Congratulations to the Etobicoke Ringette Association’s Under 10 Stingers for their amazing win at the Barrie Blizzard Tournament this weekend! The team was undefeated at this tournament!
They played hard and are taking home the championship banner! Way to go team.
One of the legitimate markets that has been successfully operating in Mimico.
It is getting closer to that time of the year when people start to frequent garage sales and craft markets again.
Some South Etobicoke residents have issued an online warning of a scam targeting vendors of craft markets.
The concerns surfaced after administrators of the South Etobicoke Community Group refused to post a listing for vendors for craft markets because it looked suspicious.
One of the online posting that is suspected of being fake.
Due diligence showed there were many of the same posts for vendors for the same type of events on the same dates across North America.
“For any small business owners who participate in markets do your due diligence when seeing these posts online,” Graham Rowlands wrote. “Ask for references.”
He said to ask them to ‘show that that they have done markets and have permits or leases to do so.’
Rowlands urged vendors to do Facebook checks to “make sure they have social profiles to back up their claims. If they don’t proceed with caution.”
Another craft market online posting to beware of that is seeking vendors.
He said there are many online scams to be wary off including those for duct cleaning, cleaning, car cleaning or rental scams.
“Scammers are getting smarter so just be careful when conducting business or buying” from people online.
He reminds vendors and others to vet everyone they plan to do business with and never send money without being sure they are legitimate.
Mimico residents are asked to conduct a five-minute survey into the future of development of the area.
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.”
A 33-storey tower and a 10-storey towers are planned for Mimico much to the displeasure of many residents.
“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.
Another east-west street is planned between Lake Shore Blvd. W. and the waterfront. The street will begin at Amos Waites Park and run east to Superior Avenue.
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.’
Signage has been posted alerting residents of the upcoming development proposal,
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.
City Auditor General Tara Anderson’s office releases a report on the Fraud and Waste hotline to the Audit Committee yearly.
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.
Auditor General’s staff who receives the complaints from City workers, of which five were disciplined last year.
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.
An Auditor General report issued on wrongdoings in the construction trade.
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.’
A previous report issued by the Office on City wrongdoings by staff and residents.
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.
Four towers, townhomes and seniors residence proposed for subdivision at Highway 27 and Evans Avenue.
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 towers ranging from 21 to 38 storeys will be facing Highway 27 and the Gardiner Expressway,
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.
Proposed facility to be built in the four-block subdivision that will have three streets.
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 Active Green and Ross auto repair that has been there for decades will be the site of the proposed subdivision.
“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.
Those interested in aviation are invited to a Pearson Airport job fair.
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.
The job fair promises all sorts of airport related jobs.
“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.
From working on large aircraft to mingling with those leaving for long-awaited trips.
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.
Residents will soon be able to play the popular pickleball sport at Cloverdale Mall.
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.
There will be nine pickleball courts opening at Cloverdale Mall.
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.
Pickleball has caught on and is wildly popular with more courts opening up every day.
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.
Police are warning of fraudsters who claim to belong to the City’s Basement Flooding Protection Program.
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.
The City says their workers have identification and they alert residents of maintenance work through flyers and never solicit work.
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 Club welcomes skaters and all to their regional meet.
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!
Police warn that brazen auto thieves are placing tracking devices on your luxury vehicles for thefts while you are in the mall shopping.
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.
A suspected auto thief was recently arrested at Yorkdale Mall for allegedly placing tracking devices on two Range Rovers for future thefts.
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.
Thieves will follow you home from shopping and steal your high-end vehicle right from your driveway.
“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.
The most recent suspected thief is from Montreal and was nabbed at Yorkdale Mall in search of cars to steal and for sale abroad.
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.