Etobicoke Creek and the Don River are the worst in the Toronto area for being the saltiest waterways due to runoff from truckloads of road salt being used to melt our mountains of ice and snow.

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) data from 2024 shows chloride concentrations in many waterways have been increasing for 10-years with Etobicoke Creek and the Don River among the saltiest.

The study shows the salty waterways can pose a risk to aquatic, plant and even human health.

Too much salt can be toxic for fresh water life, and many GTA waterways are over the safe limit, according to the data.

TRCA officials tested the water quality at Mimico Creek last February 7 with a device that measures chloride concentration and the results were not encouraging.

“We look kind of longer term, and what we’re seeing is that of the 47 stations across our jurisdiction, 36 of them are showing increasing trends in chloride over time,” research scientist Lyndsay Cartwright told the CBC.

She said the salt will affect a number of aquatic species that lives and breeds in the rivers.

“Different aquatic species are going to have different tolerances to chloride, but a lot of the more sensitive ones will die,” Cartwright said.

South Etobicoke residents are sensitive over the health of our waterways since the August 2023 six-alarm fire at Brenntag Canada, and resulting runoff from firefighting efforts that entered Mimico Creek and Humber Creek.

Crews worked for weeks to clean up the dead birds and chemical runoff, some of which made it to Lake Ontario.

To make matters worst, there were 17 major bypass events in 2023 at the Humber River Treatment Plant, in which about a billion litres of wastewater was released into the Humber River that did not pass through the secondary treatment process.

Road salt though is the main source of the chlorine runoff. The City of Toronto alone uses between 130,000 and 150,000 tonnes of road salt annually to melt snow and ice on its roads during winter maintenance operations.

The City usually deploys hundreds of staff using 1,400 pieces of snow plowing equipment to tackle the snow.

South Etobicoke residents love our trees, some of which are more than a century old.

It is no surprise that the City of Toronto has been recognized by the United Nations as a Tree City of the World with more than 11 million trees and plans for a 40 per cent canopy cover by 2050.

The UN Environment Programme’s General Restoration has designated Toronto as a Tree City of the World for the last five consecutive years, according to a City staff report.

“Toronto is a recognized leader in urban forest management and biodiversity conservation,” according to the Executive Director of Environment, Climate and Forestry Department.

The designation by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN “recognizes the City’s commitment to ensuring sustainable and healthy urban forests, protecting local ecosystems and enhancing its resilience to climate change.”

The tree report will be reviewed by an Infrastructure and Environment Committee on February 26 and considered by City Council at its meeting on March 26, 27 and 28.

The report said Toronto’s urban forest consists of over 11.5 million trees and provides ecosystem services as creating oxygen and removing pollutants from the air, reducing energy costs, improving water quality and mitigating extreme heat.

Trees also ‘provide food and habitat for the many birds, insects, amphibians, and mammals which contribute to the city’s biodiversity.’

It stated many cities invest in greening plans, strategies and actions which promote urban forests as nature-based solutions for thermal regulation, such as New York, Seattle, Paris, Melbourne and London.

City Council is committed to achieving a 40 per cent canopy cover by 2050, using a tree equity approach to grow trees where they are needed most, ensuring that all Torontonians enjoy the benefits of a healthy and resilient urban forest.

The Infrastructure Committee is asked to devise a plan this year to protect and enhance Toronto’s tree canopy as ‘climate change intensifies, with particular attention to the importance of trees in reducing the adverse effects of extreme heat on children, seniors and other vulnerable populations.’

The changing climate is partially blamed for the major floods and forest fires that we had last year and previously, officials said.

Toronto’s trees are essential to the city’s green infrastructure and provide cooling benefits, through evapotranspiration and shade provision, as well as carbon sequestration, air pollution mitigation, wildlife habitat and stormwater management.

The report said the urban forest contributes over $55 million annually in ecosystem services, including $8.3 million in energy savings, $4.0 million in gross carbon sequestration, $37.9 million in pollution removal, and $4.8 million in avoided runoff.

A joint study by the Canadian Institute for Climate Choices and Smart Prosperity Institute noted that from 1990-2018, urban trees removed an average of 2.4 million tons of greenhouse gases (GHG) annually and contributed to GHG emission reductions by reducing heating and cooling needs in adjacent buildings.

“Urban trees offer health benefits by reducing heat-related illnesses, as trees can lower temperatures by up to 12 degrees Celsius while providing shade and reducing exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays,” according to the study.

City staff have planted more than 13,000 trees on public land, created a Tree Seed Diversity Program to restore areas with native plants and introduced regular tree maintenance for young trees which have a survival rate of 93 per cent.

A public meeting is being held in a City study that will increase the density and heights of buildings to 11 stories, upgrade and beautify sections of Lake Shore Blvd. W. corridor.

The Lake Shore Boulevard West Avenue Study community feedback drop-in meeting will be held on February 26 at Lakeshore Collegiate Institute, at 350 Kipling Avenue, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The study said the four kilometre corridor in New Toronto and Long Branch is ideal for intensification and mid-rise buildings from Dwight Avenue west to Brown’s Line, with gaps at Humber College.

The corridor contains mostly two or three-storey commercial buildings with angled or parallel on-street parking, with some newer townhouses and some six-to-eight storey residential buildings.

The study proposes mid-rise buildings up to 11 storeys high along Lake Shore Blvd. W., west of Kipling Avenue and up to eight-stories along Lake Shore Blvd. W., east to Dwight Avenue.

The plan will improve the ‘sub-standard sidewalk widths, lack of street trees, angled, perpendicular or parallel street parking, lack of street furniture as benches, waste bins, bicycle posts and lock up rings.’

Feedback from the community called for more greenery or tree canopy for the Corridor. Other concerns includes the installation of bike lanes along the boulevard in addition to easy accessibility to the TTC. The study is not looking at the installation of bike lanes at this point.

The site of a mega-development project underway at the former Mr. Cookie factory site at Humber Bay Shores has been quiet recently but a lot of work is taking place behind the scene.

The multi-tower project at 2150 Lake Shore Blvd. W., has been slowly moving through the lengthy applications hearing process for two years as plans are being finalized and studies completed.

The first phase of the development called Station Square and Park Lawn Gardens will contain three towers rising as high as 67 storeys, according to documents.

Phase 1 would have three high-rises 47, 63, and 67 storeys in height. There will also be four mid-rise buildings 10, 11, and two at 13 storeys.

The development is designed by B+H Architects for First Capital and Pemberton Group.

The buildings are expected to have more than 2,000 apartment and residential units. The mixed residential condos are tied to the opening of the Park Lawn GO Station, being built by Metrolinx.

There will also be a TTC hub, park, daycare, school, grocery store and other facilities for the thousands of tenants who will eventually be moving in.

Two new roads are expected to be paved to link the complex together, with possible ramps to the Gardiner Expressway.

There will be a five-level underground garage for 1,281 vehicles, with 771 spaces for residents, 20 for visitors, 18 for retail, and 472 for office tenants. There will be almost 3,000 spots for bicycle parking.

Planning for the GO station has also been advancing, with submissions to the City last December for a building permit, and a technical resubmission in January 2025 to tweak the building plans.

Original plans had intended for the GO station and first buildings to be complete in 2026, but the pandemic and other factors have delayed the initial openings to an unknown date.

The 2150 Lake Shore Boulevard W. community will have 7,446 residential units when fully completed. It will include 15 condo towers ranging from 22 to 71 storeys in height.

Blocks away from the site, the Humber Bay Shores area continues to see amazing high-rise development of about eight other towers planned or being built.

According to Urban Toronto construction is underway of two 17-storey towers at 20 Fleeceline Road; 10 and 37-storey buildings at 2256 Lake Shore Boulevard W. are planned. Proposals at 2157 and 2173 Lake Shore Boulevard West for 13- and 49-storey towers; as a 56-storey Water’s Edge at the Cove is ending construction, and a 59-storey condo is planned for  2189 Lake Shore Boulevard W.

Toronto has experienced an unprecedented level of snowfall during this election and, as you know, we are all still digging out.

There are many seniors and people with mobility issues in the community and Elections Ontario officials have been hearing from elderly and other voters who are still trapped indoors due to age or ability level.

Well, now you can request a vote for the February 27 Ontario elections by home visit. Your request has to be made before February 26.

You can request to vote by home visit if you are unable to go to your local election office or voting location or require assistance to vote.

To request a home visit, contact your local election office at 145 Evans Avenue or call 833- 905-3499 or 1-888-668-8683 by 6 p.m. before February 26 to schedule a home visit.  You can also reach them by e-mail at info@elections.on.ca

If your request is approved, two election officials will bring a voting kit to your home to assist you in voting. You will need to show one piece of ID and complete the application form before receiving your ballot.

You will write the first and last name of the candidate of your choice on the write-in ballot. Then, you will fold your ballot and place the ballot in the envelopes as indicated before returning it to the election official.

South Etobicoke residents and home owners are being reminded to clean the snow and ice from their sewers and drains as the next few days will be milder with much melting of ice and flooding.

City officials said it is expected to hit up to five degrees next week and residents should takes steps against possible flooding of basements and structures.

Residents are urged to clean the mountains of snow, ice and slush that can hamper the flow of water from their sewers or drains to curb flooding.

Pet owners are also encouraged to keep a close eye if they are walking their pets near rivers or streams as the animal can jump in the ice and end up in the frigid waters.

There has been a number of reports already of pets falling through thin ice as the temperatures climb.

At this time of the year for outdoor pet walkers or nature lovers the most common concerns are falling through weak ice into extremely cold water and slipping from the banks of moving waterways made unstable by melting ice, snow and rapidly rising water levels.

Police encourage people to be extremely cautious around ice at this time of year, which can be unpredictable.

City officials warn that when temperatures rise quickly after a snowstorm, melting snow can overwhelm drainage systems and cause flooding.

To reduce the risk, you can: remove snow around your foundation, clear snow from sewers, downspouts or use sandbags to block water from entering low-lying areas.

Melting ice and snow can cause flooding, which can damage homes and infrastructure. It is a leading cause of drownings in Canada, especially at the beginning and end of winter. This is due to climate change, which is causing the ice to form less often and be less stable.

A group of South Etobicoke criminals dubbed the sledgehammer gang has been rounded up by Toronto Police 22 Division officers.

Officers of the Major Crime Unit in Project Sledgehammer arrested three suspects, seized $20,000 in Canadian cash and 5.5 kilograms of methamphetamine and heroin with an approximate street value of $140,000.

Police in a release allege group members were investigated for two last December break and enters to homes in the Islington Avenue and Dundas Street W. area in which a sledgehammer and crowbar were used to smash the front doors.

In one of the attempted robberies there were people inside the home and in another police made an arrest at the scene. There were no injuries.

Detectives issued a search warrant last December and seized the haul of drugs, cash and burglary tools.

Charged with a long list of break and enter offences are Alden O’Neil, 45, of Whitby, Inderdip Singh Sahota, 36, of Brampton, and Shivansh Sharma, 34, of Kleinburg, who was arrested in Montreal.

Officers are still trying to identify four suspects wearing hoodies and have released images of the men captured on security cameras.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the investigators at the 22 Division Major Crime Unit at 416-808-2200, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.

 

An RCMP Cyber Crime unit has arrested two Toronto residents who are accused of scamming more than 500 victims of millions of dollars in a bank teller or police calling schemes.

The Mounties believe the two used technology to hide their phone numbers, deceiving people into thinking they were speaking with their bank, a government employee or police staff.

Cybercrime investigators raided the suspects’ residence, seizing a “trove” of items including “electronic devices,” police said in a press release. The RCMP says they are aware of 570 victims of the phone scams and hope more will come forward now.

Many residents of South Etobicoke have complained about the scam calls, which displays a legitimate official number on caller ID.

The scam involved residents receiving calls from suspects posing as bank, police or Canadian government workers claiming that criminals had accessed their bank accounts and they required money, their passwords or account numbers to catch the thieves.

The information was then used to steal from their accounts.

Police allege the pair used a website that allow “criminals to impersonate corporations by displaying a fake caller identification.”

Chakib Mansouri, 29, and Majdouline Alouah, 31, have been charged with unauthorized use of computer, laundering proceeds of crime, unauthorized possession of credit card data and possessing the proceeds of crime.

Both are in custody and will appear in court on February 21.

According to Statistics Canada, more than 40,000 cybercrimes were reported from January to June 2024, police said.  Fraud accounted for 56 per cent of the violations, child pornography accounted for 16 per cent, and harassing and threatening behaviours accounted for 14 per cent, as reported by the police.

A public meeting is being held in a City study that will increase the density and heights of buildings to 11 stories, upgrade and beautify sections of Lake Shore Blvd. W. corridor.

The Lake Shore Boulevard West Avenue Study community feedback drop-in meeting will be held on February 26 at Lakeshore Collegiate Institute, at 350 Kipling Avenue, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

City officials said recommendations for the area have been developed through community input, technical research, industry feedback and city by-laws.

“The recommendations are to be resilient, forward thinking, and make for a thriving, safe and accessible avenue,” according to a City notice.

The study said the four kilometre corridor in New Toronto and Long Branch is ideal for intensification and mid-rise buildings from Dwight Avenue west to Brown’s Line, with gaps at Humber College.

The corridor contains mostly two or three-storey commercial buildings with angled or parallel on-street parking, with some newer townhouses and some six-to-eight storey residential buildings.

The study proposes mid-rise buildings up to 11 storeys high along Lake Shore Blvd. W., west of Kipling Avenue and up to eight-stories along Lake Shore Blvd. W., east to Dwight Avenue.

The City’s Planning Department Staff also plan to streamline the development application process for proposals to meet new performance standards.

The plan will improve the ‘sub-standard sidewalk widths, lack of street trees, angled, perpendicular or parallel street parking, lack of street furniture as benches, waste bins, bicycle posts and lock up rings.’

“This study seeks to evaluate opportunities to improve the public realm to better support, facilitate, and accommodate the expanding population of south Etobicoke and the local economy,” according to the study.

Staff said the proposal for the area supports public transit, will integrate green infrastructure, make it safer, more attractive and vibrant to support local businesses.

Feedback from the community called for more greenery or tree canopy for the Corridor. Other concerns includes the installation of bike lanes along the boulevard in addition to easy accessibility to the TTC. The study is not looking at the installation of bike lanes at this point.

Long-time community social agency Haven on the Queensway which has helped thousands of needy area residents is moving and seeking donations to help restore a donated building nearby.

The charity that helps about 3,000 people weekly is trying to raise $250,000 by May when they have to move into a spacious office next door to their current 1533 The Queensway building.

Aretha Khaloo, Haven’s Director of Operations, said the building, which was donated by a developer, requires renovation work, including to the roof and sections of the inside, which the agency is responsible for.

“We have been working hard to find a larger facility that can meet the growing needs of our community while remaining accessible to our clients,”Khaloo explained.  “Our agency has grown and we will have move space to help our clients.”

The agency has launched a fundraising drive for the renovation and a planned new mixed-use building complex at 1543 – 1551 The Queensway they will occupy with other charities as Habitat for Humanity, Community Affordable Housing Solutions and St. Clare’s Multi-Faith Housing Society.

The complex will be made up of four towers ranging from 30 to 45 storeys constructed on a site that contains light industrial properties to be demolished.

A development application involving Hariri Pontarini Architects is going through the hearings process and will take some time. When completed the complex will have 342 affordable units out of 1,819 homes.

Haven on the Queensway would operate an over 3,750 square-metre facility across three levels of the podium. It will maintain its core housing services like a food bank, seasonal clothing donation centre, support services for senior citizens and its mobile street help services.

Other services planned include a daycare and playground, a drop-in space capable of hosting a wide range of meetings and events, and an educational centre teaching ESL programs and helping equip people with the tools and resources to find employment.

Meanwhile, Haven’s Coldest Night of the Year fundraising walk takes place for the 12^th year on February 22 at Sherway Gardens Mall. Supporters will be walking laps around the large mall.

Donations can be made on their website havenontheq.com