Item - 2021.RM30.6

Various presentations, introductions and announcements were made to City Council on March 10, 2021.

Speaker Nunziata, during the morning session of the meeting, invited Mayor Tory to address City Council to recognize the one year mark of the COVID-19 global pandemic.  Mayor Tory addressed the Council and spoke of the challenges, and loss, faced by the City, families and the business community during the past year and also spoke of the resilience of Torontonians, and of the City's front-line workers, who quickly and compassionately responded to the crisis. Mayor Tory introduced Toronto’s Poet Laureate, A.F. Moritz and invited him to share his reflections in advance of National Poetry Month. Mr. Moritz addressed City Council and read his poem "Exactly Here the Marvel Spoke: Memorial of a Plague Year: March 2020 – March 2021".

Councillor Matlow, during the morning session of the meeting, recognized Paul Raftis, outgoing General Manager, Senior Services and Long-Term Care Homes who will be returning to his position as Chief and General Manager, Toronto Paramedic Services, and thanked him for his work supporting the City's Long Term Care Homes during the pandemic year.