November 9, 2020
Dear Neighbours,
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. Please consider only leaving home for essential activities such as work, education and fresh air and exercise. Residents are asked to limit contact with people not in the same household and to remain at home when ill.
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. Learn more about the flu online at www.toronto.ca/flu and book your flu shot appointment at www.tphbookings.ca
2020 marks the 75 years since the end of the Second World War and 100 years of marking Remembrance Day with a public ceremony. Due to COVID-19 and public health advice against in-person gatherings Remembrance Day commemorations will be held virtually. Please remember and honour all Canadians who have fought and continue to fight for our freedom and peace. Commemorative activities planned for Remembrance Day can be found online.
#GetYourPoppy and show your support this month! Wearing a Poppy honours the memory of our veterans and their ultimate sacrifice. In addition to traditional poppy boxes – which will be available at over 25,000 locations across Canada – keep an eye out for the Royal Canadian Legion’s new tap enabled Poppy boxes!
City of Toronto COVID-19 Case Update: (Data as of November 8, 2020) There has been an increase of 504 COVID-19 cases in the City of Toronto. There are 161 people currently hospitalized. Through the pandemic the City of Toronto has seen a total of 31,908 cases of COVID-19, of these, 26,814 cases have recovered. To this date, there have been 1,411 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.
The City of Toronto has formed a COVID-19 Immunization Task Force to prepare for the arrival of a COVID-19 vaccine. While it is not yet clear when a safe and effective vaccine will be available, this Task Force will ensure that the City is ready to play its role in helping Torontonians get vaccinated. This Task Force will be led by Chief Matthew Pegg in his role as the City’s COVID-19 Incident Commander and will use the COVID-19 incident management system that the City has developed. All three levels of government will play essential roles to make the goals of the Task Force a success. Each has very specific roles and responsibilities in relation to the COVID-19 vaccination strategy and implementation. More information can be read in the news release.
Governments of Canada and Ontario, and the City of Toronto announce a new partnership model with Toronto’s Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), moving forward with research projects that support COVID-19 recovery. This new model allows the City to put forward research priorities to Toronto’s HEIs, who source multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional teams of faculty and student experts to help address important and urgent research needs. The current pilot focuses on eight research projects that support the City’s COVID-19 recovery. City staff put forward research proposals related to priorities set out by Toronto’s Office of Recovery and Rebuild. HEIs expressed interest in the proposals based on their expertise, and the City selected partners and formed project teams to best meet the City’s research needs. More information can be read in the news release.
The City of Toronto is actively seeking to identify partners, sites and properties that may be suitable to support the goal of creating up to 40,000 affordable rental homes, including 18,000 supportive homes over the next 10 years. To build upon the City’s existing list of properties that would be appropriate for building modular housing and renovation and/or conversion to housing in 2021 and beyond, the City invites government, private, institutional, non-profit, co-op, charity and multi-faith organizations and other landlords to partner with the City through identifying vacant sites that could be activated for modular housing development; non-residential properties that could be converted to residential; and buildings thatare in disrepair and in need of repair and rehabilitation to be used for residential purposes. More details including additional criteria and how to submit proposals can be found here. All proposals are to be submitted to the City by Monday, November 16 at 4pm.
The City of Toronto and Toronto Hydro launch new on-street electric vehicle (EV) charging station pilot across the city. The new 12-month pilot, delivered in partnership with Toronto Hydro, sees 17 on-street EV charging stations – made possible by Toronto Hydro through an agreement with charge station manufacturer FLO – installed and activated for public use at locations around the city. The charging station parking spots are open to all electric vehicle owners with a “Level 2” connection on their vehicle. More information about the EV Charging Station Pilot and locations can be found at www.torontohydro.com/evcharging.
Toronto Police Services issued more than 4000 tickets during its 2020 Pedestrian Safety Campaign. Between Monday, November 2 to Sunday, November 8, officers made traction in Toronto communities by enforcing and educating road users on collision-causing behaviours. Members focused on “The Big 4” behaviours that are known to cause injuries to people using roads and identified drivers who were speeding, driving aggressively, driving while distracted and driving while impaired. More information can be read here.
COMING SOON: Scarborough Health Network is holding a COVID-19 Pop-up Assessment Centre at Scarborough Village Recreation Centre located at 3600 Kingston Road on Thursday November 12th from 9AM to 4PM. Learn more about these pop-up assessment centres at www.shn.ca/covid19-popup
Boys’ and Girls Club of East Scarborough Remembrance Day Event 2020 will take place on November 11, 2020 from 10:45am to 11:05am via zoom. This Remembrance Day event will include a moment of silence, a video tribute, and a poem reading by myself. Please see this flyer for more information and how to join.
Vision Zero is hosting a Virtual Senior Safety Zone Review for Lawrence Ave E and Markham Rd on Friday November 13, 2020 from 2pm to 3pm. You can join by phone or computer! For more information and how to register please visit this website.
The Knights of Columbus is hosting a Community Food Drive on Saturday November 14, 2020 from 9am to 12pm in the parking lot of St. Boniface Church (142 Markham Rd). This will be a drive-through event observing appropriate COVID-19 protocols (face masks and coverings, sanitizer, physical distancing). Members of the Knights of Columbus will take donations from the trunk of your car, so you will not have to leave your vehicle. The food items will then be delivered to their community Food Bank. Thank you in advance to all who are able to participate.
Boys’ and Girls’ Club of East Scarborough Holiday Help Program registration is officially open! The Holiday Help program supports families who require some additional help with gifts for their children between the ages of birth to 16 years. For more information and how to register please visit this website.
Discover magic of the holiday season with Your Toronto Zoo’s NEW Holiday Marketplace. Beginning November 20th, visit the Zoo’s first courtyard and enjoy amazing producers processors and artisans from our community. More information can be found here. Please note timed-tickets are required.
The Toronto BIA Office is now accepting applications for Stream 6 of the BIA Innovation Fund. Awards range from $5000 to $25000. Finding is Limited. Descriptions of projects previously funded under the program can be found here, along with feature stories. Special consideration will be given to projects that address economic support and recovery in the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Deadline to apply is Thursday December 10th, 2020 4:30pm. Apply NOW.
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 – like and subscribe for more meetings and videos! Scarborough-Guildwood’s Live Town Halls provide the community with up to date information, supports and resources throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
*NEW* Boys’ and Girls’ Club of East Scarborough Scoop
Check out the ESBGC latest Bi-Weekly Scoop 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.
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