City Update E-Newsletter

You can show your holiday spirit and help those in need in our community by donating new, unwrapped toys and non-perishable food items. Donation bins are located at City Hall, Metro Hall and all civic centres until December 20 at noon. Your donations will support the Toronto Fire Fighters Toy Drive and the Daily Bread Food Bank.

Donate to Toronto Animal Services this holiday season and make a difference in the lives of animals in our community. One hundred per cent of your gift will directly support medical care for animals in our shelters and spay and neuter initiatives in the community. Donations may be made online, by phone, by mail or in person. We also accept supplies to help the animals in our care.

The City’s Corporate Strategic Plan outlines a clear commitment to achieving our long-term vision for the city while delivering day-to-day services with excellence. It focuses on six priorities that will improve the quality of life for all Torontonians while continuing to improve the performance of your government. They are: financial sustainability; a well-run City; maintain and create housing that’s affordable; keep Toronto moving; invest in people and neighbourhoods; and tackle climate change and build resilience.

Do you drive or own/operate a taxi, limousine or private transportation company vehicle (such as Uber, Lyft or Facedrive)? Updates to the City’s Vehicle-for-Hire Bylaw come into effect on January 1, 2020. Learn more about the updated bylaw, including the creation of an Accessibility Fund Program, data requirements, mandatory training for all drivers and improvements in the licensing and enforcement of vehicle-for-hire service.

As part of its Vision Zero Road Safety Plan, the City has begun reducing the speed limit from 60 km/h to 50 km/h on 250 kilometres of major arterial roads across the city, with some segments being reduced from 50 km/h to 40 km/h. Priority is being given to suburban areas with a high number of traffic injuries or fatalities. Visit Vision Zero Mapping Tool to learn more.

The City of Toronto has launched a new pilot project to reduce the impacts of construction, improve road safety and keep traffic moving around “construction hubs” – areas in the city with a dense concentration of construction activity. The Construction Hub Coordination Pilot is intended to minimize disruption to road users. It does so by engaging with public and private sector contractors to ensure safety, manage parking and loading to improve accessibility and working with businesses and communities to forecast and limit construction-related disturbances.

Toronto’s new Automated Vehicles (AV) Tactical Plan and Readiness 2022 report is the first comprehensive plan of its kind for a North American city. The plan aims to make Toronto “AV Ready” by 2022 and includes five key actions for City staff. One of the key actions is an Automated Shuttle Trial already scheduled for September 2020. Learn more about automated vehicles in Toronto and watch a new video.

This winter, specially designed sidewalk plows will be tested on at least 150 km of sidewalks that serve seniors and people with disabilities and are not currently plowed. It’s part of a trial that will also see City of Toronto staff survey and make a full list of encroachments and obstacles, such as poles, retaining walls, parking, etc., to see whether more of Toronto’s sidewalks can be plowed in the future. Details

Raised transit stop platforms have been installed at two stops along King Street (at Portland Street and Peter Street). This is the first time these platforms have been installed in a Canadian city. They are already used successfully in New York, Chicago and other places. The platforms improve accessibility, eliminate drainage/pooling issues in the waiting zone and clearly mark zones for people who bike and those waiting to board streetcars.

The westbound lane of Fleet Street between Bathurst and Iannuzzi Streets (about 200 metres) has been permanently closed to all vehicular traffic. The lane will remain open for pedestrians and cyclists. The eastbound lane of Fleet Street remains open. This is a critical Vision Zero measure that puts into action prior City Council recommendations.

The City of Toronto is urging all road users – drivers, cyclists, transit riders and pedestrians – to stay alert now that we’ve returned to standard time, which means fewer daylight hours and reduced visibility. In Toronto, pedestrian collisions increase by more than 30 per cent during the evening commute hours from November to March. Learn more about the City’s education campaign.

An early snowfall on November 11 didn’t slow Torontonians down much because necessary equipment and City crews were prepared to go as soon as needed. Find out what the City does when it snows, as well as property owner responsibilities for snow clearing.

Free ice skating at Union Station

A new skating rink has opened on Front Street at Union Station until January 4! Bring your skates and helmet or take advantage of free rentals (as well as lessons) compliments of Union Station and TD. The rink is open Sunday to Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Thursday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (weather permitting). Check out the beautiful holiday decorations and enjoy music from local DJs, snacks and beverages and shopping for holiday gifts. Learn more about the ice rink and events and activities.

There are only two more Saturdays left to be part of free weekly pop-up events at rotating parklets on King Street. Join us on December 14 and 21 for live music, a cozy warming station, hot drinks and baked goods, fun activities and more.

You are invited to the annual City Hall Christmas Concert on Friday, December 20 from noon to 1 p.m. in the rotunda. Enjoy seasonal favourites performed by Toronto Mass Choir, the Toronto Beaches Children’s and Youth Chorus, Pan Fantasy Steelband and Tower Brass. Plus, a visit from the man in red!

Join us for Toronto’s annual New Year’s Eve celebration on Nathan Phillips Square featuring DJ skating parties, live musical performances and spectacular fireworks. Admission is free to this all-ages, alcohol-free event.

Join the Mayor and City Councillors for the Mayor’s annual Skate Party on Sunday, January 12 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Kew Gardens (2075 Queen St. E.) in the Beach. This fun-filled, family-friendly event will feature a DJ, free skating and hot beverages.

This year’s family-focused exhibit in the TD Gallery at Toronto Reference Library is “You, Me, Us: Outstanding Books For and About Young People with Disabilities.” The exhibit highlights “the best of the best” from Toronto Public Library’s International Board on Books for Young People Collection for Young People with Disabilities. Featuring international, multilingual, multi-format books and works of art that are recognized for their exceptional content and design, the exhibit runs until January 26. Guided tours are offered on Tuesdays at 2 p.m.

The 2020 Waste Collection Calendars are currently being delivered to Toronto households and multi-residential buildings. The calendar has great tips to help you reduce, reuse and rethink waste. It also provides information to help you figure out what waste goes where. You should receive your calendar by December 20. If you haven’t received one by then, please contact 311.

Find great places to shop for eco-friendly gifts this holiday season with the City of Toronto’s free Live Green Perks app. Simply show the app to get exclusive deals at more than 450 businesses in Toronto, including restaurants, gifts shops, clothing stores and more. Shop local, save green.

The City of Toronto has begun the largest and most significant stormwater management program in its history. The $3 billion Don River and Central Waterfront & Connected Projects will greatly improve water quality in the Lower Don River, Taylor-Massey Creek and the Inner Harbour by capturing and transporting combined sewer overflows (a mix of rain and wastewater) for treatment before releasing it into Lake Ontario.

Own a business in Toronto and looking for ways to save? The City of Toronto has several programs that encourage and reward companies that reduce their water use. This includes the Capacity Buy Back Program, which offers eligible commercial and institutional organizations a free water audit and one-time cash rebate. Manufacturers that implement a water conservation plan may also be eligible for a lower Industrial Water Rate.

Coming in early 2020, grants of up to $25,000 will be available to support innovative, community-based efforts to reduce residential waste and increase participation in the City of Toronto’s waste diversion programs. Want to create waste education material for residents in your condo building? What about a community lending library? Get funding for your idea by applying for a Waste Reduction Community Grant.

Last month, the Toronto’s Greenest Choice annual poll invited Torontonians to vote for the places, spaces and businesses that are helping to make our city one of the greenest in North America. More than 75,000 votes were cast online to select Toronto’s favourite farmers’ market, second-hand store, bike shop, local craft brewery, park, hiking trail, wildlife and more. Find the winners and runners up at Toronto’s Greenest Choice.

In January 2020, Toronto’s first Electric Vehicle (EV) Strategy will be considered by the City’s Infrastructure and Environment Committee and City Council. The strategy will identify a range of actions the City can take to enable the EV market, with a focus on passenger vehicles, and support the City’s TransformTO climate action strategy. Learn more about the City’s EV initiatives.

The City has developed a series of case studies to highlight small businesses and organizations that are helping to grow the circular economy in Toronto. These organizations are working toward economic, environmental and social change through initiatives that help people gain skills and reuse, share, repair and refurbish items. Through the Long Term Waste Management Strategy, the City of Toronto is working towards an aspirational goal of zero waste and a circular economy.

‘Tis the season for gift giving, holiday parties and spending time with family and friends. It’s also a time of year we tend to produce more waste. The City of Toronto is encouraging residents to be mindful of the waste they generate throughout the holiday season and to look for ways to reduce the amount of waste that goes into landfill. Here are some ideas to help you reduce waste over the holidays.

If waste bins are not set out correctly in the winter, it can make it difficult for crews to collect them. Follow these tips to ensure safe and efficient collection throughout the winter season:

• Ensure items are put out before 7 a.m. on collection day.
• Keep bins 0.5 metre (2 ft) apart to make enough room for automated collection.
• Find a clear, visible and accessible spot near the street to put your bin. Bins should not block the sidewalk.
• If it snows, clear snow away from around your bins. Please do not place bins on snowbanks.
• If there is a snow storm, hold on to electronic waste or oversized items until the next collection date.
• If collection is missed, go to 311 online or call 311 to report it.

BetterHomesTO

Discover rebates and programs available from the City of Toronto and others online at BetterHomesTO, a new online resource dedicated to helping residents make their homes more energy efficient and comfortable. Making your home more energy efficient is one of the biggest things you can do to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. At BetterHomesTO, you’ll find information on more than 30 home energy upgrades.

On December 10, the City honoured recipients of the 2019 Access, Equity and Human Rights Awards at a ceremony held at the YMCA on Elm Street. The Awards recognize people or organizations that have created a more equitable city by addressing discrimination and working to eliminate barriers to equality. Visit the City’s website to see this year’s recipients and learn more about the awards.

The City of Toronto has won a Canada’s Top 100 Employer award for the fourth year in a row and fifth time overall. Organizers of this 20th annual national competition evaluate employers against others who lead in their industries and offer exceptional workplaces for their employees. Providing a progressive and innovative workplace culture helps to attract and retain the best talent and makes the City of Toronto a great place to work.