October: Information Sharing Edition
 In this edition: 

  • Register for P2P's Lunch & Learn Webinar
  • Transit Windsor Fare Collection Resumes October 19th
  • Fall and Winter Recreation Services Update
  • Round 2 of Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF) Applications Open
  • WindsorEssex Community Foundation (WECF) Accepting ECSF & Community Impact Grant Applications
  • Face Mask By-Law Extended in Windsor
  • In the News
  • Local COVID-19 Information & Resources
Register for P2P's Lunch & Learn Webinar
Join Pathway to Potential (P2P) in marking the UN's International Day for the Eradication of Poverty! 

We will be hosting a Lunch & Learn webinar on
Friday, October 16, 2020 at 12:00pm

Learn more about poverty in Canada and in the Windsor-Essex region. Our discussion will focus on children and youth living in low-income families and the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on this vulnerable group.
Hear from P2P community partners working with children and youth, and how programs have had to recalibrate. 
Transit Windsor Fare Collection Resumes October 19th
Effective Monday, October 19, fare collection and the Affordable Pass Program (APP) will resume.

As of July 1, 2020, rates have increased by 2% and the new APP will cost $49.35. Kids under 12 ride for free when accompanied by a full paying fare. Please refer to the Transit Windsor web page for more information on fares.

Riders are encouraged to re-load Transit Windsor Smart Cards at either the Windsor International Transit Terminal (300 Chatham Street West) or Transit Centre (3700 North Service Road East) in the weeks ahead.

Front door boarding by Transit Windsor passengers will also resume on Monday, October 19, after nearly seven months of rear-only boarding due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following the best advice of public health experts, the mandatory mask policy will remain in effect indefinitely and capacity limitations will continue to allow for social distancing on board. Transit Windsor will continue to operate on an enhanced Saturday service schedule, Monday through Saturday until ridership figures indicate additional service is required. Sunday service will continue on the Sunday schedule. 

Transit Windsor’s website has been updated to include current schedule and policies.

Read the full announcement in the City of Windsor Newsroom.
Fall and Winter Recreation Services Update
In preparation for the fall and winter, and to create opportunities for physical fitness and healthy living, the City of Windsor is re-opening a number of community centres that had been closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Additional adult and youth programing will also proceed, subject to registrations and public health guidelines.

Reopening Centres and Services:
  • Windsor Water World, Adie Knox Herman Recreation Complex and Gino and Liz Marcus Community Complex to reopen for after-school programs ages 6 to 18;
  • If there is sufficient demand, and adhering to provincial guidelines, beginning Monday, October 19, 2020, the WFCU Centre and Capri Pizzeria Recreation Complex will open for programs such as Thai Chi, Yoga, Karate and Preschool Activities. Registrations will begin on Monday, October 5, 2020, by visiting the City’s recreation website, www.activewindsor.ca.

After Windsor-Essex entered Stage 3 of the Province of Ontario’s re-opening framework, programing had been re-opened at select facilities, consistent with public health guidelines. Average attendance and recreation program participation remains substantially lower than pre-pandemic seasons.
  • Ice rentals are available at WFCU Centre and Capri Pizzeria Recreation Complex, with 5 ice pads in total. Current usage is 80% of the time during peak hours and about 15% during off-peak times.
  • The Windsor International Aquatic & Training Centre Presented by WFCU Credit Union offers reserved fitness lanes only and is operating between 37-52% capacity.
  • The WFCU Centre pool is operating both reserved fitness lane rentals and offering aqua fit classes, with lane rentals operating between 24-80% capacity and aqua fit between 7-20% capacity.

For more information on City of Windsor services, contact 311 or visit www.citywindsor.ca.
For more on recreation program registrations, visit www.activewindsor.ca.

To read the full announcement, please visit the City of Windsor Newsroom.
Round 2 of Emergency Community Support Fund Applications Open
United Way/Centraide Windsor-Essex County is accepting applications for a second round of funding for the federal Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF). The fund provides financial support to charities and other qualified donees adapting their frontline services to support vulnerable Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

United Way is proud to support this important additional investment of $390,000 into our local community. Local community service organizations can apply for funding online starting October 5, 2020.

Applications are due no later than October 30, 2020, and funding decisions will be announced by November 27, 2020.

The ECSF provides short term grants to community service agencies and must be spent by March 31, 2020.

Similar to the last round of funding, all local applications must meet the following minimum requirements:
  • Address a pressing social inclusion or well-being need caused by COVID-19.
  • Serve one or more vulnerable populations in Windsor and/or Essex County during COVID-19.
  • Can be carried out in a short time frame (from date of signature to March 31, 2021) with a reasonable budget.
  • Has not secured funds to cover the costs of the activities for which they have applied from another intermediary, another federal COVID-19 response program or a different source.

Organizations that have previously applied for funding may apply again to extend or expand programming, or to invest in new projects.

Learn more about ECSF requirements and how to apply at www.weareunited.com/funding.
WindsorEssex Community Foundation (WECF) Accepting ECSF & Community Impact Grant Applications
Thanks to a collaboration with Employment and Social Development Canada and Community Foundations Canada, the WindsorEssex Community Foundation (WECF) is now accepting applications until October 30, 2020 for the second round of the #ECSFund.

WECF continues to provide support for qualified donees working with populations made vulnerable by #COVID19. For more information and to apply visit the Community Foundations of Canada (CFC) Portal.

Applications close October 30, 2020 at 11:59 pm.
The Community Impact Grant (CIG) Program is an annual granting program offered through the WindsorEssex Community Foundation (WECF). CIGs can provide up to $10,000 in funding for projects or programs that create partnerships, tackle important Vital Signs issues, and those that will make a lasting impact on the Windsor and Essex Community.

Eligibility:
Before applying to the Community Impact Grant Program, ensure your organization and project are eligible for funding.

a) You must either be:
  1. A registered charity;
  2. A registered amateur athletic association; or
  3. A municipality.
If you do not have a registered charitable number, you must have a registered charitable organization act as an intermediary on your behalf (see Intermediary Organizations – page 11).

b) Individuals and “for-profit” organizations/businesses are not eligible to apply to any of our grant programs.
 
c) Your organization must either be based in Windsor or Essex County or be offering programs to the Windsor-Essex region. We will not accept applications that fund services provided to outside communities.
 
d) Organizations that received a Community Impact Grant in the last grant round are not eligible to apply for a Community Impact Grant in the subsequent year. If your organization received an emergency grant through one of the COVID-19 emergency granting streams, you are ineligible to apply.
 
e) Organizations that have not fulfilled the terms of a previous grant are not eligible to apply. This includes not submitting a signed grant agreement or final report for your project, and not fulfilling terms outlined in an approved grant application.

The application deadline is October 18, 2020.
Please click here for the application form.
Face Mask By-Law Extended in Windsor
On September 28, 2020, Windsor City Council ratified an extension to the mandatory face mask by-law so that it will remain in effect indefinitely until council decides it is no longer needed to protect us against COVID-19.

With the 2nd wave upon us, wearing a mask is critical to stemming the spread.

Read the full updated mask order by the City of Windsor.
Migrant Worker Isolation & Recovery Centre Will Remain Open
As reported by Blackburn News, the Migrant Farm Worker Isolation Centre in Windsor will remain open thanks to continued funding from the federal government.

Medical Officer of Health Dr. Wajid Ahmed said the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit supported the application to keep funding flowing from senior governments after an agreement with the Red Cross expired. The City of Windsor has taken over operations of the centre. Currently, the plan is to extend the agreement every 30 days.

No migrant workers are staying at the isolation centre (as of October 5th), but Dr. Ahmed told BlackburnNews.com experience has shown how a small number of cases can rapidly balloon.
Greater Essex County District School Board (GECDSB) Updates
The GECDSB has assigned seven teachers to serve as homework advisors to help students during their asynchronous learning days at home. They are available to answer questions Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Specifically, they’re available to help when a student’s in-class teacher is busy teaching the opposite in-class cohort of 15 students.

Read the full story by the Windsor Star.


The GECDSB has also announced the deadline to request a change in learning model for students will be Monday, October 19th. A form will be available on-line through the GECDSB website beginning on Wednesday, October 14th, closing at 4:00 p.m. on October 19th

Parents / guardians of elementary students may submit their request to change from the current learning model to: in-person​, remote - virtual or paper packages. Secondary students may change from the current model to either in-person adapted or remote - virtual.

The re-entry dates will be November 9th for elementary students changing learning models and November 12th for secondary students.​

Another opportunity will be provided to parents / guardians to change the learning model for this school year in January 2021.
Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board (WECDSB) Update
The WECDSB has announced that Parents/Guardians of elementary students who wish to change the mode of learning their children are currently using have until October 19th at 3:00 p.m. to do so.

Parents/Guardians need to declare if they intend to change modes to either normal in-school attendance or to at-home/remote learning by filling out a form which can be found here.

If you intend to keep your children in their current mode of learning, you do not need to fill out this form. No further action is required if you have no intentions to change modes.

The secondary deadline is November 2nd. A form for secondary parents will be distributed next week.
Ontario Revises COVID-19 Screening Guidance for Schools and Child Care
The Ontario government is updating its COVID-19 school and child care screening guidance. This additional information will help parents determine when it is most appropriate for students, children and their families to seek a test for COVID-19.

The school and child care screening guidance is being updated with two sets of questions about symptoms and information to help parents make informed decisions about whether their children should attend school or child care, need to consult a health care provider, or get tested for COVID-19.

The guidance can be found immediately at the COVID-19 Screening Tool for Children in School and Child Care.
Ontario Taking Action to Improve Child Care
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The Strengthening Early Years and Child Care in Ontario report details how Ontario is helping to provide more child care and before and after school spaces for parents, as well as increasing opportunities for home child care providers. The report was developed with input from families and sector partners. These same groups provided input into the review of the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014.

"Our government recognizes the integral role that child care plays, both in the learning and development of children and also in supporting families by allowing parents to return to work," said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education. "Ensuring that we have a strong, accessible and affordable child care system is vital to our economy recovery and future prosperity."

The government has also posted the Early Years and Child Care Annual Report 2020, which provides an annual overview and year-over-year trends of Ontario's early years and child care sector. It is clear that Ontario's child care system continues to grow.

Read the full news release in the Ontario Newsroom.
Ontario Increases Mental Health Funding for Postsecondary Students
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The Ontario government is investing $19.25 million into mental health supports for postsecondary students in 2020-21, an increase of $3.25 million over last year. This funding will help students by strengthening community partnerships and increasing the number of mental health workers and programs at colleges, universities and Indigenous Institutes.

In 2020-21, the ministry is investing in the following initiatives supporting student mental health:

  • Good2Talk/Allo j'écoute ($5.16M): mental health helpline service for postsecondary students, available 24/7/365;
  • Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health ($0.5M): knowledge exchange hub providing resources and access to expertise for the postsecondary sector;
  • Mental Health Worker Grant ($4.45M): front-line mental health service workers on campuses, annual ongoing support to 45 colleges and universities to offset the costs of hiring front-line, campus-based mental health workers;
  • Mental Health Services Grant ($6M): annual support to 45 colleges and universities, for the development of programs and services as determined by the institution;
  • Indigenous Institutes Mental Health Grant ($0.5M): support to the 9 Indigenous Institutes in Ontario for the provision of mental health services, staff, and needs assessment as needed;
  • Get-A-head ($250,000): the ministry is providing one-time funding to support the launch of a mental health online application.

The remainder of the $19.25M will support the development of partnerships and greater access to mental health resources.
Ontario Modernizes Social Assistance to Help More People Re-enter the Workforce
The Ontario Government is unveiling plans to build a more responsive, efficient and person-centred social assistance system that will get people back to work and help the economy recover from the COVID-19 crisis.

The initial phase of the plan will be rolled out in the coming months with measures that build on the enhancements already underway to improve the system. These new measures include:

  • Enhanced Access to Employment and Training: Working with the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development to improve access to employment and training services to drive the best outcomes for social assistance clients, including people with disabilities who have been particularly hard hit by job losses during the COVID-19 outbreak;
  • Accelerating Digital Delivery: Accessing supports will be easier with new digital tools and modern service options such as an online application, expansion of the MyBenefits digital platform to improve access for people receiving social assistance, and new communications channels to allow two-way digital messaging between clients and caseworkers;
  • Centralized and Automated Delivery: A centralized intake process that reduces paperwork, giving caseworkers more time to support clients through crisis and help them get back to work;
  • Risk-based Eligibility Reviews: Automated, smarter eligibility verification with provincial, federal and third-party sources to make financial assistance processing faster, while strengthening program integrity; and
  • Collaborating with Partners: By co-designing a new provincial-municipal transformation vision with municipal Ontario Works delivery partners; working with First Nations partners to develop a social assistance recovery and renewal plan that responds to unique First Nations priorities and circumstances; and engaging with key stakeholders, including staff, provincial bargaining agents, clients and health care providers.
Ontario to Protect Vulnerable Seniors Against Second Wave of COVID-19
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The Ontario government is investing close to $540 million to protect residents, caregivers, and staff in long-term care homes from future surges and waves of COVID-19. The funding is part of the province's COVID-19 fall preparedness plan, Keeping Ontarians Safe: Preparing for Future Waves of COVID-19.

As part of the Fall Preparedness Plan, the government is enabling necessary renovations and measures to improve infection prevention and control, shoring up personal protective equipment (PPE) stockpiles, and building a strong health care workforce.

The province will also be making changes to its visitor policy to long-term care homes, to ensure that long-term care homes in areas of highest community spread are able to continue to keep residents safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19 within their homes. Effective Monday, October 5, 2020, visitors to long-term care homes in these areas will be restricted to staff and essential visitors only, which includes essential caregivers.

Residents and substitute decision-makers are encouraged to identify up to two individuals as essential caregivers. Doing so will ensure the continuation of visits and support the physical and mental well-being of residents at the home.

Essential caregivers must continue to follow all public health measures, including having a negative COVID-19 test within two weeks of a visit, passing active screening at the home, wearing a mask and additional PPE as directed, and practising frequent handwashing.
Ontario Building a Modern, Connected and Comprehensive Mental Health and Addictions System
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The Ontario government is providing an additional $176 million this year to help expand access for critical mental health and addictions supports during COVID-19.

This funding is part of the province's investment of $3.8 billion over 10 years and enables Ontario's comprehensive plan, A Roadmap to Wellness, to deliver high-quality care and build a modern, connected and comprehensive mental health and addictions system.

Read full details in the Ontario Newsroom.
IRCC to Launch Expression of Interest Process for Service Delivery Improvements Projects
As part of its commitment to deliver high quality settlement services to newcomers, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is launching an expression of interest process for service delivery improvements (SDI) funding on October 15, 2020.

Since 2017, SDI projects have centred on developing innovative approaches to better support the settlement and integration of newcomers. As part of a government-wide response to the current pandemic, IRCC will allocate approximately $30 million in SDI funding in the first year toward settlement services for newcomers to safely and sustainably recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Letters of interest will be accepted from October 15, 2020, to November 24, 2020.
Successful projects will be announced in the summer of 2021; funding will begin in the fall of 2021 and run until March 31, 2024.

Read the full news release on the IRCC web page for more information.
Local COVID-19 Information & Resources
As of June 26, 2020, it became mandatory to wear a face mask or covering in commercial establishments in Windsor-Essex. Full details of the order by the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit can be found here.
The City of Windsor and other areas of Essex County have issued orders for mask use in indoor public spaces.

The Government of Canada has provided a web page outlining safe and proper use of masks during COVID-19. Resources are available for download in multiple languages.
Drive thru Food Bank Locations in Windsor-Essex:
EAST WINDSOR
Unemployed Help Centre of Windsor Inc.
6955 Cantelon Dr., Windsor, ON
P: 519-944-4900
DRIVE THRU/WALK-UP OPEN:
Monday, Wednesday, & Friday 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM

WEST WINDSOR
St. Michael's Adult Secondary School 
477 Detroit St., Windsor, ON
DRIVE THRU/WALK-UP OPEN:
Tuesday & Thursday 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
BELLE RIVER
Community Support Centre of Essex County 
Community Food Pantry 
962 Old Tecumseh Rd., Puce, ON
P: 519-728-1435 
DRIVE THRU OPEN: Monday & Wednesday 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM 
LEAMINGTON
Salvation Army Leamington 
88 Setterington St., Leamington, ON
P: 519-326-0319 
DRIVE THRU/WALK-UP OPEN:
Friday & Saturday 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
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

CONTACT INFORMATION
Municipal Social Investment Efforts
City of Windsor
Stephen Lynn
519-255-5200 ext. 5302
p2p@citywindsor.ca
Teresa Falsetta Aflak
519-255-5200 ext. 6809
p2p@citywindsor.ca
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