March 2022 – Words From Eastern Toronto

Dear Neighbours,

I hope that you and your families are safe and healthy during these challenging times. Let’s continue to protect each other and reduce the spread of COVID-19 by getting vaccinated, limiting in-person contacts, maintaining physical distancing, wearing a mask and staying home when ill.

I would like to remind everyone that self-care is key, and it is important to prI would like to remind everyone that self-care is key, and it is important to prioritize your well-being. Make sure to stay active, drink water, connect with loved ones for support over the phone or virtually and reflect on your thoughts and feelings. Remember local Mental Health supports and services can be accessed online here.

Given the threat posed by the COVID-19 Omicron variant, there is a critical need for all eligible residents to get their first, second and third “booster” doses of the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible. Learn about why, how, and where to get vaccinated on the City’s COVID-19: How to Get Vaccinated webpage.

On Monday, March 7th, please join me, Hon. John McKay MP and Mitzie Hunter MPP for a virtual town hall meeting with special guests from the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority!

Date: Monday, March 7, 2022

Time: 7:00 pm

To join the town hall please visit: www.rebrand.ly/MAR7

Submit questions and comments on TRCA related projects to councillor_ainslie@toronto.ca by March 3 at 12pm.

COVID-19 Update

NEW: City of Toronto enters Roadmap Exit Step of provincial COVID-19 reopening. Today, the City of Toronto entered the Roadmap Exit Step of the Province of Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopen, with most temporary public health and workplace safety measures implemented to limit the spread of COVID-19 now lifted.

The following changes came into effect today at 12:01 a.m.:

All indoor and outdoor capacity limits are now lifted, including for all businesses, public gatherings and events.
Proof of vaccination requirements are lifted, with continuation of such requirements now being the decision of individual businesses.
Industry-specific public health measures are lifted, subject to conditions.

Across Ontario, protective measures including wearing a mask or face covering in indoor public settings and health screening continue to be required, subject to the same exemptions as Step 3 Reopening. The City’s mask by-law also remains in effect.

For up-to-date information about what has changed as Toronto enters the Roadmap Exit Step of provincial reopening, residents are encouraged to visit the City’s online COVID-19: Guide for Toronto Residents.

NEW: Check out the latest Scarborough Pop-Up Vaccine Clinics! More information is available online at www.scarbvaccine.ca or online here!

March 5 | 10am to 3pm | Toronto Chinese Methodist Church, 8 Metropolitan Rd
March 14 | 3pm to 7pm | Sri Radha Krishna Temple, 9-1960 Ellesmere Rd
Every Friday starting March 4 | 12pm to 6 pm | Parkway Mall, 85 Ellesmere Rd
March 7, 14, 21, 28 | 11:30am to 6pm | TPL Cedarbrae, 545 Markham Rd
March 7, 14, 21, 28 | 11:30am to 6pm | TPL Malvern, 30 Sewells Road

UPDATE: City-run Immunization Clinics. Today, Toronto Public Health opened a new immunization clinic at Eglinton Court, 1940 Eglinton Ave. E. The new clinic will offer first, second, third and paediatric doses for walk-ins and booked appointments Tuesday to Friday, from 2 to 8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. More information on City-run immunization clinics can be found online here.

NEW: Team Toronto continues to make solid progress vaccinating all age groups! To date, 63.8% of eligible residents have received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and 35% of kids ages five to 11 years-old have received two doses! Learn more about our new hyper-local vaccination approach here!

City of Toronto COVID-19 Case & Vaccination Update: (Data as of March 1, 2022) Case status and vaccination dose data can be found on the City’s reporting platform.

317 – Newly Reported COVID-19 Cases
2,668 – Total number of Active COVID-19 Cases
143 – Hospitalized Cases (Cumulative)
288,018 – Number of COVID-19 Cases in Toronto (Cumulative)
281,107 – Number of Recovered COVID-19 Cases in Toronto
4,243 – Number of COVID-19 Fatal Cases in Toronto
6,774,841 COVID-19 – Vaccine doses administered in Toronto

Book your 1^st, 2^nd or Booster (3^rd) COVID-19 Vaccination Appointment TODAY:

Where to get accurate COVID-19 information:

City of Toronto’s COVID-19 Vaccines webpage
COVID-19 Vaccination Receipt Download
SHN VaxFacts Clinic or contact vaxfactsclinic@shn.ca or 416-438-2911 ext. 5738.
City of Toronto COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Location Map
City of Toronto’s Vaccine Equity Transportation Plan
Vaccine Coverage by Neighbourhood in the City of Toronto
Public Health Agency of Canada – The Facts About COVID-19 Vaccines
COVID-19 Assessment Centres, Pop-Ups and Mobile Testing.

Community Update

REMINDER: City of Toronto launches spring recreation program listings. Registration for spring recreation programs starts at 7 a.m. on the following dates:

March 5 – Etobicoke York (including York South-Weston) and Scarborough
March 7 – North York and Toronto and East York
March 7 – Virtual programs city-wide

Residents can visit Toronto.ca/SpringRec for program and registration information.

REMINDER: Scarborough Business Association invites you to their first in-person Career Fair in support of Scarborough businesses! The fair will take place on Thursday, March 3^rd from 11:30am to 3:30pm at Centennial College – Progress Campus at 941 Progress Ave. Register for the fair and upload your resume here!

NEW: Extreme Cold Weather Alert terminated for Toronto – Warming Centres to remain open. Based on Environment and Climate Change Canada’s forecast, the Medical Officer of Health has terminated the Extreme Cold Weather Alert for Toronto as of noon today. Out of an abundance of caution, due to colder nighttime temperatures and forecasted wind chill values, the City’s four Warming Centres at the following locations will remain open:

129 Peter St.
5800 Yonge St.
Exhibition Place, Better Living Centre, 195 Princes’ Blvd.
Scarborough Civic Centre, 150 Borough Dr.

When these centres do close, details will be shared on the City of Toronto’s Twitter channel and on the City’s website at Toronto.ca/HomelessHelp.

NEW: Mayor Tory marks the reopening of the ArtworxTO Hubs across the city. Running from today – Tuesday, March 1 – through Sunday, May 29 at ArtworxTO Hub WEST, HOME(LAND) is a series of three multimedia exhibitions examining how the idea of land is connected to people’s sense of identity, belonging and home across and between races, regions, cultures and nations, with connections to the four elemental energies from which all of life is created: water, earth, fire and air. HOME(LAND): Terra Firma is the second in the series.

NEW: Latest updates to library services. All open branches are offering regular services with the exception of MAP passes and in-person programming. We are currently limiting capacity to allow for two-metre physical distancing. Sixteen branches remain closed due to COVID-19 related staffing challenges. We continue to review our staffing levels and will work towards opening the remaining closed branches in the weeks to follow. Please visit this page for regular updates!

NEW: Toronto Zoo Update. Toronto Zoo will continue to require proof of vaccination to enter the Zoo until all COVID-19 susceptible animals, some of which are critically endangered or endangered, are vaccinated. Vaccine receipts with or without a QR code along with ID will be required as proof of vaccination. More information on visiting the Toronto Zoo is available at www.torontozoo.com.

REMINDER: Supports available for small businesses in Toronto. The City of Toronto and its partners offer many supports to help small business owners and operators mitigate and recover from the impacts of COVID-19. These include grants, incentives, online training, advisory services and a new small business property tax sub-class. Small businesses, including restaurants, are encouraged to take advantage of these resources. Find a full slate of resources at toronto.ca/BusinessSupport.

Have your say on how to reduce single-use and takeaway items in the City of Toronto! Your feedback will help to inform a report that will be considered by the Infrastructure and Environment Committee in spring 2022 and present the final proposed Single-Use and Takeaway Items Reduction Strategy Stage 2 mandatory measures (e.g., a fee or “ask-first/by-request” bylaw). Take the online survey by March 6, 2022 at toronto.ca/single-use.

Applications are being accepted for the City of Toronto’s Retail Accelerator Program. Part of the Toronto Main Street Recovery and Rebuild Initiative, the new program provides access to retail training, advisory services and mentoring opportunities, as well as a micro grant of $10,000 to help retail businesses develop and expand. Apply by March 31, 2022.

REMINDER: Registration for CaféTO 2022 is now open! Local restaurant and bar operators interested in expanding their outdoor dining space into the curb lane and onto sidewalks can register and apply for permits online. Visit toronto.ca/CafeTO for more information. The deadline to apply is April 2!

Councillor Ainslie’s Community Survey is now open! Submit your feedback on the 2022 City Budget, City services and projects. Take the survey online here today!

Community Events

REMINDER: Scarborough Business Association Career Fair

March 3, 2022 | 11:30am to 3:30pm

Centennial College – Progress Campus, 941 Progress Ave

Scarborough-Guildwood Live Town Hall

March 7, 2022 | 7:00pm to 8:00pm

Link to join: www.rebrand.ly/MAR7

Save The Date: Poplar Road Strawberry Festival

June 10, 2022 | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

For more information please visit: www.poplarsf.com

Follow me on social media and/or visit my website for regular updates:

Twitter: @Ainslie_Ward24