August 2021: Information Sharing Edition
In this edition:
- New Community Safety and Well-Being Map Launched
- Your Job is Our Future: ETS Reopens
- WEVax Transportation Program Extended
- Town of Essex Facilities Available as Cooling Centres
- Transit Windsor Returning to Full Service
- City Council Invests $9.4 Million to Replace 32 Playgrounds Citywide
- EarlyON In-Person Programming
- United Way's Backpacks for Success Pick Up
- COVID-19 in Schools – Refresher Education Session
- UHC Hub of Opportunities Beyond COVID Job Preparedness Program
- Pozitive Pathways: Drug Decriminalization and Legalization Workshop
- In the News
- Local COVID-19 Information & Resources
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New Community Safety and Well-Being Map Launched |
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The Regional Community Safety and Well-Being Asset Map is an interactive tool that highlights the physical locations of community assets including local institutions, organizations, services and citizen associations that serve as positive community resources, from emergency responders and education to food insecurity and health services and more.
More than 1,200 community assets are identified and categorized on the map to provide a simpler view of available resources across the region. Work continues with CSWB partners to build upon the assets identified in this map to create an even more comprehensive tool to highlight the great resources available in Windsor-Essex.
See our video that provides a brief description of the project and highlights the design of the map:
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Your Job is Our Future: ETS Reopens |
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For more than a decade, City of Windsor Employment and Training Services (ETS) has been working with residents and local employers in Windsor and Essex County to help people return to work by connecting employers with qualified workers.
With pandemic restrictions lifting and City services gradually returning to in-person business, the ETS Resource Centre, located on the first floor of 400 City Hall Square East, is thrilled to re-open its doors to the public, by appointment only, effective August 16, 2021.
The new slogan for the department, “Your Job is Our Future,” reflects the passion and commitment staff has to ensuring their clients succeed.
For additional information, please call 519-977-6444 ext. 5520. You can also visit www.ETSforsuccess.ca online.
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WEVax Transportation Program Extended |
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Since its launch, over 3,000 complimentary rides to Windsor and Leamington vaccination clinics have been provided to people living in Windsor-Essex.
Windsor-Essex residents living in hot spot postal codes, who are unable to coordinate their own transportation due to financial, physical or other challenges, will continue to have access to complimentary taxi service to and from vaccine clinics until the end of September.
A reminder that transportation to Be Back Soon for families living in hot spot postal codes that require childcare while they attend a vaccine appointment is also available.
Please call Connections Early Years Family Centre for more information at 519-252-9696.
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Town of Essex Facilities Available as Cooling Centres |
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The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) has issued a Heat Warning.
Residents and visitors to the Town of Essex are encouraged to use the following municipal facilities as cooling centres from 9:00am to 7:00pm beginning on Monday, August 23. Centres will remain available as listed below for duration of Heat Warnings as provided by the WECHU:
Colchester Harbour Community Room
100 Jackson Street, Colchester
Phone: 519-776-7336 ext. 1056
Essex Centre Sports Complex
60 Fairview Avenue West, Essex Centre
Phone: 519-776-7336 ext. 1301
Harrow and Colchester South Community Centre
243 McAffee Street, Harrow
Phone: 519-776-7336 ext. 1325
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Transit Windsor Returning to Full Service |
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On Sunday, September 5, 2021, Transit Windsor will resume full service on all city and county routes and will also introduce Route 518X, a new limited-stop express route from Tecumseh Mall to St. Clair College via Devonshire Mall.
A reminder that the Affordable Pass Program (APP), funded by Pathway to Potential, is still available for eligible residents of Windsor-Essex.
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City Council Invests $9.4 Million to Replace 32 Playgrounds Citywide |
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A $9.4-million investment to build new play structures at 32 public parks across the city of Windsor was announced in early August. This funding ensures that over the next year, work will be underway to upgrade 32 new playgrounds across the city.
A virtual public information consultation is open to invite input from residents about what features, themes or special considerations they would like to see applied in their proposed new neighbourhood playground.
Residents are encouraged to complete the online surveys by August 27, 2021, at 4:30 p.m. This public feedback will help inform the design of the new play structures, which are expected to be built over the next two summers.
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EarlyON In-Person Programming |
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The following locations are open for in-person programming as of Monday, August 23rd:
- Lassaline EarlyON (9:00am-12:00pm)
- Sacred Heart EarlyON (9:00am-12:00pm)
- St. Pius EarlyON (9:00am-12:00pm)
The following locations will continue in-person programming:
- Lakeshore EarlyON
- Talbot Trail EarlyON
- Drouillard Place & Grandview
- Connections Early Years Family Centre
- Ska:na Family Learning Centre - Windsor-Essex- Ellrose & Northway
Pre-registration is required. Limited spaces available.
Virtual programming continues to be available on an ongoing basis.
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United Way's Backpacks for Success Pick Up |
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Backpacks can be picked up at the following locations on August 26th:
- West Gate Public School
- Dougall Ave Public School
- Frank W. Begley Public School
First come, first serve, while supplies last. Maximum 3 backpacks per family.
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COVID-19 in Schools – Refresher Education Session |
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The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU), in partnership with the Windsor Essex Local Immigration Partnership (WE LIP), is pleased to bring to you an educational opportunity to learn about the latest changes to the COVID-19 school reopening guidelines.
The session will be held virtually on Thursday, September 9th from 1:30pm - 3:00pm and will include changes to class dismissal practices and isolation requirements.
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UHC Hub of Opportunities Beyond COVID Job Preparedness Program |
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The UHC – Hub of Opportunities is once again offering the Beyond COVID Job Preparedness program.
This is a 4-week online program starting: September 13 – October 8, 2021 and runs: Monday – Friday from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm.
The program will be done virtually using Google Classroom/Google Meet (clients will require a Gmail or associated email account to participate). Laptops will be loaned to participants for the duration of the program.
This is a great opportunity for individuals age 18+ who are ready and willing to learn and work by preparing themselves for employment beyond COVID!
If interested, please forward information to Pascale at pbedard@uhc.ca or 519-944-4900 x168.
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Pozitive Pathways: Drug Decriminalization and Legalization Workshop |
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International Overdose Awareness Day is on August 31st, and to bring attention to the overdose and drug policy crisis we are currently experiencing, Claire Venet-Rogers, the Harm Reduction Community Education Coordinator at Pozitive Pathways Community Services, will be hosting a webinar on the topic of Drug Decriminalization and Legalization.
Register for the webinar here.
Furthermore, if you’d like to partake in the Candlelight Vigil to honour those passed from an overdose, please register here.
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Canada Supports Rapid Housing Projects for Windsor |
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Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the need for affordable housing and led to rising levels of homelessness.
$9.3 million was announced to create an estimated 35 new affordable homes for individuals and families in Windsor through the Cities Stream under expanded Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI). These housing units will support Canadians who are in uncertain housing situations, experiencing or at risk of homelessness, or living in temporary shelters because of the pandemic.
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Health Unit Launches “Destination Vaccination” using City Buses to bring Vaccines across the Region |
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In an effort to increase vaccination rates, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit has partnered with Transit Windsor on “Destination Vaccination” a program which makes it convenient for residents of Windsor and Essex County to receive a vaccine close to home.
By partnering with the Transit Windsor, the health unit has secured a city bus to transport nursing staff and vaccines to different areas of the City and County.
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Leamington Food Hub Celebrates Grand Opening |
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A food hub spearheaded by UHC-Hub of Opportunities marked its grand opening as an opportunity to further reduce food waste and get good produce to people who need it.
The Leamington Regional Food Hub is a 1,500 square metre production facility where volunteers take donated produce from local farmers, sort and package it and send it off to be delivered to local food banks, northern and rural communities and food programs like the UHC’s (Unemployed Help Centre’s) Farm to Food soup program.
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Pandemic Making a Broad Impact on Children’s Mental Health, Researchers Find |
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Irritability, anxiety, and depression are among the symptoms reported by children in a new study that documents the pervasive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s mental health.
Led by UWindsor psychology professor Lance Rappaport, a team of researchers surveyed children aged 8 to 13 from 190 families in the Windsor-Essex region and their parents or guardians.
Read the full article from the University of Windsor's Daily News.
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Ontario Providing More Support to Communities during COVID-19 |
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The Ontario government is providing an additional $307 million to help municipalities and Indigenous community partners deliver critical services, create longer-term housing solutions and keep people safe. This investment builds upon the $765 million dollars of Social Services Relief Funding (SSRF) announced in 2020- 2021, for a total support to communities of over $1 billion.
The City of Windsor received $8.2 million in funding for homeless initiatives from the Social Services Relief Fund. The funding will enable the city to continue day programs for the homeless in partnership with 28 local agencies and keep the Homelessness & Housing Help Hub (H4), located at Windsor Water World, open until March 2022.
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Governments of Canada and Ontario to Bring High-Speed Internet to Southwestern Ontario |
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For too long, many rural Canadians have lacked access to high-speed internet, impacting their ability to work, learn and keep in touch with family and friends. The pandemic has made addressing this divide even more urgent.
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Local COVID-19 Information & Resources |
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Ontario is currently in Step Three of the Roadmap to Reopen, as of Friday, July 16, 2021. Step Three focuses on the resumption of additional indoor services with larger numbers of people and restrictions in place.
The three-step plan is based on the provincial vaccination rate and improvements in key public health and healthcare indicators.
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Connections Early Years Family Centre’s Be Back Soon program is now extending unlicensed short-term child care to qualifying parents with young children while they attend their vaccine appointments.
ELIGIBILITY:
You live in these postal codes and you require unlicensed short-term child care while you attend a vaccine appointment: N8H, N8X, N8Y, N9A, N9B, N9C and N9Y.
Translated copies of the Be Back Soon poster are available for download in:
Please contact Connections Early Years Family Centre for more information or to book an appointment at 519.252.9696.
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The guide provides information on scheduling a vaccine appointment, childcare and transportation supports that are available for high priority communities, what happens at the vaccine appointment, and what to do if experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
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The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, the City of Windsor and the County of Essex, Windsor Regional Hospital and Erie Shores HealthCare want to ensure that you know where to turn for the latest information as vaccination opportunities become available to different groups in our region.
For the latest information on the COVID vaccines, how to register for your vaccination, mass vaccination clinics, and more, visit WEVax.ca.
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Drive-Thru/Walk-Up Food Hub Locations: |
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EAST WINDSOR
Unemployed Help Centre of Windsor Inc.
6955 Cantelon Dr., Windsor, ON
P: 519-944-4900
WALK-UP OPEN:
Monday, Wednesday, & Friday
9:30 AM to 2:00 PM
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WEST WINDSOR
Adie Knox Herman Recreation Complex
1551 Wyandotte St. W., Windsor, ON
DRIVE THRU/WALK-UP OPEN:
Tuesday & Thursday
11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
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For food hamper deliveries/referrals call UHC's Food Assistance Helpline:
519-944-4900 ext. 3
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Municipal Social Investment Efforts
City of Windsor
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Stephen Lynn
519-255-5200 ext. 5302
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Teresa Falsetta Aflak
519-255-5200 ext. 6809
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