As the weather warms up, a majority of City residents are smiling happy with a controversial Alcohol in Parks Program.

The drink-in-the-park program has had few issues, complaints and not a single ticket has been issued by Toronto Police. It was approved in August 2023 and is now allowed at 45 City parks, including a few in Etobicoke.

“The Alcohol in Parks program continues with a high level of satisfaction among park visitors,” according to a program update that was presented to a City committee on April 8.

It said there has been a “few issues arising and minimal operational impacts across all parks in the program.”

A City survey of almost 700 park users last March showed that more than 80 per cent of visitors were ‘satisfied with their visit and felt safe and welcomed.’

It said 85 per cent of visitors felt safe in the alcohol use parks and 82 per cent felt welcomed and 73 per cent said the booze drinkers were considerate.

Some 560 of those surveyed said they visited a park for personal alcohol consumption.

“The majority of park visitors said people drinking in parks were considerate, and there were no significant increases in service requests for amplified noise, disruptive behavior,” according to the update.

There was no increase in calls to Toronto Police Services, nor complaints to 311 of overflowing garbage bins or unruly behaviour.

The update said City workers are installing signs at park entrances to show that alcohol use is allowed on the grounds.

City crews are monitoring the parks for behaviour, park cleanliness, safety and other considerations.

Police said no tickets were issued to park goers in relation to alcohol use.

 

It was a life-and-death high-speed hit-and-run that sent three people to hospital and had area residents running for their lives.
Some 11 vehicles were hit as a fleeing white Jaguar SUV, believed to be stolen, left a trail of carnage as it sped east on Lake Shore Blvd. W., from Brown’s Line to Islington Ave., at speeds reported to be about 140 kilometres an hour.

Police said luckily no one was killed as the getaway occurred April 7 around 3 p.m. as students were leaving schools and walking home or to streetcar stops.

Officers said the SUV hit two vehicles at the traffic light at Kipling Avenue and sped off.  It then smashed into a number of vehicles near Islington Avenue between Fifth and Sixth Streets.

Local barber Andy Dinner witnessed the Jaguar flying through the air after hitting a vehicle near Sixth Street.

“It (Jaguar) went flying in the air and would have hit me if it did not hit another car,” Dinner recalled.

Police said the 31-year-old SUV driver was extricated from the vehicle and charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle. More charges are pending.

The driver and two other people were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Dozens of witnesses gathered to watch as crews cleaned pieces of debris strewn across the roadway.

Tires from the SUV and another vehicle were laying on the road and the hood of a sedan was nearly ripped off.

Streetcar and vehicle traffic were rerouted as Lake Shore Blvd. W. was closed for hours due to the police investigation and cleanup.

Guy Jay said on social media that he was almost hit by the speeding SUN.

”That white car was zooming down Lakeshore at like 200km/hr,” he wrote. “He almost hit me and a bunch of kids crossing the street on Tenth Street.”

Jay said a crossing guard saw the speeding SUV and had to ensure no children were in danger.

“This could have been really awful,” he said. “The crossing guard saw it and acted quickly.”

Sraboni Shoeb Sonia said she saw the SUV fly through the air after hitting a vehicle.

“I saw it hit a black car and fly on the air and crash land,” Sonia said. “I think this was the most craziest thing I witnessed.”

Toronto Police have partnered with Air Canada to send nine lucky Etobicoke children on a once-in-a-lifetime daylong trip to Disneyland in Florida.

The trip is part of Air Canada’s Dreams Take Flight program in which 175 youngsters from across Ontario are flown to Disneyland with their families on May 7.

The children, who were selected from the force’s 22 and 23 Divisions, met with Neighbourhood Community Officers on April 3 to learn more about the unforgettable experience.

“We’re beyond thrilled to share this exciting news and celebrate this extraordinary moment with the kids and their families,” said Staff Sgt. Lhawang Jongdong.
He said the initiative is a well-deserved chance for the kids to see a different side of policing.

“They’ve discovered that police officers aren’t only about catching criminals or issuing tickets,” Jongdong said.

Police said the Dreams Take Flight initiative ‘helps to build trust, foster confidence and strengthen the bond between officers and the people they serve.’

“Community officers show that policing is also about creating positive experiences and lasting memories, “ Longdong said.

“Our goal is to promote peace, stability, and a safe Toronto—a city where we can all live, work, and raise our families with pride and security.”

Dreams Take Flight is a non-profit organization primarily made up of volunteers from Air Canada and the Air Canada family who organize the trip of a lifetime for close to 1,000 medically, mentally, physically, socially or emotionally challenged children.

The program began in 1989 when several Air Canada employees in Toronto planned a trip-of-a-lifetime. They flew 70 special needs children on a DC-9 aircraft to Walt Disney World in Florida.

By 1997, the Dreams Take Flight charity had expanded across Canada.

For a very long and exciting day, deserving children live an adventure in a world-renowned theme park in California or Florida. All expenses paid—thanks to sponsors and volunteers.

 

The first sign of a redevelopment of Mimico seems to be getting underway.

A long-ignored strip mall at 2491 Lake Shore Blvd. W., at Mimico Avenue, which in the early 1960s was a Studebaker of Canada automobile showroom, has been approved for demolition by Etobicoke York Community Council.

Community council last March 13 approved Rental Housing Demolition Application for the outdoor mall, which only has about three stores left open and eight apartments on the second floor.

A new nine storey mixed use complex will be built on the site, as applications are being heard that will lead to the development of the strip from Mimico to Superior Avenues. A proposal to build a 33-storey condo tower just east of Amos Waites Park is also being considered.

The proposed nine-storey building would contain stores on the main floor, 151 dwelling units and parking for 84 vehicles. The mixed-use building will contain 80 one-bedroom units, 36 two-bedroom units and 23 three-bedroom units.
The five of eight tenants left will be offered places to live and allowed to return when the facility is completed.

There will be three levels of underground parking, accessed via a two-way ramp parallel to the east elevation, to provide 167 parking spots and 527 bicycle spaces.

A covered driveway along the southwestern extent of the site would provide a vehicle turnaround and loading space which leads off Lake Shore.

The property was at one time considered as having potential cultural heritage value due to the Studebaker connection. The U.S. auto company operated from 1948 to 1966, and at one time manufactured some its vehicles at a plant in Hamilton.

A plan to expand Amos Waites Park next door is also proposed.

Metrolinx says there will be minor track closures over the April 11 to 14 weekend due to overnight track work on the Long Branch GO.

The railway company said crews will be removing track, digging trenches for utilities and then reinstalling track.

It said crews will also be installing mechanical and electrical utilities on the south platforms and crossing these utilities under Track 3. The company in a Construction Notice said on April 12 and 13 GO Trains will operate on an hourly schedule on the Lakeshore West railway corridor.

“Residents should expect some noise, along with vibration, dust and site lighting,” the notice state, adding staff will minimize disturbances by reducing the idling of non-essential equipment and point away work lights from residential windows.

Work will start at 10 p.m. on April 11 and be completed at 5 a.m. on April 14.

Metrolinx said it is working on delivering more GO service across the network including every 15 minutes on the Lakeshore West Rail Corridor. It said major improvements are also being made to the Long Branch GO Station, on Brow Drive.

Ward 3’s Amber Morley and other councillors are taking a beating online from outraged residents for boldly giving themselves a hefty 24 per cent raise.

More than 200 people have taken to social media express their outrage over councillors’ voting 18 to 5 in favour of a raise that would hike their annual salary of $137,537 to about $170,588.

The pay raise and benefits for Councillors adds almost $1 million to City coffers despite a huge $1.8 billion deficit that led to an eight per cent property tax increase.

Etobicoke Centre Councillor Doug Holyday was one of eight councillors who opposed the pay raise.

Resident Joanne Sigglekow wrote that homeowner’s taxes have increased significantly two years in a row.

“Other city services have increased and homelessness is on the rise in our communities,” she said. “The economic future is bleak. The tariffs are just getting underway and many will lose their jobs.”

No one in government should be voting to give themselves 25 per cent salary increases during these times, she said.

“Typical politician,” said Wendy Patchett. “In it for the money! From Ottawa right down to the dog catcher.”

Paul Buttigieg said Morley’s decision to vote yes for a pay increase is both insensitive and out of touch with the reality of the citizens she represents.

“Such a decision undermines the trust between elected officials and the people who elected them,” he said.

Lucy Lu asked when minimum wage went up that much.

“Canada Post employees went on strike for asking for less than that and didn’t get it,” Lu said.  “Other Unions didn’t get anything close to that either.”

Kathy Stafford called the pay raises ‘abhorrent and disgraceful.’

“Property taxes increased 9.5 per cent last year and then there were water and sewage tax increases on top,” Stafford explained.  “The city is fighting with unions not to increase pays but they ‘will’ themselves an increase.”

She urged voters to remember the councillors who voted for the increase.

The councillors who voted against the increases were Brad Bradford, Alejandra Bravo, Vincent Crisanti, Paula Fletcher, Stephen Holyday, Parthi Kandavel, Frances Nunziata, and Gord Perks all voted against the motion.

More than 100 anti-Third Street shelter braved the rain to protest on the site of the proposed facility that has split the community.

Protestors with signs filled the City parking lot, at 66 Third Street, where a planned 80-bed municipal shelter is planned.

Another group who were supporting the planned shelter said the homeless have to be housed somewhere, and the site was close to public transportation and social services.

Those opposed to the shelter in that location said it can be moved elsewhere.

They said the proposed shelter is close to a seniors residence and two schools in a residential area.

The planned shelter is one of 20 planned in different parts of the City to be completed by 2033.

The issue has created heated feelings in the community and a virtual town hall meeting with City officials is slated for April 15 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. You are asked to register as only 80 people can be accommodated.

A Go Fund Me page organized by New Toronto Initiative, a group of community members who are against the location of the facility, has raised almost $10,000 to fight the cause.

The group in its post said they believe in providing safe supporting housing for those in need.

“It’s important that this decision involves more thoughtful planning and community input to ensure the best outcome for both shelter clients and local residents,” it said.

The shelter is part of the city’s efforts to meet an unprecedented demand for shelter spaces. In addition to temporary housing, the facility will also provide access to other services such as harm reduction and mental health supports, and counsellors to help clients develop permanent housing plans.