Supporting the Opportunity for a Post-Secondary Institution in Mount Dennis - by Councillor Frances Nunziata, seconded by Councillor Ana Bailão

The study recommended a range of actions the City should undertake or support to accelerate business investment, job creation and a vibrant creative sector in the area. As part of the strategy, the Economic Development and Culture study recommended that efforts be made to attract a significant post-secondary facility to the Mount Dennis area. Economic Development and Culture staff, with the support of CreateTO, have been conducting preliminary work around the campus/post-secondary facility concept. In the fall of 2020, Economic Development and Culture wrote to the heads of all public post-secondary institutions based in Toronto to gauge initial interest in a potential campus opportunity in the Mount Dennis area. Since then, meetings have been held with a number of post-secondary institutions to explore opportunities. A number of meetings have also been held with the Mount Dennis ecoCampus Development Planning Group, made up of local elected officials and community representatives, all working toward the common goal of attracting a post-secondary campus to Mount Dennis. There has been long-standing interest in this community for a post-secondary institution. The Economic Development and Culture's study revealed that the Mount Dennis area is one of, if not the most underserved area in the City for access to post-secondary education, with no institution within a 5 kilometre radius. With the transit infrastructure investment in Mount Dennis, this part of the City will be easily accessible by all forms of transit, and would be an ideal location for a post-secondary campus.

2. City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to continue to engage post-secondary institutions both within Toronto on the creation of a post-secondary campus or presence in the Mount Dennis area, with engagement to include the facilitation of focus groups and/or brainstorming sessions with interested institutions as appropriate. 3. City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to explore with the Ministry of Colleges and Universities what the prospects, process and timelines are for the development of any new post-secondary campuses in Toronto and to advise the Ministry of work being undertaken to identify potential suitable sites for a campus or presence in the Mount Dennis area.