Vanderfleet Flowers and Baskin Robbins, we also extend a warm welcome to NADO Fromagerie, WAXON Laser and Waxbar, and The Spa by Nails for You.  

Members of the HVVRA stopped by NADO Fromagerie recently to learn more about this family business.  We think they are a great addition to our neighbourhood!  
NADO Fromagerie is family owned and operated and very family focused! Even their name NADO is a representation of their family:  Nicole (their 8 year old), Anna, Diran and Olivia (their 6 year old)!  They honed their expertise in the food industry with over 20 years of combined experience in large food retail corporations and in the CPG (consumer packaged goods) industry.

They are a refined, modern, boutique-style fromagerie specializing in rare, small-batch cheeses from exceptional Canadian and international producers. They are experts at pairings and offer unique signature cheese-based appetizers and pastries, crafted with top-quality ingredients you won’t find anywhere else. Their Concierge du Fromage station is purposely built to provide a very casual yet refined approach to sampling. They believe in the philosophy of sampling before you buy! They also offer a wide range of prepared meals which includes sandwiches, salads, and croissants as well as other pastries. Their array of services includes an exceptional coffee bar, teas and other beverages. They provide an excellent beverage experience because of their commitment to a local roaster partnership.

We encourage Humber Valley residents to stop in and try their coffee, sample their cheese, and check out all their offerings.  When you visit please be sure to tell them you read about them in the HVVRA newsletter! They also offer cheese boards and catering. Small, family owned, retailers rely on neighbourhood residents and word of mouth and we hope they will be a part of our neighbourhood for many years to come!  You can learn more about them here: NADO Fromagerie