Registration will be opening for spring break CampTO programs (held from April 12-16) on Tuesday, March 23. For more information on how to register, please see below.
Today marks exactly one year since the Premier announced a State of Emergency in Ontario. It is hard to believe that it has already been a year, but this grim anniversary happens to be marked by the opening of the City's mass immunization clinics.
Today at 11 AM, the City opened three COVID-19 clinics to vaccinate eligible residents born in 1941 or earlier who have confirmed appointments. All three clinics – Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Scarborough Town Centre and Toronto Congress Centre – are booked to capacity today and expected to vaccinate 450 eligible seniors per location.
The three City-operated clinics operate seven days per week from 11 AM-8 PM. Each clinic has capacity to vaccinate 2,250 people in the first five days of opening. The location closest to York South-Weston is the Toronto Congress Centre, located at 650 Dixon Rd.
The online registration system for Toronto residents born in 1941 and earlier to book COVID-19 vaccination appointments at City-operated clinics is live on toronto.ca/covid-19. Eligible seniors age 80 and older can book appointments through the dark blue “Find out if you are eligible to book” button on toronto.ca/covid-19 or book by phone through the Provincial Vaccine Information Line at 1-888-999-6488 (TTY 1-866-797-0007).
In partnership with 13 community agencies and networks, there will be a General Vaccine Info Session from 6-7 PM. Join guest speakers Naheed Dosani, Palliative Care Physician and Dr. Abdu Sharkaway, Infectious Disease Specialist – UHN to answer your questions about the COVID-19 vaccines. Hindu interpretation available via Zoom For more info, or to send questions, please email southasianhealthnetwork@gmail..com. No registration is required. Find all the meeting info and other ways to submit questions on this flyer:
Hosted by the QuaranTeam COVID Youth Project and the City of Toronto, this virtual town hall is set up to discuss youth issues during the pandemic. Questions and concerns will be addressed by healthcare professionals. The meeting takes place at 7 PM via Zoom. For any questions, please contact youthcovidproject@gmail.com. Click the flyer below to access the meeting (ZOOM ID 9718668780):
Funded by the City, the York Weston Pelham Cluster is hosting a virtual Community Fun Day! Join the event from 4-6 PM for games, trivia, prizes, music, and more! To register, click the flyer below:
Picture Mount Dennis Planning Study Public Roundtable
The City is entering Phase 2 of the Picture Mount Dennis Planning Study. An initial public consultation was held in November, 2020 to introduce the project and process and seek feedback on issues to be considered through the study. This meeting on March 18 from 6:30-8:30 PM will provide an update on the Study process and present the findings from Phase 1. It will also include interactive breakout discussions around the study themes. For more information and to join the conversation online, please click the notice below: Back to Top
News
Woolner Park Improvements
The final rendering for improvements to Woolner Park is now available (photo included below). The City's contractor is aiming to mobilize for construction in late April (weather permitting). Highlights include:
- New play structures (swings, group spinner, spring toys and sand play pit)
- New adult fitness equipment
- New benches
- New water bottle filler (with dog bowl)
- Accessibility and pathway improvements
- Replacement of sand in the play area with engineered wood fibre surfacing
Update on the Scarlett Road / St. Clair Bridge Project
I have been working diligently with City Staff to advance the Scarlett Rd/St Clair Ave W bridge project to construction. The detailed design of this project is nearing completion, but there are a few remaining steps left to finalize - including the engineering cost estimate, utility relocation, and property impact mitigation.
CP rail has committed to relocate their signal bridge this summer and the City has issued confirmation to CP Rail that the funding for the signal bridge relocation is in place for them to proceed. This work is expected to commence by the end of this month.
The design consultant is working on underground utilities and drainage design for possible mitigation of flooding risks. The Transportation Services and Engineering & Construction Services departments are working closely with Real Estate Services on property requirements for the project. They will provide a Stage 1 report on the required properties for expropriation to the General Government and Licensing Committee in April at the earliest. Based on the complexity and number of properties that are impacted, it is possible that this particular item will drive the timing of the delivery of the main contract.
A strategy to continue to advance this project is being employed that will allow for critical utility relocation work to proceed in advance of the main construction tender. I will continue to provide more updates as the project advances. Back to Top
Upcoming Local Road Speed Limit Reductions
As part of the Vision Zero 2.0 – Road Safety Plan Update, the City committed to reduction of the speed limit on local roadways to 30 km/h in the coming years. This would be achieved through signing the new speed limits at the entry points to areas with lower speed limits, as opposed to on individual streets. In order to facilitate this, a report is being brought to Infrastructure and Environment Committee on March 23 which will introduce the changes to the Municipal Code required to allow for the creation of designated speed limit area. Approval of these amendments will then allow staff to bring recommendations to Community Councils to begin the multi-year process of reducing the speed limit at thousands of local streets and public laneways.
As part of this report, Staff are also recommending the first designated speed limit area. The portion that includes some of York South-Weston is the area bound by Old Weston, Rogers Road, Weston Road, St. Clair Avenue West and the CPR line: Back to Top
Supporting a Post-Secondary Institution in Mount Dennis
Mount Dennis will soon be home to one of the largest transit hubs in the City, second only to Union Station. Building on the significant transit infrastructure investment in the area, there is an opportunity to attract a post-secondary institution. In the fall of 2020, the City wrote to the heads of all public post-secondary institutions based in Toronto to gauge initial interest in a potential campus opportunity in the Mount Dennis area. Since then, meetings have been held with a number of post-secondary institutions to explore opportunities.
A number of meetings have also been held with the Mount Dennis ecoCampus Development Planning Group, made up of local elected officials and community representatives, all working toward the common goal of attracting a post-secondary campus to Mount Dennis. There has been long-standing interest in this community for a post-secondary institution and the City has identified that this area is one of, if not the most underserved area in the City for access to post-secondary education, with no institution within a 5 km radius.
To support this effort, I moved this Motion at last week's City Council meeting to direct the City to identify land that could be used for this purpose and to continue its engagement with post-secondary institutions on the creation of a campus in Mount Dennis. Back to Top
Calling on the Provincial & Federal Governments to Review Approvals for Meat Facility at 70 Glen Scarlett Rd
In light of recent developments regarding the opening of Tru Harvest Meats in the former Ryding Regency facility at 70 Glen Scarlett Rd, I moved this Motion at last week's City Council meeting to address concerns about this operation. The Motion calls for the City to request the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada to review all licences and approvals required for the operator located at 70 Glen Scarlett Road to ensure that the operator is in compliance with all required licences, conditions and approvals to operate including an Environmental Compliance Approval that imposes appropriate noise and odour restrictions at the site reflective of the community concerns and past history at the site. It also asks for the City's Municipal Licensing and Standards division to assist in the enforcement of the facility's compliance with federal, provincial, and City by-laws and to request a meeting with the Ministry of Environment to discuss ongoing concerns related to emissions from businesses in the Stockyards. I am looking to organize the first local working group for the Stockyards next week. More details to follow. If you are interested in joining the working group, please contact my office at 416-392-4091 or councillor_nunziata@toronto.ca. Back to Top
Clean Toronto Together Spring Cleanup Postponed
Clean Toronto Together, the City's annual spring cleanup, which brings together more than 200,000 resident and community groups, schools, and businesses to help clean public spaces, including parks and schoolyards has been cancelled due to COVID-19. The City is planning to reschedule Clean Toronto Together in September, subject to public health approvals at that time. Additional details about the September cleanup, including the dates, registration process and safety measures will be announced at a later date. Back to Top
Project #Engage416
Project #Engage416is a new component of the Toronto Police Service’s greater gang prevention The projectwill action the solutions solicited from community members during the Toronto Police Service’s 31 Gang Prevention Town Halls that were hosted between September 2019 and March 2020. The goal is to develop a community involved and led Neighbourhood Teamfocused on education, prevention, intervention, and suppression of gun and gangs, sexual violence and harassment, and human trafficking and to engage in community safety and crime suppression strategies through all partners working together to hold the targeted gang members accountable at a community and justice level. For more info and to find out how you can get involved, check out the flyer:
City Expediting Opening of Community & Allotment Gardens
To help gardeners get a head start on spring preparation work, the City of Toronto is opening its community and allotment gardens six weeks earlier this year. The gardens typically open in early May, but the City has already begun opening them for this season. Community and allotment gardens are permitted to open in the Grey Zone of the Province of Ontario’s COVID-19 response framework.
City staff are reaching out to permit holders and community groups to provide information and the guidelines for use. More information about the City’s community and allotment gardens is available here Back to Top
Spring Break CampTO Programs
Registration will be opening for spring break CampTO programs on Tuesday, March 23. The City will offer spring break camps from April 12 through to April 16 as the provincial government moved March break to this period. The program meets guidelines designed in consultation with Toronto Public Health and in alignment with provincial health guidelines for day camps. These guidelines include physical distancing, daily health screening, wearing masks, cohorting, and enhanced facility cleaning.
Registration for spring break CampTO will begin at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, March 23. Programs will be available for viewing beginning today here
The quickest and easiest way to register is online at https://efun.toronto.ca/TorontoFun/Start/Start.asp. Phone registration will also be available. Residents can call 416-396-7378 Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends for help preparing for registration.
Although civic centres remain closed to the public to reduce the spread of COVID-19, five community centre locations will be open on March 23 and 24 for in-person registration support. Wi-Fi will be available and staff will be onsite to assist with the registration process. Residents may bring their own devices to in-person registration sites; however, staff will register those without their own devices. Locations and hours are available here
Residents need a family number and client number to sign up for recreation programs. Those looking to register are encouraged to get their numbers before registration day by calling 416-396-7378.
Information on free programs and subsidies for recreation programs is available here Back to Top
COVID-19 Updates
City Opens Three Vaccination Clinics for Seniors Age 80+ With Confirmed Appointments
Today at 11 AM, the City opened three COVID-19 mass vaccination clinics to vaccinate eligible residents born in 1941 or earlier who have confirmed appointments. All three clinics – Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Scarborough Town Centre and Toronto Congress Centre – are booked to capacity today and expected to vaccinate 450 eligible seniors per location.
The three City-operated clinics operate seven days per week from 11 AM-8 PM. Each clinic has capacity to vaccinate 2,250 people in the first five days of opening. The location closest to York South-Weston is the Toronto congress Centre, located at 650 Dixon Rd.
The online registration system for Toronto residents born in 1941 and earlier to book COVID-19 vaccination appointments at City-operated clinics is live on toronto.ca/covid-19. Eligible seniors age 80 and older can book appointments through the dark blue “Find out if you are eligible to book” button on toronto.ca/covid-19 or book by phone through the Provincial Vaccine Information Line at 1-888-999-6488 (TTY 1-866-797-0007). More information on booking options is available on the Province’s What to expect when you get a COVID-19 vaccine webpage. Back to Top
Local COVID-19 Testing
Pop-up testing is available at:
York Recreation Centre, 115 Black Creek Drive:
Every Friday from 3-7 PM until April 30th.
Black Creek Community Health Centre, 2202 Jane St, Unit 5:
Saturday, March 20 & 27 from 10 AM-3 PM.
Jane Street Hub, 1541 Jane Street:
Tuesday, March 23 from 3 - 7 PM
Saturday, March 27 from 11 AM - 3 PM
AccessPoint on Jane, 761 Jane Street:
Wednesdays March 17, 24 and 31 from 3-7 PM
Saturday, March 20 from 11 AM-3 PM
The permanent local testing location is:
Humber River Hospital, Church Street Site(200 Church St)
Monday to Friday, 10 AM- 6 PM.
Saturday to Sunday, 9 AM-5 PM.
Telephone: 416-243-4333
Age Restrictions: No children under the age of 2 years old
For general inquiries, information about booking an appointment or accessing your test results call 416-243-4333 or visit the Humber River Hospital website.
The City's COVID-19 website has a list of all the testing locations, dates, and times across Torontohere.
An application has been submitted to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) for a liquor sales license at 1393 Lawrence Ave W by Pizza Pizza. The application is open to public comments, which can be submitted on the AGCO website.
This application can be searched using the following information: Category: Liquor File Number: 1112979
Deadline for comment: March 24, 2021 Back to Top
Liquor License Application: Galazy De Blue Note Lounge (1709 Jane St)
An application has been submitted to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) for a liquor sales license at 1709 Jane St by Galazy De Blue Note Lounge (to become Fullaluv Bar and Grill). The application is open to public comments, which can be submitted on the AGCO website.
This application can be searched using the following information: Category: Liquor File Number: 1131754
Deadline for comment: March 21, 2021
An application has been submitted to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) for a cannabis retail store authorization at 831 Runnymede Rd by Realcan Cannabis. The application is open to public comments, which can be submitted on the AGCO website.
This application can be searched using the following information: Category: Cannabis File Number: 1154799
Deadline for comment: March 31, 2021
For the latest updates from the City of Toronto, please click here.
For the latest updates from the Federal Government, please click here.
For the latest updates from the Province of Ontario, please click here.
