Threatened by plans to build large towers and a subdivision in Mimico, a survey is now underway for residents to share their thoughts on the development.

The Mimico Development Survey has been launched to obtain feedback from residents on the proposals that are underway.

The survey has been launched online by the Mimico Residents Association (MRA), who said “real estate developments in Mimico are an important issue for many residents of this community.”

“We are working to create a position and approach to ensuring that community perspectives are captured by developers and the City,” the survey said. We hope “that Mimico continues to grow as a community that works for the people that live here.”

“We are looking for feedback from all residents of Mimico who would like to share their perspectives and be part of this work by the MRA,” the survey state.

The survey asks if those taking part are homeowners, how long they have been living in Mimico and what their top issues are.

Some of the issues listed incudes community engagement, livability and character, growing density, housing shortages, housing affordability, community spaces and parks, traffic congestion, bike lanes, environmental and construction impact, safety and infrastructure  improvements.

The area will soon become a hive of activity as a plan to build a 33-storey, 10-storey towers and new roadway in Mimico is moving ahead with many residents expressing displeasure of the proposal.

A large sign has been installed in front of 2405 Lake Shore Blvd. W., notifying residents that ‘change has been proposed on this site.’

The proposal will be heard by the Ontario Land Tribunal in a 10-day video hearing on July 8.

The signage shows an outline of the towers planned and state notifications will be posted of public meetings of the proposed mega development.

The proposal if approved will lead to the demolition of 2405, 2407, 2409, 2411 and 2417 Lake Shore Blvd. W., between Mimico and Superior Avenues to construct a 33-storey and 10-storey towers that will contain 471 residential rental apartments in mixed sizes.

There would be retail space at the ground floor level, residential uses above, and two underground levels of parking, according to the proposal.

An east-west roadway is also planned behind the towers that will end at Superior Avenue. It will separate the lakefront from Lake Shore Blvd. W., and more towers are planned for the lakefront area.

 

 

The City was defrauded of at least $495,000 and another $100,000 in potential loss was flagged from calls coming into its Fraud and Waste hotline last year.

About $31,000 was recovered according to the City’s Auditor General 2023 report on the hotline activity.

A report was released on February 8 to members of an Audit Committee. It stated that almost 14,000 complaints were received on the Fraud and Waste hotline since 2002.

The report by A-G Tara Anderson said the City suffered $27.7 million in losses, and $1 million in potential losses, stemming from complaints to the hotline from 2019 to 2023.

It said five City workers were disciplined last year and there were 25 instances where actions were taken against vendors, employees or members of the public, who may have been subsidy recipients.

The report said 125 complaints from previous years were closed last year and 31 of those were substantiated in whole or in part.

About 52 per cent of those defrauded ever recover any of their losses, according to the association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

The Auditor General said last year there were 1,450 allegations received on the tip line that led to 1,054 investigations. The report said some 144 of the complaints were investigated by Auditor General’s staff or the City’s Divisions, agencies or corporations.

Some 30 of the 144 complaints investigated were substantiated in whole or in part and eight of those were made by anonymous callers.

It was “the highest in a year since the launch of the Hotline Program,” the report stated. “The Hotline Program has helped to reduce losses and resulted in the protection of City.”

The office said the ‘complaint data is used to identify trends, address risks, make action oriented recommendations to management, and inform our Audit Work Plan.’

The information is also used to deter fraud or wrongdoing, strengthen internal controls, improve policies and procedures and increase efficiencies.

The Fraud and Waste Hotline Program began as a six-month pilot program in March 2002 and was made permanent in November that same year. The Auditor General is required to make a report yearly to the Audit Committee.

The Hotline is managed by the Auditor General’s Forensic Unit, whose members collectively possess the expertise to resolve a range of complaints and conduct investigative work into complex allegations. Due to the small size of the team, the Unit occasionally leverages audit staff or outside experts to assist in complex investigations.

All City employees who are aware that wrongdoing has occurred are required to immediately notify their manager, their Division Head, or the Auditor General’s Office. The allegations of wrongdoing are to be immediately reported to the Auditor General.

Plans to build a major subdivision with a nine-storey seniors residence, townhouses and four condo towers at Evans Avenue and The East Mall is steaming ahead.

An application to amend the zoning by-law from commercial to residential development will be considered by Etobicoke York Community Council on February 26.

A report by the Director, Community Planning, Etobicoke York District recommends approval of the application to amend the Zoning By-law.

The developers want to construct a nine-storey seniors’ residence, two blocks of three-story townhouses and four towers 21, 29, 32 and 38 stories on a shared three-storey base building at the 564 – 580 Evans Avenue site.

Also included is a new 4,129 square metre park and three 20-metre-wide streets that runs north-south and east-west, according to the proposal. There will be more than 1,000 parking spaces and the same amount of bicycle spots in total.

The development will have a total gross floor area of 100,841 square metres and will house 1,196 residential units, which includes 678 one-bedroom units, 397 two-bedroom units and 475 three-bedroom units.

“Vehicular access to the proposed development would be from Evans Avenue via the proposed new public north-south street and from The East Mall via the proposed new east-west public street,” according to the proposal.

The plan has been in the works for about nine years and the first public consultation meeting was held in June 2015.

A number of minor tweaks and requirements were sought in previous hearings. Nearly all the variances have been met.

The site is located at the corner of the Highway 427 north on-ramp and Evans Avenue, on the north side of Evans Avenue.

The existing Active Green and Ross Tire store will be demolished to make room for the development. The franchise auto repair store has been there for decades. There are about 65 of the stores in Southern Ontario.

“The existing low-rise commercial/industrial buildings on the site would be demolished to allow for the proposed development,” according to the proposal.

The surrounding land includes a low-rise industrial building at 24 The East Mall, a two-storey motel at 560 Evans Avenue, a film studio called Studio 550, storage units and a gas station with a car wash.

The proposed seniors’ residence would be placed parallel to a proposed new park, which will face Evans Avenue. The building would also enhance a cul-de-sac in front that terminates the public east-west street, and the intersection of Evans.

The towers would be placed mostly parallel to the Highway 427 north on-ramp on the west. There would also be a Ministry of Transportation building setback of 14 metres consisting of landscaping.

The three-storey townhouses will be parallel to the new park, Evans Avenue on the south, and the new public north-south and east-west streets on the east and north.

A public sidewalk in front of Evans Avenue would be reconstructed with a minimum width of 2.1 metres to improve pedestrian comfort and safety and comply with City standards.

Trees are proposed at the edges of all streets.

“The tree plantings would improve the attractiveness of the public realm and contribute towards its comfort and sustainability,” according to the proposal.

 

For you or someone you know who are interested in the world of aircraft and airports.

Toronto Pearson Airport is holding a job fair on February 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and organizers are looking to fill a number of good-paying positions in a variety of areas at Canada’s biggest and busiest airport.

“Your career can take flight at Pearson,” according to a press release. “From baggage handlers to security and from customer service to food and beverage, Pearson has opportunities for meaningful career growth.”

The airport-wide job fair will take place at the Toronto Congress Centre, at 650 Dixon Road.

Airport officials said there’s something for every job seeker at Pearson, whether you’re looking to get up close to some of the largest aircraft in the world or wanting to help customers/travellers have the best possible experience as they set out or return from their journey.

Pearson Airport held two major job fairs last year as air travel ramped up following the elimination of COVID-19 restrictions and shutdowns that had been in place on and off from 2020 to 2022.

In January 2023, the airport held a career and job fair featuring 32 employers and last October hosted an event featuring 25 employers.

“With Canada’s aviation industry still gearing up from its pandemic shutdown,” Pearson is leading a new recruitment drive airport officials said at the time.

 

  

Cloverdale Mall’s newest feature is a pickleball club; a sport that is gaining popularity will be opening on February 16.

Pickle ball is popular and gaining momentum with clubs popping up across the city.

A company called Fairgrounds Public Racket Club is behind the Cloverdale club, with another soon to appear in Vaughan.

The club is a part of the redevelopment of Cloverdale Mall, which is planned to be reduced in size as condos and townhomes are planned for its massive parking lot.

Similar residential developments are also planned for Sherway Mall, Dixie Outlet Mall and Yorkdale Mall among others.

Nine pickle ball courts will be opened at Cloverdale providing free membership to those of all ages, according to Fairgrounds website.

A restaurant and bar is also included in the club for guests.

“The whole idea is to make pickleball […] more accessible to more people and keep up with the growing demand across the country,” Fairgrounds co-founder Drummond Munro told blog TO.

The club is also introducing the sport of Padel, which is a combination of tennis and squash, using the tennis scoring system in a smaller, enclosed court where the ball can bounce off the walls.

Fairgrounds said pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong.

It is played with a paddle and a plastic ball with holes and is perfect for players of all ages and skill sets, according to the company.

“With easy-to-follow rules, pickleball is a great introductory sport for those looking to have fun on the court,” Fairgrounds said.

It said they are creating a space that fosters new relationships and builds community while learning new skills.

The company plans to grow the sport into the next big thing by opening 60 courts across Canada in the coming months.

 

The public is being warned to be wary of persons falsely claiming to be from the City of Toronto Basement Flooding Protection Program who are trying to enter your homes.

Police said residents should exercise caution when solicited for any service and when sharing personal information with people who they do not know.

They said the City of Toronto does not conduct door-to-door sales of any kind and does not sell, partner with, nor endorse any products or services.

Police said if you suspect fraud, do not let the person into your home and report the incident to their non-emergency line at 416-808-2222.

You can also report the matter to the City by calling 311 or to Consumer Protection Ontario at 416-326-8800, or online at Consumer Protection Ontario at ontario.ca.

Police said when conducting construction-maintenance work in neighbourhoods, the City will deliver notices to affected households that state the purpose of the work and if access to homes or buildings is required, and when there is work where no access is required.

If access is required, residents are provided with the contact information of the onsite lead contractor or field ambassador. Staff working for or on behalf of the City have identification.

Residents can contact 311 with any questions or concerns, including to verify the identity of City employees or contractors.

Anyone who has information, or who thinks they may have been a victim of this scam, should contact police at 416-808-2222, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.

 

The Toronto Speed Skating Club would like to welcome the community to their upcoming regional meet at the Ford Performance Centre in Rink 1 on February 18 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This meet will feature skaters from across Ontario who are on their competitive journey in the provincial circuit before the championship next month in Kingston, Ontario.

Who knows where this will take them in the years to come, but this is where future Olympic athletes start their journey.

The group has been skating for the last 15 years at the now Ford Performance Centre and are a volunteer-run organization that provides professional speed skating instruction to all levels of skaters from ages 6 to 65!

Short track speed skating is known for its high speed energy events at the Olympics and is Canada’s most successful Olympic sport – winter or summer. Please join them on Sunday February 18th and bear witness to the future!

Brazen car thieves may be tracking you as you finish shopping and you don’t know.

Patrons going shopping at Sherway Gardens and other area malls are being asked to be vigilant for people acting suspiciously around their vehicle due to increasing car thefts.

The warning stems from the arrest of a man at Yorkdale Mall who was charged for placing tracking devices on high-end vehicles.

Toronto Police said on February 10 at around 3:20 p.m. officers responded to a call of a suspicious incident at the busy mall.

A customer observed a suspect kneeling beside a parked Range Rover Sport vehicle before walking away, according to detectives.

The sharp-eyed citizen alerted mall security who called police.

Police investigated and allegedly found a tracking device hidden on the Range Rover.

“Further investigation revealed the accused had attached a subsequent tracking device on another vehicle of the same make and model in the mall parking lot,” police said in a release.

Officers said a man was arrested and a firearm was found.

Yannis Demmouche, 26, of Montreal, was charged with 12 counts of firearms-related offences, criminal harassment, possession of proceeds of crime, fail to comply with probation and a slew of other offences.

He was scheduled to appear in court at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre, 2201 Finch Avenue West, on  February 11.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7350, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at  www.222tips.com.

Police suspect the accused would track the expensive vehicles to the home of the owners and steal it from the driveway.

The arrest was made by members of the Provincial Carjacking Joint Task Force (PCJTF) to target the rising incidents of violence related to auto theft crimes in the GTA.

 

In light of a vicious dog attack of a woman at a Rexdale bus stop, the City is looking at putting more teeth into its dangerous dog bylaws.

The owner of two dangerous dogs is on the run after the animals on February 9 jumped on a woman throwing her to the ground and began mauling her that she received more than a dozen stitches.

The dogs attacked the woman and bit and ripped her cheek and arm and left her with a broken arm. The dogs were not on a leash and the owner took off with the animals and is sought by police.

An Economic and Community Development Committee will consider at a meeting on February 20 amendments to the Serious Dog Attacks bylaw.

The Committee is being asked to create a list of dangerous dogs that will be available on a City website. The list will have a description of the dangerous dog, part of an area code where the dog lives and offences committed by the animal.

The City wants to amend bylaws “to create and maintain a public record listing information, including the dog’s owner, first three digits of the postal code, ward number, the dog’s name, photograph, breed and colour, and dates of all served Dangerous Dog Orders,” according to a report.

The public list of dangerous dogs will allow residents be aware of vicious animals in their area so they can stay away.

“Dangerous Dog Orders are not currently posted on the City’s website, and the City does not have a public list of dangerous dogs,” according to a report by Municipal Licensing and Standards.

The report is also requesting $500,000 to create a communication strategy and public campaign to support compliance and enforcement with a goal of reducing dangerous dog acts.

“There is a need to change public behaviour and increase awareness of why dogs need to be leashed, how owners can prevent dangerous dog acts and how people and children can safely interact with dogs,” according to the report.

The City is being called on to make owners solely responsible for damages or injuries suffered by victims after their dog attacks someone.

The Ontario government is also being asked to make amendments to the Dog Owner’s Liability Act (DOLA), to provide hearings for dog biting cases, and a way for municipalities to recover costs when it holds an animal on a warrant or interim control order.

All dog bites or attacks are investigated by Toronto Public Health officials to ensure there is no transmission of rabies to people.

This report summarizes actions staff have completed and work that is currently underway to improve processes to support effective and timely dog investigations and enhance public safety.

When a Dangerous Dog Order is issued, the dog owner must ensure the animal is muzzled except when on the owner’s premises, that a warning sign is posted on their premises and the dog is banned from the City’s off-leash areas in parks.

The owner must also obtain a dangerous dog tag and the animal must wear the tag; plus be microchipped, the City must keep a photo of the animal on file and the owner must make sure the dog receives socialization, obedience training in 90 days.

The Order lasts the life of the dog unless rescinded on an appeal to the Dangerous Dog Review Tribunal.

In severe or repeated cases the owner of the animal can undergo a DOLA hearing and an order sought to euthanize the dog.

A Beer Store at Cloverdale Mall that is used by many will soon be gone.

The store which has been there for decades is slated to be levelled as a huge condo tower complex has been given the green light to be built on the site.

A Petro-Canada service station that stood beside it was bulldozed in 2021.

The site at 2-10 The East Mall Crescent, at the East Mall and Dundas Street W., near Cloverdale Mall, will be home of a 33-storey and nine storey towers, to be connected by a four-storey base building, which were approved by Etobicoke York Community Council last December.

The complex when completed will have 605 condo units, including 382 one-bedrooms, 133 two-bedrooms and 61 three-bedroom units. There will be commercial space on the first floor.

Planned are two public areas for residents that will be accessible year-round and not gated from the streets.

“The building would be set back along its three street frontages to provide for expanded sidewalks and an enhanced public realm,” according to the proposal.

It said a vehicular bridge connecting the site to the Cloverdale Mall is proposed to be converted into a landscaped pedestrian bridge with a bicycle connection to the Mall.

Vehicular access to the site is proposed via a driveway from East Mall Crescent, and would lead to underground parking, loading areas, and drop-off areas at the interior of the site.

The driveway would curve around an enhanced garden at the interior of the site and would lead back to East Mall Crescent.

“A Petro Canada gas station has been demolished, and the one-storey Beer Store on the subject property will also be demolished to allow for the proposed development,” according to the plan.

The top of the building at the 33rd storey would include a mechanical penthouse and green roof that ‘would contribute to the surrounding skyline identity and character.’

Officials of the Greater Toronto Airport Authority (GTAA) confirmed the height of the proposed building is within their limits and will not present any problems with arriving or departing aircraft.

There will be 360 residential parking spots, including 58 visitor spaces, two loading spaces and 457 bicycle parking spaces, including 44 short-term and 413 long-term spots.

The plan calls for seven city-owned trees to be removed.

It said the project will provide a level of intensification to an underutilized parcel of land while delivering new housing and retail opportunities to the area and providing better connections to local and regional transit.