More than 1,000 nature lovers have signed a petition to save 12 trees on Dwight Avenue from being chopped down to install a new sidewalk.

City crews have been kept busy by complaints from area residents about the trees.

The trees slated to be axed run along the fence of Second Street Junior Middle School and provide shade, exposure to nature, and separation from a busy street to the young children who play there, according to residents and an online petition.

“The city has made these plans without consultation with the school, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) or local residents,” according to the petition. We ‘call upon the city to narrow Dwight Avenue to achieve this goal, rather than remove twelve trees.”

An outraged Christina Murie, whose tree in front her historic Birmingham Business Centre was initially slated for removal, wants the city to come up with a plan to save the mature trees.

“There is no need to chop down the Dwight Street trees for a new sidewalk,” Murie explained. “Tree roots are deep and sidewalk excavation is shallow.”

She and others believe Dwight Avenue is being “widened for left turn lane and an anticipated 4,000 vehicles a day for the new occupant of the Campbell’s Soup property, rumoured to be Amazon.”

The community believes a 24-hour Amazon distribution centre is being developed with warehouses and extra road space for trucks at the former Campbell’s site.

“Local parents are upset that the trees are being cut down for Amazon,” Murie said. “Who can believe that healthy trees are getting chopped for more trucks?”

City staff told residents at a September 23 virtual information session narrowing Dwight would be costly and complicated; a left-turn lane onto Birmingham Street is half the block and catch basins would need relocated.

City crews said they receive their orders from Councillor Mark Grimes, who has declared a conflict of interest since he has property in the area.

Grimes said school parents requested the sidewalk several years ago. A large infrastructure project reconstructing and surfacing roads, replacing water mains and installing missing sidewalks presented the opportunity, he said.

Students and adults looking for work are invited to a virtual job fair taking place on September 30 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Some 15 companies will be at the fair searching for new hires. The fair is open for those aged from 16 to 29.

Pre-registration is required and there is an option to download your resume.

 

A plaque of Etobicoke war hero and Victoria Cross recipient George Topham stood for many years outside the former Etobicoke Civic Centre.

Corporal Topham, 27, was a Medical Orderly in the Canadian Army’s 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion from 1942 to 1945 during the Second World War when he watched two colleagues shot to death by enemy fire while saving a man in the battlefield. He promptly jumped in to save the soldiers.

Topham’s battalion gained the distinction of being the only Canadian Army unit to fight in the battle. During Operation Varsity, the Western Allies’ attempted to cross the River Rhine on March 24, 1945, and encountered heavy enemy fire as they took casualties.

“Corporal Topham went forward through intense fire to replace the orderlies who had been killed before his eyes,” according to military records. “As he worked on the wounded man, he was himself shot through the nose.”

Despite ‘severe bleeding and intense pain, he never faltered in his task,” the military wrote. “He carried the wounded man steadily and slowly back through continuous fire.”

As if that was not enough. While returning to his company, he saved three men by rescuing them from a burning carrier that was in danger of exploding.

The carrier had taken a direct hit and enemy mortar bombs were still dropping. The vehicle was burning fiercely and its own mortar ammunition was exploding. An experienced officer on the spot had warned all not to approach the carrier.

Topham went out alone in spite of the blasting ammunition and enemy fire, and rescued the three occupants of the carrier. One man died. He brought them back and arranged for their evacuation.

For six hours Topham refused medical help for his wound and worked hard to bring in wounded, showing complete disregard for the heavy and accurate enemy fire. It was only when all casualties had been cleared that he consented to his own wound being treated.

For his exceptional and courageous deeds, Topham was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for valor in the British Commonwealth.

“This N.C.O. showed sustained gallantry of the highest order,” according to the Victoria Cross. “For six hours, most of the time in great pain, he performed a series of acts of outstanding bravery and his magnificent and selfless courage inspired all those who witnessed it.”

Topham’s heroism was celebrated with a parade and civic reception in Toronto on August 8, 1945; one hundred members of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion served as a guard of honour.

After the war in November 10, 1945, the war hero laid the cornerstone of the new Sunnybrook Memorial Hospital for Veterans. He served briefly as a Constable with the Toronto Police Department before a career with Toronto Hydro.

He died on May 31, 1974 from a heart attack, and is buried at Etobicoke’s Sanctuary Park Cemetery.

The Ontario Heritage Foundation erected a plaque at the Civic Centre in 1980 commemorating Corporal Topham, V.C. This plaque has since been erected outside Runnymede College Institute.

A park near St. Clair Avenue East and O’Connor Drive was named for Topham. It features three ball diamonds, two lit tennis courts, a wading pool, a children’s playground and the Topham Park Community Centre and Clubhouse.

Family and friends mourning the death of New Toronto man Adrian Hurley now have a little more closure in their search for answers.

Toronto Police on September 24 arrested Zachary Barton, 36, who has been charged with first-degree murder in the gun killing.

Hurley was found with no vital signs on August 27 in the Thirty Ninth Street and James Street area, of Long Branch.

More than $8,000 has been raised to help his grieving family, who describe him as the ‘best brother, loving father and beloved son.’

Hurley, 23, who grew up in New Toronto, was remembered as an ‘adoring boyfriend and precious grandson,” in a Go Fund Me post that was created on August 28.

“Anyone who knew him knew he had the best spirit, he was always smiling no matter what was going on,” Chantelle wrote “He was the strongest person we knew.”

She said “Adrian just recently had a son who he adored more than anything I’ve ever seen.”

He would help anyone he could without hesitation because his heart was just that big, Chantelle wrote.

“We are heartbroken that we couldn’t help him when he needed us most,” she said.

The funds raised will go to help pay his funeral expenses and to help his son.

He was well-liked and touched many people in the community, residents said.

“My deepest condolences to you and your family,” wrote Dynonz Hermiz on social media.  “My heart goes out to you. Sending you strength, love and peace during this hard time.”

Krista Langille wrote “rest in paradise Adrian, your smile and spirit will always live on.”

And now a message from the Royal Canadian Air Force.

They RCAF, in a public service announcement, said a  CF-18 military jet will conduct a flyby over BMO Field for the Toronto Argonauts Canadian Armed Forces Appreciation game today, on September 24, at approximately 7:30 pm

The aircraft will fly over at an altitude no lower than 500 feet above the highest point of its route before resuming a higher flying altitude, the RCAF warned.

Flybys are done at the request of event organizers and are carefully planned and closely controlled to ensure public safety at all times and are subject to operational considerations and weather.

The Toronto Argonauts will be playing against long-time rival Montreal Alouettes as the jet fly over.

 

 

Someone in our community is rich and don’t know it.

A lottery player who bought a winning Lotto Max ticket worth $10,000 in Toronto last year has two weeks left to claim their prize.

Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG) officials said the winner lives in Etobicoke.

The OLG, in a news release, said the ticket sold in Etobicoke with the numbers 7-1-4-9-2-7-6 won the prize following the Lotto Max draw on October 6, 2020.

The first six of the seven Encore numbers must match in the exact order to win the $10,000 prize.

Players have exactly one year from the draw date to claim their prize, LG said.

“The owner(s) of this ticket should fill in the back portion, sign it and contact the OLG Support Centre,” OLG said.

Check your ticket. You could be a winner.

 

 

Toronto Police have arrested a local man who was sought on a Canada-wide warrant in connection with the death of his sister.

The body of a woman was discovered on September 4 after police attended a medical complaint call at 18 Stanmills Road, in The Queensway and Islington Ave. area.

Police said the body of Rose Di Pinto, 60, was found at the bottom of a set of stairs without vital signs.

“The woman was pronounced deceased,” officers said in a news release.

An autopsy was conducted and the Homicide Unit has taken over the investigation.
A warrant was issued for the suspect, who was arrested on September 22.

John Di Pinto, 55, of Toronto, has been charged with second degree murder.

He appeared at a Finch Avenue West court on September 23.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7400, 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).

The Ontario government is warning businesses and organizations that its proof of vaccination policy for customers entering their facilities take affect on September 22.

South Etobicoke business owners say they are not looking forward to screening their customers for a proof of vaccination policy or in turning others away from their businesses.

Business owners said they’ve suffered long enough from COVID-19 and cannot afford to turn away business from a customer who may not return.

The province of Ontario has released regulations and guidance for businesses and organizations to support them in implementing proof of vaccination requirements that take effect on  September 22.

The requirements focus on higher-risk indoor public settings where patrons must provide proof of identification and proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Customer have to show their proof of vaccination to attend: restaurant, bars, excluding outdoor patios, nightclubs, meeting and even spaces, sports and recreational fitness activities as gyms, casinos, bingo halls, concert venues, theatres and cinemas.

Also affected are strip clubs, bathhouses, sex clubs and racing venues, as horse racing facilities, according to the province.

The City of Toronto will be working with businesses to educate them on the Province of Ontario’s proof of vaccine requirements under the Reopening Ontario Act. Staff from Toronto Public Health and Municipal Licensing and Standards will continue to conduct inspections to ensure businesses are following the requirements under the Act.

Individuals who cannot receive the vaccine due to medical exemptions will be permitted entry with a doctor’s or registered (extended class) nurses’ note until recognized medical exemptions can be integrated as part of an Ontario digital vaccine certificate.

The Ontario government is developing an enhanced electronic vaccine certificate with a unique QR code and a verification app for businesses, which will be available by October 22.

 

 

A man is being sought by Toronto Police 11 Division officers for allegedly committing an indecent act against a woman in High Park.

Police said they were called on September 15, around 4 p.m. to investigate a complaint for an indecent act in the park.

“It is reported that a 51-year-old woman was hiking on a rail,” according to police. “A man exposed himself to her and committed an indecent act.”

The suspect is described as South Asian, 5’9″, with a thin build, wearing a light coloured baseball cap, blue long sleeve shirt, dark blue pants with two white stripes down the side, and carrying a shoulder bag.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1100, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637), or Leave A Tip on Facebook. Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes or Google Play.

All Etobicoke Liberal MPs have been re-elected and stand firm behind Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that $600 million spent on a federal election was well worth it.

Many voters across the country are outraged and insist that the millions could have been put to better use to help ailing Canadians.

There was little surprise, drama or major riding flips in Canada’s 44^th national election on September 20; in which the Liberals in a minority government only gained three seats and ended up with 158, the Conservatives with 119 seats, Bloc Quebecois 34, NDP 25 and the Green Party with 2 seats.

“You are sending us back to work with a clear mandate to get Canada through this pandemic and to the brighter days ahead,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a victory speech. “What we’ve seen tonight is that millions of Canadians have chosen a progressive plan.”

All three Etobicoke Liberal candidates handily re-claimed their seats in the election. In Etobicoke-Lakeshore Liberal James Maloney was re-elected, so was Yvan Baker in Etobicoke-Centre and Kirsty Duncan for a fifth-time in Etobicoke North.

Incumbent Maloney received 46.9% of the votes, or about 28,525 total votes, for a third term. He was first elected in 2015 and again in 2019.

Maloney sits on a number of standing committees and is chair of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources, Parliamentary Associations and Interparliamentary Groups and the Canada-Ireland Interparliamentary Group.

Maloney earned law degrees from the University of Windsor and the University of Wales and worked as a litigation lawyer. In 2014, he served as interim city councillor for Ward 5 (Etobicoke-Lakeshore) before going into federal politics.

He successfully fended off challenges from first-time Conservative candidate Indira Bains, who had a strong showing; NDP candidate Sasha Kane, a community advocate; and Green party candidate Afam Elue.

Etobicoke-Lakeshore has been a largely Liberal riding since its creation in 1968, save for one NDP and three Conservative terms.

There were more than 60,775 votes cast in the riding that has 259 polls.

Bains obtained 32.2%, or 19,541 total votes. She worked hard and gave Maloney a good challenge.

NDP candidate Sasha Kane scored 13.7% or 8,338 total votes, which was also impressive.

PPC candidate Bill McLachlan received 4.6% or 2,806 total votes.

Afam Elue, of the Green Party, copped 2.2% or 1,311 total votes.

The diverse riding has a population of 129,000, of which 90, 167 are registered to vote.

Almost 6.8 million people voted early, most of them at advance polls or through special ballots cast by mail, according to Elections Canada.