The Waterfront BIA takes pride in its cleaning program, the Clean Streets Team. The team works hard to keep the waterfront clean and vibrant year-round, operating daily during the warmer months and twice a week as the weather cools, ensuring the area remains pristine year-round.
The team plays a crucial role in maintaining the waterfront. In 2024, the team cleaned or removed 3,459 items, including:
Garbage and handling overflowing bins
Tackling graffiti, tags, and posters
Other street issues as they arise
The Clean Streets Team: Keeping Toronto’s Waterfront Clean
Progress Place
This initiative wouldn’t be possible without our partnership with Progress Place, a community center supporting individuals with mental health challenges.
With unemployment rates as high as 70-90% for people facing the toughest mental health challenges (according to CAMH). Progress Place helps improve the employment status of people living with mental illness.
On-Street Reporting to 311
For issues that are not handled by our Clean Streets Team and require infrastructure improvements such as potholes, broken lighting, or dead trees, we have a dedicated on-street reporter who escalates concerns to 311 and other responsible parties. They are out multiple days a week, year-round.
This process helps ensure that issues are addressed quickly and efficiently. This team member even follows up on these reports and will re-submit items. In 2025 there were over a 1,170 reports and 884 follow-ups made!
Thanks to their efforts, over 991 infrastructure issues have been resolved, representing over 85%* of reported issues, improving our community’s appearance and safety.
*The remaining 15% represents especially difficult maintenance items.
We are extremely proud of our entire Cleans Streets Team and their hard work to help keep the neighbourhood beautiful and clean for everyone.
About The Waterfront BIA
Representing businesses along the Queens Quay corridor, the Waterfront Business Improvement Area (WBIA) is committed to supporting businesses, unifying the Waterfront and engaging the community. Activities of the WBIA include representing the area on key policy and advocacy issues, making targeted public realm improvements and highlighting the area’s vibrancy with activations and daily promotion online.
Learn more about the Waterfront BIA’s initiatives on our resources page.
The Clean Streets Team: In Action
