September 22, 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 mandatory mask or face covering bylaw! Please take a moment to complete my COVID-19 Information Survey.
Ontario set to launch largest flu immunization campaign in province’s history
The Ontario government is implementing the largest flu immunization campaign in Ontario’s history. The campaign is part of the province’s comprehensive plan to prepare the health system for a second wave of COVID-19. The plan, entitled Keeping Ontarians Safe: Preparing for Future Waves of COVID-19, sets out a series of steps to prevent, identify and respond to any outbreak scenario this fall. For more information please read the news release.
Scarborough’s New View Photo Contest
This is a friendly reminder to all photographers to enter in the City of Toronto’s and Scarborough Arts’ New View Photo Contest. Share your best snaps of Scarborough and tag #scarboroughphoto on Instagram or Facebook. Deadline to enter is September 30 at 11:59pm. More information can be found here.
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 22, 2020, there were 17,712 cases of COVID-19 in the city, with 15,440 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.
Torontonians should expect case counts to rise over the next few weeks. Residents need to act to limit case count increases through a combination of self-protection steps including watching your distance, wearing a mask and washing your hands. Everyone should limit contact with people they don’t live with as much as they can.
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.
Knights of Columbus Drive-Through Community Food Drive
On Saturday October 3rd from 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon, a Community Pre-Thanksgiving Food Drive will be held in the Parking Lot of St. Martin de Porres Church, at the corner of Lawrence Ave. E. and Morningside Ave.
This will be a Drive-Through Food Drive hosted by the Knights of Columbus. Appropriate Covid-19 protocols will be observed (masks, sanitizer, distancing). All community members are invited to bring non-perishable food items, much needed during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Members of the Knights of Columbus will take donations from the trunk of your car, so you will not have to leave your vehicle. The food items will then be delivered to our community Food Bank. Thanks in advance to all who are able to participate.
#iMissLiveTheatreTO
Toronto’s Theatre, Dance & Opera Sectors Launch Weeklong Campaign to Celebrate the Live Performances That Would Have Been in 2020-21. At this time of year, the performing arts would typically be celebrating the launch of the 2020-21 season. Instead the industry continues to feel the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. See launch video here. To participate and raise awareness of the effect of the pandemic on the theatre, dance and opera community in Toronto, visit #iMissLiveTheatreTO Campaign.
Upcoming Toronto Arts Council grant deadlines:
- October 1 deadline: Animating Toronto Streets
- October 15 deadline: Media Artists
- November 2 deadline:Artists in the Library
- Ongoing (apply before November 2): Indigenous Arts Projects and Visual Artists
Help Your Toronto Zoo Name their Baby Red Panda!
On Tuesday, July 14, 2020 your Toronto Zoo welcomed endangered female red panda cub, affectionately known as “Baby Red”, and they need YOUR help to give her a name! Vote on your favourite name by Tuesday September 29, 2020 at 11:59pm HERE.
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
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 by October 12, 2020.
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 416-396-7222 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.
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