September 18, 2020
Dear Neighbours,
I want to thank everyone for your efforts during these difficult times. It is very important that we all follow the mandatory physical distancing bylaw and the new mandatory mask or face covering bylaw! Please take a moment to complete my COVID-19 Information Survey.
New COVID-19 Provincial Announcement on lowering limits for unmonitored and private social gatherings in TORONTO, Ottawa and Peel Regions
Yesterday, the Ontario government has amended the rules for areas in Stage 3 to reduce the number of people permitted to attend unmonitored social gatherings and organized public events in three regions experiencing higher rates of transmission of COVID-19. This includes functions, parties, dinners, gatherings, BBQs or wedding receptions held in private residences, backyards, parks and other recreational areas. This amended order came into effect TODAY, September 18 at 12:01am.
To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the amended order will set a new limit on the number of people allowed to attend an unmonitored social gathering or organized public event in three specific regions to these New Measures:
- 10 people at an indoor event or gathering (previous limit of 50); or
- 25 people at an outdoor event or gathering with physical distancing (previous limit of 100).
Indoor and outdoor events and gatherings cannot be merged together. These are not accumulative and gatherings of 35 (25 outdoors and 10 indoors) are not permitted. The new limits only apply to persons within the boundaries of Toronto Public Health, Ottawa Public Health and Peel Public Healthregions. For more information please read the news release.
City of Toronto invites residents to become Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions
The City of Toronto invites residents and community leaders to help inspire climate action by becoming a Neighbourhood Climate Action Champion. Participants in this new City program will receive virtual training and support to empower them to support residents in developing innovative climate action projects that reflect the needs and values of their communities.
Participants must be willing to commit four to five hours per month (minimum 50 hours per year) to engaging their community in developing and implementing neighbourhood-based projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Participants will receive an honorarium of $500. For more information please read the news release.
Mayor John Tory unveils new Toronto Sign and its first wrap recognizing the United Nations’ International Decade for People of African Descent
Today, Mayor John Tory unveiled the City of Toronto’s new Toronto Sign on Nathan Phillips Square and its first wrap, Patterns of the People, in recognition of the United Nations’ International Decade for People of African Descent.
Mayor Tory was joined by Deputy Mayor Michael Thompson (Ward 21 Scarborough Centre), Chair of the Economic and Community Development Committee, and Danilo Deluxo McCallum, the Toronto-based artist who designed the new wrap.
One of the design features of the Toronto Sign is a vinyl wrap on the outer edges of its letters. The wrap is refreshed approximately every 12 months. The design of the Toronto Sign wrap is used to promote events, projects and City priorities. Themes for past Toronto Sign wraps have included: Pan Am and Parapan Am Games, Nuit Blanche Toronto artist installation by JR, Toronto Neighbourhoods, Canada 150, My City My Six Exhibition, and Indigenous Iconography. For more information please read the news release.
City of Toronto completes major construction projects this summer and continues important work to renew aging infrastructure
This construction season, the City of Toronto has worked to accelerate as many important construction projects as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic. Crews completed a number of major projects this summer, some on accelerated schedules due to lower traffic volumes, and will begin more work this fall to continue to renew and improve aging water and transportation infrastructure across the city.
So far, the City has completed road resurfacing work on more than 170 local roads. The remainder of the 323 local roads planned for resurfacing work is on-track to be completed this fall. The City is also on-track to complete sewer upgrades on more than 100 streets to protect basements from flooding.
During construction, the public are advised to plan their travel in advance, consider alternate routes, be aware that street parking may be impacted, obey signage around work zones and be patient while traveling in and around work zones throughout the city. Individuals are encouraged to use the City’s web-based map, www.toronto.ca/roadrestrictions, to help plan travel and avoid road closures. Information about the City’s planned capital construction work is available at www.toronto.ca/inview. For more information please read the news release.
Community Environment Days
The City of Toronto will hold its second 2020 Community Environment Day event this Sunday, September 20 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Scarborough Drop-Off Depot located at 1 Transfer Place. The drive-thru event will allow for the safe disposal of household hazardous waste and electronic items, and donation of household goods and clothing for reuse. Free bagged compost will be available for pickup with a limit of two bags per vehicle while supplies last. Environment Days will be held at the City’s Drop-off Depots on Sundays until November 1. More information is available at www.toronto.ca/environment_days
City of Toronto update on COVID-19 cases
The data posted to the City’s reporting platform is update three times per week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
As of September 17, there were 17,259 cases of COVID-19 in the city, an increase of 142 from the day before, with 15,202 recovered cases from COVID-19. To date there have been 1,178 COVID-19 deaths in Toronto. COVID-19 case status data can be found on the City’s reporting platform.
Scarborough Ribfest Drive Thru
This year’s Scarborough Ribfest will be a Drive Thru event taking place on Saturday September 26 and Sunday September 27 from 11 am to 8 pm at the Centennial College Progress Campus. This is a drive-thru event only. No one will be allowed to exit their vehicles and no pedestrian traffic will be admitted. Donations to the Rotary Club of Scarborough are requested.
Keeler Boulevard Speed Bump Petition
Recently, I received a petition from residents requesting the installation of speed bumps on Keeler Boulevard. I’ve submitted this request to the City of Toronto Transportation Services to conduct a study as the guidelines require. The study has been done and Transportation staff have concluded the installation of speed bumps is not justified.
As your City Councillor, I am supporting the community’s request, and this item will be put to vote at Scarborough Community Council on October 16, 2020. I now need your support in writing or by agreeing to speaking at the Scarborough Community Council.
In the meantime, I will continue to ask Toronto Police Services to enforce the posted speed limit on Keeler Boulevard. If you wish to provide a written statement or speak on this item at Scarborough Community Council, please reach out to my office at councillor_ainslie_co@toronto.ca or call 416-396-7222.
Best in GrowTO Contest Scarborough
Join the Scarborough Village Community Garden Harvest Festival to see the Best in GrowTO urban-style agriculture contest live and in person on September 19, 2020 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. More information on the GrowTO Contest Scarborough can be found here.
Keep in mind: Proper Disposal of PPE
Lets do our part to keep Toronto’s public spaces clean and safe. Properly dispose of masks, gloves, tissues and any other litter in park and street litter bins. Do not discard items on the ground. More information at www.toronto.ca/covid19
Survey: CaféTO
We want your feedback on CaféTO! We need your input on possible changes, improvements, and other supports for the program. Please take a few minutes to fill it out and share. Please visit this Link to fill out the survey.
Survey: Eglinton East RapidTO Corridor and Priority Bus Lanes
The TTC is currently working on the RapidTO program which will move people more efficiently on transit by improving reliability, speed and capacity on some of the busiest surface transit routes in the city through implementation of priority bus-only lanes.
The TTC is asking for your input on potential service concepts for the Eglinton East corridor, along Eglinton Avenue East, Kingston Road and Morningside Avenue and will launch in Fall 2020. The service concepts include:
Option 1 – Maintain Existing Express Stops;
Option 2 – All Stops Served by All Major Bus Routes;
Option 3 – Reduced Stops on 905 Eglinton East Express;
Option 4 – 986 Scarborough Express Diverted to Lawrence Avenue.
Please visit this LINK to fill out the survey before September 30, 2020.
Please note: If you have any questions regarding this project please contact my office at councillor_ainslie_co@toronto.ca
City of Toronto Vision Zero Please Slow Down Signs
A friendly reminder to stay safe on the roads, especially while in school and residential areas. If you would like a City of Toronto Vision Zero Please Slow Down sign, please contact my office at 416-392-7222 or councillor_ainslie@toronto.ca to arrange to pick them up from my constituency office (150 Borough Drive). For more information please visit this website.
Please click here for a list of food banks and soup kitchens in the Ward 24
Please click here for a list of food banks in East Scarborough
Please click here for a list of food banks in Scarborough
Please remember to call ahead to book to ensure they are properly stocked. For those interested in volunteering, food banks are always looking for volunteers, so please feel free to save and share this information.
Check out all Scarborough-Guildwood’s past Live Town Meetings on my YouTube channel!
Scarborough-Guildwood’s Live Town Halls provide the community with up to date information, supports and resources throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Boys’ and Girls’ Club of East Scarborough Scoop
Check out the ESBGC latest Bi-Weekly School HERE. Subscribe HERE.
insidehousing: News from Toronto Community Housing
Check out their latest issue HERE. Subscribe HERE.
BusinessTO Newsletter: BusinessTO’s upcoming webinars and online events
Check out their latest newsletter HERE. Subscribe HERE.
*NEW* What’s On at the Library: Home Edition
Check out the latest copy HERE. Subscribe HERE.
Our KGO Updates: East Scarborough Storefront’s crowd-sourced e-newsletter
Check out their latest issue HERE. Subscribe HERE. Please take a moment to fill out this Community Check-In Survey!
TDSB Trustee Update by Ward 19 Scarborough-Guildwood Trustee Zakir Patel
Check out the latest issue HERE. Subscribe HERE.
Toronto Zoo Press Releases
Latest issue HERE. Contact achambers@torontozoo.ca to subscribe.
Confronting Anti-Black Racism Summer Newsletter 2020
To read the latest news from the City’s Confronting Anti-Black Racism Unit please click here.
Essential Government Information for COVID -19
Public Health’s information line & 311 are experiencing high call volumes. Residents can get the information they need online at www.toronto.ca
The City’s website has a tool that can translate pages into 51 different languages.
If you need info on COVID-19, please visit the following websites:
Official Global Travel Advisory
The City’s website is updated daily with the latest health advice, and information about City services and social supports. Check https://www.toronto.ca/covid-19/ for answers to common questions before contacting the Toronto Public Health COVID-19 Hotline or 311.
The City of Toronto’s website can be translated into many languages using the GoogleTM Translate tool. This tool gives residents and visitors who speak other languages a way of accessing City information featured on the website. To change languages on the City of Toronto website, please click here: https://www.toronto.ca/home/translate/
I am continuously updating my social media platforms and my website with up to date information:
Website: www.paulainslie.com
You can also reach me by: telephone at 416-396-7222 or email me at councillor_ainslie@toronto.ca
All my Best,
Paul