Willowdale Monthly Newsletter September 2025

September 30, 2025

Dear Willowdale Friends,

Happy October! As the leaves start to change colour and the days become shorter, you know it is officially fall; a time of crisp mornings, pumpkin carving and Halloween get-togethers. Amongst the vibrant backdrop of changes to our Willowdale trees, I hope you get the chance to see friends and enjoy the wonders of Mother Nature around us.
Are you without a family doctor? If your postal code begins with M2N, you will be given priority at the Get Well Health at 4430 Bathurst, Unit #103. Get Well Health is supported by our government’s promise to connect everyone to a family doctor within five years. As your MPP, I know that Willowdale has a high number of people without a primary care clinician and that is why our government has a plan to address that.
Working under the guidance of Dr. Jane Philpott (a former federal Liberal cabinet minister), we just announced another $250 million for the next step in funding that will connect 500,000 more people to a primary care clinician. We are already seeing that the Health Care Connect waitlist has decreased by more than 98,000 (or 42%) since January 1, 2025.

Around Willowdale
Anova Fertility

This month I paid a visit to Anova Fertility Clinic near Yonge and Sheppard where I learned from founder and CEO, Dr. Marjorie Dixon, about the incredible work being done to support parents and families. It was an inspiring and deeply moving visit to hear about their efforts to help families become families, and it made me even prouder of our government’s recent announcement of a tax credit for fertility treatment. The credit will provide up to $5,000 in annual support by covering 25 per cent of eligible fertility-related expenses, including IVF cycles, fertility medications, travel for treatment and diagnostic testing.

Dr. Diana Wong

I also sat down with Dr. Diana Wong, a Willowdale dentist who has ideas on how to better educate parents on proper hygiene for newborns to prevent cavities and improve dental health. Her dedication to helping parents learn how to care for their children’s teeth will go a long way in preventing dental problems as they become teenagers and adults, setting people up for a lifetime of good dental habits. Thank you, Dr. Wong for all you do!

Captain Sam Billich

I also want to extend my deepest congratulations to Captain Sam Billich who was awarded the King Charles III Medal for his contribution to Canada! A decorated Veteran, Captain Billich served for 28 years in both the British and Canadian armies. He can add his King Charles III medal to his list of awards:

• The Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation
• the Gold Cross of Merit from Poland
• the Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service from Jamaica
• the Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals.

Introducing Park Golf


Popular across Asia, Park Golf has come to Ontario! Park Golf offers an inclusive, low-barrier way for seniors, youth, and people with disabilities to stay active and connect with the community. One club, one ball, one tee — simple to start, fun for everyone. If you want to try it, you can play at G. Ross Lord Park (Dufferin and Finch) every Wednesday throughout the summer from 10am to 2pm at Cricket Fields #1&2.

Here are Some Recent Government Initiatives and Opportunities:
Legislative Page Program
Is your child in Grade 7 or 8? You may want to explore the Legislative Page Program at the Ontario Legislature. While at the Legislature, students attend class led by a certified teacher and perform duties in the Legislature. This unique educational program provides an opportunity to experience the provincial legislature in action and forge new lifelong friendships. The recruitment program is open until November 15, 2025
Groundbreaking at Scarbrough Centre Subway Station
We recently broke ground at the first of three stations for the Scarbrough Subway Extension, which will take pressure off the Yonge Line by providing people who live east of Yonge St. with an option to get downtown from Scarbrough without coming over to Yonge Street.
Ontario Opens New Medical School in Brampton
The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) School of Medicine officially opened in Brampton, marking the first medical school to open in Ontario in 20 years. Our government is investing nearly $180 million to train future doctors, starting with 176 undergraduate and postgraduate medical school students for the 2025-26 school year. This investment will strengthen and protect Ontario’s health care system while ensuring more families across the province can continue to access high-quality care. We welcome those doctors to Willowdale where we are working hard to connect residents with family doctors.
More Money for Provincial Parks
Our government is investing nearly $60 million to create more camping opportunities at some of the province’s most popular provincial parks, adding up to 300 new campsites and upgrading 800 campsites with electrical service over the next three years.
New campsites will be added at Driftwood, MacGregor Point, Bon Echo and Killarney provincial parks, with more parks to follow.
At the same time, existing campsites at Sandbanks, Arrowhead and Bon Echo provincial parks will be upgraded with electrical service, with additional parks receiving electrified campsites in the future.

All the best,

Stan Cho
MPP for Willowdale