One man is dead and two other people hospitalized in a horrific car crash near Sherway Mall Gardens.

Police posted online that they were called to the area of Atomic Avenue and North Queen Street around 11:45 a.m. on December 6.

Police said a person in one of the vehicles was taken to hospital in life-threatening condition and was later pronounced dead.

Two other occupants of the other vehicle were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police added.

Police have not provided any other information, including the cause of the crash, at this time.

North Queen Street was closed for hours due to police activity.

Its Christmas time and people are on the move busy shopping or celebrating with family or friends.

Toronto Police have issued a warning about a number of taxi scams preying on shoppers and loved ones.

Police said fraudsters are using fake debit terminals to steal your PIN.

“Beware if a driver refuses cash and insists on card payment,” according to fraud squad officers. “Always check the terminal, if it seems suspicious do not enter your PIN.”

Taxi scams are increasingly prevalent outside of venues such as theatres, arenas, transit hubs and areas where taxi drivers are typically waiting for customers, police warn.

In another taxi scam, a second person, posing as a passenger, may also ask you for help paying with a debit or credit card in exchange for cash.

“The goal is for the scammer to obtain the customer’s PIN by entering it into a fake payment terminal,” police said. “The driver then switches the customer’s card with another one.”

Fake debit terminals appear to be older, without a tap function, and typically have a grey screen with no backlight. Newer terminals have a bright blue or green screen.

To avoid being scammed, detectives warn if you think the terminal may be fake, input the wrong PIN. A fake terminal will always display ‘payment approved’ – even after entering in the wrong PIN. A legitimate terminal would say “invalid PIN, please try again.”

If you think you have been asked for payment from a fake terminal, take the card out and keep it for fingerprintin; never challenge the driver and immediately exit the taxi for your safety; if safe take pictures of the taxi and taxi number and call your bank or login to your banking app to lock or cancel your card.

 

One of Canada’s most wanted man has been on the run from police for two years for a horrific high-profile double murder that occurred in Long Branch.
Philip Grant, 34, is one of the Top 25 criminals being sought by police nationwide for blood-curdling offences.
Grant’s police mugshot featured on a Be On The Lookout (BOLO) poster state there is a $50,000 reward issued by Toronto Police for anyone who has information that can lead to his arrest.
The fugitive was allegedly behind the January 3, 2022 killings of Minyali Wur, 24, and Chudier Reat, 20, of Mississauga, in a high-profile gun battle at an office building at 150 Thirtieth Street.

The men were gunned down in cold blood in a facility used by many people.
A woman was also found at the scene with injuries, but she survived.
Authorities have been looking for Grant, along with Darriel Thompson, 24, for two years. Detectives are hot on their trail to face charges for murder.
Police said they have intelligence that Grant, who is from Peel Region, is in the Toronto area now.
He is described as six-foot-one tall and weighing around 200 pounds, with a muscular build, brown eyes, and black hair which is usually worn braided. He has scars on his left wrist, right hand, left hand, and the shin of his right leg.
“If anyone sees him they should immediately call 9-1-1,” police said. “Anyone offering him assistance in evading arrest may be considered an Accessory After the Fact and face charges.”

Officers are also on the trail of and Alderwood killer who has been in hiding for almost four months since killing two women.
Police say they are searching for 33-year-old Joseph Ayala, of Toronto, who has been on the since August 23 for the alleged slaying of two women in Alderwood.
Ayala is wanted for second-degree murder after an 82-year-old woman and a 60-year-old woman were found dead in an Etobicoke home more than four months ago.
Residents in the area said they are living in fear that the suspect can return to kill others.

 

Some horrified shoppers at Sherway Gardens Mall were stunned afterwitnessing a vicious smash and grab.

Customers were doing their Christmas shopping when crashing sounds were heard coming from a jewelry store in the mall.

Police said five individuals entered a jewelry store and allegedly began smashing display cases and scooping up items. The suspects took an unknown quantity of expensive jewelry items and fled.

Police say no injuries were reported during the incident, which took place on November 30 around 4:45  p.m. when the mall was busy with people picking up gifts after work.

No descriptions of the suspects have been released, and police said the investigation is ongoing.

There has been a rash of these smash-and-grab thefts that usually take place at this time of the year when the malls are busy and high value items are displayed.

A popular native Etobicoke flower species is being proposed as a name for a private street near The Queensway.

The Carolina Rose Heights, at 35 Zorra Street, is suggested to be named after a native plant species found within the Etobicoke and Mimico Creek watersheds.

The name has been proposed by City staff and will be considered by Council for approval.

A report recommending the new name said a Mimico Creek Study Area in 2007 found the Caroline Rose is one of the many floral species within the watershed.

It is “a regional concern due to habitat dependence, population trend, local occurrence and sensitivity to development,” according to a report by Engineering Support Services, Engineering and Construction Services.

The name of the flower was proposed by a developer working on the redevelopment of the area, which has mostly condo towers.

The Carolina Rose is described as a perennial shrub with straight, needle-like thorns. The fragrant flower emerge in the early summer and are found in a wide range of habitats. It also grows in wet soils, along stream beds, swamps and grassy areas.

 

Ten tips for you and your family to stay safe and warm during this winter courtesy of Shafique Bani, of Southside Auto Centre Ltd., in New Toronto.

1. Install winter tires ,check tire pressure

2. Check your battery

3. Check your wipers

4. Check windshield washer fluid

5. Check brakes

6. Check all lights and signals

7. Check the front end suspension

8 .Check serpentine belt

9. Check heater and defroster

10.Last but not least stay tuned with your oil change.

Here is a special from Southside Auto Centre, at 3021 Lake Shore Blvd. W., for the coming winter.

With a purchase of synthetic oil change they will top up your windshield washer fluid and perform all the above checks for free.

Have a happy and safe holidays .

Southside Auto Centre can be reached at 416-255-8885.

 

People come here to have fun.

Toronto Police are investigating to find the culprit who smashed a large plate glass window at a popular New Toronto fun and games store.

Witnesses said the pane of a front window was smashed sometime on November 24 at Funny Bones Games and Lounge at 3029 Lake Shore Blvd. W.

They said this was the second time in a week a window at the lounge was smashed with a heavy object.

The lounge has been a venue for game play, rentals, sales and puzzles, parties, workshops, team building, corporate events and enrichment programs.

The damage comes as a Go Fund Me page was created to save Funny Bones, which was hit hard by COVID.

“Being closed for over two years during the pandemic was crippling,” wrote fund organizer Carol Ledden-Cusson. “And now, government loans are due…Our friends and your community hub are in serious trouble”

So far more than $6,300 has been donated on the Go Fune Me page.

 

 

As the Ontario government work to remove some controversial bike lanes, the City is planning to expand its Bike Share Toronto program.

More than $12 million is being sought by the Toronto Parking Authority (TPA) to electrify its bike fleet with the purchase of hundreds of e-bikes, solar stations and e-docks as part of a Bike Share four-year expansion program.

A proposal by the TPA is being considered by City Council whose members will likely approve the spending to become a leader in the use of electric bikes and charging systems.

Some $9 million dollars of the funds will be used to purchase new equipment for next summer and $3 million as a down payment on the order, according to the November 8 proposal.

“TPA’s vision to be the world’s leading provider of sustainable parking, bike sharing, and last-mile mobility solutions for our customers, partners, and the city,” according to the proposal.

Bike Share Toronto plans to add 180 solar stations, 350 electric charging docks (e-docks), 450 iconic bikes and 300 e-bikes to the system next year.

It said the investments will grow the Bike Share network to 1,042 stations, 1,375 e-docks, and 10,250 bikes, including 7,930 iconic bikes and 2,320 e-bikes. It currently has 625 stations across the City.

“The expansion will prioritize neighborhoods where affordable mobility options are most needed, ensuring greater accessibility and convenience citywide,” the report stated.

“The strategy focuses on the electrification of the network through the introduction of E-bike stations and EV charging stations.”

If approved, the plan will introduce new stations in Rexdale, Scarborough Centre, Scarborough North, and Scarborough Agincourt.

It calls for more stations in the downtown area to enhance high-demand areas, ensuring that users can find available bikes or docking stations.

“With demand in the core continuing to surge, this additional infrastructure will help maintain accessibility for members and casual users alike,” the TPA said.

So far this year, riders in Toronto have taken 4.7 million Bike Share trips, already overtaking ridership in 2022 and fast approaching the 5.7 million mark set in 2023, according to Bike Share officials.

They expect six million trips on Bike Share this year.

Bike Share Toronto’s ridership revenue is forecasted to reach about $7 million this year.

The bike-sharing market in the U.S. is expected to see a steady increase in revenue, with projections indicating a rise to $325.30 U.S. this year.

Almost $20,000 has been raised to help a grieving dad who lost his wife, Katie, and had their three toddlers seriously injured, after being hit by a car at an Etobicoke crosswalk.

Mom Katie died in hospital as she and husband, Andrew, and their three young children, aged 11-days, 18-months and four years, were struck by a driver last October 2 while crossing Islington at a crosswalk.

They were hit at Orrell Avenue, just north of Dundas St. W.  Police said the Toyota Corolla was driven by a 77-year-old woman.

Go Fund Me organizer Stefan Pazulla wrote that the family were on their way home from an after-dinner park visit.

He said two of the children were taken to the Hospital for Sick Children with critical injuries, while Katie was taken to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre with life-threatening injuries.

“Over the following weeks, all three children were released from SickKids Hospital to complete their recovery at home,” Pazulla advised. “Sadly, on November 21, Katie passed peacefully, surrounded by family.”

The funds raised will be used to help Andrew during this difficult time and assist with immediate expenses and care of the children.

You can donate by visiting gofundme.com

Police are asking local residents, business owners, and drivers who may have security or dash camera footage of the area or incident, to contact investigators.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1900, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.

There has been no report of any charges being laid.