Community News Update - April 19, 2024
Community News Update - October 5, 2020
Dear Community,
This morning the Province of Ontario announced another 615 cases of COVID-19, with close to half of those cases being found here in Toronto (289). We’ve also now been told, that because of the dramatic increase in cases in our city, that Toronto Public Health is putting a freeze on their contact tracing efforts (with the exception of congregate settings like long-term care facilities). Of the 615 new cases, 56 of the positive tests have been deemed school-related.
All of this news, and still we are yet to see much real action from the Ford government to address the second wave of COVID-19 that is now upon us. At this point, it seems clear that the Ford government is looking to pinch pennies in a moment of crisis, rather than taking the sweeping action that is required to tackle this challenge head on. I am calling on the Ford government to take stronger public health measures to slow the spread of COVID-19, and get desperately needed support to overwhelmed public health departments across Ontario.
We need clear messaging and leadership right now, and every day that the Ford government refuses to act, will put our community in a deeper hole to climb out of down the line.
Inaction on this issue is simply not acceptable.
Today is also World Teachers Day, and this year it’s a little different than we’ve ever seen before. The work teachers are doing to support our students during a global pandemic has been nothing short of heroic. Thank you so much to all of our teachers, working day-in and day-out to maintain a fraction of normalcy in the lives of your students. I also recorded a short video for our educators today, and if you’re interested you can watch that here.
As we’re approaching Halloween, we’re all figuring out just how we’ll be celebrating this year, and our friends at Humewood House are working on a pretty fun project that you can be a part of. They will be hosting a Virtual Pumpkin Carving Contest with their mothers on October 30th, and they are looking for donations of both pumpkins and carving tools to make it happen.
If you are interested in donating, you can contact Abigail Oliveira at: [email protected] or 416-651-5657 ext 236
I am also happy to share with you that our friends at Vegwood (540 Oakwood Ave) are collecting donations for the Beeton Cupboard Food Bank during the month of March, and if you donate three or more items, you will receive a 10% discount on your order of food at Vegwood.
To learn more about Vegwood, you can check out their website here.
Finally today, I reiterate my call to our entire community to be cautious right now. While I know that panic is not the answer, neither is inaction. It is vital that we all work together to defeat COVID-19, and that means keeping our masks on, washing our hands regularly, and only breaking physical distance barriers with the people we live with.
I know how hard it is to be going backwards right now - especially seeing previously lifted restrictions return - but at this moment, taking that step back is the only way forward.
In Solidarity,
Jill Andrew
