Hello East Scarborough! Please note that we have returned to sending out updates every other week on Wednesdays. The next issue will be September 23. As always, please submit your group or organization’s resources and updates for the next issue using our quick online form! The deadline to submit is the Monday before the send date (September 21 for the upcoming issue). With your input, we can keep sharing good, local information with our growing newsletter community of more than 600 people who live and work in East Scarborough.
This crowd-sourced e-newsletter is brought to you by The East Scarborough Storefront
The Lawrence/Orton Bicycle Repair Hub has now re-opened to the community on Fridays. Check it out for free bike tune-ups and safety checks! Click here for flyer. Fridays, 11am-4pm 3939 Lawrence Ave E We are on the north side lawn by the basketball court. Look for our tent. COVID-19 protocols:
Tune ups and safety checks will be completed by our staff and volunteers.
Please maintain a 2-metre physical distance between yourself and others
Heron Park Pool is Open for an Extra Week
The City of Toronto announced the extension of the summer season at select City outdoor pools which will remain open until September 13, with the remainder closing as planned on Sunday September 6. The pool remaining open in East Scarborough is Heron Park.
Storefront building update: longer open hours, additional services
We have entered stage 2 of our re-opening. Our hours have extended to Mondays to Thursdays, 10am-3pm (computers close at 2:30 PM).
Community members can now access one-on-one services with select community partners at the Storefront building by appointment only. You can book appointments by calling 416-208-9889. Partners currently available for appointments (stay tuned for updates!):
Settlement Assistance and Family Support Services (SAFSS): available every Wednesday from 10 AM - 12:30 PM, starting September 2. Offers one-on-one Settlement Services for Permanent Residents/Landed Immigrants. Including citizenship, permanent residence applications and referral to other newcomer services.
Connecting Women with Scarborough Services: Available Tuesdays, starting September 29th. Offers support for women experiencing violence including Counselling, Referral services, safety planning, counselling, housing, legal services, financial support, job assistance, children's services, immigration.
Check out our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages for easily-shareable graphics about our building hours & services!
Get Involved: Have Your Voice Heard
Priority Bus Lanes are coming for Eglinton East/Kingston Road/Morningside: Give Your Input
TTC and the City of Toronto will be implementing Priority Bus Lanes along sections of Eglinton Avenue East (from Kennedy Road), Kingston Road and north on Morningside Avenue to Ellesmere Road. This will be the first priority corridor to help improve transit reliability in one of the most heavily used corridors in the city. The priority bus lanes will be reserved for TTC buses, Wheel-Trans and bicycles. This initiative will involve some changes to bus stop locations to improve the speed, accessibility and reliability of service.
Work will take place from September to December 31, 2020. Currently, segments of the eastbound and westbound curb lane are being resurfaced on Eglinton Avenue East between Brimley Road and Cedar Drive. Further notice of work will be provided.
We want to get your feedback on these service concepts by participating in the online survey for Eglinton East Priority Bus Lanes. Click this link to take the survey: www.ttcannualplan.ca
You can also visit our website to give input about the project, find out more information and sign up for our newsletter at www.ttc.ca/rapidto
Listening to East Scarborough voices: Podcasts & online discussions to check out
Signal Boost: Signal Boost is a podcast from the Centre for Connected Communities (c3) that amplifies how grassroots solutions are leading social change. Check out these 3 episodes that feature East Scarborough grassroots leaders:
Episode 4 features ACEY, or the Association of Committed and Engaged Youth: a youth-led grassroots group based in East Scarborough. On the podcast, ACEY members Ariba Siddiqi, Nabiha Rana, Tasfia Rayhan, Khuzaima Rana and Pranitha Rathakrishnan discussed youth engaging youth, navigating community involvement in the pandemic, online strategies to staying connected to the community, and more. [flyer https://drive.google.com/open?id=1D9LzST4LgVIHA66fG8WJZ_ICMdQ9HFSw]
Check out other episodes featuring East Scarborough grassroots leaders discussing various perspectives community building and neighbourhood resilience during the pandemic, including Episode 1 with Issaq Ahmed (“Leaning into the lessons”) and Episode 3 with Agnes Thompson (“Community-building during COVID19”)
Adult Literacy Roundtable:East Scarborough grassroots leader & founder of KGO Adult Literacy Program Phylicia Davis-Wesseling was one of three panelists on this recent roundtable on adult literacy organized by Toronto-St Pauls MPP Jill Andrew. Check it out!
Scarboro Stories: Over the next few weeks, the Scarborough Studies Collective will be sharing the launch of their first podcast, Scarboro Stories. We selected 5 Scarborough residents to share their stories and experiences of dealing with racial inequalities and systemic barriers in Scarborough. At the Collective, we felt that it was important that we create a platform where Scarborough residents can express themselves freely and claim their own narratives. In light of ongoing social justice struggles, we knew it was especially important to create this platform and wanted residents to have a safe space and share their lived experiences. Check it out on our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/scarborostudies/
Community Programs, Events & Supports
Suicide Intervention training for East Scarborough youth
The Woburn Youth Local Planning Table in collaboration with the Association of Committed and Engaged Youth (ACEY) are hosting a free Suicide Interveniton Training session on September 18, 2020 from 6 pm to 7:30 pm. Experts warn that the pandemic has the potential to significantly increase the incident rates of suicide attempts, self harm and deaths by suicide. Equipping youth with the tools and language to intervene has the potential to save lives, especially among their peers. Click here for flyer. The workshop is being offered primarily to youth in Woburn but also to other Scarborough youth. They can register at this link: https://forms.gle/2nuHDQUum5wA2xPQ9
Afghan Youth Mentorship Program in Scarborough
AYEDI offering an Afghan Youth Mentorship Program for Afghans aged 15 to 21 who live or go to school in Scarborough. - Participants receive $200 and get matched a mentor who gives them guidance on education, career, and personal development - You meet with your mentor once per month online and get $20 for food for your monthly meetings - The program starts in September and runs until April 2021 Sign up at www.ayedi.ca/mentorship. Email team@ayedi.ca if you have any questions.
Are You A Woman in Scarborough Looking for Support?
Are You A Woman Looking for Support? At Connecting Women with Scarborough Services, our intake worker supports women who experience violence and abuse in their relationship. We discuss each woman's situation, inform them of services available and connect them with the services, located primarily in Scarborough, that they choose to use. We have modified services to phone and email, please contact 416-216-4623 or contact@cwomenss.ca for support. Kindly give us 48-72 hours to respond to your inquiry. We check messages regularly and will get back to you as soon as possible. We appreciate your support during these challenging times and we wish you health and safety. Click here for flyer.
Toronto Virtual Scavenger Hunt: NEATwalks
NEATwalks Virtual Scavenger Hunt: Three monthly online events to learn about various landmarks, neighbourhoods and icons all around Toronto and beyond! To register, contact Rubeen Chauhan at 437-249-7103 or email NEATwalks@culturelink.ca
Free Math Tutoring grades 6-10
Here is a link to a free math tutoring service being offered by TVO. The service offers one on one tutoring for grades 6 to 10 from Monday to Friday, 9 am to 9 pm. Students are required to enter their Ontario Education Number (OEN) to register. They can find their OEN on their report cards. Here is the link: https://www.tvomathify.com/students
Say it Loud talent submission
Calling all creatives in the Black community to submit their videos in fashion, entrepreneurship, social impact & innovation, technology, culinary art, visual art, performing art and literary art! Win up to $25,000 in cash prizes, $100,000 in professional development & all-expense paid trip to Ottawa for The Say It Loud National Black Youth Summit in February 2021. Open to all Canada residents, aged 14-29. Submission details on the Say it Loud site https://sayitloudcanada.com/. Deadline November 15
Jobs & Training Opportunities
Youth Entrepreneurship Program - Last day to apply!
EnterpRlSEing Youth Plus is a free small business training program for youth 16 to 30 who have experienced mental health or addictions challenges, that combines the accessibility and flexibility of online learning with virtual support and coaching. Individuals will network with like-minded entrepreneurs and build connections with each other, connect with coaches and receive a $300 start up grant upon completion of the program. Get more info and APPLY HERE by Wednesday, September 9.
Opportunities for youth at Scarborough Arts + the EAST H.E.A.R.T program
Scarborough Arts + the EAST H.E.A.R.T program is looking for a Youth Coordinator and 2 Peer Mentors to support the latest iteration of the EAST program coming this fall. The deadline to apply is September 20. [Flyer Here]
The Storefront compiles a list of available positions with Scarborough-based employers each week! Find our weekly Job Lead List here: https://bit.ly/scarboroughjobs. Connect with one of The Storefront’s Employment Coaches for more great job leads in Scarborough! Call 416-208-9889 or CLICK HERE to request a one-on-one virtual appointment.
