Toronto Community Housing announces Regent Park residents’ decision on $26.8 million Community Benefits investment

Toronto Community Housing (TCHC) announced today that Regent Park residents have selected Package 2: Focus on Educational Scholarships as their preferred choice for how to invest $26.8 million in community benefits throughout, Regent Park’s Phase 4-5 revitalization.

The announcement was made at an event with leaders from TCHC and Tridel along with residents, highlighting the community’s role in guiding and determining how the funds will be invested to support jobs, education, new community spaces, and more. 

The funds were contributed by Tridel as part of its partnership with TCHC, and were arranged into different investment options. Three Community Benefits Packages were co-designed with the Community Benefits Oversight Working Group (CBOWG), which is made up of Regent Park community members and local agencies. TCHC tenants and residents within the broader Regent Park neighbourhood selected Package 2 for its greater emphasis on educational scholarships, which emerged as a top priority during earlier engagement. 

While all voting packages included employment and job supports, Package 2 reflects the community’s choice to direct more towards learning to create long-term pathways for success through higher learning. Funding allocations in the selected package includes:

• $13.4 million for wages for jobs and employment supports
• $4.5 million for new community space(s)
• $3.8 million for educational scholarships for TCHC tenants
• $3.5 million for community initiatives
• $1.6 million for job skills training and local business development

The selected package will become part of a legally binding agreement between TCHC and Tridel, called the Community Benefits Agreement (CBA). The CBA will be monitored with regular updates provided to the community through a monitoring and evaluation framework being co-developed with CBOWG. 

With the community vote complete, TCHC and Tridel will continue to work with residents and partners to help establish priorities for community initiatives and inform how other investments can be tailored to the community’s specific needs across Phases 4-5 over the next 10-15 years. 

The TCHC-led co-designed CBA process to inform and vote on the Community Benefits Packages was developed through extensive community engagement, giving residents a voice in how revitalization investments support social and economic development in their community. 

Quotes

“Over 20,000 TCHC residents—almost a quarter of our total population—are between the ages of 13 and 24. For those young people, education is the most reliable pathway to personal development and new opportunities. This vote reflects how highly Regent Park residents prioritize that opportunity and how much they want to see the youth of Regent Park succeed. I’m grateful to all the residents of Regent Park who participated in this vote, and I’m excited to see their successes in the future.”

- Sean Baird, President and CEO, TCHC 

“The revitalization of Regent Park is about more than buildings—it’s about creating opportunities and a foundation for long-term success. By working hand in hand with residents and with the support of our partner at Toronto Community Housing, we are ensuring this investment reflects the community’s priorities. This collaborative approach is essential in continuing to build a strong, resilient Regent Park where every resident has the chance to thrive for generations to come.”

- Jim Ritchie, President and CEO, Tridel

“Residents have chosen a path that opens doors for students and emerging leaders in Regent Park. Prioritizing education sends a strong message about the aspirations of the Regent Park community and the long-term impact they want to make. I appreciate everyone who contributed to this work, and thank you TCHC, Tridel, and CBOWG for ensuring community leadership guided this investment.”

- Kristyn Wong-Tam, Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP), Toronto Centre