Dear Ward 3 Residents,

During the month of January, people across Canada participated in Bell Let's Talk Day, an initiative aimed at raising awareness and dismantling the stigma surrounding mental health issues. It's crucial to extend support to friends and neighbours, practicing kindness and being there for one another.

This month is also designated as National Crime Stoppers Month, offering a chance for both public and private organizations to educate Canadians and raise awareness about crimes occurring in their communities.

Let us collectively cultivate a heightened sense of awareness regarding our surroundings, underscoring the importance of remaining vigilant to contribute to the perpetual safety and well-being of our community.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all those who attended my Short Term Accommodation Information Session, earlier this month. If you would like more details, please visit my website.

Below are important updates to stay informed about during the month. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact my office.

Sincerely,

Chris

I am delighted to announce to the entire community the recent addition of two brand-new dog waste containers at Garnetwood Park and Shaver Trail.

This innovative system diverts dog waste from land fill and converts the waste to energy. The provision of these strategically placed waste containers is a testament to our commitment to maintaining the condition of Garnetwood Park and Shaver Trial, ultimately contributing to the overall well-being and satisfaction of our residents and their furry companions.

Your cooperation in utilizing these dedicated containers is greatly appreciated as we collectively work towards upholding the cleanliness and beauty of our beloved community spaces.

Get ready for a spectacular time at my free and fabulous community skate!

Save the dates for these upcoming icy shenanigans—it's not just for you; it's for everyone you know and love. Imagine laughter, friends, and family all on the ice, creating unforgettable memories.

Lace up those skates, grab your mittens, and join the frosty fiesta as we glide into the Month of February together! See you on the ice for a whole lot of fun! ⛸️🎉

• Friday, February 2, 2024 from 6:15 – 7:45PM
• Friday, March 1, 2024 from 6:15 – 7:45PM

In recent months, numerous complaints about coyote sightings in Ward 3 have been brought to my attention.

Together with Councillor Dakso and Councillor Damerla, I'm excited to invite you all to a Coyote Community Information Session on Thursday, February 15th, 2024, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Burnhamthorpe Community Centre (Applewood Room).

Your presence is crucial in addressing and discussing the concerns around coyotes. Looking forward to seeing you there!

During the winter season, the City of Mississauga Recreation Department will be hosting Parkinson Disease exercise classes every Thursday at the Burnhamthorpe Community Centre.

Rate relief is available through the City for those who cannot afford the fees.

You're able to attend classes in 4 ways:

1. Register for the Session
2. Pay-as-you-go:
3. Pass Card Visits
4. Membership- Wellness or All-in

For more information, visit: ActiveMississauga.ca.

Check out some of the programs and services the Burnhamthorpe Community Centre offers with Library, Culture, Recreation, and Parks to keep your body and mind active.

Preview Spring/Summer programs & camps starting February 5.

Resident registration starts Feb. 20 at 6:00 am.

Non-resident registration starts Feb. 26 at 6:00 am.

To learn more and to register, visit: https://activecommunities.com/activemississauga/home.

In recognition of Black History Month, starting today until February 10, nominations for the 2024 Black Excellence Awards, presented in partnership by the City of Mississauga and the Black Caucus Alliance, are now being accepted. The awards focus on the efforts and achievements of Mississauga’s Black residents and volunteers.

Mississauga residents can be nominated in one of nine categories:

• Youth
• Business
• Community Service
• Education
• Health Services
• Arts and Culture
• Sports
• Hospitality and Food Services
• Legacy - Lifetime Achievement

To be eligible, the nominee must:

• Live and/or work in Mississauga
• Identify as being Black
• Stand as a role model for others
• Inspire volunteerism and civic engagement

Nominees who qualify will be invited to receive their award during an evening ceremony at Mississauga City Hall on Friday, February 23 at 7PM.

To learn more and to how to apply, visit: www.mississauga.ca/nominations-are-open-for-the-second-annual-black-excellence-awards.

To celebrate the City of Mississauga’s 50th anniversary, the Museums of Mississauga has hidden 50 artifacts across the city, each with their own unique story. Join the scavenger hunt and discover Mississauga’s hidden stories, one artifact at a time.

Participate in the self-guided scavenger hunt in one of three ways:

• Download the app
• Download the History Hunt app on your Android or iOS device by searching for “History Hunt 2024”
• Scan the QR codes at each checkpoint to earn digital badges
• Access on your browser
• Scan the QR codes at each checkpoint to earn digital badges
• Encounter one of the checkpoints in Mississauga
• Scan the QR code for the browser experience or download the app

You can also participate by sharing a story about little-known people, places or events that have shaped Mississauga. Share a story and we may just include it in the History Hunt!

For more details, visit: https://mississauga.ca/participate/join-the-history-hunt.

Coyote mating season starts in January, and by February, they usually begin their search for mates. This is the time when coyotes are more active, and you might come across them while they are looking for their partners. You may also hear them communicate with each other through howling and yipping, as they establish their territories.

It’s possible to coexist with coyotes safely throughout the year by being aware and following some basic guidelines. Avoid approaching, harassing, or interacting with coyotes and maintain a safe distance from them. It’s also important to steer clear of dens and pups to avoid any unwanted confrontation with the adult coyotes.

Have you spotted a coyote in your area? You can report such sightings on the City’s online map designed for this purpose. Your report will help Animal Services identify areas that require additional patrols and community outreach efforts.



In case you come across a coyote that appears to be sick, injured, or is not maintaining a safe distance, please contact Mississauga Animal Services at 905-896-5858.

To gain a deeper understanding of Animal Services and urban wildlife, you can visit mississauga.ca/animalservices.

Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services (MFES) has welcomed two anticipated, state-of-the-art heavy rescue vehicles. This purchase is a significant milestone for MFES as it marks the first time it has acquired heavy rescue vehicles of this calibre. It also marks a notable advancement in the City’s commitment to ensuring the highest level of safety measures and preparedness for its residents and neighbourhoods.

Heavy rescue vehicles provide Mississauga’s highly skilled and trained firefighters with state-of-the-art resources to efficiently respond to challenging and complex situations. They are uniquely designed to carry specialized equipment used for complex emergency scenarios such as:

• Light and heavy vehicle collisions
• Trench rescues
•  High and low angle rope rescues
• Confined space rescues
• Industrial, machine and elevator accidents
• Structural fires
• Medical emergencies

For more information on the MFES fleet and services, please visit mississauga.ca/fire.

Mental health affects people of all ages. Research shows that one in five Canadians will experience a mental illness or issue in any given year. The City of Mississauga wants to remind residents that it’s never too late to take care of their mental health.



Through continued discussions about mental health, the goal is to normalize conversations around this important topic. The more we talk about mental health, the easier it becomes for people to access the resources they need that can help. We need to end the stigma.

Below are a few positive mental health practices that everyone can incorporate into their day:

• Stay active
• Learn a new skill or try a new activity
• Stay connected

Read more at: https://www.mississauga.ca/city-of-mississauga-news/news/mississauga-is-committed-to-reducing-stigma-around-mental-health.

It’s not uncommon to see people feeding wildlife, especially birds, throughout Mississauga. However, while feeding birds, like pigeons, can seem harmless, it can have negative consequences including serious health and safety concerns for residents and birds.

Feeling the urge to feed the birds? Please don’t. Think twice before you toss that next breadcrumb.

Feeding wildlife can encourage them to enter urban areas, increasing their chances of being involved in accidents, potentially leading to property damage, injury or even death.

The City’s Animal Services team works to educate and inform the public about the dangers of feeding wildlife. They enforce regulations prohibiting animal feeding in public areas and work with others in the community, like private business owners, to help promote responsible and safe interactions with our wildlife.

Next time you want to feed the birds, think twice and remember that observing wildlife from a distance and allowing them to fend for themselves supports the well-being of both animals and our community.

For more information about urban wildlife in Mississauga, visit mississauga.ca/wildlife.

Plastic can take more than 1,000 years, or 100 decades, to decompose and break down. The plastic you throw away today will start to decompose in 3024. Unfortunately, much of this waste ends up in landfills or as litter, causing harm to Mississauga’s environment and wildlife.

By making small changes to our day-to-day lives, you can help reduce plastic waste. Here are some easy ways to limit your plastic consumption:

• Carry reusable bags when shopping.
• Use a reusable water bottle instead of buying plastic bottles. Try out a water bottle filling station available at all community centres.
• Use a reusable cutlery set instead of disposable plastic utensils.
• Choose to buy items with less plastic packaging.
• Pack lunches and snacks in reusable containers instead of plastic bags.
• Shop at bulk food stores to reduce packaging waste when possible.
• Cook at home instead of ordering takeout (takeout food often comes in single-use packaging).
• Bring coffee or a hot drink from home in a reusable mug.
• Switch to bar soaps instead of bottled shampoos and body washes.
• Re-purpose old plastic containers and bottles.
• Recycle items properly.
• Participate in local city-wide litter clean-up
• Avoid littering. Throw your waste in the proper waste bin available throughout the city.

These actions along with other actions like reducing your waste, shopping local and eating more plant-based foods can make a positive impact on the environment.

Learn more about the City’s efforts to manage waste or actions you can take by visiting: ownyourlitter.ca

On your garbage exemption day, you can put unlimited amounts of acceptable garbage on the curb. You don't need garbage tags.

Placement and collection

• Put your extra garbage out on your garbage collection day. Collectors won’t pick up garbage from the curb on recycling collection days.
• Collectors might collect your cart and excess garbage at different times during the day.
• Leave your garbage cart and excess garbage at the curb until 8 p.m. If neither are collected by 8 p.m., report waste not picked up.

Placing extra garbage on the curb

• Put smaller garbage items in garbage bags.
• Place larger items separately on the curb.
• Place your excess garbage next to your garbage cart. Leave 1 m (3 ft.) of space between the excess garbage and the cart.

Excess garbage bag weight and size limits

A garbage bag placed at the curb for collection cannot:

• Weigh more than 20 kg (44 lbs).
• Be larger than 66 cm (26 in) wide and 90 cm (35 in) high.
• Be smaller than 30 cm (12 in) wide and 30 cm (12 in) high.

Check your collection calendar for your pickup day or sign up to get free weekly waste collection reminders.

Our Summer Student Program is accepting applications until January 31. It offers summer employment to college, university, technical, or vocational trade school students from May to August. Students can gain experience, make connections, and earn a competitive salary.

As a Peel Summer Student, you’ll have a safe workplace where you can be your best self. We’ll welcome and support you, and your work will keep you energized and engaged.  Get to know the world of government, you never know where it could take you! 

To apply and learn more, visit: https://careers-peelregion.icims.com/summer-student-program.

From November 12, 2023, to January 2, 2024, Peel Regional Police held their annual holiday season R.I.D.E. (Reducing Impaired Driving Everywhere) Campaign, where dedicated teams of officers worked around the clock to specifically target impaired drivers through R.I.D.E. checkpoints, traffic stops, and responding to citizen reports of impaired driving.

As the 2023 campaign has come to a successful end, we would like to provide you a breakdown of the results:

• 12,472 vehicles investigated
• 53 Charges for Operation while Impaired by Alcohol
• 97 Charges for Blood Alcohol Concentration in Excess of the Legal Limit
• 19 Refusal or Failure to Provide Breath Sample
• 5 Charges for Operation while Impaired by Drugs
• 116 Roadside Drivers Licence Suspensions for Alcohol
• 259 Highway Traffic Act Charges

In addition, two firearms were located and seized as a result of R.I.D.E. officers’ investigations. 

Road safety is a shared responsibility and will continue to be a priority for Peel Regional Police throughout the year. Motorists are asked to be mindful of the dangers and risks associated with impaired driving, and are encouraged to plan ahead and arrange for a safe ride home.

The Sauga Neighbourhood Arts Program (SNAP!) is a new co-funding initiative of the Mississauga Arts Council (MAC) that provides financial support to community-led arts programs in celebration of Mississauga’s 50th Anniversary in 2024.

Arts Groups/Organizations, Festivals, Service/Community Groups, and Neighbourhood Associations based in Mississauga can apply anytime before November 1, 2024 for co-funding support of projects that serve their neighbourhood. SNAP! will support projects throughout 2024 that enable residents and artists to meet through beautifications, activations, and creative experiences across Mississauga and bring local residents into greater awareness, connection, and enjoyment of local professional artists. 

Successful projects will take place in Mississauga, include Mississauga-based artists, and serve Mississauga communities. These community arts projects can be from any art form and will engage residents of Mississauga. Get Creative! Eligible projects might be works of visual art: like murals, musical events: like concerts, theatre plays and street dances, or seasonal pop-up exhibitions by local curators in malls, community centres, parks, town centres, or parking lots. 

To learn more, visit: www.mississaugaartscouncil.com/programs/snap-2024.