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 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.

 

 

 

On Sunday, June 6, 2021, four members of a family were killed and another seriously injured when a driver ran them down as they were waiting to cross a street in London, Ontario. Police have charged a suspect with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder, and stated their belief that this was a planned, premeditated act, motivated by hate, and the victims were targeted because of their Islamic faith.

Hatred and discrimination based on creed have no place in our society. Incidents like this are a tragic reminder that Islamophobia and xenophobia are real, deadly and persist in Ontario. This horrific and senseless act further underlines why discrimination based on creed and racism must be unequivocally condemned as deplorable and in violation of core values and beliefs as a society.

Every Ontarian has the right to safely walk down a street without fear of harm because of their religion, ethnicity and/or race. Sadly and tragically, this did not happen in London. The OHRC grieves alongside Londoners and all Ontarians for the four community members we have lost, and the fifth who is seriously hurt.

In the midst of our collective grief, we urge all Ontarians to follow the words in Ontario’s Human Rights Code and create “a climate of understanding and mutual respect for the dignity and worth of each person so that each person feels a part of the community and able to contribute fully to the development and well-being of the community and the province.”

This past year, the OHRC has repeatedly denounced the escalating hate that is targeting religious and racialized communities. It is essential that we all take steps and stand in solidarity, as individuals and through our organizations, to call out Islamophobia and racism and reject the hatred and the violence it begets.

 

Ena Chadha

Chief Commissioner

 

 

Welcome back!

Starting this Friday area residents will be able to finally return to their favourite local pubs and patios again.

The Ontario government said it is reopening on June 11, three days ahead of schedule for the loosening of retail and outdoor activities.

Merchants love the move and have been preparing and restocking their stores after more than a year of emergency closures, reduction of hours or staff layoffs due to COVID-19.

“It has been a long time and we cannot wait to open up again,” says the pleased owner of The Kabob House, at 2977 Lake Shore Blvd. W.  “We miss our customers and want them to return.”

The restaurant owner says the openings will draw more residents to the business area to shop, and buy his shwarmas.

Phase 1 allows for changes like larger outdoor gatherings, patio dining with up to four people and non-essential retail to open at 15 per cent capacity. Outdoor religious services, group exercise and day camps for children can also begin again, with limitations and health measures in place.

“As we begin to enjoy the benefits of the first step in our roadmap, like meeting friends on a patio or visiting your favourite local store, please do so safely by continuing to follow all public health guidelines,” Premier Doug Ford said in a statement.

As of Sunday, more than 10 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered in Ontario. About 61.2 per cent of the total population, or 72 per cent of those aged 18 and older, have now had at least one shot.

The government and retiring Chief Medical Officer of Health David Williams had set a threshold of at least 60 per cent of adults with a first shot before moving ahead with the start of reopening.

Here’s a list of what is allowed:

– Outdoor social gatherings and organized public events with up to 10 people.

– Outdoor religious services and ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services, capped at the number of people that can maintain a physical distance of two metres.

– Indoor religious services and ceremonies, including wedding services and funeral services permitted at up to 15 per cent capacity of the particular room.

– Non-essential retail permitted at 15 per cent capacity, with no restrictions on the goods that can be sold.

– Essential and other select retail permitted at 25 per cent capacity, with no restrictions on the goods that can be sold.

– Outdoor dining with up to four people per table, with exceptions for larger households.

– Outdoor fitness classes, outdoor groups in personal training and outdoor individual/team sport training to be permitted with up to 10 people.

– Day camps for children permitted to operate in a manner consistent with the safety guidelines for COVID-19 produced by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health.

– Overnight camping at campgrounds and campsites, including Ontario Parks, and short-term rentals.

– Concert venues, theatres and cinemas may open outdoors for the purpose of rehearsing or performing a recorded or broadcasted concert, artistic event, theatrical performance or other performance with no more than 10 performers, among other restrictions.

– Outdoor horse racing tracks and motor speedways permitted to operate without spectators.

– Outdoor attractions such as zoos, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens with capacity and other restrictions.

Ontario will remain in Step 1 for at least 21 days before moving on to Step 2 of the reopening plan.

 

 

 

The iconic St. Margaret New Toronto Church on Sixth Street is one of the oldest places to worship in our community and has kicked off 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 Great Depression, the Spanish Flu of 1918, two World Wars, Hurricane Hazel and now the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reverend Jacqueline Daley said a year-long fundraiser will help the church to 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 said. “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, car and compassion.

“We do not know what the future holds, but we know we will be there during it, serving our community as we are called to do,” Daley said. “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 support from 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 said.

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

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. “We shifted to serve and welcome as we are able. St. Margaret has not only served others, but also welcomed four babies and one newcomer through baptism.”

A Thanksgiving Service will be held on June 13 at 10:30AM, with visiting and former priest, Rev. Ken Roduszka.

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

 

The threats of COVID-19 did not stop these merciless drug smugglers, it made them more resourceful.

It led to the RCMP and the Canada Border Services Agency officers intercepting one tonne of opium, one of the largest seizures of the drug ever found sailing into the country illegally by ship.

The seizure took place last February as drug fighting RCMP and officers of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) searched two suspicious ocean-going sea containers and found 1,000 kilograms of opium aboard a ship entering the Port of Vancouver, police said.

Police said the drugs was worth $10 million and “one of the largest opium seizures for the CBSA on record.”

The CBSA said their Operations and Intelligence personnel worked hard to analyze and gather all information related to this shipment.

The information was only released recently due to the ongoing probe.

No charges have been laid.

Officers said the addictive drug would have eventually been cut into pieces and sold to a network of dealers across Canada.