November 18, 2020
Dear Neighbours,
I want to thank everyone for their efforts during these difficult times. Let us all remember COVID-19 will hopefully be stopped, but we all must continue to keep following the mandated rules. We also need to remember, our mental health is paramount, and it is important we take care of ourselves and seek support if needed.
The Ontario government has updated the Keeping Ontario Safe and Open Framework by lowering the threshold of each level. Toronto Public Health is now in the Red-Control level with specific enhanced measures. The City of Toronto currently has the most restrictions in the province to slow the spread of COVID-19. As public health measures are put in place, the most effective limits are the ones we set for ourselves, please think of your limits, what they mean for you and the people around you. Please remember to practice physical distancing, washing your hands as often as possible and wear a mask or face covering. 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.
Today, Dr. de Villa presented the latest percent positivity for the City of Toronto at 6.2%, which is well above the 3% critical threshold. Dr. de Villa also reports noticeably higher percent positivity for teenagers, ages 14-17, at 7.5% and young people, ages 18-23, at 8.2%. In response to the increasing test positivity rates, Mayor Tory asks parents to remind children to come straight home after school and avoid time at friend’s homes whenever possible. Mayor Tory also asks employers to practice all infection protection and control measures possible and encourage COVID-19 testing in employees with supports for those who test positive. Guidance for employers is available online.
City of Toronto COVID-19 Case Update: (Data as of November 17, 2020) There has been an increase of 445 COVID-19 cases in the City of Toronto. There are 191 people currently hospitalized. Through the pandemic the City of Toronto has seen a total of 36,080 cases of COVID-19, of these, 29,890 cases have recovered. To this date, there have been 1,490 COVID-19 deaths in Toronto, an increase of 22 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.
Are you looking to get tested for COVID-19? Drop by Scarborough Health Network’s next COVID-19 Pop-up Assessment Centre at Global Kingdom Ministries, located at 1250 Markham Road on Thursday November 19 from 9am to 4pm. For more information on future dates and locations please visit www.shn.ca/covid19-popup
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
Scarborough Health Team Partners are hosting a Safe and Warm in Scarborough drop-in flu clinic at Malvern Town Centre, located at 31 Tapscott Road, on Thursday November 18 from 11am to 4pm (while quantities last). Safe and Warm is a collaborative initiative from 30+ well established health organizations in the proposed Scarborough Ontario Health team. More information can be found at www.schcontario.ca/scarboroughvsflu
Winners of Scarborough’s New View Photo Contest were announced last night in a virtual awards ceremony. The photo contest, in partnership with Scarborough Arts, received more than 3,700 entries from new and experienced artists who captured photos of people, places and things in Scarborough. Winners were selected by a jury comprised of local Scarborough-based artists and photographers, Anique Jordan and Esmond Lee, and led by Toronto’s Photo Laureate, Michèle Pearson Clarke. Anthony Gebrehiwot, a noted photographer was the creative lead for the photo contest. To view the list of winners please read this news release.
The City of Toronto launches Traffic Agents program to keep intersections moving and people safe. In total, 16 full-time traffic agents have been hired and will be available to actively manage intersections during peak morning and afternoon rush hour periods. Traffic agents will be placed where they are needed most based on evolving traffic demands and the need to improve safety and congestion. As the program evolves, and potentially expands, it’s expected that other locations across the city will be identified and included. More information and locations of the traffic agents can be read in the news release.
Toronto District School Board Open Houses and Information Sessions will be hosted virtually for parents, guardians and students between November and January. Learn everything you need to know about an incredible variety of schools, programs and courses. Please note, some schools are hosting “live” virtual open houses that families can join in real time, during the specified date and time. Some schools have pre-recorded information sessions that can be viewed at any time. Details on TDSB schools, virtual live and pre-recorded sessions online, here.
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 Boys’ and Girls’ Club of East Scarborough Holiday Help Program is now accepting various forms of donations. Donate essential daily items, toys, non-perishables, and/or monetary donations. All donations are asked to be dropped off at their main site, 100 Galloway Rd, no later than Friday December 4th, 2020. More information on how to participate in the Holiday Help Program can be found here. If you have any questions please contact 416-281-0262 or email info@esbgc.ca.
Durham-Scarborough Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Public Information Centre #3. The purpose of the Public Information Centre is to present and seek feedback on the preliminary design and results of the technical studies, including potential impacts and proposed mitigation measures. The Public Information Centre #3 will run until Friday December 18, 2020, please view the dedicated page and participate by using the Ask-A-Question box, please visit this link.
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
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.
Create a pollinator garden and help native pollinators from the threats of climate change, habitat loss, and other stressors. Grants of up to $5,000 are available to support community-led initiatives that result in the creation or expansion of pollinator habitat on public and private lands in Toronto.
The deadline to apply for the City’s PollinateTO Community Grant is January 8, 2021. The gardens will be planted in 2021. More information about the PollinateTO Community Grants is available at www.toronto.ca/PollinateTO
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.
*NEW* BusinessTO Newsletter: BusinessTO’s upcoming webinars and online events
Check out their latest newsletter HERE. Subscribe HERE.
TransformTO Update: Climate action for a healthy, equitable, prosperous Toronto.
Check out their latest update 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.
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