Dear Neighbours,
I would like to continue to thank everyone for their efforts during these difficult times, I know it has been tough, but we must continue to fight the spread of COVID-19 and keep ourselves and our community safe. It is also important to remember, our mental health is paramount, and that we take care of ourselves and seek support if needed.
The City of Toronto has moved into the Grey Zone of the Lockdown Regulation under the Provincial COVID-19 response framework. Regardless of the zone colour, all people should continue to stay home as much as possible and always follow public health guidance to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and another lockdown. I encourage everyone to visit the City’s website to review the Response Framework Zone Changes and changes to City services.
City of Toronto COVID-19 Case Update: (Data as of March 9, 2021) There has been an increase of 473 COVID-19 cases in the City with 264 people currently hospitalized. Through the pandemic the City has seen a total of 100,897 cases of COVID-19, of these, 94,183 cases have recovered. To this date, there have been 2,699 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.
COVID-19 Testing Information: COVID-19 tests are available at assessment centres, pop-up and mobile testing facilities and pharmacies. Learn more about COVID-19 testing locations and eligibility by visiting toronto.ca/COVID19Testing.
City of Toronto COVID-19 Immunization Update: The City of Toronto is working with all our healthcare partners and Toronto Public health to administer all available COVID-19 vaccines. To date, 211,247 COVID-19 vaccine does have been administered in Toronto. For more information please read this news release.
Hospital and community healthcare centres are currently vaccinating priority groups, based on the Province of Ontario’s Ethical Framework for COVID-19 Vaccine Prioritization. Registration information for those eligible to be vaccinated by health sector partners can be found online at www.vaccineto.ca or by contacting the call centre at 1-888-385-1910. For more information please visit the City’s COVID-19 Vaccine webpage.
Scarborough Health Network opened COVID-19 vaccine clinic and registration portal for residents in the 80+ age category. SHN’s registration portal is open for residents in the 80+ age category to directly book a vaccination appointment. Vaccinations in Scarborough are currently being administered at the Centennial College and Centenary Hospital sites. For more information on vaccination in Scarborough please visit www.scarboroughcovidvaccineclinic.ca
COVID-19 Pharmacy Vaccine Locations: Starting today, March 10, select pharmacies are booking appointments for the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines for people born between 1957 and 1961 (age 60 to 64) as part of Ontario’s pharmacy pilot. To find the pharmacy locations in Scarborough please visit this webpage.
City of Toronto is opening 133,000 online COVID-19 vaccination bookings for City-run immunization clinics for residents born in 1941 or earlier. Bookings for residents who will be 80 years of age or older in 2021 will be available through a prominent registration link on www.toronto.ca/covid-19 starting this Friday, March 12. Appointments will be held at one of the three City-operated immunization clinics that will open on March 17:
- Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 225 Front St. W.
- Scarborough Town Centre, 300 Borough Dr.
- Toronto Congress Centre, 650 Dixon Rd.
The City has assembled a list of frequently asked questions about City of Toronto online COVID-19 vaccination booking for residents born in 1941 or earlier to help eligible residents understand the appointment booking process for City-operated clinics.
City of Toronto launches city-wide community mobilization vaccine campaign. The City of Toronto and Toronto Public Health are working with the Province of Ontario and health sector and community partners to vaccinate people across Toronto as quickly as possible to stop the spread of COVID-19. As part of the City’s efforts to ensure every resident in every corner of Toronto can access a vaccine, the City has released a call for proposals for $5.5 million in funding to Toronto’s community services sector who will act as local lead agencies for vaccination efforts across 140 neighbourhoods. This campaign is expected to play a significant role in Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the provincial vaccine process as vaccine supply increases. For more information please read this news release.
City of Toronto commemorates one year in the ongoing fight against COVID-19. Since March 2020, the City of Toronto’s Emergency Operations Centre has been activated in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Over the next few weeks, the City will mark several COVID-19 milestone dates that are significant to Torontonians and remind us of the importance of our continued efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19. Learn more on the dates of significance and commemoration activities here.
Today, Toronto City Council approves Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with United Property Resource Corporation (UPRC) to create 500 new affordable homes. This is the first proposal under the City’s Land Bank Initiative. Creating new affordable rental housing with increase the opportunity for vulnerable and marginalized Toronto residents/Torontonians, including Indigenous Peoples, Black people, People of Colour, seniors, women and members of LGBTQ2S+ community to access safe, healthy and adequate homes. For more information please read this news release.
Today, Toronto City Council unanimously approved creating 971 new affordable rental homes in 15 developments through the Open-Door Program. With today’s endorsement by Council, a total of 11,143 affordable rental homes have now been approved through the City of Toronto’s Open-Door Program (ODP). This program is designed to accelerate affordable housing construction by providing a range of incentives from the City, which could include an exemption of fees, charges or property tax; capital funding; the fast-tracking of planning approvals; and activating surplus public land. For more information please read this news release.
Toronto Public Library Service Update: TPL is excited to welcome you back into their branches for a few more services available in Grey-Lockdown. For everyone’s safety, in-person services are limited and modified. Find out what’s available and how to prepare for a visit at www.tpl.com.covid19
Don’t forget to register for SafeTO’s Community Conversation on Gun Violence on Thursday, March 11 from 6:00pm to 8:30pm. The City is hosting a solutions-focused conversation on gun violence for Scarborough as part of their SafeTO plan consultations. For more information and to register for the event please visit this webpage.
Community Engagement Review: Help shape how the City of Toronto engages communities around new shelters and other services for people experiencing homelessness. Residents interested in providing input to the Community Engagement Review can participate in a virtual focus group or participate in an anonymous online survey, open until March 11, 2021. For more information please visit the Welcoming New Shelters web page.
SafeTO Survey: The City of Toronto is currently in the process of developing an updated Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan called SafeTO. This plan will guide how social systems that serve Torontonians such as community services, healthcare systems, justice systems and police work together to meet community needs by changing how we think about safety. Provide your input by taking this survey by March 15, 2021.
Toronto Zoo Master Plan Concept Survey: The Toronto Zoo wants to hear from you to gather feedback from the community on the Master Plan project, superficially focusing on the testing of specific ideas or “alternatives” being considered for implementation. The survey will be open until March 23, 2021.
Grass and Weeds Bylaw Review: The Grass and Weeds Bylaw requires that grass and weeds on private property must be maintained so that growth does not exceed 20 cm in height. However, property owners or occupants can apply for a permit to be exempted from this requirement if they have a natural garden. The City would like to know what you think about the current process to get a permit for your natural garden. Please share your thoughts by sending an email to MLSFeedback@toronto.ca by Wednesday, March 31.
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.
Watch Scarborough-Guildwood’s past Live Town Hall meetings on my YouTube channel!
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.
CultureTO Newsletter: Focus on available resources and supports for Toronto’s culture sector. 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.
Our KGO Updates: East Scarborough Storefront’s crowd-sourced e-newsletter
Check out their latest issue HERE. Subscribe HERE.
Toronto District School Board Update
Check out the latest issue HERE.
TDSB Trustee Update by Ward 19 Scarborough-Guildwood Trustee Zakir Patel
Check out the latest issue HERE. Subscribe 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/
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