Respecting, Reflecting and Representing Little Jamaica and Business Improvement Areas in New Eglinton Light Rail Transit Stations - by Councillor Josh Matlow, seconded by Councillor Mike Colle

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The decision

2026-03-25 · Toronto City Council · adopted

As filed

City Council on March 25 and 26, 2026, adopted the following: 1. City Council request Metrolinx to establish a Cultural Placemaking and Public Art Plan to protect and promote the cultural heritage of Little Jamaica and other neighborhoods of historical significance along the Eglinton West corridor in specific Eglinton Light Rail Transit stations. 2. City Council request Metrolinx to establish a Little Jamaica advisory committee comprising local business owners, Business Improvement Areas, residents across the corridor, and representatives from the African, Black and Caribbean communities to co-design the themes and heritage elements.

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3. City Council request Metrolinx to explore including free digital ads in specific Eglinton Light Rail Transit stations for local businesses in the Mount Dennis Business Improvement Area, Eglinton Hill Business Improvement Area, Fairbank Village Business Improvement Area, Oakwood Village Business Improvement Area, Little Jamaica Business Improvement Area, Upper Village Business Improvement Area, The Eglinton Way Business Improvement Area, and Mt. Pleasant Village Business Improvement Area. 4. City Council request Metrolinx to provide an update on the status of the Reggae Lane Mural reproduction in the Oakwood Light Rail Transit station in collaboration with artist Adrian Hayes.

On the agenda

As the city filed it

Over the past 15 years, the construction of the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit has had devastating impacts on communities and businesses along the Eglinton West corridor, including small businesses in the Mount Dennis Business Improvement Area, Eglinton Hill Business Improvement Area, Fairbank Village Business Improvement Area, Oakwood Village Business Improvement Area, Little Jamaica Business Improvement Area, Upper Village Business Improvement Area, The Eglinton Way Business Improvement Area, and Mt.

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Pleasant Village Business Improvement Area. Despite promises of consultation and community engagement, Metrolinx has failed to meaningfully involve communities and Business Improvement Areas in decisions about station design and cultural representation along the corridor, particularly failing to represent the cultural heritage of the Little Jamaica community in any Light Rail Transit stations. This motion calls on Metrolinx to establish a Cultural Placemaking and Public Art Plan specifically focused on protecting and promoting the cultural heritage of Little Jamaica and other neighborhoods of historical significance in Light Rail Transit stations along the corridor. It requests the creation of a Little Jamaica advisory committee to ensure the community has a direct role in co-designing the themes and heritage elements. In addition, this motion asks Metrolinx to explore free digital ad space for local businesses in the Mount Dennis Business Improvement Area, Eglinton Hill Business Improvement Area, Fairbank Village Business Improvement Area, Oakwood Village Business Improvement Area, Little Jamaica Business Improvement Area, Upper Village Business Improvement Area, The Eglinton Way Business Improvement Area, and Mt. Pleasant Village Business Improvement Area within all Light Rail Transit stations as a concrete way to support their economic recovery. This motion also requests an update on 2018.MM44.80, 1603 Eglinton Avenue West - Release of Section 37 Funds from the Development for Community Benefit and Public Art Projects , which allocated $200,000 for the purpose of forwarding funds to Metrolinx to fund the production and installation of a Reggae Lane Mural reproduction in the Oakwood Light Rail Transit station in collaboration with artist Adrian Hayes. For years, Metrolinx has failed to share updates on the status of this initiative. This motion seeks to center the community's voice in decisions made about how their neighborhood is represented and how they can benefit from the new transit infrastructure, while also being better represented in any placemaking and public art initiatives.

Staff recommended

Councillor Josh Matlow, seconded by Councillor Mike Colle, recommends that: 1. City Council request Metrolinx to establish a Cultural Placemaking and Public Art Plan to protect and promote the cultural heritage of Little Jamaica and other neighborhoods of historical significance along the Eglinton West corridor in specific Eglinton Light Rail Transit stations. 2. City Council request Metrolinx to establish a Little Jamaica advisory committee comprising local business owners, Business Improvement Areas, residents across the corridor, and representatives from the African, Black and Caribbean communities to co-design the themes and heritage elements.

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On the record

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