This Canada Day, support and change can start locally and travel outwards.

On Canada Day Thursday July 1st, all four locations of Ed’s Real Scoop will be donating $1 per scoop to the Anishnawbe Health Foundation.

“Not only does this incredible foundation already do great work all around our city, they have some fantastic plans for the future,” according to Ed’s Real Scoop. “We are proud to be working with them.”

“We encourage you to join us and stand in solidarity with the Indigenous peoples in Toronto and across Canada on Thursday July 1st,” says Ed.

If you are unable to attend and would like to show your support please donate directly to https://supportanishnawbe.ca

Joe Hester, Executive Director, Anishnawbe Health Toronto, said they help people others overcome barriers as homelessness, poverty, trauma, abuse and addiction.

“Guided by the teachings of traditional healers, elders and medicine people, we aim to build a healthy, strong Indigenous community by looking at health holistically,” Hester wrote.  We don’t just offer a bandage solution, we are helping clients to overcome barriers to health and living a good life.”

In 1989, with no funding for capital, Anishnawbe Health Toronto established its first permanent home in what was once a branch of a former bank at Queen Street E., and Sherbourne Street.
As needed programs and services grew, additional sites at two Victorian-era residential buildings at Gerrard Street E., and Sherbourne Street and then Vaughan Road and St. Clair Avenue W. were leased.

The sites were not built for Health care or traditional healing and ceremony but Anishnawbe Health has adapted the sites as much as possible, including opening Toronto’s first sweat lodge facility in a public facility over 17 years ago. Anishnawbe Health ‘made do’ and adapted its buildings, but for clients, travelling between centres for care is an added burden on this vulnerable population and an added barrier to health.

Today, these facilities are extremely outdated and overcrowded, and present privacy, confidentiality and infection control risks to clients and staff.  These issues make it extremely challenging to meet current standards for ambulatory healthcare facilities and compromise Anishnawbe Health Toronto’s capacity to deliver critical programs and services. Together, we can build a new Home for Anishnawbe Health Toronto.

Toronto has the largest and most diverse Indigenous population in Ontario, an estimated 70,000 people or one-third of Ontario’s Indigenous population.

Loss of land, culture, and family life through government-led policies like the residential school system and the ‘60s Scoop’ have had a traumatic impact on the community resulting in a loss of identity with numerous ramifications.

Today, 90 per cent of Toronto’s urban Indigenous population live below Canada’s low income line,  often living at the margins of society and are more likely than non-Indigenous to be homeless, unemployed and to have not completed high school.

This inequity contributes to chronic disease and complex health issues resulting in multiple health care needs and in many cases, premature death.  Many of the diseases, such as Type II Diabetes, start at a younger age and are experienced as chronic illness for a long period of time with multiple complications.

Combined with high rates of mental health issues, drug and alcohol abuse, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress syndrome, and sexual and emotional abuse, this population is arguably the most vulnerable and disenfranchised community in the GTA.

A 2014 Anishnawbe Health Toronto study looked at Indigenous deaths of its clients and at other Toronto social agencies. For the 109 reported Indigenous deaths, the average age of death was 37 years compared to average age of death of 74 years in rest of Toronto.

Ed’s Real Scoop stores are located at 920 Queen St. E., 2224 Queen St. E.,189 Roncesvalles Ave., and 2370 Lake Shore Blvd. W.

 

 

It seems like Toronto Police and the city have listened to the community and are cracking down on illegal or fireworks being misused this long Canada Day weekend.

A number of pro-active measures are being put in place from Thursday July 1 to July 4, said the city.

Toronto Police and Municipal, Licensing and Standards officers will be in place past midnight at area parks including; Marie Curtis, Colonel Samuel Smith, Humber Bays West and East during the days of enforcement.

Some police divisions have received additional resources to ‘patrol problematic sites including Humber Bays East and West.’

There are usually a litany of complaints from Humber Bay Shores residents of fireworks being fired from balconies at people or pets on the ground and other forms of noise and bright light abuse.

The Toronto Police Marine Unit has additional patrol resources in place for patrols from water. The Toronto Fire Service fireboat will also patrol from the water.

Toronto Fire has assigned a pumper truck and District Chief to Humber Bay East Park on Canada Day.

Councillor Mark Grimes in a statement said parking lots will be close to vehicles at 7 p.m. nightly at key waterfront locations, which includes; Marie Curtis Park and Humber Bay East and West parks.

Grimes said ‘focus will include addressing fireworks, bonfires and large gatherings.’
“Officers will actively engage patrons at entry points to ensure awareness of restrictions, particularly firework use.”

Toronto Parking Enforcement will be assigning dedicated resources to other Etobicoke Waterfront Parks and Marine Parade Drive.

City officials said 70 new signs warning of illegal fireworks have been printed and being installed in hot spot parks along the waterfront; including Marie Curtis Park, Colonel Samuel Smith Park, Humber Bay Park West and East and Humber Bay Shores Park.

Police warn that Canada Day is one of two days that you do not need a permit to ignite fireworks on private property. Setting off fireworks in a public space is prohibited, and the possession of fireworks is now banned in Toronto parks and beaches.

They said enforcement teams will be out ensuring compliance with these bylaws throughout the long weekend. If you are setting off fireworks on your own private property, please remember to be respectful of your neighbours.
Residents can contact 311 to report the use of fireworks in City parks or beaches, and possible misuse of fireworks. In the event of a serious public safety concern, or fire, please call 911. For more information, please visit toronto.ca/fireworks.

Canada Day and the use and abuse of fireworks is always an emotional and divisive issue in the Humber Bay Shores

and other lakefront communities.

Already residents and city officials are bracing up for the misuse of fireworks on Canada Day, on Thursday July 1.

Many residents complain that fireworks are being fired dangerously from the balconies of surrounding condos or are aimed at people and the loud sounds and bright lights are bad for their pets.

Councillor Mark Grimes is reminding residents that fireworks are now banned in Toronto parks and beaches.

“Fireworks are only allowed on Canada Day and Victoria Day without a permit on private property,” Grimes warned residents on an online post.

“Due to the increase of negligent use of fireworks that we’ve seen, I’ve worked to strengthen our fireworks bylaws,” the long-time councillor said.

His office requested a review which was completed in May.

“There is a pressing need to make further changes to strengthen the bylaw,” he said.

His office in June drafted a motion that was adopted by City Council that calls for a ban on the possession of fireworks in Toronto parks; to obtain funding for by-law officers to enforce fireworks regulations after midnight from July 1 to July 4, July 30 to August 2 and September 3 to 6.

City council is applying to the province to double fireworks-related fines and are installing No Fireworks signs in problematic Marie Curtis Park, Colonel Samuel Smith Park, Humber Bay Park West and East, and some other parks.

The city have also begun an information campaign, including transit shelter and electronic billboard ads, to educate the public on the rules of fireworks. Officials also plan to explore the feasibility of introducing City of Toronto fines under the noise by-law.

Residents are also urged to call 311 to report the use or abuse of fireworks in city parks and beaches.

Toronto Police officers said they will be out in full force at certain areas and communities where there are yearly incidents involving fireworks.

 

 

 Thank you for those working hard to improve equity and human rights in Toronto.

Nominations are now open for the 2021 Access, Equity and Human Rights (AEHR) Awards.

For more than 15 years, the AEHR Awards have been the City of Toronto’s highest honour to recognize people or organizations who have created a more equitable city by addressing discrimination and working to eliminate barriers to equality.

The five AEHR Awards are: the Mino Bimaadiziwin Award (Indigenous), Disability Access Award, Constance E. Hamilton Award for Women’s Equality, Pride Award and the William P. Hubbard Race Relations Award.

Hubbard was Toronto’s first Black alderman who served from 1894 to 1914.

He was a very popular and influential politician, who was nicknamed Cicero for his oratory. He died in April 1935 at the age of 93.

Award recipients will be recognized at a virtual event on December 10. Nominees must be Toronto residents or non-profit organizations. For more information and to submit a nomination, visit http://toronto.ca/Awards. The deadline for nominations is July 30.

 

 

 

Police are still shaking their heads as they dig deeper into the arrests of two Ottawa police officers.

The two constables of the Ottawa Police Service were among four people arrested on June 24 by an RCMP Anti-Corruption Unit.
The investigation, which took several months, began after the Mounties were called by Ottawa police to look at possible breach of trust allegations.

“Further investigation uncovered evidence of criminal offences believed to have been committed by the four accused,” the RCMP said in a release.

Ottawa Police Service Chief Peter Sloly said his force received information in regards to potential corruption activities that allegedly involved a member of his force.

He said the information was assessed by his members and the RCMP called to conduct “a full criminal-corruption investigation.”

Sloly was a former Deputy Chief of Toronto Police Service for seven years and officer for 27 before heading the Ottawa force.

“There can be no tolerance of criminal behaviour or corrupt practice by members of the Ottawa Police Service,” he said. “All members have a duty to serve the community in an ethical, professional and lawful manner.”

Haidar El Badry, 29, a constable with the Ottawa Police Service, has been charged for breach of trust by public officer, obstructing justice and causing a person to deal with a forged document.

Mohamed Mohamed, 45, a constable with the force, has been charged with obstructing justice.

Also charged are Ashley El Badry, 29, for forgery and causing a person to deal with a forced document and Mohamed Salameh, 29, for dealing with a forged document.

The officers are off the job with pay as the case is heard.

All four are scheduled to appear at the Ottawa Courthouse on September 1.

 

 

The large flagpole at Lake Shore Blvd. and Eighth Street has been a low-keyed place for many guys to go to get a much-needed haircut recently as they wait for businesses to open up.

People have been showing up at a little parkette near 2974 Lake Shore Blvd. W. to get a cut, thanks to some area barbers.

Most barber shops, gyms, massage, tanning salons and other businesses are not allowed to reopen until June 30 due to COVID-19. Many have been shut for a year.

The hair stylists say they are forced to use the parkette to work since they have to pay rent, mortgage and their bills, without an income coming in.

Some businesses that will be permitted to open include personal care services such as hair and nail salons where face coverings can be worn at all times at 25 per cent capacity.

Outdoor dining will also expand from four to six people to a table.

Non-essential retail, without a storefront or street access entrance, will be able to resume. Also at 25 per cent capacity.

“We are fully booked up and we are not allowed to work in the shop,” said Andy Dinner, of Your Neighbourhood Barbershop. “People are lining up for trims, haircutting and styling work.”

Dinner said customers have make appointments and some have been waiting for days.

“We have been doing this for a couple days because we can’t go inside,” Dinner explained. “I am booked up for the next month.”’

He is in the process of helping some area businesses with the approximate $9,000 in cash raised from a recent Go Fund Me campaign to help them stay afloat.

Dinner set out to raise $4,000 to help with his rent and promised what’s left over will go to help area small businesses.

“We have helped a number of small businesses so far,” he said. “The businesses do not want to be identified because they are concerned they will have to pay more taxes.”

One man waiting in line says he recently moved into the area and required a quick haircut because of a new job.

“I just moved here from Vancouver and saw Andy’s name online and booked an appointment,” the man said. “He is supposed to be a good barber from the online reviews.”

His hairstyling service has been left untouched by many passing police vehicles and officials of the local Lakeshore Village Business Improvement Association. ( BIA).

“They (police) know that we are only trying to survive and keep our businesses open,” Dinner said. “Many people, including the police, do want our service.”