Item - 2025.EX20.1

Tracking Status

  • City Council adopted this item on February 5, 2025 without amendments and without debate.
  • This item was considered by the Executive Committee on January 28, 2025 and adopted without amendment. It will be considered by City Council on February 5, 2025.

EX20.1 - Advancing Truth, Reconciliation and Justice: Supporting 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations' Development of a 2SLGBTQIA+ Indigenous Emergency Shelter at 996 Woodbine Avenue

Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Adopted on Consent
Ward:
19 - Beaches - East York

City Council Decision

City Council on February 5, 2025, adopted the following:

 

1. City Council accept an Offer to Purchase from 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations for the sale of a portion of the City-owned property municipally known as 996 Woodbine Avenue as described in Attachment 2 (the "Developable Property") to the report (January 14, 2025) from the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, for the nominal sum of $2.00, on such terms and conditions as may be deemed appropriate by the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Transit Commission and the Director, Indigenous Affairs Office, and in a form acceptable to the City Solicitor.

 

2. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management to assume all costs and charges related to the disposal of the Developable Property including, but not limited to, land transfer tax, reasonable expenses related to third party consultants, legal and surveying costs, and to waive any customary City related charges and fees associated with the conveyance of lands.

 

3. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to complete the disposal of the Developable Property on behalf of the City, including making payment of any necessary expenses and amending the closing and other dates to such earlier or later date(s) on such terms and conditions as they may from time to time consider reasonable and City Council authorize the appropriate City officials to take necessary action to give effect to City Council's decision.

Background Information (Committee)

(January 14, 2025) Report and Attachments 1 and 2 from the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management on Advancing Truth, Reconciliation and Justice: Supporting 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations' Development of a 2SLGBTQIA+ Indigenous Emergency Shelter at 996 Woodbine Avenue
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-252184.pdf
Attachment 3 - 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations: Organizational History and Shelter Project
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-252185.pdf

EX20.1 - Advancing Truth, Reconciliation and Justice: Supporting 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations' Development of a 2SLGBTQIA+ Indigenous Emergency Shelter at 996 Woodbine Avenue

Decision Type:
ACTION
Status:
Adopted
Ward:
19 - Beaches - East York

Committee Recommendations

The Executive Committee recommends that:

 

1. City Council accept an Offer to Purchase from 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations for the sale of a portion of the City-owned property municipally known as 996 Woodbine Avenue as described in Attachment 2 (the "Developable Property") to the report (January 14, 2025) from the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, for the nominal sum of $2.00, on such terms and conditions as may be deemed appropriate by the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Transit Commission and the Director, Indigenous Affairs Office, and in a form acceptable to the City Solicitor.

 

2. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management to assume all costs and charges related to the disposal of the Developable Property including, but not limited to, land transfer tax, reasonable expenses related to third party consultants, legal and surveying costs, and to waive any customary City related charges and fees associated with the conveyance of lands.

 

3. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to complete the disposal of the Developable Property on behalf of the City, including making payment of any necessary expenses and amending the closing and other dates to such earlier or later date(s) on such terms and conditions as they may from time to time consider reasonable and City Council authorize the appropriate City officials to take necessary action to give effect to City Council's decision.

Origin

(January 14, 2025) Report from the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management

Summary

Since July 2023, CreateTO, Corporate Real Estate Management (CREM), Toronto Shelter and Support Services (TSSS) and the Indigenous Affairs Office have worked collaboratively with the 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations ("2-Spirits") in identifying potential sites for Toronto's first purpose built emergency shelter for 2SLGBTQIA+ Indigenous individuals seeking shelter or fleeing violence.

 

The City-owned property at 996 Woodbine Avenue (the "Property") has been identified as the preferred site, and 2-Spirits is proposing to construct and operate an 11-bed emergency shelter to meet the unique needs of Toronto's 2SLGBTQIA+ Indigenous community. The proposed emergency shelter includes an integrated transitional housing component, as well as 24/7/365 onsite staff to provide culturally appropriate supports.

 

To support 2-Spirits' initiative, as an effort to forward the City's commitments set out in the City's Reconciliation Action Plan 2022-2032 (RAP), and to address the critical need for additional 2SLGBTQIA+ shelter space and transitional housing, City staff are seeking Council authority to transfer a portion of the Property to 2-Spirits for nominal consideration.

 

2-Spirits is a Toronto based Indigenous community organization offering a wide range of social services and supports within Toronto and is a member of Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council. 2-Spirits has been in operation for over 30 years providing support to the Indigenous and Two Spirit community and leads and operates a Toronto Community Crisis Service team in partnership with Social Development, Finance and Administration.

Background Information

(January 14, 2025) Report and Attachments 1 and 2 from the Executive Director, Corporate Real Estate Management on Advancing Truth, Reconciliation and Justice: Supporting 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations' Development of a 2SLGBTQIA+ Indigenous Emergency Shelter at 996 Woodbine Avenue
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-252184.pdf
Attachment 3 - 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations: Organizational History and Shelter Project
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-252185.pdf

Speakers

Saige McMahon, 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations

Motions

Motion to Adopt Item moved by Councillor Josh Matlow (Carried)
Source: Toronto City Clerk at www.toronto.ca/council