Authorities are alerting the public of the well-used virus in your computer scam.

More than 330 Canadians have been defrauded of some $500,000 in a technical support scheme in which innocent users were tricked in believing their personal computer was hacked or infected with virus or malware.

One man has been arrested in the racket and members of a Peel Regional Police Cyber Support Services believe that there may be others.

Police said elderly Canadians were targeted in the cyber fraud which occurred from January 2020 to February 2022.

The computer owners were tricked that their computers were infected with a virus or malware through various means; including spam phone calls or pop-up ads that appeared on their screens.

“Victims were put in contact with call centre agents who would convince them to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for unnecessary computer repair services,” police said in a release.

Victims were tricked into allowing the call centre agents to access their computers remotely.

The scammers used the names of three companies including; A2Z Consultants Group Inc., QB Services, and SSS Consultants.

The scam operated in Brampton, New Delhi, India; New York and New Jersey. Police in India and the U.S. have also laid charges against the people who took part in the scheme.

“As the use of technology continues to evolve, so do the methods employed by online threat actors seeking to exploit unsuspecting individuals,” said Det. Sgt. Matthew Hutchinson, of Peel’s Intelligence Services, Cyber Support and Digital Forensics.

“We remain committed in our efforts to combat computer scams and online fraud, and we encourage the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities,” Hutchinson said.

Jayant Bhatia, 34, of Brampton, is charged with unauthorized use of a computer, fraud over $5,000, and possession of property obtained by crime.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Fraud Bureau at (905) 453–2121, ext. 3335.  Information may also be left anonymously by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or by visiting peelcrimestoppers.ca

 

Family members and friends are mourning the sudden death of well-known Ronald John Bowie, born and bred native of Etobicoke.

Bowie, who was born in Alderwood, passed away at his home. He was 68.

He worked for about 40-years as a custodian at Lakeshore Collegiate Institute before retiring, when he volunteered as a bartender at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 101.

Long-time friend Dan Irwin said Bowie loved his family and was well-known in the community.

Irwin said Bowie was supposed to be leaving this month on his annual holiday in Puerto Vallarta , Mexico. He already had a beachside condo and air flights booked.

“I went down with him on a few of his trips there,” he recalled. “He has been going to Puerto Vallarta every winter for many years.”

Bowie was the most social person you could meet, according to his obituary.

“He was always happy, positive, warm, kind and easily made friends everywhere he went,” his friends said. “He loved his community, having been born and raised in Alderwood, and worked for his entire career at Lakeshore Collegiate Institute.”

He loved the Toronto Maple Leafs and enjoyed Blue Jays baseball.

Bowie was always there for his children and coached their teams as ‘he was a real family man.’

“He was the kind of person that would give you the shirt off his back,” his obituary state. “All those who knew him will remember his often repetitive Dad jokes.”

Bowie was a loving life partner to Dianne, a caring father to Meagan (Thomas), John (Kate) and Carly (Kyle) and a wonderful Papa to Thomas, June, Finley and Owen.

He will be greatly missed by Dianne’s children, Danielle (Rob), Mark (Nicola), and Chris (Deb), along with her seven grandchildren who affectionately called him Gramps.

Bowie will be missed by his siblings Cath (Don), Carolyn (Larry), Janet (Wayne) and Paul (Kelly). He will be fondly remembered by his nieces, nephews, extended family members and his many friends. He is predeceased by his parents John and Eileen.

There will be a Celebration of his Life on January 5, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the Legion’s Branch 101, at 3850 Lake Shore Blvd. W.

In lieu of flowers his family asks that donations are made to Legion 101 in his memory.

As South Etobicoke residents call for a fireworks display in our area, the City says you can check theirs out if you are looking for something to do on New Year’s Eve?

The City of  Toronto says it has planned the biggest fireworks show in Canada to ring in 2024.

At 12 a.m. on Jan. 1, a free 10-minute fireworks show will be visible from anywhere with a view of Toronto’s inner harbour.

The high-altitude display will also be livestreamed online, with a live show beginning at 10 p.m., available on the City of Toronto Culture YouTube page.

Pop-up performances will also be taking place at different locations along the waterfront, including at Sherbourne Common, Toronto Music Garden, and Exhibition Common at Harbourfront Centre, the City said.

The celebration begins at 10 p.m. with DJs Sofia Fly and Cozmic Cat, followed by the countdown co-hosted by world-renowned drag entertainer Tynomi Banks and award winning performer and producer Sedina Fiati at 11:30 p.m.

Pop-up participatory dance performances led by the Dance Together Festival are available leading up to the fireworks at these locations along Toronto’s downtown waterfront:

The City encouraged residents and visitors to use public transit on New Year’s Eve, with the TTC and GO Transit offering free service from 7 p.m. on Sunday until 8 a.m. on Monday.

There are some road closures planned for Sunday.

Queens Quay West eastbound will be closed from 10 p.m. on Sunday until 1 a.m. Monday.

Bay Street will also be closed from Lake Shore Boulevard West to Queens Quay West from 10 p.m. Sunday until 1 a.m. Monday.

The City said there are designated viewing areas for the show, including the following:

• Sherbourne Common, 61 Dockside Drive
• Toronto Music Garden, 476 Queens Quay West
• Harbour Square Park, 25 Queens Quay West
• Sugar Beach Park, 11 Dockside Drive
• Little Norway Park, 659 Queens Quay West
• HTO Park, 339 Queens Quay West
• Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West

Some area residents have been calling for a similar fireworks show in the South Etobicoke lakefront claiming it will bring in revenue to area businesses, attract visitors to our area and boost the morale of residents.

 

Toronto Police are searching for a suspect who was involved in a brazen smash-and-grab incident at a popular computer store in New Toronto.

The suspect took a heavy brick or rock and smashed a large pane of glass at the 2867 Lake Shore Blvd. W. store around 7:30 a.m. on December 29, according to witnesses and the store’s owner.

It was the fourth known smash-and-grab incidents in the last three weeks to plague businesses in Long Branch and New Toronto.

At least three Long Branch businesses, including a Korean restaurant, nearby variety store and Holy Cannoli Toronto dessert shop were robbed after their glass doors or large panes of glass were smashed by thieves who entered the premises and stole goods.

It is not known if the robberies are related but there has been no arrests.

Ali, the owner of Tech Zone, in New Toronto, said the thieves went inside his store after smashing the glass and stole more than $1,000 worth of computer goods.

He said a large sheet of plywood had to be placed to protect his store until a glass installer can find time to fix the damages.

“I expect the glass itself will cost about $6,000,” Ali said. “It is a large piece of glass and I had to put down $1,000 up front for my insurance.”

He said he will be losing money for the next few days during this busy shopping season until the glass is fixed.

“This is the second time this has happened,” he complained. “I don’t know what is going on here in this community with all the crime.”

Ali is calling for security cameras to be installed in busy areas so police can see what happens and obtain descriptions of the thieves.

Tech Zone sells or repairs a variety of cell phone, computer accessories as headphones, phone cases, Bluetooth speakers and other high-tech gadgets.

The store has been there for a number of years and is well-known since they regularly receive customers  from Markham, Vaughan, Brampton, Mississauga, Hamilton and surrounding areas.

Chris Korwin-Kuczynski, Chair of the Lakeshore Village BIA, said such brazen smash-and-grabs are rare and he will be asking police for more patrols of the neighbourhood.

“I will be talking to the police superintendent,” he said. “We would like to have something done about all these crimes.”

Korwin-Kuczynski said the spraying of graffiti on the walls and surfaces of community businesses is one of the major concerns in the community.

 

 

Well-known and long-time South Etobicoke musician Roger Zuraw is taking to the stage at the Dark Horse Pub on January 7.

Zuraw, who plays the guitar, is better known for his rocking tunes that portray everyday life in the Lake Shore and South Etobicoke area.

“I have been living down here since the 1960s and my music expresses life on Lake Shore,” he says.

Zuraw has released a number of CDs and has performed with many musical stars over the years, when there were many venues that played live music in the area.

You can find him and his band Pops & Pals, with saxophonist Wayne Neon and Brian Morgan, at the Dark Horse Pub, 2401 Bloor Street W., just east of Jane Street, on January 7 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Many of his songs are available on social media and he can be reached at rogerzurawsong@yahoo.ca

The Toronto Speed Skating Club would like to welcome the community to their upcoming regional meet being held at the Ford Performance Centre, at 400 Kipling Avenue, in Rink 1 on December 30th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This meet will feature newer skaters to the sport from across the GTA who are just embarking on their competitive journey.

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

They have been part of the community for the last 15 years at Ford Performance Centre (formerly known as Mastercard 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.   

 

A man is sought by police for allegedly writing hate-motivated graffiti on the windows of several stores in The West Mall and The Queensway area.

Officers of the Toronto Police Hate Crime Unit said the incident occurred on December 21 around 7:10 p.m.

“The man wrote hate-motivated graffiti on the windows of several stores and then fled the area,” police said in a news release.

The suspect is described as having a medium build, wearing a black hooded puffer jacket, black jeans, white shoes, black/orange gloves and ski goggles.

Police have released an image of the suspect obtained from security cameras.

When suspected hate-motivated offences are reported to police, the investigation could be led by a Divisional investigator with the support of the Hate Crime Unit (HCU), or in some cases, will be investigated exclusively by the HCU, according to police.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-3500, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com

Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said earlier this month that between January 1 and December 17 there were 338 reported hate crimes, an increase of 41 per cent compared to the same period in 2022, when 239 were reported.

The statistics includes 147 anti-Semitic hate crimes reported, versus 81 reported during the same period in 2022; and 37 anti-Muslim/Palestinian/Arab hate crimes reported, versus 14 reported during the same period in 2022.

Demkiw said between October 7 and December 17 there were 98 hate crime occurrences reported compared to 48 in 2022 during the same time period. This includes 56 anti-Semitic hate crimes reported, versus 18 during the same period last year; 20 anti-Muslim/Palestinian/Arab hate crimes reported, versus 2 during the same period last year.

There has also been 11 reported hate crimes targeting the LGBTQ2S+ communities during this period, versus eight during the same period last year.

Among all of the hate crimes reported between October 7 and December 17, some 53 per cent have been anti-Semitic.

Since October 7, the HCU has made 43 arrests and laid 96 charges related to hate crime occurrences. Of the 96 charges laid, 29 per cent have been mischief related and 17 per cent have been assault related.

Etobicoke swimming sensation Summer McIntosh has been named The Canadian Press female athlete of the year 2023 for her outstanding performance in international swimming.

The Etobicoke resident outvoted other top women athletes in Canadian sports to cop the prestigious Bobbie Rosenfeld Award.

The 17-year-old swimmer became a double world champion for the second year in a row, defending her titles in the 200-metre butterfly and the 400-metre individual medley at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.

The former student of the Exceptional Athlete Program at Silverthorn Collegiate swam for the Etobicoke Swim Club and trained at the Etobicoke Olympium before moving to Florida about a year ago to train for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Silverthorn Collegiate has a nationally acclaimed program that caters to high performance cream-of-the crop athletes, allowing flexible timetables for students to stick with their intense sports training schedules.

She is currently a Grade 11 student at the Ontario Virtual School.

“I’m very honoured to have it and it’s just really cool,” McIntosh told Swimming Canada after being named for the award on December 27.

The Etobian was the first swimmer in history to hold both the 400-metre and 400 freestyle world records at the same time, which McIntosh did for almost four months until Australia’s Ariarne Titmus reclaimed the freestyle record in Fukuoka last July.

“What I’m most proud of is just how much I’ve learned about myself and kind of how much I’ve gained from each experience,” McIntosh said.

Her impressive four-medals at Fukuoka also saw her anchor the women’s medley relay team to a bronze medal, thereby securing their spot at the 2024 Olympic Games.

The Canadian Press began recognizing male and female athletes of the year in 1932.

McIntosh earned 24 of 52 votes cast In a survey of sports journalists and broadcasters across the country.

She began as a member of the Etobicoke Swim Club, which was founded in 1954, to support young people with the drive, determination, talent and desire, to realize their maximum potential in competitive swimming.

The Club has a long and rich history of service to the Etobicoke community.

It has produced many national, international and Olympic swimmers and has been Provincial and National Champion many times over.

McIntosh mother Jill was also an Etobicoke swim star who competed in the 1984 Olympics.

“We are extremely proud of our swimmers and their successes; however, as parents, we are equally proud of the outstanding citizens that our children have become for the community,” Club officials said.

Today it has more than 270 swimmers competing for Etobicoke, from the novice level all the way to National Team members.

The Club has had 34 swimmers placed on the Canadian Olympic teams since 1956, two swimmers on the 2000 Olympic team and 14 who were junior provincial Championships from 2001 to 2008.

Previous winners of CP’s female athlete of the year include hockey players Marie-Philip Poulin (2022) and Hayley Wickenheiser (2007), tennis players Leylah Fernandez (2021) and Bianca Andreescu (2019), soccer star Christine Sinclair (2020, 2012), golfer Brooke Henderson (2015, 2017, 2018) and swimmer Penny Oleksiak (2016).

Hamilton basketball star

Hamilton basketball star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was awarded the Canadian Press Male Athlete of the Year 2023. The basketball star from Hamilton, Ont., is The Canadian Press male athlete of the year.

He led Canada to its first-ever FIBA World Cup medal last September, earning bronze with a win over the United States. Canada’s performance at the tournament earned it its first Olympic berth since 2000.

was awarded the Canadian Press Male Athlete of the Year 2023.

He led Canada to its first-ever FIBA World Cup medal last September, earning bronze with a win over the United States. Canada’s performance at the tournament earned it its first Olympic berth since 2000.

Extra funds are being sought by Toronto Police to purchase some 15 motorcycles for the FIFA World Cup of Soccer in 2026.

Thousands of fans from around the world are expected to descend on the City of Toronto in June and July 2026 as it hosts a portion of the FIFA World Cup of Soccer.

“A comprehensive traffic management plan will be implemented to streamline the movement of the teams, FIFA officials, referees, and visiting dignitaries, including those classified as Internationally Protected People (IPP), police said in a budgetary document.

“Efficient escorts for these individuals are crucial, and motorcycles have proven to be the most effective means for facilitating such movements,” police said.

Police brass said their fleet of motorcycles are insufficient to meet the demands to move FIFA officials, referees, players and dignitaries around the different venues.

The force is seeking about $600,000 purchase an additional 15 motorcycles to meet the expected demand. They said the City is so congested that motorcycles are the best to move around and direct traffic so motorcades can pass.

“Before and after the FIFA event the motorcycles will be used operationally to support the daily needs to enable smooth traffic flow and enforcement in the city,” the document states.

The City said Toronto is home to more than three million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a proud host city for the FIFA World Cup along with 15 others in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Toronto will welcome fans from North America and across the globe to witness multiple matches while also activating major fan events that showcase the energy and vibrancy shared by residents and visitors for the beautiful game.

With more countries, cities, teams and matches, the FIFA World Cup 2026 is expected to be the most inclusive and diverse sporting event ever, uniting the entire world on a vast stage and engaging millions of fans across 16 stadiums and billions worldwide.​

According to a 2022 projection from the city, FIFA World Cup 2026 is expected to create 3,300 jobs, book 292,000 visitor room nights with projected Municipal Accommodation Tax revenues of $3.5 million, and generate $307 million in GDP for Toronto.