Officials from LAMP Community Health Centre say their outdoor flu clinics will take place tomorrow for residents to obtain a free flu shot.

The clinics will continue despite a shortage of flu vaccine that has led to a number of large pharmacies to take a pause in their programs citing a lack of medication.

The LAMP clinics will take place on Saturday November 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in their 185 Fifth Street parking lot.

There is another outdoor vaccination site at 7 Junction Rd., at Riverside Cardiology and Diagnostic Imaging, in the Junction area.

Officials said “all are welcome for regular dose vaccinations while supplies last.”

It is free and no appointment is necessary.

The program, which is hosted by the West Toronto Ontario Health Team, will provide shots for everyone from six months and older.

Those seeking shots are advised to bring their health cards, even though organizers say those without an OHIP are also welcomed.

The outdoor vaccinations was initially cancelled due to a lack of medication.

A number of pharmacies and offices have posted messages on social media cancelling their flu shot programs due to a shortage of the medication.

Rexall Pharmacy said their program is cancelled until further notice.

Rexall said it was making efforts to secure more flu vaccine doses “promptly” and promised to update its customers via email and online when flu shots became available again.

Health Minster Christine Elliott said that before the pandemic began the Ontario government had been planning a massive flu shot campaign and in preparation for that ordered 5.1 million doses — 700,000 more than 2019. When the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, Ontario ordered an additional 350,000 doses with help from the federal government.

 

As part of a community committed to the healing of victims of trauma, we hope you, your colleagues, will join us for The Gatehouse 10^th Annual Transforming Trauma Conference from November 22 to 27.

This year, organizers say, the event has gone virtual as a series of topic focused live webinars and registration is free.
This event will gather together; social agencies, health care professionals, first responders, and survivors of trauma in the Greater Toronto area and beyond to exchange ideas, share evidence-based approaches to prevent and treat the symptoms and impact of trauma.

It is our intention that attendees will be educated and empowered to become agents of transformation for themselves and those who have been impacted, according to Gatehouse officials.

We need everyone’s support to spread awareness. Registration is required for each session. Maximum 100 participants per webinar.
Visit Conference information and registration page online to learn more about the sessional line up and register today for this year’s virtual conference at www.thegatehouse.org

This event was funded by The Department of Justice Canadas’ Victims and Survivors of Crime Week.

 

 

Dozens of area smiling costumed children with smiling faces were treated with bags of candy to celebrate Halloween this year.

It was a chilly October 31 evening as volunteers with the Lake Shore Village Business Improvement Area (BIA) handed out about 300 bags of pre-made treats using a long tool with a grip to children as they walked on the sidewalk at Lake Shore Blvd. W., and Sixth Street.

Organizers say the turnout was not as much as previous years due to the threat of COVID-19, which had many kids staying indoors.

Many children were escorted by their parents as they made their way ecstatically to the candy.

“It is nice to see people handing out candy this year,” many parents said. “A lot of children did not come out due to the COVID warnings.”

The gloved and masked organizers were there from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. when just about all the treats were gone.

 

 

Hello Readers, last week I wrote about budgets and if any you attempted to undertake the exercise one would have realized it was not any easy task. Having said that it was my way of helping you to develop a relationship with money. An alternate to developing a budget and monitoring it is to, not spend more than what you make in a day. This a relatively simple exercise requiring self-control and discipline.

During these COVID-19 days it is important to maintain a good physical, mental and financial health. The former two one can use the medical facilities available to all. For your fiscal health you may choose to deal with a Financial Planner.  To have a good financial health one needs to have a good Credit score, a good saving plan, a good retirement plan, living debt free with an affordable roof over your head.

A good Credit Score is 720 plus. At this level the banks will talk to you about your need for loans or mortgage. Landlords will have no issues in renting to you. Insurance companies will give you a favourable rate on your automobile insurance. A credit score of 620 is on the low end. Look at your credit score and take all the actions to bring it up to a more desirable level

A savings plan is a must, to build up a cushion for unanticipated expenses or situations. Even if start of with a $1 daily you are on the way. Your savings should cover anywhere three to six months of spending.  These saving could be any form GICs or Mutual Funds as long as you have access to these funds in a relatively short notice. More importantly it will give you confidence as you move forward.

Retirement plan would require a lot more thought, depending upon what stage of life you are at. Look at your current spending at estimate what you will need when you retire, hopefully your house is paid of kids (if any) are settled and you are ready for the next stage of your life. This plan should looked at periodically with help of a trusted financial adviser.

Debt is a big killer even with the low interest rates, especially if it is credit card debt. Every effort should be made to reduce your debt it zero. Only good debt is a mortgage and if you have the stomach to borrow and invest. Getting out of the burden of debt will give you confidence to move forward to a more meaning full life. The interest cost of your debt is in after-tax dollars, in other words you have to earn an income pay taxes and use the money to the interest.

Get your Financial health in shape, get started today.

Rattan Gandhi is owner of Quick Refund Tax, 133 Sixth St. His opinions stem from 15 years of experience in helping clients in the tax area. If you have questions, he can be reached at 905-616-5253 or rattangandhi@gmail.com.

They just don’t have die-hard politicians like former Etobicoke Mayor Dennis Flynn any more.

The former 11-year Etobicoke mayor, Metro Chairman and Toronto City Councillor was a force to reckon with in his political heyday.

Flynn, who died in August 2003 at the age of 79, is one of a few politicians who lived to see action during the D-Day landings, Codenamed Operation Overlord, in June 1944 when some 156,000 American, British and Canadian forces landed on five beaches along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified coast of France’s Normandy region.

He was wounded twice and walked with a limp due to these injuries. He had come a long way since he enlisted in the Toronto Scottish Regiment in 1938.

Returning home he attended the University of Toronto in 1947 and joined the City of Toronto’s clerk’s department and rose to the position of protocol officer.

He was unsuccessful in his first attempt to be elected mayor of Etobicoke in 1969, but succeeded in 1972.

He was disqualified following a complaint by former Etobicoke reeve Ozzie Waffle, that he had been an employee of the City on nomination and election day.

Undeterred, he ran and once again and won the Mayor’s position in a 1973 by-election.

The father of seven was mayor of Etobicoke until 1984 when he succeeded Paul Godfrey as Metro Chairman, a position he held until 1988, when he was defeated by rising star Alan Tonks.

Flynn that same year ran successfully for Metro Council in the Kingsway-Humber ward, which he represented until 1997.

That year he ran for a seat on the newly amalgamated Toronto City Council, but finished third behind Gloria Lindsay Luby and Mario Giansante.

Flynn had an outstanding political career and by all reports did a good job in representing the people of Etobicoke.

Politics ran in the family who immigrated to Canada from Rathcormac, County Cork, Ireland, by ship in 1925.

Flynn’s older brother Patrick was an MP for Kitchener from 1974 to 1979, his sister Mary worked for the City of Toronto and his son, Tim, in 2003 ran unsuccessfully in Ward 25, Don Valley West, on Toronto City Council.

In 2001, he was awarded the Order of Ontario for his distinguished record of public service.

Flynn was the Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the Scottish Regiment (The Queen Mother‘s Own). In 2003, while visiting the regiment at CFB Petawawa he suffered a heart attack and died.