News and Updates

Time for Ford to lift ban on lawn bowling, tennis

By Joe Warmington, Toronto Sun April 28, 2021

It’s not enough to say you’re for the people. You need to show it.

The provincial government reconsidered playground closures and cancelled powers that would allow random police stops.

Now, in East York, many are hoping Premier Doug Ford will soon bring back lawn bowling.

“It’s a game that already has social distancing,” said Councillor Paula Fletcher. “We understand the risks of COVID-19, but this is an example of something that could be taken off the lockdown list.”

City of Toronto confirms CaféTO curb lane installations will begin May 8

Today, Mayor John Tory confirmed the City of Toronto’s CaféTO curb lane installations will begin on Saturday, May 8, as planned to ensure there will be no delay for participating restaurants when outdoor dining is permitted again.

CaféTO curb lane locations provide expanded outdoor dining space by reallocating the public right-of-way on Toronto streets for use by restaurants and bars that have registered and been approved for the program. Installation of these locations takes time and requires crews, equipment and the preparation of detailed traffic plans. Installing these locations on schedule ensures that they will be immediately available to operators when public health orders permit outdoor dining.

Mayor John Tory welcomes Netflix to its new Canadian home in Toronto

Today, Mayor John Tory welcomed Netflix to its new home in Canada when Netflix announced the opening of an office in Toronto.

Netflix officials delivered the news to Mayor Tory in a virtual meeting this morning with Deputy Mayor Michael Thompson (Scarborough Centre), Chair of the City's Economic and Community Development Committee, and Councillor Paula Fletcher (Toronto-Danforth), Chair of the City's Film, Television and Digital Media Advisory Board.

City of Toronto vaccination clinic bookings now open to residents age 45 and older from 53 provincial hot spot postal codes

As of 8 a.m. today, anyone 45 or older living in one of the 53 postal codes across Toronto designated as a high-risk hot spot by the Province of Ontario is eligible to book a vaccination appointment at a City of Toronto operated vaccination clinic. This change makes an additional 206,169 Torontonians eligible for vaccination at a City-run clinic.

A small number of first dose appointments are available at City-operated clinics next week, with greater availability starting the week of May 10. For anyone age 45 or older who has a postal code that starts with the following, registration through www.toronto.ca/covid-19 or the provincial booking call centre at 1-833-943-3900 is now open:

Mayor John Tory announces first ActiveTO major weekend road closures of 2021

April 26, 2021

Today, Mayor John Tory announced that the first ActiveTO major weekend road closures of 2021 will be in place this weekend along Bayview Avenue and Lake Shore Boulevard East.

The following closures will be in place beginning Saturday, May 1 at 6 a.m. until Sunday, May 2 at 9 p.m.:

• Bayview Avenue, between Front Street East and Rosedale Valley Road, as well as River Street between Bayview Avenue and Spruce Street

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

Mayor marks Earth Day by highlighting the City’s $82.5 million investment this year in the Toronto’s Ravine Strategy.

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.