Easy going centenarian Bernice Robinson has lived in Long Branch her entire life and remembers when the area was farm country with dirt roads.

Robinson, who turned 100 last March 25, was presented with a bouquet of flowers by members of the Long Branch Neighbourhood Association to mark the special day.

She says her secret to a long life is to keep mentally active, live a clean lifestyle and remain busy with church activities.

Robinson is mentally alert and has a great memory, so much so she remembers when the trolleys (now streetcars) that ran along Lake Shore Blvd. W., cost about 10-cents and had pot-belly stoves that were continually filled with coal to keep passengers warm.

“There was a lot of heat but many times we were cold,” she recalls. “On cold days the conductor had to keep filling it with coal.”

Back then the trolleys frequently came off the tracks, the streets weren’t numbered as they are today and most people knew each other.

“There were four movie theatres and it was a country village,” the active church-goer remembered. “The theatres used to give us bowls or plates every time we went to a movie and after time you would have a whole set.”

The people walked everywhere since ‘you were considered rich if you had a car.’

“We went swimming three times a day in the lake and took part in church activities and that would be our main entertainment.”

Back then Marie Curtis Park area was busy with wartime activities with the Small Arms building and a shooting range for soldiers to practice.

The Lake Shore strip was a collection of small stores with fields, dirt roads and empty spaces between the businesses.

The area was alive and most people held jobs working at Goodyear Tire, Campbell Soup, Anaconda American Brass, W. & A. Gilbey’s Distillery, Reg N. Boxer; later called  Canadian Wallpaper Manufacturing Limited, Ritchie and Ramsey Paper Mills, DuPont’s Fabrikoid, George Williams Shoes and Continental Can.

“Those companies opened up the area at that time,” Robinson explains. “It was a good time for the community.”

Robinson said the boom took a dive after WW11 ended.

She recalls the Great Depression in the 1930s when as many as 2,168 Etobicoke men were unemployed and receiving relief benefits in cash or in vouchers that could be used to buy food and other necessities.

“After the war things picked up a bit but got worst,” she says. “There was little money and no jobs.”

The men in exchange were expected to work on road maintenance or other types of unskilled public work. Rotating strikes and public protests were common.

Robinson said the community has drastically changed for the worst since then.

“Everywhere you go now is tall condos where people do not know each other,” she complains. “People today have no history or don’t know their history.”

Robinson still lives in the same Twenty Seventh Street home that her dad built and was forced to change church after St. Paul United Church was sold.

Canada’s largest casino resort in Rexdale has been good for many in the community.

Hundreds of Etobicoke residents have been hired and millions of dollars in gaming revenue dished out to the City of Toronto in the time the Great Canadian Casino Resort has been operating.

More than $26 million in revenue was dished to the City last year; and more than $100 million went to City coffers since the casino was opened.

The casino in a required update to Toronto City Council said of its 1,734 employees, almost 1,100 employees have full time jobs and 638 are working part time at the sprawling facility at 1133 Queens Plate Dr., which includes a 400-room hotel and entertainment complex.

More than 230 local and 1,200 diversified residents are among the almost 3,000 hired at the former Casino Woodbine since its opening in June 2023, according to the report.

“There are remaining opportunities to continue connecting the local Rexdale community to employment at the casino,” the report said. “Community benefits aim to create inclusive workforce development and other economic opportunities for Indigenous, Black and equity-deserving communities.”

It said $88 million has been spent on 14 suppliers, and $4.6 million to 10 diversified suppliers providing goods or services for the casino.

The casino has taken part in monthly hiring events, conducted community outreach to promote casino hiring opportunities, and participated in quarterly casino hiring information sessions.

It “also made strong efforts to administer equity-focused forms for data tracking purposes,” the report to City Hall said.  “Despite these efforts, the local employment hiring target is not currently being achieved.”

In 2023, Casino Woodbine was rebranded as Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto.

The casino provided a Letter of Credit for a $5 million contribution to the City’s Children’s Services Division in 2018 for a future child care centre. It will be connected to a Toronto Community Housing Corporation building unit near the casino and is accessible by public transit.

The child care centre will be a three-level space over 10,000 square feet, including 2,265 square feet playground space located on two levels with separate playgrounds for each age group.

The casino plans to make Woodbine Entertainment Complex among the top three urban casino/entertainment resorts in North America. It features top acts including a boxing world championship this month and singers Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani in May.

They plan to lure visitors to extend average stays and increase visitor spending in Toronto, accelerating job and revenue growth across Toronto’s tourism sector.

The Casino Resort will continue this year to seek community input on the policy, including outreach with North Etobicoke-based community organizations.

Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto has reported that while the majority of the casino’s mass hiring efforts took place in 2023, there are remaining opportunities to continue connecting the local Rexdale community to employment at the casino.

The casino, is billed as Canada’s largest casino resort, which includes the hotel-resort, 5,000-person entertainment venue, 3,000 slot machines, parkade with 3,800 covered parking spaces and multiple on-site dining options.

The casino is required to work with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto Responsible Gambling Oversight Committee, and the City of Toronto to identify any negative impacts of expanded gaming and implement mitigating measures.

Plans by the City to build a Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation in the Etobicoke area is moving ahead.
A proposed or pending acquisition or sale of land by the City of Toronto for the Centre has been recommended by City staff.
The Board of Directors of CreateTO in a February 16 letter is asking City Council to consider a request to both the Ontario and federal governments to provide financial support for the project.
The City’s intends to negotiate a long-term lease for the Somali centre once an appropriate city site has been selected, and pending provincial and federal government funding.

City Council request its staff and the Somali Centre to explore viable sites and funding sources for the community centre as part of a plan to develop affordable housing in the northwest corner of the City.
The Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation is a non-profit organization led by a group of Somali Canadian young professionals from across Ontario aiming to create a cultural recreation and community space for Somalis in Toronto.
“There has been a 40-year effort from the Somali community to develop a culture and recreation centre in Toronto to address the needs of this under-served community,” according to a City report.
It said since the 1970s the community has been working with local leaders and politicians to advocate for this type of facility.

“The main goal of this centre is to create a central space for the Somali community to gather and receive culturally appropriate community services from non-profit service providers and agencies.”
Ward 3 Councillor Amber Morley in a letter of support said there is a recommended site that is suitable and desirable for both a Somali centre and mixed-use residential development.
“It is fundamental that we support our diverse communities across Toronto to ensure they have access to livable and complete communities,” Morley wrote. “This proposal will deliver an important place of belonging for the Somali community.”
She said it will serve as a catalyst for long overdue investments in social infrastructure for diverse Black communities.

“By leveraging City-owned parcels of land, the Somali Centre will contribute to addressing our City’s urgent need for more housing through a mixed-use residential development,” she said.
Morley said the plan recommends a centre with cultural spaces, childcare, gymnasium, aquatic facility, and multi-purpose rooms.
“The proposed community centre will be an important amenity that addresses significant existing gaps and responds to the more than four decades of advocacy by the Somali community in Toronto.”
There are an estimated 80,000 Somalis living in Canada with most settling in Toronto in five Etobicoke neighbourhoods, including Mount Olive-Silverstone-Jamestown, Islington-City Centre West, Elms-Old Rexdale, and Willowridge-Martingrove-Richview.

Stemming from complaints, members of the City’s eight Arena Boards will have to undergo training on human rights, equity and diversity to better serve diverse communities.

A motion is before City Council to direct the board members to undergo annual training “to ensure the boards effectively serve diverse communities and foster inclusivity and equity.”

The training stems from some community groups who claim they have a hard time booking reservations for arenas and public venues.

The members will have to undergo training in human rights, Indigenous awareness, combating anti-Black racism, code of conduct for members of local boards and public appointments policy.

The City said the training if approved will begin in July and involve the Chief People Officer, People and Equity and the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration, who will work with Arena Board Chairs.

“This motion seeks to establish mandatory human rights, equity and diversity training for all board members of City of Toronto Arena Boards,” according to City council. “This training aligns with the City’s guidelines, covering crucial topics like Introduction to Indigenous Learning, human rights responsibilities, and combating anti-Black racism.”

Council said the aim is to ensure board members possess the knowledge to effectively serve diverse communities, fostering inclusivity, equity, and improved governance within recreational facilities.

The motion said an orientation on City policies should be provided to newly appointed and returning arena board members outlining their duties and expectations while highlighting behaviours that can result in removal from the board.

“Given the pressing need to address systemic issues of inequity and discrimination within our communities, there is an urgent call to implement mandatory equity, diversity and inclusion training for all City Arena Board members,” according to the motion.

The board-run arenas provide indoor ice sport facilities and other recreational spaces such as community rooms and banquet halls. Programs include hockey and figure skating and leisure skating.

Some arenas also offer dry floor rentals, example floor hockey, in the summer. These services are complemented by snack bars, pro-shops, and meeting rooms rentals at some locations.

There are about 50 Toronto arenas operated and managed by Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division and eight operated by volunteer Arena Boards of Management.

Arena Boards were established between the 1950s to 1970s by the former Toronto City Council and the former Borough of East York Council to engage local communities in decision-making for managing these facilities.

They ensure arenas are safe, well-maintained and accessible for use by the local community, neighbourhood organizations and others. They also allocate the use of the arena facility in a way that balances the needs of the local community residents, organizations and user groups.

 

Drinking booze in the parks may soon become a permanent summer outing in Toronto.

A pilot project studying the drinking of alcohol in 27 parks in the City of Toronto has been given a glowing thumbs up and may soon become law.

A Parks, Forestry and Recreation report is recommending that City Council approve the pilot project and possibly expand the program to at least one park in each Ward where drinking is allowed.

“Overall, the Alcohol in Parks Pilot Program was implemented with a high level of satisfaction among park visitors, few issues arising, and minimal operational impacts,” according to the manager of the Forestry Department.

The report said a vast majority, or 92 per cent, of those who visited a pilot park and answered a experience survey said ‘they were satisfied with their visit.’

“Respondents felt safe, and people who chose to drink at the park were considerate,” according to the study.

It stated there were minimal increases in 311 calls for noise, behaviour, garbage or recycling bins at the pilot parks, even though there were other special events taking place at some of the parks.

“There was no increased need for police response at the vast majority of pilot parks,” according to the report. “And no increase in hospital emergency department visits due to alcohol compared to 2022.”

It said a public opinion survey of Toronto residents showed that 46 per cent of those polled were ‘supportive of allowing drinking in parks,’ 23 per cent were neutral and 30 per cent were opposed.

The report recommends that Council can make the pilot parks permanent drinking locations and include at least one alcohol park in each of the City’s 25 Wards, including Etobicoke Lakeshore.

It said Forestry officers will continue to monitor the drinking activities and update local Councillors.

Officials said those consulted for their feedback included: Toronto Police Service, Toronto Paramedic Services, Toronto Public Health, Municipal Licencing and Standards, Solid Waste Management Services, the City’s Legal Services and Customer Experience – 311.

Toronto roads are already super congested and now there’s a plan to add large pedicabs or multi-passenger quadricycles into the traffic mix.

City Council has a pilot project underway allowing large quadricycles, or pedal-powered party-bikes, on our roads under the Highway Traffic Act until 2032.

The project is working fine and City Council is being called on to issue more permits for quadricycles to operate on City streets, according to a report by Transportation Service and Municipal Licensing and Standards departments.

The matter will be before City Council this month for approval.

The report said the City should issue more licences, renewable on an annual basis, for pedicabs, which are large multi-passenger quadricycles. More licences can be granted to single operating companies.

It warned the number of passengers shall not exceed the number of passenger seats available on the large pedicabs, some of which can hold 12 or more passengers.

City officials will designate, create and amend a list of roadways on which large quadricycles are prohibited from operating if they will cause or contribute to traffic management problems.

The list of roadways are to be listed publicly, according to the officials.

The report said the operators of the quadricycles will be required to submit their proposed routes while applying for a licence or its renewal at least 10 business days in advance to verify the operation will not cause traffic problems.

The operators will also have to notify the City if there are any route changes.

The vehicles will be banned from roads with speeds higher than 40 kilometers an hour; and travel no more than one block on Yonge street, Bloor Street or Danforth Avenue. They will also be prohibited from making left-hand turns or straight-through movements at unsignalized intersections when one street is an arterial road.

City staff recommend the pedicab operators charge fees based on time and not by number of passengers, must be registered and licenced by the City and not park on any sidewalks.

They are to report back by 2032 after consulting with police, emergency services, the TTC, business improvement associations, the public and consider any changes that may emerge with provincial laws.

The report said there has not been “any identifiable impacts on traffic congestion, transit operations, or public safety in the first two years of the pilot.”

Input from local businesses confirmed that large quadricycle tours present a small but visible economic development opportunity and support tourism.

Results from a public survey found that 77 per cent of Toronto residents support the continued use of large quadricycles in Toronto.

There are some concerns by motorists and pedestrians that the large quadricycles will lead to more clogged up and congested streets in some areas of the City.

Hollywood comes to Alderwood.

Parts of a popular U.S. comedy horror mockumentary TV show is being filmed right here in Alderwood.

The Emmy nominated funny horror show What We Do in the Shadows was first broadcasted in March 2019 and follows four vampire roommates on Staten Island. It is now in its sixth season.

Film notifications have been placed in the mailboxes of many Alderwood residents to alert them of possible disruptions due to filming.

Interior and exterior scenes will be filmed at 33 Radlett Avenue on April 2 and 3, with prep work will begin on March 28 and April 1.

The shooting will wrap on April 4 and 5, according to the notification.

“Displaced permit parkers affected by our filming activities are kindly asked to park on surrounding streets,” according to the film makers. “Approach our staff onside for assistance in arranging alternative parking.”

They said production vehicles or pieces of film equipment will be located on sections of Radlett Avenue, Eltham Drive, Mitcham Drive, Delma Drive and Avalon Road.

Private lots will also be used at 44 Delma Drive, 739 Brown’s Line and 1536 The Queensway.

The note said the crew will conduct intermittent traffic stoppages and will begin to reserve the areas with cones on March 28 at 7 a.m.

The show is well-liked by many and the series stars Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillen, Mark Proksch and Kristen Schaal.

It is based on the 2014 New Zealand film of the same name, written by Clement and Taika Waititi and is the second television series in the franchise.

The fifth season of What We Do in the Shadows premiered in July 13 last year.

It has been critically acclaimed for its cast and writing and nominated for 21 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series in 2020 and 2022 for its second and third season.

The show, which has a loyal following, has been filmed in various parts of Toronto.

More than 9,000 people have signed an online petition to rename Eight Street Park after the late local skateboarder Jordon Carter.

March 20 will mark 26 months since Carter, 15, was shot dead by a 13-year-old boy in a Scarborough parking garage.

Many of his friends and well-wishers in South Etobicoke have since been calling for the popular park to be renamed after Carter, who taught many young people the joys of skateboarding there.

Thousands of his friends and those who loved him  have signed the petition to keep his name alive.

A park bench has also been sponsored by well-wishers near the park where he will best be remembered.

Carter, who is the city’s eighth murder victim of 2022, had many friends in the Beach community, as he had been raised by his grandmother there.

He is remembered as a young man with a bright future and had a scholarship to one of Toronto’s most prestigious private schools.

His friends said he made “everyone laugh and smile” and cared about seeing the people he taught to skateboard succeed.

A memorial poster said his “energy was inspiring and he truly had a creative nature to everything he did.”

Carter, who was always seen on a skateboard, had many friends who lit up social media to mourn his loss.

He was so beloved that more than $15,000 was raised in a Go Fund Me page to help with the funeral services.

“He was a talented young man who loved skateboarding,” fund organizer Krista Langille wrote at the time. “He was a beautiful soul who was loved his friends and anyone who ever met him. We are all devastated by this loss.”

The City of Toronto is planning to donate five more used vehicles to Ukraine for emergency humanitarian use.

A motion for the vehicle donation was presented by Mayor Olivia Chow and will be heard by the City’s Executive Committee this month.

Council has requested agencies as the TTC, Police Services Board and Paramedic Services to consider the donation of surplus or end-of-life vehicles to the Ukraine government for humanitarian purposes.

The City is also planning to donate three generators to help the war-torn country, which is under attack from Russia.

City officials last June donated seven vehicles over the course of 2022 and 2023 to help the ailing country.

“As we mark the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the City of Toronto can provide additional support to the Ukrainian government and our Friendship City, Kyiv, for humanitarian purposes,” according to the Mayor’s motion.

The Consul-General of Ukraine in Toronto Oleksandr Shevchenko made the request for assistance during a recent meeting with City officials.

“The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) is very thankful that the City of Toronto is donating vehicles to help in humanitarian efforts to aid Ukraine in its time of need while Russia continues to bomb its cities,” UCC President Peter Schturyn said then.

The five vehicles will be donated later this year and would be used to respond to emergency humanitarian situations in Ukraine.

“Since 1991, Toronto and Kyiv have been friendship cities, remaining in close contact, and celebrating our 30th anniversary of friendship in 2021,” the motion stated.

The donated vehicles were equipped with operational lights, sirens and basic first aid supplies. They ended up at medical centres in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, which has undergone many challenges of Russia’s constant shelling during the last months.

The Canada Ukraine Foundation is expected to cover the cost of shipping the vehicles to Ukraine through its medical equipment program.

Automated license plate scanners are being installed in a number of Toronto Police cruisers to detect stolen vehicles or drivers with suspended licenses or in poor standing.

Police Chief Myron Demkiw said the Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) cameras will automatically scan and detect license plates in the surrounding area of a police cruiser.

The cameras will be installed on the windshield of police cars and scan thousands the plates of vehicles hourly in front of the cruiser to detect stolen cars, suspended drivers, expired plates, validation tags, or plates associated with persons with outstanding Canada-wide warrants or who are reported missing.

The measure is intended to reduce the 12,000 cars that were stolen last year, or one every 34 minute that is ripped off in Toronto, police said.

There has been an outcry from Toronto community residents to stop the violent vehicle thefts in which thieves break windows or front doors to enter a home to violently steal the car keys from homeowners in late-night thefts.

Police said the ALPR camera will send out a signal if there is a ‘hit,’ and the officer will be required to stop the vehicle to conduct checks.

Police said the camera will be able to access an Ontario Ministry of Transportation and Canadian Police Information Centre “hot list,” which is a data base that contains millions of license plates in poor standing.

If there is a hit, the officer will receive basic information about the vehicle and the registered owner such as the make, model and colour of the vehicle, and the name, gender and date of birth of the owner.

The officer must verify all information within the hit before taking any enforcement action. Hit information is retained in accordance with provincial and municipal privacy laws.

Demkiw said there has been 68 carjackings so far this year.

“That’s a 106 per cent increase compared to the same period last year,” he said. “We are putting a significant amount of resources to address this citywide, and have seen an escalation of violence, threats and intimidation, where weapons are being used to steal vehicles.”

“Break and enters for auto thefts continue to rise. There have been 34 incidents so far this year compared to 22 for all of last year,” said Chief Demkiw.

In one theft on March 16, a balaclava-wearing man approached a person in a mid-town parking lot, pulled out a weapon and robber her vehicle at gunpoint. He was nabbed soon after and charged with a string of offences.