Weatherproofing Toronto – City of Toronto launches public consultation on emergency weather

City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:

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News Release:  May 9, 2014                 

Weatherproofing Toronto – City of Toronto launches public consultation on emergency weather

Toronto residents are invited to provide their feedback in person and online on the City of Toronto's response to the July 2013 flood and the December 2013 ice storm.

The City Manager encourages the public to visit Toronto's emergency weather consultation website http://www.toronto.ca/weatherprooftoronto over the next three weeks to:

• complete an online feedback form

• find out about the dates and locations of public consultation sessions 

• learn more about how the City manages weather emergencies, and 

• download information on preparing yourself and your home for emergencies.

The online feedback form is now live and will be available until midnight May 30.

Members of the public are also invited to attend a public information and consultation session to provide feedback in person and speak with staff. Public sessions are scheduled for the following dates and locations:

- Monday, May 12: Scarborough Civic Centre, 150 Borough Dr., 6 to 9 p.m.

- Tuesday, May 13: Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen St. W., 6 to 9 p.m.

- Wednesday, May 14: North York Civic Centre, 5110 Yonge St., 6 to 9 p.m.

- Thursday, May 15: Etobicoke Civic Centre, 399 The West Mall, 6 to 9 p.m.

Each session will start at 6 p.m., with information and displays about extreme weather and emergency preparedness. At 7 p.m., staff will provide a formal presentation, take questions and hear remarks from the public, and facilitate discussions on the best ways to weatherproof Toronto in the future. Venues are accessible and ASL interpretation will be provided.

Toronto's emergency weather consultation runs from May 9 to May 30. Everyone, whether or not attending a session, is encouraged to fill out the online feedback form.

The City Manager will report back to the City's Executive Committee on July 2 on the outcomes of storm-related reviews undertaken by the City and Toronto Hydro, and on this public consultation. Public input will be posted on the consultation website and the City's Open Data website.

This news release is also available on the City's website: http://bitly.com/1uJncSz

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. Toronto is proud to be the Host City for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games. 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: Wynna Brown, Strategic Communications, 416-392-8937, wbrown1@toronto.ca