Dear Riverside Restaurant/Café Owner:

HOT Eats is part of the City of Toronto’s 2017 Cultural Hotspot initiative, which celebrates the vibrant culture, heritage and creative business in the East York/East End area. The HOT Eats program promotes the area’s diverse food businesses, encouraging people across Toronto to explore more – and eat more – outside the core.

It’s not too late to register for the HOT EATS program, just fill out their online form TODAY:

http://wx.toronto.ca/inter/edc/TCHotspot.nsf/HotEats

Eligibility Criteria

To take part you must be:

• Located in the 2017 Cultural Hotspot area (Eglinton Avenue to the north, Lake Ontario to the south, Bayview Avenue/the Don Valley to the west and Victoria Park Avenue to the east)
• Possess a current Dine Safe Green Pass issued by Toronto Public Health
• Provide a $25 or $50 gift certificate by June 9, 2017 to be awarded as a HOT Eats prize

If you have questions, please contact Hyesoo Kim, Arts Program Officer, Arts & Culture Services at culturalhotspot@toronto.ca 
or 416-392-1210.

Through a partnership with the Riverside BIA, the Digital Main Street team has been going door to door to visit Riverside businesses and organizations to find out how they can help you this summer with your digital needs.  They are providing one-on-one support at your location and convenience for FREE, like Google 360 photos of your space, assistance with website, social media, and more.  If you have not connected with them yet and would like to, pls reach out to marketing@riverside-to.com

PLUS – Digital Main Street is offering a new program: “The Starter Company Plus – Digital Main Street program” to help businesses go digital. They have created a complete 8-week training program which will develop and implement an integrated and comprehensive digital transformation plan for your business. You can also receive a $2500 grant towards the implementation of your plan. Don’t miss this opportunity! Register now http://buff.ly/2rxeQD3

 The Ontario government has announced increases in the general minimum wage. If the proposal proceeds as planned, the following wages will be in effect:

 Other changes in the province’s labour laws that would effect small businesses include the following:

• Equal pay provisions mean part-time, temporary and seasonal employees will be paid equally to full-time employees when performing the same job
• New scheduling rules will include minimum payments for less than 3 hours of work
• Employees will be entitled to 3 weeks’ vacation after 5 years of service
• Employees will be entitled to 10 personal emergency leave days per year, including two that are paid
• Related businesses will be treated as one employer, and will be held jointly responsible for monies owing under the Employment Standards Act
• Unpaid wages will accrue interest
• You will face increased penalties for non-compliance 

Share Your Opinion

• Call or write directly to your MPP and the Premier to tell them how these changes will impact your business. 
• Participate in a committee hearing near you this summer to tell the government how you feel. We will share this information once it is released.
• Feel free to share any specific feedback with the Riverside BIA at office@riverside-to.com

Metroland Media Toronto is hosting the Urban Hero Awards to celebrate community heroes of all ages for their inspiring work, leadership and good deeds here in the city. The program is being launched as part of Canada’s 150th celebrations as a way to honour the people that make a difference in the lives of others and exemplify what it means to be Canadian.

Click here to nominate an Urban Hero.

Nominations will be accepted in eight categories: Arts, Business, Education, Environment, Good Neighbour, Health, Social Issues and Sports. Within each category the awards will recognize the ‘Titans of Tomorrow’ (Youth 14-18), and the ‘Champions of Today’ (Adults 19+). The nomination deadline has been extended to June 18, 2017 at 11:59 p.m.