Civic Impact

The Toronto Public Library (TPL) system is one of the busiest in the world. 

 

According to TPL gathered statistics, over 73 per cent of Torontonians used the system in 2012;  in the same year library staff responded to over 7-million information requests.
 

Last Sunday, the Toronto Public Library Workers Union (TPLWU Local 4948) hosted the city’s first ever Library Forum (not coincidentally the day before the start of this year’s City Hall budget meetings).
 

The forum, held in City Hall’s Council Chamber, attracted over 400 attendees. There were so many people, in fact, that event organizers had to ask city staff to provide additional seating in the ground floor and to setup a video feed from Council Chamber. 
 

"It’s pretty humbling that that many people came and gave up their Sunday afternoon," says Maureen O'Reilly, president of the TPLWU. "But we do know that Torontonians love their library."
 

The main feature of Sunday’s two-hour forum was the first public showing of a specially-commissioned animated short video on the past, present and potential future of the TPL (check it out here). The film, the work of acclaimed filmmakers James Braithwaite and Josh Rogan, was first posted online last Wednesday and has already accumulated more than 8,000 views. 
 

"The video itself was what the event was built around," says O’Reilly. "It’s a very unique video -- it's humours and it's good at capturing not just the events from the Ford administration, but also the long-term importance of the library and the message that re-investment is crucial."

 

"It  was amazing to be able to share that with the people of Toronto who obviously think this is important. There was total silence in the auditorium during the screening as people were taking it all in."

 

In addition to the screening, Sunday’s forum also included talks about the TPL’s future and purpose from O’Reilly as well as from Trish Hennessy, the Ontario Director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (an organization that recently completed a historical policy analysis of Toronto’s library system), and CityNews TV political analyst Alejandra Bravo.

 

The event also featured opportunities for public dialogue, free book draws, and a screening of a selection of 90-second videos of famous Toronto authors talking about the importance of a free public library.

 

"We also tried to inject a town-fair atmosphere into the event," says O’Reilly. "We had a band playing. One of the library workers was doing programs for children in the public gallery and we had a photo booth where people could take their pictures with librarian glasses on."

 

Writer: Katia Snukal

Source: Maureen O'Reilly, President, Toronto Public Library Workers Union

Since 2002, when it was first discovered that the emerald ash borer had made its way to Ontario, policy-makers and researchers have been racing to control the spread of this seemingly uncontrollable pest. 
 

The emerald ash borer, an invasive insect species that can attack and kill any type of native ash tree, is incredibly difficult to detect early and spreads through the movement of logs, trees, branches and firewood.

 

The Regional Municipality, which has seen sustained growth of tree infestation since 2008, approved a $10 million 10-year management plan to tackle the problem in 2011. Earlier this month, York’s Commissioner of Environmental Services released an infestation update. 

 

The update reveals that the insect is continuing to spread across the region and that "ash tree mortality is occurring at faster pace than originally predicted."

It also reveals however, that the removal and replacement of trees, while unable to keep up with infection rates, is taking place a faster rate than was originally forecasted. Furthermore, the update reveals that the Region has managed to directly educate approximately 500 residents on identification and management strategies. 

 

In 2012, 600 infected trees were removed from within the York Region, by the end of this year crews will have removed an additional 1,500.  

 

"The Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan provides direction for York Region staff to deal with the effects of this insect," said York Region Chairman and CEO Bill Fisch. "Dying and dead trees along Regional roads may pose a health hazard if they fall and must be removed. All trees that are cut down will be replaced with a different species, not susceptible to the Emerald Ash Borer."

 

Writer: Katia Snukal

Source: Regional Municipality of York 

The Toronto Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Safe City Program recently teamed up with players from the Toronto Football Club (FC) to produce an instructional video on the importance of bystander action during cardiac arrest. 

 

The video is under a minute long, but the message is clear: "It's easy to help a paramedic save a life."

"Bystanders are the start of the chain of survival [during cardiac arrest]," says Gayle Pollock, Commander of Toronto Emergency Service Cardiac Safe City Program. "And just by taking action it's easy to save a life."

 

 

This year alone, nine lives were saved by Toronto residents who stepped in to help someone suffering cardiac arrest. 

 

That’s why, says Pollock, it's so important to educate others about the important role they can play, "we want people to feel like an extension of our paramedics."

 

So, what should a bystander do?

First, of course, is call 9-1-1. Next, explains Pollock, check to see if the person is unconscious or not breathing and, if so, start CPR or use an automated external defibrillator (AED) (available at all City of Toronto institutions) and if you're properly tained, start mouth-to-mouth. 

 

"When you call 9-1-1 the call receiver on the phone will walk you through CPR or using the AED. And, in fact, AEDs also walk you through the process when you turn them on," says Pollock. "It doesn't take a lot of time or a lot of skill for you to help a paramedic save a life. This is not just made up or exaggerated, there is so much evidence--the sooner that CPR is started, the better the outcome of survival for that individual."

 

According to Toronto EMS statistics, the chances of survival for those suffering cardiac arrest are 75 per cent better if a bystander calls 9-1-1 and starts CPR right away.

 

"We really want people to know how easy this is, and working with the Toronto FC is helping us to get this message out."

 

Writer: Katia Snukal

Last week, the Ontario Local Food Act received unanimous support at its third reading in the Ontario legislature. The support ensures that, come the new year, the new Bill will be enshrined into law. 
 

Tucked in among a number of provisions to strengthen Ontario’s local food sector is a new tax credit for farmers who donate to community food programs. 
 

And Bill Laidlaw, executive director of Food Banks Ontario, is elated. 
 

"This is just such a good news story," says Laidlaw. "It's great for food banks, it's great for the agricultural sector, and it's great for anyone who relies on food banks to supplement their monthly food."
 

Food Banks Ontario, which represents more than 130 food banks as well as over a 1,000 food delivery systems, has long-advocated for a tax incentive to help farmers who donate to their programs. 
 

It's not only about getting more food to the people who need it; it’s also about getting them the right kinds of food.
 

"People supplementing their monthly food diets with food from food banks need more nutritious food, they need more protein-rich food. It's just a fact,” says Laidlaw. "They need food like peanut butter, fish, vegetables, meat, and fruit. In many cases they get that through the products that are donated, but we recognize that we need to do a better job of providing more nutritious foods. If you eat better it’s more likely that you’ll have better overall health and lead a more prosperous life."
 

In line with that end, Laidlaw and his team have spent years lobbying the Ontario government to provide tax breaks to farmers who donate products to food banks.
 

MPP Bob Bailey (Sarnia-Lambton), who took up the Food Bank Ontario cause, even introduced three private member bills proposing such a tax incentive. But, despite support from his Queen’s Park colleagues, the bills never passed due to timing issues. 
 

In March of this year, however, when the Ontario government introduced the Local Food Act, the initiative finally got its big chance.

"What happened this fall is that the [Ontario] government had [the Local Food Act] going through the legislature. And the government thought 'why don’t we attach the tax bill to this' and that was a huge victory for us because to go through separately it would have been really challenging," says Laidlaw. "But onto an existing legislation, there would be a great likelihood of it passing."
 

And pass it did. According to the Bill, beginning in January 2014, farmers in Ontario will receive a 25 per cent tax credit on the fair market value of products donated to community meal programs (including food banks). 
 

"At first we just thought the tax break would apply to fruits and vegetable but the way it’s worded it seems that it applies to all produce including meat, eggs, and milk," says Laidlaw. "That’s just a great extra bonus."
 

With the Act passed, Food Banks Ontario hopes to cultivate an upsurge in donated produce by working with the government to spread the word within Ontario’s agriculture sector.  
 

"Farmers already donate sporadically, but with this real incentive we’re hoping to see significant increase. Everyone wants to give, this just makes it that much easier."
 

Writer: Katia Snukal

Source: Bill Laidlaw, Food Banks Ontario  

A report released last Tuesday by Toronto's DiverseCity Counts project documents the diversity of the GTA’s health care leaders.
 

The report, conducted in partnership with Mount Sinai hospital, is the eighth installment in a series of research papers on leadership diversity in the GTA released by DiverseCity Counts, a multi-year research project that is itself one of nine initiatives of DiverseCity: The Greater Toronto Leadership Project, a joint project of Maytree and CivicAction.
 

Unlike previous reports, which focused solely on visible minorities, this newest release A Snapshot of Diverse Leadership in the Health Care Sector takes a broader view of "diversity." While still looking at visible minorities, the report includes a focus on sex/gender identity, disability, and sexual orientation.
 

Despite evidence that diversity in the health care leadership is growing (with women currently making up 61 per cent of senior management teams), the report also revealed something troubling: visible minorities, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ individuals continue to be underrepresented. 
 

"It matters that leaders in the health care sector are diverse," says report author Dr. Samir Sinha, Director of Geriatrics at Mount Sinai Hospital. "Senior management teams and governance boards in health care institutions play a critical role in setting mandates and priorities, and shaping services to help meet the needs of patients and employees. It is this leadership, for example, that has the influence and authority to recognize and acknowledge needs, approve systemic changes, and prioritize and commit the resources necessary to respond."
 

The report, which documents the benefits of diverse leadership in health care (among other things, it makes the system more responsive to the needs of marginalized demographic groups), also outlines best practices and practical tips for organizations hoping to diversify their leadership positions.

 

"We know that leading health care institutions are committed to diversity in leadership and are taking action to make it happen,” stated John Tory, Chair of CivicAction and Co-Chair of DiverseCity in a press release. “However, in the health care sector overall, it is safe to say that more work remains to be done."
 

Writer: Katia Snukal

Source: DiverseCity, Dr. Samir Sinha, Director of Geriatrics at Mount Sinai Hospital

While food markets are becoming ubiquitous in many parts of central Toronto, recent research conducted by United Way Toronto and Toronto Public Health suggests that many Toronto residents, especially those living in densely populated neighbourhoods in the inner suburbs, lack the same accessibility to affordable, fresh, and culturally appropriate food. 
 

In order to increase food options to under-serviced neighbourhoods, Toronto non-profit FoodShare teamed up with the City to transform a TTC bus into a mobile food market. The bus, donated by the TTC and transformed by FoodShare with the help of architects and designers, was officially unveiled at a launch event last week at Ryerson University.
 

While this is not the first time FoodShare has employed the concept of mobile food markets—in the past they’ve used their refrigerated food transporting trucks—this is the first time that they’ve had a vehicle designed specifically with a mobile market in mind. 
 

Not only does the retrofitted bus feature a retractable awning and exterior food boxes, it’s also spacious enough to allow customers to come inside during the colder months. 
 

"Last year we were very successful when we took one of our usual trucks and we just put a little tray in front of it so it could be used as a food truck in a parking lot," says Debbie Field, FoodShare executive director. "It worked really well in the spring and summer, but not once it got cold. We’re really excited with the bus because it means people can come inside in the winter."
 

While the exact seclude of the new bus is still being "ironed out," Field says the bus will be visiting so-called "food desserts," neighbourhoods in Toronto that lack access to healthy, affordable food. The bus will make stops in Toronto's inner suburbs, as well as four locations in the west end and four in the east.
 

The Mobile Food Market will not only offer Ontario fruits and vegetables, it will also feature what Field describes as "culturally appropriate" food items—food items geared towards the specific ethnic makeup of different Toronto neighbourhoods—as well as below average prices in order to make it affordable to financially restricted communities.

 

"FoodShare is trying to get this balance between wanting the project to at least pay for the full cost of food, but also be very understanding and sympathetic to the intense real poverty that exits in these neighborhoods," says Field. 
 

"Everybody in the city deserves to have access to the kind of food we're selling on that truck."
 

Writer: Katia Snukal

Source: Debbie Field, Executive Director, FoodShare

On June 1, 1921, 241 commissioners and 11,425 cataloguers set out to conduct a comprehensive Canada-wide census. In addition to being the first census since the First World War (and the sixth comprehensive census since the 1867 Confederation), the decennial census schedule meant the 1921 census was to be the only one conducted in the country throughout the interwar years.

Ninety-two years and three months later, the 1921 Census is, for the first time ever, fully indexed and searchable online.

To celebrate the milestone, Ancestry.ca, the genealogy site hosting the census data, held a launch party last Tuesday in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District.

"Census data in Canada only gets released to Library and Archives Canada after 92 years and only then becomes available for public consumption and research," explains Lesley Anderson, a genealogist with Ancestry.ca. "The release of the 1921 census is just a treasure trove for researchers. There is so much rich detail."

While the Census was first released to Ancestry.ca by Library and Archives Canada this past August, users and researchers wanting to access the data were only able to look through digitalized photographs of the documents.

"Until a few weeks ago, if you wanted to look at the 1921 census data, you had to do it the old-fashioned way--the way people used to have to do with microfilm—you had to go image by image, page by page on our website," says Anderson. "So unless you knew what you were looking for it could be very time-consuming."

"But we sent the images off to our indexers [a company archives.com regularly contracts out to] who spent countless hours making the indexes searchable," says Anderson.

Now anyone with internet access anywhere in Canada can access the data and using keyword searches to bring up information on their families, neighbourhoods, and towns within seconds. As per an agreement with Library and Archives Canada, the information will remain completely free for a minimum of three years.

Last Tuesday’s launch party at the Distillery District—which involved a keynote talk about the data’s significance by University of Toronto social historian Kevin James--celebrated what Anderson describes as a "huge moment" for historians, genealogists, and just about anyone who wants to track their family history in Canada in the 1920s.

"This was the first census after the First World War and after a large wave of immigration was encouraged by the government to come and settle in Canada. It was also a time of political and social change in Canada, women were getting rights and the first time two Canadian cities--Montreal and Toronto--reached the half million mark."

"Now that we have this census data we can look at other records like passenger lists and find out who was actually coming to Canada by ship or by rail and when they arrived. We also find how much money they made, if they were renting their house or owning their house. When they became citizens. What their occupation was. And more."

"It gives a real snap shot of Canada at the time and a real sense of the social history."

Among other search terms, visitors to ancestry.ca can search the census by place (including township or street address), first name, last name and date of birth.

Writer: Katia Snukal
Source: Lesley Anderson, Ancestry.ca