The South Etobicoke News

Serving Humber * Mimico * Lakeshore Village * Long Branch * Alderwood

Hearing Life Canada this year wins popular Top Christmas Tree tourney

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LAKE SHORE VILLAGE BIA chair Chris Korwin-Kuczynski, (left) boardmember Danuta Gumienik and Treasurer Rattan Gandhi with awards for the Top decorated Christmas Trees. They are in front of winning tree by Hearing Life Canada. Second place MiBody in cover image. Photo by Tom Godfrey.

Members of the Lake Shore Village Business Improvement Area (BIA) are pleased with the entries for best Christmas trees decorated by area businesses this year and were up and down the Strip examining trees and judging the contest.

More than a dozen entries for best Christmas trees were received by the BIA and awards were presented last week for the top three decorated trees.

“The caliber of decorations this year was very high,” says Rattan Gandhi, the BIA’s treasurer. “There were some very good entries.”

Boardmember Danuta Gumienik says people spent time and put in the work to decorate their trees.

“Some of the trees were decorated with pride and joy,” she says.

The first place award was presented to Hearing Life Canada; Second place to MiBody Health and Fitness and the Third award presented to C.U.E.S. Children’s Urban Enrichment Studio.

 

 

Family and loved ones making appeal to locate missing man Mitch Beauvais

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FAMILY AND FRIENDS seeking to find missing man Mitch Beauvais, who may be in the area.

Family and friends are making an emotional appeal to locate Michel Beauvais before it starts freezing outside.

Family members say Mitch, as he is known, has not been seen since September 21, which is approaching three months.

“He is homeless and may be either on the streets or in a shelter,” his sister, Noella, wrote in an appeal on social media.
Beauvais, 56, usually hangs out around the Royal York Rd., Mimico Ave. and Lake Shore Blvd. W. in Etobicoke.
 “The family and I are very worried since he regularly kept in touch,” his family pleaded. “We would really appreciate if you could share this post.”
They said Toronto Police have been contacted to help in their search for Beauvais. Police at 22 Division can be reached at 416-808-2200.
The family said their loved one may be missing in Toronto or Peel Region, more precisely Etobicoke. He is described as a small-built man, who is about 5-foot-1 and weighs about 110 pounds.

Adamson Barbeque ordered to get licence before they can reopen

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Santa was one of the many protestors outside Adamson last month. He was rallying for his freedom. Photo by Tom Godfrey.

The fencing has been removed by Toronto Police from around Adamson Barbeque in Mimico and the controversial owner is being allowed to reopen.

Owner Adam Skelly has been allowed by the City to reopen the Queen Elizabeth Blvd. eatery, but only after he obtains a proper business licence.

Officers from 22 Division were dispatched on December 14 to remove the fencing from around the restaurant.

“We returned the premises to the landlord,” one Toronto Police officer said.

Skelly was charged last month after opening to customers for indoor dining, despite a provincial order banning the service.

Indoor dining has been prohibited in Toronto since Oct. 10 and in-person service on outdoor patios was banned when the city went into lockdown on Nov. 20.

A day after Toronto officials closed the restaurant, a crowd of supporters allegedly broke through a cordoned-off section of the building in an effort to reopen the establishment. Skelly and another person were arrested by police.

Skelly, 33, is now charged with multiple offences, including one count of attempting to obstruct police, one count of mischief under, one count of failing to comply with a continued order under the Reopening Ontario Act, and one count of failing to leave when directed under the Trespass to Property Act.

He was released under numerous conditions, including that he stay away from the restaurant.

Toronto officials this week said that the medical officer of health has lifted the requirement under the Health Protection and Promotion Act that ordered the closure of Adamson Barbecue.

“Should that location defy the restraining order and the lockdown regulation and open for indoor and/or outdoor dining, the owner, the business, or its employees and agents could face contempt of court findings.”

The city said that operating without a business licence can result in a maximum penalty of $25,000 for an individual and $50,000 for a corporation.

Toronto Mayor John Tory said he supports the action taken against the restaurant by the city and that if future rules are broken, there could be severe consequences.

There were hundreds of people outside the restaurant for days last month protesting the closure.

 

Shootout at the Rainbow Motel was one of the worst in Toronto’s history

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THE RAINBOW MOTEL was a scene of the most horrific shootout with Toronto Police 30-years ago. More than 400 shots were fired in a seven-hour seige. Courtesy photo. 

This 1991 gunplay will remain one of the worst shootouts in the 187-year history of Toronto Police.

It will be 30-years next month when 413 shots were fired in a seven-hour shootout between two gunmen and officers at the then notorious Rainbow Motel, one of 18 then-thriving establishments in the so-called Motel Strip area, near Lake shore Blvd. W., and Park Lawn Rd.

Luckily, no one was killed in the standoff which saw volleys of shots being exchanged between the gunmen, who were held up inside the motel and officers outside.

The early-morning incident began when officers saw an expensive Porsche, with B.C. plates, parked in front of the Rainbow. Officers routinely patrolled the Motel Strip to curb prostitution, robberies and other street crimes.

Now retired Toronto Police Sgt. Jack West, who worked out of 22 Division, Traffic Office, Fraud Squad, the Youth Bureau, Two Traffic, before going to 21 Division (now part of 22 Division) was walking the beat along Lake Shore Blvd. W. that eventful day.

“My job was to walk the Lake Shore Motel Strip area,” West recalled before he retired. “There were 18 motels there, which were my responsibility. That was an interesting part of my career because there were disputes, drugs, prostitution and removing hold-up men from rooms.”

That morning Wests’ men noticed the Porsche in the parking lot, which piqued their interest.

When the officers went to talk to the car owner, in the motel room, they were greeted with gunfire.

“The door swung open and there were two individuals shooting at the officers,” recounted the retired West. “They (officers) went for cover and called assistance. I wasn’t that far away. There were 413 bullets fired from that room at the police and the ordeal lasted a day and a half.”

With the help of the heavily-armed Emergency Task Force, the men were arrested and taken into custody.

While searching one of the suspects, they found a key to a motel room that tied the shooters to a double murder in Nanaimo, B.C.

West would get lucky again a few years later when there was another shooting on the Strip.

This time he and his partner were in plainclothes and followed a van that turned into a dark parking lot. The driver took a shot at the officers and bolted into the woods.  A woman was found in the van and she had a key to a motel room, where the man was believed to be hiding.

The motel became the scene of another shooting. Inside, police opened fire on a suspect shooting him with a 12-guage shotgun. West then jumped on the suspect to subdue him.

“He was yelling at me,” West recalled. “I discovered that he had a stolen bulletproof vest and was wearing two coats. This experience taught me that you do not judge a book by the cover. I never think he had the capabilities he had.”

He would later be awarded with a Toronto Police Merit Mark Award for helping with the capture of that man, who was involved in a series of armed robberies.

 

New Kipling GO Station to open in weeks to improve travel times

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NEW KIPLING GO Station to open January 4 will soon be filled with passengers hoping to save time on their trip home. Courtesy of MPP Christine Hogarth.

After years of construction work, it finally looks like commuter users can the use long-awaited Kipling GO Station.

The new station is opening on January 4, 2021 and will connect MiWay bus service to Kipling GO Station, says the area’s MPP.

“This is part of Ontario’s larger project to transform Kipling GO Station into a major transit hub, providing people with a more seamless transit experience,” said Christine Hogarth, who represents Etobicoke Lakeshore.

“We are one step closer to fully opening the Kipling Transit Hub, an entirely connected transit experience that will support commuters here in Etobicoke,” Hogarth said in a release on December 14.

She said MiWay buses are temporarily using the Islington TTC subway station during the construction at Kipling GO Station.

With the completion of the new bus terminal, MiWay customers can access Kipling stations’ new bus terminal.

“Transforming Kipling Station into a single integrated mobility hub means people will spend less time commuting and have more time for the things that matter,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation.

Phil Verster, CEO of Metrolinx, said “our riders will have one convenient location to transfer between GO rail, GO bus in the new year, and MiWay bus service, along with access to the TTC subway and bus.”

“I am thrilled the province is committed to building a reliable, regionally-connected transit system that will improve the commuter experience for residents of Mississauga,” said Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie.

This new Kipling bus terminal will offer thousands of MiWay customers access to a modern facility and “I look forward to the official opening of the completed transit hub.”

Ontario is committed to enhancing transportation in the Greater Golden Horseshoe, investing in transportation infrastructure and providing two-way, all-day service on core segments of the GO rail network.

“Supporting enhanced transit infrastructure is part of the government’s plan to drive the economy and support families, businesses and communities,” she said.

 

Minute Muffler longest serving auto shop in area with 35 years

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Peter Laski is the owner of Minute Muffler & Brake, which has been serving the community for 35 years.

Electrical engineer Peter Laski opened his shop in New Toronto in 1985 and his is now the longest-serving auto mechanic shop having served the community for 35-years.

Laski has seen changes in technology over the decades that helped to revolutionize vehicles and make them more efficient, cleaner and complex to repair.

“I have taken hundreds of different courses over the years to keep up,” he says. “Many cars now are controlled by computers.”

His Minute Muffler & Brake Shop has been located for more than three decades at 3090 Lake Shore Blvd. W., near Fourteenth Street.

He remembers the simpler pre-virus days when the community was busy from manufacturing activity taking place at the former Goodyear Tire plant, Anaconda Steel, Campbell Soup and others now gone.

“We were busy back in those days,” Laski recalls. “All those people were our customers and they all had cars.”

He says there was a lot of work back then and housing and other items were affordable.

Many businesses suffered after the plants closed. He is glad that he stuck it out and says the area is on a rebound.

“Right now the area is improving,” he says. “We have more construction taking place and more people moving in.”

His busy shop is thriving with regular customers who keep returning because of the good and affordable service he provides in repairing their vehicles.

It has been a long and satisfying journey for Laski, a father of one, who was sponsored to Canada from Poland by a Mississauga church in 1982.

He pretty well arrived with the clothes on his back, his trade as an engineer and willingness to work long and hard.

His busy Minute Muffler & Brake shop, provides top service and can be reached at 416-251-2203 or minuteautoservices.com

 

Merchants call on BIA to stop those stealing from Christmas trees

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Security footage made available to the Lake Shore Village BIA shows woman allegedly stealing Christmas tree decorations.

Some merchants along the Lake Shore Village BIA have complained of the thefts of decorations from the Christmas trees outside their businesses.

One business owner arrived at work on December 11 to find the expensive decorations that were put up by another person, in a nearby business, were stolen.

The owner provided BIA officials with a photo of the suspected thief from her security camera.

“This is the reason why I choose not to partake in decorating the tree,” the area resident said. “Last year my costly decorations were stolen as well.”

BIA Chair Chris Korwin-Kuczynski says there has been some complaints of thefts and appropriate action will be taken against those videotaped stealing from the Christmas trees.

The BIA only last week awarded first, second and third prizes for businesses who decorated the top three Christmas trees.

The top tree went to Hearing Life Canada, second place tree won by MiBody Health and Fitness and third place went to C.U.E.S. Children’s Urban Enrichment Studio. They won beautiful trophies for their businesses.

If you see or know someone who is stealing Christmas decorations you are urged to send an email with the information to the BIA at lakeshorebia@gmail.com.

 

FOOD ALERT – Finger-lickin’ Florida style BBQ and Caribbean cuisine in Long Branch

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CHEF ‘MOM’ FARAH with some tasty BROS BBQ 2 jerk chicken on rose pasta. Photo by Tom Godfrey.

Chef Falak Farah is the manager and chef of BROS BBQ 2, one of Long Branch’s newest restaurant that prides itself on its Florida Style and Caribbean cuisine.

Farah highly recommends her jerk chicken on rose pasta as one of their top dishes that people seem to love.

Foodies are catching on to their curry and stew chicken, oxtail, ackee and salt fish, fried and steam fish.

She says her small pickup and takeout restaurant at 3371 Lake Shore Blvd. W., is well-known for its ‘exclusive’ home-made Hennessey smoked BBQ sauce. There is also a Smokey southern hot BBQ sauce with a hint of habanero and a medium with a hint of southern spices.

“People lover our Henny sauce that we make ourselves,” says Farah. “We are the Lake Shore’s first Southern BBQ place featuring Hennessey sauce.”

She only uses fresh ingredients and all meals are made to order.

“Everything is cooked to order and people love the way we cook our salmon and shrimp,” Farah insists. “They also love our jerk chicken for all the love that goes into it.”

It has been a natural journey for Farah to learn Caribbean cooking. She was born in Jordan and found the joy of Caribbean cooking after marrying a Jamaican husband in Canada. She has cooked in a number of places before PRO BBQ, which opened a few months ago.

“We go to Jamaica every year and I learn more things,” Farah says. “People like the food because more of them are coming back.”

She is among the businesses allowed to remain open these days because there’s no dining in.

“I have many Jamaican friends and love the food,” Farah vows. “You have to try our jerk chicken poutine. You will come back.”

Also highly recommended is the rose pasta, with salmon or shrimp, which is extra: jerk or lemon pepper salmon with rice and peas. Or you can order a large rack of Texas beef ribs for $27.

BROS BBQ 2 is located at 3371 Lake Shore Blvd. W., near Twenty Sixth Street. You can place your order by calling 416-252-2270. Free delivery for orders of more than $30.

 

 

Former Argonaut player now with TTC volunteers to collect toys and food

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FORMER ARGOS Obed Cotoute (left) and Toronto Police Sgt.  Lhawang Jongdong, of the Community Response Unit. Photo by Tom Godfrey.

Former Toronto Argonauts wide receiver Obed Cetoute was one of many volunteers helping Toronto Police, the TTC and Toys R Us Stuff the Bus with toys for the needy.

Cetoute, 37, played for the Argos from 2007 to 2009 before he was traded to the Saskatchewan Rough Riders.

“I look forward to giving back to the community,” Cetoute says during a December 13 toy drive. “It is something that we always did when I was with the Argos.”

The footballer lives in The Queensway and Kipling Ave. area and has been working for the last six years as a bus driver with the TTC.

He was a driver of the Stuff the Bus that was filled with toys, food and other items in hours.

“I love Etobicoke,” Cetoute vows. “This is a nice area and I have been living here for seven years.”

He loves the people who have welcomed him into the community.

The Montreal-born player was drafted in the fourth round with the 31st pick in the 2006 Canadian Football League (CFL) Draft by the Argonauts and signed with the team in May 2007.

Cetoute was a quick wide receiver, who played under CFL star turned coach Pinball Clemons, for two years.

“I totally enjoyed playing with Pinball when he was coach,” he insists. “He was a great guy.”

At one point Cetoute was sent to a football camp in South Carolina for three weeks to train with high-performance players to help elevate his training and game.

He was traded to the Roughriders in June 2010 for Offensive Lineman Jonathan St. Pierre. He was released by the team in August 2011.

The athlete had missed most of the 2009 season due to injury.

The six-foot-two, 213-pounder played in 24 games and tallied 31 receptions for 461 yards and three touchdowns for the Argos.

The athlete played college football at Central Michigan and before that at Vanier College for the Cheetahs.

He was part of a Toronto Argos Stop the Violence Huddle Up Program in which he spoke about bullying to elementary schools and high schools throughout the Greater Toronto Area.

Cetoute was also part of the team’s mentorship program for young people.

Police, TTC and Toys R Us Stuff the Bus with toys and food for those in need

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It was a brisk day that was made warm by all the toys, food and other items donated in a Toronto Police, TTC and Toys R Us “Stuff the Bus” drive to help the needy in our community.

Officers of 22 Division teamed up with the TTC, Toys R Us, 22 Division Community Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) on December 13 to fill a bus that was parked across from the Sherway Garden Mall with stuffed toys, games, some food and other items.

The bus was packed in hours with toys from generous members of the community during the daylong event, which saw a constant stream of residents brave the cold bearing gifts.

Police and donors were wearing masks and practicing social distance for the COVID-19 free event.

“People in the community were very generous with their time and donations,” says Sgt.  Lhawang Jongdong, of the Division’s Community Response Unit. “We did very well with donations considering the challenges we face.”

Jongdong says the items will sit for two days to avoid a possible spread of COVID-19 before it is distributed to social agencies and the needy in the area.

TTC driver Jessica Caramanico, who has been organizing the drive for years, is encouraged by the generosity of the community.

“All the toys will be going to deserving kids in the community,” she says. “They will be handed out at the local hospitals, social agencies and other places.”

Const. Julie-Anne Walker says the drive brings the community, police and the TTC together to help children during this time of the year.

“This is a great cause that help others in our community,” Walker says. “It is good for police as well.”

CPLC member Michael Georgopoulis says there were eight pellets of food items donated to the Daily Bread Food Bank and clothing and other items for the Salvation Army.

“Many of our supporters like the TD Bank were there to help us,” Georgopoulis says. “Our donors really came through.”

The annual toy drive by Toronto Police and the TTC has been taking place for a number of years and has helped hundreds of families. Police say anyone with new, unopened toys to donate can drop them off outside of 22 Division, at 3699 Bloor St. W.