The South Etobicoke News

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

City officials are taking a second look at homeless shelters

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As anxious New Toronto residents await public hearings into a proposed homeless shelter, City officials say costs have doubled and they may have to invest in thousands of affordable housing units.

The City of Toronto says the costs for each shelter bed they operate has doubled due to COVID-19 and they may have to invest in thousands of new housing units.

In a draft report developed by the Shelter, Support and Housing Administration (SSHA) and the United Way, City officials have put forward a number of potential strategies to get people off the street and keep them housed.

One of the main ideas in the report is for the City to lease and purchase old buildings and office spaces to be converted into permanent housing.

But, Mayor John Tory on September 15 called on the federal and provincial governments to contribute millions of dollars to an ambitious plan to develop 3,000 new affordable rental homes over the next 24 months.

“In the present circumstances with health-related considerations taken into account, (it is) more cost effective to build and acquire supportive housing than it is to build and operate more shelters,” Tory said.

The cost of operating a shelter bed before the pandemic was about $3,000 monthly but Tory said that number has increased to about $6,000 due to the need to reduce the capacity in shelter facilities, which the City has done through the relocation of thousands of clients to hotels and other temporary facilities.

He said the city can provide permanent affordable housing and supportive housing at a cost of just $2,000 per month with help from both levels of governments.

Under the proposal, the city would provide $228.5 million to build the modular homes “through capital and operating funding as well as land value” and the other levels of government would contribute an additional $200 million.

Other proposals include the transformation of existing emergency shelter spaces into permanent housing units; the rapid construction of modular housing; and the creation of a more robust network of harm reduction and addiction resources.

Many residents and businesses in New Toronto have been up in arms about a proposal to open a homeless shelter at Lakeshore Blvd. W., and Eighth Street, which will have rooms equipped for COVID patients.

They claim a shelter will lead to an increase in crime and other problems in the area.

A public hearing has been ordered to take place before a vote by City Council on September 30. No date is  set for a public meeting.

 

 

Budding New Toronto comic Dinner is barber with a heart

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New Toronto’s newest stylist Andy Dinner says he is a ’barber with a heart.’

The owner of Your Neighbourhood Barbershop, at 2858 Lakeshore Blvd. W., recently purchased $50 in coupons from his neighbour, Big Guy’s Little Coffee Shop, to give free coffees to his customers.

A part-time stand-up comic, he is also working with LAMP and St. Margarets’ Church, on Sixth Street, to provide free trims for those in need or seeking jobs.

“That’s just the type of guy I am,” Dinner says. “I am from around here. I like the people and they support me.”

He is an affable stylist, who makes customers feel welcomed and at home in his shop. The bright and friendly salon has been opened for just over a month and customers, or friends, are checking it out.

“Awesome addition to New Toronto,” says area resident, Jay Schramek. “Had a trim today. Fantastic service and outstanding cut.”

He also provides a $10 discount for seniors and there are further savings for those seeking cuts who suffer from Down Syndrome and autism, he says.

“There are a lot of seniors in need of support in the community,” Dinner notes.  “I want to make people look good and feel good about themselves.”

As he says: “I am a bald barber and want to make people appreciate their hair.”

When not styling, Dinner (yes, his real name) is busy cracking jokes.

He recently appeared and received good reviews at a comedy show featured at Kitchen On Sixth Restaurant, which is always busy.

“He is funny,” one attendee said. “His jokes about growing up were pretty good.”

Dinner is involved in different charities or projects in the community that some call him a “barber with a heart.”

Your Neighbourhood Barbershop can be reached at 416-919-7463 or by email at info@yourneighbourhoodbarbershop.com

 

 

Cherished community Cenotaph to be relocated to Col. Samuel Smith Park

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The developers of a former Legion Hall in New Toronto will be responsible for paying for the move and installation of a much-cherished Cenotaph that graced the community for decades.

The move of the Cenotaph comes as members of Etobicoke York Community Council on September 9 voted to adopt without amendment a plan by a developer to build on 150 Eighth Street. The matter will go before City Council on September 30.

A six-storey building containing 90 residential units, 94 parking spaces and a floor area of 9,964-square-meters is planned for the site.

A five-metre wide strip of land that spans the length of the north property line will also be conveyed to the City of Toronto as parkland to expand the existing Eighth Street Skate Park.

Members of the community have expressed their concerns about the maintenance of a beloved 7.5 metre high-granite Cenotaph that was installed in 1983 and commemorates the Canadian soldiers lost during WWI, WWII and the Korean War.

The Cenotaph and former Legion hall attracted hundreds of residents yearly who paid their respects to fallen soldiers in Remembrance Day activities until the hall was shut.

Council agreed the relocation of the Cenotaph to nearby Colonel Samuel Smith Park, at Lake Shore Blvd. W., and Kipling Ave., will be part of the development.

“Prior to the issuance of any building permit an, or demolition permit for the subject property, the owner shall, at the owner’s sole cost, relocate the Cenotaph from its existing location to Col. Samuel Smith Park,” community council members agreed.

Council members ordered the developer to issue a Letter of Credit to the City for $360,000 to guarantee the safe relocation of the Cenotaph to Colonel Samuel Smith Park and to guarantee against any damages to parks property and to the satisfaction of City officials.

They said the move, with final siting and orientation of the Cenotaph will be determined and agreed upon by the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture.

Council also deemed the developer is responsible for the structural design of the new Cenotaph foundation, all utility locates, all excavation, construction of the new concrete foundation, and the moving of and installation of the Cenotaph onto its new foundation.

The developer has to provide documentation from a qualified structural engineer certifying that the design and construction of the Cenotaph foundation in Colonel Samuel Smith Park has been completed as per the owner’s structural design and to the satisfaction of City officials.

Area residents say it is about time that the Cenotaph be placed in a new home, which they hope will be a high-profile and visible section of the park, where it can be seen by many.

 

 

Escaped slave Glover to soon have area park named after him

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Runaway slave Joshua Glover will soon have a new park in south Etobicoke named after him.

Members of Etobicoke York Community Council on September 9 adopted a motion without amendment that would see a future park at 4208 Dundas St. W., named after the former slave who ended up living in the area and was welcomed by residents here.

The City’s Parks, Forestry and Recreation (PFR) Division had recommended the future park be named “Joshua Glover Park.”

The park is located of Ackley Heights, a new road which runs north from Dundas Street W., and is west of Prince Edward Drive N.

“The recommended name meets the policy criteria in the Council approved ‘City of Toronto Property Naming Policy,” according to a council document.

Rexdale-born and raised artist Quentin VerCetty last month won a city design competition to honour Glover in an above-waist statue that will grace the park.

Mayor John Tory announced VerCetty’s design of a striding, suit-wearing Glover, a cyborg-style arm with dangling shackles behind him will become a statue in the new Joshua Glover Park

Glover had a rough life and managed to escape from his Missouri slavemaster in 1852, finding work at a Wisconsin sawmill until he was recaptured. Slavery opponents broke into the jail and freed Glover who got to Upper Canada where slavery had been abolished.

He made it here through a network of guides who ran the so-called Underground Railroad in which escaping slaves as Glover travelled by night to escape slave catchers. He worked as a labourer for inn owner Thomas Montgomery and rented a house nearby.

Records don’t mention racism specifically against Glover but it was rife and systemic in Upper Canada. There’s no reason to think a former slave in a mixed marriage would be spared such hate, despite his employer’s regard for him.

The statue and park will be in the “Kingsway by the River” condo development near Royal York Rd. and Dundas Street W. Ironically, the condo’s marketing documents state “this is where modern living and natural beauty come together.”

Glover died at a Newmarket seniors’ home in 1888 at the age of 74.

 

Officer Dekezel makes a difference in the lives of at-risk girls

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A female Etobicoke police officer is being recognized for helping at-risk girls tackle some of life’s biggest challenges.

Jennifer Dekezel, an officer with the force’s Community Response Unit, started the Girlz Will Be Girlz program eight years ago after receiving a call from an elementary school principal in a high-crime area.

“The principal had me in and I spoke with a few young girls who were being bullied, and I spoke to the bullies too,” said Dekezel.

The principal was impressed with Dekezel, and asked her to come back.

The group started with just four girls, meeting weekly. Now it has grown to close to 25 girls between eight and 17 years old, with some girls coming back year after year.

Dekezel has been presented with a Special Recognition Award for her work by the Association of Black Law Enforcers.

Principals and teachers refer students to Dekezel’s group. They can be newcomers, introverts, bullying victims, or bullies themselves or anyone who might benefit from bonding with a group and a strong mentor.

Dekezel takes the girls on outings, as well as individual activities like back-to-school shopping and ice cream trips. She has also sat in hospital rooms after suicide attempts and taken late-night phone calls from girls who need someone to talk to.

Dekezel, who is from Manitoba is half Trinidadian and half Italian. She didn’t know her parents growing up and was adopted by a Winnipeg family of Belgian and Scottish-English heritage.

Some of the girls who have been with Dekezel have gone on to start groups of their own, like one 12-year-old who started an anger-management group at her school.

One of the biggest differences Dekezel has noticed is with newcomer girls, who come from communities where police are viewed with suspicion.

“Having a police officer who is a friend makes a huge difference,” she says. “Those girls go and talk to their parents, who talk to their neighbours, and the list goes on.”

The group receives partial funding from Pro-Action Cops and Kids with Dekezel covering the rest out of her own pocket. She is in search of sponsors.

Story by Kevin Masterman, Toronto Police Service.

 

 

Free trees available for residents of the Long Branch community

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Free trees are being offered to area residents by the Long Branch Neighbourhood Association (LBNA) on September 20 from 12 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. at Colonel Samuel Smith Park.

This year there are 12 native tree species available, which are suitable for all yards in the area.

Those who want a tree will be have to register and drive to the park to pick one up to ensure physical distancing. You can choose your preferred pickup time when you register for your tree.

Seniors or people with disabilities who cannot drive to pick up their trees or need assistance planting can request assistance at the time of registration.  At this time the LBNA say they can only provide trees to Long Branch residents.

Community members are encouraged to learn about the Long Branch Tree Inventory Project and the different Native Tree Species being given away to increase the Biodiversity of our Urban Forest.

This program supports the City of Toronto’s 40% tree canopy cover target by encouraging tree planting and tree care on private property in Toronto.

You have a choice from 12 native tree species, suitable for all yards

Some of the large canopy trees available includes: eastern hemlock, sugar maple and white oak. The medium sized trees include: bitternut hickory, northern hackberry, red maple, tamarack and white birch. The small trees and shrubs include: black elderberry, ninebark, serviceberry and silky dogwood.

If you have any questions, or to register, please email trees40@lbna.ca.

Belurasians take to Humber Bay to protests elections at home

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Some protestors making noise and waving flags took to Humber Bay area parks on Saturday to protest last month’s elections in Belarus.

The 2020 Belarusian presidential election was held on August 9 in which incumbent Alexander Lukashenko was re-elected to a sixth term in office, with official results crediting him with 80% of the vote.

Lukashenko has won every presidential election since 1994, with all but the first being labelled by international monitors as neither free nor fair.

Opposition candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya claimed to have won a decisive first-round victory with at least 60% of the vote, and called on Lukashenko to start negotiations. Her campaign formed the Coordination Council to facilitate a transfer of power and stated that it was ready to organize “long-term protests” against the official results.

Opposition candidates have filed appeals to the Central Election Commission calling for the results to be invalidated.

The election was marred by allegations of widespread electoral fraud, with many countries and international organisations, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada, refused to accept the result of the election.

The European Union imposed sanctions on Belarusian officials deemed to be responsible for “violence, repression and election fraud”.

Police detained over 1,000 people in Belarus during the latest protests against the results of the  presidential election, officials said.

Rallies have taken place in 25 Belarusian cities, including thousands of people in the capital of Minsk for three nights to contest the election results.

Plans for annual Canadian Police and Peace Officers’ Memorial Service

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The 45th annual Canadian Police and Peace Officers Memorial Service will take place on September 27 in Ottawa.

Memorial Service Coordinator Staff Sgt. Steve Boucher says the program will be live-streamed from Parliament Hill.

“We do not believe we can hold a large-scale event under the circumstances on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” Boucher says.

He says the morning will start with a ‘solemn reading of the names of office3rs who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and will include the same familiar elements of previous services.’

The service itself will take place in the Summer Pavilion adjacent the tablets overlooking the bluff onto the Ottawa River. The area is quite small and will only accommodate the small number of people essential to run the service.

Due to construction, the area is only accessible by two small paths on the east and west side of Parliament Hill. Those pathways will be closed by Parliamentary Protective Services, with admission to the area by invitation and confirmed with valid identification.

“We do not wish to prohibit people from traveling and paying their respects,” Boucher notes. “We also do not wish to encourage unnecessary travel or invite any large gatherings in the interest of public health and safety, given the ongoing pandemic.”

On September 24, 1998 the Government of Canada officially proclaimed the last Sunday of September of every year as Police and Peace Officers’ National Memorial Day. This National Memorial Day gives Canadians an opportunity each year to formally express appreciation for the dedication of police and peace officers, which made the ultimate tragic sacrifice to keep our communities safe.

Unfortunately, some three to five die on duty yearly. In 1978 the first Memorial honoured 14 officers. In 2019 the names of over 870 fallen officers are engraved on the Honour Roll tablets. After several years at a temporary place behind East Block, the tablets are back in their original location next to the Summer Pavilion overlooking the Ottawa River.

More information is forthcoming.

 

BIA calls for security cameras along main strip of New Toronto

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There is a call for security cameras to be installed along a main commercial strip of New Toronto to help police identify and locate crime suspects.

The cameras, according to a local group, will provide rapid evidence for police following major crimes as this week’s shootout by groups, in which more than 80 bullet casings were found by police in New Toronto.

The cameras, which have to undergo public consultations for approval, are proposed to be located along Lakeshore Blvd. W., on First Street, Third Street, Fifth Street, Seventh and Tenth Streets, according to Chris Korwin Kuczynski, Chair of the Board of the New Toronto Business Improvement Area (BIA).
He says the possible use of the cameras has been pitched to Toronto Police and the office of the local councillor.

The cameras be subject to a round of public consultations, including privacy concerns, if it is even approved.

“We believe the use of cameras will help deter crime in the community,” says Korwin Kuczynski. “I think most people will support this.”

He says residents are thankful no lives were lost in September 8 gunplay when more than 80 bullet casings were found in the Lakeshore Blvd. W. and Eighth Street area after a shootout between rival groups attending an afterhours club.

One man was shot in the thigh and about a dozen vehicles were shot up during the incident.

Police have since increased their presence in the area and there are calls for a community meeting with police and politicians to discuss safety concerns.

Plans for the use of the cameras are at the beginning stages of discussion.

 

 

Mayor Tory being asked to step in to help set homeless shelter hearings

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Mayor John Tory is being asked to intervene to help set up a community meeting so residents can get answers to their questions about a proposed homeless shelter in New Toronto.

In a letter sent to Mayor John Tory and Councillor Mark Grimes, the Lakeshore Village Business Improvement Area (BIA) complained they have been waiting since July 27 for a public meeting.

“It is now September 11 and no community consultation has been scheduled or occurred,” writes Chris Korwin Kuczysnki, Chair of the Board. “Despite repeated requests to Councillor Grimes’ Office and the City’s Shelter, Support & Housing Administration (SSHA).”

A public meeting into the proposed shelter at 2950 and 2970 Lake Shore Blvd. W., was ordered by City Council almost six weeks ago. Since then there has been much lobbying, including one protest and two websites created for residents to voice their concerns.

The matter returns to City Council for a possible vote on September 30.

The BIA warns that “we must oppose a shelter at this location because the information that we had requested and the opportunity to ask question about the impact to an already overburdened community has not taken place.”

Their letter asks Tory what type of client would frequent the proposed shelter, if single men, families or refugees. It inquired about the timeline for construction and opening and plan to mitigate the impact on surrounding businesses.

“Distancing requirements are also a concern as this proposed shelter location is right next to an existing shelter,” according to the letter.

It states that “besides the lack of communication regarding this initiative, we have heard that the City is proposing to purchase the property at a significant premium over fair market value.”

It says ”confidential sources indicate that the City is paying $13 to $15 million for the building, even though in 2020 the assessed value was $5.3M.

“How can such overspending be justified’ the group wrote. “We are requesting transparency and public consultation be a priority before any decisions are made.”

The City has said funding is available to renovate the shelter, which will be in operation for more than 100 people in about 2022. It will house a number of COVID-19 sufferers.