Volume 4, Issue 1
Inside this issue:

Toronto: innovative, creative, successful
City responds to communities in need
We mean it when we say
green it
Celebrating our cultural landscape
Toronto – out and about
Photo contest clicks with residents

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The City of Toronto's e-newsletter City Update focuses on the latest services, innovations and accomplishments in Canada’s largest city and sixth largest government. This e-newsletter is for the public, stakeholders, media, City Council and staff.

Subscribe online at http://toronto.ca/e-updates.

Toronto: innovative, creative, successful

Toronto named top sustainable city in Canada
Toronto is the most sustainable large city in Canada, according to Corporate Knights Magazine, which recently released its 2010 Most Sustainable Cities Ranking. Toronto edged out last year’s winner for integrating sustainability principles into the decision-making process, and for reducing corporate greenhouse gas emissions to 40 per cent below 1990 levels. Other highlights include Toronto’s leading accessible transit system, its solid waste and green building programs, and strong public outreach such as Live Green Toronto. The ranking evaluated over 60 indicators in five categories: ecological integrity, economic security, governance and empowerment, infrastructure and built environment, and social well-being.
www.corporateknights.ca/cities

Big city – big conferences
Toronto will be in the spotlight over the next few months with four large-scale events happening in the city. On May 27, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Big City Mayors Caucus takes place. It will be followed by their 73rd Annual Conference and Municipal Expo from May 28 to 31 where delegates will get together to discuss municipal performance and measurement as well as future challenges and opportunities.

The 39th annual Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA) Conference will be held from May 31 to June 2 with City Manager Joe Pennachetti and the City’s senior management team participating. CAMA’s theme is “Seizing Opportunities – Action Through Leadership” with sessions focusing on leadership in municipal finance, innovation and governance.
www.fcm.ca/conferences
http://www.camacam.ca/en/
conference/2010annualconference.asp

G20 Summit – bringing the world to our City
The G20 Summit, hosted by the federal government, takes place on June 26 and June 27 bringing together a group of 20 leaders to discuss key issues in the global economy.

Hosting the meeting in Toronto will have a positive impact on the city as we show the world all that Toronto has to offer by way of tourism, business and banking, culture and diversity. The meeting gives the City of Toronto an opportunity to develop new international business relationships. It will also showcase its widely recognized environmental leadership as it works with residents and businesses to achieve their environmental objectives.
www.g8-g20isu.ca

Competitiveness, Creativity & Collaboration Investment Program
The City’s Economic Development and Culture division has launched the Competitiveness, Creativity & Collaboration (CCC) Investment Program to support non-profit business organizations to generate jobs, increase economic activity and attract new investment. The CCC is one of many programs supported by the City’s Community Partnership and Investment Program. The CCC provides grant support for up to eight organizations with a maximum grant of $50,000 for each project.

Proposed projects must describe how they will increase economic activity, generate jobs, strengthen industry sectors, attract new investment, enhance collaboration within and between business sectors, and support economic development initiatives that improve the City’s environmental performance.

Organizations must also demonstrate partnership by matching or exceeding the City’s investment. The track record and organizational capacity of applicants are also key factors.
www.toronto.ca/grants/grants_
directory.htm#business

311 service goes online
Torontonians now have the option of placing many of the most frequent service requests themselves through the City’s 311 website. Initial online service requests include missed garbage, recycling or green bin collection, metal items or appliance pick up, 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.The addition of online service for 311 is yet another step in the City’s efforts to ensure easy access to City services.
www.toronto.ca/311

City receives GFOA award
The City of Toronto received the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) award for the Financial Reporting Program (CAnFR Program) for its 2008 Annual Financial Report. This award reflects North American best practices for annual financial reporting delivered by City finance staff. Winners of the prestigious award are recognized for exceeding requirements as set by the Public Sector Accounting Board of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, and for producing comprehensive annual financial reports with the highest level of transparency and full disclosure.
www.gfoa.org

Toronto EMS wins award for innovation
Toronto EMS Chief Bruce Farr, Jonathan Rennert, President of Zoll Medical Corporation and Malcolm Bates, Director of Emergency Health Services, Land/Air from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care acknowledged a team of over 60 EMS staff involved in the implementation of the City’s electronic patient care reporting (ePCR) system.

This system recently won prestigious awards for technological innovation at the City’s Innovation Showcase and the Province’s Showcase Ontario. ePCR is a user-friendly, wireless information system that can significantly contribute to advancing the timeliness, expediency and quality of patient care.

Toronto EMS implemented this new technology over the past year. This major accomplishment will support Toronto EMS by enhanced service to the community through the work of Toronto EMS paramedics.
www.torontoems.ca/main-site/
news/stories/zoll-event.html

Allstream Centre an award winning facility
Allstream Centre, Toronto’s newest conference centre located at Exhibition Place, has won two Industry Awards since opening last fall. The Distinction for Design Award was presented by the Ontario Building Envelope Council and an award in Project Achievement was presented by the Toronto Construction Association. An extensive renovation transformed the 1920’s art deco building into a conference centre with 20 meeting rooms and the largest, column-free ballroom in Toronto. The Centre offers an environmentally-friendly meeting venue for groups ranging from 50 to 3,000 delegates. Allstream Centre also looks forward to becoming the first conference centre in Canada to achieve the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Silver Certification.
www.allstreamcentre.com

City responds to communities
in need

Toronto still helps – one year later
In February, Mayor David Miller, Colleen Albiston, Chair of the YMCA of Greater Toronto Board and City of Toronto representatives officially opened the new Metro Hall Employment Services, the new Y Café and the expansion of the YMCA Hospitality Training Program. As part of the Toronto Helps program launched last year, this new facility is an example of how Toronto continues to support economic prosperity and opportunity for all Torontonians. In this new facility, joining a network of 15 directly-operated employment centres, residents can:

• learn about current and future public service job and career opportunities;
• gain access to potential opportunities with City-initiated infrastructure and job creation projects; and
• obtain a full range of employment services delivered by trained career and employment information specialists.

The Toronto Helps program has had an enormous impact on business and thousands of residents and families facing unemployment, eviction, and homelessness.

City-community partnerships create new $8.2M multi-service hub
Thanks to the Rexdale Neighbourhood Action Partnership, residents have a lot to look forward to in the fall of 2011. The most comprehensive multi-service community hub in Toronto will be opened at 21 Panorama Court in the 67,000 sq. ft. former Father Henry Carr Catholic School. An extensive partnership facilitated by the City’s Social Development, Finance and Administration division worked together to amass $8.2 million in combined funding from other governments and key foundations to acquire this surplus school. The new service hub will offer a one-stop service that will bring together primary health, legal, employment, recreation and settlement services for youth, seniors and their families. Also included are community amenities such as an industrial kitchen, stage, and work spaces and meeting rooms specifically for residents, all managed by a Council-approved Community Board of Management.
www.toronto.ca/nan

Long-Term Care Homes and Services recognized for leading practices
Like many health care organizations, the City’s Long-Term Care Homes and Services participates in a national accreditation program, with external reviewers assessing quality and safety in care and service. Not only did the City meet 100 per cent of the standards in a recent survey visit, it received higher than average results in all areas. The City was also commended for three leading practices that will be showcased to other organizations: implementation of a life-safety system for staff who work alone in the community, enabling them to call for help immediately in the event of an emergency; creation of an algorithm for effective care for people with urinary tract infections; and creation of a model for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) inclusive care within a long-term care setting.

Being recognized for multiple leading practices demonstrates the breadth and depth of quality and safety in the City’s 10 long-term care homes, adult day programs, supportive housing and homemakers and nurses services.
www.toronto.ca/ltc/newsevents.htm

New child care centres for Toronto’s Aboriginal community and Regent Park
Toronto is meeting the needs of its diverse communities with the planned opening of three new child care centres within the next year. Two City-operated centres will be located in Regent Park. One will open this spring and the other, co-located with a parenting and youth program, will open this fall. The other child care centre expected to open next winter will be located in the Kingston-Galloway neighbourhood and serve the Aboriginal community, thanks to recent funding secured from the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund for Non-Profit Organizations and the City’s capital investment.
www.toronto.ca/children

We mean it when we say green it

Toronto receives nearly $7 million to fund green projects
On February 11, nearly $7 million from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM’s) Green Municipal Fund was announced for 15 green initiatives in Toronto. The City of Toronto invested the $6,957,500 toward plans, studies and capital projects, ranging from environmental site assessments of brownfield properties to the construction of a LEED®-certified conference centre at Exhibition Place.

The Green Municipal Fund is an endowment financed by the Government of Canada and managed by the FCM. It supports partnerships and leveraging of both public and private sector funding to reach higher standards of air, water and soil quality, and climate protection.
www.toronto.ca/greenmunicipalfund

Mount Sinai Hospital receives over $722,000 from City’s program for energy efficiency measures
On February 5, the City of Toronto presented Mount Sinai Hospital with a grant of $722,693, acknowledging the hospital's success in reducing its carbon footprint and increasing its energy efficiency. This grant, which is in the form of an incentive payment, is provided through the City’s Better Buildings Partnership's funding agreement with the Ontario Power Authority’s province-wide energy conservation program. Funds are being used to fund Deep Lake Water Cooling for the hospital.
bbptoronto.ca
www.powerauthority.on.ca

New bylaw tracks toxic chemicals
The Environmental Reporting and Disclosure Bylaw (Municipal Code 423), which aims to protect public health by reducing toxic chemicals in our environment, took effect January 1, 2010. This innovative bylaw is part of ChemTRAC, a new City program requiring local businesses to track and report their use of toxic chemicals. ChemTRAC will also support local facilities with green business strategies and provide residents with information on toxic chemicals in their community. ChemTRAC reporting requirements will be phased in over three years. The first phase starts tracking toxic chemical use and release in 2010, and begins annual reporting in 2011. The business sectors in Phase 1 include food and beverage manufacturing, printing and publishing, power generation, chemical manufacturing, wood industries and water treatment.
www.toronto.ca/chemtrac

Toronto builds green – launches new initiatives
The Toronto Green Standard was introduced by the City of Toronto this year. The standard addresses environmental issues such as air and water quality and greenhouse gas emissions. Developers must meet Tier 1 requirements, or can choose to meet Tier 2, a voluntary higher level of environmental performance.

Toronto’s Green Roof Bylaw – the first of its kind in North America – also introduced this year, requires and governs the construction of green roofs on new residential, commercial and institutional developments.

Both initiatives are intended to help reduce Toronto’s greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050.
www.toronto.ca/greendevelopment

Eco-Roof Incentive Program now accepting applications
The City is now accepting applications for its Eco-Roof Incentive Program, which provides grants to encourage the use of green and cool roofs on certain industrial, commercial and institutional buildings. Owners who install a green roof, which supports vegetation, can apply for a grant of $50 per square metre up to $100,000. Cool roofs, which feature a membrane or coating to reflect sunlight, are eligible for $2-5 per square metre up to $50,000. The benefits of green and cool roofs are numerous. Both roofs reduce urban heat and associated energy use. Green roofs also help manage stormwater, enhance biodiversity, improve air quality and beautify Toronto.
www.toronto.ca/livegreen/ecoroofs

Toronto’s fleet leads the way on hybrids
The City of Toronto is the first municipality in Canada to use a gasoline-electric drive system developed by Canadian company Azure Dynamics, after acquiring five hybrid cube vans (Ford E450 model). Azure’s Balance™ Hybrid Electric system allows the vehicle to switch between pure electric and gasoline-electric modes to maximize fuel economy. The van also employs regenerative braking (electricity generated from the brakes is stored and used to propel the vehicle) and an idle shut-off feature. Toronto Parks, Forestry & Recreation, Solid Waste Management Services and Transportation Services use these vans for their every day operations. With the addition of these vans to the fleet, the City continues to reduce the fleet’s environmental impact by reducing fuel use, greenhouse gas emissions and smog-causing pollutants.
www.toronto.ca/fleet

Find your carpool match
Carpool Zone is a free, on-line service designed to help residents and businesses save money, reduce traffic and live green. Participants can find others looking to share a ride by accessing the secure database and identifying themselves solely by gender and nickname until they are ready to connect with a carpool match. Searches can be narrowed down further by listing other interests such as musical tastes and preferred language. Carpool Zone is one of many services being offered by the City’s Smart Commute-Toronto team, who also work with employers to enhance transportation choices – all part of the City’s plan to address climate change.
www.smartcommutetoronto.ca

Incentives doubled for energy efficiency projects in Multifamily and Institutional buildings
On February 10, the City of Toronto’s Energy Efficiency Office and Better Buildings Partnership (BBP) program announced that incentives for the majority of retrofits in Toronto buildings are now doubled. Provided through the City, with funding from Ontario Power Authority, it is available to building owners and managers as part of a larger energy conservation program to improve the province’s electricity grid system. This is a great incentive to help achieve Toronto’s climate goals through energy efficient buildings.
bbptoronto.ca

Celebrating our cultural landscape

Toronto Public Library busier than ever on all fronts
With 17.5 million visits and
31 million books, DVDs and other materials borrowed in 2009, Toronto Public Library had its busiest and best year ever. The increase in library use is being attributed in part to the excellent free resources the library continues to offer to help people during the economic downturn. The re-opening of three new branches, Bloor/Gladstone, Kennedy/Eglinton and Jane/Sheppard, also boosted visits, with information requests since the branches reopened increasing by 104, 150, and 315 per cent respectively. The Library offers free wireless service at all branches, and increased cultural programming. The Library’s Make Some Noise initiative, part of a concert series featuring local indie bands and workshops with Toronto music scenesters last fall, won the Ontario Library Association Media and Communications Award.
www.torontopubliclibrary.ca
www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/noise

Finalists and judges announced for Design Competition for St. Lawrence Market North Building
The City has announced the final list of competitors who will enter Stage 2 of the design competition to develop full building designs for the St. Lawrence Market North Building. The list of finalists will be made public in May. In the meantime, a panel of distinguished jury members from across North America with considerable experience in sustainability, markets, architectural design and heritage has also been developed. The jurists will deliberate, debate and adjudicate over which design should be chosen for the North Market redevelopment.

The existing one-storey North Market building will be replaced with a new four-storey, multi-purpose facility that is more environmentally sustainable, energy efficient and mindful of the character and heritage of the St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood. The new North Market building in the St. Lawrence Market Complex is expected to be completed and operating in 2014. During the construction, the Saturday Farmer’s Market and the Sunday Antique Market will continue to operate at a temporary market structure at 125 The Esplanade.
www.toronto.ca/stlawrence_
market/design

Black History Month Exhibition
February was Black History Month in Canada and the United States. Since it started as Negro History Week in the United States in 1926, the aim has always been to raise awareness of the contributions to society by people of African descent. This year, Black History Month was marked at City Hall with an art exhibition by the Association of African Canadian Artists. Events throughout February also included plays, spoken-word performances, book readings and walking tours that depict the experience of being Black in Victorian Toronto.
www.toronto.ca/blackhistory

Live with Culture website
re-launched
The Live with Culture website was recently re-launched as an online platform for city-wide conversations about culture in Toronto. It will feature a constantly changing cast of culture workers – singers, dancers, artists, production people, box office ticket sellers – who will all have a voice on the new site. Whether it’s a look at long-running indie music showcase Elvis Monday, an art tour of West Queen West with journalist Betty Ann Jordan, or a profile of award-winning costume designer Judith Bowden, these personal stories are central to establishing Livewithculture.ca as the ultimate insider’s guide to the Toronto cultural scene.
www.livewithculture.ca

Toronto – out and about

Our City, Our Stories powered by Canon
“Our City, Our Stories powered by Canon” is a City of Toronto community arts project and photography contest aimed at building youth skills in the digital arts, visual storytelling and self expression. The exhibition showcases photography of the top 10 winning entries and many of the 197 photo stories submitted. This free exhibition was launched in February at Toronto City Hall and will be on display at the Scarborough Civic Centre from April 12 to 21.
www.toronto.ca/culture/arts-services/our_city_our_stories.htm
www.flickr.com/photos/ourcityour
stories/sets

WinterCity – Winterlicious!
The seventh annual WinterCity Festival presented by RBC brought some much-needed warmth to Toronto this past winter. Celebrating culture, creativity and cuisine, the 14-day festival dazzled audiences with a series of free stunning spectacles at Nathan Phillips Square, especially-created indoor entertainment at Toronto’s cultural venues, and a series of one-of-a-kind culinary events with some of the city’s most revered chefs and restaurants.

The free WOW! Series at Nathan Phillips Square featured large-scale interactive fire and steel installations by California’s Flaming Lotus Girls, and the innovative aerial acrobatic theatrics of France’s Compagnie Les Passagers.
www.toronto.ca/special_events

Cycling and the City
Cyclists celebrated the City of Toronto’s efforts to encourage year-round cycling by taking a ride on the Martin Goodman Trail during the annual Coldest Day of the Year Ride on January 30. The City is continuing to improve its service for cyclists by clearing snow from the city’s bikeway network, including the trail that runs along the city’s waterfront.

As part of a pilot project in 2008/2009, the City began clearing snow from the Martin Goodman Trail to provide cyclists with a safe and effective commuting route and recreational biking opportunity. It has also put a greater emphasis on clearing snow from bike lanes.
www.toronto.ca/cycling/bikewinter

Toronto Zoo – the hottest place to be this spring
It’s time to get out of the cold and visit the Toronto Zoo. Enter a summer-like tropical world of exotic animals like the baby gorilla Nassir and the rest of the troop, displayed amidst plants, flowering trees and vines. Enjoy the year-round family events like Meet the Keeper Talks and Touch Tables. Find out what an orangutan likes as a treat (it’s yogurt). Stroke a lion’s pelt. Grab a hot chocolate and tour the 10-acre, award-winning Tundra Trek with Arctic wolves, foxes, reindeer and other animals. Go face-to-face with three polar bears, Inukshuk, and the two girls, Nikita and Aurora. Check out the outdoor animals like lions, tigers, camels and many more. It may still be cool outside, but it doesn’t get any better than this.
www.torontozoo.com

Photo: Broken Lines by
Peter Bowers