2018 Annual report

Founded in 2011, TTCriders is a grassroots transit advocacy organization of transit riders. We campaign for an affordable world class public transit system for . We believe that everyone in Toronto has the right to ride fast and reliable public transit at an affordable price. Our vision TTCriders is a grassroots transit advocacy organization that gives Torontonians who use the TTC a voice. It emerged as a response to the tens of thousands of transit users who said that they want better transit in Toronto.

Our goal is to build a TTC that works with and for transit riders. Our Vision for a public transit system is based on the following guiding principles:

• Fair and affordable fares • Building modern, fast transit into all corners of the city as fast as possible • Making public transit fully accessible transit • Frequent service that connects all our neighbourhoods • Environmental sustainability • Respect for front line TTC workers • Respect for fellow TTCriders Our Partners and Sponsors

2 TTCRiders Annual Report 2018 committee Initiatives

Campaigns Committee WE WON BETTER BUS SERVICE AND 2-HOUR FARES TTCriders’ priority campaign is for a fairly funded TTC, so riders get better service and lower fares. In May 2017, City Council voted to freeze budgets at 2017 levels which meant that riders were facing service cuts. Between August 2017 to February 2018 we organized rallies, canvasses, and attended and disrupted TTC and City budget meetings.

Here are some highlights: • We organized the Ride For Respect to City Hall. 200 of us took transit from Queen’s Park to city Hall to demand fair funding for the TTC. • We collected rider complaints about the TTC — the “Woes on the Bus” — and brought them to City Hall for the TTC vote on the 2018 Operating and Capital budgets. • We disrupted ’s Executive Committee Meeting with our rendition of “The Woes on the Bus Go Round and Round.” • We organized deputations at City Hall Budget Committee meetings and TTC meetings in support of 2-hour fares, the low income Fair Pass, and more TTC funding. • We organized a Day of Action on January 30 with canvases at more than 12 TTC stops across Toronto. • We held a Sardine Ride to Queen’s Park in advance of the provincial budget with great costumes. • We gave the TTC an award of our own: Least Funded Transit System in North America.

In the end, the TTC voted to increase its budget by $40.5 million, which included funding for 2-hour transfers and a fare freeze. We also won $3 million for better service to relieve crowding. The TTC voted on May 8 to reallocate an additional $2 million for bus service and introduce new express buses. They also voted to annualize this new service, which means that starting 2019, $15.5 million will be added to the TTC budget for more bus service. Despite this gain, the TTC is still not meeting its own crowding standards. We still have a long ways to go until we see 10-minutes or better service on all routes across Toronto, more express service, and priority lanes.

To get involved in our Fair Deal for Riders campaign, please come to our monthly meeting, held on the first Monday of every month at 720 Bathurst St. We hold new member orientations at 5:30pm. To RSVP or for more info, contact Kamilla at [email protected].

OUR CAMPAIGNS COMMITTEE CONTINUES TO GROW This has been a very active 12 months for transit issues and for the Campaigns Committee. Our meetings have grown in membership, with recent meetings including as many as 17 attendees. We have been joined by new members from ATU, the Keep Transit Public campaign, environmental

3 TTCRiders Annual Report 2018 activists, urban planning experts, and others. Founding members of the recently formed Accessibility Committee have become active members of Campaigns and participated in advocacy through deputations and other events. These members have brought forward positions and viewpoints that speak to the sometimes unique priorities of persons requiring greater access to public transit, and challenge us to deepen our understanding. This enriching of our membership is a reflection of our broadening base of core activists.

No report on our work would be complete without mentioning the vital and skilled leadership of Shelagh Pizey-Allen! With our new Chair, Kamilla Pietrzyk, we look forward to another productive and impactful year of work. Many thanks to Bill Worrell, our outgoing Chair.

Ride For Respect, October 2017 Accessibility Committee This new committee held a session at the 2018 Transit Summit and has held several meetings this year. The Family of Services Pilot continues to be a major area of concern, and some members attended the Wheel-Trans 10-Year Strategy consultations to give input.

Members of this committee have also been active in other committees and campaigns, including the Fair Fare Coalition and the campaign for two-hour fares. To join the committee or for more info contact Bill Worrell, [email protected]. Digital and Media Committee Our Digital and Media Committee continue to do an extraordinary job bringing transit rider issues to the attention of mainstream media and social media. The past year has seen an increase in the number of followers across our major social media platforms, more interactions online and a number of publications and interviews across English and French based mainstream media. Our organization continues to be the main point of contact for mainstream media when it comes to getting the riders’ perspective from the policy choices of the TTC or our local governments.

To get more involved, contact [email protected].

4 TTCRiders Annual Report 2018 Outreach and Membership Development Committee The outreach and membership development committee continues to improve our ways of welcoming new members and volunteers and turning them into transit advocacy pros in no time! New volunteer orientation sessions are now taking place immediately before every monthly meeting of the Campaigns committee (please contact us if you’d like to come!). We are also continuing to update and improve our orientation and outreach materials.

We also provide internal opportunities to our volunteers to develop their skills as organizers. A key event is the Transit Summit, a day of trainings and workshops that was attended by 100 people this year.

In April, we invited a guest speaker to host a training on “Building Our Membership” where we had a lot of fun practicing our perfect 30-second outreach pitch! Volunteers can then apply their skills during our regular outreach sessions at various TTC stops across the city, as we talk to riders about their commutes and invite them to take action to make transit better.

This year we have also made stronger connections with post-secondary students in who are fighting for lower fares and more service to get them to school on time. In support of this shared objective, our committee members hope to continue to build a coalition with progressive student unions at campuses across the city.

As always, members of the committee have been giving presentations at rallies, conferences, and other community events, most recently at the “Golden Gears” transportation equity event and Unify Toronto’s transportation summit. We are always happy to speak to your group or at your event so contact Kamilla at [email protected] if you’d like to invite us out, or to get involved in this committee. Committee The Relief Line committee is a new committee that was formed in the summer of 2017. The purpose of the committee is to push for the funding and construction of the relief line subway as soon as possible, and to advance TTCriders’ key priorities with respect to that project, including ensuring that the Relief Line benefits under-served communities, making sure that plans are cost-effective and evidence-based, and ensuring that the Relief Line remains in public hands.

Our current work includes sitting on the Stakeholder Advisory Group panel for the Relief Line North project, which allows us to communicate TTCriders’ priorities directly to the City/ project team during the early phases of planning and design work for the northern extension of the relief line. The committee is also exploring new partnerships with likeminded allies: we are in contact with the Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario (RCCAO) who have recently launched a campaign to build and expedite the Relief Line, and we are also exploring the potential for collaboration with Social Planning Toronto, as one of the focus areas of their community engagement work is the Thorncliffe and Flemingdon Park neighbourhoods which are in the study area for the Relief Line North.

If you have ideas for new ways to advocate for the Relief Line, or if you’d like to get involved in shaping the work of the committee, contact us at: [email protected].

5 TTCRiders Annual Report 2018 Scarborough Transit Action

It’s been another great year for STA! Our actions continue to broaden our base, build popular support for a rapid transit LRT network and improved bus services, and focus critical media attention on the boondoggle Scarborough Subway Extension and its evil sidekick, the Go/SmartTrack station at Lawrence East.

• We have organized several on- going campaigns: to “Save our Stations” that will be closed by the SSE, to “Build the Eglinton East LRT Now!” and to get a value-for-money assessment of the SSE. All three of these campaigns have involved door to door leafletting, canvassing, deputations, community forums, demonstrations, petitions, media releases and interviews.

• We have also filed several complaints and freedom of information requests directed toward the Auditor General of Ontario, the Toronto Auditor General and the Transit Project Assessment Process. These are useful in and of themselves but we’ve also used them to generate a large amount of favourable media attention to our cause.

• Finally we’ve found some great new ways to involve local residents and give them a voice. Specifically, we conducted original research surveying riders who use the and released the results to the media with local riders’ involvement. We also did a bit of political theatre at City Hall to build on the decision by the British newspaper The Guardian to put the SSE at the top of its global list of White Elephants!

We are changing the narrative that Scarborough residents want the one stop subway.

6 TTCRiders Annual Report 2018 Fair Fare Coalition

WE WON A LOW INCOME PASS! This year the Fair Fare Coalition celebrated a huge milestone in the fight for more affordable transit! After years of organizing, the first phase of the low income transit Fair Pass was funded and rolled out in April 2018, at a cost of $5 million.

The pass provides $2 single fares and $115 passes on a special for people who receive OW and ODSP. The next phases will provide the same discounts to people who receive housing and child care subsidies, then to people who earn about $23,000 (the low income measure plus 15%).

Is it enough? No. The Fair Fare Coalition continues to demand free transit for people who receive OW and ODSP, $50 passes and $1 fares for low income people, free TTC on extreme weather days, and bulk discount purchasing for agencies.

Thanks to key member groups Ontario Chinese Seniors Association, Jane Finch Action Against Poverty, PTP Adult Learning and Employment, Sistering, Skylark Youth, Toronto Drop-In Network, Ralph Thornton Centre, our allies at Commitment To Community, and many more.

Now, our focus is shifting to getting the next two phases of the pass funded and implemented, pushing for deeper discounts rolled out faster, and ensuring that the PRESTO tickets that will replace tokens are accessible, affordable, and don’t create new barriers. Want to get involved in our work for affordable transit? Email [email protected].

Transit Day of Action, January2018 7 TTCRiders Annual Report 2018 King Street Pilot

TTCriders joined the King For All Coalition, a group of residents’ associations, business improvement areas, and community organizations that support the King Street Pilot, which gives transit priority on King Street between Bathurst and Jarvis. For more info (or to pledge your support) visit www.WeLoveKing.ca.

We are excited to announce that we have received a one-year grant from the Toronto Atmospheric Fund to work on a project in support of ridership growth, with a focus on the King Street Pilot and transit priority measures. The grant will allow us to hire a staff person to do this work starting in the summer of 2018.

Two-Hour Fares

COMING THIS AUGUST! In 2017, TTCriders partnered with the Toronto Association of Business Improvements Areas (TABIA), the Regal Height Business Improvement Area and the Regal Heights Residents association to advocate for the implementation of two-hour fares. Through the successful work of our organizations, which included meetings with TTC staff, meetings with TTC Board members, multiple letters to Councillors, press conferences, multiple deputations and online advocacy, the group was successful in including two-hour fares in the 2018 budget.

Two-hour fares will begin in August 2018, allowing PRESTO users to hop on and off without having to pay an additional fare when they re-enter the system within that time frame. This initiative will benefit low-income riders and will help spur shopping at local businesses.

Ride For Respect, October 2017

8 TTCRiders Annual Report 2018 Board of Directors

Our goal was to increase our individual membership to 200 and organizational members to 25, and we are well on our way, with around 175 people and 25 organizations who are due-paying members. We’ve worked with local social enterprises to offer membership incentives, such as a reduced rate to the Toronto Tool Library and a Valentine’s Day gift basket.

We also hosted a well attended AGM in 2017 and our best fundraiser yet in December 2017. At our trivia fundraiser, we enjoyed musical performances from Bill Worrell, Herman Rosenfeld, and Sarah Climenhaga, and our MC Desmond Cole showed off his knowledge of Toronto and the TTC through his humorous commentary. The contest was won by the “Celestial Transit in the Making” team.

Giving the TTC an award of our own, June 2017 Finally we have begun making concerted efforts to research and do outreach to new progressive foundations and small businesses that align with TTCriders environmental and social values so that TTCriders can continue to print postcards, transit report cards and creative media to spread our campaigns to each corner of the city.

We are excited to welcome our new board members for 2018. If you’re not on the Board, you’re still welcome to help us fundraise and plan our two key events: the AGM and end-of-year party. Get in touch with [email protected].

Trivia Night Fundraiser, December 2017. 9 TTCRiders Annual Report 2018 Members

THANK YOU to our members, volunteers, and supporters. You make our work possible!

2017 MEMBERS & VOLUNTEERS Adam Cohoon Camla Draven Geoffrey Allen Khadija Ismail Adam Smith Catherine Oliver Geoffrey Singer Kingsley Kwok Adrienne Evans Celia Lottridge Gillian Sumi Lance Gleich Akemel Hassen Cheryl Litwack Gord Doctorow Leonard Willschick Alan Barthel Christina Nicholl Gray Taylor Liisa North Albert Truong Christine Gebel Gyuszi Berki Lindsay Wiginton Aleem Tharani Christine Loch Harry Smaller Lisa Kotris Alex Hunsberger Cindy Loch-Drake Helen Lee Lisa Pozhke Alex Lavasidis Colette Snyder Herman Rosenfeld Lorraine Csenge Alexander Gatien Corey Glasberg Herminia Manuel Louise Copegog Allan Greenbaum Cynthia Wright Hershel Russell Lyn Adamson Allan McCartney D’Arcy Martin Holly Kirkconnell Mahir Ildan Andrea Valentini Dan Cameron Jacob Pendergrast Mara Bender Angela Bischoff Dan Fox James Turk Marco Covi Anna Kim Daniel Aufgang Jane Mercer Margarethe Fink Anna Willats Daniel Gipps Jane Rotering Matt Welke Annette Suchy Darren Puscas Janine Carter Maureen Kapral Annie M Dave McIntyre Joell Vanderwagen Melissa Graham Anthony Rubin David Burman John Deacon Michael Barkley Anthony Schein David Hulchanski john kraan Michael Bohdanowicz Anton Turrittin David Meyers John Richmond Michael Kristensen Arun Mukherjee David Stimpson John Stillich Michael Olivier Bee Lee Soh Denise Martins Johnny Dib Michael Rein Ben Donato-Woodger Don Young Josef Kates Michelle German Beryl Pilkington Donald Simmons Joseph Fantauzzi Mike Stewart Betty Ann McKenzie Doris Bradley Joy Robertson Milan Kang Bill Worrell Ehab Diab Judy Deutsch Mohammad Akbar Blake Richards Elizabeth Burrows Judy Rebick Moya Beall Brad Young Enrique Robert K. Walsh Murray Lumley Brenda Thompson Eve Haque Karen Zurek Myles Stocker Bruce Budd Florence Dale Karin Meinzer Myrnalee Elliott Bruce Bryden Francesca Allodi-Ross Kevin Sanders Natasha McKenna

10 TTCRiders Annual Report 2018 2017 MEMBERS & VOLUNTEERS Nick Iozzo Quenton Tutton Sandy Chan Teri Mcmahon Nikki Pagaling Rachel Small Sarah Climenhaga Terry O’Connor Nirmalan Vijeyakumar Rajeev Ruparell Sean Smith Tim Maguire Otmar Sauer Rhonda Sussman Shaine Macleod Timothy Brown Pam Mountain Richard Hennick Shaun Cleaver Tina Shapiro Patrick Ingram Rob Gomes Shelagh Pizey-Allen Tom McLaughlin Paul Codd Robert Vinton Sue Craig Tony Bolla Peggy Nash Ronny Yaron Susan Bender Tracy Garner Penina Coopersmith Rosemary Frei Suhail Barot Walter Wodchis Peter Markham Roy Merrens Susan Walker Yared Mehzenta Philip Murton Ryan Wong Ted Parkinson Zuzana Betkova

2017 BOARD MEMBERS Helen Lee Karin Meinzer Marco Covi Joy Robertson Jane Mercer Kingsley Kwok Suhail Barot

2017 STAFF Jessica Bell, Outgoing Executive Director Shelagh Pizey-Allen, Executive Director

2017 PARTNERS AND ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERS

ATU Local 113 CUPE 3902 ATU CUPE 4400 ATU International CUPE 4948 Maytree Foundation IBEW Local 353 CUPE Local 2 OSSTF District 12 OPSEU Toronto York Region Labour Council Birchmount Bluffs Unifor Local 673 Canadian Federation of Students – Ontario Unifor 1075 OPSEU Local 503 Graduate Students’ Association OPSEU Local 552 USW Local 1998 Continuing Education Students’ Association – Ryerson Waitzer Family Fund CUPE 3907 Workers United Canada Council CUPE 3903 Graduate Students Association

11 TTCRiders Annual Report 2018 Trial Balance As of December 31st, 2017

BUDGET ITEM DEBIT CREDIT

Bank Account 54,650.50 PayPal 18,980.64 Petty Cash 1,225.00 Computer Equipment 3,444.03

Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities 6,630.45 Payroll Liabilities: Federal Taxes 20,373.88 Opening Balance Equity 3,370.00 Retained Earnings 47,306.65 Sales of Product Income 66,841.90 Program Income: Membership Dues 7,280.00 Program Income: Organizational Membership Dues 37,120.00 Direct Public Support: Individual Contributions 8,718.42 Organizational Donations 2,259.50 Health Benefits 3,998.30 Payroll Expenses: Taxes 29,824.50 0.02 Payrol Expenses: Wages 61,612.47 Accounting and Bookkeeping 1,789.74 Contract Services 686.25 Rent Expense 8,424.44 Communications 1,812.49 Computer: Hosting 4,516.56 Graphic Design 3,819.75 Web Design 792.25 Advertising 93.90 Bank & Interest Charges 126.95 Catering & Facilities 3,389.25 Computer 275.68 Office Supplies 312.09 Misc. Service Cost 160.00 Postage 12.60 Printing & Reproduction 1,733.01 Prior Period Adjustments 4,553.29 Props 1,289.99 Travel expense 44.42 Tokens 700.00 Fundraising 739.30 TOTAL 204,454.11 204,454.11

12 TTCRiders Annual Report 2018