Members of the Royal Canadian Legion and New Toronto businesses laid a wreath to remember and pay tribute of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II who reigned over the Commonwealth for 70 years.

The beautiful wreath, which was made of red, blue and white flowers, was laid on the base of the Cenotaph on September 19 at Colonel Samuel Smith Park.

The popular monarch passed away on September 8. She was 96. Hundreds of thousands of people lined British streets, and millions more watched live TV coverage of the funeral, to view her body as it was escorted for funeral services.

At home, about a dozen residents saluted as Legion official Donna Simpson called for two minutes of silence to remember the late monarch.

There were a number of similar wreaths laid in respect of the Queen’s passing held in different Toronto neighbourhoods.

“We are very sad that she is gone,” Sampson said. “She was a veteran and our leader and we are sad.”

Veteran Chris Korwin Kuczynski, of the Lakeshore Village Business Improvement Association, said the Queen loved Canada and made almost two dozen visits to our country.

She loved horses and spent many hours over the years with and racing her horses at Woodbine Racetrack.

A few bouquets of flowers is all that marks the spot in a Mimico park where Tenzin Rinchen took his last breath of life on earth almost a week ago.

Rinchen, 19, of Toronto, was shot dead by brazen gunmen on September 15 around 8:24 p.m. after gunfire erupted at a drinking party at the Mimico Waterfront Park.

Another young man was hit with bullets and is reported to be in critical condition in hospital. His name was not released.

Some residents have been paying their respects for the slain man by the flowers, left on a fence surrounding a swimming pool at the park.

There are still drops of dried blood on the ground from the shooting that marks the horrific double shooting.

The slain man is described as “nice and decent” by some of his friends, who appeared to be in mourning and did not want to talk.

Police had received reports of a fight between 15 to 20 men in the park and a firearm was seen.

Witnesses from an apartment nearby said they heard men arguing loudly before the sounds of gunshots erupted in the night.

When police and emergency officials arrived they found two men in their late teens or early 20s suffering from life-threatening injuries.

Police said one of the victims who sustained gunshot wounds to his upper body was pronounced dead at the scene despite life-saving efforts.

No funeral arrangements has been made at this time, according to officials of the Tibetan Canadian Cultural Centre, which helps members of the community.

It is believed that Rinchen’s body is still being examined by police.

Police have not said what the relationship is, if any, between the two victims and the potential suspects.

It is not known if any of the victim’s family will be here from Tibet for his funeral services.

Police said their investigation to find a shooter is underway. No arrests has been made. Some believe the fugitive killer may have fled the country.

 

 

Two top Canadian speed skaters were in the community recently to practice with local up-and-coming fast skaters.

Ivanie Blondin and Jordan Pierre-Gillis were at the Ford Performance Centre, formerly the Mastercard Center, to work out with members of the Toronto Speed Skating Club (TSSC), which hosted a Medals on Tour event on September 14.

The athletes are used to a steady stream of autograph seekers and those who wanted selfies with them and their medals.

“It is great to be here and to travel the country and meet the younger skaters,” Blondin said. “We are trying to inspire the younger generation to get into the sport.”

She signed up for the sport after meeting 2006 Winter Olympics skater Amanda Overland as a girl.

Pierre-Gillis said they are raising awareness of the sport to a new generation of people.

“If you like speed then you would like this sport,” he said. “We love being out here and encouraging and helping to motivate young people to try the sport.”

Speed Skating Canada and Intact Insurance partnered on a cross-country tour that took top World Cup, World Championship and Olympic medalists to six communities across the country.

Anastasia Bucsis, a two time Olympic coach for long track and journalist for CBC, said young skaters look up and learn from their more experienced colleagues.

“This is a great sport and we are trying to get connected with kids,” Bucsis explained. “Ontario has a great track record in this sport.”

Ken George, of the TSSC, said it is important that his fast skaters meet and learn from medal winning athletes. “They can learn a lot from the champions,” he said.

Blondin moved to Calgary in 2010 to focus on long track and has become one of Canada’s most decorated and well-rounded skaters, according to Speed Skating Canada.

She has won a total of 60 World Cup medals, including gold in five different disciplines – 1,500m, 3,000m, 5,000m, Mass Start and Team Pursuit – during the 2019-2020 season.

The Ottawa native made her Olympic debut at Sochi 2014 earning a fifth-place result in the Team Pursuit. She followed that up by posting top-six finishes in the Team Pursuit, 3,000-metres and 5,000-metres in her second Olympic appearance at PyeongChang 2018.

Pierre-Gilles joined the World Cup circuit mid-way through the 2019-2020 season and quickly showed that he has what it takes to compete against the world’s best.

The Sherbrooke native earned four top-10 results in his inaugural World Cup campaign and ended his first season by winning his first gold medal in the men’s relay.

 

An iconic multi-chain automotive and parts empire that was founded by a hard-working family right here in South Etobicoke is shutting its doors after almost 60 years.

Performance Improvements Speed Shop was founded in 1964 by Bob and Susan McJannett as a retail store at 1268 The Queensway, near Royal York Road.

“They turned that tiny store into a successful, multi-chain performance parts empire, er, business,” their sons Andy and Rob told long-time customers in a post on social media.

“The passing of our founder and father in June caused a lot of soul-searching for the McJannett boys,” they wrote. “After a long discussion about work/life balance, Andy and Rob made the difficult decision to pull the plug.”

September 30, 2022 will be the last day of regular operations at the Toronto, Barrie and Hamilton stores. The chain at one time had nine stores, including in Quebec. Now it is down to three.

As many residents may know, they specialized in a wide range of auto parts and expert installation advice. They were also known for their wild sales.

“When the business started in 1964, a 30-year-old car was a 1934 Ford and a brand new car was a 1964 Chevy and we had lots of parts for both to improve their performance,” Rob said.

“The business has changed, the cars have changed, the customers have changed…it’s time to move on.”

They’re now having an everything-must-go closing sale with discounts up to 25 per cent, though discounts should get deeper as time goes on.

The family is saddened the building will be going up for sale shortly and there is a lot of cleaning out to do.

He said a liquidation sale of all remaining products and fixtures will be held in October.

Thank-you to everyone who has been part of our 58-year history. It’s been a great ride!

 

 

A number of Long Branch merchants say they have been waiting for at least two weeks for much-needed road paving be completed on Lake Shore Blvd. W. so they can regain their customers and start recouping their losses.

Merchants said they are being treated as “second class citizens” for the long time it has taken City officials to complete a water main replacement project in Long Branch.

“It would all be paved and ready by now if we were in the Bloor West area,” one dejected businessman said. “My customers cannot drive here because of all the road work.”

Area cyclists describe the ride from Long Branch Avenue to Twenty Second Street on Lake Shore Blvd. W. as dangerous from weaving around a construction project, which doesn’t look like it will be ending soon.

The merchants show one strip of Lake Shore Blvd. W. that has been littered with road safety cones for more than two weeks as the stretch awaits a paving crew.

 

 

 

The City of Toronto is getting a new and hopefully more progressive police chief in December.

The Toronto Police Service has appointed  32-year veteran Myron Demkiw as its new chief of police.

Demkiw, who is well-respected by rank and file officers, is an acting Deputy Chief in charge of the Specialized Operations Command and is a Member of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces.

He rose from the front lines of 14 Division in downtown Toronto working on street, gangs and gun crimes. He assumes command on December 19 after a three-month transition period, the force said.

Superintendent Demkiw oversaw more than 1,200 police officers, over 900 civilian members and managed a budget of $240 million. He will soon lead the largest municipal police force in Canada.

Retiring Interim Chief James Ramer will lead the 7,600 member force until a transition is complete.

Ramer replaced former police Chief Mark Saunders in 2020 on an interim basis after Saunders’ resignation.

“I wish to extend my gratitude to Chief Ramer and to the dedicated Members of the Toronto Police Service who are committed to the safety and well-being of our great city,” Demkiw said in a statement.

“At this time, our organization is grieving the loss of Constable Andrew Hong, and while I wish to thank the Toronto Police Services Board for their trust and confidence and extend my gratitude to my colleagues, both sworn and civilian, I will reserve further comment at this time, out of respect for Constable Hong, his family and our Members.”

TPS board chair Jim Hart said Demkiw “possesses extensive operational policing experience to keep our city, its residents, and its visitors safe.”

Hart said the board found the candidate with the qualities communities had asked for: “a dedicated public servant and relationship-builder, committed to building and enhancing trust with the diverse communities we serve.”

Mayor John Tory said Demkiw is a respected expert in community safety and well-being, and in gun and gang violence prevention.

“I know he will bring a focus on confronting gun and gang violence to his new role, along with a determined commitment to keeping our city as one of the safest major cities in the world,” Tory said.

One young man is dead and another fighting for his life in a double shooting at a popular Mimico lakefront park that is regularly frequented by partiers and those drinking alcohol.

Tenzin Rinchen, 19, of Toronto, was identified as the victim of this homicide, police said.

A Toronto Police manhunt is underway as homicide detectives scour the area for security video from area homeowners and businesses.

Police and paramedics were called to Mimico Waterfront Park, near Mimico Avenue and Lake Shore Boulevard West, on September 15 around 8:30 p.m. for reports of shots fired.

Police had received reports of a fight between 15 to 20 men in the park and a firearm was seen.

Witnesses from an apartment nearby said they heard men arguing loudly before the sounds of gunshots erupted in the night.

When police and emergency officials arrived they found two men in their late teens or early 20s suffering from life-threatening injuries.

Police said one of the victims who sustained gunshot wounds to his upper body was pronounced dead at the scene despite life-saving efforts.

The second man was rushed to a trauma centre, where he remains in critical condition.

“We are early in the investigation and really have no indication as to how many suspects are involved,” said a Duty Inspector.

“We’ve had our K-9 and ETF search the park for any suspects. And we’ve canvassed the area and have a large part of this park held off at this point as a scene for this shooting,” Duty Insp. Saleem Husain told CP24.

The public is being warned to use caution in the area and call police if they have cameras that may have captured the incident.

 

 

 

An Etobicoke man is under arrest and 11 catalytic converters and other items seized as police cracked a ring stealing the expensive part from parked vehicles.

Two other suspects who managed to escape are being sought in a police dragnet.
Halton Regional Police said they seized the catalytic converters, two reciprocating saws, multiple batteries and blades during their probe of the thefts.
Eight of the eleven seized catalytic converters were reunited with their owners, saving each victim thousands of dollars in repair and replacement costs, police said.

Officers allege the thieves would prowl through affluent neighbourhoods at night searching for vehicles with the catalytic converters, which they would then steal. The items are later resold at high prices for their rare materials inside.
The police investigation began last May 19 after officers were called for a suspicious vehicle with three men inside in an industrial lot in Milton.

“Upon police arrival, the motor vehicle fled at a high rate of speed and, in doing so, struck a curb causing significant damage to one of its tires,” according to a Halton police release.
Police located the abandoned vehicle in the Trafalgar Road and Steeles Avenue area and found the tools and catalytic converters inside.
Through good police work, investigators obtained nine judicial authorizations, which led to a suspect being arrested on September 8.

Ray Cako, 22, of Etobicoke, has been charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, four counts of theft under $5,000, four counts of mischief under $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000 and possession of break instruments.
The suspect was released on an undertaking and is still before the courts.
Two suspects remain unidentified in connection with this case. Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact D/Cst. James Walsh of the 1 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4777 ext. 2422.

A note from Jasmin Dooh, of LAMP CHC, which is seeking the support from the community.

With the Annual General Meeting on September 16, I could really use your help inviting and recruiting people to attend. Please share this invite with your networks, volunteers etc. and post on your social media. We have a great keynote speaker André Picard and as well a surprise guest Dr. Andrew Boozary to get the conversation going for the town hall part. Dr. Andrew Boozary is a primary care physician, policy practitioner, researcher, and founding executive director of the Gattuso Centre for Social Medicine at the University Health Network. He completed his medical training at the University of Toronto and health policy training at Princeton University and Harvard University. His work at the intersection of health policy, social justice and equitable health care delivery aims to improve health outcomes for marginalized populations.

For more information you can contact Jasmin at jasmind@lampchc.org or Brenda (brendak@lampchc.org). If you have time please read our Impact report. It highlights some of the great work we have been doing over the last fiscal year ending March 31 despite the pandemic. Achieving community health and wellbeing together.

By the Lake Book Club: Antonio Michael Downing, Saga Boy
Tuesday, September 20, 7 p.m. (doors 7, start 7:15)

Join musician, writer and activist, Antonio Michael Downing for an intimate and interactive peek behind the pages of his memoir, Saga Boy, that tells the story of his upbringing in Southern Trinidad, uprooting to northern Ontario and his subsequent multiple musical personalities. Event includes a reading, discussion, audience Q&A and book signing.

$28 (in-person) or $10 (virtual) including HST.
For tickets, please email assembly@toronto.ca or call 416-338-7255.

Other noted authors includes poet, novelist and academic Linda Rui Feng, Swimming Back to Trout River, presented on October 18, 7 p.m. by Assembly Hall, Humber College Faculty of Media & Creative Arts, Toronto International Festival of Authors.

Play On! A Rick Abbot comedy: presented by Theatre Etobicoke
October 27, 28, 29, November 4 and 5, 8 p.m.,
November 6, 2 p.m.

A theatre group tries desperately to put on a play in spite of maddening interference from a haughty author who keeps revising the script. When the author decides to give a speech on the state of the modern theatre during the curtain calls, the audience is treated to a madcap climax and a thoroughly hilarious romp!

For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit theatre-etobicoke.com.