New Toronto residents can feel a bit safer as more Toronto Police officers are being deployed to the area.

More officers are hitting the ground in New Toronto and 12 other areas in the city as the force beefs up its Neighbourhood Community Officers (NCO) program.

Additional officers are also being added to help make residents safer in South Parkdale, in 14 Division, Elms-Old Rexdale, in 23 Division, Rockcliffe-Smythe in 12 Division and York-University Heights in the 31 Division area, according to police.

The announcement was made by Chief James Ramer and Mayor John Tory at a recent Open House.

Ramer said officers will be redeployed to ‘help increase the number of officers working in and with communities.’ The item was a priority in the Toronto Police Service’s 2022 Budget.

He said the TPS conducted comprehensive analyses, including of crime and demographics, to determine the neighbourhoods for expansion of the program, resulting in 13 new neighbourhoods and 52 new NCOs.

“By redeploying our resources to accomplish this expansion, we are providing policing services that our residents want, while working to keep neighbourhoods across Toronto safe,” the Chief said.

The NCOs are visible and accessible to the public, walking through their neighbourhoods, meeting residents and engaging in collaborative problem solving, he said.

Tory told 31 Division that the NCO program has proven to work and residents like it.

“When we have a program that works, that the community likes and wants, we listen and look to ensure that not only can it continue but that we can expand it as well,” the Mayor said.,

He said the NCO work to make communities safer and build public trust and confidence in the Service.

“Their goals as part of this program will be to reduce crime, build relationships, gain insights into community needs, and improve insights into local crime,” he said.

Other communities to receive additional police officers include: Englemount-Lawrence, Clanton Park, Dorset Park, Englinton East, Golfdale-Cedarbrae-Woburn, Harbourfont-City Place, Taylor-Massey and Danforth.

More information on the NCO program can be found on the Toronto Police website.

 

Police have stepped up a manhunt for several suspects who are shooting paintballs from a vehicle at innocent residents in New Toronto.

Detectives from 22 Division said between June 3 and June 6 there were several reported incidents of suspects shooting paintballs from a vehicle at citizens in the Lake Shore Blvd. W., and Eighth Street area.

Officers said the suspect vehicles were identified as white and black SUVs. The vehicles and the occupants fled the area in an unknown direction.

It is unknown how many people were shot at by the hooligans. The paintballs are packed with dye-filled gelatins that break on impact.

Police did not say if anyone was injured from the incidents.

Investigators are appealing for any witnesses, motorists with dash cam footage to come forward and contact police.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-2200, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.

 

 

 

Lakeshore Village came alive for the first time in two years as residents greeted each other with smiles, cheers, high-fives and to the sound of music.

Thousands of residents, described by some as a record crowd, walked, cycled or roller boarded to Lakeshore Village on June 11 as the community celebrated its annual and popular grill cheese challenge.

Many families and area residents packed the Village, which includes Lake Shore Blvd., from Second Street to Islington Ave., which was shut to traffic as vendors, cooks, pets, bands and others took over the street.

The Challenge was organized by the Lakeshore Village Business Improvement Area (BIA), whose members did a great job in organizing the massive street event, which was sponsored by Furlani, in support of Women’s Habitat.

Organizers said the challenge was a success and helped many small area businesses which have been suffering.

“This is great for the community after two years of stuck indoors,” says Patricia Delfin of The Clock Factory. “It is fantastic to catch up with people who we haven’t seen for a long time.”

A table outside her store was busy with onlookers as some supporters headed for deals inside the long-time family-owned store.

Merchants were all smiles, mostly from bustling sales at the many booths in front of their stores. The folks from Delicia Bakery were busy inside an elaborate tent as they sold their cakes and other products.

Aside from the lengthy lineups waiting for grilled cheese sandwiches, there was a shortcoming of foods available to those of diverse cultures, of which grill cheese is not their first selection of food.

Keith Pope, of Vinyl Music Emporium and Cafe, like most others, enjoyed the seven bands who performed on a massive stage in the Lake Shore and Islington Ave. intersection. The sound was clean and clear.

“People liked the music and they had a great time,” Pope says. “There were a number of bands from the area that performed to an appreciative crowd.”

He said residents welcomed the chance to sit in the sunshine and listen to tunes after two years of being at home due to the virus.

The bands included: George Westerholm and the Wild Wildcats, The James Clark Institute, The Stephen Stanley Band, The Sandra Bouza Band, Reggadiction, Luke and the Apostles and Jersey Nights.

I liked the island beats of Reggadiction, which had the crowd thrilled.

Ray, of Kebab House, said it was nice to have more people in the area to help support the small businesses.

“Many people seemed like they were having a great time,” he says. “It was nice to see so many people in the area.”

 

 

 

 

As witnessed by Christina Murie

Vigilant residents at the popular Grill Cheese Challenge managed to stop a man behind the wheels of an expensive Hummer who was driving behind crowd control barriers.

The driver was arrested by Toronto Police around 4:45 p.m. as he allegedly drove a black Hummer from the Shell gas station, at Third Street east along Lake Shore Blvd. W., towards Royal York Road, behind road closure barriers helping to control crowds attending the annual challenge.

The driver was followed by those in attendance, who called police on their mobile phones.

The man managed to stop around Second Street, and Lake Shore Blvd. W., which was closed to traffic, witnesses say.

“The street was crowded with families,” said witness Christina Murie. “Adults and children jumped out of way and shouted. There was some near misses.”

“A crowd of citizens determined to stop the driver followed him to Second Street where there were many youngsters and parents. Thank goodness no one was hurt,” Murie said.

“When the driver got to the barricade he stepped out of the car and citizens took away his keys”

“They stood on the barricade and refused to move or let the driver leave,” she witnessed. “We all waited for police.”

Murie said the suspect fell twice, once on the barricade and once on the ground.

The suspect was taken away by police and his expensive Hummer towed.

Residents have been on high  alert since the deaths of three Mimico residents by a man who was banned from driving in Canada. The driver was involved in another traffic altercation in New Toronto before being allowed to leave causing a deadly crash.

 

Toronto Police members have joined with fellow emergency responders to deliver essential humanitarian supplies to war-torn Ukraine.
The Service has partnered with Toronto Fire and Toronto Paramedic Services to collect goods from their members and also source any overstocked items that may be helpful.
A round of collections was delivered to Second Front Ukraine Foundation in May that was collected through donations from members to drop boxes within their services.
“Simultaneously, we also looked internally at our corporate structures for surplus items that we could provide as a donation as part of the humanitarian relief effort,” said Deputy Chief Myron Demkiw, of the lifesaving gear that includes everything from clothing to medical supplies.
Demkiw said the collection effort is ongoing and has come out of a great willingness to help by Service members.
“We have taken a look at the list of things we have collected and making sure it is what is essentially needed,” he noted. “The membership has been incredibly engaging and looking for opportunities to contribute in a meaningful way.”
Second Front sorts and ships the supplies to Ukraine.

By RON FANFAIR, TPS

A group of north Etobicoke officers in 23 Division, who rescued a young child by the legs from falling from a three-storey window, were honoured with the Toronto Police Officer(s) of the Year Award on May 25.

They are Sgt. Brian James and Consts. Ramandeep Singh, Kwabena Saffu, Deanna Jovanovich and Nicholas Ditlof.

In June 2020, they responded to a person in crisis call at a residence.

When they arrived, they found a man dangling a crying child – later identified as his six-year-old son – out of the window. The boy’s grandmother had tried to help him before being punched and choked by her son. The boy managed to pull from his dad and hold onto an adjacent window ledge.

Firefighters assembled a safety tarp to catch the child if he dropped.

As the officers entered the room, the man jumped from the window, falling three storeys onto a driveway as his son dangled from a nearby window ledge. The officers ran to the window and were able to grab the boy’s arms and bring him to safety.

With assistance of other responding officers, the man was taken into custody and transported to a hospital for psychiatric treatment. He was later charged.

Since the incident, officers – who have been impacted by the call for help that day – have visited with the child and his family.

James, who is in his 26th year with the Service, credited excellent teamwork for the successful outcome.

“A lot of people did very real things,” said James. “There were three officers upstairs who were able to save the kid from falling out the window. There were other officers, who once the accused had jumped, who were able to arrest him.”

Each month, an officer or a group of officers is selected for Police Officer(s) of the Month, based on bravery, humanitarianism, superior investigative work and outstanding police skills.

The Police Officer(s) of the Year is selected by seasoned journalists, community and business members.

Two Toronto Police court officers were honoured with the Civilian Excellence Award for saving the life of a drug overdose victim.

On November 25, 2020 at around 2 a.m., Paul Hawke and Harrison Marshall were in a Prison Transportation vehicle heading to Traffic Services headquarters at 9 Hannah Ave. when they saw the victim in the middle of the roadway.

“We were going there from Scarborough because our vehicle needed to be out of service as the camera wasn’t working,” said Marshall. “When we got out of our vehicle, it was clear this was a classic sign of opioid overdose.”

Taking the Naloxone kit from his partner, Marshall delivered two doses to the victim and started to perform CPR.

“That seemed to work as he began to come around and that was when we took him to the side of the road so he wouldn’t be run over by an oncoming vehicle,” he noted. “EMS came a few minutes later and was able to provide the man with the proper help he needed.”

Prior to joining Toronto Police, Marshall worked with Correctional Services.

“In that role, I employed numerous amounts of Naloxone,” he added.

Hawke, who joined the Service 30 years ago, called EMS and acted as the lookout to ensure the area was safe while his partner delivered the Naloxone shots.

In 2009, a Business Excellence Award was established to honour exceptional Service members whose valuable contributions enable the organization to work effectively and efficiently.

A panel of business experts select the winner.

 

 

Photos and Story By Christina Murie

A young woman was rushed to an area hospital after her vehicle crashed into a concrete barrier in Mimico.

Witnesses said the vehicle appeared to be speeding as it hit a barrier in front of a TTC pedestrian island for a streetcar shelter.

A 19-year-old woman was rushed by ambulance to hospital. Fortunately, no one else was injured.

Residents and motorists have complained that the corner at Lake Shore Blvd. W., just west of Park Lawn Road, near Fleeceline Road, is too tight and the TTC island dangerous for oncoming vehicles which have to hit the brakes.

They said there have been a number of collisions in and around that bend in the road.

Traffic was snarled in the area during rush hour around 8:30 a.m. on May 26.

LAMP Community Health Centre is rolling out the red carpet for this year’s winners of the 22^nd Annual Awards of Merit: Community Champions.

LAMP officials say they have not been able to host the popular event for two years due to the pandemic.

“LAMP is ready to roll out the red carpet,” according to a release. “They (winners) have gone the extra mile to make a difference and contribute to building a healthy community.”

The award winners, which includes individuals, businesses and organizations were selected based on their ‘goodwill and support to their neighbours during these difficult times.’

Individuals on the honour roll includes: Indigenous artist Philip Cote, sales coordinator Leanne Gonacio, South Etobicoke News publisher Tom Godfrey, travelling artscaper Don Harrison Short,  firm owner Margaret Cecilia McCarthy, activist Sharon Muszynski, fundraiser Fernanda Pontes and realtor Graham Rowlands.

Some of the businesses being honoured are: Chris Beard of 850 Degrees Pizzeria, Mohamad Fakih of Paramount Fine Foods, (pic on main page), Spin Me A Yarn and Timothy’s Pub.

The organizations include: Vera Lyn Perdon, of 6ixSewees; Daily Bread Food Bank; Chef Jagger Gorden, of Feed it Forward; Daniel Lauzon and Catherine Mayled, of Food for Now; Lakeshore Affordable Housing Action and Advocacy Group (LAHAAG); Neighbourhood Love; Sandwich Sisters Pods, Ambassador Team of the South and Central Etobicoke Vaccine Engagement; Tibetan Canadian Cultural Centre and Kristen Krowiak, of Trashy Tuesdays.

This year LAMP is launching ‘The Marg Sent Me’ volunteer project, which pays tribute to legacy of Marg Ciupa, a Lakeshore trailblazer who was a founder and Board member of LAMP and the first Chair of the Storefront Humber Home Support Services Board.

Marg was also a member of the Etobicoke Board of Health, a leader in the Cancer Society’s annual canvass, a member of the Among Friends/CAMH Committee on mental health needs in Lakeshore, and an active supporter of Women’s Habitat.

Volunteering, leadership and community service was her calling. Her spirit and love of community will continue through this new initiative.

The Awards of Merit ceremony takes place on June 22 at 5 p.m. on the lawn at LAMP Community Health Centre, at 185 Fifth Street.

 

 

A fourth Heritage Tree has been designated in tree-loving Long Branch by Forests Ontario.

The newest Heritage Tree is a 125-year-old ‘grand lady” called the Applebee Catalpa, according to Long Branch Historian Bill Zufelt.

‘The tree is a ‘real show stopper’ and getting better with age too,” said Zufelt.

He said the 70- foot high Northern Catalpa is located on lands that once belonged to Moses Applebee the first Ward 1 Councillor for the Township of Etobicoke.  The Applebee family immigrated from Yorkshire, England in the early 1800s.

 

“They were one of the first pioneers to make roots along the Ontario Lakeshore in Etobicoke,” Zufelt explained.

In 1851, Applebee was elected as the first Ward 1 Councillor for the Township of Etobicoke. The family became prominent citizens and business owners.

The tree is located at the south west corner of Twenty Third Street and Iris Road. It will be ‘a headliner’ in the upcoming Long Branch Garden Tour on June 25.

He said Long Branch is home of a ‘Fab Four’ of heritage trees, which are dubbed Big Red, Titan, Stop26 and the Applebbee Catalpa Heritages Trees.

Northern Catalpas and their southern cousins have long been revered for their sweet aromatic fragrance and the bountiful trumpeting white with purple and yellow striped floral plumage.

The heartwood from the Northern Catalpa has been used for everything from structural timbers, furniture, millwork to the delicate tone-wood brilliance in guitars.

There are less than 100 heritage trees in Canada and lesser than a dozen in Toronto. A few of the trees go back in history to before Confederation.