City Update
Volume 5, Issue 3
Inside this issue:
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.
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Volunteering to preserve Toronto's natural treasures Volunteering with the Community Stewardship Program is an exciting way to participate in saving Toronto's natural environment. Whether you decide to help with weeding invasive plants, improving habitat structures, collecting litter or monitoring water quality, you would play an important role in helping these natural treasures to become healthy ecosystems that Torontonians can continue to enjoy. All levels of experience are welcome, and training is provided onsite. For information on how to get involved, contact greentoronto@toronto.ca or call 3-1-1. Toronto's ravines, trails and waterfront need you! |
Toronto at your service
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Service Review Program The Core Service Review, part of the City's Service Review Program initiated to address the 2012 budget shortfall is now complete. At its meeting on September 26 and 27, City Council adopted a series of recommendations and amendments involving the Core Service Review. Council also approved the User Fee Policy and the Voluntary Separation Program for City of Toronto staff. The City will begin the 2012 budget process in November. The process will take into account the Council-approved service changes and efficiency directions, the results of Service Efficiency Studies as well as the budget reduction submission required by all City divisions and agencies. |
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Help shape your city – take the survey The City of Toronto is reviewing its Official Plan and undertaking a Municipal Comprehensive Review. Toronto's Official Plan is the main policy document to manage and direct physical change in the city through to the year 2031. A Municipal Comprehensive Review looks specifically at designated areas of employment in the Official Plan. These reviews are important to Toronto's future. Help shape your city by taking a moment to complete the quick online survey before October 17. |
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Connecting electronically with the TTC The TTC has made it easier for customers to connect with their preferred mode of transit. The Next Vehicle Arrival System, activated this summer, lets TTC customers receive real-time route data showing when the next buses (up to six succeeding) will arrive at any specific bus stop. Next vehicle arrival times are already available for the subway and streetcar networks. Anyone can receive information about disruptions, route changes and events at twitter.com/TTCnotices, or become a fan of TTC at facebook.com. To receive Subway/RT service disruption notifications by email, go to ttc.ca and register under Service Advisories. The Internet Trip Planner provides users a self-serve means of planning their transit trips using route information, timing points and walking distances. The TTC has also made its open data/XML feed available for third-party developers. |
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Toronto Building accepting electronic submissions Toronto Building is developing new service delivery options and improving existing ones for its clients. Beginning November 7, Toronto Building will require electronic versions of documents to be submitted with building permit applications, including all forms, reports, specifications, calculations and drawings. All documents required with the permit application will be accepted at the counter on a rewritable DVD. Hard copies of plans/drawings will continue to be accepted, but this is expected to be phased out as electronic service expands. Click here for details about the electronic submission requirements. |
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City employees announce United Way fundraising goal for staff On September 13, City of Toronto employees announced their United Way fundraising goal of $1 million. On hand were Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday, United Way Toronto Vice President Julia Gorman, Project Director Cal Scotchmer and City Manager Joe Pennachetti. For the last nine years, City employees have exceeded their goal, and raised at least $1 million. The campaign runs until December 13. |
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Strong partnerships help animals find homes Both the City of Toronto Animal Services and the Toronto Humane Society provide compassionate care to homeless companion animals. In January, these two organizations developed a partnership with the common goal of helping animals find homes. The Toronto Humane Society accepts companion animals into their adoption program from all Toronto Animal Services' regional animal centres. Many of these dogs and cats have behavioural or medical issues which require extra attention from veterinarians, staff, and volunteers. Click here to find out more about adopting an animal. |
Investing in Toronto's infrastructure
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Tunnel boring for Toronto-York-Spadina subway extension June 17 marked the official start of tunnel boring construction for the Toronto-York-Spadina Subway Extension (TYSSE) project. The TYSSE is an 8.6-kilometre extension of the Toronto Transit Commission's Yonge-University-Spadina subway line from its present terminus at Downsview Station to the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre at Highway 7. It will have six new stations, including one at York University. The expansion of the subway will bring the line into York Region, the fastest-growing region in the Greater Toronto Area over the past 10 years. The TYSSE project is targeted for completion in late 2015. |
Toronto and the economy
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Small Business Forum The City of Toronto hosts its 11th annual Small Business Forum on October 18. Produced by Enterprise Toronto, Toronto's largest small business event annually attracts up to 1,500 people from all sectors and backgrounds. For entrepreneurs and established business owners, this free all-day event is an opportunity to learn from and network with other successful entrepreneurs; meet investors, funders and government program providers; access information about new business products and services; and explore new technologies and business development approaches. |
 Artist's rendering of exterior, east elevation |
Ripley's Aquarium of Canada to open in Toronto in 2013 Toronto has moved one big step closer to getting its first major new tourist attraction since 1993. In August, Mayor Ford helped announce details for the Ripley's Aquarium of Canada – a $130-million facility now under construction, set to open in 2013. The City is providing tax incentives for this project as part of its Imagination, Manufacturing, Innovation and Technology grants program. The aquarium will create approximately 600 construction jobs and up to 350 jobs when it opens. It is estimated to have an immediate economic impact of $50 million and a projected annual economic benefit of $35 million for the city. |
 Window replacement team (l to r): Morgan Giles, Chris Cody, Dominic Sampson, Brent Doiron, Al Sisson, Jamie Arbow, Daniel Seminov and Ivan Doiron (supervisor) |
Window replacement at City Hall a family affair The replacement of the windows on City Hall's East Tower began in March. The project is supervised by Ivan Doiron, whose father, Henri Doiron, worked on the original City Hall windows in the 1960s. Ivan, a glazier for 38 years, is now passing his knowledge on to his son, Brent Doiron, also a glazier on the project. The old glazing certainly stood the test of time (the windows are nearly 50 years old) but the windows are single pane, making it difficult to manage temperatures inside the building, and they're not energy efficient. The new windows will rectify all these problems. The project will be completed by the end of November. |
Awards and recognition
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Winners announced for 2011 Heritage Toronto Awards The Heritage Toronto Awards held at the Royal Conservatory of Music's Koerner Hall on October 4 honoured efforts in the promotion and preservation of our city's history and heritage landmarks. Awards were presented in architecture, media, book and community heritage categories. The 2011 Special Achievement Award was presented to the late heritage developer and champion, Paul Oberman. Read the full list of award recipients. |
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Award-winning waste diversion communications The Solid Waste Association of North America has honoured the City of Toronto with two awards for achieving the highest level of excellence in solid waste management communications and marketing. Competing against entries from all sizes of municipalities across the United States and Canada, Toronto's waste diversion promotional and public education campaigns were recognized for both a Gold Communications Excellence Award and a Bronze Marketing Excellence Award. |
 Award presentation at Toronto City Hall, Council Chamber (left to right): Deputy Mayor and Chair of the Audit Committee Doug Holyday; Mike St. Amant - Director, Accounting Services; Shairoz Murji - Manager, Corporate Financial Reporting, Accounting Services; and Mayor Rob Ford. |
Accounting Services wins award for financial reporting In March, the Accounting Services Division received the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) award for Financial Reporting Program (CAnFR Program) for its 2009 Annual Financial Report. This award reflects North American best practices for annual financial reporting. 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. The City has received this award for four consecutive years. |
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Finance director receives finance excellence award Len Brittain, Director of Corporate Finance, received the Excellence in Municipal Finance Award on September 22 from the Municipal Finance Officers' Association (MFOA). The award is presented annually to recognize an individual within the MFOA membership who has made a significant contribution to, and demonstrated leadership in, the field of municipal finance. MFOA, established in 1989, represents over 2,000 individual members from more than 350 municipalities in Ontario. |
 Graduating class from Centennial College, August 11, 2011. |
Fire Services wins international award for diversity City of Toronto Fire Services has won the 2011 International Tony Pini Award for Diversity and Inclusion in the Fire Service. Toronto Fire Services received the award at the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Fire Rescue International Conference on August 25 in Atlanta, Georgia. The award specifically honours the Toronto Fire Services partnership with Centennial College to identify and address diversity barriers in the Ontario standardized Pre-Service Firefighter Education and Training Program. |
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2011 Toronto Book Awards The five finalists of the 2011 Toronto Book Awards are James FitzGerald for What Disturbs Our Blood; James King for Étienne's Alphabet; Rabindranath Maharaj for The Amazing Absorbing Boy; Nicholas Ruddock for The Parabolist; and Alissa York for Fauna. The winner will be announced on October 13 at the Toronto Reference Library. The Toronto Book Awards program was established by Toronto City Council in 1974 to honour authors of books of literary or artistic merit that are evocative of Toronto. Past winners include Mark Sinnett, Austin Clarke, Margaret Atwood, Timothy Findley, Camilla Gibb, and Michael Ondaatje. |
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Winners announced for the 2011 Toronto Urban Design Awards Every other year, the City of Toronto holds Urban Design Awards to acknowledge the significant contribution that architects, landscape architects, urban designers, artists and other city builders make to our city. From an impressive 129 submissions containing a variety of built projects, 23 projects were selected for awards of excellence and honourable mentions. A jury of independent design professionals assessed entries against a set of criteria that included the contribution the project makes to the public space, how it integrates with its surroundings, and how the project supports accessibility, preservation of heritage resources, environmental sustainability, and public art. |
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Toronto EMS Paramedic in NYC for 10th anniversary of 9/11 Toronto EMS Paramedic, Roberta Scott, travelled to New York City for the 10th anniversary of 9/11, representing the Ontario Paramedic Association. Roberta was there to honour and remember the Emergency Medical Technicians/Paramedics who worked on September 11, 2001 and the ones who never came home. Roberta was also there for the first and fifth anniversaries of 9/11. "My trip was very emotional, being right in the city that lived through the horror of 9/11," said Roberta. "I spent time with many of the paramedics from New York City that I had met on my first trip…they all send their heartfelt appreciation for the support of their Canadian colleagues in EMS." |
 Seven Oaks Residents First Quality Improvement Project Group |
Long-term care homes receive quality improvement awards All 10 of the City's long-term care homes are being recognized with inaugural Residents First Awards. Each home has been involved in quality improvement initiatives including falls prevention, pressure ulcer prevention, and process improvements. Residents First is an innovative and comprehensive quality improvement initiative that supports long-term care homes in Ontario in providing an environment for their residents that enhances their quality of life. In addition to the recognition, each home receives a $2,500 cheque from Health Quality Ontario. |
Out and about
 Shannon's Fireflies Seth Hardy & Site 3 CoLaboratory |
The public took art into their own hands at Scotiabank Nuit Blanche They flew, created massive fire blasts, walked through water and got evicted from a tent city. The public contributed their voices, faces and muscle by the tens of thousands as they animated and collaborated with Scotiabank Nuit Blanche's many interactive art works. In total, more than 130 projects – from large scale spectacle to more intimate experiences – offered audiences magical moments with art and with their City, from early in the evening until the early hours of the morning. The seventh edition of Scotiabank Nuit Blanche returns to Toronto on September 29, 2012. |
 (Left to right): Holly Abraham - Chair, Sport Alliance of Ontario; Janie Romoff - Director of Community Recreation - City of Toronto; Robert Kawamoto - Regional Director of Sales Tourism Toronto; Cathy Vincelli - General Manager, 2012 Ontario Summer Games; Brenda Patterson - Deputy City Manager, City of Toronto; the Honourable Margarett Best - Minister of Health Promotion and Sport; Crispin Duenas - Canadian Olympic Archery Athlete; Karen Pitre - Vice Chair, 2012 Ontario Summer Games; and Rahul Bhardwaj - Chair, 2012 Ontario Summer Games. |
City of Toronto to host 2012 Ontario Summer Games The countdown to the 2012 Ontario Summer Games began at City Hall with the official launch celebration of the year-away milestone. The City of Toronto will host the Games from August 16 to 19, 2012, in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport, the Sport Alliance of Ontario, the Toronto Sports Council and Tourism Toronto. The Games will bring together almost 2,500 athletes competing in 28 sports in venues across Toronto and surrounding regions. Register to be a volunteer at the Games. |
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The Children's Garden Program begins kitchen construction The Straw Bale Children’s Teaching Kitchen, at the High Park Children’s Garden, is now under construction. This Parks, Forestry and Recreation Facility is expected to be completed by December and will be constructed in an environmentally-friendly manner, incorporating plastered straw bale walls, a green roof and radiant-floor heating. Programs at the site will include expanded environmental education programs, March Break Eco Camps and cooking programs for all ages. |
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Official opening of Warden Hilltop Community Centre Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation hosted a celebration for the new Warden Hilltop Community Centre. The event emceed by Councillor Michelle Berardinetti (Ward 35 Scarborough Southwest), featured performances by the Warden Hilltop Pioneers and the presentation of a horseshoe from the former Hilltop Stables for which the community centre was named. The centre features a double-size gymnasium, multi-purpose common room, activity/meeting rooms, pre-school area, dance/fitness/aerobics space, teaching kitchen and weight/conditioning room. Its innovative 'green' design includes geothermal heating, a high-efficiency irrigation system, movement sensors and timers to control lighting. |
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Toronto Challenge raises half a million dollars for seniors Thousands of runners and walkers took part in the 20th annual Toronto Challenge presented by MonsterMortgage.ca in June (Seniors' Month) raising $510,000 to enhance the quality of life for residents in Toronto's Long-Term Care Homes and Services and another 53 community groups that support seniors throughout Toronto. Participants of all abilities, ranging in age from one to 101 years, took to the streets around Metro Hall participating in either the 5k run, 5k walk or the 1k fun walk. Awards and medals were presented to the top finishers in each event. |