Yalla Magazine - ​To provide a family-friendly and safer outdoor recreation activity in parks across Toronto this winter, the City of Toronto's Welcome T.O. Winter parks plan welcomed skaters to 54 outdoor artificial ice rinks and 46 natural ice rinks this season. The outdoor skating season closed as planned on March 21 due to increasingly warmer weather. 


The City's outdoor artificial ice rinks were popular this past season, with more than 800,000 visits during almost 60,000 service hours. More than 35,000 family accounts were also created or updated, enabling more individuals and families to make a reservation at one of these rinks. More than 900 recreation staff supported rink operations during the 2020/2021 season. The City expanded customer service hours into evenings and weekends to assist residents with skate reservations.


The City also worked with community groups to facilitate 46 natural ice rinks in parks across Toronto this winter. Every winter, residents build and maintain natural rinks on parkland, with the help of City staff who provide access to water and shovels, as well as instructions on ice preparation and maintenance.


The City worked with Toronto Public Health to develop guidelines for artificial and natural ice rinks to prevent the spread of COVID-19. At artificial ice rinks, these measures included an online reservation system, additional staffing, signage and mask requirements. At natural ice rinks, signage was developed and installed to remind skaters of physical distancing and mask wearing.


Toronto's outdoor artificial ice rinks opened on Saturday, November 28 and remained open seven days a week throughout the winter until Sunday, March 21. Natural ice rinks are typically open each year between January and March, weather permitting.


More information about the City’s Welcome T.O. Winter parks plan that provided Torontonians with safer opportunities for outdoor recreation this winter is available at https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/festivals-events/welcome-to-winter/.

Yalla Magazine - ​The City of Toronto will open all five of its golf courses for the 2021 season starting April 1 – several days ahead of schedule.


As part of the season, Humber Valley Golf Course will celebrate its 100th anniversary. Humber Valley will join Dentonia Park, Don Valley, Scarlett Woods and Tam O’Shanter courses that will open on Thursday morning.


To ensure the City’s golf courses operate safely, both for the benefit of those using the courses and for the general public, guidelines have been developed in consultation with Toronto Public Health, including parameters for physical distancing and cleaning and disinfection of commonly used equipment and surfaces.


Toronto’s courses are all affordable, high quality and TTC-accessible. Each course has unique characteristics and offers something for all skill levels. A family night discount is available where junior players can golf for free when accompanied by a paying adult during the weekend afternoon nine-hole times.


Tee times will start at 7 a.m. and end at dusk, with tee times 10 minutes apart. Golfers must remain two metres (six feet) apart at all times. Golfers are encouraged to book in advance through the City’s website or by calling the golf course.


Tee times will sell out quickly, so residents are encouraged to book early. Washrooms will be made available in the clubhouses. Pro-shops will be open to facilitate equipment rentals. Contactless debit or credit is the preferred method for payment.


FlingGolf is available at all City courses other than Don Valley. This sporting activity, which combines elements of golf and lacrosse, is played with a FlingStick (rentals available) to hurl a golf ball on the golf course. FlingGolf offers a faster pace of play and is designed to help introduce new players to the game or provide a new challenge for experienced golfers.


More information about the City’s golf courses and booking options, including contact information for each course, is available at toronto.ca/golf.


Quotes:


“We are working to make sure we continue to provide safe outdoor recreation options for people during the pandemic. I encourage all those using our golf courses to keep following the public health advice and to book ahead."

– Mayor John Tory


“Humber Valley shows us that Toronto has had an international golf tradition that extends back a century. Golf lends itself well to independent play and these courses provide ample space to ensure that people can stay apart from each other to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

– Councillor Jennifer McKelvie (Ward 25 Scarborough-Rouge Park), Chair of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee

Yalla Magazine - ​COVID-19 mass immunization clinics in Toronto have almost 30,000 appointments available next week for eligible seniors age 75 and older to receive their first dose of vaccine. Vaccines are safe and effective and everyone who is eligible is encouraged to book an appointment. Residents who receive their first dose of vaccine in the coming week will have their second dose by early summer and be able to enjoy beautiful summer days knowing they have protection against COVID-19.


If you are 75 or older, the time to book your appointment is now. While registrations reached 100 per cent capacity during the first week of City-run clinic operations, more bookings are available following the initial booking rush, in addition to additional clinic capacity and increased vaccine supply.


Booking an appointment

There are several options to book an appointment at a City-operated clinic or at a preferred hospital.

The easiest ways for eligible seniors to book appointments are:

•    Online (City-operated clinics): https://covid-19.ontario.ca/book-vaccine/

•    Phone (City-operated clinics): 1-888-999-6488 (TTY 1-866-797-0007)

•    Online (hospital clinics): www.vaccineto.ca

•    Phone (hospital clinics): 1-888-385-1910

Yalla Magazine - ​The City of Toronto is working with all our healthcare partners, pharmacies and Toronto Public Health to administer all available COVID-19 vaccines. To date, 436,443 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in Toronto.


The City is currently vaccinating residents born in 1946 and earlier at three of the City-operated mass immunization clinics: Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto Congress Centre and Scarborough Town Centre. On March 29, City-operated clinics at Malvern Community Recreation Centre and Mitchell Field Community Centre will open, followed by The Hangar location on April 5.


As of yesterday evening, approximately 49,329 people have booked COVID-19 vaccination appointments at a City-run clinic. Eligible seniors can book appointments through the dark blue “Find out if you are eligible to book” button on www.toronto.ca/covid-19 with the added option of booking by phone through the Provincial Vaccine Information Line at 1-888-999-6488. For more information about what to expect when you get a COVID-19 vaccine please visit, https://covid-19.ontario.ca/get-covid-19-vaccine#how-to-schedule-a-vaccination.


The City and healthcare partners are working to operate approximately 33 clinics today, including mobile teams and on-site clinics, to vaccinate priority groups identified by the Province of Ontario’s priority framework. These clinics are only vaccinating those in the priority groups who have confirmed appointments.