Presentations, Introductions and Announcements

Speaker Nunziata, during the morning session of the meeting, called upon Mayor Olivia Chow to recognize Josie Scioli, Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services, on her retirement from the City of Toronto. Mayor Chow acknowledged Josie Scioli's career highlights and her contribution to the City as an outstanding leader in the public service. Mayor Chow remarked how much Ms. Scioli worked to improve public trust and confidence, and ensured her team was equipped to support a better and more connected community. Mayor Chow underscored Ms. Scioli's centralized approach to help the City support overall City building outcomes, especially creating affordable housing. Mayor Chow remarked that Ms. Scioli was instrumental in setting up the City's first customer services experience division, and supported the development of Transform TO, the Net Zero Strategy to help the City achieve its climate actions goals. Mayor Chow commended Josie Scioli for her leadership as co-patron of the City's United Way employee campaign, executive sponsor of TO Now, the City's network of women, and how she won the Canada's Most Powerful Women Top 100 Award in 2021, and received the CIBC Executive Leaders Award in the same year. Mayor Chow, on behalf of City Council, thanked Ms. Scioli for her service and wished her a happy and fulfilling retirement and presented her with a commemorative Scroll. Josie Scioli, Deputy City Manager, Corporate Services, addressed City Council and thanked Mayor Chow, her family and friends. Ms. Scioli remarked that it had been a privilege to have worked with incredible, talented and caring people who have become dear friends. Ms. Scioli commented that she has always a soft spot for the public sector and the City because the work done through Council and the staff are second to none. Ms. Scioli thanked Members of Council and staff for their support, the Toronto Public Service for always stepping up, the Senior Leadership Team and the Corporate Leadership Team colleagues for their wisdom, commitment and friendship, the Corporate Services team for dedication they bring every day, her office staff for their willingness to embrace challenges, and her family for their love, support and understanding. Speaker Nunziata, during the afternoon session of the meeting, called upon Mayor Olivia Chow to recognize Janie Romoff, former General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, for her contributions to the City of Toronto. Mayor Chow acknowledged the outstanding career of Janie Romoff during her time with the City and underscored the many career highlights she had accrued. Mayor Chow recognized the many long-term strategies that Ms. Romoff has led, including the Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan, the first ever Toronto Ravine Strategy, the Toronto Island Park Master Plan and more recently, the High Park Movement Strategy. Mayor Chow commented that Ms. Romoff has also been in the forefront of building cross-divisional strategies at the City, supporting the Reconciliation Action Plan, the Toronto Action Plan to confront Anti-Black Racism, Toronto Youth Equity and the Toronto Newcomer Strategy. Mayor Chow, on behalf of the City and City Council, congratulated Ms. Romoff for the exceptionally well done job and thanked her for leaving a legacy that will never be forgotten. Mayor Chow wished Ms. Romoff the very best for the future and presented her with a commemorative Scroll. Janie Romoff, former General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, addressed City Council and thanked her family and friends. Ms. Romoff reflected on how her parents instilled a sense of community and civic obligation in her. Ms. Romoff thanked all the staff in Parks, Forestry and Recreation for their commitment and hard work, and recognized the Senior Leadership Team, the Corporate Leadership Team, the Senior Management Team for their skills and dedication to the City of Toronto. Ms. Romoff also thanked Mayor Chow and Members of Council for being city builders with vision, determination and the constant goal of enriching the lives of all Torontonians. Councillor Mike Colle presented a special Mensch Award to Janie Romoff for the incredible work she and her staff did at the commemorative baseball game for the 90th anniversary of the Christie Pits Riot.