The filed record
Authority to Release Section 37 Funds for Cultural Recognition Street Naming for Little Iran - by Councillor Lily Cheng, seconded by Mayor Olivia Chow
The Public Gallery wrote no story on this item. What follows is the city’s own record of what happened to it, as filed: nothing on this page is summarised or scored by us.
The decision
2025-03-26 · Toronto City Council · adopted
As filed
City Council on March 26 and 27, 2025, adopted the following: 1. City Council increase the 2025-2034 Capital Budget and Plan for Transportation Services by $5000.00 gross, $0 debt, fully funded by Section 37 community benefits obtained from the development at 5840, 5868 and 5870 Yonge Street (Source Account: XR3026-3701294), to be utilized to fabricate and install street signage as "Little Iran" recognizing the Iranian cultural district for Yonge Street from Cummer Avenue/Drewry Avenue to Moore Park Avenue / Madawaska Avenue (Signs and Markings Asset Management, CTP725-01).
Show the rest of As filed, 293 more characters as filed
2. City Council request the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, in consultation with the local Councillor, to engage with local community organizations in Willowdale, including North York Arts, to create arts installations to recognize the Iranian cultural heritage of the area.
On the agenda
As the city filed it
On March 29, 2023, City Council unanimously passed Member Motion 2023.MM5.29, supporting the exploration of designating a northern portion of Yonge Street as a Cultural District in recognition of the area's vibrant Iranian community. However, no budget allocation was made in the Economic Development and Culture annual budget to advance this initiative. Given the cultural and historical significance of this corridor and in the absence of immediate budgetary support for the Cultural Districts Program, City Council directs Transportation Services to design and install street signage recognizing the Iranian community along this section of Yonge Street.
Show the rest of As the city filed it, 839 more characters as filed
The proposed stretch of Yonge Street is home to Toronto's oldest Iranian settlement and serves as a thriving cultural and economic hub. This area hosts a wide range of Iranian businesses, including grocery stores, cafés, bakeries, print shops, media outlets, clinics, pharmacies, and art galleries, all of which contribute to the city's rich multicultural fabric. Beyond its present-day significance, this corridor stands as a living testament to decades of Iranian migration to Toronto. The resilience and contributions of the Iranian community have fostered a strong sense of belonging, making this district an integral part of the city's diverse landscape. Officially recognizing this area through street signage would honor the Iranian community's enduring contributions and celebrate the vibrancy of Iranian culture in Toronto.
Staff recommended
Councillor Lily Cheng, seconded by Mayor Olivia Chow, recommends that: 1. City Council increase the 2025-2034 Capital Budget and Plan for Transportation Services by $5000.00 gross, $0 debt, fully funded by Section 37 community benefits obtained from the development at 5840, 5868 and 5870 Yonge Street (Source Account: XR3026-3701294), to be utilized to fabricate and install street signage as "Little Iran" recognizing the Iranian cultural district for Yonge Street from Cummer Avenue/Drewry Avenue to Moore Park Avenue / Madawaska Avenue (Signs and Markings Asset Management, CTP725-01).
Show the rest of Staff recommended, 293 more characters as filed
2. City Council request the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, in consultation with the local Councillor, to engage with local community organizations in Willowdale, including North York Arts, to create arts installations to recognize the Iranian cultural heritage of the area.
On the record
More from this meeting
- Introduction of General Bills and Confirming BillsFiled record
- Authority to Negotiate Agreements Related to Queen’s Park North Through Philanthropic Partnerships in Alignment with City of Toronto PrioritiesFiled record
- 40-60 St. Lawrence Avenue - Ontario Land Tribunal Hearing - Request for DirectionsFiled record
- The Growing Crisis of Public Safety in the City of Toronto and the Urgent Need to Seek Clarity on the Date City Staff will Present Long Overdue “Bubble Zone” By-laws to Toronto City Council and Protect the Charter Rights of Those Trying to Access Faith-Based and Other Vulnerable InstitutionsFiled record
- Amending Item 2021.TE26.4 - 33-49 Avenue Road and 136-148 Yorkville Avenue and Creation of New Park at 819 Yonge Street - by Councillor Dianne Saxe, seconded by Councillor Jamaal MyersFiled record
- Call to OrderFiled record