Latest Update
Ontario’s New COVID-19 Response Framework Released
Dear Friends,
I hope you’re keeping well. It looks like we’re getting some fantastic weather this weekend, so I hope you get a chance to enjoy the outdoors. I have a few updates to share with you.
This week the Province released their COVID-19 Response Framework, with Toronto set to enter the framework’s Orange-Restrict category on Saturday, November 14. The new framework significantly amends public health restrictions and conditions for food and drink establishments, sports and recreation, meeting and event spaces, retail and other industries. The City is working to help business owners implement the new measures safely. Read the Province’s news release for more details.
The City’s goal is to see the temporary restrictions lifted in the safest way possible. A safe re-opening will rely on having a comprehensive testing approach, rapid case identification, supports for vulnerable and marginalized populations, and on protections for workers who are needed to keep the health system and the city running. Toronto Public Health is significantly scaling up their work and approach in case management and in contact tracing.
This year Remembrance Week in Toronto is from November 5th to 11th. The City will not be holding any public in-person ceremonies due to COVID-19, but there will be virtual commemorations. You can find further information below.
Please continue to follow public health measures – keep at least six feet apart from others outside your household, wear a mask, wash your hands frequently and remain at home if you’re sick.
The City puts out frequent COVID-19 updates and you can find more information online at toronto.ca/covid19.
In this email you can find the following information:
Temporary COVID-19 Testing Sites in East Toronto
Remembrance Day
Dundas Bike Lane Upgrades
Destination Danforth – Mural Update
Toronto Water Hoarding Project
East York Hall of Fame Update
BigArtTO
Food Preservation: An Online Workshop Series
Temporary COVID-19 Testing Sites in East Toronto
East Toronto Health Partners (ETHP) has opened seven pop-up COVID-19 testing sites in East Toronto to improve access to COVID-19 testing for community members. The temporary testing sites offer drop-in and same-day appointments for local residents of priority neighbourhoods in East Toronto.
The sites are run by a number of community, primary care, hospital and social services organizations in East Toronto working together to provide an integrated system of care across their communities.
In Ward 14 there are temporary testing sites at East York Community Centre (1081 ½ Pape Ave) and South Riverdale Community Health Centre (955 Queen Street East).
This year, Remembrance Day commemorations will be held virtually in accordance with public health advice against in-person gatherings due to COVID-19. The City encourages the public to observe this year’s Remembrance Day commemorations virtually at home or at work.
The City will ensure appropriate respect and honour is paid by placing wreaths at the City’s cenotaphs on behalf of various organizations. I will be laying a wreath at the East York Civic Centre cenotaph next week.
No matter where we are, we can all observe a moment of silence on November 11th to pay our respects. For more information visit toronto.ca/remembrance.
Dundas Bike Lane Upgrades
I am happy to let you know that our Dundas Street East Bike Lanes, one of the oldest commuter bike lanes in Toronto, carrying 2500 cyclists a day, will be getting an upgrade between Broadview and Kingston Road.
Earlier this year, Councillor Bradford and I made a request to City Staff to look at short term upgrades that could be completed quickly, and also a timeline for a more comprehensive upgrade of the Dundas St. East Bike Lanes between Broadview Ave and Kingston Road. You can read our request online.
A number of requests have been made to upgrade Dundas over the past several years and I want to extend a thank you to the Transportation Services staff who have worked hard to get this done.
This round of upgrades will consist of:
increasing protection at signalized intersections broadly in line with the pilot design at Dundas and Jones, with concrete curbs, bollards, and set back stop bars for vehicles
adding concrete curbs and bollards in current no-parking areas
reducing the width of the vehicle lanes (which are currently wider than standard) to create a buffer zone for the cycle lanes
adding additional pavement markings to no-parking areas near intersections to help prevent parking in the bike lanes
These steps can be completed quickly and the installation will begin before the end of the year.
Public art is a big component of the Destination Danforth project. There are new artistic curb extensions, 12 beautifully painted traffic signal boxes and there will also be five signature murals. Three of these murals along the Danforth in Ward 14 are now complete, one in each of the Business Improvement Areas (BIAs).
A big thank you to East End Arts who played a crucial role in this project. Visit their website to learn more about the murals, the artists and themes, and also check out this fantastic video for an in-depth look.
East End Arts is also running their #EastEndLove 2.0 campaign. Learn how to get involved and help “spread the love” in our community!
Toronto Water Hoarding Project
Toronto is embarking on the largest and most significant stormwater management program in the city’s history. With an overall budget of more than $3 billion, this program will greatly improve the water quality in the Lower Don River, Taylor-Massey Creek and along Toronto’s Inner Harbour by keeping combined sewer overflow out of our waterways through the upgrading of technology and capacity to capture, transport and treat it. Visit the website to learn more.
The hoarding down at Lakeshore and Coxwell is being covered in beautiful artwork. This project is a collaboration between StreetArToronto and Toronto Water. Be sure to check it out if you’re in the area!
The East York Hall of Fame celebrates the history of East York for future generations by honoring past and present residents who had a direct connection to our community. The 2020 induction ceremony was postponed due to COVID-19, but plans are in the works to have either a virtual event or combine the 2020 inductees with those who will be honoured in 2021. Stay tuned for details!
BigArtTO
Experience art illuminated at BigArtTO, a city-wide public art celebration featuring free access to over 200 hours of temporary public artworks projected onto local buildings and landmarks. Created by Toronto artists, the projections will play Wednesday through Saturday in each of Toronto’s 25 wards allowing residents access to artwork without having to leave their neighbourhood.
The BigArtTO installation in Ward 14, “Interchanges” by artist Winnie Truong, will be displayed on the Canada Post South Central Letter Processing Plant at 969 Eastern Ave November 18-21 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm each night.
Food Preservation: An Online Workshop Series
Check out this fantastic new virtual workshop series featuring talented local chefs from The Neighbourhood Food Hub that is kicking off this weekend! This exciting series will focus on building food skills that extend the life of fruits and vegetables, minimize waste, and create delicious and healthy meals.
This is a City of Toronto Community Reduce & Reuse Program. These programs help foster a culture of waste reduction, sharing, repairing and reuse, and will help to build sustainable communities and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. Learn more at www.toronto.ca/reduce-reuse.
Thank you to all of our health care workers and frontline workers, and everyone else who is working to keep us safe.
We’re in this together and it is important more than ever to follow all of the public health measures.
I will continue to send out regular updates to keep you informed. Please checktoronto.ca/covid19 for the latest information.
Remember to take care of one another and please contact my office if I can be of assistance.
Working for you,
Paula Fletcher
City Councillor
Ward 14, Toronto-Danforth
