News

Future of Gerrard East Market uncertain given increased COVID-19 restrictions

April 22, 2021 By ALEXANDROS VAROUTAS, Beach Metro News

Last year, a group of east end businesses got together and opened Gerrard East Market (GEM) as a way to work within COVID-19 lockdown rules.

String lights went up, picnic tables were built, and 22 tons of sand were dumped, turning the once unassuming parking lot on Gerrard Street East by Marjory Avenue into a tropical vacation spot where patrons could enjoy local food and beer and forget the pandemic for a while.

Public invited to provide feedback on proposed City of Toronto regulations for multi-tenant houses

The City of Toronto is inviting members of the public to provide feedback on the proposed regulatory and compliance framework for multi-tenant houses, commonly known as rooming houses.

Multi-tenant houses are an important part of Toronto’s affordable rental housing stock, providing single-room accommodation to diverse communities including students, seniors, new immigrants and residents with low to moderate income.

Team Toronto administers more than one million COVID-19 vaccine doses

Together, the City of Toronto, healthcare partners, pharmacies and Toronto Public Health have now administered more than one million COVID-19 vaccines.

To date, 1,004,339 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in Toronto.

Toronto is the first local health region in Canada to administer more than one million doses of vaccine.

The Team Toronto effort is focused on getting as many residents vaccinated as quickly as possible based on available supply. It is also expanding mobile vaccination efforts across Toronto to bring vaccine to the neighbourhoods most in need.

City of Toronto investing $82.5 million in Toronto's Ravine Strategy

Today, Mayor John Tory along with Councillor Jennifer McKelvie (Scarborough-Rouge Park) and Chair of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee, marked Earth Day by highlighting the City’s $82.5 million investment this year in the Toronto’s Ravine Strategy.

The $82.5 million in funding for the Ravine Strategy includes:

• $12.4 million in operating funding through Parks, Forestry and Recreation – a 10 per cent increase from last year despite an incredibly tough 2021 budget due to the ongoing pandemic.

City of Toronto and partners launch Team Toronto Sprint Strategy to triple vaccine access in 13 hot spot neighbourhoods

Today, Mayor John Tory, Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa and Fire Chief and General Manager of the Office of Emergency Management Matthew Pegg provided an update on the Team Toronto effort to get vaccines to those that need them most, including a new mobile vaccination sprint strategy with Toronto health sector partners to triple the amount of vaccine in hot spot neighbourhoods.

City of Toronto to offer virtual spring recreation programs

Mayor John Tory announced that registration will be opening for virtual spring recreation programs starting tomorrow, April 22. The City is offering numerous virtual programs to provide safe, at-home activities for all ages and abilities, including art, fitness and martial arts programs.

The City has continued to find ways to encourage residents to stay active during the province-wide shutdown and learn new skills, while following provincial regulations. Spring Break CampTO virtual workshops ran successfully from April 12 to 16, with close to 1,200 registrations and positive feedback received from participants, families and caregivers.

COVID Community Heroes recognized during these difficult times

April 21, 2021 Beach Metro News

This past year has been difficult and the pandemic has greatly impacted our community.

However, these impacts have not all been negative. The East End has come together in remarkable ways to help those in need, showing strength, resilience and compassion.

Over the winter I put out a call for COVID Community Heroes, asking residents to nominate those who have been making a difference.

Toronto Public Health issues Section 22 Class Order to close workplaces to manage COVID-19 outbreaks

As easily transmitted COVID-19 variants of concern spread quickly throughout Toronto and the GTA, outbreaks are increasingly linked to workplaces, where the virus can spread through close contact between workers.

To reduce this significant risk to the city’s health, Toronto Public Health (TPH) will issue a Section 22 order for workplaces. This Order is a necessary tool to break the chains of transmission within Toronto workplaces where COVID-19 is determined to be spreading.

City of Toronto update on City services and enforcement of COVID-19 regulations

The City of Toronto has received updated COVID-19 regulations from the Province of Ontario and has modified City services and operations to align with the orders and direction from Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health. Strengthened public health measures are needed to reduce new cases of COVID-19 in Toronto, alleviate the strain on the healthcare system and save lives.

City of Toronto update on COVID-19 - April 16, 2021

There are 1,527 new cases of COVID-19 in Toronto today – a new record high for daily case counts. Since the start of the pandemic there have been a total of 130,502 cases of COVID-19 in the city, including the 1,527 new cases today. There are 813 people hospitalized. To date, there have been 2,900 COVID-19 deaths in Toronto. In total, 114,535 people have recovered. Case status data can be found on the Toronto Public Health’s reporting dashboard: www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-latest-city-of-toronto-news/covid-19-status-of-cases-in-toronto/.