Day: September 25, 2020

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#Ward24 #COVID Update for September 25, 2020

September 25, 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.

Today is Show Your Local Love Day in Toronto! Today we show our local love for our communities in support of the United Way and its network of 270 community partners. The United Way has already funded 340 projects across Toronto during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that no one is left behind. Be sure to Show Your Local Love today!

New COVID-19 Public Health measures implemented provincewide to keep Ontarians safe

To ensure the continued health and safety of Ontarians, reduce the risk of transmission, and limit future outbreaks of COVID-19, the Ontario government is implementing new province-wide restrictions effective 12:01 a.m. on Saturday September 26 and will:

  • Apply additional measures and restrictions to restaurants, bars and other food and drink establishments (including nightclubs) by prohibiting the sale of alcohol after 11 p.m., and prohibiting the consumption of alcohol on the premises after 12:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. (including employees), and requiring establishments to close by 12:00 a.m. and remain closed until 5:00 a.m. except for takeout or delivery;
  • Close all strip clubs across the province; and
  • Require businesses or organizations to comply with any advice, recommendations, and instructions issued by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health on screening for COVID-19.

For more information please read the news release.

COVID-19 Testing in Ontario Pharmacies

The Ontario government is providing people with convenient free COVID-19 testing at up to 60 pharmacies in the province, starting today, September 25, 2020. This initiative will expand testing capacity well beyond the province’s 150 assessment centres. Scarborough Pharmacies offering COVID-19 Testing:  

For a full list of pharmacies offering COVID-19 testing can be found here.

COVID-19 Provincial Testing Guidance Update

The Ministry of Health has revised their guidelines for those seeking a COVID-19 test at an assessment centre in order to prioritize resources for those who need them. Only those with symptoms, or asymptomatic individuals who have made close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, and those in other high-risk populations such as health care workers, should seek testing. For more information to testing guidelines please visit this link.

ActiveTO major road closure reminder

Residents are reminded that this weekend will be the final weekend of ActiveTO Major Weekend Road Closures. This weekend, closures will be in place from Saturday, September 26 at 6 a.m. to Sunday, September 27 at 11 p.m.:

  • Lake Shore Boulevard West (eastbound lanes only) from Windermere Avenue to Stadium Road. As a result, the eastbound Gardiner Expressway off ramp to Lake Shore Boulevard West (exit #146) will also be closed.
  • Bayview Avenue from Front Street East to Rosedale Valley Road, and River Street from Gerrard Street East to Bayview Avenue

Updated data for ActiveTO weekend road closures

Verified data counts from a variety of summer weekends in May, June, July and August show that ActiveTO Major Road Closures provided space for thousands of people to be physically active, contributing to overall wellbeing, along Toronto’s busiest and most popular trails to help stop virus spread. The following averages, taken over 15 hours on days without significant rainfall, were confirmed for weekends in June, July and August:

  • 18,000 cyclists and 4,000 pedestrians on Lake Shore Boulevard West
  • 6,300 cyclists and 5,700 pedestrians on Lake Shore Boulevard East
  • 2,000 cyclists and 300 pedestrians on Bayview Avenue. Plus 1,900 cyclists and 250 pedestrians on the adjacent Don Valley Trail (eight-hour counts)

For more information please read the news release.

Telecommunicators of the Year announced in Toronto

Emergency Telecommunicators are the calm voice at the other end of every 9-1-1 call, the first of the first responders, and the hidden heroes of emergency services. Toronto Paramedic Services, Toronto Fire Services and the Toronto Police Service recently recognized outstanding Emergency Telecommunicators through the annual Telecommunicator of the Year Awards. This year, the ceremony was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and each service has chosen to recognize their own 2019 award recipients during Toronto Public Service Week. The award winners for 2019 are:

  • Toronto Paramedic Services
    • Courtney Poirier – Emergency Medical Dispatcher of the Year
    • Melissa Bender – Communication Training Officer Mentor Award
    • Greg Lees – Senior Emergency Medical Dispatcher Leadership Award
  • Toronto Fire Services
    • Shift 4 – Telecommunicators of the Year
  • Toronto Police Services
    • Paul Youngs – Telecommunicator of the Year

For more information please read the news release.

City of Toronto update on COVID-19 cases

Data as of September 24, 2020: Through the pandemic City of the Toronto has seen a total of 18,363 cases of COVID-19, an increase of 236 cases from the day before. Of these, 15,725 cases have recovered, an increase of 10 cases from the day before. There are 41 people currently hospitalized. 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.

COVID-19 One-time payment for persons with disabilities

The Government of Canada announced a one-time $600 payment in recognition of the extraordinary expenses faced by persons with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The one-time payment will be automatically issued to:

 If you are eligible but never applied for the Disability Tax Credit, or your certificate expired in 2019, you must do so by September 25, 2020. For more information please call 1-800-622-6232.

Toronto District School Board e-Learning/Virtual-School Contacts

If you are a parent or staff member with questions or concerns about a child or student in Learning Centre 3:

More information on e-Learning/Virtual-School can be found at www.tdsb.on.ca/Virtual-School. Further questions can be directed to Ward 19’s TDSB Trustee Zakir Patel at Zakir.Patel@tdsb.on.ca

REMINDER: 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, 9AM to 12PM, a Community Pre-Thanksgiving Food Drive will be held in the Parking Lot of St. Martin de Porres Church, 4179 Lawrence Ave E.

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. The food items will then be delivered to our community Food Bank. 

Readers’ Choice Awards Now Open

Voting for the Readers’ Choice Awards are NOW OPEN! There are many different categories to vote in for. Voting closes on October 4th, 2020. Visit this LINK to cast your votes.

#iMissLiveTheatreTO

Toronto’s Theatre, Dance & Opera Sectors Launch Weeklong Campaign to Celebrate the Live Performances That Would Have Been in 2020-21 until September 27th. 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. More information can be found here.

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: 2021 Annual Service Plan

The TTC is preparing its 2021 Annual Service Plan and wants your feedback! Three main categories they would like your feedback on: Emerging priorities for 2021: Express bus service evaluation and expansion; and other service improvements. Visit this LINK to take 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

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. 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: 

City of Toronto

Province of Ontario

Government of Canada

World Health Organization

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 

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