All Posts By

Stephen Dasko

Point-Of-Care Testing In Long-Term Care Reduces Hospital Transfers

By Announcement

BRAMPTON, ON (May 2, 2025) – Hospital transfers can be stressful for long-term care residents, increasing their risk for delirium, hospital-acquired infections, and functional decline. In early results being presented at AdvantAge Ontario’s 2025 Convention (#ASC2025) today, Peel Region saw improved health outcomes and a promising reduction in hospital transfers by expanding point-of-care testing (POCT) across all five of its Long Term Care Centres.

Thanks to the generous investment from Ontario Health’s Local Priorities and Education and Training Funding from the Ministry of Long-Term Care, Peel Region has successfully introduced advanced point-of-care diagnostic tools, including hemoglobin and c-reactive protein metres, urinalysis, bladder scanners, and blood analysis systems. Additionally, over 135 long-term care staff were trained to use them.

To collect accurate data and assess the benefits of point-of-care testing, Peel Region also developed a new system for monitoring emergency department transfers.

Together, these tools helped identify health issues sooner and informed treatment, reducing the need for emergency department visits and improving resident health outcomes. Out of 108 unique health scenarios involving POCT usage between January and March 2025, only nine hospital transfers (8.3%) occurred throughout Peel Region’s five Long Term Care Centres. According to Peel Region internal data*, the hospital transfer rate (per 100) for the corresponding period in 2024 was 16.79.

This promising hospital transfer data demonstrates how innovations in care can help long-term care residents and their families avoid the stress and disruption of spending time in hospital, while delivering tangible system benefits, such as fewer 911 calls, ED visits and hospitalizations.

The team also noted that c-reactive protein metres and urinalysis kits were the most used and supported timely diagnoses and treatment decisions. Other outcomes included strengthened antibiotic stewardship, enhanced monitoring of residents, and timely involvement of specialists.

May 5, 2025
Love0

Grown In Peel Connects Residents With Farm Fresh Local Foods

By Food for thought, Resources

BRAMPTON, ON (May 2, 2025) – Grown in Peel makes it easy for residents to find fresh, locally grown and raised products, strengthening the connection between Peel’s farms and the community. From fresh fruits and vegetables to meats, honey, eggs, and nursery stock, the Grown in Peel Local Food Guide has all the information you need to shop, support, and explore local agriculture.

Residents can use the Guide’s interactive map to locate farms and farmers’ markets and important details such as operating hours, contact information, and product availability. The Guide also highlights seasonal activities and special events, offering families and friends opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and explore Peel year-round.

From plucking ripe berries in the summer to picking apples in the fall and finding local meats in the winter, explore Grown in Peel for a taste of what’s grown locally in your community!

Quotations  

“Shopping at local farms, farmers’ markets, and nurseries is an easy way to invest in your community and discover fresh foods and products. Local purchases help to support small businesses and create lasting connections between consumers and the people who grow their food.”

– Gary Mountain, Chair, Peel Agricultural Advisory Working Group.

May 2, 2025
Love0

Water Interruption Notice – Tuesday, May 6th, from 11:00am to 5:00pm – 1248 Minnewaska Trail Mississauga

By Announcement, Resources

The Peel Region Public Works department regularly maintains and repairs the water system to make sure you have a consistent supply of quality drinking water. Sometimes we must turn off your water supply while we do this work.

Your water will be turned off on Tuesday, May 6th, from 11:00am to 5:00pm. If we need to reschedule this work due to weather or other circumstances, we will let you know the new date and time.

Property owner/manager responsibilities during a water interruption

As a property owner/manager, it is your responsibility to:

  • Ensure maintenance, mechanical or plumbing staff are on site during the water interruption, as it may affect internal systems that rely on water such as boilers, fire suppression, and alarms.
  • Notify the fire alarm company if the interruption could affect an alarm system.
  • Have a fire watch completed during the water interruption, as the building’s sprinkler protection system will not function when the water supply is shut off.

After the water interruption

When we turn the water back on, air in the pipes may make the water cloudy and your plumbing may vibrate or make noise. We recommend removing the air by slowly turning on your taps from the lowest to the highest faucet in the building (that is, starting in the basement/first floor, and finishing on the top floor). You will likely need to run the water for 10 to 30 seconds. Run the water until it is clear, and any vibration or noise has stopped.

Important note

After the water is turned back on, we recommend checking the water meter (usually located in the basement). If it is leaking, call Water Meter Installations Dispatch at:

  • 905-791-7800 extension 3226 (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Monday to Friday)
  • 905-791-7800 extension 4409 (after hours or statutory holidays)

If you have any questions, please contact us.

Construction Inspections

Engineering Technical Services Division

Operations Support, Public Works

Email: zzgetsdevadmin@peelregion.ca

Phone: 905-791-7800 extension 3246 / 3247 (8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Monday to Friday)

Phone: 905-791-7800 extension 4409 (after hours or statutory holidays)

 

INTERRUPTION DETAILS

Date and Time:   Tuesday, May 6th, from 11:00am to 5:00pm.

Location:  1248 Minnewaska Trail, Mississauga

Addresses Affected:  1249-1312 Minnewaska Trail

Project #:  C-604139

Regional Inspector:  Phemelo Mpoloka

Telephone #    437-220-8917

905-791-7800 ext. 3246/3247

May 2, 2025
Love0

Mississauga mourns with Indigenous community on national day of awareness

By Announcement

City half-masts Every Child Matters flag to honour those who have been lost and call for action against violence.

May 2, 2025

May 5 is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S) – a time for reflection and action in Canada. The day aims to recognize and raise awareness about the tragic rate of violence and abuse that Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people face in Canada.The 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action report identified 94 steps to address the damaging impact of residential schools in Canada. One of these steps, Call to Action #41, focuses on the issue of disproportionate violence against Indigenous women and girls, and proposes the creation of a public inquiry into this crisis, which remains an urgent matter of concern.

As a City, Mississauga honours the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and gender diverse people, while recognizing the grief shared by their families, friends and communities. On May 5, the City will recognize these tragic moments in Canada’s Indigenous history, by:

The community is encouraged to show their support and raise awareness of MMIWG2S by wearing red, joining the conversation online, viewing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s report and other related material. Additional information and resources can be found on the City’s webpage.

“We stand solid in our commitment to the families who are still impacted by these horrific crimes and to bring awareness and education to the public. We can’t change the past, but we can certainly change the future for Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ individuals who have been devasted by violence or are still missing. We need to be a voice for those we’ve lost and a strength to those who are left behind. For survivors, we need to continue to create safe spaces that allows them to tell their story.” – Ogimma-kwe (Chief) Claire Sault, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation

May 2, 2025
Love0

Get Your Gears Ready, It’s Time For BikeFest!

By Announcement, Events

Whether you’re new to cycling or have been cycling for years, join the City of Mississauga’s BikeFest event to celebrate the joy of riding a bike. This free community event is taking place on Saturday, May 10 at Mississauga Celebration Square from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It’s an all-ages event filled with fun and interactive cycling activities. BikeFest provides an opportunity to come together as a community, promote healthy living and have a great time outdoors with friends and family. From skills and drills sessions to bike servicing, family-friendly activities and exploring various active transportation options, there’s something for everyone.

Bring your bike if you have one, but even if you don’t, get ready to enjoy delicious food, vibrant colors and lively music.

Group of people with bikes at a festival.

Event details

What

The City is hosting BikeFest, a free community event for all-ages to celebrate cycling. You’ll learn more about biking, meet others in your community and have a fun-filled day.

Some highlights of Bikefest include:

  • Getting your bicycle tuned up by a bike mechanic for free
  • Taking part in a skills and drills circuit for children
  • Trying out the shared e-bikes and e-scooters
  • Practising how to load and unload your bike on a MiWay bus
  • Learning more about cycling with local bike vendors and groups
  • Taking part in a 30-minute yoga class
  • Taking photos with a tandem bike at the photo booth

Where/when

BikeFest is taking place on Saturday, May 10 at Mississauga Celebration Square from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

To help reduce carbon emissions and get outdoor exercise, consider riding your bike to BikeFest. Use the City’s cycling map to map out your route. If you’re unable to bike the full way, consider using MiWay to get partway there and then bike the rest of the way.

To learn more about BikeFest, visit mississauga.ca/bikefest

May 1, 2025
Love0

Building More Homes Safely: Mississauga Tops 100,000 Building Inspections

By Announcement, Planning & Development

Mississauga building officials completed more than 104,000 inspections in 2024, up almost 10 per cent from the previous year. From high-rise construction to home renovations, inspectors help projects navigate and meet all required regulations, which can improve the speed and cost of construction.

As the housing crisis continues, it’s critical that cities build more homes, faster without sacrificing quality or safety. As part of the Building Permit process, Mississauga’s building officials ensure that construction complies with the Ontario Building Code and the Building Code Act. The team includes:

  • Plans examiners: review Building Permit applications to ensure proposed buildings comply with Ontario building codes, zoning by-laws, fire and safety regulations and environmental standards. These reviews are crucial in the early stages, before any onsite construction begins.
  • Building inspectors: go onsite throughout the construction process to ensure that buildings – new or renovated – are safe, built according to plan and meet all the necessary regulations. If work is not up to code, inspectors will require that any safety issues are resolved before residents move in.

In addition to their important public safety role, Mississauga’s building officials also help reduce delays in the construction process. While the Ontario Building Code requires inspections to be completed within 48 hours, in Mississauga, inspections are completed within one business day. By catching issues early in the process, the team can help prevent costly delays and rework that can slow down housing delivery.

Complex high-rise construction

Mississauga’s building officials work in a highly complex building environment. In 2024, more than 95% of the 11,627 units under construction in the city were high-rise apartments.  High-rise buildings have unique structural, mechanical and safety features that make inspections more challenging than those in low-rise buildings.

The Ontario Building Code, which sets the technical requirements for building in the province, has also become more complex. At over 800 pages, the code Mississauga’s building officials use today is more than double the length it was when it was first established in 1975.  The expertise required by our building officials continues to advance as the code adopts new regulations around:

  • Accessibility updates include improvements to barrier-free paths of travel and expanded requirements for accessible signage
  • Fire safety enhancements such as sprinkler system expansion and alarm systems with provisions for those with hearing impairments
  • Energy efficiency and climate resilience updates include improved insulation standards and high-performance windows
  • Structural and safety updates such as snow load requirements for roofs with solar panels and enhanced earthquake design standards

Encouraging housing development

The City is taking bold steps to ensure housing development continues despite difficult market conditions. Guided by the Mayor’s Housing Task Force, City Council recently approved reducing City residential development charges by 50 per cent – or by 100 per cent for family-sized units.

Council has also approved the City’s new Official Plan which contains policies to boost residential growth by setting the framework to permit a total of 370,000 new housing units by 2051.

Building safety month

During the month of May, the City of Mississauga is joining with other communities around the world to recognize Building Safety Month. Building Safety Month is an annual event that helps raise awareness about the importance of building safety, encourages safe construction practices, and recognizes the important role building professionals play building safe communities.

2025 marks the 50th Anniversary of the Ontario Building Code. As the City celebrates Building Safety Month, we recognize 50 years of the code and its important role in creating uniform building standards.

To learn more about building inspections, visit Mississauga.ca/inspections.

May 1, 2025
Love0

Virtual Adult Day Services Increase Positive Mood By 25%

By Announcement, Food for thought

BRAMPTON, ON (May 1, 2025) – Peel Region is presenting the benefits of Virtual Adult Day Services (ADS) at AdvantAge Ontario’s 2025 Convention (#ASC2025) today. In projects carried out during the pandemic in 2021, Virtual ADS was shown to improve socialization, provide cognitive stimulation, and increase positive mood by about 25%. Since its inception in 2021, Peel’s Virtual ADS has evolved into a permanent service with over 10,000 online sessions provided per year.

Virtual ADS allows older adults to age at home and live in the community longer by offering online programs focused on their physical, cognitive, social, and emotional health. In engaging one-on-one or group sessions led by experienced Peel Region staff, seniors can enjoy a variety of interactive activities tailored to their needs, ranging from physical exercises and brain-stimulating games to music therapy and meaningful discussion.

In addition to direct staff support, seniors benefit from online resources and mailings that keep them engaged and connected. Virtual ADS offers a holistic approach to seniors care, allowing individuals to thrive in the comfort and safety of their own homes while staying socially connected and active. Seniors, including those on long-term care waitlists, benefit from this easy-to-access service.

Peel Region applies an emotion-based care approach to its Virtual ADS programs. Emotion-based care empowers staff to engage ADS clients in meaningful ways by focusing on the experiences, interests, hobbies, and stories that have shaped their lives. It also has an incredible ability to make unique connections with people living with dementia, often providing a new spark to an individual’s health, mood, and self-expression.

Peel Region was the first in Ontario to implement the Butterfly approach in its Long Term Care Centres and fully intends to maintain its leadership in emotion-based care.

May 1, 2025
Love0