Learn more at: http://www.chra-achru.ca/en/

”

This year, the City of Toronto will be developing a City of Toronto Natural Environment Trail Strategy to protect the City of Toronto’s natural areas while offering safe and enjoyable recreational opportunities for all natural environment/dirt trail users. These trails are well-used by hikers, dog-walkers, and mountain bikers, and are highly valued as an important part of the recreational trail network.

Outside of Crothers Woods in the Lower Don Valley, there has been limited management of informal natural environment trails throughout the City’s natural areas and ravine lands and we want to change that.

The first step in an effective trail management system is to determine what trails exist and what state they are in. From 2008 to 2010, Natural Environment & Community Programs mapped the informal trail system throughout the City of Toronto’s major watersheds and natural areas. More than 300 km of informal, natural-surface trails were charted. Significant areas of environmental degradation, erosion, and a large number of unauthorized structures and trail features were discovered.

In 2012, through extensive data collection and community engagement, the City of Toronto will be developing a Natural Environment Trail Strategy that will identify the opportunities, constraints, planning, policies and management strategies required ensure the protection of the City of Toronto’s natural areas while offering safe and enjoyable recreational opportunities for all natural environment trail users.”

To take the survey on our trail network please see:  http://wx.toronto.ca/inter/pfr/naturesurvey.nsf/survey?openform

To learn more about the trail network in Toronto please see:  http://www.toronto.ca/parks/engagement/trails/

For more information please see: http://www.yourleaf.org/event/2012-08-16/international-influences-inspiring-ideas-trees-public-space

For more information please see: http://www.yourleaf.org/event/2012-08-16/international-influences-inspiring-ideas-trees-public-space

July 26, 2012

Mr. Joe Pennachetti,
City Manager

RE: Termination of the Hardship Fund

Dear City Manager,

We have recently learned that Toronto Employment and Social Services (TESS) terminated the Hardship Fund effective July 1, 2012. TESS staff are moving the current 1,500 recipients into other programs, if possible, to help clients with their medical needs. However, several hundred clients have not been accommodated to date, and no additional applications are being accepted.

We are writing because we believe these actions are contrary to the directions given to staff as part of the 2012 budget. We believe the Council direction asked you to continue funding the program until the end of the year and report back on the provincial position.

Below are the motions that were moved at Executive and approved at Council on January 17, 2012 related to the Hardship Fund:

Toronto Employment and Social Services

211.    City Council request the General Manager of Toronto Employment and Social Services to advise the province that the City will fund the Hardship Fund until July 1, 2012 and request provincial funding to support future hardship fund applications. In the event that additional provincial funding is not secured, any additional funding needed for the balance of the year be funded from the Toronto Employment and Social Services net budget.

213.    City Council direct the General Manager of Toronto Employment and Social Services to pursue discussions on funding the Hardship Fund with the Provincial Government and report back as appropriate.

The Council motion clearly asks for you to advocate with the province for continued funding, and if that was not forthcoming, the funds would be allocated from internal sources until the end of the year. The recommendations also requested that you report to Council on the discussions with the province.

We are concerned that some of our most vulnerable residents, many seniors with serious medical needs are losing this important benefit.

We are, therefore, requesting that you continue providing assistance to clients under the Hardship Fund, and report to Council on October 2, on this matter. We also understand that the Province made changes to Ontario Works in the spring budget that will have further detrimental impacts on low income residents in Toronto, and ask that you address these changes in your report as well.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Councillor Maria Augimeri
Councillor Ana Bailao
Councillor Shelley Carroll
Councillor Josh Colle
Councillor Janet Davis
Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker
Councillor Sarah Doucette
Councillor John Filion
Councillor Paula Fletcher
Councillor Mary Fragedakis
Councillor Mike Layton
Councillor Pam McConnell
Councillor Joe Mihevc
Councillor James Pasternak
Councillor Gord Perks
Councillor Adam Vaughan
Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam

cc
Brenda Patterson, Deputy City Manager
Cam Weldon, Treasurer and CFO
Heather MacVicar, General Manager, Toronto Employment and Social Services

Planning on travelling around Toronto this weekend?  Take a minute to see this weekends events with road closures in Toronto.

“Several special events this weekend will involve road closures. Residents and visitors are encouraged to come out and enjoy these events. Businesses in the areas affected are open to pedestrian traffic but some roads will be closed to vehicles.  Festivals and other special events are important to the city, injecting hundreds of millions of dollars annually into Toronto’s economy, and they are enjoyed each year by local residents.  In addition to road closures related to special events, there is a significant amount of road work taking place in the city. People are encouraged to take public transit as a greener, faster and more affordable way of getting to their destinations.
Those who need to drive in the general vicinity of special events should allow extra time to get to and from their destination. A more complete list of events and road work is available at http://www.toronto.ca/torontostreets.  In addition, the City recently introduced T.O. INview, a map that shows information about planned capital construction work taking place across the city.  The new site is available at http://www.toronto.ca/inview.
Beaches Jazz Festival – Thursday to Saturday closure
Queen Street East, from Woodbine Avenue to Beech Avenue, will be closed as follows:
Thursday, July 26 from 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, July 27 from 6 p.m. to midnight. Saturday, July 28 from 6 p.m. to midnight

Kensington Pedestrian Sundays – Sunday closure
The following streets will be closed on Sunday, July 29 from noon to 7:30 p.m.:
• Augusta Avenue, from Dundas Street West to College Street• Kensington Avenue, from Dundas Street West to Baldwin Street• Baldwin Street, from parking garage to Augusta Avenue• St. Andrew Street, from parking garage to Kensington Avenue

The Toronto Environment Office will begin receiving applications for the fall round of Live Green Toronto Grants on Tuesday, September 4.

Community Investment Program: Grants of up to $25,000 are available for community-led projects that address local needs such as food production, sustainable transportation and renewable energy.

Capital Projects Fund: Grants of up to $250,000 are available for community improvement projects such as innovative building retrofits, greenspace/park restoration and tree planting. Eligible applicants include: resident associations, community groups, charitable and not-for-profit organizations, and Business Improvement Areas. Please note that individuals are not eligible to apply.

To learn about Live Green Toronto and Grants please see:  http://www.toronto.ca/livegreen/greenneighbourhood_rebates.htm

Toronto Public Health Youth Grants (TPHYG)
(for youth agencies and organizations)

Toronto Public Health Youth Grants help motivate and create opportunities for youth engagement and action on health issues within Toronto. Funded projects are youth-driven, community-based and emphasize partnerships.

You can apply for a grant if you are an agency serving youth or an organization with existing youth groups and your participants are between 13 – 24 years old. Successful youth group applicants can receive up to $5,000 in grant funding to use between October 2012 and June 2013. Application (MS Word) are due Monday, August 27, 2012 at 1:00 p.m.

Information Sessions:

Come to one of our information sessions to learn more about youth grants and the application process. Choose from one of four dates and locations:

To See the information session flyer visit: event flyer

To check out some of the work youth involved with TPHYG have done see:  Youth Work

Training for Youth Involved with YHAN and TPHYG

If you are between the ages of 13 – 24 and are involved with either the Youth Health Action Network or the TPH Youth Grants, register for training to:

• learn about taking action on health issues affecting youth
• meet other like-minded youth across the City
• develop new skills for college/university and future employment

There are seven training sessions offered with a maximum of 25 participants and a minimum of 10 participants per session. You can register for more than one training.

Registration will close 1 week prior to each training or when it is full. There is no cost in attending.

For more information please see: training sessions

Parkdale Public Library Upcoming Events

(1303 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON M6K 1L6 416-393-7686)

English Can Be Fun: