Today, Mississauga City Council endorsed the City’s second Public Art Plan (2025), a strategy designed to guide the implementation of its public art program for the next five years.

The plan builds upon the Public Art Master Plan (2016), Framework for a Public Art Program (2010) and Corporate Policy and Procedure 05-02-07 City Art Collection.

Through a formal acquisition process, the City commissions professional artists to create visual art for public spaces. To date, the City’s public art program has commissioned more than 92 public artworks, with 29 part of a permanent collection and more than 45 currently on display. The 2025 plan is the first time a refresh has been done since the original plan was developed in 2016.

A corporate report outlines that stakeholder feedback and priorities set out in various City planning documents helped to identify five priority zones for future public art locations:

• Infrastructure projects
• Heritage sites
• Cultural districts and pedestrian spaces within intensification areas
• Waterfront
• Major transit hubs, corridors and active transportation routes

Each of the five priority zones include corresponding ideas for artwork forms and themes as selected by Mississauga residents. The plan also includes 14 recommendations for specific public art project opportunities over the next five years.

To learn more about the Public Art Plan (2025) or program, visit the City’s website.

BRAMPTON, Ont. – April 28, 2025. Peel Region is proud to announce two strategic leadership appointments that reinforce its commitment to excellence, innovation, and community well-being: Cory Tkatch as Deputy Chief of Paramedic Services and Natalie Lapos as Director of the Family Health Division in Public Health. These appointments join Peel Region’s existing skilled and visionary leaders, ready to serve our growing and diverse community.

“These new additions to the Health Services Department demonstrate the strength of leadership talent within Peel Region,” said Nancy Polsinelli, Commissioner of Health Services. “Cory and Natalie each bring a wealth of experience, a commitment to collaboration, and a deep understanding of our community’s needs. Their leadership will help us continue delivering high-quality, responsive, and equitable services to our residents.”

Cory Tkatch: Championing a stronger, more connected paramedic service

With 17 years in the field and nearly a decade of leadership within Peel Regional Paramedic Services, Cory Tkatch steps into his new role as Deputy Chief, building on his impactful work as Acting Superintendent, Superintendent, and most recently, Divisional Commander.

Cory’s leadership has been instrumental in driving systemic improvements in safety, performance, and workforce development. He is recognized for fostering a psychologically safe workplace and empowering future leaders.

“Cory has played a central role in many important changes that have shaped who we are today. Our paramedic service is stronger because of him, and with his continued leadership, I’m confident we’ll keep growing and finding new ways of delivering unparalleled care to our communities,” said Brian Gibson, Paramedic Chief.

With a Bachelor of Business Administration from Yorkville University and a Paramedicine Diploma from Centennial College, Cory’s strategic vision and operational excellence will help advance Peel’s out-of-hospital emergency and community care services.

Natalie Lapos: Advancing health and well-being for every member of the family 

Natalie Lapos has been appointed as the new Director of the Family Health Division at Peel Public Health, effective April 24, 2025. Natalie brings decades of experience in public health leadership and acute care, having recently served as Acting Director of the Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention Division.

Her extensive background includes leading substance use harm reduction strategies, coordinating emergency health programs, and shaping healthy built environments. Natalie is a values-driven leader with a passion for health equity, cultural inclusivity, and collaborative service delivery.

“Natalie is a warm, empathetic, and incredibly capable leader,” said Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Medical Officer of Health. “She has a natural ability to bring people together, tackle complex issues, and keep our communities at the heart of every decision. We are thrilled to wish her well in her new role with the Public Health Leadership Team.”

Natalie holds a Master of Nursing in Leadership in Health Policy and Education from Toronto Metropolitan University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Lakehead University. She has been a member of the College of Nurses of Ontario since 2001.

Peel Region is proud to be home to a diverse team of professionals whose expertise, compassion, and commitment to innovation are shaping healthier, safer communities for all residents. These leadership appointments reflect the organization’s continued investment in skilled talent and its unwavering dedication to public service excellence.

Mayor Carolyn Parrish welcomed the Honourable Robert Flack, Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs to City Hall today as the Mayor’s Housing Task Force marked 100 days of progress. Despite the continued market slowdown, Mississauga’s efforts are paying off with an expected 11,600 residential units moving towards building permit application in the next few months. In 2024, only 2,557 units came forward for building permits by the end of the year.

The Mayor’s Housing Task Force was assembled by Mayor Parrish two weeks after taking office in June 2024. It includes more than 30 experts from Ontario’s private and not-for-profit building and development industry. The Mayor’s goal was to help break down barriers by bringing together those who plan for and approve housing (government) and those who build it (industry).

Released on January 22, 2025, the task force report includes bold actions and recommendations that are helping spur development in Mississauga.

Task force priorities include:

• Reforming development charges, taxes and fees to help lower housing costs
• Updating building and design standards to help boost supply and make building more affordable
• Transforming zoning to unlock more housing
• Creating sustainable programs and funding that will mobilize industry to help meet the demand for affordable housing

Key achievements

Mississauga has made significant strides in changing the housing landscape in the first 100 days since the report was released.​ Key achievements include:

• Development charge (DC) relief: Mississauga is one of the first municipalities in Ontario to reduce and/or eliminate residential DCs.  Shovel-ready residential projects that pull building permits before November 13, 2026, receive a 50 per cent discount on DCs and they are eliminated for three-bedroom, family-sized units.
• Tax relief for new multi-residential development: In response to a Motion by Mayor Parrish, Peel Region approved a resolution adopting a new Multi-Residential Property Subclass. Once implemented, it will provide a 35 per cent property tax reduction for eligible properties and will help encourage much-needed rental development.
• Increasing housing supply: Council approved the City’s new Official Plan which includes new and enhanced policies that will enable approximately 370,000 new residential units by 2051, including increased heights for towers along major transit station areas.
• Funding for affordable housing: The City awarded conditional funding for eight shovel-ready rental developments that will bring more than 1,400 new purpose-built rental units to Mississauga, including almost 400 with more affordable rents.
• Simplifying planning approvals for housing near transit: Mississauga is moving forward with pre-zoning lands in the City’s Protected Major Transit Station Areas. Mississauga is one of the first municipalities in Ontario to pre-zone lands of this scale. When fully implemented, this will help speed up the construction of new housing while ensuring meets the City’s vision for new development.
• Streamlining City processes: The City is making Mississauga an easier place to build new housing. The City is now accepting pay on demand surety bonds for development agreements – as an alternative to letters of credit – to help make projects more financially viable. To speed up City approvals, Council approved a by-law to delegate authority to the Commissioner of Planning and Building to execute routine Development Agreements.

To read the full report and learn more about the task force members, visit Mississauga.ca/housing-taskforce.

Quotes

“Addressing the housing crisis requires innovative solutions and a willingness to challenge the status quo. Cities like Mississauga are leading by example, cutting red tape and doing things differently to meet the housing needs of our residents. When municipalities step up with bold actions and get support from other levels of government, real progress becomes possible. The strides we’ve made in 100 days show what can happen when we’re committed to change.” – Mayor Carolyn Parrish