Presentations, Introductions and Announcements

Councillor Chernos Lin welcomed Cameron, Jadin, and the Whiddon family, who were present in the Council Chamber. Councillor McKelvie, during the morning session of the meeting, advised Members of Council that the Women4ClimateTO Mentorship Program launched its fifth cohort of mentees. Councillor McKelvie thanked City staff who run the program, and announced the mentees: Ikinori Iau, Mary Whittle, Marley Alles, Lea Baribeau, Chengye Yang, Sann Chan, Chloe Doesburg, Dilini Fernando, Rosa Fragomeni, Tiffany Tran, Amanda Horn, and Kelly Okamura. Councillor McKelvie thanked the mentors, who are: Zoey McKenzie, Karen Leung, Naama Blonder, Sabine MacDonald, Marijke McLean, Emily Dargie, Allison Venditti, Allison Daisley, Maria Shibaeva-Escarraga, Carly Connor, shohreh sabaghpour, Meirav Even-Har, Sarah Rodriguez, Meaghan Davies and Alice Xu. Councillor Pasternak, during the morning session of the meeting, welcomed grades 5 and 6 students from the Africentic Alternative School, as well as Principal Hugh Reynolds, Vice-Principal Loraine Virgo, and teacher Natasha Wright, who were present in the Council Chamber. Mayor Chow, during the morning session of the meeting, acknowledged the Lunar New Year of the Snake and welcomed Alan Lam, Chief Executive Officer of the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto who was present in the Council Chamber, and thanked Alan Lam for the Centre's work. Councillor Morley, during the afternoon session of the meeting, acknowledged Black History Month, and spoke to the work being undertaken in the City. Councillor Morley acknowledged City staff who are part of the Black Staff Network and the City's Confronting Anti-Black Racism Unit, as well as the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee, of which Councillor Morley is Chair. Deputy Mayor Malik, during the afternoon session of the meeting, welcomed grades 5 and 6 students and teachers from Ogden Junior Public School, who were present in the Council Chamber. Deputy Mayor Malik, during the afternoon session of the meeting, advised Members of Council that February 5 was National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Deputy Mayor Malik spoke to how the City of Toronto champions women's sports, and thanked City Parks and Recreations staff involved in community leagues and teams. Mayor Chow, during the afternoon session of the meeting, offered birthday wishes to Councillor Colle, Speaker Nunziata, and Councillor Ainslie.