Ward 11 E-Newsletter - December 2015
Councillor's Message

Welcome to the December 2015 issue of my Ward 11 E-Newsletter!  I hope you find this newsletter informative.  

On behalf of myself and my staff, Anita A. Solomon and Kim Duarte, I would like to convey our very best wishes to you and your family for a very Merry Christmas, wonderful holiday season, and a joyful, prosperous 2016!  I look forward to serving you and your family in the coming New Year!  
 
As always, I am pleased to assist you and your family with any municipal issue that you may have.  Please don't hesitate to contact my office directly at any time at 905-896-5011 or  [email protected] .    
In This Issue...
Please Support Our Local Foodbanks this Holiday Season

The holiday season is a very special time of year, where we gather together to celebrate with our family and friends and reflect upon the year that has passed.  It is also a time when our thoughts turn to helping those who are less fortunate than ourselves in any way that we can.  A great way to help those in need during the holiday season is by helping your local food banks, who do so much to help those who are in need.  Two local food banks who do great work in our community are Eden Food for Change and the Mississauga Food Bank and there are many ways that you can help them this holiday season.
 
Eden Food For Change
Eden Food For Change is a community food centre that provides food to those in need and is also a place where the community can access nutritious food and food skills to learn more about healthy food.  Eden FFC serves all of western Mississauga and is committed to providing good food for everyone.  Their current needed items are as follows: 
  • Fresh Foods- Meat, Yogurt, Margarine, Butter
  • Canned Meats - turkey, chicken, ham, salmon
  • Formula - Enfamil A and Good Start
  • Baby food -Veggie, Meat, Mixed Meals, Pablum, Cookies
  • Canned Vegetables     
  • Canned fruit      
  • Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce
  • Instant Coffee    
  • Hot Chocolate   
  • Boost, Ensure, Glyserna
  • Jello         
  • Crackers - soda and boxed     
  • Peanut Butter
  • Deodorant, Shampoo   
  • Christmas Gifts - (Movie passes, Tim Hortons gift cards value $20.00)
 
Mississauga Food Bank
The Mississauga Food Bank (MFB) is the central food bank in Mississauga, serving over 2.5 million meals each year through its network of member agencies.  The MFB serves the community by sourcing and distributing food to its network of member agencies, which includes neighbourhood food banks, before-school breakfast clubs, shelters, and hot meal programs.  Their current needed items are:
  • Peanut butter
  • Canned fruit
  • Canned fish and meat
  • Rice
  • Canned vegetables
  • Canned, dried beans
You may drop off your donation items at the MFB's warehouse at 3121 Universal Drive; at select grocery stores; or at any Mississauga fire hall.  If you would like to make a monetary donation to the MFB, please visit www.themississaugafoodbank.org/donate-funds .  You may also donate by phone by calling 905-270-5589 or sending a cheque to The Mississauga Food Bank, 3121 Universal Drive Mississauga, ON L4X 2E2.   Top  
2016 Ward 11 New Year's Open House- January 23, 2016 @10am

2016 Ward 11 New Year's Open House- January 23, 2016 @10am
The New Year will soon be upon us, and if you and your family are looking for a fun New Year's celebration, where you can get to know your fellow neighbours in the Ward 11 community, bring everyone down to my 2016 New Year's Open House at the Kinsmen Centre!  Join me, my Staff, and your fellow Ward 11 neighbours at the Kinsmen Centre for refreshments, prizes, and fun for everyone!  The details for my 2016 New Year's Open House have changed from last year, so please note the new details (date and time) below:
 
2016 Ward 11 New Year's Open House
Saturday, January 23, 2016
10am to 12pm
Streetsville Kinsmen Centre
321 Queen Street South, Streetsville
 
If you are able, please bring non-perishable food items to support our local food banks.  I look forward to celebrating with you and your family on Saturday, January 23rd!  For more information about my 2016 New Year's Open House, please call my office at 905-896-5011 or visit www.georgecarlson.ca .   Top
2016 Mississauga Steelheads' War of the Wards

If you and your family enjoy exciting sports, look no further than your Mississauga Steelheads!  Catching a Steelheads game is a great way for you to see some talented future NHL stars play great hockey!
 
If you and your family would like to catch some great Steelheads hockey, be sure to come down to the 2016 Mississauga Steelheads' War of the Wards.  Come and cheer your Mississauga Steelheads on as they take on the Kingston Frontenacs.  You can also enjoy some great entertainment and family fun at the War of the Wards, with fun contests and great prizes available exclusively to fans who attend from each Ward; you will also be eligible to win great in-game Steelheads prizes for attending a home game!  The War of the Wards event details are as follows: 
 
2016 Mississauga Steelheads' War of the Wards:
Sunday, January 17, 2016
at 2pm
Hershey Centre
5500 Rose Cherry Place, Mississauga, ON L4Z 4B6
 
For the 2016 War of the Wards, the Mississauga Steelheads will be offering a great promotional discount on event tickets.  Tickets for this special event are BOGO or "buy one, get one FREE."  Red seats are regularly $16.90 each and through this promotion, you will get them BOGO!  There are 2 ways to buy your tickets:
 
1)  You may purchase your tickets on-line through Ticketmaster by clicking this direct link and entering the coupon code: ward11
 
 
2)  You may purchase tickets in-person at the Hershey Centre Box Office
 
If you are purchasing your tickets in-person at the Box Office, you will need to mention that you live in Ward 11.  To get the BOGO offer, you must purchase tickets in the section reserved for Ward 11 residents, which are red-level seats.

We are hoping to win the competition for the "Most Fanatical Ward" trophy this year, which will be judged as follows:

Most attendees - 10 pts for first, 5 pts for second, 2 pts for third
Loudest fans - 5 pts for first, 2 pts for second
Best dressed - 5/2
Best poster - 5/2
On-ice competition - 5/2

The judging panel will make their decision mid-way through the third period and the trophy will be handed out during a brief intermission, just before the end of the third period.   So let's support the Mississauga Steelheads and show everyone that Ward 11 has the best fans in the city!  I hope to see you and your family cheer on the Mississauga Steelheads on January 17th!   Top  
City Christmas and Holiday Hours of Operation

Please be advised that City of Mississauga administrative offices will close at noon on Wednesday, December 24, 2015. They will reopen on Monday, January 4, 2016. A number of public and recreation services will operate on a Christmas and holiday schedule during the closure period.
 
A list of City services and hours of operation for the closure period can be found on the 2015/2016 Christmas and Holiday Hours schedule . 
 
In the 2015 Christmas and Holiday Hours schedule, you will find the hours of operation for:
  • Recreation Services, Animal Services, BraeBen Golf Course, Lakeview Golf Course, Mississauga's Seniors' Centre, Mississauga Library System, Museums of Mississauga and the Provincial Offences Office
  • The Art Gallery of Mississauga
  • C Cafe
  • MiWay- Visit www.miway.ca/holidayservice for transit service levels from December 21, 2015 to January 4, 2016. Free and extended evening service is offered on New Year's Eve
For more information about the City's Christmas and holiday hours of operation, please visit www.mississauga.ca .   Top  
Be in the Know about Snow

The winter season is now upon us, which means that snow may be on its way as well.  When the snow falls, make sure you are in the know about the snow.  The City uses a priority route system to clear and salt roads, bus stops, priority sidewalks and pedestrian crossings.  There are a number of ways you can keep up to date with the City's snow clearing operations at your fingertips:
  • Download the Mississauga Roads App to track plows/salters travelling routes and receive alerts.
  • Follow the City's snow clearing information account on Twitter @MississaugaSnow  for current conditions and progress.
  • Visit mississauga.ca/snow for updates, details, routes and maps.
  • Call the Information Snow Line 905-615-SNOW (7669) to hear recorded information about plowing and salting during a snow event.
  • If there are concerns with road conditions 12-24 hours after a snowstorm ends, please contact 3-1-1 or (905-615-4311 outside city limits).
As a reminder, the City plows and/or salts roadways as follows:
  • Roads are salted if snowfall is less than eight cm (three in.) or plowed and salted if snowfall is more than eight cm (three in.).
  • Priority roads are cleared first for emergency and transit vehicles to travel followed by local residential roads, bus stops, pedestrian crossings and priority sidewalks (around hospitals, schools and major transit routes for transit service).
  • Priority sidewalks, bus stops and pedestrian crossings are cleared within 24-36 hours after the end of a snowstorm.
Roads with parked cars take longer to plow or salt, so please help plows and salters by removing vehicles from roads during heavy snowfalls. A winter on-street parking restriction is in effect in Mississauga from November 1 to March 31 between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.  Vehicles left on City streets will be issued a penalty notice and are subject to towing and storage fees.  During snow clearing operations, temporary parking permits will be suspended.  For more information about the City's snow clearing operations, please visit www.mississauga.ca/snow.   Top  
Help for Syrian Refugees
 
As Syrians continue to be displaced due to the conflict in their home country, the Government of Canada is working with private sponsors, non-governmental organizations, as well as provincial, territorial and municipal governments to welcome the first wave of refugees by the end of 2015.  The Region of Peel on behalf of the Cities of Mississauga and Brampton and the Town of Caledon is working directly with the Province and coordinating support efforts for Peel Region. 
 
I have had several inquiries from Ward 11 residents wondering how they can go about assisting the incoming Syrian refugees and there are several ways that you can assist.  Mississauga residents who wish to offer their support and contribute can volunteer with or donate money, clothing (i.e. winter coats), household items (i.e. furniture), and accommodations to the United Way of Peel Region and Lifeline Syria who are lending a helping hand and working with the Region of Peel.
 
United Way of Peel Region  is helping to resettle Syrian refugees in Peel Region.  For more information about how you can donate money and items or volunteer your time with the United Way, please visit www.unitedwaypeel.org/helpsyrianrefugees .  Lifeline Syria has partnered with the Toronto Foundation to set up a Mississauga Lifeline Syria Fund. It will make grants to registered charities to pay for the direct costs associated with sponsoring and settling Syrian refugees to Toronto and Mississauga.  For more information about how you can assist Lifeline Syria and the Mississauga Lifeline Syria Fund, please visit www.torontofoundation.ca/fund/mississauga-lifeline-syria-fund .
 
In addition to the United Way of Peel Region and Lifeline Syria, here are some other organizations that are working to assist the incoming Syrian refugees:
  • Canada Helps lists Canadian charities raising funds to assist with relief efforts: crisisreliefcentre.org/2015syria
  • Canadian Council for Refugees is an independent coalition that assists refugees with making status in Canada, and refugee resettlement: ccrweb.ca
  • Canadian Red Cross is helping to support the efforts in Syria: redcross.ca
  • Doctors Without Borders operates medical facilities inside Syria and supports more than 100 clinics, health posts and field hospitals in the country: msf.ca
  • International Organization for Migration is an intergovernmental organization which provides services and support to governments and migrants: iom.int
  • Oxfam is an international confederation of 17 organizations working around the world to find solutions to poverty and support human rights: oxfam.ca
  • Unicef Canada is a child-focused humanitarian organization operating in 192 countries including Syria: unicef.ca
  • United Nations Refugee Agency co-ordinates UN refugee responses, including support for host countries providing assistance for Syrian refugees: unhcr.ca 
  • World Vision is working in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey to help Syrian families who need aid: worldvision.ca
The Region of Peel, Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario have all set up respective websites to provide more information on how to assist the incoming Syrian refugees and you may view these websites by clicking on the links below:
 

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Enjoy the City's Natural Ice Rinks this Winter
 
Enjoy the City's Natural Ice Rinks this Winter
To help bring the joy of skating to local communities, the City of Mississauga runs a Natural Ice Rink Program at neighbourhood parks. The Parks Division provides the rink boards, rink hut and shovels for the natural ice rink, and volunteers from your community will assist with the maintenance of the rinks.  If you and your family feel like getting some skating in this holiday break, consider some fun outdoor skating at one of our natural rinks in Ward 11.  This year, natural rinks are located at:
  • Pathfinder Way Park-          1510 Argentia Rd (Creditview and Argentia)
  • Vista Heights Park-              5779 Turney Drive (Erin Mills Pkwy and Vista Blvd)
For more information about the City's Natural Ice Rink Program, please visit www.mississauga.ca/arenas .   Top  
Prevent Frozen Pipes

During the winter season you may experience some difficulties with frozen water pipes and water meters at your homes.  Should you experience frozen water pipes at your home or wish to prevent this from happening, here are some useful tips from the Region of Peel that will help you prevent frozen water pipes or thaw frozen water pipes if they happen to freeze:
 
To prevent frozen water pipes
  1. In the fall, before the first frost, locate your shut-off valve and turn it off. The shut-off valve is located inside your home, close to where your outside taps are.
  2. Disconnect your garden hoses and drain all outside taps.
  3. Go through your home to identify areas where pipes may freeze. This can be in a basement or crawlspace near an outside wall, window, areas that have a draft or near a cracked foundation.
    • Use caulk or insulation to seal these areas keep the cold out and the heat in.
  4. Find your water meter. It is found in the lowest part of your home, in your basement or crawl space. The meter is adjacent to the main water shut-off valve to your home.
  5. Protect your meter by insulating the pipes on either side by applying a low-wattage wrap heater, heat tape or thermostatically controlled heat cables around the incoming pipe. Use products approved by product safety certification organizations, such as Canadian Standards Association or Underwriters Laboratories Inc. and use them only as intended (exterior or interior).
    • If your meter is located inside a cabinet, leave the doors open to allow warm to reach them
  6. If you are going to be away, turn off the main water shut-off valve and drain your pipes through a sink or tap in the lowest level of your home.
    • Have someone check the house daily to ensure the heat is on and that no problem occurs.
  7. Maintain a consistent temperature of 15 C or 60 F in your home at all times
To thaw frozen water pipes
  1. Locate the suspected frozen area of the water pipe (commonly adjacent to an exterior wall or where the water service enters the home through the foundation).
  2. Leave a cold water tap downstream of the location open, so that when the water begins to flow again, you know the pipe has thawed.
  3. Apply heat to the suspected area (section of pipe) by using one of the following methods:
    • electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe,
    • electric hair dryer,
    • portable heater (be sure not to place near flammable materials.)
  4. If after following these instructions you are unable to thaw the frozen pipe, please contact the Region of Peel at 905-791-7800 for further help.

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Councillor George Carlson| | [email protected] | 300 City Centre Drive
Mississauga, ON   L5B 3C1

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