Stay informed on COVID-19
Last month we celebrated International Women’s Day. It is a day to celebrate our mentors and show our support for women everywhere. This year’s campaign theme was #EachforEqual, which highlights that we all have a role to play in achieving gender equality. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the talented women I get to work with at the City of Toronto, including our Chief Financial Officer Heather Taylor, and our three Deputy City Managers Tracey Cook, Guliana Carbone and Josie Scioli.
I’d also like to recognize and thank our Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Eileen de Villa, who works tirelessly to protect the health of Toronto residents.
Staying Informed on COVID-19
The City of Toronto Emergency Operations Centre was activated on March 12 and will remain operational as long as required. Toronto Fire Chief Matthew Pegg, in his role as General Manager of the Office of Emergency Management, leads the city’s operational response. He is working closely alongside Dr. Eileen de Villa.
Please visit the city’s website for the latest details: www.toronto.ca/coronavirus. Residents can also call Toronto Public Health’s hotline 416-338-7600, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
As a Member of Toronto’s Board of Health, I continue to monitor the situation closely.
Textiles are the New Plastic
It’s important that we reduce the amount of textiles sent annually to landfill. On March 11, the city’s Infrastructure Environment Committee approved my motion to develop educational materials for clothing and textile retailers to display in Toronto. This will promote opportunities to reduce, reuse, repair and donate used textiles. By displacing at the source, we can also reduce unnecessary consumption. My motion also asks city staff to report back on the feasibility of a city-branded donation bin program that could be operated in association with registered charities.
While staff report back on an expanded textile diversion strategy, we can continue to do our part every day and make Toronto a greener place for everyone. The city has recently launched an improved TOwaste mobile application and TO Waste Wizard. These platforms list which bin over 2,000 items go into, what bins to put out when, and where to donate used items and find a city Drop-off Depot. Check them out and learn more at www.toronto.ca/wastewizard.
50th Anniversary of Earth Day
Earth Day is celebrated around the world on April 22. First celebrated in 1970, it is now celebrated in 193 countries. It mobilizes more than one billion people and fosters the next generation of environmental stewards.
The first Canadian Earth Day was held on Thursday, September 11, 1980, in Kingston, Ontario. In 1995, I organized the first Earth Day flag raising in the City of Scarborough alongside environmental champion Lois James. Brad Duguid was acting mayor and presided over the ceremony. Twenty-five years later, I’m very honoured to advance good environmental policy at the City of Toronto, as the Mayor’s Environment and Resilience Champion.
Contact Us!
A reminder that our new office is now open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday to Friday at 4630 Kingston road, Unit#20. We are also available at 416-338-3771 and councillor_mckelvie@toronto.ca. To keep up to date with local news, please sign up for our e-newsletter at www.jennifermckelvie.ca, and follow me on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter via my handle, @McKelvieWard25.