The South Etobicoke News

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

Faustina’s Coach Joe hangs up his hockey whistle

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By REJEAN CANTLON

Joe White is a hockey coach for the Faustina Hockey Club, and like many local hockey coaches, he is an unpaid volunteer. Sadly for many of his players and their families, the 2019-20 season was his last. Coach Joe has decided to hang up his coach’s whistle but not leave the game he loves entirely.

White’s contributions to minor hockey in South Etobicoke include coaching hockey for the better part of 15 years with various organizations and guiding the Faustina Fury U18 select program for the last five. He capped off his most recent campaign with a gold medal win with the NYHL Tier 2 Championship in 2018/19 season, the team was immediately promoted to Tier 1 and they had their sites on going deep into the playoffs, with another possible championship well in sight before the pandemic hit and their season was halted.

What’s special about Coach Joe has nothing to do with his successes on the ice but more about what his efforts mean to his players as a person. When he joined the team in 2012, his daughter, Cristina was part of the team. A few years later she decided to move on and leave the team, yet Coach Joe’s work was not done. He loved this team so much he decided to stay on and continue as head coach. His tireless volunteer commitment was not for the accolades but for the love of the game. White plans to stay on as a Faustina Member and as a member of its Board of Governors next season.

“For five years, Joe has been dedicated to our kids,” says incoming head coach, Ken Graydon. “Joe is always so organized and ready for practices and games. You can tell he really cares about the players and their development. Most of all, the kids really like playing together and I think it is because of the positive atmosphere Joe gives the team. Not only does he push them to be better, he also finds the time to smile and laugh along the way.”

On a warm, wet night in July during a pandemic, the team did what they could to honour their coach. They presented him with a personal gift that would have normally been given at an end of year banquet in person. Instead, they did the next best thing. Joe’s boys all signed a Faustina jersey in his honour and virtually presented it to him via a Zoom call.

Coach Joe acknowledged the gift with the grace that he has shown throughout his tutelage. “This jersey, signed by all of you, will always have a place of honour in my home. No doubt about it. Go get them next year boys! I know you can do it!”

Condo construction edges closer at vacant Mr. Christie site

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High-density sky condos are slowly moving closer to construction at the former Mr. Christie cookie site.

Another round of public engagement wrapped up on July 20 as developers fine-tune a mixed-use sky-rise community coming to 2150 Lake Shore Blvd. W., the vacant cookie plant site.

An Official Plan Amendment application for the 11-hectare property was submitted by landowners First Capital Realty and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board in October 2019. It features a new community of 15 high-rises ranging from 16 to 70 storeys tall by London-based Allies and Morrison and Toronto’s Urban Strategies.

The neighbourhood will be home for more than 30,000 residents when completed, officials say.

Following feedback from the public and City staff, rezoning and Draft Plan of Subdivision applications have also now been formally submitted, with several revisions made to the multi-faceted development.

The main focus is a transit hub centres around a new Park Lawn GO Station, which remains a signature element of the proposal, and will be built by Metrolinx.

The revised master plan doubles the size of the proposed public park, tweaks the heights of several buildings, and makes accommodations for two new elementary schools.

A half-hectare public park, to be located near the northern edge of the property, has been enlarged to one hectare.

Buildings positioned to the north will shield the park from the noise and pollution of the Gardiner Expressway.

“Envisioned as an all-season area hosting a diversity of open spaces, the park will be complemented by a number of other green spaces on adjacent blocks,” according to the plan.

Enlarging the public park required reconfiguration of a central ‘loop road’ linked to Lake Shore Blvd. W. and a corresponding reduction in the size of the central galleria block, where a covered retail-lined pedestrian street is planned.

‘To ensure space for TTC bus bays along Park Lawn at the northwest corner, the proposed street connecting Park Lawn to the loop road will now be pedestrianized,” officials say.

In regards to potential shadowing on the proposed public park, the massing of the buildings fronting Park Lawn Rd. and Lake Shore Blvd. W. has been adjusted, shifting residential floor space to other areas of the site by enlarging the average residential tower floor plate.

While the applications are assessed by City staff, First Capital had invited the public to participate and submit questions by July 20 in a virtual open house for the proposed Park Lawn GO Station, which is expected to serve about 5,000 riders daily.

 

Welcoming NHL hockey stars to the area for season

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A campaign has been launched by the Lake Shore Village BIA to welcome NHL players arriving in town this weekend for the start of a shortened season of hockey.

BIA officials say as many as 12 National Hockey League (NHL) teams from the Eastern Conference will be Toronto for games. The Leafs usually practice at the Ford Performance Centre, on Kipling Ave.

The NHL and NHL Players’ Association have announced return-to-play protocols, which features  Toronto and Edmonton acting as hub cities for players to better fight COVID-19.

The teams are to touch down on July 26 and will play their games without fans at the Air Canada Centre. Some of the exhibition games start on July 28.

Chris Korwin Kuczynski, Chair of the Lake Shore Village BIA, says two large banners are being made to welcome the Eastern Conference Players.

He said dozens of smaller posters will be circulated to businesses and other BIA members.

“We want to welcome all the players on behalf of the Lake Shore Village BIA,” he says. “We want them to have an excellent season.”

The teams will be isolated and confined to ‘bubbles’ to avert the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

The NHL playoffs this year is slated to begin on July 30 after two weeks training camp.

The league consists of 31 teams, 24 of which are based in the U.S. and seven in Canada.

 

 

Some 3,000 tickets laid by police in cycling blitz

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Area residents have been complaining about fast and reckless cycling on our pathways and roads.

Police have listened and more than 3,000 tickets have been issued to road users as part of a week of action and engagement.
Police say the tickets were issued from July 13 to July 19 as part of a 2020 Road Safety Campaign Geared to Cyclists.

Officers also took the time to educate cyclists on collision-causing behaviours, as well as taking enforcement action.
The campaign focused on “The Big 4” behaviours that are known to cause injuries to people using our roads and identified drivers who were speeding, driving aggressively, driving while distracted and driving while impaired.
Police say 1,950 tickets were issued for speeding; 927 for aggressive cycling, 92 for handheld and 38 for other offences.

Officers laid ten stunt driving-related infractions where the drivers received a suspension and their vehicles were impounded. A total of 19 impaired-related arrests were also made.
Sergeant Jason Kraft thanked all those who helped spread the traffic safety messages.
Police say the campaign was part of Toronto’s Vision Zero Road Safety Plan to curb collisions are preventable and unacceptable. Zero injuries and deaths on our roads is the number that we all should be working towards.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1985.

 

 

Starting tomorrow face masks required on all GO Transit vehicles

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Area residents will require a face mask starting tomorrow if they’re using GO Transit vehicles.

Metrolinx says starting on Tuesday July 21 GO Transit staff will be on board trains, buses and in stations informing customers that they need to wear a face covering.

The masks are also required for those using UP Express, officials say.

The agency said there will be riders who, due to pre-existing conditions, will not be able to wear a face mask and said no customer will be “left behind.”

The move comes as more regions across the Greater Toronto Area implement the mandatory use of a facial covering for those attending indoor public spaces.

“In terms of our enforcement, of our requirement of people to wear face coverings, we will focus on education rather than enforcement,” says Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster. “Our employees will help customers on buses and trains if they haven’t got face coverings and we will ensure that no one will be left behind.”

“As the GTA starts to prepare itself for Stage 3 of the recovery, we are seeing many more customers return to our GO and UP services,” he admits.

The drivers of their transit vehicles have been wearing face masks for the last several months.

The transit agency has begun installing clear plastic dividers between seats on some of its buses and trains as part of 40 steps to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Facial coverings have been mandatory onboard all TTC vehicles since July 1.

 

 

Fraudsters claim to be from Service Ontario & preying on seniors

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Police are warning the public of an ongoing fraud in which a person claiming to be from Service Ontario may get in touch by phone or email.

The caller claims the person’s SIN number has been compromised and “used in fraudulent criminal activity.”

The caller asks the victim for the local police number. A short time a person claiming to be from police calls back continuing the story of the fraudulent activity and advises the victim to deposit money to a specific Bitcoin ATM.

Police say the scammers are able to spoof the police phone number on the victim’s caller ID telephone. Many of those targeted are seniors or the vulnerable.

“Toronto Police Service is reminding the public to be vigilant, especially in these times of uncertainty,” detectives said in a statement. “Government agencies will not ask the public to deposit money using Bitcoin machines.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-5500, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.222tips.com

Police warn that some cabbies targeting riders’ credit cards

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Residents are being warned by police of an ongoing scam targeting people on the move using taxi services.

Toronto Police say the scheme unfolds after a person waves down a taxi cab and requests a ride to a destination.

“Once at the destination, the victim is asked to pay with a debit card,” according to a release from detectives in 14 Division. “The driver advises they do not have change and do not accept credit payment.”

Police say the driver then provides the fare with a debit card payment machine.

During the transaction, the driver switches the victim’s card with another person’s credit card, police warn.

Fraud officers say people should not give their cards to anyone and it should always be kept in their possession and never return  a debit card machine with your card still inserted.

People should also inspect their card after each transaction to ensure it is their proper card.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1400 or anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).

Residents having fun online with fountain that lacks flair

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Many Humber Bay Shores residents are still fuming online about the new Jean Augustine Fountain, which they call cheap and lacking a safety fence.

“The lack of fence is a valid concern,” says resident Eric Code. “That was a lot of money spent for aesthetic change that benefits few.”

The structure was updated this year with an ornamental fountain added in what was previously the Jean Augustine Park Pond that was surrounded by vegetation.

Code writes that “the old pond supported wildlife, including ducks and songbirds. This fountain never will.”

“I don’t think this new fenceless fountain was well thought out,” he reminded others on social media. “Our public spaces should be driven by the greater public they serve.”

Hundreds of Humber Bay area residents have gone online in recent weeks to blast the fountain and those who had it installed. Many want a safety fence erected around the fountain because young children play on the rocks.

Marta Legrady says she preferred the former pond.

“It was previously an overgrown fountain, it turned into a pond environment with lack of maintenance,” she wrote.

Lisa A. Sharples says the fountain “looks like designed by a two-year-old, it’s a circle of blocks.”

“It should have been a playground for kids since there isn’t one really close and with so many kids in the condos it would have been great for them,” Sharples says.

Still many other contend the fountain is a waste of money with Lake Ontario hundreds of feet away.

 

Humane Society seeks cat lovers to help with their adoptions

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The Etobicoke Humane Society is seeking your help after 150 cats were rescued from a home in one of worst cases of hoarding.

Toronto Cat Rescue said it recovered the cats from inside a filthy Toronto home on July 17 and many had significant health issues, including upper respiratory infections and ear mites.

The group a day before found another 50 cats in another hoarding situation in North Bay, Ont.

“These cats are in desperate need of the kind of care that we are best at, and that our foster homes excel at,” the organization said. “Time is of the essence to get these sweeties into our loving foster homes.”

The organization said it will take months of medical and dental care to get the cats back to good health. All cats will have to undergo vaccinations, antibiotics for infections, as well as being spayed and neutered.

The group noted that it takes many hands to respond to these kinds of situations and thanked foster homes in Kitchener-Waterloo for coming forward and taking the first 50 cats.

Hoarding cats is illegal in Toronto. Only six cats are allowed in a single household under City of Toronto bylaws.

Members of the EHS say they are caring for about 15 of the cats being placed for adoption.

“EHS is able to help with approximately 15 or so cats,” the Society says on its website. “This is in the midst of dealing with another hoarding which is an ongoing situation.”

They say fosters and donations are badly-needed to nurse the cats back to health.

Volunteers say their number one item in demand is clumping litter, which they have little of since the shelter has been closed.

All items being donated can be left in the yellow bins outside the shelter, at 67 Six Point Rd.

They are urging others to spay and neuter their pets since it takes one unneutered male and unspayed female to create a situation like this.

Donations to help the cats can be made to https://etobicokehumanesociety.com/donate/

Summer in the 6IX starts on Monday to help keep teens busy

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Here is some ideas for parents who are searching for interesting things to keep their children busy.

More than a dozen area facilities including Marie Curtis Park will be taking part in Summer in the 6IX, a new City program to keep youth busy.

The free program, which kicks off on July 20 and runs for the summer, is designed for Toronto teens and young adults from the age of 13 to 24, who will be offered opportunities to drop in, meet up with friends and take part in fun, themed activities.

”Summer in the 6IX will be available to all Toronto youth at a variety of parks,” according to promotional materials. “There will be three session times offered daily at multiple locations across the city, seven days a week.”

Some of the activities include dance, fitness, ecology, sports, leadership, employment, arts and the media.

The programs are taking place at Marie Curtis Park, Sir Adam Beck park, James S. Bell, Gus Ryder Pool, Ken Cox Community Centre, Rotary Peace Park outdoor pool, Prince of Wales park, Ourland park, Amos Waites Park, Mimico Memorial park and many others.

City officials say the program was developed with Toronto Public Health with a strong focus on health and safety and for participants to maintain physical distance from other individuals and groups.

The equipment will be sanitized between uses, or individual supplies will be provided. Staff will conduct a verbal health screening with each participant prior to the program start and collect caregiver or participant contact information, should tracing be required.

Children under the age of 12 are eligible for another program, called ParksPlayTO, which is also being run by the City, MLSE Foundation which brings sports programming.

ParksPlayTO will offer activities such as nature exploring, gardening, active games, arts and crafts, family fitness, story-telling and music circles for children and their caregivers. Any child age 12 and under accompanied by a caregiver age 18 or older can participate in ParksPlayTO.

Find out more at www.toronto.ca. Registration required.