Day: October 28, 2020

October 28, 2020

Dear Neighbours,

I want to thank everyone for your efforts during these difficult times. Let us all remember that this will soon pass as we continue to keep each other safe. Our mental health is paramount, and it is important that we take care of ourselves and seek support if needed.

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 2^nd at 7:00pm!

Please submit your questions by Friday October 30^th at 4pm:

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.

City of Toronto COVID-19 Case Update: (Data as of October 27, 2020) There has been an increase of 321 COVID-19 cases in the City of Toronto. Through the pandemic the City of Toronto has seen a total of 27,530 cases of COVID-19, of these, 23,025 cases have recovered, an increase of 251 cases from the day before. There are 140 people currently hospitalized, an increase of 20 cases from the day before. To this date, there have been 1,358 COVID-19 deaths in Toronto, an increase of 5 deaths 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.

I am happy to inform that after writing a letter to our Toronto Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Eileen de Villa, requesting a flu vaccine clinic to be opened in Scarborough, Toronto Public Health is launching a fourth community flu vaccine clinic on Saturday October 31 at Scarborough Town Centre, Exterior Unit D3, located at 410 Progress Avenue. This clinic is operated by appointment only through an online booking system which launched for this clinic this morning at www.tphbookings.ca. More information can be read in the news release.

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 the fight against COVID-19.  While flu vaccinations are also distributed to local doctors’ offices and participating pharmacies, access to a publicly run clinic plays an important role for people who cannot make use of other vaccination resources. Learn more about the flu online at www.toronto.ca/flu

City of Toronto update on City’s measures to combat the resurgence of the virus in Toronto. Mayor John Tory and Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa explained the many actions the City and Toronto Public Health continue to undertake to respond to the spread of COVID-19 which include Pop-up COVID-19 testing clinics, Pop-up flu shot clinics, Self-isolate sites, outreach and public education and more supports. More information can be read in the news release.

Toronto City Council has unanimously approved the extension of the winter patio program for curbside cafes and extended private patios to support local restaurants this winter and into the spring. The successful CaféTO program has been extended and will allow some restaurants to occupy sidewalk space along the curbside, to serve customers and generate revenue. In addition, City Council is extending zoning bylaw amendments, through spring 2021, to increase the maximum size of outdoor patios on private property and remove restrictions that might prevent an outdoor patio located in front of buildings (frontage café). Council has also voted to waive all fees and charges for Winter CaféTO locations. Restaurant operators interested in creating a winter sidewalk café must first register. More information, including new guidelines, will be available at the start of November at www.toronto.ca/CafeTO. 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 31^st 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.

*NEW* 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: 

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 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 Google^TM 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 

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Dear Neighbours,

Toronto Public Health launches fourth flu vaccine clinic location at the Scarborough Town Centre

I am proud to let you know that after writing a letter to our Toronto Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa requesting a flu vaccine clinic be opened in Scarborough, Toronto Public Health has announced today it will be opening a fourth location at the Scarborough Town Centre, Exterior Unit D3 (410 Progress Avenue) this Saturday, October 31st! The online booking system has gone live today, Wednesday October 28 at 9:00AM. To access bookings, please go to: https://www.tphbookings.ca/. 

The clinic is operated by appointment only. Appointments must be booked online through an online booking system which launched for this clinic this morning. This is to ensure that appropriate physical distancing and infection prevention and control measures can be followed at the clinic to reduce the potential risk of virus spread and keep residents safer. 

This year, TPH has administered approximately 1,000 flu vaccines in less than one week since launching its annual community clinics on October 22. The four annual flu vaccine clinics operate until the end of December with all appointments booked online. 

Flu activity usually peaks between the end of December and beginning of January, so it is recommended that residents get vaccinated before then. In Ontario, the Ministry of Health procures and distributes the flu vaccine. All Toronto residents who wish to get the flu vaccine will also be able to get vaccinated at doctors’ offices or participating pharmacies. TPH supports delivery of the flu vaccine through its annual community clinics along with administering the vaccine at approximately 60 pop-up clinics in shelters, drop-in centres and interim lodging sites for vulnerable Torontonians. Last year, TPH administered a total of 7,621 flu vaccine doses to residents.

Getting vaccinated against the flu may also reduce the number of individuals who need COVID-19 testing, as the symptoms are very similar. Annual flu vaccine is important to protect vulnerable residents from more severe illness. This includes older adults, individuals with chronic and pre-existing health conditions, residents of nursing homes and chronic care facilities, children six months to five years of age and pregnant women.

Influenza, also known as the flu, can spread to others before symptoms even appear. The flu is spread from person to person by small droplets produced by a cough or sneeze or through contact with contaminated hands, surfaces or objects, similar to COVID-19. Typical flu symptoms include a high fever, chills, sore throat, cough and muscle aches. Other common symptoms include headache, loss of appetite and feeling tired. Symptoms of the flu can be difficult to tell apart from symptoms of COVID-19 without a test. Recovering from the flu usually takes a week to 10 days, but for some people it can worsen pre-existing health conditions such as asthma or heart disease or develop into more serious health problems such as pneumonia and, in rare circumstances, can be fatal.

The flu vaccine is free for people six months of age and older who live, work or attend school in Ontario. A health card is not required at a TPH clinic. TPH flu vaccine appointments are available from now until December and can be booked online: https://www.tphbookings.ca/Default.aspx?PageID=11032. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, walk-in appointments will not be available this year.

More information about the flu is available online: https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/health-programs-advice/immunization/flu-influenza/. 

If you require any more information or have any questions, please feel free to contact my office at: 416-396-7222 or councillor_ainslie@toronto.ca.

All my Best,

Paul W. Ainslie