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. With the vaccine roll out we are seeing progress. It is also important to remember, our mental health is paramount, and that we take care of ourselves and seek support if needed.
Ontario Enacts Provincial emergency and Stay-at-Home Order
The City of Toronto is in a province-wide shutdown and will be subject to a Stay-at-Home order as of 12:01 am on Thursday April 8, 2021. The province-wide shutdown requires all residents to remain home except for essential purposes, such as visits to the grocery, pharmacy, accessing health care services and outdoor exercise, or for work that cannot be done remotely. I encourage everyone to visit the City’s website to review the City’s Guide for Toronto Residents and Changes to City Services. For more information please read this news release.
City of Toronto working with healthcare and community partners to launch Phase 2 vaccine rollout in priority neighbourhoods
“Team Toronto’s” plan for Phase 2 of the vaccine rollout is a working partnership with Toronto Public Health, hospitals, Ontario Health Teams, doctors in the community, and mobile and pop-up teams to bring vaccines directly to high-risk groups, including high-risk neighbourhoods and essential workers.
Public health officials have been very clear that vaccines must get to the “hot spot” neighbourhoods that need it the most. Ontario Health Teams and hospital mobile and popup clinics are working on vaccinating people age 18+ in these “hot spot” neighbourhoods, identified by their postal codes. Starting Friday, April 9, residents age 50+ in high-risk areas, identified by postal code, will be able to book a vaccine appointment at City-run clinics. “Hot spot” postal codes identified by Scarborough Health Network include: M1B, M1G, M1J, M1K, M1P, M1T and M1V. Targeting “hot spot” areas is a new update to our vaccine rollout, more information on “hot spot” neighbourhoods will be provided as soon as possible.
Phase 2 rollout will continue over the coming weeks. Right now, all partners continue to carry out Phase 1 vaccination priorities and expand Phase 2 pilot programs. For more information please read this news release.
COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Locations Map
All COVID-19 Immunization Clinics across the city, including City-run facilities, pharmacies and hospitals, are now mapped on the City’s website. Residents can search for the clinic closest to them by location or address.
SCHC COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic @ the HUB! Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities has opened a COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Hub site at 2660 Eglinton Ave E. Eligible individuals are invited to register for an appointment! For more information on eligibility requirements and how to register please see this flyer!
COVID-19 Testing Sites including Pop-up Sites – updated daily
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, including locations of upcoming pop-up testing sites, by visiting toronto.ca/COVID19Testing.The website features a map to help you easily find a testing location near you.
City of Toronto COVID-19 Case Update: (Data as of April 6, 2021) There has been an increase of 1173 COVID-19 cases in the City with 426 people currently hospitalized. Through the pandemic the City has seen a total of 119,598 cases of COVID-19, of these, 107,094 cases have recovered. To this date, there have been 2,831 COVID-19 deaths in Toronto. Case status data can be found on the City’s reporting platform.
City of Toronto COVID-19 Vaccination 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, 636,718 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in Toronto. Vaccination dose data can be found on the City’s COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard.
COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility: The City is currently vaccinating residents age 60 and older at its City-run mass immunization clinics. Some health sector partners in Toronto are now vaccinating residents 50+ with chronic health conditions. Health sector partners in Toronto are vaccinating priority groups, based on the Province of Ontario’s Ethical Framework for COVID-19 Vaccine Prioritization.
How to Book a COVID-19 Vaccination Appointment
There are several options to book an appointment at a City-run clinic or at a preferred hospital or community agency. These are the easiest ways for eligible residents to book appointments:
- City-run clinics (online): www.toronto.ca/covid-19
- City-run clinics (phone): 1-833-943-3900 (TTY 1-866-797-0007)
- Hospital clinics (online): www.vaccineto.ca
- Hospital clinics (phone): 1-888-385-1910
- Scarborough Health Network (online): www.scarbvaccine.ca
- Scarborough Health Network (phone): 1-888-385-1910
- Pharmacy Pilot Locations can be found on this webpage.
City-run Mass Immunization Clinics: Appointments at City-run clinics for eligible residents are available at all six locations:
- Metro Toronto Convention Centre
- Scarborough Town Centre
- Toronto Congress Centre
- Malvern Community Recreation Centre
- Mitchel Field Centre
- The Hangar
The City’s remaining three immunization clinics, Cloverdale Mall, North Toronto Memorial Community Centre and Carmine Stefano Community, are set to open on Monday, April 12 at 11am. Each clinic will operate seven days per week from 11am to 8pm. A video tour showing what residents can expect at City-operated mass immunization clinics is available on the City’s YouTube channel.
Do you need help getting to your vaccination appointment? The City’s Vaccine Equity Transportation Plan is piloting transportation services for seniors ages 75+ who may be unable to access or afford existing transportation options to get to their vaccination appointments. Eligible residents can book their vaccination appointment at www.toronto.ca/covid-19 then book a ride contact with Toronto Ride, iRide or Scarborough Ride.
Today, April 7, is World Health Day! I would like to thank our healthcare workers, doctors, nurses and researchers for their tireless work this past year.
Virtual Move Your Paws for the Polar Bear Cause Walk/Run raises over $34,800 for one of the world’s most vulnerable species! For the first time, the 8th Annual Move Your Pause for Polar Bear Cause 1k/5k Walk/Run was hosted virtually. This popular event took place from Saturday, February 27 to Monday, March 29, 2021, challenging participants to meet an initial shared movement goal of 10,000 km and a fundraising goal of $15,000, all in support of Polar bear conservation. Learn more inf this news release.
Public Consultations on Toronto’s Next Chief of Police. There are still spots available to participate in a public discussion about what Torontonians are looking for in the next Chief of Police. Scarborough’s public session will take place on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 from 6pm to 8pm. If you’re interested in participating, please register here. If you can’t join virtually, you can complete an online survey live until May 13.
The Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities would like to invite you to a COVID-19 Vaccine Town Hall on Monday, April 12th from 5:00pm to 6:30pm. Questions on vaccine developments will be answered. Live translations will be available in Tamil, Hindi and Urdu. Register now!
Good Guides Local Food Drive! The Good Guides is partnering with The NBYMP Foundation to support the Scarborough Center for Healthy Communities. They will be collecting all non-perishable food items at 4100 Lawrence Ave. E. until April 16. Please click here and read the instructions prior to dropping off or requesting pickup of items. For pick-up, please fill this form.
Get to know your Neighbourhood Community Officers (NCOs) – Danzig Street (West Hill)! Toronto Police NCOs work in close partnership with local residents to address community safety and quality of life issues. Join 43 Division’s town hall for residents of the Danzig community to meet the NCOs dedicated to your neighbourhood on April 22, 2021 at 6:30pm. Register here.
Mother’s Day Baskets for Rosalie Hall! Rosalie Hall is an outreach centre providing comprehensive support for young mothers and their children. The 43 Division Community Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) is seeking donations to support young mothers by putting together 10 gift baskets to be presented to Rosalie Hall for Mother’s Day on Friday, May 7th. If you are able to support these courageous young mothers, please let us know by Friday,
April 23, 2021. You can reach out to the 43 Division CPLC here or at 416-808-4319. For more information please see this letter.
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 – like and subscribe for more videos! Ensure you Subscribe to the 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.
You can also reach me by: telephone at 416-396-7222 or email me at councillor_ainslie@toronto.ca
All my Best,
Paul