Some community members are calling for something to be done to two South Etobicoke historic sites that have been sitting idle for many years.

They said great sums have been paid to restore the Joy Oil station, on Lake Shore Blvd. W., and the Mimico Train Station, which are both idle.

Community activist Dan Irwin said the Joy Oil station, at 1978 Lake Shore Blvd. W., at Windermere Avenue, has been sitting idle for about 10 years after being restored by the City at a cost of about $400,000.

“There is a fence around the property and it is still sitting idle for years,” Irwin said. “The entire station is falling apart again.”

The Joy Oil Station was designated as a Historic Site in 1989 by the City of Toronto under the Ontario Heritage Act.

The station, which many will remember because it looks like a castle, was the brainchild of American businessman Charles Austin who, in 1928, had opened the first of his Sunny Service Stations on Joy Rd., in suburban Detroit.

The success of his discount gas business prompted him to open 16 similar stations in Toronto with a few in Montreal.

The station, which was built in the 1936 in the Chateau architectural style, is the last one standing.

The city renovated the site in 2008 and turned it over to Grenadier Group in 2013 as part of a deal to extend their exclusive rights to sell food to beachgoers until 2031.

The deal fell through and since then motorists and motorists have complained that the unique building with a fence around it has become an eyesore.

Joy gas was popular from the start because it was several cents cheaper per gallon than the prices offered by the local brand name stations. The price was due to cheaper crude oil being brought into Canada by tanker, first from Texas and later from Romania.

The company was resold and over the years before being shut down.

There was talk at one time that the station could be used as an information centre, snack bar or a community programming space but that never panned out.

“The City should find some use for the building,” Irwin said. “A lot of taxpayer’s money went to restore it and it is sitting idle,”

He said the City also has to find use for the historic former Mimico Train Station now sitting at Coronation Park at Judson Road and Royal York Road.

The Mimico Station was built around 1916. Originally owned by the Grand Trunk Railway, it was later taken over by the Canadian National Railway (CNR).

It stopped being used as a station in the late 1960’s, and was abandoned in 1989 before being sold by CNR in 2001.

“People had tents set up around the station,” Irwin said. “That place was renovated now it is falling apart.”

The Mimico Station Community Organization (MCSO) was formed to fight the demolition and restore the historic station, which is more than 100-years old.

The MCSO hoped to restore the station and open it as a community hub and railway museum, but multiple setbacks and frustrations at City Hall caused the project to stall and the organization dissolved.

“The station has been partially restored and sitting idle for many years,” Irwin said. “There is not even a fence around it and squatters were living there.”

A developer was to renovate the station but the deal fell apart and it was last used as a condo sales office.

Some Mimico residents are mourning the death of the former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Basdeo Panday.

Panday died in Florida on January 1, while there for a medical evaluation. His death plunged the twin-island republic into mourning. He was 90.

He had heart issues in the past including triple bypass surgery and an angioplasty procedure in 1995.

Panday was Trinidad and Tobago’s fifth prime minister and first of Indian extraction to lead the oil and gas-rich republic of 1.3 million people.

“He passed with his boots on, keeping everybody around him on their toes with his wit and humour,” his daughter Mickela, who is also a former politician, wrote on Instagram. “We will continue to celebrate his life and treasure the time we were able to spend with him.”

He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, leader and friend, she wrote.

“He was an inspiration to his family and everybody that knew him,” Mickela posted.

The popular Panday served as Prime Minister from 1995 to 2001. His tenure was characterized by some spectacular infrastructural improvements including the construction of the new Piarco International Airport, which became known for its aesthetic values.

He was a lawyer, economist and union leader who also co-founded three political parties, including United National Congress. He temporarily stepped down as opposition leader of that party after being convicted and later acquitted in 2006 of failing to disclose a bank account in London.

“He was a great man and will be greatly missed,” said long-time Mimico resident Pat McNally, also known as Pan Man Pat. “He loved steel pan music and that’s how we met.”

McNally is a former Etobicoke school teacher, who taught hundreds of students to play the steel pan as part of the Toronto District School Board curriculum.

Panday met McNally at a function in Trinidad and the musician said he was invited to play for the National Trinidad and Tobago Steel Orchestra, in which he performed for three years at many state functions including gigs in Japan, Jamaica, Martinique and Venezuela.

“I used to play for him (Panday) at his home,” McNally recalled. “He loved steel pan music and I was there playing for him.”

Panday visited Canada to meet with former Prime Minister Jean Chretien and members of the Trinidadian community in October 1996.

“Trinidad and Tobago is becoming one of the most receptive locations for trade and investment in the Caribbean and provides excellent business opportunities for Canadian companies,” Chrétien said at the time.

 

Panday’s body will lie in honour for public viewing at the government’s Red House until January 8.

The body of the former Prime Minister will be taken by military escort to the Shore of Peace Cremation Site where a State Funeral will take place.

 

A controversial plan to build a new pavilion at Humber Bay Park East is going ahead with more funds being sought for the lakefront complex.

A bid to obtain just under $500,000 more in funds to complete the project was approved by a General Government Committee and will go to City Council on February 6 to amend a purchase order issued to Baird Sampson Neuert Architects for the design of the new pavilion.

A petition by residents said the pavilion will now cost about $7 million to complete.

The additional funds are required to meet the City’s Green Standards for Net Zero Carbon Plan to all City-owned facilities that took effect after the funding was first agreed upon.

“These current Council-approved requirements were not included in the original scope of work for design services,” according to a report. “The updated planning and design policies necessitated a substantial redesign of the building and associated work.”

The report by the General Government Committee said additional funding is required to cover the costs to address these changes.

The funding will come from a Parks, Forestry and Recreation’s Council-approved Capital Budget and 2024-2032 Capital Plan. It is not known when the pavilion will be completed.

More than 950 people signed a 2016 petition to halt work on the pavilion citing a number of reasons, including work on the ponds and destruction of existing structures.

“The community has consistently communicated that priority is to focus spending on the park itself – not development within the park,” according to the petition. “There was opposition to the pavilion at every public meeting and community consultation for the last five years.”

The petition states the pavilion would have a capacity of about 40 people and permits would be required to use it. It claimed the pavilion would only benefit small percentage of park users and the $7 million cost and impact on the ponds is not justified.

“No programming is planned for the pavilion,” the petition said. “For now it is a building with no known use.”

It said the Humber Bay Park Master Plan remains unfunded and a survey conducted by the City confirmed that park users are more interested in outdoor experiences at the park than indoor ones.

“While the ponds and boardwalks do need maintenance, neglect does not justify or warrant their wholesale destruction and reconstruction,” according to the petition. “It is possible to aerate the ponds and improve water quality for a fraction of the cost in a more environmentally sensitive way.”

The petition said the community already has problems with late-night bonfires, fireworks and vandalism in the park as it is extremely private.

“The pavilion will not be visible from the street or parking lot, and cannot be accessed by police car, ambulance or fire truck,” the document stated. “Existing park buildings have been vandalized and even set on fire by a torched car.”

 

 

 

The City of Toronto is looking at taking over the operations of the traffic red light running and camera automated speed enforcement system from the province.

City officials said a body will be established to hear appeals and quicken processing times for tickets.

The issue will be considered by an Infrastructure and Environment Committee on January 9 and by City Council on February 6.

If given the green light, City officials will establish a system of administrative penalties for Red Light Camera and Automated Enforcement violations to take effect on November 1.

The tickets are now regulated by the Ontario government under the Highway Traffic Act.

A City Administrative Penalty Tribunal will be established to hear appeals or dismiss tickets. The City will be able to set penalties for different violations which includes speeding and running red lights.

Some 25 Screening Officers, who will be City employees, will be appointed to hear cases and review penalties, according to a committee proposal.

“The new system will replace a legacy application that is nearing end-of-life with a scalable solution that provides online tools for customers and permits the addition of new types of contraventions,” according to the plan.

The City will enter into an agreement with the Ontario’s Transportation Services to access and use of licence plate registration information for red light and speed violations.

An agreement will also be obtained for the City to access the Defaulted Fines Control Centre to refuse to issue or validate vehicle permits or unpaid penalties for red light or speeding offences.

The City also plans to enter into agreements with municipalities for the cost-sharing of the expenses of processing speeding penalties.

The City Solicitor will be authorized to make any necessary clarifications, refinements, modifications, technical amendments, or by-law amendments as may be identified in the program.

The proposal said the City now spends about $16.2 million on operating costs for processing red light camera and automated speed enforcement tickets. The City is expected to generate $68.68 million in revenue from charges issued last year.

The city plans to increase the number of automated speed enforcement cameras from 75 to 150 by 2026 and increase its budget for the processing of dispute resolutions from $16.2 million to almost $50 million by 2026.

The City argued an Administrative Penalty System can process the tickets faster than in provincial offences court and allow more online service delivery.

The committee was told that in 2021, it took an average of 68 days to conclude the first dispute stage for parking penalties, compared to 225 days in 2016.

It “will assist in alleviating much of the frustration experienced by the public with the current court-based program,” the proposal states.

The chair of the tribunal will be paid $25,000 yearly and members will receive $460 for a full-day per diem, or $275 for hearings, meetings or training session. They will receive an annual stipend of $1,500.

A lot of revenue is on the line considering that in the first 10 months since a camera was installed on Parkside Dr. in April 2022, some 21,252 tickets were issued for speeding infractions.

The average fine in Toronto of $107 per ticket, meaning the city has accrued an estimated $2,273,964 in revenue from this lone traffic camera.

The camera was installed and the speed limit on Parkside Dr. lowered to 40 km/h after the deaths of Fatima and Valdemar Avila in a five-vehicle collision in October 2021

Some Mimico residents are telling City officials to slow down with a Mimico Mobility Plan to ease traffic in the area before it goes before community council for consideration this month.

City officials are moving ahead with a broad-ranging Mimico Neighbourhood Mobility Plan (NMP) to slow down speeders and ensure the safety of pedestrians and cyclists using local roadways.

The NMP will identify, prioritize and recommend short and long-term improvements to traffic operations in the Mimico area.

There was a meeting to update the community on December 11 and a public survey seeking views has ended. The plan goes before Etobicoke York Community Council later this month.

Alex Cameron said there should be another public meeting and a second survey should be conducted.

“The neighbours I have talked to are not in agreement on what steps should be taken,” Cameron said. “The dedicated cycle tracks and median on Superior Avenue between Lakeshore and Stanley are opposed by the residents.”

He said many residents are not in favour of two-way traffic on Mimico Avenue.

Residents Jeff Harris and Jessica Tinianov wrote the proposed measures are long overdue.

“We positively support reduced speed limits, automated speed enforcement, improved intersection design and traffic calming measures,” they wrote. “We feel that some of the items in the proposals are not appropriate and require further consideration.”

The NMP is meant to improve road design to support road safety for all modes of transportation including vulnerable road users as seniors, school children, pedestrians and cyclists in Mimico, according to city officials.

It is designed to reduce traffic fatalities, reduce speeding and excessive traffic on local roads, enforce non-compliance with traffic regulations and signage and improve road and intersection designs that pose concerns.

The city is recommending new cycle tracks with physical separation from vehicles and connections to existing bikeways on Stanley Avenue and the Martin Goodman trail.

Also being considered are speed bumps, reduced lane widths to reduce speeds and encourage driver alertness and the removal of three-hour free street parking on Superior Avenue between Stanley Avenue and Lake Shore Blvd. W.

The City is planning to replace the existing shared lane markings and install uni-directional cycle tracks  and safety enhancements on Superior Avenue from Stanley Avenue to Lake Shore  Boulevard West. These changes will address excessive speeding, aggressive driving, and may also discourage non-local traffic on local streets.

“These were key concerns identified by the community in the first phase of engagement for the Mimico NMP,” according to a release.

Changes will include cycle tracks on each side of the street for safety, a painted median with planters which reduces lane width to help prevent aggressive passing, and introduces additional green space to the street.

Lanes will also be narrowed to reduce speeding without the need for many speed humps.

A New Toronto computer store is among the most
recent of about 11 smash-and-grab thefts against
small businesses in the community.

Toronto Police are searching for a suspect who was
involved in a brazen robbery of the popular Tech
Zone, at 2867 Lake Shore Blvd. W.

The suspect took a heavy brick or rock and smashed
a large pane of glass at the store around 7:30 a.m. on
December 29, according to the store’s owner.

It was the 11th known smash-and-grab incidents in
the last month to plague businesses in Long Branch,
New Toronto and Mimico.

At least six Long Branch businesses, including a
Korean and Filipino restaurants, a variety store, Tim
Horton’s and a Holy Cannoli dessert shop were
robbed. Also hit were a coffee shop at North Queen
Street and a Mimico pizza place.

The thieves smashed the glass doors or large

panes of glass to gain entry into into the premises.

A large piece of plywood had to be placed over
the broken glass to protect the store. “This is the second time
this has happened,” said Ali, owner Tech Zone. “I don’t know
what is going on in this community with the crime.”

Ali is calling for security cameras to be installed in busy
areas so police can obtain the the the premises.

“I will be losing sales and money because
of this,” said Ali, the owner of Tech Zone. “I don’t know
what is going on the community with all this crime.”

He said cameras should be installed in public areas so police
can obtain descriptions of the crooks.

Ali said the thief stole headphones, Bluetooth and other hi-tech gear worth more than $1,000.

His store has been in New Toronto for years
and is frequented by shoppers from around the GTA.

Chris Korwin-Kuczynski, Chair of the Lakeshore Village BIA, said such brazen smash-and-grabs are rare and he will be asking police for more patrols of the neighbourhood.

“I will be talking to the police superintendent,” he said. “We would like to have something done about all these crimes.”

Hundreds of people were treated to a free delicious takeout Christmas
dinner at St. Margaret Church in New Toronto.
Dozens of volunteers were preparing the takeout meals, which
were distributed on December 24, to help feed up to 200
of those homeless or financially challenged.

About 30 volunteers take about three days to prepare the
dinner, which includes the cooking of about 20 turkeys
(400 pounds) in five ovens, 150 pounds of potatoes and
about 25 turnips, Brussel sprouts, carrots and peas.
The dinners have been take-away meals due to concerns
about numbers that can safely eat in the church hall, as
they were in previous years.

 

“Before 2020 up to 250 people came in to sit and have
something to eat,” said organizer Cara Wigle. “Due to
COVID now it is take-out prepared meals that people
register for ahead of time so we can still distribute a large
number of meals that are requested.”

“It was great and there are the regulars who come back
year after year,” said Wigle, who with husband, Bob,
have been helping to organize the dinners for 31 years.
She said the dinner was first started by church volunteer
Alan Oliver with about 40 to 50 people and now they
have up to 200 people showing up due to the high price
of food or places to stay.

“We cater to a whole range of people from those

  who are reasonably housed, those who are
marginally housed or actually experiencing
homelessness.” About 20 children with their
parents are also served and given toys as well.

The fact that the Wigle and Oliver children and
grandchildren have joined to support the endeavour
has meant the dinner has been able to continue for
the past 31 years. Son, Matthew Wigle and his wife
Christine Ma now organize and oversee the
preparation, cooking and distribution of the
food. “It is a big operation that takes a lot of work
but we all enjoy it.”

 

The guests each received a large takeout bag with three hefty
take-out containers with food. One contained turkey
and ham with gravy, stuffing and cranberry sauce and
another with vegetables – potatoes, turnips, Brussel
sprouts and carrots/peas.

Another dessert container
included a clementine, some cookies, squares, brownies,              butter tarts, scones all of which were individually
wrapped. Also included in the bag were various gift
items like personal items, scarves, mitts, toques and
socks as well as gift cards for Tim Hortons.

“Many of them have enough left over for a second
Christmas Day dinner or lunch,” Wigle explained. “We
give them enough for two days.”
The former teacher said some of the dinners can be
heated up at the church for those with no place to go. “A
lot of the people are seniors, who may be lonely,” Wigle
said.

“Some are precariously housed and a
few are living in cars or on the streets.”
Over the years, the Christmas dinner has
always relied on support
from various businesses

Much of the food is donated by local
companies that includes Ontario Food
Terminal. Virtu Financial, Canada is the major
financial donor along with present and past church
members and their families.
Former Toronto Maple Leaf Baseball Club owner
Jack Dominico donated turkeys for St. Margaret’s
community meals for many years and even left in his
will that the group receive turkeys three times yearly.

 

St. Margaret New Toronto, which is more than 115-years
old, also hosts a lunch every Sunday, with the help of
Haven on the Queensway, that is attended by about 60
people. There they can take showers, charge up their
telephones, do their laundry, stay warm and conduct
other chores.

gle/Oliver group also host a
community dinner on the third Monday of the month
supported by local businesses with chief donor being
Penske Trucking. Pastor Jacqueline Daley said her
church is proud to do its part in helping others in need in
the community.“If not, many may not be having a meal.”

STARTING JANUARY 9 AND 10 CHAIR YOGA join us on
Tuesdays at 1 p.m. or Wednesdays at 1 p.m. in
person or online with Meaux for a gentle workout to
strengthen muscles, mobility and improve balance.
Use bands or light weights. For more
contact anthonya@lampchc.org or call 416-252-
6471 ext. 308.
JANUARY 10 COMMUNITY LAND TRUST join us online
via Zoom at 6 p.m. as we continue work on
establishing to develop affordable housing in the
South Etobicoke Community Land Trust. For more
information, contact brig@lampchc.org or phone
416-252-6471 ext. 308.
STARTS JANUARY 11 HATHA CHAIR YOGA at 10:30
a.m. stretch and enjoy some music and movement
with Briar a certified Hatha Yoga instructor in the
community room at LAMP. Build your core strength
and improve your flexibility. For more information
contact norkyit@lampchc.org

JANUARY 12 HEARING SCREENINGS as the Canadian
Hearing Services will be at LAMP Community
Health Centre, at 185 Fifth Street, to support
individuals with a hearing loss. They will provide
hearing loss screening, check for ear wax and
provide information. To sign up for an appointment
e-mail jasmind@lampchc.org or call 416-252-6471
ext. 308.
UNTIL JANUARY 17 NEW VISTAS: Next Step Art
Exhibition to uncover diverse perspectives of our
shared world in a free art exhibition that celebrates
and showcases the talent of emerging visual artists
at the Assembly Hall. Presented by Humber
College’s Art Administration and Cultural
Management Program and the Etobicoke Civic
Centre Art Gallery, at 399 The West Mall. Contact
416-394-8628 or e-mail toronto.ca/eccartgallery

UNTIL JANUARY 24 MINDFUL BASED RELAXATION on
Wednesdays at 3 p.m. online on Zoom with Corin
De Sousa for a four-week series on relaxing
through mindfulness. The certified mindfulness
teacher provides evidence-based mindfulness
programs and workshops in the GTA. To register
e-mail norkyit@lampchc.org or phone 416-252-
6471 ext. 257.
FEBRUARY 6 CALLING ALL GARDENERS from
Alderwood, Mimico, New Toronto and Long Branch
for meeting at 7 p.m. at the Long Branch Public
Library to learn about how to be part of the Long
Branch Garden Tour for 2024. For more e-mail
info@longbranchgardentourinfo@gmail.com
UNTIL JUNE 24 SUNNYLEA BABY CLUB a program for
babies from newborn to 12-months-old and their
parents or caregivers every Thursday morning from
10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. to enjoy songs and activities
at Royal York United Church, 851 Royal York Road.
To register contact Larissa or Anna at
early.years@stonegatechc.org

ACTIVE FRIDAYS for fun and safe indoor activities for
families with children up to six years old with drop-in
every Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Royal
York United Church, 851 Royal York Road. To
register contact Larissa or Anna at
early.years@stonegatechc.org
THE STONEGATE CHC Good Food Box drive to
purchase boxes of food for community members
dealing with food security and hunger. A $25
donation buys a family a large big box of good food
brimming with fresh fruits and vegetables as a gift.
For more or to make a donation contact Stonegate
CHC at 416-231-7070 ext. 229 or visit
www.stonegatechc.org.
STONEGATE CHC THE GOOD FOOD MARKET runs every
Thursday from 12 noon to 3 p.m. at 10
Neighbourhood Lane, 2nd floor, for affordable
produce. Cash and debit accepted. Any questions
call 416-231-7070 ext. 307.

GROCERY SHOPPING TRIPS for those over 55, or with
disability or mobility issues, to No Frills at The
Queensway and Royal York Road. The bus runs
bi-weekly on Thursday mornings and will pick you
up and return you to home. To register call 416-
231-7070 ext. 239.
SALVATION ARMY LAKESHORE COMMUNITY church
has a lunch program every Wednesday from 11
a.m. to 1 p.m., at 5 Thirtieth Street. Also Family
Christmas Assistance registration is now open
please register online at www.salakeshore.com or
by calling 416-251-8372 ext. 104. Volunteers are
needed for various programs call Jennifer at same
phone number.

JEAN AUGUSTINE CENTRE FREE AFTER SCHOOL
PROGRAMS: From January 15 to March 8. Let’s
Experiment and participate in hands on STEM and
other activities to learn, explore and have fun. NEW
JAC WARRIORS Learn intermediate and advanced
martial arts skills to better defend yourself.
CRAFTASTIC Learn how to create and design your
own candles, bath bombs and more with hands-on
program. NEW – EMPOWER HER learn how to express
yourself in a drama class. From stage techniques,
special awareness, body language and facial
expressions, become your best self while bringing
characters to life on stage. MARISE STITCHING
CORNER if you have a passion for fashion, join us
every Thursday to bring your fashion to life by
learning how to sew. COOKING CRAZE enhance your
culinary skills by learning to cook your own meals
with Centre chef. NINJAS BEGINNER learn the basics
of self-defence and advance into intermediateadvanced martial arts class. Located at 101
Portland street. To register call 416-253-9797 or
e-mail info@jeanaugustinecentre.ca

JOIN A YOUTH COUNCIL the Toronto and Region
Conservation Authority (TRCA) has an opportunity
for Toronto youth aged 16 to 18 who care about the
environment to make a positive difference in their
communities and gain professional experience. The
Youth Council is a chance for youth to discuss
environmental issues while having access to
resources that can help turn their ideas into action.
It is for youth interested in a career in the
environmental field to get hands-on experience.
To apply or learn more visit trca.ca

After decades of operation the Esso Service station on Evans Avenue in Alderwood is gone.

All the pumps have been removed from the property and there is barely a trace of the many years the station stood at 540 Evans Avenue.

The station was popular with Alderwood residents since it was in the community and the prices were affordable.

Community members are suggesting that the property will soon be the site of condos since it is close to Highway 27 and The Gardiner Expressway and Sherway Gardens, which is seeking to build high rise condo towers in its parking lot.

The Esso website hasn’t been updated for months and has a notice stating that the station is permanently closed.

 

The Esso chain in Canada has been up for sale for some time.

Owner Imperial Oil says it has reached deals to sell its remaining 497 Esso retail stations in Canada to five fuel distributors for a total of $2.8 billion.

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. is set to buy 279 stations in Ontario and Quebec for nearly $1.69 billion. The company has acquired Esso stations in Quebec and Ontario.

Since 1923 the Esso name and oval brand have been used continuously in 50 countries, including Canada.

In 1907 the first Imperial Oil gas station was opened in Vancouver and it wasn’t until 1970 the self-serves were first opened in Montreal and Toronto.

 

As many Etobians plan of flying somewhere warm for a few weeks of winter, police are warning of scammers posing as legitimate travel agents.

The travel agent scams are increasing at this time of the year and some checks are to be made when booking your flight before you lose thousands of dollars and never leave the ground.

“Booking a vacation is both an exciting and stressful time,” according to fraud squad officers of the Peel Regional Police. “Many of us turn to a travel agent in order to book the perfect vacation.”

They warn “unfortunately there have been cases where people have been scammed by someone who they believe is a legitimate travel agent.”

Fraud officers warn potential travellers to use a travel agent or agency that has been used in the past by people you trust, and do not solely rely on online reviews.

Officers said to ensure the travel agency or agent is registered with the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO), so you can get accredited agents or some compensation if things do go wrong.

“When it comes time to pay, consider using a credit card instead of cash or a personal cheque,” police said.

 

Lastly, when you received your itinerary it is a good idea to verify the booking with the airline and hotel.

Soon-to-be travellers must also beware of many travel agencies on social media. Some impersonate the pages of certified travel agencies with glossy photos and reviews.

On those sites, scammers want you to leave your name, credit card or bank numbers and if you do, the  next thing you know your account will be cleaned out.

Most banks will refuse to return you money claiming the fraud is your fault.

If you are a victim of fraud contact 22 Division Financial Crimes Unit at 416-808-2200.