PLANS are underway to hold a community memorial service to honour those who lost their lives in CIOVID-19 pandemic.

THE COMMUNITY service will be held at St. Margaret Church. Photos by Tom Godfrey.

A community memorial service is being planned to pay tribute to the many neighbours, friends and loved ones who passed away from COVID-19.

Community leaders from various groups are compiling a list of names of those in the community who fell to the deadly virus. More than 100 area residents are estimated to have perished from the deadly disease in the South Etobicoke area.

Many died in long care homes and in most cases less than 10 loved ones were permitted to attend their funeral or services to prevent the spread of the virus.

Rev. Jacqueline Daley, of St. Margaret Church, on Sixth Street, said meetings are being held bi-weekly to plan a memorial service by members of her church, Dorothy Ley Hospice, LAMP and Lakeshore Arts.

“Many people were lost on the streets who we still don’t know about,” Daley says. “We have to remember them through prayer.”

The service will be held at St. Margaret Church, on §ixth Street church. The date will be released soon.

“Nobody is sure home many people passed away in the community during COVID-19,” Daley says. “We want to identify them and tell their stories.”

The names of some of those who passed will be displayed at the service.

“Many of us have not had enough time to grieve,” Daley says. “It is about time that we all prayed for them.”

Health officials say the spread of the virus has been decreasing due to more vaccines being issues. More than 3,000 Toronto residents have been killed by COVID-19, according to city officials. More than 9,000 have died in Ontario. The virus has killed more than 25,000 alone in Canada,

Rev. Daley can be reached by phone at 416-259-2659 or by email at stmargaretnewtoronto@toronto.anglican.ca

MEMBERS of St. Margaret New Toronto after service marking 115 years of working in the community. Photos by Tom Godfrey.

The iconic St. Margaret New Toronto Church on Sixth Street is one of the oldest places to worship in our community and has launched a fundraiser to celebrate its 115 years of service.

Church officials say the beautiful South Etobicoke house of prayer served the community faithfully during the Spanish Flu of 1918, Great Depression, two World Wars, Hurricane Hazel and now during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reverend Jacqueline Daley said the funds raised will help the church serve the New Toronto community for another 115 years and beyond.

“The church started serving in 1906 as a humble mission of Christ Church Mimico,” Daley recalls. “The building received a present for its 100th birthday in a massive renovation that enabled her to serve the community better.”

She said St. Margaret is an accessible community hub for social justice, hospitality, care and compassion.

“We do not know what the future holds, but we know we will be there serving our community as we are called to do,” Daley says. “During the pandemic, we served three-course take-out Christmas and Easter dinners.”

The church provides food and care five times a week, in addition to serving 300 meals weekly, washes 40 loads of laundry and providing showers for church-goers. This is possible through their partnership with LAMP Community Health Center and Lakeshore Out of the Cold.

It has baptized generations into the faith, buried loved ones, comforted the grieving and helped the vulnerable in need, she says.

“We have helped rebuild many lives after countless tragedies and losses,” Daley notes. “After 115 years, St. Margaret continues to be a vibrant Christian community providing spiritual care, faith formation and hospitality to all.”

Rebecca Wang, at 87, has been the organist at the church for more than 50 years.

“I love this church,” Wang says. “This is our home and it is a big family.”

Linda Elkerton said she was confirmed at St. Margaret’s, got married there and some of her children and grandchildren were baptized at the historic church.

“My mother has been attending the church since 1938,” Elkerton says proudly. “This is my community and this is our church.”

The church has members from Sri Lanka, Cuba, Iran, Nigeria, Trinidad and Tobago, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Jamaica, Bahamas, and Uganda.

“Our doors to those in need are never closed,” she said. “St. Margaret has not only served others, but also welcomed four babies and one newcomer through baptism.”

A Thanksgiving Service was held on June 13 to celebrate the 115 anniversary of the church.

Also you can join them weekly on Zoom from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. for an all-ages church service. Connect by phone at 647-558-0588.

PEOPLE in the Alderwood area loves Caffe Tutti for its genuine Italian food. Say hi to Rose. 

Rose from Café Tutti, at 438 Horner Ave., shows a piping hot pepperoni and cheese pizza made at the café.

The restaurant serves some of the best-tasting and freshly made pasta, hot sandwiches, pizza, sides and salads. It is a popular spot in the area to grab some tasty food for lunch or dinner.

They can be reached at 416-259-7111 or orders can be placed on their website cafetutti.com.

Selda and Cenk Oncel with tasty dishes outside their Leziz Kitchen restaurant on Horner Ave.

SOME of their tasty dishes; all made fresh daily by hand. Photos by Tom Godfrey.

Selda and Cenk Oncel love feeding people and have been gaining customers and fans daily at their Leziz Kitchen Restaurant in Alderwood.

The couple are celebrating their first anniversary in August at their 418 Horner Ave. eatery that serves tasty Mediterranean kebabs, falafels, take out and delivery meals.

They have racked up almost 300 online reviews for the family-owned restaurant, which is rated 4.5 to 5 out of a five-star rating.

“Leziz means delicious in the Turkish language,” says Selda. “We only use the fresh products and everything we make is made fresh daily.”

The couple moved to Canada from Turkey about three years ago for a better life. Selda attended George Brown College taking food studies to prepare for her dream, to one day open a restaurant.

“People like us because we make everything by hand,” she says.  “We have many regular customers who always come back.”

They are glad that they were able to find a location in Etobicoke.

“We love it here in South Etobicoke,” Selda says. “We love the people here who have really supported us right from the start.”

She is very social and makes her costumers feel comfortable and educates them on their food.

“This is a dream job for me,” Selda explains. “I love hospitality and helping people.”

Leziz Kitchen serves up Turkish cuisine and a variety of dishes at an affordable price. Their signature dishes are kebab, shawarma and baklava.

“The portions are excellent and the food is delicious,” one customer said in a review. “We will definitely go more often. Also, their appetizers are very tasty.”

Foodie Ian Engson said he loves the special dip platter.

“We usually get the dip platter, wraps and fries,” Engson writes. “On one visit, the owners left us some Circassian chicken in our order to try and we were not disappointed. “

Sona Poulose says Leziz Kitchen ‘has the best falafels in town.’

“Fresh and yummy Falafels. I loved it,” Poulose posted. “The chicken plate came with fresh salad and rice, big portion. Lot of chicken In the plate and pita.”

The restaurant donates leftover foods to Food For Now volunteer charity that helps to feed the homeless.

Operated by Daniel Lauzon, the group collects good leftover food items from community restaurants, as Leziz Kitchen, which are then used to feed the needy.

Leziz Kitchen can be reached at 416-259-9838 or you can order online at lezizkitchen.com

INSPECTOR Barry Dolan and his Airport RCMP team smashed a ring smuggling Ecstasy to our communities.

A SHIPMENT of MDMA, or Ecstasy, intercepted by police on entry into the country. Police photo.

Two Toronto men have been arrested by the RCMP at Pearson Airport as police smashed an international ring that was smuggling thousands of Ecstasy pills into Canada.

Inspector Barry Dolan, Officer in Charge of the Toronto Airport RCMP Detachment, said MDMA, known more commonly as Ecstasy, was being smuggled into Canada from the U.S. and Italy.

“Our officers executed a search warrant and arrested two males for various offences,” the RCMP said.

Police said the investigation began after U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted a package containing almost 3,000 Ecstasy pills destined to the Toronto area.

The RCMP worked with the U.S. Homeland Security and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) in sharing information about the seizure.

Dolan said “the timely sharing of information between agencies” allowed police in Canada to identify the suspects and obtain a search warrant.

“Ammunition and documents were seized by the RCMP during the search of a rooming house in Scarborough,” police said in a release.

“This case demonstrates the value of effective and expedient communication and information sharing between law enforcement agencies,” Dolan said. “Organized crime groups and their networks exploit every opportunity to support their illegal operations while causing immeasurable harm to our communities.“

He said ‘we had the resources and expertise in place to act on this information and apprehend and charge these individuals.’

“These arrests exemplify the incredible joint efforts between Homeland Security Investigations and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in dismantling cross-border criminal organizations from trafficking illicit narcotics across the border,” said April Miller, a Department of Homeland Security, Toronto Assistant Attaché

Benny Zhang, 42 of Toronto, Ontario, and Chunbao Chen, 35 of Scarborough, have been charged with importation of a controlled substance into Canada, possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and conspire to commit an indictable offence of importing a controlled substance into Canada.

MDMA or Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, is a mind-altering psychoactive drug commonly known as Ecstasy.

THIS suspected thief is brazen and prowls office buildings. If you see him call police at 416-808-2200. Police photo.

Toronto Police have stepped up a search for a suspect on a bicycle who was involved in a series of break and enters in The East Mall and Burnhamthorpe Road area.

Police are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the man and a vehicle involved in a series of brazen break and enter investigations.

Officers said on June 6 between 7:55 p.m., and 9:45 p.m., a man accessed the main entrance of a commercial office building.

It is believed the man gained access to several offices on the second floor, police said.

“The man then left the premise with numerous items removed from the offices,” police said.

He is described as being about six-feet and in the late 50s, with a grey beard.
He was seen wearing black framed eye glasses, a beige hat, a blue long sleeved shirt, beige cargo shorts, black socks, beige hiking running shoes, blue scarf around his neck, and a black bag around shoulder.
The man appeared to be using a bicycle and a black Nissan as transportation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-2200, 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.

IT WAS QUITE a chase but 22 Division officers managed to arrest a daring duo. Police photo.

It took the use of hi-tech gadgetry for police to track and arrest suspected thieves.

Police say two suspects attempted to break into a residence before stealing a car from the driveway in 32 Division.

The incident took place on May 25 and the arrests were only now announced.

“When the owner becomes aware that his car is stolen, he tracks it down through the GPS to an address in 22 Division and calls us,” said Det. Kevin Hamilton, of 22 Division Major Crime Unit.

Primary Response Unit officers from 22 Division attended the address and located the vehicle and two suspects standing near it in an underground garage.

The men saw police and bolted.

“They fled on foot and boarded the subway at Islington Station,” said Hamilton. “We communicated with the dispatcher and notify the Toronto Transit Commission. The TTC security informs us that the suspects left the eastbound train at Old Mill and were headed in a southern direction.”

Officers scouring the streets apprehended one of the suspects nearby after a brief foot chase.

During the pursuit, he discarded several items, including an unloaded firearm, police said.

A ride-sharing driver contacted police through social media an hour later saying he had dropped off someone at Yonge and Dundas Square believed to be taking part in criminal activity.

“We contacted 51 and 52 Divisions and they checked the area as he was last seen going north on Yonge St.,” Hamilton said, adding  “the man was picked up by 51 Division officers at Victoria and Gould Sts.”

Police also allege the duo broke into a home on May 24 in 22 Division.

“We were already looking for them,” Hamilton said. “We are also investigating them with other offences.”

The suspects are before the courts.

LONG BRANCH seniors say its only a matter of time before this lifeless tree falls and injure someone. Photos by Tom Godfrey.

THE SENIORS have been sitting on their bench near the lifeless tree for 15 years to have coffee.

Some seniors in Long Branch are warning area residents of a lifeless tree standing over a city bike rack which they say may fall down and injure bystanders.

“This tree is dead and it could fall down at anytime,” says resident, Al, 84. “All it needs is a good gust of wind and this tree is history.”

Al and his colleagues use the same bench daily, which is next to the dying tree located near 3260 Lake Shore Blvd.W., near a Seven Eleven store.

He has called the City to notify them of the ailing tree but no one ever came out to take a look.

“I am from the country and it is only a matter of time before this tree is blown over,” Al explains. “There is cracks all over that tree. I hope no one is injured when it falls.””

The retired dump truck driver and salesman said he has been drinking his coffee for the last 15 years on the same Long Branch bench, which is near the tree.

THE STATION was called XTR at one time during its multi-decade history.

Gunshot victim Khalil Ahmad will never see his six children again.

It was known for many years as the Horner Gas Bar. It is now being upgraded with store and more pumps.

The long-awaited renovations which is taking place to upgrade a former service station at 325 Horner Avenue will never overshadow a notorious unsolved murder that once took place on the property.

The former Horner Gas Bar, has been operating at the corner of Horner Ave. and Belvia Rd. for more than four decades, serving the community under many different company names.

The station .22-hectare property is today sealed off with large concrete blocks as pre-construction work with the removal of gas piping and wires is wrapping up.

The Etobicoke York Community Council in 2016 approved a proposal to upgrade and modernize the once-notorious gas station.

It was almost 23 years ago, on September 12, 1998, about 9:40 p.m., when police were summoned to Roman’s Gas Station, as it was then called.

Officers were stunned to find the body of Khalil Ahmad, 40, who was suffering from gunshot wounds.

Despite life saving efforts by paramedics, Ahmad was pronounced dead at the scene.

The father of six was shot to death execution-style in what was an apparent robbery, according to news reports then.

Ahmad’s horrific murder remains unsolved today by Toronto Police. The case is still open.

His family had moved to Canada from Pakistan several years before and Ahmad felt lucky to be working in his new country.

The property is zoned for a mechanic shop, restaurant and office building,

The station owner has proposed, according to City documents, to demolish the existing gasoline station with service bays and propane facilities and construct a new service station facility that will contain a coffee shop, convenience store selling fresh foods with a pay counter.

The sale of perishable food items would occur in the new building. The existing gas pumps would be removed and replaced with three new islands having 6 fuel pumps and an overhead canopy.

Significant landscaping is proposed at the northwest corner of the Horner Ave. and Belvia Road area.

“This land use designation provides for a range of industrial uses, as well as offices, and includes automobile service stations,” according to City records filed.

The plan calls for nine trees to be planted within the Horner and Belvia frontages and new shrubbery would be planted surrounding the property.

A Community Consultation Meeting was held in 2013 to provide residents and property owners with an opportunity to review and comment on the application.

Vehicle access to the site is proposed by way of two driveways from Belvia Road and

Horner Avenue. Each entrance to the property would have a width of 7.5 metres to

provide for fire route access and turning radii for fuel trucks.