COVID-19 Update
I’d like to take this opportunity to wish all mothers a very Happy Mother’s Day. While celebrations may look different this year, I hope you have a restful and relaxing weekend at home.
Yesterday, the Province announced several key dates for the reopening of certain businesses across Ontario. On May 8, garden centres and nurseries will be able to open for in-store payment and purchases, operating under the same guidelines as grocery stores and pharmacies. Hardware stores and safety supply stores will be permitted to open for in-store payment and purchases on May 9. On May 11, retail stores with a street entrance can begin offering curbside pickup and delivery, in accordance with the Ministry of Health's Guidance Document for Essential Workplaces and occupational health and safety requirements.
The City of Toronto is preparing for these forthcoming changes and will make Toronto-specific recommendations, as needed. One way the City is already beginning to prepare is by allocating additional road space for pedestrians through the new CurbTO and ActiveTO programs.
Yesterday, the Mayor launched the ActiveTO program to provide more space for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders as part of the City's restart and recovery. You can find more information about ActiveTO below.
On another note, the City has extended the May 31 deadline for residential on-street permit parking renewal applications until further notice. For the time being, please continue to use your expired parking permit.
In this newsletter, you can find important updates on City services, construction, mental health support services, and volunteer opportunities in Toronto. Please continue to visit www.toronto.ca/covid19 for more information on Toronto's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
While we are beginning to see encouraging signs that our efforts to flatten the curve are working, there is still a long way to go and we must continue to follow the recommendations of our Medical Officer of Health. At this time, I'd like to thank all of you who made the responsible decision to remain home and self-isolate over the past two months – we all have a role to play in keeping our City safe and your support has made all the difference.
My team remains available to serve you by phone at 416-395-6408, or by email at councillor_robinson@toronto.ca.
Thank you for your continued support and engagement.
ActiveTO
As the warmer weather approaches, the City has announced a new program called ActiveTO to allocate more road space for pedestrians and cyclists where there is a demonstrated need. With more road space available, residents will be able to practice safe physical distancing while exercising, getting fresh air, and travelling to and from essential destinations.
ActiveTO will focus on three key initiatives:
Creating Quiet Streets – local routes will be closed to allow only local traffic and traffic calming measures will be implemented to open up more space for pedestrians. The City is aiming to achieve 50km of quiet streets.
Major Streets for Active Transportation – major routes will be shut down adjacent to trails or recreational attractions – where there is typically crowding on weekends and holidays – on a recurring, short-term basis. Traffic on nearby streets will be monitored in real-time, and adjustments will be made as necessary.
Expanded Cycling Network – Transportation staff will accelerate key parts of the council-approved Cycling Network Plan.
ActiveTO will complement the existing CurbTO program, which provides more queuing space in front of businesses that have been permitted to conduct curbside pick-up operations starting May 11, 2020. CurbTO has already been implemented in more than 21 locations, with plans to expand to more than 100 hotspots across the City.
More details on ActiveTO, including an initial list of locations, will be posted on the City's website in the coming weeks.
Waste Pick Up Services
I know many of us are eager to tend to our yards and gardens as the warm weather approaches. This week, the City of Toronto permanently resumed regular yard waste collection. The resumption of this municipal service also coincides with the Provincial reopening of garden centres.
In addition to resuming yard waste collection, the City has reinstated the Toxic Taxi service for pick up of Household Hazardous Waste. Pickup must be prearranged by calling 311 to make an appointment. For more information, please visit the Household Hazardous Waste website.
Community Gardens Update
Following the Provincial update permitting the use of community gardens and allotments, the City announced that they would implement a phased approach when reopening the gardens, to ensure public safety while providing access to an essential source of fresh food. Community gardens will begin to open this week on a location-by-location basis. Allotment gardens will begin to open during the week of May 11.
Extended Electricity Rate Relief
Yesterday morning, the Government of Ontario extended electricity rate relief for families, farms, and small businesses.
Customers who pay time-of-use electricity rates will continue to be billed at the lowest price, known as the off-peak price, until May 31, 2020.
For more information, please visit the Ontario Energy Board's website.
I'd like to thank the Don Valley West residents who worked with my office to create these signs in support of Sunnybrook's frontline healthcare workers!
Have you seen any signs, murals, or displays that you think should be shared with our community? Email your photos to my office to be featured.
The Neighbourhood Office in Thorncliffe Park is seeking donations to help support 600 at-risk families with meals and grocery delivery.
To donate groceries, please call Aamir Sukhera at 416-346-3000. You can also donate to the Leaside Toy Drive Committee's Go Fund Me in support of this cause.
Revised Due Dates for City of Toronto Property Tax and Utility Bills
The 60-day grace period for property tax, utility bill payments, and late penalties extended by the City during the COVID-19 response ends on May 15, 2020.
All customers will receive a mailed notification of their revised interim bill due dates. Final tax bills will be mailed in mid-May as usual.
Property taxes for the remainder of 2020 will be due on the following dates:
Two-instalment plan: August 4
Six-instalment plan: June 1, July 2, August 4, September 1 and October 1
Eleven-instalment plan: June 15, July 15, August 17, September 15, October 15, November 16 and December 15.
You can find more information on the City’s website and in their news release.
City-led Construction Projects
While traffic volumes on Toronto's roads are down between 45 and 65 percent, the City announced plans to accelerate a number of important construction projects and continue ongoing maintenance work.
The planned construction includes repairs to Toronto's major and local roads, sidewalks and cycling infrastructure installation, public transit infrastructure improvements, watermain and sewer rehabilitation, and accelerated stormwater management projects. Please visit the City’s website for more information on road restrictions and construction projects.
Mental Health Support Services
Many people may be feeling anxious, unsure and even scared at this time – these are normal and healthy responses to unexpected or stressful situations. Public health professionals are emphasizing that it is important for all of us to continue reaching out to friends by phone or video chat, stay active while staying at home, and do our best to eat well and get lots of rest.
There are a number of free mental health resources available through the City of Toronto. You can find more information on the available support services by visiting the City's website or calling 211.
The Province is also expanding its free virtual mental health services to help thousands of Ontarians experiencing anxiety and depression – including frontline health care workers – during the COVID-19 outbreak. More information can be found on the Government of Ontario's website.
Earlier this month, the Federal Government announced an investment of $240.5 million in support of the Wellness Together Canada portal. This investment will help create digital platforms and applications, improve access to virtual mental health supports, and expand capacity to deliver health care virtually, including projects to reach vulnerable Canadians.
Get Involved: Support Our City's COVID-19 Response
Volunteer Opportunities
Many of you have generously expressed a desire to support Toronto as we battle the COVID-19 pandemic. If you would like to get involved, please visit my website for a list of volunteer opportunities.
Food Security
The Neighbourhood Office in Thorncliffe Park (TNO) is seeking donations to help support 600 at-risk families with meals and grocery delivery. If you would like to donate groceries, please call Aamir Sukhera at 416-346-3000.
In addition to donating $5,000 to the food drive, the Leaside Toy Drive Committee has started a Go Fund Me in support of this cause. With the help of our community, they are hoping to raise $10,000. At time of writing, they have already raised over $4,000! I'd like to thank the Leaside Toy Drive Committee and all those who have already donated – your contributions are greatly appreciated. If you would like to donate, please visit their website.
The City continues to partner with community and corporate agencies to ensure that food programs can maintain operations and meet increased demand. For more information on resources available in Ward 15 and across Toronto, please visit: https://covid19.211central.ca/.
If you are able, please consider dropping off non-perishable food donations to food banks, such as the Community Share Food Bank and Sprint Senior Care, or local fire halls. If you own a restaurant or food business and have surplus food, please consider donating to Second Harvest’s Food Rescue initiative at https://foodrescue.ca/.
Donations
The City of Toronto announced the DonateTO: COVID-19 Portal to outline the many ways you can support your community, including donations of personal protective equipment, food, financial gifts, and other goods and services. For more information, please visit the City's website.
Last month, Leaside United Church's Outreach Committee announced a new COVID CARE initiative to support those who are food insecure and in need of immediate relief. Visit their website for more information on how to donate.
Sunnybrook Hospital is also currently accepting donations to help fund their research and response efforts. They are also accepting unused Personal Protective Equipment, which can be dropped off at the Bayview Campus (2075 Bayview Avenue), D-Wing screening entrance between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday to Friday. For more information on how you can support Sunnybrook Hospital, please visit their website.
Staying Connected During COVID: Community Programming and Events
Although staying inside over the past two months has been difficult, our Don Valley West community continues to come together, even while we are apart. Below, you will find information on virtual activities that you and your loved ones can take part in from your homes.
Toronto Sport & Social Club: TSSC is offering a variety of virtual free, low-cost, and for-charity events. Visit their website to sign up for online bingo, trivia, eSports for charity, or to participate in their Keep Playing Challenge.
A Big Picture: Submit your artwork with positive messages to A Big Picture for the chance to have your piece displayed on a Yonge Street billboard and to win a donation to a charity of your choosing. The deadline to submit is May 10, 2020. Visit their website for more information.
National Children’s Painting Competition: The Canadian Children’s Art Foundation launched its first National Painting Competition entitled “Fantasy World.” Children are asked to express their vision of what a fantasy world may look like. The deadline to submit is May 29, 2020. Visit their website for more information.
Virtual Variety Show: The Leaside United Church is hosting its first-ever Virtual Variety Show and wants to see what you’ve been up to at home. Submit a video of your act to virtualvariety2020@gmail.com by May 14, 2020.
Got Talent Mondays: Every Monday, The Neighbourhood Organization is hosting a virtual talent show. Submit your videos to the TNO Toronto Instagram for a chance to win!
Shop Local, Eat Local
In partnership with our Ward 15 BIAs and members of the Thorncliffe Park community, my team has developed a "Shop Local, Eat Local" initiative to promote our local businesses. You can find a full list of vendors on my website.
Two local residents of our very own Davisville Village neighbourhood created a platform called Local Bee to encourage shoppers to pre-purchase gift cards or vouchers that can be used when vendors reopen. Find out what shops you can support by visiting their website today!
If you are planning to shop online or order take-out meals, please consider choosing to support a small business in our community. Every dollar counts!