Useful Links

Pollinators

We have many beautiful gardens in our neighbourhood.  Perhaps you are interested in bee-friendly plants?  Information on the Pollinator Protection Strategy developed by the City is available at this link.

https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/water-environment/environmentally-friendly-city-initiatives/reports-plans-policies-research/draft-pollinator-strategy/

Click on ‘tips to create a pollinator-friendly garden’ in this article to get information on how you can get a free pollinator-friendly plant kit that you can pick up at a Community Environment Day.

 

Interested in Organized Walks?

Review the following websites for Walks of interest to you.

ROM Walks

The ROM conducts a program of neighbourhood walks from May through October. Most of the ROM walks are free and you do not have to be a Member, but there are some walks that are for Members only. Program details are available on their website.

https://wwwrom.on.ca/en/whats-on/romwalks

Heritage Toronto Tours

Heritage Toronto has conducted an annual series of tours since 1994. More information about upcoming tours can be found on their website.

http://heritagetoronto.org/programs/tours/

Rouge River National Park

Guided walks are conducted year round and a complete calendar of events is available on their website.

https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/on/rouge/activ/guide

 

City Alert re Lyme Disease and Tics

For the latest City News Releases, go to this link https://wx.toronto.ca/inter/it/newsrel.nsf/news_search?OpenForm and then enter Lyme as a Simple Search.

 

Back Flow Water Valve Subsidy

This link is to a City of Toronto program that provides financial assistance for flood proofing your home (i.e. back flow water valve).

Home Energy Loan Program (HELP)

The City of Toronto supports residential energy retrofitting through the HELP program. Homeowners can get a low-interest loan of up to $75,000 to cover the cost of home energy improvements such as:

  • High-efficiency furnaces/boilers/air conditioners
  • Window/door replacements
  • Basement/attic/exterior wall insulation
  • Air source heat pumps
  • High-efficiency water heaters
  • Air sealing (e.g. weather stripping or caulking)
  • Geothermal systems
  • Solar hot water systems
  • Drain-water heat recovery systems
  • Toilet replacements
  • High-efficiency water heaters

With rates as low as 2 per cent, and terms of up to 15 years, HELP makes it easy for homeowners to pay for these home improvements over time, and access rebates offered by utility companies. Once funding is approved, homeowners can hire the contractor of their choice and complete their renovations.

Homeowners may qualify for HELP if: (1) they own a detached, semi-detached or row house, (2) all of the property owners on title consent to participate in the program, (3) their property tax and utility payments to the City are in good standing and (4) they are able to obtain written consent from their mortgage lender, if applicable.

Visit https://www.toronto.ca/311/knowledgebase/kb/docs/articles/environment-and-energy-division/environmental-implementation-and-support/help-home-energy-loan-program.html
Email [email protected]
Telephone 416-392-1826

 

Senior Resource/Support Information

Information on some resource/support groups or information sites that might be helpful to our seniors or adult children supporting their parents.

 

Ontario 211 Community and Social Services Help Line
211 is a telephone helpline (call 2-1-1) and website that provides information on an referrals to Ontario’s community, social, health related and government services.  It is a free helpline that connects you to community and social services in your area 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in over 150 languages. 211Central  Call 2-1-1.

 
 

Better Living, Health and Community Services

The Better Living, Health and Community Services organization is located at 1 Overland Drive Toronto, On M3C 2C3   www.betterlivinghealth.org.  This umbrella organization provides a variety of services for seniors and people with disabilities.

Access Better Living’s website for Summer 2019 information on Health and Wellness Programs, Education & Self Enhancement Courses, Workshops, Lunch & Learns, Events and Day Trips.

Information is available at https://mybetterliving.ca/community-centre/programs-trips-events/ on Membership Renewal which starts on August 1, 2019.  Get information on July and August events.

In celebration of their 50th Anniversary, an Open House will be held on September 12, 13 and 14. Go to the website for details on the Free Classes, Workshops, Events, Daily Draws, Fall Fun Fair and More.

 

Please note – you do not have to live within their catchment area of Sheppard to Eglinton/Yonge to Victoria Park to participate in these programs.

 

Better Living – Four Seasons Connections

This group is part of the Better Living, Health and Community Services organization, located at 1 Overland Drive Toronto, On M3C 2C3   www.betterlivinghealth.org.  This umbrella organization provides a variety of services for seniors and people with disabilities.  Four Seasons Connections is one of them and it provides assistance with work around the house, snow removal in winter, gardening and lawn cutting in summer, handyman services, etc.  They can be reached at 416-447-5074 or through the Better Living internet address above.

 

Advocacy Centre

This group provides free legal assistance to seniors.  They are expert lawyers in many areas but particularly in health related matters. This site has a tremendous amount of information that seniors would find helpful.
http://www.advocacycentreelderly.org/
http://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/default.asp

 

Government Health Information

A major government site for information on a variety of health and living topics.
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/programs/ltc/default.aspx

 

Long Term Care facility information

This link goes to a government site that lists all of the LTC facilities and allows you to look up the inspections records for each LTC facility.
http://publicreporting.ltchomes.net/en-ca/default.aspx

This is a government directory to LTC homes in Central Toronto. Most homes now have internet sites with virtual tours of the facility.
http://healthcareathome.ca/torontocentral/en/care/Pages/LTCH-Directory.aspx

 

Healthy Homes tax credit

This link is to the program that gives a tax credit for some of the work a senior might have done in the home to make it more liveable.
http://www.ontario.ca/seniors/healthy-homes-renovation-tax-credit

 

Device Assistance Program

This is the link to the provincial government Device Assistance program (i.e. wheelchairs/walkers).
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/programs/adp/

 

Community Links

Toronto’s Tree Canopy

Trees for Me offers free, native trees to Toronto Residents
To learn more, visit Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation or visit TreeForMe.ca
http://www.torontoparksandtrees.ca/

 

FoNTRA

http://fontra.com/
The Federation of North Toronto Residents’ Association (FoNTRA) is a non-profit, volunteer organization comprised of 28 member organizations.  Its members, all residents’ associations, include at least 170,000 Toronto residents within their boundaries.   FoNTRA believes that sustainable urban regions are characterized by environmental balance, fiscal viability, infrastructure investment and social renewal. The members of FoNTRA agree to work jointly to preserve and enhance the quality of life that makes our area such an enjoyable place to live, shop and work.  FoNTRA is dedicated to safeguarding the sustainability of our neighbourhoods;  believes in the fairness and democracy of Toronto’s political system; and also believes it is important that residents and neighbourhoods have early and meaningful input in terms of planning and related issues which are of direct relevance to their community.

See Page http://sahratoronto.com/sahra2017/planning/fontra/

 

Federation of Urban Neighbourhoods Ontario (FUN)

http://urbanneighbourhoods.wordpress.com/
The Federation of Urban Neighbourhoods (Ontario) Inc. was founded on November 24, 2001. It is a province-wide volunteer-based umbrella organization of community and neighbourhood associations. The objectives of F.U.N. are to promote awareness of urban issues, undertake projects which will enhance quality of life for residents of urban settings, establish a resource base for information, share expertise, represent the common interests of member organizations before public and private bodies as well as to encourage citizens to actively participate in and become informed about community and civic affairs.

 

City of Toronto

http://www.toronto.ca/

 

Jane’s Walk

www.janeswalk.net
Jane Jacobs was a famous urbanologist who lived in Toronto from 1968 until her passing in 2006, a person who was passionate about protecting and enhancing cities from unbridled growth.  She pinpointed the existence of thriving neighbourhoods as the essential building block ensuring that cities were liveable and dynamic entities.   Inspired by the life and work of Jane Jacobs, Jane’s Walk encourages citizens to get out and explore their cities through organized walks.  Visit this website for more information on the history of the Jane’s Walk and the sites for walks.

 

The North York Historical Society

http://www.nyhs.ca/
Established in the Borough of North York, 1960 providing Lectures, Newsletters, Walking tours, Community heritage events, Archives for research and study, North York heritage/history promotion and Historic plaquing and markers.  The Society encourages members to serve as citizen representatives on the North York Community Preservation Panel.

 

The Toronto Green Community

http://torontogreen.ca
Toronto Green Community is a grassroots, non-profit organization that has been in existence since 1995 with a mission to engage Torontonians in environmental initiatives where they live, work and play. Their Vision is for people to live in sustainable communities with: Clean Air and Water; Local, Organic food; Abundant Green Spaces and Minimal Waste. They support numerous programs that aim to inspire greener living including:
Apartment Greening: Door-to-door education for tenants of high-rise buildings on greening initiatives including waste reduction, and conservation of water and energy.
Speaker Series: Public events featuring prominent experts speaking on a range of environmental issues.
Diversity & Environment Network:  A cross-sectoral network to promote & support community initiatives that link environmental issues to poverty, marginalization and social exclusion.

Lost River Walks

http://www.lostrivers.ca
The objective of Lost River Walks is to encourage understanding of the city as a part of nature rather than apart from it, and to appreciate and cherish our heritage. Lost River Walks aims to create an appreciation of the city’s intimate connection to its water systems by tracing the courses of forgotten streams, by learning about our natural and built heritage and by sharing this information with others. The Toronto Green Community started Lost River Walks to help us discover the fascinating world of the watershed beneath our feet. This site is the start of a field book on the lost streams of Toronto. Bits of our city’s history, both natural and built, are included. Those interested can take a virtual lost creeks walk, or better, use the information to take a self-guided tour. Come explore nature hidden under our city and along its ravines and byways. “Lost River Walks,” is a joint project of The Toronto Green Community, The Toronto Field Naturalists and community partners including Hike Ontario. Lost River Walks is an official Ontario Legacy Trail, and has been voted one of the 24 best walking programs / trail systems in the province.

 

Port Lands Public Consultation

For information about the Port Lands, visit www.portlandsconsultation.ca or www.waterfrontoronto.ca

 

Crime Prevention Association of Toronto

The Crime Prevention Association of Toronto, CPAT is a community-based crime prevention organization that assists and empowers neighbourhoods, businesses, and individuals to take action to reduce crime. In order to fulfill its mandate, CPAT has brought together a network of crime prevention practitioners, including members of the Toronto Police Service, to reduce crime through education and the sharing of resources and expertise. CPAT has experienced and qualified staff, a dedicated and professional board of directors, engaged official members and thousands of community volunteers. CPAT has earned the respect of colleagues; Internationally, Nationally, Provincially, and Municipally. Access the website for information on the programs and safety and security tips:  http://crimepreventionto.org