The South Etobicoke News

Serving Humber * Mimico * Lakeshore Village * Long Branch * Alderwood

Group remembers Veterans by placing markers on their gravesites

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Thanks this Remembrance Day to a local group that is providing military markers for the unmarked graves of dozens of our brave Veterans.

The Last Post Fund Ontario ensures that all Veterans are provided a ‘dignified funeral and burial, as well as a military gravestone, due to insufficient funds at time of death.’

The group is in the process of installing the markers for 23 veterans in Ontario cemeteries.

They hope to have them all installed by the end of October, just in time for a dedication ceremony during the week of Remembrance Day.

The Last Post Fund, which has been around since 1909, created the Unmarked Grave Program to provide military markers for unmarked Veterans’ graves. It is a national non-profit organization that is active in Halifax, Montreal and Toronto.

They have a ‘Righting a Wrong” program underway at the former Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital by providing long overdue recognition for lost soldiers, who are no longer forgotten.

As many as 23 veterans, some 19 who did not have markers, are believed to have been buried on the asylum cemetery.

Back then it was known as the Ontario Lakeshore Asylum Cemetery, also as the Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital Cemetery and Mimico Asylum Burial Grounds.

The group said since the first burial in 1890 the grounds have been the resting place for 1,511 indigent people, primarily patients of the hospital, including 10 infants.

The last burial occurred on March 1974. The Mimico Branch Asylum, later the Ontario Hospital: New Toronto, then Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital, closed and partially “re-merged” with Queen Street Mental Health Centre in 1979, formally closing the burial grounds to further interments.

The Last Post Fund was founded in 1909 and has served some 15,000 Veterans from Canada and Allied countries.

They support initiatives designed to honour the memory of Canadian and Allied Veterans, in addition the group owns and manages its own military cemetery, the Last Post Fund National Field of Honour.

Tips for road safety as Daylight Saving Time ends

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Some say more sleep.
Don’t forget that the clocks go back an hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday November 1 as daylight saving comes to an end.  The return to standard time means fewer daylight hours and reduced visibility.

When visibility is reduced, people and objects on the road are harder to see.  Whether you’re driving, walking, or cycling, obey all traffic signals, traffic rules, and remain cautious.

In Toronto, pedestrian collisions increase by more than 30 percent during the evening hours from November to March.

To draw attention to the increased risks facing pedestrians and cyclists, the City of Toronto is launching a city-wide public education campaign that promotes road safety as we enter a season with reduced daylight hours.

The campaign intends to remind everyone to be aware of each other as they share the city’s roads. The City is reminding drivers: that when driving, please slow down and turn slowly. Always stay alert.

Make sure vehicle headlights and signal lights are functioning properly. Obey speed limits and approach all crosswalks, intersections and transit stops with caution.

And give yourself plenty of time wherever you’re going and plan your route in advance. Also use public transit when possible.

And always change your batteries while you are at it.

Toronto Fire Services recommend changing the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors when the clocks change.

Dave’s grandfather Robbie fought in Battle of the Somme

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By DAVE KOSONIC

My grandfather Robert McConkey went from the peaceful village of Priceville, Ontario, to the deadly battlefields of Europe in 1915 as a member of the Canadian Army during WW1 when he was 27 years old.

Fortunately he returned to Canada alive at the war’s end and his story has been passed down through the decades by our family.

My grandfather was known as Robbie by his fellow soldiers. His medals and a piece of shrapnel is all that’s left of him (in photo).

He was wounded during the Battle of the Somme when he lost almost the entire use of his right arm and shoulder when he was hit by German shrapnel.  He endured 16 surgeries during the following years at Christie Street Hospital in Toronto.

His wife, Anna, stayed at his bedside each time as he recovered. Medical imaging was very basic in those days so the doctors conducted exploratory surgery while attempting to detect and remove more shrapnel.

I have the final shrapnel fragment that was removed from my grandfather and I look at it as a symbol of the horrors of war and the pain and suffering that so many Canadian soldiers endured.

My uncle Jack McConkey, who recently passed away at the age of 93, had recorded his father’s WW1 experiences and often shared them with me. Apparently after grandfather was shot he laid on the muddy battlefield for about 24 hours before some his fellow soldiers could recover him due to enemy fire and the immense number of casualties.

Despite his wounds my grandfather remained conscious and he told Jack that he overheard an Army nurse discuss where they planned to bury him the next day because they thought he was near death.  Apparently that conversation motived grandfather to keep fighting for his life.

I read a letter sent to my grandfather by one of his fellow soldiers a few years after WW1 ended.  This man had seen grandfather after he was wounded and he was certain that he was going to lose his arm or die.  This former soldier found out that Robbie had returned home to Canada alive and with his arm intact and he congratulated him for being alive.

I was my grandfather’s first grandchild and I was only in his presence a few times when I was about two years old before he died. For some reason I made strange to him and decided that I didn’t like him which apparently upset him greatly.  I have always felt bad about that.

Grandfather McConkey operated the post office in Priceville after he returned home and also had a small general store in the same facility. He died of a heart attack at age 63 and the doctors suspected that his heart had likely been damaged by many infections caused by the shrapnel.

He, like the many of his colleagues who never made it home, are heroes in my eyes and that of our family. RIP Grandpa.

Iconic Eighth Street Monument moved to Col. Sam Smith Park

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Just in time for Remembrance Day.

The iconic Eighth Street Cenotaph is finally being moved to its new home in Col. Samuel Smith Park a few blocks away.

The iconic Cenotaph was hooked by a crew and moved by truck on October 29 due to the construction of a condo project at the site of the former Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 3.

“I am thrilled that the Cenotaph will be place in time for Remembrance Day,’ Councillor Mark Grimes said of the long-awaited move.

It is slated to be placed in a high-profile location in the Lake Shore Blvd. W. and Kipling Ave. park.

“For decades, the Cenotaph has been located in front of the Royal Canadian Legion, which has since merged with Branch 643, on Jutland Rd. There was no space for the monument there.

Eighth Street has been a place of gathering for those looking to remember the brave men and

women who gave the ultimate sacrifice in World War I, World War II and the Korean War,” according to a City Council Motion Without Notice.

For three-plus decades, veterans, legionnaires and members of the public have gathered annually at the large cenotaph to remember Canadians fallen in war on the Sunday before Remembrance Day, and on Nov. 11.

“The years go by, and the memories of the devastating consequences of these wars drifts further

away from our minds.” according to the motion. “The Cenotaph serves as an important reminder of the tragedies of war and provides our community with an important source of reflection.”

“There is significant concern over the possibility of the Cenotaph being damaged before it can

be relocated,” according to the City. “The Cenotaph is of heritage value and needs to be protected.”

The developer has agreed to move the 7.5-metre solid granite monument before they begin building.

A mid-rise condominium development is underway that calls for the construction of about 90 condominium units on the site and a small extension of the adjacent park.

The massive monument, donated by the community, has stood in remembrance of lives lost in front of the former Legion Hall since 1983.

City Council has directed Heritage Preservation Services staff to evaluate the property at 150 Eighth Street for any potential heritage significance. Heritage Preservation Services staff are currently evaluating the property.

 

Police body worn cameras rolling on the streets of South Etobicoke.

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Smile you’re on police cam!

Officers at Toronto Police’s 22 Division say they are now equipped and hitting the streets with body worn cameras.

“We are happy to report that our 22 Division Officers are now equipped and patrolling with their individually issued Body Worn Camera (BWC),” police said on social media.

“Our officers are being equipped with BWC to enhance public trust and accountability,” they wrote. “We strongly believe that BWC will protect the Service’s reputation, provide a robust digital evidence management system for courts.”

They say it will result in increased transparency and save cost in time and resources for investigation of complaints.

Police point out that the Economist intelligence Unit – Global Liveability Index 2019 shows Toronto is in 7th place tied with Tokyo, Japan in overall stability, healthcare and education in the world?

“That’s a success!” they wrote.

Police said their mission is community safety as ‘we are dedicated to delivering police services, in partnership with our communities to keep Toronto the best and safest place to be.’

The force has purchased more than 2,000 of the body worn cameras for its frontline officers. Almost all the cameras have been rolled out to officers.

For more information on BWC visit TPS.on.ca/body-worn-cameras

 

 

Local musician Roger Zuraw strikes a chord for the Veterans

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As we remember our veterans, local musician Roger Zuraw is reminding the community about an award-winning song he has written called “Remembrance Day (From the Lakeshore).”

Zuraw says he wrote the tune in a contest featuring Lakeshore artists some years ago.

“About 20,000 contestants from all over the world submitted their songs to this competition and my tune came out with an Honourable Mention credit,” he recalls.

He was inspired by a photograph of Vimy Ridge Parkette, at 2456 Lake Shore Blvd. W., and visited the parkette to obtain a ‘personal contact and feel of this spot.’

Zuraw says his song is about a “World War II Veteran from this area who contributed in the freeing of Holland from the Nazis, coming back to Canada with his English war-bride, raising a family and eventually becoming a president of Legion 101.”

This song appears on Roger Zuraw’s CD called “Remembering The Lakeshore,” which you can listen and download for a small fee from Amazon Music and Apple Music.

The musicians on the song includes; Dougal Bichan on the bagpipes, Alex Radeff on electric guitar, bass and keyboards and Zuraw on acoustic guitar and vocals.

Zuraw has been playing gigs in area bars for more than 20-years and claims to have played in every live music tavern in Mimico, New Toronto and Long Branch back in the day.

Guest column MPP Hogarth with COVID-19 and Remembrance Day

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We Give Thanks!
Like everything else about life in Canada, Remembrance Day 2020 will be changed by
COVID-19.
Although community observances may be diminished by the need for social distancing,
the love and respect we Canadians feel for our veterans and our military remains
undiminished.
In fact, Canadians of all ages were grateful to see military service personnel spring into
action last April when their help was needed to battle COVID-19 in long term care
facilities. The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) literally “sent in the troops” to help provide
support and resources.
CAF members augmented the efforts of staff at 30 long term care homes across the
country, 5 of them right here in Ontario.

I am sure our seniors were greatly comforted by the sight of soldiers in uniform working
hard to ensure their safety and well-being; for many younger people, it might have been
the very first time they ever got experience the passion, diligence, competence and
energy that are the hallmarks of Canadian service personnel.
COVID-19 also meant changes in the Warrior’s Day Parade which has been held in
conjunction with the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) for almost 100 years. The
2020 parade could not be held in-person but instead was held as a “virtual” event, which
meant that more than 1,200 veterans from across Ontario did not get to make their
annual march through the Princes’ Gates at the CNE.
One of those veterans was our own Etobicoke-Lakeshore resident Ed Stafford, who
would have been marching for the 61st time at 99 years old. Ed served in Italy in World
War Two, and I am so grateful that we were able to work with the Ontario Military
Vehicle Association to arrange a parade of 10 military vehicles past his home to help
make up for the parade that he was missing.

It was a thrill to see how happy Ed was at the sight of the military vehicles driving by his
home, and even more so when they stopped so he could climb on board and ride with
them. It truly touched my heart, as Ed is just one of the many, many Canadians who
offered to sacrifice their lives for our safety and our freedom. Some of Ed’s friends did
not return from the War; they paid the ultimate price, and they did it for us. Their
courage, commitment and generosity of spirit are overwhelming even to think about.
Ontario tries to express appreciation in a variety of ways: on September 18, we
introduced legislation to provide financial assistance to more veterans in need. The
Soldiers’ Aid Commission Act, 2020, if passed, will ensure veterans of all ages and their
families, not just those who served in the Second World War and the Korean War, will
be eligible to apply for financial assistance.

On August 20, the Ontario government announced that it is providing $500,000 to
retrain veterans for jobs in the IT and technology sectors. The Soldiers in Tech program
is providing 12-week web development boot camps that equip participating veterans
with the skills, resources, and industry knowledge they need to enter junior web
developer positions.
One year ago, we announced free weekday use of Ontario Parks: providing veterans
and active CAF members free access to our beautiful provincial parks is just a small
token of appreciation for the sacrifices they have made to protect the freedoms we have
and the values we hold dear.
Thank you, veterans. Whether we are assembled in person or virtually, near or far, we
will remember you.
MPP Christine Hogarth can be reached at 416-259-2249 or by e-mail at christine.hogarth@pc.ola.org

  

Irate Mimico residents have to wait longer for concrete plant to leave

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It is more disappointment for residents in the Judson Street area in Mimico.

Residents in the Judson Street area were waiting for news that their neighbour ML Ready-Mix Concrete would be moving to a new home across town.

There was no party as Councillor Mark Grimes, in letters to residents, say the move by ML to a new home at 545 Commissioners St., by the end of the year had been cancelled by a few months.

“While we had hoped to see ML Ready Mix to their new home in the Port Lands by the end of the year, I’m told by City staff that this move is going to be delayed by a few months,” Grimes wrote.

He said planning for the move began back in November 2019, however this ‘unprecedented situation’ has had an impact on all facets of this project.

The letter said “ML’s new site in the Port Lands must be operational at 545 Commissioner St., before they vacate Judson Street.”

“ML will be leaving the community however at this time, I don’t have a confirmed date when this move will happen,” he said. “We anticipate the move will occur in the Spring of 2021.”

Mimico residents who fought a vocal battle with the city for years to move ML Ready-Mix Concrete out of their neighbourhood and to another part of town.

Grimes said COVID-19 brought the city to a ‘screeching halt’ as officials shifted their focus on the pandemic and keeping ‘our communities safe.’

Members of the Judson Street Residents Association have been lobbying against the City and ML citing the company has dozens of trucks going back and forth from the Horner Ave., and Royal York Rd. concrete yard, which creates noise, dust and pollution in the air.

Dan Irwin, who lives across from the concrete plant, said the community has been waiting for more than two years for the concrete plant to leave the area.

“We shouldn’t have to live like this,’ he warned. “They are taking away our quality of life.’

Man arrested for trying to steal smokes from a New Toronto store

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A man has been arrested for allegedly trying to steal cigarettes and other goods from a store in the Lake Shore Blvd. W., and Kipling Ave. area.

Police say around 7:50 p.m. on October 21 they responded to a robbery at a store in South Etobicoke.

“A man entered a store and approached the cash, which had a plastic partition placed between the employees and customers,” officers said in a press release.

Police said the suspect asked for cigarettes, which the store owner placed on the counter.

“ … after hesitating momentarily the man lunged over the counter, breaking through the partition and knocking the employee out of the way,” police said.

The culprit then grabbed several more items from behind the cash and fled.

Members of the Hold Up Squad were able to identify the suspect.

Jason Hermanus, 38, of Toronto, has been arrested and charged with robbery, disguise with intent and fail to comply probation.

He appeared at Toronto West Court, 2201 Finch Avenue West, on October 26.

 

Body-worn cameras now in use by police in Etobicoke stations

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Toronto Police officers in west-end divisions including South Etobicoke will begin this week using their body-worn camera during interactions with the public.

Police say officers from 22 Division, at 3699 Bloor St. W., and 11 Division, at 2054 Davenport Rd., and those assigned to the Community Response Unit at 52 Division, will start using the technology when dealing with the public on October 26.

“Body-worn cameras are one tool we can use to create trust and legitimacy between officers and the public as we look for ways to modernize policing services,” said Chief James Ramer.

“This technology provides an independent, bias-free account of our interactions and reinforces our commitment to show communities they can feel safe and secure to enjoy their daily lives with the police,” he said.
The Toronto Police Service received approval from the Toronto Police Services Board on August 18, to move forward with Axon Canada in the delivery of a Service-wide body-worn camera program.
Before deployment, every officer will be trained on the operational use of the camera and the associated governance, which include minimum penalties for non-compliance.
The Service has worked with the Information & Privacy Commissioner, the Ministry of the Attorney General, the Ontario Human Rights Commission, the Special Investigations Unit, and the Office of the Independent Police Review Director, to develop a program that considers privacy, security, and disclosure responsibilities for the body-worn cameras.
Body-worn cameras will be used when an officer arrives at a call for service, begins an investigation, or when asking a person questions for the purposes of collecting information.

More than 2,000 body cameras were ordered for use by members of the Toronto Police Service. Their use is being phased in by police across the city.
To learn about the body-worn camera program, visit www.tps.on.ca/body-worn-cameras