News & Events
Welcome to our News & Events page. Don Valley Community Legal Services actively participates in a variety of community activities, public legal education workshops, and community networking tables. One key component that allows members to be self-empowered is knowledge of what is happening around them. This page will allow us to share what is happening in the communities we serve.
Here we will share legal information articles, local law reform campaigns, news stories, community events and details for our Annual General Meeting.
For community events, workshops, public legal education (PLE) information or membership, please contact our Community Development Worker at 416-441-1764 ext. 22.
Legal Info Articles & News
Update – IRCC’s Pilot Project to Sponsor Undeclared Family Members – Extended to 2026
The Government of Canada has extended a pilot project that allows certain immigrants who did not declare family members on their original applications to still sponsor them so they can come to Canada. Previously set to expire on September 9, 2023, it was announced this week that the Pilot Project has been extended until September 10,
Read moreCity of Toronto invites the public to apply for the new Housing Rights Advisory Committee
News Release
September 8, 2023
Today, the City of Toronto will begin accepting applications to recruit public members for the City’s new Housing Rights Advisory Committee (HRAC). Interested residents can apply on the City’s Public Appointments webpage.
The HRAC is a new Council Advisory Body that will advise Council to ensure that the interests and needs of those with living or lived experience of housing precarity,
Copy That! A Tenant’s Right to Withhold Rent
By John Wigle, Student-at-Law, and Bhavin Bilimoria, Director of Legal Services, Don Valley Community Legal Services Question: Can I withhold my rent if my landlord does not provide me with a copy of the lease? Answer: If a tenancy agreement is in writing (i.e. a lease),
Read moreDealing with an Employer Who Doesn’t Pay You
By Richa Sandill, Staff Lawyer and DVCLS Employment Law Team Lead At our legal clinic we receive far too many calls from people whose employers fail to pay them their wages. These calls can range from employers who pay wages haphazardly, to employers who don’t pay wages on time,
Read moreCitizenship Applications – Common Causes of Complications: Criminal Matters
Below is the first in a series of information posts from our Immigration Team about some of the most common factors that could cause complications with the processing of Citizenship Applications. Number One: Criminal Charges or Recent Convictions There are two ways that being charged or convicted of a criminal offence could have an impact on your eligibility to apply for citizenship and/or the processing of your ongoing citizenship application.
Read moreHave the ODSP and OW rates been changing recently?
The benefit rates of the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) have seen a 6.5% increase in July 2023, based on the cost of living formula established by the Ontario Government which takes inflation into account. The ODSP rate is now roughly $1308 a month for a single person with disability and maximum shelter allowance.
Read moreRicha Sandill of DVCLS elected to Executive Committee of SABA of Toronto Board
We are proud to share that Richa Sandill, Staff Lawyer at Don Valley Community Legal Services and head of our Employment Law Team, was elected to the Executive Committee of the South Asian Bar Association of Toronto Board of Directors. She will serve in the role of Secretary for the 2023-24 term.
Read moreWorkplace Harassment: What is it and what can you do about it if it’s happening to you?
By: Soheila Azimi, DVCLS Employment Law Team, Student Intern, Queen’s Law ‘24 What is Workplace Harassment? When we think of workplace harassment, we usually think that it only includes sexual harassment. However, harassment covers an entire range of actions and comments. In short, harassment occurs when someone says or writes something or acts in a way that is known to be unwelcome,
Read moreWhat to Consider Before Applying for a Visitor Visa
At Don Valley Community Legal Services, we sometimes receive calls from community members asking how they can help a relative get a visitor visa to come to Canada. We do not usually assist with these applications due to our limited resources. However, there is some general information we ask clients to consider before they invest in a private lawyer and the visa application process.
Read moreEast Toronto residents in need can get help from lawyers and paralegals at Don Valley Community Legal Services
July 11, 2023 | Beach Metro News | By NASFISAT ALAO Don Valley Community Legal Services is a not-for-profit, government-funded legal clinic helping residents in the East Toronto area. It is an amalgamation of two legal clinics – East Toronto Community Legal Services and Flemingdon Community Legal Services — that continues the work of both organizations under one umbrella.
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