October 21, 2020
Dear Neighbours,
Please join me and my colleagues for another Scarborough-Guildwood Live Town Hall to discuss community healthcare!
To submit questions or comments before October 22 at 12pm, click here:
To join the live on Monday, October 26 at 7pm, click here:
Canada-Wide Approach to Ensure Municipalities are Protected from Cyber Threats. At today’s Executive Committee meeting I brought forward an information report as an appointed member of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) focusing on the need for a Canada-wide approach for dealing with cyber security to ensure municipalities are protected. At the September 2020 meeting of the FCM Board of Directors I’ve requested that the FCM call on the federal government to create a municipally focused cyber security certification program which is one step to help enable municipalities to further their cyber risk management, and overcome limited financial resources, as well as operation constraints. More information can be read in this news release.
As we continue to fight against of COVID-19, it is very important that we continue to take steps for self-protection, including, practicephysical distancing, wash hands as often as possible, wear a mask or face covering where mandatory or when physical distancing cannot be maintained, consider only leaving home for essential activities such as work, education and fresh air and exercise. As much as possible, residents are asked to limit contact with people not in the same household and to remain at home when ill.
Stay safe and follow Public Health advice this Halloween. Torontonians have been called to take a different approach to Halloween this year to help stop the spread of COVID-19, including recommending against door-to-door trick-or-treating. There are several fun and creative alternative ways to celebrate Halloween this year, including encouraging kids to dress up and participate in virtual activities; organize a Halloween candy hunt with people living in their own household; carving pumpkins and more.
Remember to participate in Waste Reduction Week this week. This year’s theme focuses on circular economy, renewability, reuse and repair. More information on how to participate in Waste Reduction Week events and tips to reduce waste are available at www.toronto.ca/reduce-reuse
As more and more leaves begin to fall, when clearing up fallen leaves from your property please keep roadside catch basins clear of leaves and other debris to help water enter the storm sewer.
City of Toronto COVID-19 Case Update: (Data as of October 20, 2020) There has been an increase of 346 COVID-19 cases in the City of Toronto. Through the pandemic the City of Toronto has seen a total of 25,278 cases of COVID-19, of these, 21,256 cases have recovered, an increase of 258 cases from the day before. There are 128 people currently hospitalized, an increase of 21 cases from the day before. To this date, there have been 1,338 COVID-19 deaths in Toronto, an increase of 1 death from the day before. Case status data can be found on the City’s reporting platform. Province of Ontario status of COVID-19 Cases can be found here.
Toronto Public Health has launched two additional maps on the City’s reporting dashboard. One map shows COVID-19 per cent positivity by neighbourhood and the second shows testing rates across the city. This is in support of the City of Toronto Health Equity Plan approved by the Board of Health earlier today.
The Province of Ontario is expanding mental health services for children and youth. The Ontario government is providing $24.3 million in targeted investments to hire additional staff, increase access to counselling and therapy, create new programs to help manage stress, depression and anxiety, and address eating disorders and other challenges facing children and youth. This funding is part of the government’s $176 million investment in the Roadmap to Wellness, a comprehensive plan to build a fully connected mental health and addictions system across the province. More information can be read in the news release.
City of Toronto statement on Parks Bylaw injunction decision. Today, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice refused to grant an injunction that would have required the City of Toronto to suspend the enforcement of its Parks Bylaw that prohibits camping in City parks during the current pandemic. This ruling does not order the City to clear encampments, rather, the ruling does not prevent the City from clearing an encampment when shelter and housing options become available to those living in encampments or as required by the circumstances. More information can be read in the news release.
The Toronto Police Service would like to invite members of the public to apply for one of 12 positions on its Community Advisory Panel for Race-Based Data (RBD) Collection, Analysis and Reporting Policy. The panel will meet four times a year, starting January 2021, to provide the Service with advice on the analysis, interpretation and dissemination of Race and Identity Based Data Collection. Interested applicants can apply online . The application process will close on October 30, 2020. More information can be read in the news release.
The Toronto Police Services Board (Board) is pleased to invite members of the public to a Public Consultation on the draft Body-Worn Camera (BWC) Policy. You can provide written comments to the Board online. Submissions should be submitted no later than November 5, 2020. Submissions will form part of the public record and will be made public on the Board’s website at a later date.
Rotary Club of North Scarborough is hosting a Bottle and Can Drive on Saturday October 24th from 10am to 4pm at the Beer Store at Agincourt Mall (3850 Sheppard Ave E). The Rotary Club will have a tent set up in the parking lot outside of the Beer Store to welcome you and your empty beer, wine and liquor bottles. This collection will benefit local aid agencies such as Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities, 5N2 Soup Kitchen Project, Scarborough Health Network and more. For more information please contact info@northscarboroughrotary.org
Scarborough Arts wants your work for their 35th Annual Juried Exhibition! Visual art, writing, and poetry submissions are all accepted. They’re also bringing back a community favourite: THE BIG ART BOOK! Selected AJE submissions will be automatically eligible for a feature in this 2020 online publication.
The City of Toronto is developing a Cricket Strategy to support the growth of cricket. Join a virtual public meeting on October 26 to learn more about the Strategy, ask the project team questions and share your ideas for growing the sport. Find more information on the project and how to register for the meeting here.
Social Assistance Coalition of Scarborough (SACS) is hosting a Virtual Q&A on Social Assistance Update – COVID-19 for ODSP Recipients (ONLY) on Thursday October 29, 2020 from 6pm to 8pm. To register please visit this website and submit your questions in advanced to sacs.communitygroup@gmail.com by October 26, 2020.
Scarborough Civic Action Network (SCAN) 2020-21 Action Mandate Survey. SCAN is seeking broad community input from Scarborough residents and stakeholders to decide SCAN’s 2020-21 Action Mandate. Please visit this LINK to fill out the survey by October 31, 2020.
CafeTO Survey EXTENDED. 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 31, 2020.
Community survey for Scarborough residents: Your experiences with the Toronto Police. Native Child and Family Services of Toronto would like to know more about the community’s experience with the Toronto Police. This survey is only the first step in a multi step planned community consultation process and will help us shape the rest of our strategy to obtain even more feedback from you. Please take the survey here.
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. Fall TPL live and online programming is available online.
*NEW* 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.
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.
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