The South Etobicoke News

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

Police scramble as explosive device found in Alderwood home

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Alderwood became a busy place on Saturday night as police were called to handle a Second World War-era explosive device found at a home.

About six homes were evacuated on October 10 around 9:30 p.m. in the Dunning Crescent and Westhead Road area, near Brown’s Line and the Gardiner Expressway, police say.

A number of local roads were closed as members of the Toronto Police Explosives Disposal Unit conducted an investigation, which lasted for almost two hours.

Police said later the device was a depth charge and it was safely removed from the dwelling.

Police say the device appeared to have been inert.

No charges were laid.

Dozens of U-boats and submarines were destroyed by depth charges during the First and Second World Wars.

Community drive to raise food, funds for the Daily Bread Food Bank

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An army of volunteers and supporters of the Daily Bread Food Bank are saying thanks as they celebrated a sense of community and shared vision to end hunger.

The Food Bank on October 10 held its first Thanksgiving Drive Thru Food Drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its facility at 191 New Toronto Street.

The goal this year was to collect 272,000 pounds of non-perishable food and raise $1.9 million to ensure that ‘our neighbours in need have access to nutritious food.’

There were many vehicles filled with food items that drove up to the facility to make contact-free drop-offs.

NHL player Michael Del Zotto and friends from the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association were in attendance this year to help with the drive.

Mayor John Tory, Etobicoke Lakeshore MP Christine Hogarth and MPP James Maloney were also on hand to help out and thanked supporters for their donations.

Tory said this year things were done differently but “Torontonians came through to support each other.”

Daily Bread officials say there has been a 200% increase in new clients accessing food banks in Toronto since COVID-19 struck last March. Visits to the food bank have risen from 15,000 people a week to over 25,000 weekly.

They said the effects of the pandemic will ‘continue to be felt in our community for many months to come especially by those confronting poverty, homelessness and hunger.’

Food insecurity has affected nearly one in seven Canadians during the pandemic, according to Statistics Canada.

Donations of cash can be made to www.dailybread.ca

Let’s get planting with free trees to protect our canopy

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The Long Branch Neighbourhood Association (LBNA) is reminding area residents of their free tree giveaway on October 24 at Col. Samuel Smith park.

Group members say there are 10 native and shrub species available that are suitable for all yards.

“This program supports the City of Toronto’s 40% tree canopy cover target by encouraging tree planting and tree care on private property,” according to the LBNA.

The event will take place from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at the Lake Shore Blvd. W. and Kipling Ave. park.

Tree seekers are required to book a 15-minute time slot during which they will have to drive up to pick up their trees to ensure physical distancing.

The trees will be distributed by association volunteers and pre-registration is required since quantities are limited.

Seniors or people with disabilities who cannot drive to come pick up their trees or need assistance planting can request assistance at the time of registration.  At this time we can offer this service to Long Branch residents only.

To pre-register and for questions send an e-mail to the LBNA at trees40@lbna.ca

Some of the trees available includes large canopy as Freeman Maple or White Oak: medium sized like Bitter nut Hickory, Northern Hackberry or Ironwood: small trees as Eastern Redbud or Serviceberry and shrubs, including Purple Flowering Raspberry, Nannyberry or Bush Honeysuckle.

 

Ottawa steps up with more funding to help virus hit businesses

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The federal government plans to introduce new financial supports to help hard-hit businesses and organizations in the area that are experiencing a drop in revenue due to COVID-19.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland on Friday announced plans to introduce legislation to provide support to help these businesses safely get through a second wave of the virus and the winter, cover costs so they can continue to serve their communities and be positioned for a strong recovery.

Among the measures planned is a new Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy, which would provide simple and easy-to-access rent and mortgage support until June 2021 for qualifying organizations hit by the  virus.

The rent subsidy would be provided directly to tenants, while also providing support to property owners.

The measures would support businesses, charities, and non-profits that have suffered a revenue drop, by subsidizing a percentage of their expenses, on a sliding scale, up to a maximum of 65 per cent of eligible expenses until December 19.

Organizations would be able to make claims retroactively for the period that began September 27 and ends October 24, 2020.

Also planned is a top-up Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy of 25 per cent for organizations temporarily shut down by a mandatory public health order issued by a qualifying public health authority, in addition to the 65 per cent subsidy.

There is plans for an extension of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy until June next year, which would continue to protect jobs by helping businesses keep employees on the payroll and encouraging employers to re-hire their workers.

The subsidy would remain at the current subsidy rate of up to a maximum of 65 per cent of eligible wages until December 19.

And an expanded Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA), which would enable businesses, and not-for-profits eligible for CEBA loans to access an interest-free loan of up to $20,000, in addition to the original CEBA loan of $40,000.

Additionally, the application deadline for CEBA is being extended to December 31.

These moves are part of the government’s commitment to create over 1 million jobs and restore employment to the level it was before the pandemic.

Further details, including the launch date and application process will be announced in the coming days.

Long-awaited info session for New Toronto shelter set for Oct. 20

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South Etobicoke residents have waited a long time and will finally have a say into a proposed 95-bed New Toronto municipal shelter on October 20.

Councillor Mark Grimes, in his weekly update, wrote that a virtual (telephone and online) Information session will take place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“In an effort to practice physical distancing to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and promote collective well-being, this information session will be online and phone in,” Grimes said.

His office is urging residents to send in their questions 24-hours in advance to a Community Engagement Facilitator.

City Council at its meeting last July 28 authorized the City of Toronto to enter into an agreement to purchase 2950 and 2970 Lake Shore Blvd. W., for use as a municipal shelter, and possibly, affordable housing.

The closing date of the purchase is listed as December 2020, with construction to begin next year and with an opening date in 2023.

Council documents show that the buildings will be purchased for more than $13 million.

News of the proposed shelter has divided the community with those who want it relocated to another part of Ward 3 and not in a commercial area.

City officials said from 2018 to 2020 they looked at 49 property sites for a possible shelter in Ward 3.

They said activities are planned to ensure residents are informed including a community safety walk and a meeting with key stakeholders before the Information Session.

If you are not able to attend the meeting but have questions, you can get in touch with Community Engagement Facilitators Maria Crawford or Violet Ilkiw, of Barnes Management Group, at 416-800-2914 ext. 202.

They can be reached by email at 2950.70lakeshoreblvdwest@gmail.com

General enquiries to the City can be sent to ssha.homeless@toronto.ca

The call-in number for the Information Session is 416-915-6530 ext. The access code is 133 242 5334.

The link to the online session will be available one week before the session will begin. The website is    www.toronto.ca ∕ShelterExpansionSites

Some businesses close and restaurants end dining in to fight virus

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Local businesses will be crying the blues as tough new guidelines kick in at midnight to tackle the latest surge of COVID-19 in Toronto.

The measures, which will affect thousands of people, start on October 10 and will run for 28 days, and include an end of indoor dining at restaurants and bars, the closing of gyms, movie theatres, casinos, bingo halls, conference and convention centres, performance arts and racing venues.

After 28-days the measures will be reviewed by Ontario government health experts.

Schools, child-care centres and places of worship will remain open. Before-school and after-school programs will also be exempt from the new restrictions.

Personal care services where masks must be removed are prohibited, as are team sports games, scrimmages and interactive exhibits in places like galleries and museums.

Capacity limits are reduced to 10 people indoors for tours, real estate open houses and meeting and event spaces. Physical distancing must be maintained. Team sports will be limited to training sessions only.

Food courts in shopping centres can remain open but will be available for take-out only

Wedding receptions will be limited to 10 people indoors or 25 people outdoors effective Oct. 13.

The government is also asking people to only leave their homes for essential purposes. Travel to other regions in the provinces should also be limited but there are no travel bans in place.

“All trends are going in the wrong direction,” Premier Doug Ford said at Queen’s Park on Friday. He said the pandemic has picked up speed at “an alarming rate.”

Ford added that if current trends continue, hospitals could be overwhelmed with intensive-care unit placements tripling in less than 30 days.

The new restrictions come as Ontario marked a record 939 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, most of them in Toronto, Ottawa and Peel Region. Those regions have consistently reported the majority of new cases in recent weeks.

Hospitalizations have increased by 250 per cent over the past three weeks, with a total of 225 people hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Thursday.

Ford has directed his finance minister to make $300 million available to support small businesses for 28 days, including waiving provincial and municipal property tax bills as well as hydro and natural gas bills.

The Ontario government said this month that they are also raising the pay of the province’s almost 150,000 personal support workers by $3 an hour until March due to their work fighting the virus.

Booze with takeout to become law to help residents, businesses

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Good news for the many residents who order beer, wine and spirits as part of their takeout orders.

It is hoped the service will help struggling bars and restaurants in our community survive.

The Ontario government says the takeout booze, which was introduced to help licenced bars and restaurants keep afloat in a battle against COVID-19, will continue.

While all of the various emergency orders put into place as part of the state of emergency will be lifted, it appears that takeout booze is here to stay.

Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction Prabmeet Sarkaria on Wednesday said the provincial government is working on the necessary legislative changes to permanently allow restaurant and bars to add beer, wine and spirits to takeout orders going forward.

“We have had the opportunity to hear from small businesses and restaurant owners that were impacted by this pandemic and this has been a measure that has really helped them so we are committed to making it permanent,” Sarkaria said.

The plan includes a commitment to permanently allow 24/7 deliveries to retail stores, restaurants and distribution facilities.

It also promises grants of up to $1,000 to help small businesses in the service sector with two to nine employees offset the cost of acquiring Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

The total cost of that program to taxpayers is pegged at $60 million.

These are the businesses that have been the hardest hit from a cash flow perspective and they need the support to help cover these expenses, government officials say.

 

Pushback from community leads to review of proposed Shelter use

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Pushback from the community has prompted City officials to examine the possibility of developing 2950 and 2970 Lake Shore Blvd. W., into permanent, affordable supportive housing rather than a homeless shelter.

Councillor Mark Grimes says he has been meeting with the City’s Shelter, Support, and Housing Administration (SSHA) to ‘determine the best way to use this space to help people, while making the most effective use of the tools that our community already has to offer.’

Grimes moved a motion calling on City Council to explore supportive housing rather than just a homeless shelter.

This suggested shift comes as part of a report on the City’s Interim Shelter Recovery and Infrastructure Implementation Plan, which will go before the Economic and Community Development Committee on October 14 followed by City Council at the end of October, Grimes wrote on his website.

“If the recommendation to shift from investment in 1,000 new shelter beds to supportive housing is approved through this report, the proposed shelter at 2950-2970 Lake Shore Blvd. W., could be considered for affordable, supportive housing,” he said.

Supportive Housing provides longer term accommodations to people facing chronic homelessness, and is the most effective way to help individuals move from homelessness to homes, according to the site.

“This would be an exciting opportunity for the New Toronto community to be involved in this new approach to providing better solutions to homelessness for vulnerable residents by developing permanent supportive housing rather than temporary emergency shelter,” he stated.

The review is being conducted by third party Consultant, Hilditch Architect Inc. and if deemed feasible, SSHA will work with the Housing Secretariat to develop a proposal for the site and report back to Planning and Housing Committee with further details on implementation.

News of the proposed New Toronto shelter has divided the community with area home and business owners claiming they will lose their investment if the 95-bed municipal shelter is approved.

City officials say the almost $14-million sale of the property is slated to close by December or January and the buildings brought up to standards.

The shelter is expected to begin admitting the homeless late next year.

Calls by Councillor Holyday to keep prized Estate Lots from developers

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City of Toronto officials are being asked to preserve large Etobicoke Estate Lots to prevent developers from snapping them up for their land to build condos.

Deputy Mayor Stephen Holyday, the Councillor of Ward 2, Etobicoke Centre, on October 7 wrote a letter requesting that Etobicoke York Community Council ask City Planning to identify and protect residential estate lots, with frontages of more than 66-feet, from “being severed through consent applications, thereby changing the character of the area.”

“Etobicoke is home to very unique neighbourhoods which contain clusters of large wide lots which could be called Estate Lots’” according to Holyday. “When visiting these places, there is no doubt of the history and that the intent of the designers was deliberate in their quantity, pattern, organization and spacing of the lots and buildings.”

He wrote that ‘over decades planners and developers implemented deliberate and calculated visions to create places that we call home.’

“Attributes which define our neighbourhoods include the pattern of lot subdivision, green and open spaces, size, massing and building setbacks,” according to Holyday. “When visiting an adequately protected neighbourhood, the intended experience of the place designers is still felt today.”

He said ‘residents choose to live in them because of these desirable attributes, and understandably support measures to maintain them.’

Some examples of our Estate Lot neighbourhoods include Humber Heights, Lorraine Gardens, Eatonville, Kingsview Village, Humber Valley, Princess Anne Manor, Thorncrest and The Kingsway.

“Despite the zoning standards, these neighbourhoods are constantly under threat by speculative developers who seek to sever the wide lots and make a profit in the buoyant real estate market,” Holyday warned. ”Our current planning policies make it difficult to distinguish a legitimate infill development of underutilized land from a direct attack on a neighbourhood’s character.”

He said ‘our system to permit consents allows for persistent attacks which erode Estate Lot clusters over time, and may eventually lead to their collapse.’

Holyday said other municipalities in Ontario have taken steps to recognize the value of Estate Lot neighbourhoods and have ‘implemented tools to preserve them, and help protect them from speculative development and the incremental loss of their integrity over time.’

This motion was considered by Etobicoke York Community Council on October 8 and adopted without amendment. It now goes before a full Council vote.

Being healthy and looking after your body with Adrianne

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With everything that’s going on in the world, one of the most precious organs in our bodies that we must work hard to protect right now is our lungs.  Since breathing and the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide is our number one need for survival, protecting and strengthening our lungs should be pretty high on our list of priorities, especially as we head into cold and flu season.

There are a number of different ways we can protect and strengthen our lungs.  There are breathing and twisting exercises that can be done through yoga, or nutritional supplements available to help support lung health.

One of the most effective solutions for cleaning and strengthening your lungs is salt therapy.

If you have ever had the good fortune of spending a week by the ocean you may notice that the air is easier to breath. You tend to recover from illness quicker, and perhaps your allergies go away, or your asthma doesn’t flair up as much, if at all.

Another place to where people have enjoyed the benefits of salty air are on the sites of the ancient oceans, now buried deep under the surface of the earth in Eastern Europe.  The health benefits of the salt caves were discovered during the height of the Industrial Revolution when a Polish health official visited some of the salt mines and found the workers working in these mines were free from all respiratory ailments.  Upon further investigation, it was found that when spending an extended period of time in a concentrated salt air environment, the lungs were constantly being cleansed and had an opportunity to heal and increase oxygen intake.

This was due to the salt ions in the air that help loosen phlegm and mucus stuck to the walls of the respiratory tract, thus making it easier to be released from the body.   Once the mines were mined, the caves were converted into salt sanitoriums for people to come and heal from various ailments.

Moving to the ocean side or to the salt caves in Europe is not feasible for most of us, so we must find alternatives that provide similar relief.  There are devices that you can get for personal use, such as a Ultrasonic Salinizer that pushes salt ions into the atmosphere, or a salt pipe that you breath through a few times a day.   If you are looking for a more authentic experience, there are salt spas and rooms throughout the GTA where you go and sit in silence and reap the benefits of the salt.  Salt therapy is safe for any age, and does not impact the sodium levels in the body.  If you would like more information on salt therapy and how to do it, feel free to contact us at the club at info@monkeytreewellness.com.  Also reach Adrianne @monkeytreefitness on Facebook, Instagram or www.monkeytreewellness.com.