Police are warning the public about an arrest made in a bizarre case involving a man who allegedly committed indecent acts against seniors in a long-term care home.

Police allege between October 9 and November 9 this year, a suspect attended a long-term care home facility about five times in the north Etobicoke area.

Officers claimed the man allegedly exposed himself to residents of the facility, including seniors, on multiple occasions.

Benjamin Rojas, 26, of Toronto, was arrested on November 9 and charged with four counts of committing an indecent act.

He appeared in court at 2201 Finch Avenue W., on November 10 by via video link.
Officers believe there may be other victims .

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-2300, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, online on our Facebook Leave a Tip page, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes or Google Play.

The Toronto Animal Services (TAS) are investigating the horrific deaths of two pet bunnies which were killed by a suspected pit bull in New Toronto.

The bodies of Leo and Ruby are to be reclaimed from examination by the TAS tomorrow and Pastor Veta Saunders, of Etobicoke Praise Centre, will say a prayer for the lovable duo as they are buried arm-in-arm in a casket under a magnolia tree this week.

Christina Murie, the owner of the rabbits, said they were killed on November 5 by a suspected pit bull that was brought to her Birmingham Business Centre, at 80 Birmingham Street, by a woman who was hired to do some painting.

The local painter had done some work for Murie before.

“I had told the woman not to bring that dog to my property,”’ Murie mourned. “I was not at the property when the bunnies were killed.”

She has been crying for the bunnies for days and one of her employees was so sickened by the gruesome killings that he was off work for a week.

Residents said the dog managed to enter the premises and made its way to an area where the bunnies were kept. The rabbits were chased by the menacing dog and received multiple fatal bites, Murie explained, adding she believes the bunnies were tossed around by the dog.

She said the bunnies were rare and expensive. Leo was a Lionhead rabbit and Ruby a Himalayan bunny.

The bunnies were house and pet trained and had an indoor space, with a fountain, and were placed outside during the day. They were a favourite of local school children and visitors to the building.

“Both bunnies were adopted from the Toronto Animal Services,” Murie said. “They (TAS) were also surprised that the bunnies were killed.”

“People loved playing with the bunnies,” she recalled. “They were very cute and lovable.”

Murie is hoping the dog’s owners will receive a fine or be required to place a muzzle on the animal.

“This animal is large and should not be allowed on the street without a muzzle,” she insisted. “These dogs can be very dangerous.”

She said another employee was nipped three times by the dog without suffering major injuries.

Murie is comforted that her other pets, which includes a cat, fishes and turtle in an indoor pond weren’t touched.

 

 

 

The province’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is investigating after a Toronto Police Service officer fired a less-lethal shotgun at a man in central Etobicoke.

The SIU said preliminary information suggests that about 10 a.m. on November 15, officers responded to West Mall Bloor Plaza at 290 The West Mall for a man in distress.

“There was an interaction, and one officer discharged a less-lethal shotgun at the man, striking him with sock rounds,” the SIU said in a news release. “Another officer discharged a conducted energy weapon (TASER) at the man.”

The SIU said the man was taken into custody under the Mental Health Act and brought to hospital.

One subject official and five witness officials have been designated at this time.

The SIU’s mandate was invoked because a police officer discharged a less-lethal shotgun, which is classified as a firearm.

Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, a firearm is defined as a barreled weapon from which any shot, bullet or other projectile can be discharged and that is capable of causing serious bodily injury or death to a person.

The SIU is called to probe police actions that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault, or the discharge of a firearm at a person.

All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilian, under the Special Investigations Unit Act.

The SIU is urging anyone who may have information, including video or photos, in relation to this investigation to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529 or on the website at: https://siu.on.ca/en/appeals.php

 

Mom is injured but her daughter dies.

A five-year-old girl has died after a vehicle driven by her mother slammed into a tree on Renforth Drive.

A 31-year-old woman driving a white Nissan Versa was transported to an area hospital and is in non-life-threatening injuries, police say.

Police said the incident occurred on November 13 at 9:09 p.m. after officers responded to a collision on Renforth, just south of Centennial Park Gate.

“The woman lost control of the vehicle and hit a tree on the east side of Renforth Drive,” officers from Traffic Services said in a release.

“A five-year-old girl who was a passenger in the vehicle was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries and was pronounced deceased at hospital.”

“I saw them trying to get the mother out of the vehicle while she was sadly screaming and horrified,” one witness said.

The investigation is being conducted by members of Traffic Services. Police are interested in speaking anyone who may have witnessed the collision as well as local residents, businesses or drivers who may have security or dash camera footage of the area or incident.

It is not known what led to the crash.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1900, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, online on our Facebook Leave a Tip page, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes or Google Play.

A woman was killed and a man was seriously injured after a vehicle hit two poles in South Etobicoke on Saturday night.

Toronto police said a car struck a pole on The Queensway, east of High Street, just west of the Humber River, around 8:15 p.m. on November 13.

The car split in half as a result of the crash and a woman had to be rescued after she became trapped in the vehicle, police said.

A 22-year-old-woman was rushed to the hospital in life-threatening condition. Police said she later died from her injuries.

Police said the woman was operating an Acura TL sedan westbound on The Queensway when she lost control of the vehicle and struck two poles.

The impact caused extensive damage to the vehicle, police said.

“The driver was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries and was pronounced deceased a short time later in hospital,” police said.
Paramedics said a man was also transported to a hospital in serious condition.

The cause of the crash is unknown.

The car wreck scattered debris across the road. Police closed the area for investigation.

 

 

 

Members of the community are invited to the unveiling of a huge mural honouring front-line workers on November 17 at 4:30 p.m. at the corner of Ninth Street and Lake Shore Blvd. W.  The beautiful mural pays tribute to our hard-working front-line workers. It took several weeks to complete by community artist Jim Bravo (on cover on ladder).

The artwork can be seen at the side of Alterna Savings, at 3001 Lake Shore Blvd. W. All are welcome.

Here are some more events taking place in our community.

The City of Toronto this month launched an improved 311 online portal, making the service easier and more convenient to use, which includes providing real-time status updates from start to finish.

The City continues to rapidly evolve and modernize service delivery to improve access to services while providing a consistent service experience that builds trust & confidence in municipal services.

With the launch of this new service, all of the approximately 600 services that 311 offers are now available online, including requests for snow plowing and tree maintenance, overflowing catch basins, dogs off leash and inadequate heat in apartment buildings.

Residents, businesses and visitors now have the option of calling in to speak with an agent, live online chat or submitting a service request online. Users will be able to track the status of their request from start to finish and can opt-in to receive real-time status updates via text (SMS) or email notification.

City Council also adopted a new Inclusionary Zoning framework  that will ensure more affordable housing is built across the City of Toronto.

The City is the first municipality in Ontario to implement these measures.
Beginning next year the measures makes it mandatory for certain new condo developments around Protected Major Transit Areas to include from five per cent to  10 per cent of their units as affordable housing, which will increase to 8 to 22% by 2030.

The amount of affordable housing required will vary depending on where in the city the development is located, and whether the units are intended for rental or ownership.

The policy will be monitored and reviewed after one year to allow for adjustments that may be required including changes to the phase-in and, or set aside rate, alterations to the minimum development size threshold and any other changes needed to ensure market stability and production of affordable housing units.

This is another step towards meeting the goals set out by City to  approve 40,000 new affordable rental units, and 4,000 affordable home ownership opportunities.

 

 

The Ontario government is investing more than $529,000 through the True Patriot Love Foundation to expand access to specialized mental health services and support for Ontario’s veterans returning to civilian life.

The funding will be directed to community-based programs offering group counselling, and supports for women who suffered sexual trauma during combat.

“Our veterans have made tremendous sacrifices to keep our province and country safe, and we have a responsibility to be there to support them when they need us,” said Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. “I am proud that our government is prioritizing our veterans and I am grateful to the True Patriot Love Foundation for their delivery of this important specialized programming.”

The funding will help support True Patriot Love Foundation’s work with agency partners in Ontario to deliver targeted, specialized programs to veterans; including peer support to reduce depression, substance abuse and suicide.

Funds will also be used to  help with safe space for female veterans to discuss experiences related to military sexual trauma, counselling for veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces and the spouses or partners struggling with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and expanding programs and services offered by mental health agencies.

Ontario is home to approximately 228,000 of Canada’s veterans and every year from 9,000 to 10,000 Canadian Armed Forces members are released from military service; with one third indicating they have a hard time transitioning to civilian life.

The province is also investing $12.4 million over two years to provide existing and expanded mental health and addictions supports for all frontline health care workers across the province.

MPP Christine Elliott said the investment will protect our progress in the fight against COVID-19 by supporting the workforce of the acute care, long-term care, and home and community care sectors in their efforts to provide high-quality care and service to patients, long-term care residents, and clients.

“Ontario’s frontline health care workers have been unwavering in their dedication to protect the health and safety of Ontarians throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and just as they are there for us, we need to be there for them,” said Elliott, who is the Deputy Premier and Minister of Health.

The COVID‑19 pandemic has had a significant impact on frontline health care workers’ mental health. This funding will provide continued rapid access to the following expanded or new treatment options and supports specifically for this workforce:

The government is partnering with five hospitals, the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division, and the Ontario Psychological Association to offer these mental health and addictions supports.

Several hundred people packed around the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 101 in Long Branch to pay tribute to our veterans on Remembrance Day.

The front of the Lake Shore Blvd. W. Legion hall was filled, as people looked from inside the hall. Prayers and words of tribute were said as a bagpiper played during the 11 a.m. service to honour those who paid the ultimate prize.

Many of our veterans, who are up there in age, were helped by family members as they laid their poppies on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

There was an earlier well-attended Sunrise Service at 7 a.m. at the New Toronto monument at Colonel Samuel Smith Park at Lake Shore Blvd. and Kipling Avenue.

“We will never forget those who gave their lives,” Major Bill King, of the Salvation Army, told the crowd. “Their sacrifices were honourable.”

Canada lost some 113,000 sailors, airmen, naval officers, and other personnel who were killed during the two World Wars; the close to 1,000 more who died in the Korean War; the 158 service men and women who lost their lives in Afghanistan and the dozens of troops who have been killed while serving on various peacekeeping missions around the world.

“Thank you for the sacrifice and for laying down your lives,” King said. “We honour you.”

The Canadian flag was earlier lifted to the top a Legion flagpole and there was two minutes of silence to remember the valiant men who lost their lives. Many were from this area.

The solemn ceremony included the playing of the last post and a flyover from jets.

“It was a great ceremony and it gives us time to reflect,” said MPP Christine Hogarth. “If it weren’t for them (veterans), we would not be here today.”

Her great uncle, Donald MacDonald Hogarth, served with the Canadian Expeditionary Force in WW1 and was promoted to major in 1915 in charge of military supplies and transport in London. In 1917 he was appointed a lieutenant-colonel and made director of supply and transport for the Canadian forces.

Hogarth, who was awarded a Distinguished Service Order (DSO), was born in Osceola, Ont., in June 1879 and died in June 1950. He was a politician and astute mining financier, who was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario representing the riding of Port Arthur from 1911 to 1923 and again from 1926 to 1929.

He achieved the rank of Major-General in the Canadian Expeditionary Force and was a well-known mining financier who founded some of the biggest gold mines in Northern Ontario.

There were also ceremonies held on Remembrance Day at the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 643, on Jutland Road and at the Etobicoke Civic Centre. The largest service is held yearly in Ottawa.

 

A woman is in hospital with suffering serious injuries after being hit by a car in the Renforth Drive and Wareside Road area.

The female pedestrian was taken to a trauma centre around 10:30 p.m. on November 10, according to police.

Police said the driver had initially left the scene after hitting the woman. A man was later charged with impaired driving.

The driver apparently damaged several other cars and trees in the area after hitting the woman, police said.

The woman, who is described as being in her mid 40s, is being treated with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

For a short time roads in the area were shut due to the police investigation.

The name of the suspect has not been released.