Category

Food for thought

Get home safely this holiday season: Stay alert to prevent collisions

By Food for thought

As we head out on the roads this holiday season, it’s important to remember that we are all taking a risk. Whether we’re driving to visit family and friends or simply running errands, we need to be aware of the potential dangers and take steps to protect ourselves and others.

Road collisions continue to be a problem in Mississauga. Many residents have lost their lives in road collisions that were preventable or could have been avoided. This time of year, there is a higher risk of collisions on Mississauga roads. Reduced daylight hours can impact visibility, winter weather can cause challenging road conditions and there are more road users travelling around Mississauga celebrating the holidays. Whether you’re walking, cycling, taking transit or driving, the City of Mississauga reminds you to stay alert and safe when travelling around the city.

“There’s always a lot to celebrate this time of year, but it’s important to do so responsibly. We want to make sure everyone gets to their destination and home again safely,” said Geoff Wright, Commissioner, Transportation and Works. “If you’re driving, avoid distractions, drive to weather conditions and don’t drive impaired – you can designate a driver, use MiWay to get around or use a rideshare program or taxi. If you’re walking, cycling, taking transit or using another mode of transportation, remember to stay alert and use crosswalks or crossrides when possible.”

According to Peel Regional Police, impaired driving (driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol) and distracted driving continue to be a concern in Mississauga.

“We are proud to partner with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Canada as part of our strategy to address impaired driving. Our seasonal Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (R.I.D.E) program has already checked over 7,000 vehicles and will continue to early January. Please plan ahead as you enjoy the upcoming holiday season. If you suspect someone is driving impaired, call 911. Together, we can Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere!” said Deputy Chief Marc Andrews, Peel Regional Police.

The City is prepared to respond to any snowfall or icy conditions to ensure routes are safe and accessible. Residents are reminded to stay patient during a snow event. Those driving are reminded to clear snow off their vehicles, give crews and equipment space to work and remove parked cars from their street so crews can work to clear roads.

For more road safety information and additional safety tips, visit mississauga.ca/roadsafety.

For more information about the City’s winter maintenance program, visit mississauga.ca/snow

To learn more about impaired driving and distracted driving, visit peelpolice.ca/en/safety-tips/road-safety.aspx

Black graphic with text that reads "Driving impaired has consequences. Stay safe, drive sober."

Winter road safety tips

Person driving vehicle in snowy weather in Mississauga.

If driving:

  • Clean off your car by clearing snow and ice from all windows, the roof of your car and headlights to ensure you have an unobstructed view and others can see you.
  • Plan a safe way home, and don’t drive impaired (alcohol or cannabis). Rely on a safe transportation option instead by using MiWay, using a rideshare program or a taxi, or designating a driver.
  • Avoid distractions and focus on the road when driving. Send text messages or make phone calls before you get in your car or when you reach your destination.
  • Drive for the road conditions by slowing down in bad weather like snow, ice or freezing rain.
  • Give snow-clearing crews and equipment room to work. Be patient if you are behind them.
  • Give yourself more time to get to your destination safely.
  • Look for pedestrians and cyclists before turning, entering/exiting driveways or roadways and parking lots as they are busy this time of year.

If walking, cycling or using another mode of active transportation:

  • Give yourself extra time by leaving earlier.
  • Be aware of your surroundings.
  • Travel according to conditions by slowing down in icy and snowy conditions.
  • If walking, consider using sturdy winter boots with good treads that can provide extra traction.
  • If cycling, try changing the tires on your bike – thick ones have better grip on snow. Give yourself extra space whenever you brake.
  • Help increase your visibility by using a crosswalk or crossride when possible. If cycling, use reflectors and bike lights.

Recognize a cyclist or community group: Phil Green Award nominations now open

By Announcement, Food for thought

Do you know a cyclist or a group in your community who has made an impact in cycling or other forms of sustainable active transportation in 2023? The Mississauga Cycling Advisory Committee (MCAC) is looking for nominations for the Phil Green Award. The award recognizes and celebrates those who have made an outstanding effort to promote and encourage others to cycle or use another mode of active transportation to travel in Mississauga.

The Phil Green Award is presented by MCAC annually. The award continues to honour Mississauga resident, Phil Green, who was a founding MCAC member and worked diligently to promote safe cycling in Mississauga.

See the nomination form for full eligibility details.

What:
Call for nominees – Phil Green Award

When:
The deadline to submit your nomination is Friday, January 19, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.

How:
Download the nomination form and submit it to cycling@mississauga.ca. MCAC will review the nominations and will select the winning resident or group.

The winner will be announced and recognized at a City Council meeting in early 2024.

Nominate a cyclist by filling out this form.

Learn more about cycling in Mississauga: mississauga.ca/cycling

New Cookbook From The Compass Food Bank & Outreach Centre

By Announcement, Food for thought, Ward 1

Back in 2021, The Compass Food Bank & Outreach Centre released their first ever Compass Cookbook in time for Christmas and sold over 575 copies!

From the feedback received, they made great gifts and since then the recipes have been cooked in kitchens far and wide.

The same group of wonderful volunteers who put together that first cookbook have now produced a new one that’s been printed and is ready to sell. “All Roads Lead to Sweet Treats” is exactly what it sounds like. You can now purchase a beautiful spiral-bound 104-page collection of sweet treats for your baking pleasure.

Thanks to our incredible printers at Options Mississauga, they are able to offer this second masterpiece at the same price as the first, only $20 per copy. No price increase, same outstanding quality cookbook.

As before, you can buy for yourself, as gifts for others, as well as purchase some to donate to our clients.

Order yours now by clicking on the button below. If you prefer, you can pay by cash or cheque at our office or you can send an e-transfer to treasurer@thecompass.ca but please mark “cookbooks” in the notes.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity. Make your purchase in time for the holidays. These are great gifts for teachers, colleagues, neighbours, your book club, family, friends and more.

All proceeds go to support The Compass Food Bank.

ORDER HERE

Feelin’ gourd about harvest season? Lettuce know what you’ve been growing!

By Food for thought, Uncategorized
From pumpkin patches to apple picking, cool weather and cozy sweaters, Fall is one of our favourite seasons! It’s also the time of harvest, when food and crops are gathered, picked and stored for winter months.

During the season, you can harvest and enjoy in-season fruits (raspberries, blackberries, apples, pumpkins and pears), vegetables (squash, carrots, zucchini, potatoes, eggplant, corn and beans) and herbs (basil, chives, dill and parsley).

Nothing tastes better than homegrown produce! If you’re interested in growing your own vegetable or herb garden, start with what you’re interested in growing, determine how big of a space you have to plant and do a little research about the best approach and timing.

LEARN MORE

How the City Notifies Residents and Handles Locates for Street Work

By Food for thought, Resources, Ward 1

When the City plans maintenance or construction work in a particular street or neighborhood, it’s crucial to keep residents and homeowners informed about the process.

Notification Process

To ensure that residents and homeowners are well-informed about upcoming maintenance work that may affect their properties, the City follows a notification process. Notices are distributed via hand-delivered letters, and here’s how it works:

Hand-Delivered Letters: The City prepares notification letters detailing the planned maintenance work and its potential impact. These letters are hand-delivered to the residents and homeowners. In some cases, when work affects businesses, staff will personally enter the premises to drop off the notices.

Timeline: The City strives to deliver these notices at least one week before the commencement of the work. This advanced notice allows residents and homeowners to make necessary preparations or adjustments to accommodate the upcoming construction.

Extenuating Circumstances: While the City aims for timely communication, there can be extenuating circumstances. For instance, if the scope of work expands after the crew has started, staff will make efforts to notify residents on-site about the changes. The goal is to keep everyone informed and minimize disruptions.

Locates

Before any construction work begins, it’s essential to ensure that underground utilities and infrastructure are marked to prevent accidental damage. Here’s how the City handles locates:

Contractor Responsibility: The responsibility for obtaining locates falls on the contractor hired to perform the construction or maintenance work. They must request locates from the Ontario One Call service, which acts as a central point of contact for locating underground utilities.

Utility Locates: Once contacted, each utility company is obliged to locate their underground infrastructure within the specified work area. This step is crucial for the safety of both the construction crew and the existing utilities.

Timing: Contractors usually request locates well in advance of the scheduled work. This practice is based on past experiences where delays in obtaining locates have occurred. This proactive approach ensures that locates are ready when construction work is scheduled to start.

The City is committed to keeping residents and homeowners informed about upcoming maintenance and construction work that may impact their properties. While there may be instances of long-term delays, these are often part of the preparation process to ensure the work is completed efficiently and safely.

Slow down! Driving fast increases your risk of collisions

By Food for thought

Whether you’re late for an appointment or work, rushing to pick up your kids from school or trying to get home to catch the game…speeding isn’t the answer. The faster a car moves, the higher its risk of being involved in a collision. Speeding is one of the biggest contributors to collisions on Mississauga roadways, which can cause fatal or life-changing injuries. The City of Mississauga is reminding drivers to be aware of the posted speed limits and obey the rules of the road.

“The faster you drive, the longer it takes for you to stop,” said Geoff Wright, Commissioner, Transportation and Works. “Driving fast reduces your time to think and react to an unexpected situation. Imagine driving, and a child darting out onto the road. If you were speeding, could you stop in time? This could mean the difference between life, death or a life-changing injury. This is why we’re focusing on addressing speeding in Mississauga to keep residents safe. The City has adopted the Vision Zero goal, which aims to eliminate all fatalities and serious injuries on roadways due to collisions.”

Yellow graphic that reads "The faster you drive, the longer it takes to stop"

According to data from Peel Regional Police, between 2015 to 2019, approximately 700 serious collisions were caused by aggressive driving, including speeding, on City-owned roads in Mississauga.

“Driving 20 km/h faster than the posted speed limit might not seem like a big deal, but research shows that if you hit a pedestrian while driving 50 km/h, their survival rate is less than 20 per cent. In comparison, at 30 km/h, their survival rate is 90 per cent,” said Laura Zeglen, Program Lead, Vision Zero. “As a driver, you control how fast you drive. Remember, driving the posted speed limit and to weather conditions is not only for your safety, but also the safety of others on the road.”

Yellow graphic that reads "There is a 9 in 10 chance of survival if hit by a vehicle travelling 30 km/h or lower. At 50 km/h, the survival drops to 1.5 in 10."

According to the Transportation Association of Canada, the maximum speed to prevent serious injury or death in an impact with a pedestrian is 30 km/h. The maximum speed to prevent serious injury or death in a collision with another car is 50 km/h.

Yellow graphic with text that reads "Highest speeds you can survive in a collision without serious injuries." At the bottom, it shows 3 different images of different collisions and text that reads "Side impact with a tree - 30km/h, side impact with a car - 50 km/h and front impact with a pedestrian - 30 km/h."

The City is working with its community partners to address speeding to raise awareness about the dangers of speeding, educate drivers on slowing down and inform the public about new measures to slow down drivers. Here are some of the measures which have been implemented to prevent speeding and protect vulnerable road users including pedestrians and cyclists:

To learn more about how the City is encouraging drivers to slow down and other Vision Zero initiatives and actions, visit mississauga.ca/visionzero.

If you see a vehicle involved in dangerous and aggressive behaviour, you can report it to Peel Regional Police’s Road Watch program online: https://www.peelpolice.ca/en/report-it/make-a-report-online.aspx#What-types-of-reports-can-I-file-online

Background

Vision Zero aims to create safer roads for everyone in Mississauga. In 2021, the City of Mississauga launched its Vision Zero Action Plan with 99 actions to help reach Vision Zero. Vision Zero is a long-term goal of zero fatalities and serious injuries due to collisions on roadways that countries around the world have adopted. The plan provides City staff with actions to apply to their current, ongoing and future projects to help reach Vision Zero.

Halloween 2023 – Food Allergy (Anaphylaxis) Teal Pumpkin Project

By Food for thought

Halloween can be extra scary for children (and the parents of children) with food allergies!

“The Teal Pumpkin Project” is here in support of children with life-threatening food allergies

A teal pumpkin let’s allergic goblins know you have peanut/nut free and non-food treats like glow sticks, stickers and spider rings…

This is very important to 1/13 of our ‘trick or treaters’…both at school and when trick or treating in their neighbourhood…who must always be on ‘high alert’ for their safety.

Be sure to check local stores and online where products like these are sold.

We can also all make a difference by ‘shelling out’ on the driveway so children with mobility issues can easily ‘trick or treat’.

Be safe and have fun!