By Corporal Dominic Sobotka

Members of the Toronto Scottish Regiment took part in a demanding ruck march earlier this month along the Lakefront Promenade trail.

Military members were seen wearing Canadian Pattern (CADPAT) Camouflage with rucksacks along the Lakefront Promenade trail between Captain B.S. Hutcheson V.C. Armoury, in Etobicoke, and the CN Tower.

Members of the public were encouraged on October 1 to say hello to the Regiment as they marched 13.2-kilometres with 35-pound rucksacks from their armoury on Birmingham Street to the CN Tower along Lakefront Promenade. They ended up at the base of the CN Tower about three hours later.

The Toronto Scottish Regiment is a Primary Reserve infantry Regiment of the Canadian Armed Forces based in Toronto.

The Regiment has a long and distinguished history, having served in both World War 1 and World War II.

It was formed in 1915 as the 75th Mississauga Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, and was later reorganized several times before being officially designated as The Toronto Scottish Regiment, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother’s Own.

The Afghanistan battle honour was presented in October 2015 to the Regiment and added to the Regimental Colour by Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.

The Regiment contributed an aggregate of more than 20 per cent of its authorized strength to the various Task Forces which served in Afghanistan between 2002 and 2014.

The Canadian Army maintains sixteen Canadian-Scottish infantry regiments, and one Canadian-Scottish artillery regiment.

At Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in September 2022, they were led by drum majors of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, 1st Battalion Scots Guards, 1st Battalion Irish Guards and The Royal Regiment of Scotland; all units in which the Queen was Colonel-in-Chief.

For more information on The Toronto Scottish Regiment visit https://www.torscotr.com

One of the longest-serving barbers in South Etobicoke has packed in his scissors after 50-years of grooming generations of men and women.

Generations of men and women still remember Charlie Calogero, now 92, and attending his Sabia Barber Shop, at Burnhamthorpe Mall.

The pleasant Calogero purchased the shop around 1967 and renamed it Sabia. He sold the thriving business in 2018 due to his wife, Maria’s declining health.

Calogero looked after Maria until she passed away last September.

“I have always been a barber and never had another kind of job,” he said through his son, Vito, who interpreted from Italian. “I took the advice of my father back in Italy.”

His father and grandfather were both miners in their native Sicily, and they told him and his two brothers to find other jobs because mining was dangerous work.

Calogero listened to his father and became a barber and his brothers tailors.

After leaving Sicily, he settled in Rome for 10 years, before arriving in Canada in 1962.

He saved and managed to purchase Sabia Barber Shop and has never looked back.

“I loved my customers and many became good friends,” Calogero recall. “I loved to cut their hair and make them look better.”

His customers included firemen, police chiefs, military men and generations of families. Many of the youngsters he trimmed loved his work so much that they never left.

“I loved the work,” he said. “I loved the routine and became close to many of my customers.”

He is proud to have never have missed a day of work, except on holidays back to Italy and Mexico, Vito explained.

“He never wanted to leave his store or his customers,” he recalled. “It was a different generation back then.”

Vito said his dad rarely took a day off work and loved going to work every day.

Calogero was a family man who worked hard to provide for his wife and children.

He has since written an autobiography, his second book,  and hopes to have it published one of these days.

“I love retirement and that I can do other things,” the barber said. “But I missed work and not going to work.”

Calogero, and another barber, ran a thriving shop, in a time when people got their hair cut every couple weeks, in an era before the Internet and e-mails, when life was simple.

At almost 100, he is still cutting the hair of Vito and other family members.

It’s hard to keep a good barber down.

 

Members of the Toronto Scottish Regiment will be lined up along the Etobicoke Lakeshore Santa Claus Parade on December 2 to collect dog and cat food for charity.

The pet food collected will go to LAMP CHC to provide for those with dogs and cats.

Parade goers are being asked to bring cans or bags of the pet food with them to support the Regiment and Lakeshore Village Business Improvement Area (BIA), who are sponsoring the drive.

“The Canadian Army and Lakeshore Village BIA are joining forces to feed dogs and cats,” said BIA Chair Chris Korwin-Kuczynski. “We will be along the parade route collecting the food.”

The Etobicoke Lakeshore Santa Claus Parade started as an idea in 1990 as an effort between the Lakeshore Village and Long Branch BIAs, to bring back a Christmas Parade after a 25 year hiatus.

It was created to draw crowds, support local businesses, and showcase that the Etobicoke Lakeshore area was a vibrant and attractive community to live, work and play.

The parade attracts more than 60,000 members of the community every year, and is celebrating its 33^rd anniversary this year.

South Etobicoke residents are breathing a sigh of relief with the arrests of two brothers who are accused of ripping off property owners in a home renovation scam.

Police allege the two men were going door to door between June and October to speak to homeowners in relation to exterior home renovations.

The suspects claimed to be from a company called ‘Town and Country Paving,’ and falsely advised homeowners of issues with their property, officers from 22 Division alleged.

The men would normally request a deposit for the renovations and would refuse to complete the job unless additional payments were made, police said in a news release.

The suspects are accused of leaving the jobs unfinished and properties damaged.

Police have issued warnings to alert the public about renovation frauds occurring across the city.

“Suspects typically solicit door to door, handing out flyers for fraudulent or non-existent companies offering services for roofing, paving and fencing,” according to officers. “The work is usually never completed or is substandard and done with poor quality products.”

Police said the suspects often target elderly and vulnerable citizens using high-pressure tactics to start work immediately.

Police warn seniors to be wary of unsolicited contractors going door to door using pressure tactics and demanding payment in cash, bank draft or a large down payment.

“Avoid impulse decisions to hire a contractor,” police warned. “Do your research either online, references or word of mouth.”

Police are urging homeowners to select a reputable company and obtain a detailed written contract before any work is done.

Some residents have taken to social media to also warn of a group of men going around the South Etobicoke area asking to do roof work since they claim to be working In the area.

“Please beware of a scam that’s happening in/outside the GTA and most recently in the Islington and Royal York Area,” one resident wrote on social media last month.

Domenic Ward, 30, and John Ward, 23, of Milton, have each been charged with two counts of fraud over $5,000, mischief and damage to property not exceeding $5000, mischief over $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.

They were slated to appear in court at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre, at 2201 Finch Avenue W, on October 6.
Investigators believe that there are more victims.

A large, national bank is extending its support for Humber College’s Indigenous students by helping to support two new programs.

The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) Foundation has gifted $200,000 to continue its peer-to-peer programs while also launching the Indigenous Pre-Orientation Week program and an RBC Indigenous Emergency Fund.

“Recognizing the profound impact of systemic racism on Indigenous communities across Canada, RBC is committed to helping create change,” said Kris Depencier, a Greater Toronto RBC regional president.   “By empowering Indigenous students and alumni, fostering inclusion, education, and meaningful opportunities, we’re working together to create a more equitable future.”

Indigenous Pre-Orientation Week is a week-long camp including a series of gatherings, talks and events to orient new Indigenous students to Humber and build skills to assist in their success while attending college.

The pilot program for Indigenous students takes place in the summer leading up to the students’ first semester at Humber.

The RBC Indigenous Emergency Fund provides support to students who need immediate short-term financial relief because of emergency situations. The funds can be quickly accessed when needed and will help keep students enrolled in their program and focused on their studies.

The RBC Grad-Ready Program supports Indigenous students with specialized career coaching and resources during the final year of their studies and the first year after graduation.

Students receive guidance and advice they need to navigate their job search and build relationships with potential employers. It helps industry and business partners build more inclusive and respectful work environments for Indigenous employees.

The Peer-to-Peer Indigenous Support System pairs new students with upper-year Indigenous students to transition into college life successfully.

“The gift from RBC will empower Indigenous students to start a new chapter of their lives with confidence,” said Jason Seright, a Humber vice-president of Inclusion and Belonging. “Indigenous learners need culturally appropriate, Indigenous-aligned resources and the freedom to tailor those resources as they see fit.”

Michael Jenkins, who is Métis, graduated last year from Humber’s Bachelor of Public Relations program and was a member of the Indigenous Peer Mentoring team. He mentored a group of Indigenous students attending Humber, helping them build their network and develop life skills.

“I think it was nice for them to know that someone was looking out for them,” said Jenkins. “It was rewarding helping people navigate a big part of their lives.”

Kara Neveau, who is from Batchewana First Nation, graduated earlier this year from Humber’s Bachelor of Community Development program and served as an Indigenous peer mentor.

“I would 100 per cent recommend getting involved in these programs because they helped with starting my career and the skills I needed for the workplace,” Neveau said.

The province is recognizing National Disability Employment Awareness Month

throughout October by promoting the benefits of hiring people with disabilities and creating inclusive workplaces.

“Hiring employees of all abilities helps employers meet their goals and boosts productivity and innovation, said MPP Christine Hogarth.

The Ontario government is supporting 3,770 people with disabilities to find meaningful jobs in their communities by investing $6.5 million through the Skills Development Fund Training Stream for five innovative projects.

They are also giving businesses the resources to hire and create more inclusive workplaces and investing in the EnAbling Change Program to help make sectors more inclusive.

“Job opportunities are especially important for people with disabilities because many face social and economic challenges,” Hogarth said. “When people with disabilities find meaningful work, they can participate more fully in our communities and economy.”

The province is working with Peel Career Assessment Services Inc.’s ‘Ability Works’ project to support equitable employment opportunities, providing career skills assessments and counselling to help job seekers with disabilities through Ontario Employment Assistance Services.

Roughly 2.6 million people in Ontario have a disability. This means roughly one in four Ontarians live with a disability and face various types of accessibility challenges in their everyday life.

On October 19 the government took part in the Ontario Disability Employment Network’s Light It Up! For NDEAM event as buildings across the province, including several provincial government buildings, will be lit in blue and purple to promote the month.

“Ontario is making workplaces more accessible and inclusive for everyone by funding and promoting inclusive employment opportunities.”

They are also creating awareness on how employers can access fresh talent and reach new customers by hiring people with disabilities and helping organizations to ensure their hiring process is more equitable based on an Accessible Recruitment Process Checklist.

Toronto has been the scene of 200 of the 300 carjackings that occurred in the GTA so far his year, according to police.

A joint police task force has been put together to stem the incidents of violence related to auto crimes occurring in Ontario, which has increased over the last several years.

South Etobicoke has had more than 200 car thefts in the last year. Some 13 vehicles were reported stolen in Etobicoke West Mall in 2022. About 96 were stolen in Islington-City Centre West that same year, with 41 swiped in Mimico, 10 in New Toronto, 30 in Long Branch and 40 in Alderwood in 2022.

On October 18 two youths were arrested for stealing a 2023 Hyundai Elantra in Rexdale. The suspects bumped the vehicle from behind and when it stopped one youth pulled out a gun and stole the vehicle.

Police said the stolen vehicles are used to carry out other crimes or are shipped overseas for resale. The vehicle identification numbers (VINs) are altered and the vehicles are sold domestically.

“Carjackings are a serious public safety issue, which have resulted in assault and even homicides,” said OPP Supt. Paul Mackey, of the Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB). “To evade police, thieves may drive dangerously, putting the lives of pedestrians, other motorists and police in danger.”

The newly-created Provincial Carjacking Joint Task Force (PCJTF) will involve Toronto Police and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

It also involves police services from across the GTA, including York Regional Police, Halton Regional Police Service, Durham Regional Police Service, Peel Regional Police and other agencies, including Criminal Intelligence Service of Ontario.

“The violence associated with auto thefts in Toronto and across the GTA is a concerning trend, and can be incredibly traumatic for victims and their loved ones,” said OECB Supt. Steve Watts.

The officers will address the rising incidents of violence related to auto crimes across the city.

“Whether it be a carjacking, a home invasion, an assault, or other form of intimidation, the level of violence being used in the commission of these offences represents a new and evolving threat to public safety,” according to a police.

The purpose of the PCJTF is to disrupt the networks responsible for high-risk auto thefts, which increasingly involve violence, firearms and other weapons.

“Members of the task force will work to maximize enforcement efforts against criminal organizations involved in violent vehicle crimes who are operating within the GTA,” police said.

The PCJTF will be notified of violent auto crime occurrences taking place in each jurisdiction, which will then be investigated by the respective service and task force.

Anyone with information about auto thefts in their community is encouraged to call police at 1-800-222-TIPS (6477) or visit ontariocrimestoppers.ca.

 

 

So who did it.

The book Death in Etobicoke and other Humorous Tales is about a murder in the community and is hitting the stores soon.

Written by best-selling New Toronto author Scott Colby, a long-time Toronto Star journalist, the book has been receiving rave comments.

Colby said the book is a collection of six short stories, all of which have been published in the satirical Canadian magazine, The Feathertale Review.

“The first three stories are the Death in Etobicoke trilogy that feature a Goth temptress, Lucy Fehr (Lucifer) who finds ways to kill me in each story,” he explained.

The first Death in Etobicoke story was my way of making fun of the Thomas Mann classic “Death in Venice” which I was reading in my book club at the time, he said, adding that he wrote a parody of it, called Death in Etobicoke, Inspired the Ultimate Sacrifice for my Book Club.

“I had so much fun with that that years later I wrote a sequel that was set in a creepy storage unit on Evans Avenue,” Colby said. It was “a real place that reminded me of the hallways in the hotel in “The Shining.”

The story Silence of the Pigeons is a mash up of “The Shining” and “Silence of the Lambs,” but set in a vacant storage unit on Evans Avenue during a blizzard and features passenger pigeons that return from extinction.

“The reason for that is the word Mimico is derived from the Indigenous word for “where the wild pigeons gather,” he said. “I struggled to understand why this species meant so much to a modern goth and a self-storage business in a South Etobicoke industrial park.”

The third instalment, Rebirth in Etobicoke: A Love Story, is far from a love story and is partially inspired by “Rosemary’s Baby.”

“I play homage to some classic books in these stories with hopefully some comedic results,” Colby said.
The book is well-written, funny and moves along with lots of dialogue.

Colby has lived in South Etobicoke for 15 years and is father to 11-year-old twins who helps to coach their baseball and flag football teams.

He wrote a national best seller with NHL hockey dad Karl Subban in 2107, “How We Did It: The Subban Plan for Success in Hockey, School and Life.” Karl also raised his kids in Rexdale and many interviews were conducted at Maple Leaf House on Lake Shore Blvd. W., at First Street.

Death in Etobicoke was originally published in 2019 as Tales from the North Shore. The third instalment of the “Death in Etobicoke” trilogy has been revised for this edition.

The work has been getting some good comments before its release date.

“It’s a treat to read this book… The Thunder Bay stories are laugh out loud funny,” said Lisa Laco, of CBC Thunder Bay.

“My friend and I are reading ‘Death in Etobicoke’ to each other, laughing our heads off. Actual tears. Best thing I have read in ages …” said Alexandra Gillespie, English Professor and Principal, University of Toronto Mississauga.

“Shades of Stephen King, an undercurrent of Flannery O’Connor, wrapped in the best of Ray Bradbury, Scott Colby’s Death in Etobicoke takes us on a riveting romp through life’s irreversible moments,” wrote Jerry Levitan, an Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning producer and internationally acclaimed author.

“Death in Etobicoke is an eclectic collection of humorous stories, which is clearly valued by intelligent readers with a keen sense of humour,” said Charles Wilkins, author of international bestsellers, Paddle to the Amazon and After the Applause as well as The Circus at the Edge of the Earth, Walk to New York and In the Land of Long Fingernails.