​While tidy yards and gardens may be pleasant, the noise from your leaf blower can end up disturbing those around you. Let's be considerate of neighbours and avoid excessive leaf blower noise! Currently, noise from leaf blowers is permitted from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, but on September 1, the start time will be changed to 8 a.m. On Saturdays, Sundays and statutory holidays, leaf blower noise is permitted from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Help keep sidewalks clean by not blowing leaves and lawn clippings onto sidewalks and roads.
 
You can also keep your yards clean without using leaf blowers. Consider composting leaves whenever possible, using lawn mowers with mulch settings, raking leaves and using a tarp to collect leaves, or using natural landscaping to limit area that needs to be manicured. If you do have to use a leaf blower, if possible, use green technologies such as electric and battery-powered blowers or low-noise equipment. Newer equipment is also required to emit fewer pollutants.
 
Adopting best practises for leaf blower use can also help you reduce noise and the impacts of leaf blowers on your neighbours. You can choose a blower that can operate at 65 decibels (dBA) or below, which still provides the power needed to care for most residential yards, but is quieter than the more high-powered equipment. Using the nozzle equipment of leaf blowers and limiting the number of leaf blowers in a small area can help reduce noise. Check out more tips on reducing leaf blower noise and the impacts on your neighbours at toronto.ca/LeafBlower.

Open Streets TO returns for the first time since the pandemic on Sunday August 21st from 10 am to 2 pm!! It is the City's largest free recreation program that closes streets to cars and opens them for people. The route starts at Bloor Street and Christie Street, goes east to Yonge Street, and ends at Queen Street. That's 5 km of fun with activity hubs promoting physical activity and exploring the city.
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Bloor Street and Yonge Street will be closed to vehicles from 8:30 am to 3 pm. Major signalized intersections on Bloor and Yonge will remain open to traffic (Bay, Wellesley and College in our neighbourhood).
More info at www.openstreetsto.org.
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