November 10, 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
Tomorrow, on Remembrance Day, we honour and remember our veterans and those you paid the ultimate sacrifice. This year marks 100 years commemorating Remembrance Day with a ceremony at Old City Hall. Unfortunately, we are not able to gather in person this year due to COVID-19. Please visit www.toronto.ca/remembrance to found out about the City’s virtual commemorations and access additional resources.
#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 9, 2020) the City of Toronto recorded its highest number of new COVID-19 infections with an increase of 533 COVID-19 cases. There are 165 people currently hospitalized. Through the pandemic the City of Toronto has seen a total of 32,430 cases of COVID-19, of these, 27,105 cases have recovered. To this date, there have been 1,418 COVID-19 deaths in Toronto, an increase of 7 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.
City of Toronto is mandating stricter restrictions to decrease COVID-19 transmission in Toronto. Today, the Medical Officer of Health announced a number of public health measures to be introduced when the City of Toronto is moved by the Province of Ontario into the provincial COVID-19 response framework on November 14.
Dr. de Villa’s recommendations come as the city sees its COVID-19 numbers going in the wrong direction. Beyond her recommendation that Toronto be moved into the Red – Control category in the provincial framework, Dr. de Villa introduced a number of directives to help reduce the spread of the virus in our community.
The new protections would come into effect at 12:01 a.m. this Saturday, November 14 and include strengthened COVID-19 precautions for businesses and public spaces:
- Social gatherings should only be with those you live with
- Restrict close contacts only to those you live with and your essential supports
- Limit in-person activities outside the home to essential activities only – going to work or school, health care, shopping for your household and health needs, and getting exercise and physical activity
- Indoor dining will remain closed
- Indoor fitness classes are not permitted
- Meeting and event spaces will remain closed
- In malls, patrons should not be permitted to consume food or drink while walking through malls
- Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments will remain closed
More information can be read in the news release.
The Ontario government is providing the heroes who served our country in the Canadian Armed Forces more opportunities to bring their skills and experience to rewarding careers in the Ontario Public Service (OPS). Effective November 6, 2020, veterans will be allowed to pursue new jobs and careers that were previously restricted to those already working in the OPS. The OPS has launched a hotline and resource hub for military families at www.ontario.ca/militaryfamilies which helps veterans find and access resources for themselves and their families. More information can be read in the news release.
The City of Toronto has announced the inaugural cohort for Women4ClimateTO (W4CTO) Mentorship Programme. The program, created in partnership with C40 Cities, will contribute to the development of the next generation of female climate leaders in Toronto. W4CTO combines mentoring, training and networking opportunities with the goal of empowering mentees to bring their climate-related project, ideas, or business start-up to life. The program will run until April 2021, with assistance from the City’s local sponsors: presenting partner RBC, and supporting partners EY, EllisDon, Toronto Life, and Flare Magazine. More information about the W4CTO program is available at www.toronto.ca/livegreen.
Toronto Police Services Public Safety Alert on Taxi Fraud Scam. The Toronto Police Service would like to make the public aware of an ongoing taxi fraud scam investigation. It is reported that: a fake taxi is parked in a high traffic area where one suspect poses as the taxi driver and another suspect poses as a customer. The two suspects pretend to have a loud argument where the driver refuses to take cash due to COVID-19, a member of the public overhears and offers to help by letting the suspect use their debit card to pay in exchange for cash, the victim inputs the PIN number where a modified device records card data and PIN number. More information on this can be found in the news release.
The City of Toronto is seeking diverse residents, including from Black, Indigenous and People of Colour communities, to get involved in its boards, committees and tribunals:
- TO Live Board of Directors – Deadline: November 13
- St. Lawrence Market Precinct Advisory Committee – Deadline: November 15
- Toronto Transit Commission – Deadline: November 23
Boys’ and Girls Club of East Scarborough Remembrance Day Event 2020 will take place TOMORROW 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.
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
People facing hunger in Toronto need our help! Toronto Miracle is inviting Toronto residents to leave a non-perishable food item on their doorstep (marked for Toronto Miracle) on December 5th at 10am. Volunteers will collect these donations and redistribute to those in need in the community. More information on how to donate or volunteer can be found at www.torontomiracle.org
Parents Engaged in Education invites you to their Pre-Holiday Online Auction on Friday November 13, 2020 from 6pm to 9pm. Please visit this link at the time of the event to join! All proceeds will go towards supporting Canada’s First Education Bank. More information on Parents Engaged in Education can be found at www.parentsengagedineducation.ca
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.
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