September 29, 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.
City of Toronto update on COVID-19 cases
Data as of September 28, 2020: Through the pandemic City of the Toronto has seen a total of 19,292 cases of COVID-19, an increase of 285 cases from the day before. Of these, 16,147 cases have recovered, an increase of 114 cases from the day before. There are 66 people currently hospitalized, an increase of 14 cases from the day before. To this date, there have been 1,179 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.
Toronto Public Health also encourages residents to download the COVID Alert app, which can help notify individuals who are exposed to COVID-19 in the community.
Ontario providing over half a billion dollars to protect vulnerable seniors against Second Wave of COVID-19
The Ontario government is investing close to $540 million to protect residents, caregivers, and staff in long-term care homes from future surges and waves of COVID-19. The funding is part of the province’s COVID-19 fall preparedness plan, Keeping Ontarians Safe: Preparing for Future Waves of COVID-19. More information can be read in the news release.
City of Toronto issues Open Door program call for application to support building new affordable rental housing
The City of Toronto has released the 2020 Call for Applications for the Open Door program. The program provides an opportunity for private, co-op and non-profit affordable housing organizations to apply for support from the City to create affordable rental housing for low- and moderate-income households in Toronto.
The 2020 Open Door application is similar to previous years, but there are changes aimed at providing greater affordable housing benefits. These changes include:
- The minimum affordability period of 40 years
- A minimum of 50 per cent of the total buildable gross floor area must now be affordable housing
- Only electronic submissions will be accepted by the City
The application and full program details are available online.
Key dates in the application process are:
- October 15, 10:30 a.m. – Online information session
- October 26, 4:30 p.m. – Last day to submit written questions
- November 17, 4:30 p.m. – Deadline to submit applications
- January 2021 – Staff report to Planning and Housing Committee and City Council with recommended projects
More information can be read in the news release.
City of Toronto announces ActiveTO major road closures will be extended into October
Today, Mayor John Tory announced that major weekend road closures, as part of the popular ActiveTO suite of programs, will be extended into October. The popular weekend closures have provided space for thousands of people to be physically active, respect physical distancing and contributed to the overall wellbeing of residents. The routes run adjacent to some of Toronto’s busiest and most popular trails where people can walk, run and bike and have helped to reduce virus spread over the summer months
For this weekend, closures will be in place from Saturday, October 3 at 6 a.m. to Sunday, October 4 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.
- Lake Shore Boulevard East (eastbound lanes only) from Leslie Street to Woodbine Avenue
- Bayview Avenue from Front Street East to Rosedale Valley Road, and River Street from Gerrard Street East to Bayview Avenue
More information can be read in the news release.
Orange Shirt Day
September 30th is Orange Shirt Day, on this day we recognize the legacy of the Residential Schools System for First Nations, Metis and Inuit families and communities. By wearing orange, we acknowledge the history of Residential Schools in Canada and we honour Survivors. Be sure to wear orange TOMORROW, September 30, 2020 to participate on Orange Shirt Day!
How to find out if you may have been exposed to COVID-19 at a Toronto grocery store
Major grocery stores in Toronto have taken it upon themselves to notify the public of cases among their employees, despite not being required to do so.
Visit the following linked websites to view which Loblaw, Metro and Sobeys Store locations for COVID-19 case notifications:
- Loblaw Stores (No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore, Zhers, Loblaws and even Shoppers Drug Mart)
- Metro Stores (Metro, Food Basics and the Metro Distribution Centre)
- Sobeys Stores (Sobeys, FreshCo, Safeway and IGA)
Source: blogTO
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.
Boys’ and Girls’ Club of East Scarborough: FREE Winter Clothing Drive
The Youth Department at Boys’ and Girls’ Club of East Scarborough is preparing a Winter Clothing Drive for the residents at Lido Motel at 4674 Kingston Road on Wednesday October 7, 2020 from 3PM to 6PM.
They are asking for donations of gently used clothing and shoes. Winter jackets and sweaters are mostly needed. Items can be dropped off at 100 Galloway Rd. If you require items to be picked up, please email efranklyn@esbgc.ca to make arrangements. Thank you in advance.
Help Your Toronto Zoo Name their Baby Red Panda TODAY
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 TODAY 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 TOMORROW 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 TOMORROW 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.
City of Toronto Waste Wizard
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.
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.
*NEW* 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!
*NEW* 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
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 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: 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