You’re Invited: Toronto Celebratory Events Oct.5-Nov.23, 2013 + City & Ontario News

Here are some great celebratory events happening in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

  • Most events are FREE.

3rd Annual Harvest Lunch

 FREE

Host:
Panorama Garden, Etobicoke Master Gardeners, Microskills, Rotary Club Etobicoke, MP Johnson, Rexdale CHC

When:
Saturday, October 5 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Where:
Rexdale Community Hub, 21 Panorama Court, Toronto, ON

Contact: Tania Fernandes at 416-744-6312 extension number 2357.

  • In celebration of Community Health and Wellbeing Week, the Rexdale Community Health Centre  (CHC) is hosting its Harvest Lunch.
  • Your invitation reads as follows.

In celebration of Community Health and Wellbeing Week,  please join us for our 3rd annual Harvest Lunch at the Rexdale Community Hub on Saturday October 5 from 12 pm until 2 pm.

A delicious menu will be served for you and your entire family!
This is a free event and there will be fun activities and entertainment for the whole family!

For more information, please call Tania Fernandes at 416-744-6312 extension number 2357.

We hope to see you there!!!
Panorama Garden, Etobicoke Master Gardeners, Microskills, Rotary Club Etobicoke, MP Johnson, Rexdale CHC

Fire Prevention Week

& Barbecued Hotdogs

FREE

October 5

11 a.m.

Toronto Fire and EMS Training Centre, 895 Eastern Ave.

  • Toronto fire chief will launch Fire Prevention Week.
  • City of Toronto Fire Services Chief Jim Sales will also get behind the grill to dish out free barbecued hotdogs along with kitchen safety tips.
  • During this year’s Fire Prevention Week, Toronto Fire Services will be spreading the word that more fires start in the kitchen than in any other part of the home.
  • Fire Services will teach people how to prevent cooking fires from starting in the first place.
  • Fire Services will hold a number of events to promote fire and life safety.
  • The educational, interactive events will focus on the dangers of cooking-related fires, the reason why smoke alarms are the law, and the importance of practising a home fire-escape plan.
  • A complete schedule of Fire Prevention Week events in Toronto is available at http://www.toronto.ca/fire/prevention.

  • The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure is Canada’s largest single day, volunteer-led fundraising event dedicated to raising funds for breast cancer research, education and awareness programs.
  • Last year, Canadians united to raise over $30 million in the 2012 Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure.
  • Please click here for more info.

Earl Bales Love & Care Day

FREE

October 6

  • An event to love and care for the park and ourselves.
  • A Park clean-up will take place, followed by good food workshops and live music.
  • Here is the Love and Care Day flyer:

love and care day earle bales park 2013

Taking a LEAF from the Book of Biodiversity Tree Tour

FREE

October 9, 2013

9:30a.m. – 11:30a.m.

Registration Required

Rouge Park: Meet beside Pearse House – 1749 Meadowvale Rd (at Zoo Road), Toronto

  • Tour Leaders:
    • Robyn Stewart, LEAF
    • Peter Voth, Rouge Park Guided Walk Leader
  • Join them for this tour through Rouge Park, Canada’s premier urban wilderness park!
  • Using the backdrop of the trees along the trail, they will discuss forest issues such as climate change, invasive species, pests and other pressures, as well as the benefits of forests, and how we can help increase the urban canopy.

harbourkids thanksgiving

HarbourKids: Thanksgiving

FREE Admission

October 14, 2013

11:00AM – 5:00PM

Harbourfront Centre
235 Queens Quay West

View Map

Please click here for more info, schedule and locations of activities and performances at Harbourfront Centre.

  • On Thanksgiving Monday, Harbourfront Centre offers a full day of family fun, including concerts, films, crafts and more.

Monarch Park Tree Tour

$5.00 Suggested Donation

Saturday, October 19, 2013

11:30a.m. – 1:00p.m.

Registration Recommended

Monarch Park
115 Felstead Ave, Toronto
Meet at the northeast corner of the park by grouping of large rocks.

  • Tree tour leaders:
    • Jessica Piskorowski, LEAF
    • Councillor Paula Fletcher, Ward 30, Toronto-Danforth
  • Join them on this exciting tour of beautiful Monarch Park.
  • Learn about the many trees in the park, both mature and newly planted.
  • Hear about the great work of local volunteer group Friends of Monarch Park, which has established an Adopt-a-Tree program to water and care for trees.
  • Get tips on how to care for your own trees, or come to learn how you might replicate this program in your own local park!

Wood Utilization: The Maple Leaf Forever Tree Tour

$5.00 suggested donation

October 26, 2013

10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m.

Registration Required

Maple Cottage
62 Laing Street (closest intersection: Queen St. E & Leslie St.)
Toronto

  • Tour Leaders:
    • Mark Phillips, Toronto Parks, Forestry & Recreation
    • Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon, Ward 32 Beaches – East York
    • Michael Finkelstein, Eco-Woodturner
  • The magnificent maple tree which, in 1867, inspired Alexander Muir to write “The Maple Leaf Forever”, fell victim to an epic summer storm in July of this year.
  • But did you know it will be getting a second life?
  • Find out how the wood will be used to honor the cultural significance of this historic tree.
  • Explore other trees in the neighbourhood and learn how you can salvage wood from your own trees to make beautiful furniture, bowls, and your own family heirlooms.
  • Eligible for up to 1.25 ISA CEUs.
  • This tour is supported by the City of Toronto – Economic Development and Culture.

Toronto Park People

Presents

Scarborough Park Forum

& Hot Food

FREE

November 23, 2013

1:00 PM – 3:30 PM (EST)

Warden Hilltop Community Centre
25 Mendelssohn St, Toronto

Please click here to register.

  • Park People is bringing park groups across Scarborough to discuss various park topics to create a Park Action Plan 2014.
  • The event will provide the opportunity for residents to meet community leaders, experts and find resources to improve your park.
  • It will be an interactive and engaging session to make our parks more vibrant and the opportunity to network with other park groups too!

 Toronto Road Closures

Scotiabank Nuit Blanche – Road Closures

CIBC Run for the Cure – Road Closures and Intermittent Delays

More road restriction info is available at http://www.toronto.ca/torontostreets/.

Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) Contact Info

  • Information on fares, routes, schedules and service.
    • 416-393-4636 (INFO)

    • Recorded information available 24 hours daily.

    • Operator-assisted service is available from 8:00am to 6:00pm daily, except statutory holidays.

    • TTY Hearing Impaired Service, 416-481-2523, Daily, 8:00am-6:00pm; except statutory holidays.

  • Main Switchboard
    • 416-393-4000

    • Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm

City of Toronto Contact Info

Phone within Toronto city limits: 311.

Phone outside city limits: 416-392-CITY (2489)
(can be used within Toronto if you can’t reach 311).

TTY customers: 416-338-0TTY (0889)
Fax: 416-338-0685
E-mail: 311@toronto.ca

If your matter is urgent, please call them. They are open 24/7.

This video presents “[HD] TTC Novabus LFS Artic 9000 at Finch Station.”

  • TTC’s new articulated Novabus was spotted at Finch station doing some loops around the station for testing.

News

TTC Introduces New Articulated Bus

  • On October 3, 2013, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) introduced the first of its new clean diesel low floor articulated buses.
  • The TTC has ordered 153 new vehicles that will start entering service on the 7 Bathurst route this December.
    • Total cost of the purchase is $143.7 million.
  • The 60-foot articulated bus will result in a more reliable service, with a design capacity of 77 passengers (48 seated-29 standees) at peak period, an increase of 45 per cent from the standard 40-foot bus.
    • The new buses will also be more cost effective, as operating costs will be lower with fewer bus operators required.
    • The articulated buses will operate out of the TTC’s Wilson, Mount Dennis and Malvern garages.
    • The TTC previously had articulated buses in its fleet between 1987 and 2003.
  • The accessible articulated bus will be used on high demand routes, and will carry more passengers with fewer vehicles.
    • Articulated buses have three doors, instead of two, making it faster for customers to board inside subway stations, and faster for customers to exit the bus at all stops.
  • The articulated buses will operate on the following routes:
    • 7 Bathurst – first bus December 2013,
    • 29 Dufferin – first bus January 2014,
    • 36 Finch West – Spring 2014,
    • 63 Ossington – Summer 2014,
    • 6 Bay – first bus Summer 2014,
    • 85 Sheppard East – Fall 2014, and
    • 53 Steeles Express – Fall 2014.
  • All 153 articulated buses will be in service by January, 2015.

Ontario Moms and Babies to Benefit From New Breastfeeding Supports

  • Ontario newborns and their families will soon benefit from enhanced breastfeeding supports, helping ensure that every woman who wants breastfeeding support can get it.
  • Breastfeeding helps to encourage healthy development and can reduce the likelihood of overweight and obesity in adolescence and adulthood.
  • As part of Ontario’s Healthy Kids Strategy, the government is investing more than $2.5 million to help families give their infants a sound nutritional start via the following ways.
    • Providing 24-hour telephone access to expert support for mothers who are breastfeeding.
    • Supporting Ontario’s hospitals and community health care organizations with training, tools, guidance and resources to help them achieve the World Health Organization’s Baby-Friendly Initiative designation and adopt clinical best practices in infant feeding that meet Baby-Friendly Initiative designation requirements.
    • Targeted support for mothers in population groups that have lower rates of breastfeeding.
    • Providing new resources to support breastfeeding through Best Start: Ontario’s Maternal Newborn and Early Child Development Resource Centre.
  • Did you know?
    • In Ontario, approximately 90 per cent of mothers want to breastfeed, but only 60 per cent do so when they leave the hospital after giving birth.
    • The benefits of breastfeeding include improved cognitive development and reduced incidence of illness during infancy, childhood and later in life.
    • For each month a baby is breastfed until the eight month, the risk of obesity is reduced by four per cent — resulting in a reduced risk of obesity of 32 per cent overall when a baby is breastfed for the first eight months.
  • Contact info:
    • For public inquiries, call ServiceOntario, INFOline (Toll-free in Ontario only): 1-866-532-3161
    • Samantha Grant
      Minister’s Office
      416-326-4905

Mayor Ford’s Music Business Mission to Austin, Texas

  • This is an update to the previous blog, You’re Invited: Canadian Events Sept.28 – Dec.10, 2013 + Ontario & Toronto News + TTC Alerts.
  • The aims of Mayor Ford’s music business mission to Austin, Texas, USA, are as follows.
    • Position Toronto as a leading live music tourist destination.
    • Provide insight into how Toronto can continually promote and foster its internationally respected music sector
    • Provide a forum to share best practices and knowledge that will help drive economic development and job creation in Toronto.
  • On 3 October 2013, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford and Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell signed the world’s first music city alliance agreement at Austin’s City Hall.
  • Also, Mayor Leffingwell conferred honorary citizen of Austin recognition upon Mayor Ford and the entire Toronto delegation, which consisted of Toronto City councillors and Toronto music industry representatives.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

NEWS RELEASE

October 4, 2013

Toronto and Austin mayors sign world’s first music city alliance agreement

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford and Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell signed the world’s first music city alliance agreement yesterday evening at Austin’s City Hall.

“I believe there is amazing potential in the partnership between Toronto and Austin,” said Mayor Ford. “We are in Austin to translate that potential into economic development and jobs.”

“It is our pleasure to host Mayor Ford and the Toronto delegation here in Austin this week,” said Mayor Leffingwell. “This alliance will allow us to work together in developing mutually beneficial partnerships between our two music-centred cities with a clear purpose to build trade, commerce and share both government and private industry knowledge.”

This economic and cultural agreement solidifies the dialogue that has already begun between the two cities. The agreement states, in part:

“The City of Austin, widely recognized as the Live Music Capital of the World, and the City of Toronto, one of the most economic and culturally diverse cities in the world, will work collaboratively to develop and expand all elements of the music industry, including but not limited to artists, venues, festivals, studios, management and promotion.

“Based on common goals and shared areas of interest, the two cities agree to continue to strengthen ties, and support and encourage opportunities for mutually beneficial practical exchanges in the field of music and culture. The Alliance will encourage business and cultural partnerships, joint programming and exhibitions, act as a gateway for new and emerging entrepreneurs, as well as established professionals, and facilitate the sharing of best practices and expertise to stimulate job creation, economic growth and tourism.”

Earlier this year, the two cities’ councils endorsed a music city alliance, which was formalized at the signing ceremony held at Austin City Hall.

The spirit of this signing ceremony was further enhanced when Mayor Leffingwell conferred honorary citizen of Austin recognition upon Mayor Ford and the entire Toronto delegation, which consisted of Toronto City councillors and Toronto music industry representatives.

The signing ceremony was a pivotal part of Mayor Ford’s music business mission to Austin. The purpose of the mission was to meet with City of Austin officials and music industry representatives to solidify the terms and scope of the Austin-Toronto Music City Alliance.

The mission will aid the City of Toronto in its goal of positioning Toronto as a leading live music tourist destination, while providing insight into how the City can continually promote and foster its internationally respected music sector. This mission is a forum to share best practices and knowledge that will help drive economic development and job creation in Toronto.

Toronto is Canada’s largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. Toronto’s government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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Enjoy!

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