Toronto residents will be able to get their seasonal flu shots at Toronto Public Health H1N1 clinics starting tomorrow, Saturday, December 5. All eight clinics will operate daily until Sunday, December 13 and will offer both vaccines.

“Immunization remains the best way to protect yourself and others against influenza,” said Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Director of Communicable Disease Control for Toronto Public Health. “Flu season usually continues to April or May. Other strains of influenza may circulate in Toronto even as H1N1 continues.” more »

The Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and Councillor Adrian Heaps (Ward 35 Scarborough Southwest) took part in Toronto’s fifth annual observance of International Day of People with Disabilities today at Variety Village. Councillor Heaps, Chair of the City’s Disability Issues Committee, read the proclamation for International Day of People with Disabilities. more »

The 43rd annual Cavalcade of Lights presented by Scotiabank returns to Nathan Phillips Square from November 28 – December 31, 2009.

The festivities kick-off on Saturday, November 28 at 7 p.m. with the lighting of Toronto’s official Christmas tree, fireworks and live musical performances by Steven Page, Matt Dusk, Keshia Chante, and Fritz Helder & the Phantoms, under the music direction of Adrian Eccleston. The concert culminates in a spectacular fireworks display at 8 p.m., followed by a skating party on the iconic rink with tunes provided by DJ Tony Sutherland. The Fair Trade Christmas Market will feature gifts, candles, accessories, coffee, tea, chocolates, advent calendars and Christmas decorations from around the world. It will be open on November 28 from 2 – 10 p.m.

The fireworks, free concerts and skating parties continue Saturday nights in December from 7 p.m. featuring: more »

Highlights from the Toronto City Council meeting of October 26th and 27th, 2009.

Labour disruption costs and savings
Council directed that most of the tax-related net savings arising from this summer’s 39-day labour disruption at the City – a total of $31.1 million – are to be allocated to the 2010 operating budget. Council decided that $4.8 million of the savings are to be used in the 2010 Solid Waste Management budget to offset a proposed two per cent increase to solid waste management fees. Council also decided to use Toronto Water’s net savings of about $1.2 million arising from the labour disruption as part of Toronto Water’s 2010 operating budget. Approximately 24,500 unionized City workers were on strike from June 22 to July 30. more »

Live Green Toronto has just released the first version of its Community Animator newsletter designed to help Toronto’s community groups and volunteers green their communities.

Read this informative publication here.

Neighbourhood Action is running three Fall programs in the Eglinton East-Kennedy Park neighbourhood. They are:

• After School Tutoring:
  Available to students aged 5 -18 years.
  Program runs throughout the fall and is located at 675 Kennedy Road.

  Tutors are also needed with proficiency in English, Math, French, and Science (ranging from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12). more »

The West Scarborough Aquatics program has submitted an idea to the Aviva Community Fund that proposes the renovation of the West Scarborough Neighbourhood Community Centre’s (WSNCC) swimming facility to surpass safety requirements and have the ability to meet the demand for aquatics programs in the community. The idea also calls for the upgrade of the changing facility.

Should the idea receive enough votes, it will have a chance to share in $500,000 from Aviva for implementation. To make this happen, however, they need YOUR help!

The WSNCC asks that you vote for the idea at the Aviva Community Fund, and ask your friends and family to do that same. Every bit of support will be needed to bring this excellent project to Ward 35!

For more information, please contact the WSNCC at (416) 755-9215.

The City of Toronto’s Parks, Forestry & Recreation Division is offering an After-school Recreation Care (ARC) program for children aged 6-12 years at two locations in Ward 35.

LOCATIONS:

• Corvette Junior Public School — 30 Corvette Ave. (map)
• Walter Perry Junior Public School — 45 Falmouth Ave. (map)

DETAILS:

• Cost: $2 per day more »

A message from the Taylor Massey Project:

“This weekend, the TMP planted its 4,000th tree or shrub, almost all of which have been provided by the City of Toronto. We extend our sincere thanks to the City for its efforts to restore the urban canopy in both our valley corridors and on table lands, and for its support of community organizations involved in these efforts.“ more »

Starting today, Toronto Hydro will be improving the overhead electricity system on Birchmount Rd, between Eglinton Ave and St. Clair Ave. East. The existing system is nearing the end of its life expectancy and this project will improve service and reliability and reduce the frequency of outages.

Project Start: October 2009
Project End: June 2010

This project requires staking the area, replacing existing defective poles, replacing overhead service cables/equipment, and restoring the affected landscapes. During this work, you may experience some power interruptions that are necessary for the conversion. Toronto Hydro will endeavour to keep this outages to a minimum and offer you as much prior notice as possible.

For more information, contact Jennifer Link at (416) 542-3366, or email capitalprojects@torontohydro.com (please reference “Project Birchmount”).