From the Office of MPP Christine Hogarth.

 

 

The Ontario government is investing more than $157,000 for five projects in Toronto to help protect and improve the Great Lakes.

“Etobicoke-Lakeshore is home to some of the most beautiful shores of Lake Ontario. Through our government’s Great Lakes Local Action Fund, the wonderful non-profit organizations Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, I-Think and A Greener Future will work with communities and residents in Etobicoke-Lakeshore to clean up shores and protect species in Lake Ontario,” said Hogarth, the MPP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore.

“This is a great initiative to support local projects that protect and restore costal, shoreline and nearshore areas of the Great Lakes.”

These projects are a part of 44 community-based projects to receive $1.9 million in funding through the Great Lakes Local Action Fund.

“The health of the Great Lakes is closely connected to our province’s health and prosperity –supplying water to our communities, sustaining traditional activities of Indigenous peoples and providing healthy ecosystems for recreation and tourism,” said David Piccini, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

“This funding allows local organizations and groups to take environmental actions in their own communities – building a better future for clean, green growth.”

Hogarth announced further details about the projects benefitting Etobicoke-Lakeshore:

Love Your Lake: A Greener Future received $30,000 to engage communities and conduct 100 litter clean-ups along the shores of Lake Ontario between Niagara-on-theLake and Kingston.

Youth Agency Creating Waves On The Great Lakes: I-Think received $49,996 to enhance ecological and shoreline remediation along nine creeks and rivers in the Lake Ontario watershed through classroom engagement.

Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention: the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters received $27,090 to build community capacity to remove invasive species in the Lake Ontario watershed.

Supporting local actions that protect the Great Lakes is a key commitment in our plan to protect our land, air and water.

 

A man and a woman are dead after being involved in a horrific two-car crash in Etobicoke on Tuesday.

It happened around 4:12 p.m. at Carlingview Drive and Constellation Court in the Dixon Road and Highway 427 area, according to police.

A debris-scattered crash scene police photo shows a black minivan leaning against a broken light pole and a totaled red vehicle propped up against a nearby building.

Police believe excessive speed was likely a factor.

According to Toronto police’s Operations Centre, one of the vehicles hit a pole and flipped over, while the other vehicle went into a building.

One of the victims died at the scene, while the second person died after being rushed to hospital.

Police said road closures in the immediate area will likely last several hours.

Emergency responders rushed to the scene and located two people with “very serious injuries.” They worked to extricate them from the vehicle.

A woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

A second person, who was rushed to hospital by emergency run, died a short time later.

The crash may have also caused a gas leak and some buildings are being evacuated, police said.

Roads near the collision have been off-limits.

Toronto police’s Traffic Services unit is investigating.

Anyone with information should contact police at 416-808-1900, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or 222tips.com.

 

 

One of the longest-serving merchants in Alderwood has seen a lot of changes in the community over the last 50 years.

Guilia Del Vicario, 78, the owner of Guilia’s Clothing and Gifts, moved into her 320 Brown’s Line store in 1973 when it was a two-lane road with a forest still standing on the east side of the roadway.

“There was a forest across from my store,” Del Vicario recalls. “There was a supermarket, butcher shop, hairdressers and the place was busy.”

She remembers her biggest payday was earning $800 on her first day of business.

“That was a lot of money then,” the clothier says. “Back then people did not mind paying for good quality clothing that was well-made and last a long time.”

Del Vicario’s daughter Michelle explained her parents were among a first wave of Italian immigrants who came to Canada and settled in the area.

“My mom’s store was like a social club sometimes.”

“Everyone knew each other back then and they all supported each other.”

Del Vicario would often on a weekend prepare clothing for a person’s funeral, deliver or offer free alterations.

“Things have changed a lot over the years,” she laments. “The people today buy their clothes online without ever touching the material or trying it on. There is little quality and style anymore.”

Her well-made and fashionable childrens’ clothing are made by trained seamstresses often abroad and last for many years.

“The business is still good,” she says. “Some people still want to feel the material and get quality clothing for their children’s christening or baptism.”

Del Vicario is well-known in the Italian Canadian community and has sold clothing to generations of families.

These days she spends a lot of time caring for her husband, Frank , who is suffering from West Nile disease after being bitten by a mosquito while sitting on their porch at home. He now requires 24-hour medical care.

Del Vicario immigrated to Canada in 1961 and settled in the Queensway area. People knew she was a seamstress and there was always a demand for her to sew things for fellow new immigrants. Soon after she required more space and located the store to be close to the community.

She is a good salesperson, who is active and sharp mentally. People constantly stop by to see her latest selections and make a purchase.

Giulia’s Clothing and Gifts can be reached at 416-255-3336. She is now having a 50% sale off all items in the store.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two violent and dangerous thugs are on the run from police for allegedly assaulting and robbing a cabbie in New Toronto.

Toronto Police said the brutal incident occurred on July 17 about 6:30 a.m., near Lake Shore Blvd. W., and Third Street.

Detectives have released the images of two men sought for the robbery.

Police allege the men ordered a taxi and once at their destination they reportedly assaulted and robbed the driver of his property before fleeing in a southbound direction.

The first suspect is described as having a heavy build. He was last seen wearing a black Nike top and a white baseball cap.

The second has a thin build. He was last seen wearing a black sweat top with a multi-coloured Adidas logo on the front.

During this robbery, one of the suspects reportedly indicated he had a gun, police said.

Officers believe these outstanding suspects could be “armed, violent and dangerous,” and are advising anyone who locate them to call 911.

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

A man found lying on the ground with gunshot wounds is recovering in hospital after being discovered in the Lake Shore Blvd. W., and Royal York Road area.

Police said the victim was found lying on the ground July 19 around 4:27 p.m. and was rushed to nearby hospital.

His injuries are considered serious but not life threatening.

No description of the suspect has been released.

You are asked to call police if you witnessed the incident.

This is the sixth shooting in the area in the last two months.

 

 

By DAVE KOSONIC

Luckily no one was killed in a fiery Air France crash 16 years ago at Pearson Airport that was called a ‘miracle’ by some aviation experts and observers.

Shortly after touching down on Runway 24 Left parallel to Highway 401 at Pearson the out-of-control Airbus A340 with 309 people on board skidded off the end of the runway and into an Etobicoke Creek ravine in a gut-wrenching August 2, 2005 event.

Despite confusion and panic the flight attendants managed to guide everyone out of the aircraft within 90 seconds, moments before it caught fire, burst into flames and blanketed the airport area with huge clouds of dirty grey and black smoke originating from the burning jet and fuel.

The miracle of Flight 358 is that the 297 passengers and 12 crew members all survived. Twelve people were transported to hospitals for treatment of serious injuries but fortunately there were no fatalities.

Jean Lapierre, who was the Federal Minister of Transport, referred to the outcome of the crash as a “miracle” while others dubbed it the “Toronto Miracle”.

The flight had departed from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris hours earlier. According to flight records the trans-Atlantic crossing was uneventful and the pilots followed their previously filed flight plan. The pilots were identified by Air France as Captain Rosaye and First Officer Naud.

According to records by Pearson flight personnel before the crash ‘severe weather had forced Pearson to cancel 540 arriving and departing flights that day’ due to severe thunderstorms and varying wind speeds and directions that resulted in a risk to aircraft and challenging landing conditions.

Many flights scheduled to land at Pearson Airport were diverted to locations that day including Montreal, Syracuse and Buffalo. But despite cautions provided to the captain and first officer on Flight 358 by Toronto Air Traffic Control the pilots decided to attempt a landing about 4 p.m.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada in December 2007 issued the findings of an investigation into the crash. Some of the key findings of this report indicated that First Officer Naud, who was landing the Airbus, approached Runway 24 Left too steeply at above normal airspeed.

He allowed the aircraft to land too far down the runway. As a result he could not stop it in time and specified that he disengaged the auto pilot just before landing which left him totally in charge of the failed landing.

Captain Rosaye suffered extensive back injuries during the crash and he required multiple surgeries. He was no longer deemed medically and physically fit to pilot an airliner and he retired while experiencing the so-called ‘pilot’s worst nightmare’.

First Officer Naud was suspended for three months by Air France before returning to flight duties with the airline.

Eddie Ho, who was a passenger on the jet, escaped from the crash without a scratch. During an interview the following day he ‘praised the flight attendants and the injured captain who was the last one to escape the aircraft.

Ho recalls a flight attendant firmly saying: “Jump Out! Just Jump Out! Get Out!” before he jumped out of the aircraft four or five meters to safety. “It could have been worse. I am definitely grateful to God”, he added.

Various lawsuits were filed that resulted in financial compensation for passengers while excluding the Air France crew. The airline company also filed a counter lawsuit against Transport Canada.

Documentation claimed that recommendations made after an Air Canada DC 9 jet crashed into the north end of the Etobicoke Creek valley in 1976 killing two passengers were not acted upon that included extending Runways 24 Left and 24 Right over the creek valley.

 

 

A U.S. based company was being ripped off for more than $1 million by online thieves as fraud cops from both sides of the border stepped in and stopped the transaction.

The online theft of $750,000 U.S. was averted at the last minute due to the work of the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre (CAFC) and the U.S. Secret Service Ottawa Field Office, police said.

Police said the scam was thrashed after a Canadian company reported a similar scam to the CAFC last June. The information was passed on to Canadian and U.S. police.

A bank investigator soon discovered that a U.S. company, which was not identified, was transferring almost $750,000 U.S. to a suspected fraudulent account.

“The bank investigator put a hold on the transfer, contacted the company and began procedures to reverse the funds,” according to the CAFC. “A company employee expressed their thanks and said the interception had potentially saved jobs.”

Potential jobs in Canada were saved since the company could have shut down or forced to lay off employees with the huge loss.

Police said the scam is called a Business Email Compromise (BEC), which is among the most financially damaging online fraud.

“Without the initial report from the Canadian company, there could have been devastating losses to both the company and to people’s lives,” said Sgt. Guy Paul Larocque. “Unlike many traditional crimes, scams and fraud span over a number of jurisdictional borders.”

In a BEC scam, a fraudster will send an email that is spoofed to look like it’s coming from a known and trusted source. BEC messages include: a business receives a duplicate invoice with updated payment details supposedly from an existing supplier or contractor; an accountant or financial planner receives a large withdrawal request that looks like it’s coming from their client’s email; Payroll receives an email claiming to be from an employee looking to update their bank account information.

It also includes an email that seems to be from a trusted source who asks you to download an attachment, but the attachment is malware that infiltrates the entire computer network. Also any email that seems to come from a trusted source which asks you to buy gift cards.

If you have been a victim of scam, fraud or cybercrime, please contact your local police. We also encourage you to report an instance, whether you are a victim or not, with the CAFC via the Online Reporting System or by phone at 1-888-495-8501. By filing a report, you can provide invaluable information that could protect others.

 

 

 

The Ontario government has turned soil and building a brand-new long-term care home in the west-end at Runnymede Road.

The Runnymede Long-Term Care Home, to be located at Dundas St. W., and Runnymede Road, is part of the province’s plan to create ‘a 21^st century long-term care sector.’

Health officials said $4.9 billion will be spent over four years as the province plans to hire more than 27,000 staff, including registered nurses, personal support workers and support staff.

The Long-Term Home will provide ‘the highest quality of care for our most vulnerable people, where and when they need it.’

“Our government is sparing no expense to ensure our seniors have a modern and safe place to call home,” said Premier Doug Ford. “We will continue to deliver on our promise to provide our loved ones with the world class care they so rightly deserve.”

Rod Phillips, the Minister of Long-Term Care, said his government is rebuilding the long-term care sector ‘after decades of neglect.’

“When the new Runnymede Long-Term Care Home is completed, it will have 200 modern spaces for seniors in the community to call home, near their family and friends,” Phillips said.

The Runnymede Long-Term Care Home is expected to open in the summer of 2023, will provide new, safe, modern long-term care spaces in Toronto.

This new development is another example of the Ontario government’s $2.68 billion ten-year plan for the delivery of 30,000 safe, modern, comfortable spaces for our seniors to call home.

As of February 2021, more than 40,000 people were on the waitlist to access a long-term care bed in Ontario. The average wait time is 147 days for residents currently living in community settings. Ontario now has 20,161 new and 15,918 redevelopment spaces in the development pipeline.

 

 

Halton Regional police say they have had more than 124 high-end vehicles stolen since January by thieves who have mastered keyless entry and push-start technology.

The force is warning that they have seen an increase in relay and reprogramming thefts of expensive vehicles using keyless entry and push-start technology.

In most thefts, the vehicles are being stolen from the residents’ driveways during the overnight hours. The theft takes less than a minute, police said.

Police said 66 of the 124 autos stolen in Oakville have been through the use of relay or reprogramming technology.

“Thieves will use technology called a ‘relay device’ to find a key fob signal from inside a residence,” according to a Halton police release. “The thieves do not need to enter a residence to find the signal.”

The signal is then amplified which allow the thieves to unlock, start and steal the vehicle, according to police. The vehicle owners are shocked to discover their vehicle has been stolen and they are in possession of the key fob.

Halton auto officers warn that thieves also gain entry into the costly vehicles by mechanical means, like using a tool. They will then access the vehicle’s diagnostic port and reprogram a blank key fob which allows them to start and steal the vehicle.

In most cases, the vehicles are shipped abroad to foreign countries for sale within hours.

Police say the thefts can be avoided if residents; park in a locked and secured garage, install an on-board diagnostic blocker, install a steering wheel lock device, obtain a GPS tracking device, place the key fob inside a radio frequency shielding bag when not in use, equip the vehicle with an alarm and security cameras that capture the outside of your home.

Crime prevention is a shared responsibility.  Call 911 if you witness a crime in progress.  Call 905-825-4777 if you see suspicious vehicles or persons in your neighbourhood.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.

 

 

 

With COVID-19 waning police say new online scams have shifted to target those seeking the vaccine or obtaining government emergency benefits and other assistance.

THE RCMP are warning of new online or text message scams that thieves are using to target seniors and other vulnerable people in the community.

The top scam involves a national relief fee of $85 for getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Not true.

Police say people are usually sent a text message that claims they have received a national relief of $85 from the government for receiving the vaccine. Once you press a button to accept the new-found cash you’ve been hacked.

“The phone calls and text messages are similar in context and can include scams as offering free gifts, refunds or making demand for immediate payment,” according to the RCMP. “In order to carry out their scam, the fraudster tries to convince you they are a legitimate company and hide their identity.”

Police said the scammer may become more demanding and issue veiled threats if you refuse payment such as being arrested.

Another ruse is the CERB cheque scam, in which a text message alerts a customer that he or she has received a deposit for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and directs you to click an attached link, where you are ripped off.

An ugly scam is one involving utility services or the  phone internet company scam, in which a person receives a text indicating they are receiving a refund from the utility or provider due to the virus and to press an attached link to accept.

Once you press the link the hacker has access to your information.

Another online racket is one called ID Spoofing Scam, in which the caller deliberately disguises their phone number to appear on caller ID in order to hide their identity. The caller does this to trick you into believing they are a legit company.

The RCMP warn people receiving the calls to hang up the phone right away and do not follow the prompts. Here are some police tips.

Do not respond to the calls or text messages to unknown or suspicious phone numbers. Research the company contact information independently and call the company to confirm.

Do not click on attached links. They may lead you to fake websites.

Do not give out your personal or financial information through the phone or text messages.

Do not respond to robocallers prompting you to push a number to be placed on a do not call list.

Utility or Phone/Internet Companies generally do not collect credit card or bank account information over the phone, by email or by text.

No government agency or bank will threaten to arrest you.

No government agencies will request payment in Bitcoin, iTunes cards, gift cards or interact e-Transfers.