Category

Announcement

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

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

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.

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.

Mississauga Rolls Out Second Public Art Plan

By Announcement

Today, Mississauga City Council endorsed the City’s second Public Art Plan (2025), a strategy designed to guide the implementation of its public art program for the next five years.

The plan builds upon the Public Art Master Plan (2016)Framework for a Public Art Program (2010) and Corporate Policy and Procedure 05-02-07 City Art Collection.

Through a formal acquisition process, the City commissions professional artists to create visual art for public spaces. To date, the City’s public art program has commissioned more than 92 public artworks, with 29 part of a permanent collection and more than 45 currently on display. The 2025 plan is the first time a refresh has been done since the original plan was developed in 2016.

corporate report outlines that stakeholder feedback and priorities set out in various City planning documents helped to identify five priority zones for future public art locations:

  • Infrastructure projects
  • Heritage sites
  • Cultural districts and pedestrian spaces within intensification areas
  • Waterfront
  • Major transit hubs, corridors and active transportation routes

Each of the five priority zones include corresponding ideas for artwork forms and themes as selected by Mississauga residents. The plan also includes 14 recommendations for specific public art project opportunities over the next five years.

To learn more about the Public Art Plan (2025) or program, visit the City’s website.

Peel Region Appoints New Leaders To Strengthen Public Health And Paramedic Services

By Announcement

BRAMPTON, Ont. – April 28, 2025. Peel Region is proud to announce two strategic leadership appointments that reinforce its commitment to excellence, innovation, and community well-being: Cory Tkatch as Deputy Chief of Paramedic Services and Natalie Lapos as Director of the Family Health Division in Public Health. These appointments join Peel Region’s existing skilled and visionary leaders, ready to serve our growing and diverse community.

“These new additions to the Health Services Department demonstrate the strength of leadership talent within Peel Region,” said Nancy Polsinelli, Commissioner of Health Services. “Cory and Natalie each bring a wealth of experience, a commitment to collaboration, and a deep understanding of our community’s needs. Their leadership will help us continue delivering high-quality, responsive, and equitable services to our residents.”

Cory Tkatch: Championing a stronger, more connected paramedic service

With 17 years in the field and nearly a decade of leadership within Peel Regional Paramedic Services, Cory Tkatch steps into his new role as Deputy Chief, building on his impactful work as Acting Superintendent, Superintendent, and most recently, Divisional Commander.

Cory’s leadership has been instrumental in driving systemic improvements in safety, performance, and workforce development. He is recognized for fostering a psychologically safe workplace and empowering future leaders.

“Cory has played a central role in many important changes that have shaped who we are today. Our paramedic service is stronger because of him, and with his continued leadership, I’m confident we’ll keep growing and finding new ways of delivering unparalleled care to our communities,” said Brian Gibson, Paramedic Chief.

With a Bachelor of Business Administration from Yorkville University and a Paramedicine Diploma from Centennial College, Cory’s strategic vision and operational excellence will help advance Peel’s out-of-hospital emergency and community care services.

Natalie Lapos: Advancing health and well-being for every member of the family 

Natalie Lapos has been appointed as the new Director of the Family Health Division at Peel Public Health, effective April 24, 2025. Natalie brings decades of experience in public health leadership and acute care, having recently served as Acting Director of the Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention Division.

Her extensive background includes leading substance use harm reduction strategies, coordinating emergency health programs, and shaping healthy built environments. Natalie is a values-driven leader with a passion for health equity, cultural inclusivity, and collaborative service delivery.

“Natalie is a warm, empathetic, and incredibly capable leader,” said Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Medical Officer of Health. “She has a natural ability to bring people together, tackle complex issues, and keep our communities at the heart of every decision. We are thrilled to wish her well in her new role with the Public Health Leadership Team.”

Natalie holds a Master of Nursing in Leadership in Health Policy and Education from Toronto Metropolitan University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Lakehead University. She has been a member of the College of Nurses of Ontario since 2001.

Peel Region is proud to be home to a diverse team of professionals whose expertise, compassion, and commitment to innovation are shaping healthier, safer communities for all residents. These leadership appointments reflect the organization’s continued investment in skilled talent and its unwavering dedication to public service excellence.

Pedal With Us: Explore Mississauga By Bike At A Community Ride

By Announcement, Events

Ever wonder what it’s like to experience Mississauga on two wheels? The City of Mississauga is hosting Community Rides – free, guided bike rides in different neighbourhoods throughout Mississauga. Starting Saturday, May 3, residents can join a ride and get comfortable riding on various types of cycling infrastructure, while enjoying the outdoors and meeting members of the community. All you need is a bike and a helmet. If you don’t have a bike, consider renting one of the City’s shared e-bikes.

Event details

What

Community Rides are free, guided bike rides that take place in different neighbourhoods in Mississauga. Rides of all skill-levels are welcome.

Who

Mississauga residents of all ages and cycling abilities who are looking to be active outdoors and want to explore the city by bike.

Where/when

Community Rides take place every two weeks between May and October. This year, there will be 15 Community Rides taking place until the end of October. Rides are for all ages and cycling abilities. They are between eight to 16 kilometres in length, with exception of the Bike the Creek ride being 70 kilometres.

Sign up

If you’re interested in participating in a ride, you must register online and be ready at the starting location for the start time with your bike and helmet. City staff will be onsite at the starting location to help guide participants and answer any questions. Registration for these in-person guided rides is required.

Group of people cycling during a community ride

2025 Community Rides

May

  • Saturday, May 3 – Toronto Pearson launch ride, starts at Max Ward Park
  • Saturday, May 24 – Tour de Carassauga ride, starts at Frank McKechnie Community Centre
  • Saturday, May 31 – Streetsville ride, starts at Rivergrove Community Park

June

  • Saturday, June 7 – Bike the Creek, starts at Meadowvale Community Centre
  • Saturday, June 14 – Applewood ride, starts at Garnetwood Park
  • Saturday, June 21 – Clarkson ride, starts at Clarkson Community Centre

July

  • Saturday, July 12 – Port Credit ride, starts at Port Credit Memorial Arena
  • Saturday, July 26 – Meadowvale ride, starts at Meadowvale Community Centre

August

  • Saturday, August 9 – Lisgar ride, starts at Tobias Mason Park
  • Saturday, August 23 – Downtown ride, starts at Mississauga City Hall

September

  • Saturday, September 6 – Malton ride, starts at Malton Community Centre
  • Saturday, September 20 – Sheridan ride, starts at Sheridan Park
  • Saturday, September 27 – Cooksville ride, starts at Huron Park Recreation Centre

October

  • Saturday, October 4 – Salmon Run ride, starts at Rivergrove Community Centre
  • Saturday, October 25 – Halloween ride, starts at J.C. Saddington Park

Join the Bike Challenge

The Bike Challenge is a fun way to get active while giving back to your community. To participate, simply log the kilometres you ride on your bike from now until Saturday, September 27. Your entry will be added to the total.

For every 50 kilometres you log, the City will plant one tree to count towards the One Million Trees program. Consider joining the City’s Community Ridesrenting an e-bike or finding a new trail to ride to help you gain more distance. Log your distance.

At the end of the Bike Challenge, the City will be hosting a tree planting event during the Cooksville Community Ride on Saturday, September 27 at Red Oaks Park.

Close up of bikes parked