The South Etobicoke News

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

Family and friends remember Phillip Barker as a kind and generous man

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PHILLIP WAS well-known for his sale of delicious fruit cakes to raise funds for his many projects. Courtesy photo.

Long-time treasurer and co-founder of the Long Branch BIA, Phillip Barker, is remembered as a kind and generous man who was passionate about his community.

A virtual tribute organized by Jay Llave was held on December 16 as about 40 of Barker’s friends, family and business acquaintances celebrated his life, and his many accomplishments, namely in helping to equip two schools for poor students in the Philippines.

The well-known owner of Lakeshore Accounting, at 3421 Lake Shore Blvd. W., passed away on May 6. He was 74.

“He helped many people over the years,” recalled his daughter, Katy. “I was fortunate to have him and to see all that he accomplished in his life is amazing.”

She said her father “touched and helped to change the lives of many over the years.”

“Phillip was a man of integrity,” Carl Porritt, of Royal LePage Porritt Real Estate, told the group. “We will miss him.”

His wife, Liz Porritt, pointed out that she and Phillip were co-founders of the Long Branch Business Improvement Association (BIA), and he served as treasurer for 33 years.

“He was very passionate about the Lake Shore,” Liz noted. “He was very passionate about keeping angled parking at a time when the city wanted straight parking spots.”

Virginia Lyons, who knew Phillip since Grade 4, described him as a “great guy who was a very funny human being and was very proud of the community.”

Long-time friend Leslie Nurse recalled that Phillip helped him land one of his first jobs working alongside him as a ‘fountain boy’ for the then Chicken Picken restaurant chain decades ago.

“It was in the 60s and we would make the sodas, sundaes and cut the pies for the customers,” Nurse said. “We had a lot of fun and he was quite a guy.”

Barker was born and raised in Mimico, where, he attended Mimico High School and then Humber College to study accounting.

He was a founder and director of the Lakeshore Charitable Foundation, which sponsored two schools in the Philippines. He visited that country about a dozen times and was responsible of collecting and shipping dozens of containers filled with books, clothes, food, computers, printers and other gear to help the children.

The foundation had sponsored the Rizal Public National High School and BayBay Central School for more than 12-years. He was in the process of travelling there for an awards celebration before COVID-19 halted the trip.

He is missed by hundreds of children at the schools and the families there who loved him.

Phillip is survived by brother, Bill, four nieces and daughter, Katy; described as the love of his life.

Police seize near Park Lawn Rd. a single-day record of 65 guns and $18 million in drugs

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SOME OF THE weapons seized by police after a search at a Park Lawn and Berry Rds. apartment. Photos by Toronto Police.

 

A quiet low-rise apartment just north of the Ontario Food Terminal is the scene of the largest single-day drugs and firearms seizure for Toronto Police.

The area near Park Lawn and Berry Rds., is quiet and favoured in South Etobicoke by parents for bringing up their young families and putting them through school.

But, an apartment on 70 Cloverhill Rd., has been the scene of much police activity recently as officers found an arsenal of illegal weapons and a record amount of drugs.

“This is typically a very quiet and residential neighbourhood that is primarily made up of detached homes, low-rise apartment buildings, parks, playgrounds, and elementary schools,” Insp. Tim Crone told a news conference on November 16.

A search warrant was executed at the property on November 17.

During the search, Crone said, police found 181 kilos of drugs with an estimated street value of $18,240,000, firearms, which were in plain sight of the officers, as well as ammunitions and firearm magazines.

In total, police seized 106 kilos of cocaine, 61 kilos of crystal methamphetamine, 5 kilos of fentanyl and 9 kilos of MDMA.

Also seized were 65 firearms, including 57 handguns and eight long-barreled and semi-automatic guns, more than 15,000 rounds of ammunition, and several high-capacity and extended ammunition magazines, according to police.

“We allege that these guns were destined for the street gang use and as such, presented a significant threat to public safety to all of our communities,” Supt. Domenic Sinopoli said.

An investigation began earlier this year when officers from 22 Division became aware of drug trafficking activity in the area.

Police are in the process of tracing the firearms. So far, 37 of the seized handguns have been traced to the U.S. and two were traced to Canada. Five of the long guns are from Canada.

The officers said the cache and drug stash is the biggest single-day seizure in the service’s history and noted the suspect has no record of drugs or firearms.

Police said the charges stem from the November search warrant.

One man, who was the registered tenant of the unit, has been charged.

Daniel Dubajic, 45, faces 78 weapons and drug-related charges and is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 7.

Anyone with further information is asked to contact officers at 416-808-2200 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).

 

Surplus Centre is longest serving business in New Toronto with 68 years

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THE FAMILY OF Dave Shankman has owned The New Toronto Surplus Centre for 68-years.

Surplus dealer Dave Shankman has pretty well seen most military insignia items in the last 68-years his family has been operating The New Toronto Surplus Centre Ltd.

The centre, at 2938 Lake Shore Blvd. W., at the corner of Lake Shore Blvd. W., and Islington Ave., is viewed by some as iconic, or historic, since it is in the middle of New Toronto.

It is the building on which a RCMP, with a horse, is painted in a popular mural with a large Canadian flag.

Shankman says the business was started by his father, after he returned home from WW11.

“My father served in the Korean War,” Shankman says proudly in honour of his dad. “He founded and ran the business until about 2010.”

The business is now said to be the oldest in New Toronto and it features roof and building architecture of an earlier era in Toronto.

“We are still busy in this line of work,” he says. “The weather is getting colder and people are coming in for winter gear.”

They carry a large range of military style winter shoes, jackets, gloves and other gear to keep you warm.

The interior of the store is from the 1950s and 60s with gear, clothing and other items everywhere, including military insignia like crests or badges, which are still popular in some circles.

There are hats, caps, vests, shoes and countless items hunters or anglers may require.

Shankman is proud that many films and TV productions have been shot in his store over the years, including Police Academy and Kung Fu; which are the ones he recall.

He loves the community and the people who have supported his family for the almost seven decades in business in the center of New Toronto.

The New Toronto Surplus Centre Ltd., can be reached at 416-251-3821.

 

Go Fund Me raises funds to replace $7,000 stolen from The Old Sod Restaurant

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MORE THAN $13,000 has been raised by Go Fund Me supporters to help The Old Sod stay alive.

More than $13,000 has been raised by supporters of The Old Sod Restaurant to help restore fate in humanity  after the popular bar was robbed of $7,000 earned from the sales of Christmas trees.

The local Bloor St. W. and Royal York Rd., pub was robbed on December 14 in what appears to be a ‘cash and grab’ incident that was captured by the bar’s security cameras.

The video shows a man, wearing a hoodie and mask, smashing the glass door with what appears to be a large rock. He then walks inside the bar and is seen calmly walking out with what looks like a drawer of the register that contains cash.

The pub had been hit hard, along with others in the area, by the COVID-19 lockdowns, and was earning extra income to stay afloat from tree sales, which has been brisk as residents made purchases to support their local pub.

“It was a smash and grab,” restaurant owner Ty Owens told reporters. “They broke our front windows, smashed our point-of-sale machines and stole one cash till and an empty cash till. That was our Christmas campaign cash. “

He said the brazen thief stole about $7,000.

Owens heard glass in the front door shattering and rushed downstairs around 1:15 a.m., only to have missed the thief by seconds.

“I had just missed them,” he said. “The Christmas trees are locked up in front of the door that leads into my residence, so if it wasn’t for those trees, I would have bumped directly into the criminal.”

He believes the crook bolted east on Bloor St. W., and may have had a getaway driver.

Owens is wondering if his pub was targeted because a Christmas tree campaign that was highly publicized on social media and by people in the community.

The bar has released security footage of the incident in hopes that someone from the public can identify the burglar.

Officers at nearby 22 Division said a report has been filed and the theft is being investigated.

Supporters of the pub’s Go Fund Me campaign have donated more than the $12,000, which the bar was expecting to raise to help with their loss.

“As a member of Old Fort York vintage motorcycle club we have spent many monthly social get togethers at The Sod and hope to spend many more,” wrote Robert Stevenson on a Go Fund Me post as he made a donation.

Carol and Moe Wicklander said the Old Sod has been trying to stay open in recent times.

‘Sorry to hear about your break-in,” they wrote. “You have been working so hard to keep afloat, hope this will help.”

Donations are still being accepted on Go Fund Me.

Spread of COVID-19 a fear and concern for correctional officers

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LINE UP OUTSIDE the Toronto South Detention Centre, where there are at least 25 COVID-19 cases.

Correctional officers say they are concerned over the spread of COVID-19 in area jails.

Officers working at the Toronto South Detention Center say they worry about their health after 25 cases of COVID-19 were reported at the massive jail.

They are now taking all precautions available at work to avert a spread of the virus.

The Ministry of Solicitor General has confirmed that more than two dozen inmates at the Horner Ave. detention centre have tested positive for the virus.

There were seven cases at the maximum security jail the previous day.

“Those inmates are under droplet precautions and isolated from the rest of the inmate population while they receive appropriate medical care,” Ministry officials said in a statement.

They are working with Toronto Public Health to support contact tracing.

Meanwhile, it is reported that three inmates at the Toronto East Detention Centre have contracted the virus.

The ministry said it made operational changes across all provincial correctional facilities in the past few months.

Three inmates at the Toronto East Detention Centre have also contracted the virus. It is not known how many staff are affected by the pandemic.

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.