Dear Neighbours,
Thank you for your efforts in keeping our community safe during these difficult times. Please review the City of Toronto’s COVID-19 Vaccines webpage, to inform yourself of the benefits of vaccination.
I would like to thank everyone who tuned into last night’s Scarborough-Guildwood Live Town Hall meeting! I would also like to thank my colleagues, Mitzie Hunter MPP, Hon. John McKay MP, and our special guest Dr. Jeffrey Schiffer, Executive Director of Native Child and Family Services of Toronto, for a very informative discussion about residential schools and the history and culture of Indigenous peoples. If you missed the live event, the full meeting is now live on my YouTube channel!
The City of Toronto will move into Step Two of the Province of Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopen as of tomorrow, June 30 at 12:01am. The City has readied reopening amenities and is prepared to resume permitted services starting tomorrow morning. In Step Two, additional restrictions put in place to stop the spread of COVID-19 are being lifted. Small indoor gatherings of up to five people from different households are permitted and outdoor gathering limits increase to 25 people.
I would like to encourage residents to review the City’s COVID-19 Reopening Guide for Toronto Residents for the latest public health guidance, provincial regulations, and City bylaws. A full list of Step Two changes can be found on the Province’s Reopening Ontario webpage.
With Canada Day coming up, I would like to remind residents of firework rules in Toronto and that the City’s bylaw enforcement officers and Toronto Police Service will continue to monitor heavily used parks and beaches and respond to issues related to fireworks. Fireworks are banned in parks and beaches and can only be set off on your own property without a permit on Victoria Day and Canada Day. Take the time to prepare, protect and prevent fireworks accidents. More at www.toronto.ca/fireworks
*NEW*Scarborough Health Network PFIZER 1st & 2nd Dose Pop-Up COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics
Wed, June 30 | 11am-7pm | St. Nicolas Greek Orthodox Church, 3840 Finch Ave E
- 1st Dose: Individuals aged 12+ who live, work or go to school in Scarborough (M1)
- 2nd Dose: Individuals aged 12+ who live, work or go to school in a Delta variant hot spot: M1B, M1G, M1J, M1K, M1L, M1R, M1S & M1T; AND received their 1st dose of Pfizer at least 21 days ago OR their 1st dose of AstraZeneca at least 8 weeks ago.
Fri, July 2 & Sat, July 3 | 10am-6pm| David & Mary Thomson CI, 125 Brockley Dr
- 1st Dose: Individuals aged 12+ who live, work or go to school in Scarborough (M1)
- 2nd Dose: Individuals aged 12+ who live, work or go to school in a Delta variant hot spot: M1B, M1G, M1J, M1K, M1L, M1P, M1R & M1S; AND received their 1st dose of Pfizer at least 21 days ago OR their 1st dose of AstraZeneca at least 8 weeks ago.
Sun, July 4 | 9am-2pm | SHN General Hospital, 3050 Lawrence Ave E
- 1st Dose: Individuals aged 12+ who live, work or go to school in Scarborough (M1)
- 2nd Dose: Individuals aged 12+ who live, work or go to school in a Delta variant hot spot: M1B, M1G, M1J, M1K, M1L, M1P, M1R & M1S; AND received their 1st dose of Pfizer at least 21 days ago OR their 1st dose of AstraZeneca at least 8 weeks ago.
Sun, July 4 | 2pm-6pm | Toronto Simpson Chinese Alliance Church, 200 Commander Blvd
- 1st Dose: Individuals aged 12+ who live, work or go to school in Scarborough (M1)
- 2nd Dose: Individuals aged 12+ who live, work or go to school in a Delta variant hot spot: M1B, M1G, M1J, M1K, M1L, M1R & M1S; AND received their 1st dose of Pfizer at least 21 days ago OR their 1st dose of AstraZeneca at least 8 weeks ago.
Note: Tickets are provided for same-day appointments on a first come, first served basis. Please bring proof of address/employment/school; 1st Dose Vaccination Receipt; form of ID (license, passport, PR card). Full details are available at www.scarbvaccine.ca
*NEW* Scarborough Health Network MODERNA 1st & 2nd Dose Pop-Up Clinics
Wed, June 30 | 9am-2pm | The Mid-Scarborough Hub – SCHC, 2660 Eglinton Ave E
- 1st Dose: Individuals aged 18+ who live, work, or go to school in Scarborough (M1)
- 2nd Dose: Individuals aged 18+ who live, work or go to school in Scarborough (M1); AND received their 1st dose of Moderna at least 28 days ago; OR their 1st dose of Pfizer at least 21 days go; OR their 1st dose of AstraZeneca at least 8 weeks ago.
Note: Tickets are provided for same-day appointments on a first come, first served basis. Please bring proof of address/employment/school; 1st Dose Vaccination Receipt; form of ID (license, passport, PR card). Full details are available at www.scarbvaccine.ca
Toronto East Health Network Mobile & Pop-Up Vaccine Clinic: Open to all individuals 12+ who live/work/attend school in any “M” postal code, with priority access for select populations. Visit the pop-up vaccine page for more details: www.tehn.ca/VaccinePopUps
City of Toronto Immunization Clinics & Eligibility: Eligibility criteria and booking for first and second dose appointments can be found online at www.toronto.ca/covid19 or by calling 1-833-943-3900.
- First dose: Everyone aged 12+ is encouraged to book their first dose appointment online or through the provincial booking line.
- Second dose: Residents 70+; Anyone who received a first dose of Pfizer or Moderna on/before May 9; those who received AstraZeneca at least eight weeks ago; FNIM individuals & non-Indigenous partners & household members
Scarborough Health Network Community Vaccine Clinic & Eligibility: Eligibility criteria and booking information is available at www.scarbvaccine.ca
- First dose: Individuals 18+; Individuals 12+ at the Centenary College and TAIBU Community Health Centre sites
- Second dose: Individuals eligible for an accelerated second dose appointment at SHN will be contacted directly to reschedule their appointment. DO NOT BOOK a second dose appointment online.
COVID-19 Pharmacy Vaccine Locations & Eligibility: Full details on eligibility and pharmacy locations administering the COVID-19 vaccine can be found here.
- First dose: Individuals 12+ to get the Pfizer vaccine; Individuals 18+ to get the Moderna Vaccine
- Second dose: (AstraZeneca) received 1st dose at least eight weeks ago; (Pfizer or Moderna) received 1st dose at least 28 days ago
City of Toronto COVID-19 Case & Vaccination Update: (Data as of June 29, 2021) Case status and vaccination dose data can be found on the City’s reporting platform.
| 98 – Newly Reported COVID-19 Cases 712 – Total number of Active COVID-19 Cases 229 – Hospitalized Cases (Cumulative) 169,768 – Number of COVID-19 Cases in Toronto | 165,516 – Number of Recovered COVID-19 Cases in Toronto 3,540 – Number of COVID-19 Fatal Cases in Toronto 3,368,842 COVID-19 – Vaccine doses administered in Toronto |
Where to get accurate COVID-19 information:
- City of Toronto’s COVID-19 Vaccines webpage
- Booking Your Second Dose, Rescheduling and More
- VaxTO: Text “VACCINE” to 1-833-750-0888 for COVID-19 vaccine resources
- SHN VaxFacts Clinic – website or contact vaxfactsclinic@shn.ca or 416-438-2911 ext. 5738.
- City of Toronto COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Location Map
- Additional Ward 24 Vaccination Sites
- Need help getting to your vaccine appointment? Check out the City of Toronto’s Vaccine Equity Transportation Plan
- Information on booking vaccine appointments for residents without an OHIP card can be found here
- Vaccine Coverage by Neighbourhood in the City of Toronto (scroll to the bottom of the neighbourhood map)
- Public Health Agency of Canada – The Facts About COVID-19 Vaccines
- COVID-19 tests are available at assessment centres, pop-ups, and mobile testing facilities and pharmacies. Use this map to find a testing location near you.
Toronto News
- Free sunscreen program returns to select City of Toronto parks in collaboration with melanoma charities and Shoppers Drug Mart
- 2021 Toronto Book Awards long list announced
- Bike Share Toronto and CAA South Central Ontario bring back Free Ride Wednesdays for the month of July
Community Events
- Every Child Matters Walk
Join Toronto Fire Council on Thursday, July 1st, to honour and support former students of Residential Schools and the thousands of Children who perished while attending Kamloops-Brandon-Cowessess. For more details please see this post.
- SBA – Virtual Lunch with Mayor John Tory
July 8, 2021 | 11:00am to 1:00pm
For more information and to register please visit this site.
- SCRO – Our Scarborough Series – How art facilitates resistance for a social worker committed to anti-oppressive practice
July 15, 2021 | 6:30pm
- BGC East Scarborough – Be Boundless – In-Person Fundraiser
July 17, 2021 | 11am-6pm | 100 Galloway Road (main site back parking ot)
$3 Entry Fee
To register, call 416-281-0262 or sign up online here.
*NEW* TransformTO – Get Involved: The City of Toronto is implementing bold actions to get to net zero emissions. Share your thoughts on the actions and priorities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Until July 26, watch the video , complete the survey , host a community discussion , and share your thoughts on an online idea board.
The East Scarborough Storefront and VIBE Arts, in collaboration with the City’s StART program, are creating a community engaged mural for the exterior wall of the East Scarborough Storefront facility, and they want to hear your ideas! Please fill out this survey to submit your ideas.
Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities’ Hope Exists After Loss (HEAL) Youth Program. FREE 8-week youth program for ages 12-19. An engaging and meaningful peer mentorship for youth living in Scarborough experiencing loss from death. Starting Tuesday, July 6, 2021 from 4pm to 6pm. For more information and to register please visit www.schcontario.ca/heal.
Your Toronto Zoo’s restrooms have been named one of the best in Canada! Show your love for the best restroom in the GTA you can vote on Citas Canada’s website. The polls are open now until July 9.
Save the CNE! Please sign the www.savethecne.ca petition! Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Toronto has extended the cancellation of in-person major outdoor events through to September 7. Now without critical financial support from the federal and provincial governments, the CNE is at risk of closing its gates forever, after 142 years of operations. Please visit www.savethecne.ca and help the CNE keep its gates open.
Summer Programming
- Explore activities to keep your kids active this summer with the Toronto Public Library
- Summer CampTO & Virtual CampTO programs – Register online or by phone 416-396-7378
- New ParkFitTO outdoor fitness programs – Register online or by phone 416-396-7378
- City of Toronto Outdoor Swimming Pool Swim Session reservations
- R.I.T.E.S. Summer Group (4-weeks)
Who: Youth who identify as Black, African-Canadian, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Latinx
Why: To provide a space for Black youth to define, name, create for and speak for themselves
Where & When: Via Zoom | Every Thursday from July 15 to August 5 | 3:30pm to 5:00pm
See this FAQ sheet for more details and how to register.
- Rising Star Program
A free, virtual 9-week program for black high-school students in grade 10-11, to gain practical technical skills, access to mentors and build their network within technology by engaging with the Rising Star ecosystem. For more information and details on how to register, please see this site.
Please click here for a list of food banks and soup kitchens in 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.
I am continuously updating my social media platforms and my website:
You can also reach me by telephone at 416-396-7222 or email me at councillor_ainslie@toronto.ca
All my Best,
Paul