An Etobicoke man is among eight suspects rounded up in an auto theft ring that was allegedly stealing high-end vehicles parked outside expensive Toronto hotels.

The group members would drive the stolen vehicles to so-called ‘cool off’ zones to avoid police detection before they were shipped overseas from the Port of Montreal, according to Halton Regional Police.

Police believe as many as 75 vehicles were stolen after their ‘Project Mulligan,’ began last fall following thefts from hotel lots near main highways in Oakville and Burlington.

Detectives alleged the thieves were “casing hotel lots” during the overnight hours and targeting Toyota and Lexus SUVs as well as Dodge and Toyota pickup trucks.

Officers have been able to identify 20 hotel lots where vehicles were stolen from. A number of the ‘cooling off areas’ were located where the vehicles were temporary stored until shipment abroad.

The suspects were a “crew of organized auto thieves,” according to police.

Halton officers alleged the crooks would smash a vehicle window, access the onboard diagnostic system and reprogram the key fob. Once stolen the vehicle’s GPS system would be disabled to evade police tracking and then parked for a while before being shipped overseas in containers.

Police recovered 18 stolen vehicles, including two that were found inside shipping containers.

“Auto thieves continue to incorporate a variety of techniques to commit these thefts while engaging in varying strategies to avoid detection and arrest,” said Superintendent Dave Stewart.

Luis Bello-Reyes, 29, of Etobicoke, and others from the GTA and three from Quebec, have been charged with about 90 offences relating to vehicle thefts and possession of stolen property.

Bello-Reyes was charged with 16 counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, 14 counts of theft of motor vehicle, trafficking stolen property and other offences. He and another suspect were out of bail for other crimes.

 

Fearful area residents are asking if a body found in Len Ford Park may be that of a fugitive Alderwood double killer.

Police on March 13 removed a body from the 295 Lake Promenade lakefront park.

Officers said there were no signs of foul play and an autopsy is being conducted to determine if the death was suspicious.

The discovery brought up concerns that the body may belong to an Alderwood man sought for the brutal murders of two women last August 23.

It has been almost eight months since Joseph Ayala, 33, disappeared from sight with police on his trail for two counts of second-degree murder after an 82-year-old woman and a 60-year-old woman in a home in the Sheldon and Silvercrest Avenues area, in Alderwood.

There has been sightings of the suspect, whom police believe was still alive.

Police believed Ayala was hiding somewhere in the community and have searched ravines, ditches, bushes, parks and lakes for the accused double killer.

Some women and seniors in the area said they do not go out at night and lock their doors due to fears of the fugitive. Many leave their lights on and pay close attention to their sheds and backyards.

 

Some 470 people turned out to mourn the sudden death of well-known Alderwood musician Roger ‘Gerry’ Williams who performed across the GTA and area clubs for many years.

Gerry passed away on February 21 in a vehicle accident while on his way home from work at Canada Post, where he worked as a letter carrier for three years.

He was 59.

Long-time partner Michelle Walker said she is heartbroken by Gerry’s death.

“Gerry was returning home from a long day of work at Canada Post,” Michelle said. “No car crash, he simply drove into a snowbank and went into heavenly sleep.”

The respected guitarist was well known in the Toronto music scene and with Michelle performed in clubs across the City, including Scarborough; with some shows here in the community.

He and Michelle and their DNGOLE band played Soca, Calypso and other favourites. They had performed at What A Jerk! restaurant, at 3303 Lake Shore Blvd. W., days before his death.

She said Gerry was a beloved son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, and partner and will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Gerry was born and grew up in Trinidad before emigrating to Canada in 1988.

He became interested in music at an early age and was a vocalist in his parish youth group and quickly became immersed in the Toronto music scene.

He followed his big sister’s footsteps and “learned to play acoustic guitar and later the bass guitar.”

“Music was Gerry’s true passion. He was “all in” wherever music was involved,” according to his obituary. He wrote his own music, producing, performing, arranging, playing the guitar and bass.

He has left a lasting musical legacy at his parish of Our Lady of Good Counsel Caribbean Canadian Catholic Church (OLGC) where he served in the Music Ministry, as well as in parang groups, jazz bands, and steelpan groups.

Michelle said he played and sang with several Catholic worship groups over the years.

“His undeniable talent and genuine spirit left a lasting impact on those with whom he interacted,” she said.

A packed funeral service for Gerry took place on March 8 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Caribbean Canadian Catholic Church, on College Street in Toronto.

Looks like Centennial Park may become one of the big winners in the upcoming FIFA World Cup soccer tournament next year.

Some $20 million is being spent to upgrade Centennial Park in preparation for the World Cup  tournament which will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

The City is upgrading its facilities and awarding the naming rights for a Soccer Hub at  Centennial, which will be used as a practice field for FIFA teams competing in the matches at modified BMO Stadium.

Council have awarded a multi-million dollar Centennial Park Soccer Facilities Refresh contract to a Gormley, Ont., company Mopal Construction Ltd.

All the updates will be left for the South Etobicoke community to enjoy after the World Cup.

The park is also slated to receive a domed full-size soccer pitch and other amenities as part of a 20-year revitalization plan.

There will also be a World Cup Training Site and fieldhouse for teams to use.

A report presented to City Council by the World Cup Toronto Secretariat said 12 mini soccer pitches will be created across the City that will be left as a legacy after World Cup is completed.

“The location of the mini-pitches will prioritize high-need, underserved neighborhoods across Toronto, ensuring equitable access to safe play spaces for youth,” according to the study which said the pitches will be maintained and accessible to disadvantaged people.

Canada will host 13 of the 104 games at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with seven in Vancouver and six in Toronto. It will cost about $380 million to host the World Cup, of which the City will cough up about $83 million and the remainder paid by the province and Ottawa.

This report said the 38-day sporting event that attract thousands from around the world will benefit local suppliers, under-represented groups and sustainable practices.

“Toronto aims to deliver a FIFA World Cup that leaves a lasting legacy of cultural enrichment and economic vitality,” according to the report.

The city is planning to spend more than $10 million to install private suites at BMO in a Host City Commercial Hospitality Program to generate revenue.

A FIFA Fan Festival is also planned that will run for the 28 days with free events and entertainment.

Fans will be able to see free live broadcasts of the matches, entertainment and other activities, including curated food experiences.

An economic impact assessment said the tournament will take place across 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. It said it will result in almost $4 billion in positive economic output for Canada as a host nation.

The study states the event will generate $700 million in government revenue and create more than 24,000 jobs nationwide.

It estimated the World Cup can contribute $940M to the GTA economy and create 6,600 jobs.

Gunfire broke out at a Humber Bay Shores condo as tenants relaxed for the night.

A man in his 40s was shot on March 6 at 58 Marine Parade Drive, near Lake Shore Blvd. W.

The shooting occurred around 10:40 p.m. with most people inside their units.

The man was taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

No suspect information is currently available.

Officers also responded to a separate shooting earlier near The East Mall and The Queensway.

 

 

The tow truck wars has moved to South Etobicoke where a third shooting took place in a span of two days.

Police are investigating after shots were fired in front of a tow yard on March 5 just before 10 p.m. in the area of The West Mall and The Queensway, near Sherway Mall Gardents.

It was the third tow truck-related shooting in just over 24-hours. Most of the incidents have occurred in the Scarborough area.

No injuries were reported but police said they found “evidence of gunfire” at the scene.

Police said a suspect fled the scene in a vehicle. No suspect or vehicle description has been released.

Two other tow truck-related shootings were reported in Toronto late March 4.

At around 10:20 p.m., two people were shot at a tow yard near Weston Road and St. Clair Avenue West.

A man in his 50s suffered life-threatening injuries, while the other victim – a man in his 20s – was seriously injured, but is expected to survive.

About an hour later, a tow truck driver, also identified as a man in his 20s, was shot while sitting in a car wash bay at a gas station in Scarborough.

He was transported to hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.

Police said there have been five firearm discharges and eight shootings linked to the tow truck industry this year.

A local group has launched a campaign to ban a 49 storey tower from their residential area near the Kipling Subway.

Residents of the South Eatonville Residents Association (SERA) in a Community Alert said they are against the high-rise proposed for 5208 Dundas Street W., at Acorn Avenue, which is now the site of a sushi restaurant.

A zoning by-law amendment application has been made for the development and it is before the hearings process. A virtual hearing in regards to the project will occur on March 13.

“We have serious concerns with the increased traffic, shading, lack of amenities, and the precedent for a corridor of tall towers along the north side of Dundas right to East Mall,” according to SERA.

They said the tower if built will overshadow the single-family homes that have been in the area for decades.

“This is not about opposing development for needed housing; it’s about saying no to 49 storey towers that do not fit next to homes,” the group said. “We need to stand up and oppose developments that do not make sense in South Eatonville for future quality of life for all residents.”

The application states the tower will contain 541 residential units, with 71% planned as one-bedroom suites. The design’s massing features a 3-storey podium fronting Dundas Street West and Acorn Avenue.

Plans include four elevators, plus a fifth elevator connecting the underground garage to the lobby.

The building would sit above three levels of underground parking, offering 39 parking spots for residents and 8 for visitors. Bicycle parking entails 502 long-term and 108 short-term spaces.

Just a block away a 41-storey tower is also in the works at 5238 Dundas Street W., site of the former Dundas Street Grill.

There are more than a dozen major complexes with towers ranging up to 50 storeys proposed for the Dundas West near the Kipling Subway mobility hub.

So far only one Etobicoke beer store has been shut down among the 28 closed in Ontario due to reduced sales.

The Beer Store on February 28 shut eight more of its stores in Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough, Newmarket and Ottawa among the dozens shut across Ontario since last June.

Store #2313 at 10 The East Mall Cres., across from Cloverdale Mall, is among the ones that has been shut. The store had been there for decades and had a dedicated following.

There are still about 400 Beer Stores locations across Ontario that will remain in business.

In addition, there are 677 LCBO stores across the province.

John Nock, President of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), Local 12R24, said the closures are due to more competition for beer sales from grocery stores, convenience stores and other retailers.

Variety store owners said the sale of beer has been good for business as it brings in new customers, who purchase other goods.

“This is definitely a direct cause of the beer market being opened up,” Nock said. It’s “all due to Ford allowing alcohol to be sold in convenience and most grocery stores.”

The Beer Store is required to keep 300 stores open until the end of this year.

They are looking at introducing other goods to recoup losses, which can include the sale of non-beer items as lottery tickets.

There are almost 4,200 convenience stores across Ontario that are licensed to sell beer, wine, cider, and ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages.

The Beer Store is owned by Molson-Coors, Labatt, and Sleeman, which are all multi-national corporations. The Beer Store is a joint venture chain of retail outlets in Ontario.

A long-established Long Branch family bar that has been a mainstay in the community for almost three decades has served its last plate of great wings and beer.

The owners of Sloppy Joe’s, at 3527 Lake Shore Blvd. W., told regulars on social media the bar was shut down permanently on March 3.

“We wanted to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to you all,” Larry and Pete wrote on their website. “Our father opened this business in April of 1971, driven by the dream of creating a neighbourhood gathering place that felt like home.”

They said Sloppy Joe’s over the years became a cornerstone of the community, hosting events and other activities. The bar was a neighbourhood favourite known for their great wings.

“We have always strived to honour his vision, pouring our hearts and souls into continuing what he started,” they wrote. “It has been an absolute honour and the privilege of a lifetime to follow in his footsteps.”

Two generations of the family operated the bar for 54 years and “we have been truly blessed to watch this place become a sincere reflection of the love and support of the community.”

The bar has been known as Sloppy Joe’s for 27 years.

“While we are saddened to close this chapter, we are also excited about the opportunities that lie ahead,” Larry and Pete said. “This is not goodbye forever, as we will make it a priority to visit our many valued customers and friends.”

Many former patrons of Sloppy Joe’s took to social media to express their loss to members pf the staff and regulars.

“I really loved this place, I am from outside of town but would come in to meet friends for the best wings in town and a beer,” Kthor Nielsen wrote.

Christina Wakeham said the wings at Sloppy Joe’s were great.

“I’ll never have another wing as good,” she said.

Another regular called the bar a ‘Lakeshore monument.”

A new Fox and John’s Pub and Restaurant will be opening at the location