Opening Letter

Dear Friends and Neighbours,
 
As the cold weather subsides, it's finally starting to feel like spring in Toronto. April showers really do bring May flowers!
 
In Toronto, the start of spring also marks the beginning of the City's annual Community Environment Days. A big thank you to everyone who attended my first Community Environment Day on April 30 at York Mills Collegiate Institute. While it was a rainy morning, we had an excellent turnout and it was great to connect with so many familiar faces. Thanks to you, we successfully diverted several trucks full of household hazardous waste, electronic waste, and gently used goods from landfill.

If you couldn't make it to my first Community Environment Day, don't worry – my second Community Environment Day will be held on Thursday, June 8 from 4:00-8:00pm at Leaside Memorial Community Gardens (1073 Millwood Road).

Each year, the City's Community Environment Days – which are part of the Long-term Waste Management Strategy I introduced as former Chair of Public Works & Infrastructure – divert a significant amount of waste from landfill. Last year alone, the City collected over 115,000 kilograms of electronics, 343,000 kilograms of household hazardous waste, and 108,000 kilograms of reusable household goods. Once collected, these items are properly disposed of or donated to partner agencies. With some of the best-attended Community Environment Days in all of Toronto, the residents of Ward 15 – Don Valley West have played a big role in the success of this program.

 In this newsletter, I have included an update on the implementation and expansion of important road safety initiatives. With City Council's support, the Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) program has grown from 50 to 75 devices, or three per ward, over the last two years. This term, City Council directed Transportation Services to procure an additional 75 devices, which would double our total.

As always, thank you very much for your continued support and engagement. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions, concerns, or comments.
 
If you think this newsletter may be of interest to your friends and neighbours, please feel welcome to share it by email or on social media! To sign up for my monthly eNewsletter, visit www.jayerobinson.ca.