October 27, 2020
Dear Neighbours,
COMING SOON: SCARBOROUGH-GUILDWOOD TOWN HALL WITH MAYOR JOHN TORY
Please join me, Hon. John McKay M.P., Mitzie Hunter M.P.P. and Mayor John Tory for another Scarborough-Guildwood Live Town Hall on Monday November 2nd at 7:00pm!
Please submit your questions by Friday October 30th at 4pm:
To join the meeting on Monday November 2nd at 7pm, click here:
I would like to thank everyone who came out to my Town Hall last night! I’d like to thank everyone who submitted questions in advance. In case you missed it, the full video has been uploaded to my YouTube channel.
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.
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.
Getting a flu shot is one of the best ways to protect yourself and others from the flu. It is especially important this year to help protect our healthcare system during COVID-19. I have noted of the three vaccination clinics across Toronto, none are in the Scarborough or Eastern Toronto area. I’ve sent a letter to Dr. de Villa outlining the urgency for a flu vaccination clinic to open in Scarborough. You can read my full letter here.
Scarborough Health Network and Toronto Public Health are opening a Pop-up Assessment Centre for COVID-19 testing at Global Kingdom Ministries at 1250 Markham Rd from TOMORROW 9am to 4pm. Learn more and stay updated for future dates and locations here.
City of Toronto COVID-19 Case Update: (Data as of October 26, 2020) There has been an increase of 374 COVID-19 cases in the City of Toronto. Through the pandemic the City of Toronto has seen a total of 27,226 cases of COVID-19, of these, 22,779 cases have recovered, an increase of 240 cases from the day before. There are 131 people currently hospitalized, an increase of 4 cases from the day before. To this date, there have been 1,353 COVID-19 deaths in Toronto. Case status data can be found on the City’s reporting platform. Province of Ontario status of COVID-19 Cases can be found here.
Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the launch of the new Rapid Housing Initiative that invests $1 billion to create up to 3,000 new permanent affordable housing unites across the country. The Rapid Housing Initiative will quickly develop new modular multi-unit rentals, convert non-residential buildings into affordable multi-residential homes, and rehabilitate buildings that are abandoned or in disrepair into affordable multi-residential homes. Costs to purchase land and buildings will also be eligible under the new initiative. More information can be read in the news release.
Today, City Council unanimously approved framework to create new permanent, supporting housing in Parkdale in partnership with the University Health Network and United Way Greater Toronto. Recognizing the inextricable link between poverty, health and social outcomes, and the need to take a systemic approach to improving the lives of residents across the city, the City of Toronto, the University Health Network (UHN) and the United Way Greater Toronto (UWGT) have developed a unique SMI model that will use land owned by UHN in Parkdale to create new permanent supportive housing. The plan will coordinate resources from all three partners to develop a range of housing and important health and social services onsite.More information can be read in the news release.
Toronto City Council has approved the City’s first Freight and Goods Movement Strategy that will help make transportation of freight and goods safer, more reliable and more sustainable in and around Toronto. The Freight and Goods Movement Strategy identifies 24 strategic actions that the City, led by the Transportation Services division in partnership with other divisions and external partners, will undertake immediately and over the next several years. The strategy will help Toronto address pressures brought on by increased demand for:
- goods movement through population growth
- rapidly shifting technology trends and future innovations related to shipping and producing goods, and
- growth of local industries and the economy from a global perspective in order to help Toronto and the region remain economically competitive and appealing.
The full report is available here. More information can be read in the news release.
Vision Zero is hosting a Virtual Senior Safety Zone Review for Lawrence Ave E and Markham Rd on Friday November 13 from 2pm to 3pm. You can join by phone or computer! For more information and how to register please visit this website.
Scarborough Swim Team is hosting a Halloween Food Drive on Saturday October 31st from 7:15am to 7:45am and 8:45am to 9:15am in the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre North Parking Lot, 875 Morningside Ave . This food drive will support Feed Scarborough, a Scarborough Food Security Initiative. Visit this post for more information.
Toronto Rent Bank is here to help with your first and last month’s rent or if you’re behind in rent. You may be eligible if you are living in Toronto; your household is within low income guidelines and is not in receipt of Social Assistance; you are paying market rent; you can satisfy all other requirements. More information can be found at www.torontorentbank.ca
Join the Scarborough Business Association (SBA) Board of Directors 2020-21. If you’re passionate about helping ensure that Scarborough businesses can thrive during these unprecedented times and that Scarborough has a strong voice for its diverse business and entrepreneurial community please consider running for open positions on the SBA Board of Directors 2020-21. More information can be found here.
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.
Community-Based Crisis Response Model Development Survey. The of Toronto is looking to re-imagine ways of responding to crisis calls that are collaborative, innovative and grounded in community needs and desires. To do this, the City wants to understand your priorities for what a community-based crisis response could look like. Complete this online survey before November 9, 2020.
Scarborough Arts wants your work for their 35th Annual Juried Exhibition! Visual art, writing, and poetry submissions are all accepted by October 30. 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.
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.
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.
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