Item - 2019.RM12.5

Various presentations, introductions and announcements were made to City Council on November 26 and 27, 2019.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019:

Councillor Thompson, during the morning session of the meeting, advised Members of Council that he was shocked to discover that when you enter Scarborough in Google's search engine, the image that appears is of a partially demolished house. Councillor Thompson advised that the image was symptomatic of the geographic bigotry that has plagued his community for decades and is not representative of Scarborough's dynamic and vibrant community.

Councillor Layton, during the morning session of the meeting, congratulated Councillor Joe Cressy and his partner Grace on the arrival of their son Jude. Councillor Layton then presented Councillor Cressy with a "Council-sized parental coffee mug". Speaker Nunziata thanked Councillor Layton for his remarks and congratulated Councillor Cressy.

Speaker Nunziata, during the afternoon session of the meeting, welcomed former Councillor Janet Davis, who was present in the Chamber.

Councillor Cressy, during the afternoon session of the meeting, advised Members of Council that tomorrow morning staff from Toronto Public Health will be providing flu shots. Councillor Cressy further advised that this initiative was suggested by Councillor Holyday and if any Members of Council or staff have not yet had their flu shot, they will be provided in the Members' Lounge from nine-thirty to ten-thirty tomorrow morning. Councillor Layton rose to add that any Member wishing to visit Councillor Cressy's new baby should get their flu shot.  

Wednesday, November 27, 2019:

Councillor Pasternak, during the morning session of the meeting, advised Members of Council of an incident that occurred at York University where an event organized by a Jewish group was disrupted by protestors. Councillor Pasternak stated that, as a graduate of York University, he was embarrassed that the rule of the mob has taken over the campus, and that the videos of the event are an embarrassment to the City. Councillor Pasternak further stated that York University must respond and that he hoped Members of Council will share with him the request that the leadership at York University take the matter seriously and take the necessary measures to ensure that students feel safe.

Councillor Cressy, during the morning session of the meeting, introduced the team from the Toronto Public Health Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Program who were going to be making the flu vaccine available in the Members' Lounge.

Speaker Nunziata, during the morning session of the meeting, called upon Mayor Tory to come forward to recognize the 2019 Toronto Arts Council Leaders Lab Fellows. Mayor Tory advised Members of Council that Toronto has declared 2021 as the year of public art which will further the City's commitment to the growing arts and culture sector. Mayor Tory stated that the City's flourishing arts and culture sector has given the City a reputation as a centre of creativity and that this was made possible in part by programs such as the Leaders Lab program which is in its fifth year. The program aims to promote leadership capacity in Toronto's arts and culture sector. Mayor Tory introduced the 2019 Fellows, eighteen of Toronto's leading artists and arts professionals, thanked them for participating in the program, but also for what they do every day to ensure the arts bind and enrich our communities, and expressed his hope that they will be better equipped to do that as a result of the program.

Speaker Nunziata, during the morning session of the meeting, welcomed Rene DeSantis, designer of the City of Toronto flag, who was present in the Chamber.

Deputy Speaker Carroll, during the afternoon session of the meeting, welcomed a delegation from the Institute of Secretariat Training and Management from the Government of India and their host representatives from Seneca College, who were present in the Chamber. Councillor Carroll advised that the delegation was receiving a one-week training for the Central Secretariat Stenographers' Service Officers of the Government of India and was at City Hall to attend a workshop called "My Local Government, It's For Me."