September 24, 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 Investing More Than $1 Billion to Expand COVID-19 Testing and Contact Tracing
The Ontario government is building on the largest provincial testing initiative in Canada by providing $1.07 billion to expand COVID-19 testing and case and contact management. The government is also immediately investing $30 million to prevent and manage outbreaks in priority sectors, including the province’s long-term care homes, retirement homes and schools. These investments are part of the province’s comprehensive plan to prepare the health system for a second wave of COVID-19. For more information please read the news release.
2020 Toronto Book Awards long list announced
Just in time for fall reading, the City of Toronto and Toronto Public Library have named the 12 books longlisted for the 2020 Toronto Book Awards. Established by Toronto City Council in 1974, the awards honour books of literary merit that are inspired by Toronto. The titles selected for the 2020 long list are:
- Frying Plantain by Zalika Reid-Benta (House of Anansi Press)
- The Skin We’re In by Desmond Cole (Penguin Random House Canada)
- The Missing Millionaire by Katie Daubs (Penguin Random House Canada)
- Subtweet by Vivek Shraya (ECW Press)
- We Have Always Been Here by Samra Habib (Penguin Random House Canada)
- In the Beggarly Style of Imitation by Jean Marc Ah-Sen (Nightwoood Editions)
- Artistic Glass by Cloe Aigner (ECW Press)
- Dancing After Ten by Vivian Chong and Georgia Webber (FantaGraphics)
- Shame on Me by Tessa McWatt (Penguin Random House Canada)
- Last Impressions by Joseph Kertes (Penguin Random House Canada)
- Take Back the Tray by Joshna Maharaj (ECW Press)
- Mobile by Tanis MacDonald (Book*hug Press)
The short list for the 2020 Toronto Book Awards will be announced on November 2 and the winner will be named in an online ceremony, live-streamed on November 30. More information about the awards is available at hwww.toronto.ca/book_awards and on Twitter at @Culture_TO and #tobookawards. For more information please read the news release.
Permits for Pumpkin Parades will not be issued this year
Recently the City of Toronto announced the cancellation of major City-led and City-permitted events through to the end of the year. Additionally, the provincial government announced new restrictions on social gatherings, reducing allowable gathering size to 25 people outdoors. These decisions were made in consultation with public health officials and support the directive that physical distancing is critical to reducing the spread of COVID-19.
With the new restrictions on gathering sizes, permits for pumpkin parades will not be issued this year, as it is not possible to limit the number of attendees at a given time to fewer than 25. More information to come.
Toronto Public Health enhanced COVID-19 data dashboard in response to COVID-19 resurgence
Toronto Public Health has launched an enhanced COVID-19 data dashboard. The updates will help the public understand the local impact of COVID-19 in Toronto as the city faces a resurgence in cases and include daily updates on new cases, more detailed weekly updates highlighting data trends, summary of active outbreaks and more. Visit TPH’s COVID-19 data dashboard online here.
City of Toronto update on COVID-19 cases
Data as of September 23, 2020: Through the pandemic City of the Toronto has seen a total of 18,139 cases of COVID-19, an increase of 191 cases from the day before. Of these, 15,624 cases have recovered, an increase of 101 cases from the day before. There are 41 people currently hospitalized, an increase of 1 case from the day before. To this date, there have been 1,178 COVID-19 deaths in Toronto. Case status data can be found on the City’s reporting platform.
As the virus continues to circulate in the community, it is vital that we are all reminded to adhere to Toronto Public Heath’s advice to practise physical distancing, stay within their social bubble of no more than 10 people, wash hands often and wear a mask or face covering where mandatory or when physical distancing cannot be maintained.
City of Toronto Waste Wizard and Drop-Off Depots
The City of Toronto’s Waste Wizard helps you find out what waste items go where! You can visit the Waste Wizard online or download the TOwaste app.
The City of Toronto operates seven Transfer Stations which have drop-off depots used to collect, sort and transfer all the City’s waste. Residents can also use these depots to dispose of their unwanted items such as Household Hazardous Waste and Electronic Waste. Find more information on Drop-Off Depot locations, hours of service, list of accepted items HERE.
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: TTC Concerns by A Voice for Transit
A Voice for Transit is a transit advocacy group composed of current Ryerson University students and alumni. The TTC is conducting stakeholder consultations to help shape their 2021 Annual Services Plan. A Voice for Transit wants to represent your concerns. Take their survey 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: Active TO Quiet Streets
Tell us what you think about ActiveTO’ Quiet Streets initiative! Select streets around the city have been designated as a Quiet Streets in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as part of the City of Toronto’s ActiveTO initiative. ‘Shared Space’ on Quiet Streets is intended to help residents maintain physical distancing while walking, running, using wheelchairs and biking. Please visit this LINK to fill out the survey by September 30, 2020.
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