The City is inviting residents to learn about a plan to open bars, restaurants and nightclubs later at night that has been given the green light.

There will be a virtual Night Economy Town Hall meeting taking place on January 17 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., city officials say.

Residents are encouraged to help shape, plan and create a safe and vibrant Toronto nightlife by participating in the first-ever Town Hall. The program begins in January 2025.

The plan has been met with negative feedback in Long Branch and other communities whose residents claim the longer bar hours will result in more drunkenness, crime and noise. It will also affect residents in New Toronto and Mimico among other communities.

 

Bars and other venues will be able to open until 4 a.m., rather than 2 a.m., if they receive a permit.

“Night economy describes the social, cultural, and economic activities that take place between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. in Toronto,” according to City officials. “A major component is the nighttime workforce, including those who help manage life at night, such as hospitality industry workers, bar owners, shift workers, and emergency services professionals.”

Officials said most of the nighttime action is now centered in downtown and this will bring more revenue to the outlying areas.

“Including the night economy in municipal planning is essential,” according to a City report. “Doing so allows more residents to access City services, run errands, and travel throughout the city at night.”

 

The City said bylaws differs in various communities and the plan will bring uniform regulations across Toronto. It will also allow the City to take a proactive approach to nighttime activities as noise and safety.

They hope the Town Hall will help create and activate space and livability for all those who work nights, create strategies that promote safe and enjoyable communities, update rules and licensing for bars, restaurants and entertainment venues and change regulations on how these businesses can operate.

A City report states there are about 8,000 licensed establishments in Toronto, of which 483 are bars, 243 are live music venues and 26 are nightclubs. In 2017, Toronto welcomed over 43.7 million visitors that spent $8.8 billion. A record 15.5 million were overnight visitors.

Officials said the business of nightlife also employs people. The Toronto region’s nightlife employs 64,000 workers in the food and beverage sector, 32,000 employees in the hotel industry and 178,000 workers in culture sector.

“Nightlife activities also commonly drive tourism and tourist spending and Toronto is the leading tourism destination in Canada,” according to the City.

Many City services including Toronto Public Health, Toronto Paramedic Services, Municipal Licensing and Standards, Fire Services, Toronto Police Service will be involved in the program to actively prevent and respond to health issues at night.

“Because of their excellent work, Toronto is a city that continually ranks high in terms of tourists’ perceptions of safety,” City officials wrote.

Nightlife contributes to the economy by generating jobs and attracting tourists that bring new money into the city’s economy. It also offers social and cultural benefits such as connecting people through live experiences, fostering a sense of community and belonging, creating vibrant scenes and incubating talent.

The event will occur at the Beanfield Centre, Room 200, 105 Princes’ Blvd., Toronto, or you can register for the virtual Town Hall at  https://toronto.webex.com/weblink/register/rf52dc31061a3f89015fee5b56030100f

Police are reminding residents to beware of whom they are hiring for snow clearing or other tasks around their home at this time of the year.

The latest warning stems from an arrest of a Norval man for a series of renovation frauds that occurred from September 2021 to February 2023 mostly in Brampton and Mississauga.

Peel Regional Police said the suspect signed five renovation contracts and collected $37,000 in deposits but never returned to complete the jobs.

Police believe there are more victims and want them to come forward.

Hardish Khinda, 42, aka Sunny, of Norval, has been charged with defrauding the public.

The suspect claimed to be working for Weaver Home Improvement or North Side Renovations.

Officers are warning people to hire established contractors, who have worked for trusted friends or family.

They must also check the contractor’s  references or search their companies on Google and never pay with cash up front.

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 visiting peelcrimestoppers.ca

 

 

 

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.