Toronto's 2SLGBTQ+ Advisory Committee Meeting Summary

Toronto's 2SLGBTQ+ Advisory Committee heard updates on the Queen's Park North revitalization, the Thrive Toronto mental health report card and related 2SLGBTQ+ mental health work, homelessness and shelter initiatives for 2SLGBTQ+ communities, and a proposed intimate partner violence pilot through Focus Toronto. The committee lost quorum before finishing all business, and the remaining items were deferred to July 7, 2026.

Topics Discussed

1. QUEEN'S PARK NORTH REVITALIZATION

City staff and consultants presented the Queen's Park North revitalization project ahead of reports to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on June 10 and City Council on June 24. Staff said "the project originated in late 2024 when the city was approached by the Weston family with an offer to donate $50 million to improve the park, plus an additional stream of funding for long-term maintenance and programming within the park."

Staff also said Queen's Park North is "owned by the University of Toronto and leased by the city for 999 years," and that it functions as a city park without a specific neighbourhood catchment because of its downtown location, size, and access.

The proposed governance model includes city oversight of design and capital delivery, any needed lease changes with the university, donor recognition under city policy, and "a tripartite maintenance, operations, and funding agreement." Staff said the revitalization is intended to create more gathering space "without negatively impacting the trees," including by moving the King Edward statue to open up the centre of the park.

Questions and comments focused on how the redesign would serve specific communities. Councillor Paula Fletcher asked whether there had been "targeted outreach or consultation" with affected communities and how that feedback shaped the design. Rachel Chernos Lin said, "I really want to voice support for having options for gender neutral or universal washrooms." A speaker identified as Misha added, "we found that there were no free support services or programs or curriculum programs available at all" for 2SLGBTQ+ youth ages 14 to 29 in the downtown east.

2. THRIVE TORONTO REPORT CARD AND 2SLGBTQ+ MENTAL HEALTH

The committee received a presentation on the Thrive Toronto mental health report card and Toronto Public Health's work on 2SLGBTQ+ mental health. Presenters said mental health outcomes are being shaped by stigma, discrimination, and broader social conditions. Toronto Public Health said, "many factors impact mental health and well-being," including "systemic and social determinance of health related to access as well as experiences of stigma and discrimination."

Dr. McKenzie said "mental health in Toronto is in decline and it is time for action," and described the broader policy question as "how do we actually put this all together to stop the rot and change the trajectory."

Committee members and speakers raised specific service gaps. Michael Thompson said, "I think we all know that hanging up a pride flag does not equate to a safe space." Rachel Chernos Lin said refugee mental health is strongly shaped by post-arrival conditions, adding that "being denied access to work is one of the better predictors of mental health problems in refugee populations." Another councillor noted longstanding concerns about transitions out of youth services at age 19 and into adult systems.

Staff also pointed to limits in available identity-based data. Rachel Chernos Lin said the city still reports some data only "by males and females" and is "not yet at a point where we're able to provide that data" in more detailed gender categories.

3. 2SLGBTQ+ HOMELESSNESS AND SHELTER SERVICES

The committee heard updates from Toronto Shelter and Support Services and The 519 on initiatives for 2SLGBTQ+ communities experiencing homelessness. Staff said the 2024 Street Needs Assessment found that "the proportion of respondents identifying as 2SLGBTQ plus has doubled since 2021," and that "30% of youth experiencing homelessness identify as 2SLGBTQ plus."

A speaker from The 519 said, "Queer and trans people are significantly over represented in experiences of being unhoused, precariously housed and experiencing discrimination within their housing journeys from youth shelters all the way up to to long-term care homes." Another speaker said there is "the desperate need of specifically trans and non-binary communities, two spirit communities," who "were not feeling safe in shelters ongoingly to this day."

Staff described efforts to respond through shelter standards, training, and system planning. Martha Singh Jennings said, "The intention of this space is to gather together leaders from the shelter sector to create consistent, dignified and service delivery for 2SLGBTQ plus shelter residents across the whole of the city."

Committee members asked about how new sites are chosen and whether private accommodations are being created for trans and non-binary residents. Terrence asked, "how are new locations being opened and identified?" and whether "individual accommodations" are being developed "for safety reasons."

4. FOCUS TORONTO / WOMENACT IPV PILOT

The committee heard a presentation on Focus Toronto and the WomenACT pilot program under QS 11.3, part of the city's community safety and wellbeing plan. David said the plan is meant to guide how "community services, health care systems, businesses, education systems, justice systems and emergency systems" can work together across sectors and governments.

On the pilot itself, David said Rexdale and York "were identified as sites where enhanced interventions could strengthen coordination, improved referral pathways, and support more timely responses to high-risk IPV situations." Staff said information sharing is limited: "Information is only shared when there is a significant risk of harm that cannot reasonably be addressed by a single organization alone."

Another speaker said upcoming work includes a "standardized IPV case management process," better IPV-related data collection, and "enhanced referral pathway designed to support quicker access to services and interventions where possible."

The committee lost quorum before completing questions and formal consideration of the item, so it was deferred.

5. PROCEDURAL MATTERS AND LOSS OF QUORUM

The meeting was held in hybrid format and chaired by Councillor Chris Moise. Members noted a quorum issue during the meeting, and the committee ultimately lost quorum before finishing the agenda. Remaining business, including the Focus Toronto and WomenACT pilot item, was deferred to July 7, 2026.

Motions

• QS 11.2 / SQS 11.2 - Initiatives to Support 2SLGBTQ+ Communities Experiencing Homelessness

  • Passed
  • Requested updates on initiatives supporting 2SLGBTQ+ communities experiencing homelessness and asked that the work return in the new council term.

• Motion by Susan Gapka on Thrive Toronto and 2SLGBTQ+ Mental Health

  • Passed
  • Requested that the Medical Officer of Health provide an update in the new council term on the Thrive Toronto mental health report card and Toronto Public Health's work on 2SLGBTQ+ mental health.

• QS 11.3 - Focus Toronto and WomenACT Pilot Program

  • Deferred to July 7, 2026
  • Deferred after the committee lost quorum.

• Remaining unfinished items

  • Deferred to July 7, 2026
  • Deferred after the committee lost quorum.

Attendees

• Councillor Chris Moise (Chair)
• Councillor Paula Fletcher
• Councillor Rachel Chernos Lin
• Councillor Michael Thompson

Only councillors specifically identified in the provided materials are listed here.