Item - 2024.RM17.6

Various presentations, introductions and announcements were made to City Council on April 17 and 18, 2024. 

April 17, 2024

Speaker Nunziata, during the morning session of the meeting, called upon Mayor Chow to recognize National Poetry Month.

Mayor Chow addressed City Council in celebration of April as National Poetry Month and April 18 as Poem in Your Pocket Day. Mayor Chow welcomed Lillian Allen, Toronto's Poet Laureate to the Chamber and presented her with a copy of the National Poetry Month proclamation.

Lillian Allen addressed City Council and read her poems “On Losing the Eaton Centre,” and “The Poetry of Things.”

Councillor Pasternak, during the morning session of the meeting, made remarks in memory of Estella Wheeler, a teacher at the Toronto Africentric Alternative School, who passed away shortly after a recent visit to City Hall with her students, and whose funeral service was held the past weekend.

Councillor Bradford, during the morning session of the meeting, advised Members of Council that April is “Be A Donor” Month in Ontario and encouraged Members of Council to consider becoming organ donors.

Councillor Myers, during the afternoon session of the meeting, advised Members of Council of a park improvement project at White Haven Public School in Ward 23, Scarborough North. Councillor Myers congratulated the students at the school for getting involved and thanked City staff for their work on the project.

Councillor Perks, during the afternoon session of the meeting, advised Members of Council that Round 11 of the World Candidates Chess Tournament and the World Women Candidates Chess Tournament would shortly be starting at Hart House, and that this was the most prestigious chess tournament ever hosted in Toronto.

April 18, 2024

Councillor Thompson, during the morning session of the meeting, advised Members of Council that two City staff were recognized by the the Security Industry Association at an awards ceremony in Las Vegas on April 12. Councillor Thompson congratulated Yanet Quinn, Senior Security Coordinator and Sergeant-at-Arms and Kenya Pinnock, Corporate Security for being named Women In Security Forum Power 100 Honorees. Councillor Thompson also recognized Dwaine Nichol, Director of Corporate Security, for having recently been named Canadian Security Director in the Corporate Security Category.

Deputy Mayor Malik, during the morning session of the meeting, advised Members of Council that last Wednesday, Muslims across the City celebrated Eid al-Fitr to mark the end of the month of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting. Deputy Mayor Malik wished Members of Council a happy Eid Mubarak.

Councillor Cheng, during the morning session of the meeting, advised Members of Council of the upcoming anniversary of the Yonge Street tragedy, which took place on April 23, 2018. Councillor Cheng read out the names of the victims of the van attack and remarked on the impact of the traqedy and the resilience of the community.

Councillor Cheng, during the morning session of the meeting, welcomed Grade 5 students from the Toronto Waldorf School and their teacher, Ms. Nicole Levy, who were  present in the Chamber.

Councillor Carroll, during the morning session of the meeting, welcomed students from the A.R.S. Armenian School who were present in the Chamber and acknowledged the upcoming commemoration of the Armenian genocide.