The City of Toronto today introduced a balanced 2010 operating budget that protects City programs and the delivery of 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week services that are the role of City government. more »

Highlights from the Toronto City Council meeting of January 26th and 27th, 2010.

More leash-free areas for Toronto’s dogs
Council approved the establishment of 29 more off-leash areas in Toronto parks in addition to 30 existing off-leash sites in parks. The new sites are in various stages of development, many of them still requiring public consultation. Off-leash areas in High Park remain under review. The People, Dogs and Parks Strategy that Council adopted in 2007 provides detailed guidelines for establishing off-leash areas in City parks, green spaces and waterfront areas. more »

Today, with the launch of the new online self-service feature, residents now have the option of placing many service requests themselves through the City’s 311 website www.toronto.ca/311.

Many of the most common service requests received by 311 customer service representatives are now available online. The list of the services will continue to grow over the coming months as 311 works to integrate more of them online. Initial online service requests include the following: missed garbage, recycling or green bin collection, metal items or appliance pickup, report a damaged sidewalk or road, a pothole, a leaking hydrant or faded road markings, and requests for a solid waste collection calendar. More online services will be added in the coming months. more »

Bettering the lives of all citizens

Parks and open spaces, along with streets and public buildings, are a significant part of the City of Toronto’s public realm. Together, these elements of the public realm unify our diverse communities and convey the ‘personality’ or image of the city and its neighbourhoods.

The public parkland system is home to numerous facilities and amenities. These include: more »

Investing in Toronto’s Public Park System

Parks are our public greenspaces. Without them, the lives of every citizen would be poorer. Founded in 2002, The Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation is a charitable Public Foundation dedicated to enhancing Toronto’s parks. The Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation promotes philanthropy, corporate support and community involvement to achieve a range of enhancements to the parks system that can no longer be achieved through City funding alone.

The Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation is now accepting applications for 2010 (applications are due March 31, 2010).  Visit their website for more information.

Toronto Hydro provides several updates on topics of interest for residents including:

• Stray voltage
• Time-of-Use rates
• Peaksaver program
• Residential and Business programs
• Infrastructure and Development plans
• Winter Warmth fund more »

A Pile of Dirt Today …. A State-Of-The-Art Community Centre Tomorrow!

Over the next year, the lot at the northeast corner of St. Clair and Warden will be transformed from a shovel-in-the-ground into a gleaming glass and copper structure, with a green roof, and semi-permeable pavement. Even better, the building will be entirely heated and cooled by geo-thermal energy. more »

The City of Toronto is looking for five individuals to join the Sign Variance Committee. The Sign Variance Committee is a City board that hears appeals of the Chief Building Official’s decisions on variance applications for first party signs and makes decisions on variance applications for third party signs. Members must attend an orientation and training program.

Members of the Sign Variance Committee should collectively bring the following skills and expertise to the committee: more »

The popular prix-fixe restaurant promotion and highlight of Toronto’s WinterCity experience, Winterlicious presented by American Express, returns. Participating restaurants are offering three-course prix-fixe menus at $15, $20 or $25 for lunch, and $25, $35 or $45 for dinner.

There are 14 new restaurants on this year’s lineup: Black Skirt, Forte Bistro, Il Fornaro, JAMcafé, Kamasutra Restaurant and Wine Bar, Latinada, Marquis Lounge & Bistro, Momo’s Bistro, Peridot, Safari Bar and Grill, Tabülé, The Chefs’ House, West 39th Bistro, and Yonge Street Grille.

More than 150 restaurants are participating this year. The full list can be found at http://www.toronto.ca/special_events/wintercity/2010/winterlicious.htm. more »

Toronto Public Health will hold immunization clinics to give a second dose of H1N1 vaccine to those children who need two shots for full protection. All children from six months to less than three years of age, and those with chronic health conditions who are from three to nine years of age, require a second dose of H1N1 vaccine at least 21 days after receiving their first shot.

These clinics will also provide another opportunity for the general public to get both seasonal and H1N1 vaccines. Children under nine years of age who have never had a seasonal flu shot require two doses of seasonal flu vaccine.

Influenza normally circulates until the spring, and immunization for both types of flu is the way to protect people.

The clinics will be held at the following times and locations: more »