Seniors awareness presentation on domestic violence and fraud prevention

Media advisory, Saturday, April 30, 2016, 10:30 a.m., Royal Canadian Legion #286, 11 Irwin Road, Seniors awareness presentation on domestic violence and fraud prevention

Saturday, April 30, 2016 - 4:59 AM
Divisional Policing Support Unit
416-808-0100

The Toronto Police Service would like to make the public and media aware of an information session for seniors on domestic violence awareness and fraud prevention.

It will be held on Saturday, April 30, 2016, 10:30 a.m., at the Royal Canadian Legion #286, 11 Irwin Road.

The public is invited to attend.


Please download the Toronto Police Service Mobile App for iOS or Android.


For more news, visit TPSnews.ca.



Constable Jenifferjit Sidhu, Corporate Communications, for Detective Ann-Marie Tupling, Divisional Policing Support Unit

Police seek assistance with Sexual Assault Investigation, Richmond Street East and Jarvis Street area

Police seek assistance with Sexual Assault Investigation, Richmond Street East and Jarvis Street area

Friday, April 29, 2016 - 11:59 AM
Sex Crimes:  416-808-7474

The Toronto Police Service is seeking the public's assistance identifying a man involved in a Sexual Assault investigation.

It is reported that:

- between Sunday, April 17, 2016, and Monday, April 18, 2016, a 25-year-old woman was approached by a man in the Richmond Street East and Jarvis Street area
- she left with the man in a dark-coloured vehicle to a deserted parking lot
- the woman was sexually assaulted

The man is described as black, approximately 40, brown eyes, short hair, and clean-shaven. He was wearing a white T-shirt, baggy blue jeans and an earring in one ear.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7474, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes, Google Play or Blackberry App World.

A sexual assault is any form of unwanted sexual contact. It includes, but is not limited to, kissing, grabbing, oral sex and penetration. To learn more about sexual assault, including how to report a sexual assault, please visit our Sex Crimes website.

Please download the Toronto Police Service Mobile App for iOS or Android.

For more news, visit TPSnews.ca.

Constable Jenifferjit Sidhu, Corporate Communications, for Detective Constable Autumn Withrow, Sex Crimes

Police seek assistance identifying man wanted in Fraud investigation, Security camera image released

Police seek assistance identifying man wanted in Fraud investigation, Security camera image released

Tuesday, April 19, 2016 - 6:29 AM
51 Division:  416-808-5100

The Toronto Police Service is seeking the public's assistance identifying a man wanted in a Fraud investigation.

It is reported that:

- during December 2015 and January 2016, a man defrauded the LCBO multiple times at numerous locations

The man is described as 6'0", short brown hair, facial hair and wears sport sunglasses.

A security camera image has been released.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-5100, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes, Google Play or Blackberry App World.

Please download the Toronto Police Service Mobile App for iOS or Android.

For more news, visit TPSnews.ca.

Constable Jenifferjit Sidhu, Corporate Communications, for Constable Sean Imrie, 51 Division

Security camera image of man wanted in Fraud investigation

Dovercourt Boys & Girls Club needs your help

Heinz Kuck is at it again with an event to support the Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club, and in particular their “Music Makers” program, in an effort to purchase musical instruments for their use.

Pushing for Hope aims to financially support and promote Music Makers, one of the components of Dovercourt’s Character Development Program which benefits children and youth between the ages of 8 and 15. Funds raised will directly go to the purchase of musical instruments such as steel drums, key boards, guitars and wind instruments 

http://www.pushforhope.myevent.com/

Glen Murray, MPP - News From Queen's Park

News From Queen's Park

Ontario to Introduce Changes to Municipal Elections Act
Ontario has recently proposed changes to the Municipal Elections Act, with the goal of providing new electoral options for municipalities and more open and transparent elections for voters. One aspect of the proposed changes would be to give the option of a ranked ballot voting system for municipal elections, beginning in 2018. A ranked ballot system allows voters to rank their preferred candidates from first to last, and in the event that no candidate wins a majority, the candidate with the least votes is eliminated and their voters' second choice is now taken into account. For more information on ranked voting, click HERE.

The proposed legislation will also create a framework to limit third-party advertising, simplify campaign finance rules, and make the election process more accessible to disabled voters and candidates.

New Legislation Supports First Responders With PTSD
The Government of Ontario has recently passed the Supporting Ontario's First Responders Act, which creates a presumption that PTSD suffered by first responders is work related.Once a first responder has been diagnosed by a physician or psychiatrist, it is no longer necessary to prove a causality between a specific workplace event and the worker's symptoms. This enables first responders with PTSD to more easily access the WSIB benefits that they need.

Workers affected by the new legislation include: police, firefighters, paramedics, emergency response teams, certain workers in correctional facilities, and dispatchers for first responders. There are 73,000 first responders in Ontario, and studies have shown that first responders are twice as likely to have PTSD as non-first responders. This new legislation will enable them to get the help they need faster and more easily.      

Ontario Generates $1.7 Billion from Hydro One Sale
The province of Ontario is broadening the ownership of Hydro One via a secondary share offering. This offering will generate $1.7 billion, which will in turn be used to fund infrastructure projects across the province. Once this particular offering concludes, the province will hold around 70% of Hydro One. Over time, the province's stake in Hydro One will be reduced to 40%, while still remaining the corporation's largest shareholder.

New Youth Jobs Program Has Launched in Ontario
As of April 1st, the province of Ontario has launched a new Youth Jobs Program that will help people ages 15-29 help prepare for the labour market and make important employment connections. The Youth Job Link Program is available at more than 320 locations across the province. For information on the Youth Job Link Program and the locations, click HERE. 

Community News  

Earth Day is Almost Here!
As many of you are aware, Friday April 22nd is Earth Day! Earth Day is a celebration of the planet we all call home and is usually accompanied by a variety of environmentally progressive initiatives. This year's Earth Day will focus on restoring Canada's forests, as well as forests all over the world, to their former robust state. There are many different ways to celebrate Earth Day. One simple way to celebrate is to calculate the amount of carbon your household produces by using THIS calculator, and trying to reduce that number by the 22nd!

Also, be sure to stay tuned for our own Earth Day event, as news about what we have planned is coming soon!  

Community Consultation Meeting - April 27, 2016

Extreme Cold Weather Alert – seek shelter, check on loved ones

City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:
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News Release:  April 4, 2016    
                              
Extreme Cold Weather Alert – seek shelter, check on loved ones

Based on information from Environment Canada, Dr. David McKeown, Toronto's Medical Officer of Health, has issued an Extreme Cold Weather Alert today for Toronto that will be in effect until further notice. 

Exposure to cold weather can be harmful to your health. Hypothermia occurs when the body's core temperature drops below 35°C and can have severe consequences, including organ failure and death. Frostnip and frostbite can also occur in cold weather when skin freezes. 

During extreme cold weather, residents are encouraged to call or visit vulnerable friends, neighbours and family to ensure they are not experiencing any difficulties related to the weather. Those most at risk of cold-related illness are people who work outdoors, people with a pre-existing heart condition or respiratory illness, those taking certain medications, infants and young children, and those who are homeless. People with heart problems can experience worsening of their condition up to several days after cold weather occurs. 

This alert triggers cold weather services for homeless people, including TTC tokens for people to get to shelter, increased street outreach, and a direction to shelters to relax any service restrictions in place. During an extreme cold weather alert, two 24-hour extreme cold weather drop-ins will be opened by 3 p.m. on the day the alert is called and closed by noon on the day the alert is cancelled. More information about these services is available at http://bit.ly/1yFFOH5.

During an Extreme Cold Weather Alert, members of the public are encouraged to take the following precautions: 
• Dress in layers, making sure your outer layer is windproof, and cover exposed skin. 
• Wear a hat, warm mittens or gloves, and warm boots. 
• Stay dry. Your risk of hypothermia is much greater if you are wet. 
• Choose wool or synthetic fabrics for clothes instead of cotton, because cotton stops keeping you warm once it gets wet. 
• People who normally spend long periods outside should seek shelter. Depending on the wind chill, exposed skin can freeze in minutes. 
• Avoid alcohol as it increases blood flow. You may feel warm even though you are losing body heat. 
• Consider rescheduling outdoor activities, or limiting time outdoors, especially if it's windy. 
• Keep home heating at 21ºC or warmer if babies or elderly people are present.

If you see someone on the street who needs outreach assistance – which may include a shelter bed due to the cold temperatures – call 311. For medical emergencies, call 911. 

More information and tips for staying warm during extremely cold weather are available at http://www.toronto.ca/health.

This news release is also available on the City's website: http://bit.ly/1SM50D3

Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.

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Media contacts:
Lenore Bromley, Toronto Public Health, 416-338-7974, lbromle@toronto.ca  
Pat Anderson, Shelter, Support and Housing Administration, 416-397-4328, panders@toronto.ca

City of Toronto removing abandoned bikes from streets, sidewalks

City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:
==========================================

News Release:  April 1, 2016                    

City of Toronto removing abandoned bikes from streets, sidewalks

The City of Toronto will be removing abandoned bicycles from city streets over the next few weeks to free up critical space for those who wish to park their bicycles.

Residents can assist with this cleanup by calling 311 to report any bike that appears abandoned in the public right-of-way. To help the City identify the abandoned bikes correctly, callers are asked to identify the bike with as much information as possible, including the colour of the bike frame, the type of bike and the location.

Usually an abandoned bicycle has missing or damaged parts, flat or missing tires, and is in unusable condition. If a bike has been locked at the same location for more than a month, it is likely abandoned and should be removed.

Bikes that are clearly derelict will be removed immediately. Where there is some question about whether a bike is abandoned, the City will place a notification on the bike that identifies the bike as abandoned. If a bike has been tagged in error and the owner does not want it to be removed, he or she should simply remove the tag and park the bike at a different location. After 14 days, the City will remove any bicycles that remain tagged in the original locations.

In 2015, over 1,500 abandoned bikes were removed from city streets. Many of these bikes were offered to not-for-profit cycling organizations.

The abandoned bike cleanup is part of the City's spring cleanup program Clean Toronto Together, a month-long litter removal program that includes City divisions cleaning streets, parks and watercourses along with community-led clean-ups taking place in public spaces across the city. 

This news release is also available on the City of Toronto website at http://ow.ly/10bqHM.

Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.

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Media contact: Steve Johnston, Strategic Communications, 416-392-4391, sjohnsto@toronto.ca