The South Etobicoke News

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

New Toronto man appealing for return of his prized e-bike

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A New Toronto man is making an appeal for thieves to return his prized e-bike after it was stolen from outside his home.

Bernard Graham said the $4,000 Daymak Beast electric-bike was stolen on October 11 around midnight from outside his 148 Islington Ave. apartment unit, which is just north of Lake Shore Blvd. W.

“It was the worst day of my life,” Graham says. “It is my transport to get to work and shopping in the community.”

The long-time area resident says he always parked the bike in a secure spot out of public view.

He is in the process of filing a complaint with Toronto Police and trying to obtain video from security cameras in the area.

“I feel empty inside that my transport is gone,” Graham says. “I feel like part of me is gone and I feel so empty.”

He says he didn’t realize the e-bike was gone until notified by a neighbour early the next day.

The production assistant for Lush Cosmetics, on Jutland Rd., purchased the e-bike last March from an area shop so he could travel to work safely during COVID-19.

“I am very disappointed by the loss of my bike,” he says. “The bike was so large that I didn’t expect it to stolen from where it was parked.”

He believes the thief, of thieves, had their eyes on the bike and cut a thick lock securing the bike with a bolt cutter when he was inside.

He loved the ride and had added parts to enhance the e-bike; such as a windshield, custom saddle, saddle bags, rear shocks and changed the tires.

“This was my ride to avoid the virus,” he says. “I feel like by routine has been destroyed and that nothing is safe anymore.”

Police say electric bikes, just like other bikes are stolen in one way or the other, sometimes, the e-bike has a whole may be stolen. Other times, some critical components may be removed from the e-bike.

Officers say e-bikes have become more affordable over the years and it makes them an investment worth protecting.

“To keep your e-bike safe, you may need to be proactive by employing proper security measures,” according to police.

If you see Graham’s e-bike please call police at 416-808-2200 or leave a message on Facebook at  https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1637264909781265&id=100004933147170

 

Go Fund Me started to build a school in memory of slain East Mall student

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Family and friends of a South Etobicoke man who was shot and killed last June are raising funds to finish off a children’s school in his memory in Africa.

Abdulaziz Adan Dubet, 21, who lived in the East Mall, also known as ‘Baby Aziz’ and ‘Sache,’ is described as a social activist, who in the midst of COVID-19 donated $2,000 of his savings to build a roof over a school in his native Somalia.

His friends have launched a Go Fund Me Page to continue with Adan’s dream to finish off the school for young children. So far they have reached $111,971 of a goal of $130,000.

Adan was well-loved and respected in the community. He had a full-time job at Pearson Airport and was planning to get married last summer and move from the East Mall area.

He “was getting married and had plans to build his own family in a safer neighbourhood,” his family wrote on the Go Fund Me page. “He had the biggest heart and would offer his help to anyone without being asked.”

They described “Baby Aziz” as goal-oriented, mature and more capable than people twice his age, while remaining “kind and humble in the process.”

He had been attending Ryerson University and had planned on becoming a lawyer one day.

They are still mourning his death last June 12 when he was shot and killed in broad daylight and believe he “was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“He was taken from us so cowardly and cruelly,” they explained. “Adan deserves justice for his murder. He deserves much better that this world has given him.”

His friends vow the school will be built in Halimale, Somalia, the birthplace of his mother, Halima.

“This is the same school he donated his savings to assist with building its roof/shelter,” they said. “This school is still under construction and is at a standstill due to lack of funding.”

“The construction of this school is what he would have wanted. And we want to name the school in his honour ‘Adan Boarding School.”

Peel Regional Police said he was found in a vehicle outside a hotel in the area of Dundas St. E., and Wharton Way suffering from apparent gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers said Adan was found in the driver’s seat of the vehicle, which was riddled with bullet holes.

No charges have been laid in connection with his murder.

 

 

Controversial advertising removed from Royal York and Evans billboard

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An area billboard advertising real estate has had its controversial message removed following complaints from community residents that the ad was disgusting and ‘racially tone deaf.’

The Re Max advertisement showed two real estate agents doing karate chops with the words “COVID real estate ninjas at your service.”

The ad was located in the Royal York Rd. and Evans Ave. area in between two middle schools, residents say.

Resident Trevor Lui, who saw the ad last Friday, said it made him angry.

“Use of cultural appropriation, or tone-deafness, or ignorance as a form of marketing, there really isn’t a place for it,” Lui told Global News.

Social media was busy with a number of other residents who left messages to express their disappointment, calling the billboard “offensive” and “awful.”

“The casual racism! The terrible form! The fonts! The random COVID slapped on there! Choices were made,” one Twitter user said.

Residents say the ad would have been approved by a number of marketing people at the real estate firm.

A spokesman for Re Max Integra said in a statement that they were not aware of the billboard prior to it being erected.

“The messaging in the advertisement directly conflicts with our values and belief in equality, inclusiveness and access to homeownership for all,” the official said.

He plans to work with the franchise owner, with whom the agents work, to address the issue.

The message on the billboard was removed by the weekend and a photo of it posted on the real estate agents’ Instagram account.

 

Police searching for this man who threw a senior off a TTC bus

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Toronto Police detectives are seeking the help of the public to identify a violent suspect after an 80-year-old man was thrown off a TTC bus.

Police have released security camera photos of a man who was videotaped throwing the senior off a bus as it arrived at Runnymede Station.

Detectives say the incident occurred on Thursday, September 17 at 12:06 p.m. at the Runnymede subway station, at Bloor St. W.

Investigators say the elderly man did not sustain life-threatening injuries.

Video of the incident shows a man with a black gym bag grabbing and hurling the victim off of the bus and onto the sidewalk near the station.

He then is seen striking the elderly man with his gym bag as he lay on the pavement.

Police say the suspect then fled into Runnymede Station.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 416-808-1100.

 

Community drive to raise food, funds for the Daily Bread Food Bank

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An army of volunteers and supporters of the Daily Bread Food Bank are saying thanks as they celebrated a sense of community and shared vision to end hunger.

The Food Bank on October 10 held its first Thanksgiving Drive Thru Food Drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its facility at 191 New Toronto Street.

The goal this year was to collect 272,000 pounds of non-perishable food and raise $1.9 million to ensure that ‘our neighbours in need have access to nutritious food.’

There were many vehicles filled with food items that drove up to the facility to make contact-free drop-offs.

NHL player Michael Del Zotto and friends from the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association were in attendance this year to help with the drive.

Mayor John Tory, Etobicoke Lakeshore MP Christine Hogarth and MPP James Maloney were also on hand to help out and thanked supporters for their donations.

Tory said this year things were done differently but “Torontonians came through to support each other.”

Daily Bread officials say there has been a 200% increase in new clients accessing food banks in Toronto since COVID-19 struck last March. Visits to the food bank have risen from 15,000 people a week to over 25,000 weekly.

They said the effects of the pandemic will ‘continue to be felt in our community for many months to come especially by those confronting poverty, homelessness and hunger.’

Food insecurity has affected nearly one in seven Canadians during the pandemic, according to Statistics Canada.

Donations of cash can be made to www.dailybread.ca

Let’s get planting with free trees to protect our canopy

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The Long Branch Neighbourhood Association (LBNA) is reminding area residents of their free tree giveaway on October 24 at Col. Samuel Smith park.

Group members say there are 10 native and shrub species available that are suitable for all yards.

“This program supports the City of Toronto’s 40% tree canopy cover target by encouraging tree planting and tree care on private property,” according to the LBNA.

The event will take place from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at the Lake Shore Blvd. W. and Kipling Ave. park.

Tree seekers are required to book a 15-minute time slot during which they will have to drive up to pick up their trees to ensure physical distancing.

The trees will be distributed by association volunteers and pre-registration is required since quantities are limited.

Seniors or people with disabilities who cannot drive to come pick up their trees or need assistance planting can request assistance at the time of registration.  At this time we can offer this service to Long Branch residents only.

To pre-register and for questions send an e-mail to the LBNA at trees40@lbna.ca

Some of the trees available includes large canopy as Freeman Maple or White Oak: medium sized like Bitter nut Hickory, Northern Hackberry or Ironwood: small trees as Eastern Redbud or Serviceberry and shrubs, including Purple Flowering Raspberry, Nannyberry or Bush Honeysuckle.

 

Ottawa steps up with more funding to help virus hit businesses

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The federal government plans to introduce new financial supports to help hard-hit businesses and organizations in the area that are experiencing a drop in revenue due to COVID-19.

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland on Friday announced plans to introduce legislation to provide support to help these businesses safely get through a second wave of the virus and the winter, cover costs so they can continue to serve their communities and be positioned for a strong recovery.

Among the measures planned is a new Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy, which would provide simple and easy-to-access rent and mortgage support until June 2021 for qualifying organizations hit by the  virus.

The rent subsidy would be provided directly to tenants, while also providing support to property owners.

The measures would support businesses, charities, and non-profits that have suffered a revenue drop, by subsidizing a percentage of their expenses, on a sliding scale, up to a maximum of 65 per cent of eligible expenses until December 19.

Organizations would be able to make claims retroactively for the period that began September 27 and ends October 24, 2020.

Also planned is a top-up Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy of 25 per cent for organizations temporarily shut down by a mandatory public health order issued by a qualifying public health authority, in addition to the 65 per cent subsidy.

There is plans for an extension of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy until June next year, which would continue to protect jobs by helping businesses keep employees on the payroll and encouraging employers to re-hire their workers.

The subsidy would remain at the current subsidy rate of up to a maximum of 65 per cent of eligible wages until December 19.

And an expanded Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA), which would enable businesses, and not-for-profits eligible for CEBA loans to access an interest-free loan of up to $20,000, in addition to the original CEBA loan of $40,000.

Additionally, the application deadline for CEBA is being extended to December 31.

These moves are part of the government’s commitment to create over 1 million jobs and restore employment to the level it was before the pandemic.

Further details, including the launch date and application process will be announced in the coming days.

Long-awaited info session for New Toronto shelter set for Oct. 20

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South Etobicoke residents have waited a long time and will finally have a say into a proposed 95-bed New Toronto municipal shelter on October 20.

Councillor Mark Grimes, in his weekly update, wrote that a virtual (telephone and online) Information session will take place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“In an effort to practice physical distancing to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and promote collective well-being, this information session will be online and phone in,” Grimes said.

His office is urging residents to send in their questions 24-hours in advance to a Community Engagement Facilitator.

City Council at its meeting last July 28 authorized the City of Toronto to enter into an agreement to purchase 2950 and 2970 Lake Shore Blvd. W., for use as a municipal shelter, and possibly, affordable housing.

The closing date of the purchase is listed as December 2020, with construction to begin next year and with an opening date in 2023.

Council documents show that the buildings will be purchased for more than $13 million.

News of the proposed shelter has divided the community with those who want it relocated to another part of Ward 3 and not in a commercial area.

City officials said from 2018 to 2020 they looked at 49 property sites for a possible shelter in Ward 3.

They said activities are planned to ensure residents are informed including a community safety walk and a meeting with key stakeholders before the Information Session.

If you are not able to attend the meeting but have questions, you can get in touch with Community Engagement Facilitators Maria Crawford or Violet Ilkiw, of Barnes Management Group, at 416-800-2914 ext. 202.

They can be reached by email at 2950.70lakeshoreblvdwest@gmail.com

General enquiries to the City can be sent to ssha.homeless@toronto.ca

The call-in number for the Information Session is 416-915-6530 ext. The access code is 133 242 5334.

The link to the online session will be available one week before the session will begin. The website is    www.toronto.ca ∕ShelterExpansionSites

Some businesses close and restaurants end dining in to fight virus

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Local businesses will be crying the blues as tough new guidelines kick in at midnight to tackle the latest surge of COVID-19 in Toronto.

The measures, which will affect thousands of people, start on October 10 and will run for 28 days, and include an end of indoor dining at restaurants and bars, the closing of gyms, movie theatres, casinos, bingo halls, conference and convention centres, performance arts and racing venues.

After 28-days the measures will be reviewed by Ontario government health experts.

Schools, child-care centres and places of worship will remain open. Before-school and after-school programs will also be exempt from the new restrictions.

Personal care services where masks must be removed are prohibited, as are team sports games, scrimmages and interactive exhibits in places like galleries and museums.

Capacity limits are reduced to 10 people indoors for tours, real estate open houses and meeting and event spaces. Physical distancing must be maintained. Team sports will be limited to training sessions only.

Food courts in shopping centres can remain open but will be available for take-out only

Wedding receptions will be limited to 10 people indoors or 25 people outdoors effective Oct. 13.

The government is also asking people to only leave their homes for essential purposes. Travel to other regions in the provinces should also be limited but there are no travel bans in place.

“All trends are going in the wrong direction,” Premier Doug Ford said at Queen’s Park on Friday. He said the pandemic has picked up speed at “an alarming rate.”

Ford added that if current trends continue, hospitals could be overwhelmed with intensive-care unit placements tripling in less than 30 days.

The new restrictions come as Ontario marked a record 939 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, most of them in Toronto, Ottawa and Peel Region. Those regions have consistently reported the majority of new cases in recent weeks.

Hospitalizations have increased by 250 per cent over the past three weeks, with a total of 225 people hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Thursday.

Ford has directed his finance minister to make $300 million available to support small businesses for 28 days, including waiving provincial and municipal property tax bills as well as hydro and natural gas bills.

The Ontario government said this month that they are also raising the pay of the province’s almost 150,000 personal support workers by $3 an hour until March due to their work fighting the virus.

Pushback from community leads to review of proposed Shelter use

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Pushback from the community has prompted City officials to examine the possibility of developing 2950 and 2970 Lake Shore Blvd. W., into permanent, affordable supportive housing rather than a homeless shelter.

Councillor Mark Grimes says he has been meeting with the City’s Shelter, Support, and Housing Administration (SSHA) to ‘determine the best way to use this space to help people, while making the most effective use of the tools that our community already has to offer.’

Grimes moved a motion calling on City Council to explore supportive housing rather than just a homeless shelter.

This suggested shift comes as part of a report on the City’s Interim Shelter Recovery and Infrastructure Implementation Plan, which will go before the Economic and Community Development Committee on October 14 followed by City Council at the end of October, Grimes wrote on his website.

“If the recommendation to shift from investment in 1,000 new shelter beds to supportive housing is approved through this report, the proposed shelter at 2950-2970 Lake Shore Blvd. W., could be considered for affordable, supportive housing,” he said.

Supportive Housing provides longer term accommodations to people facing chronic homelessness, and is the most effective way to help individuals move from homelessness to homes, according to the site.

“This would be an exciting opportunity for the New Toronto community to be involved in this new approach to providing better solutions to homelessness for vulnerable residents by developing permanent supportive housing rather than temporary emergency shelter,” he stated.

The review is being conducted by third party Consultant, Hilditch Architect Inc. and if deemed feasible, SSHA will work with the Housing Secretariat to develop a proposal for the site and report back to Planning and Housing Committee with further details on implementation.

News of the proposed New Toronto shelter has divided the community with area home and business owners claiming they will lose their investment if the 95-bed municipal shelter is approved.

City officials say the almost $14-million sale of the property is slated to close by December or January and the buildings brought up to standards.

The shelter is expected to begin admitting the homeless late next year.