The South Etobicoke News

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

MacBeth was an eccentric and beloved Etobicoke politician

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An energetic John P. MacBeth was the last Reeve of the Township of Etobicoke and only Canadian politician we know off to have set foot in all 50 U.S. states.

MacBeth passed away in 1991 at the age of 69 while in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as part of his cross-U.S. tour.

The Etobicoke-born lawyer graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School and joined his father’s law firm.

He served in the Royal Canadian Navy during WWII from 1943 to 1945 on the corvette ‘Orangeville’ and reached the rank of Petty Officer.

On returning home, he became a member of the Etobicoke Board of Education from 1952 to 1958 and served as Chairman in 1955. He entered local politics and was elected the last Reeve of the Township of Etobicoke from 1963 to 1966 when we became part of Metro and then City of Toronto.

MacBeth loved politics and was elected MPP to represent York West and Humber from 1971 to 1981. He served as Minister of Labour and as Solicitor General from 1975 to 1978 in the government of Bill Davis.

He served briefly as the Minister of Correctional Services in 1977.

One of MacBeth’s greatest accomplishments as MPP was the introduction of mandatory store closings on Sundays, which he piloted through the House during 1976 and 1977.

“I still get letters from people who are thankful that they do not have to work on those days,” he said back then. “The legislation proved to be unwieldy and was eventually repealed in 1992.”

He retired from politics in 1981 to spend more time with wife, Ruth, and their three children. His biography says he enjoyed clothes, cheap cigars and making fires.

In retirement, MacBeth served as Vice-Chairman of the Ontario Police Commission from 1981 to 1987. Under his guidance, the commission recommended tougher controls of police chases in 1985.

The eccentric politician was fascinated by the movie ‘Mutiny on the Bounty,” which starred Marlon Brando, and led him to visit Pitcairn Islands later in life, where some of the mutineers settled.

He even wore the kilt of this ancestors for family gatherings every Christmas, according to records.

MacBeth was very active locally and belonged to the Etobicoke Red Cross, the Kiwanis Club, and served on the Boards of the Etobicoke General Hospital, the Canadian National Exhibition,  the Empire Club Masons Lodge 655 and president of the Ontario Cancer Society.

Guide to Money and Wealth by Rattan

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Hello and I would like to thank you all for your support and patronage for the tax year. This week’s article is going to reflect on some of my observations which I have noticed during the year.

First, I am going to reflect on late filing and the impact it can have on the taxpayer. If you are entitled to benefits like GST and Ontario Trillium, you will not be entitled to them till you file your Return.  A significant number of the Returns that get filed are getting a refund so there is generally little reason to delay. For taxpayer who has a tax liability, late filing means nondeductible interest and penalty. This year the CERB bought out many late filers who were happy with the outcome, including a payout of the Climate Action Initiative (in 2019 the amount is $224).

Second comment will be on the deductions available that taxpayers ignore. These include:  RRSP slips, charitable donations, tuition credits (some part of this can be transferred to a spouse and/or a parent), student loan interest , first time Home Buyer credit and medical expenses ( generally this has to be a significant amount] and lastly rent and/or property tax which results In Ontario Trillium Benefits.  All the deductions should be explored and considered prior to filing.

Third observation relates to request for documentation from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). If one does not comply with the request it will result in a reassessment, result the taxpayer will owe money.

My fourth comment relates to taxpayer who has/was working in two or more jobs.  When it is time to file it is likely they will be required to pay additional taxes at the time of filing your tax return.  Taxpayers can avoid this situation by having additional taxes deducted at source with the primary employer or taking out an RRSP. This happens because every employer will only deduct the mandatory tax deduction as required, but the taxpayer must pay taxes on the total income earned in the year.

My fifth comment relates to RRSP withdrawals, this withdrawal adds to one’s total income and may result in a tax liability.  If the amount is significant and it is towards the end of the year, it may be wise to withdraw some in the current year and the remainder the following year (January). Another option to avoid the tax liability is to have the amount split between the spouses.

Lastly if you have got a refund enjoy the money or better still invest wisely and/or pay down your debt. If you owe money pay on time to avoid interest.

Rattan Gandhi is owner of Quick Refund Tax, 133 Sixth St. His opinions stem from 15 years of experience in helping clients in the tax area. If you have questions, he can be reached at 905-616-5253 or rattangandhi@gmail.com.

Health and Wellness with Adrianne

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As this season progresses, and we continue to wait for news on when things will fully reopen, I am finding myself feeling increasingly stressed about pretty much everything.  With this endless waiting for restrictions to be lifted, and the uncertainty of what is to come in our future, it’s hard not to let things get to you.   What will our new “norm” look like?  Will our jobs be safe? Will our economy bounce back? It’s enough to drive anyone a bit sideways.  Certainly, we can all use some help managing this stressful time.

So, there are the well-known stress-busting techniques that you can implement such as meditation, exercise, singing at the top of your lungs while driving, etc.  Albeit helpful, these techniques provide short-term relief.

Adding nutritional support to help combat stress should be incorporated into everyone’s daily regime at every age.  We know that anti-oxidant rich foods like berries, fish oils, greens, nuts and seeds, and dark chocolate are great for fighting oxidative stress, but there is another group of foods and botanicals that really helps the body manage mental and physical stress over a longer period.  These are called adaptogens.

Adaptogens are herbs and botanicals that increase bodily resistance to physical, chemical, and biological noxious agents, and encourage homeostasis in the body without disturbing body functions at a normal level – well that’s the more scientific explanation any way.  In a nutshell, these botanicals and herbs help the mind and body deal with stress in a way that prevents exhaustion and over-release of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, that keep us in a constant state of fight or flight.

The negative side-effects of consistent over-release of cortisol include weight gain, generally around the abdominal area, mental and physical exhaustion, and a number of other undesirable conditions.

Take note that adaptogens are effective when taken over a period of time, so they are not meant to be a quick fix.

Which adaptogens are the best?  Depending on what you’re trying to achieve health-wise, there is no wrong choice.  Adaptogens are found in botanicals and herbs like – ashwagandha, ginseng, reishi mushrooms, aloe vera, rosemary and milk thistle, to name a few.   They are able to help the body balance out in a number of ways such as soothing exhausted adrenal glands, boosting energy levels and cognitive function, lowering blood sugar, boosting mental performance and physical stamina, and so on.  The possibilities are truly endless.

If you would like to learn more about adaptogens and which ones are the best for your needs, feel free to send us an email to info@monkeytreewellness.com.

Until then, we wish everyone a peace and tranquility, and a positive outlook for tomorrow.  Namaste.

The Westwood Theatre showed first-run flicks for 50-plus years

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By DAVE KOSONIC

The long-gone Westwood Theatre went down like the Titanic, the last movie shown at the storied south Etobicoke movie house.

Development was expected to be completed this Spring on the 13.8-acre site that is soon to be home of a new Etobicoke Civic Centre, public square, recreation centre, library, office space and child care facility.

Many moviegoers like to recall the good old days when they could enjoy first-run movies at the Westwood while munching on candy floss, hot dogs and popcorn.

The Westwood was located at the southeast corner of Six Points, or spaghetti junction, where Bloor and Dundas Sts. and Kipling Ave. met.  This location was highly accessible, there was plenty of free parking and theatre seated about 1,000 fans.

The popular cinema opened in February 1952 and the featured flicks as Laughter in Paradise and You Never Can Tell. Dudley Dumont was the first manager whose success included screening good movies at discount prices so that the seats were always filled. By 1996 it cost $3 to see the thriller Mars Attacks.

The Westwood opened with one screen. In 1968 an addition was built on the east side of the building that included a second screen.  In 1980 the large original screen was divided in half creating three theatres.  Movie buffs were overjoyed with more and more movies to view.

The Saturday afternoon matinees were packed with school kids who were dropped off at the front door of the show.  Many of these youngsters were more interested in the snack bar rather than the movies being screened.  Groups of young guys would often sit in the back rows and get noisy.  The ushers, who wore dapper tailored uniforms, would shine their flashlights on the youths and order them to sit still.

Sadly, for countless Westwood fans the theatre was closed in 1998, and ironically the last movie shown was Titanic.  The facility was shut because some politicians at the time thought that the theatre land could be better used for other purposes.  But that vision is taking a long time.

Before the Etobicoke landmark was demolished in 2013, it served as a shelter for homeless cats and In 2003 was used for the filming of the movie Resident Evil.

Some Westwood lovers wanted the old and bold Westwood sign saved and displayed to mark the theatre’s more than 50-years of operation, but that did not occur.

 

 

We will never forget a brave young officer Hancox

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Heroes in life memorial.

Police in Toronto and elsewhere are today saying prayers to mark the death of Det. Const. William (Bill) Hancox, who was killed 22-years ago.

It was on August 4, 1998, when Hancox was working in plainclothes and sitting in a police vehicle when two female suspects approached the car and fatally stabbed him.

Police said at the time  a broadcast was received from Hancox advising that he had been stabbed and needed help.

“Officers attended the location and found him lying near his police vehicle,” police said. “Emergency first aid was applied and he was transported to hospital.”

The husband and father succumbed to his injuries later that evening.

The women were arrested and convicted in his death.

Hancox was 32-years-old at the time and had been with the Toronto Police Service for nine years.

“I will never forget that day,” Lynn Gardner Perani wrote on social media.  “Thoughts and prayers go out to his family.”

The cannon at Marie Curtis Park older than the Confederation

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Older than Canada eh!

A 32-pounder cannon manning the beach of Marie Curtis Park was built in Scotland more than 200-years ago and seems to be barely touched by time and weather.

The guns manufactured by the Carron Company, of Falkirk, Scotland, saw years of action in the battlefields before being retired due to use and installed in parks and museums as a reminder of the past and for decorative purposes.

The Marie Curtis heavy gun was one of five retired and sent to Riverdale Park after a Toronto alderman in 1881 requested some cannons to decorate the expansive park.

Soon after A.P. Carron, Scotland’s Minister of Militia and Defense, visited Toronto with five cannons on carriages which arrived from Quebec City at the Yonge St. wharf, where they were hauled to Riverdale. Some have since been moved to other parks.

The gun at Marie Curtis was placed at the mouth of the Etobicoke Creek right at the point where Hurricane Hazel swept a cottage community out into Lake Ontario in 1954. It has over the years brough joy and memories for many people

The Carron Company was well managed and held it’s own against competition from other weapons makers for almost 200 years.

During both world wars the company produced munitions while meeting the  demands of peace time reconstruction in the building industry, supplying a large range of domestic products including fire grates, gas and electric cookers and baths.

The company thrived making large cooking ranges for ship’s galleys and kitchens and even made iron tiles for the British Houses of Parliament and castings for the Admiralty and Volvo cars.

Carron, which at one time was involved in the production of stainless steel and plastic goods, had its own coalmines, a fleet of ships carrying goods and passengers, agencies worldwide, showrooms in major cities and its own railway.

The firm went into receivership in 1982.

 

Man shot in Mimico early Sunday as shooter flees on foot

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It was early Sunday morning and some people were attending church in the Mimico area when gun shots rang out.

Toronto Police officers rushed to the area of Lake Shore Blvd. W., near Mimico Ave., after responding to calls from members of the community, many who were enjoying their first cup of coffee.

Emergency crews were called about 11 a.m. for a report of multiple shots fired.

Paramedics said they arrived to find a man suffering from minor injuries.

He was taken to a local hospital for treatment. He is expected to survive.

Police say the shooter took off and was last seen running west on Lake Shore Blvd.

Police described the suspect as a black male, last seen wearing a black Adidas track suit and black and white running shoes.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 416-808-2200.

 

 

Emancipation Day celebrated here and across the world

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People took to the streets of Toronto and around the world to commemorate Emancipation Day and raise awareness about anti-Black racism in government institutions.

Emancipation Day is held every year on August 1 to mark the abolition of slavery across the British Empire and its colonies.

It is a solemn day for many to take time and reflect.

Demonstrators were calling for action to end systemic anti-Black racism in key systems including child welfare, policing, the justice system, healthcare, education, arts and culture.

“The bonds and chains are no longer holding us, however, we are still bridled by the fact of racism that exists in the institutions and the systems. We have to break those,” Yvette Blackburn with the Global Jamaican Diaspora Council said.

The demonstration started in front of the Children’s Aids Society of Toronto and made stops at Toronto Police Headquarters, Old City Hall, the Ministry of Education and Mount Sinai Hospital before ending at Queen’s Park.

The march was organized by Not Another Black Life with other organizations, including the Toronto Prisoner’s Rights Project, Palestinian Youth Movement, Keep Your Rent Toronto and Climate Justice Toronto.

Emancipation Day commemorates the Abolition of Slavery Act, which became law on August 1, 1834. This act freed more than 800,000 people of African descent throughout the British Empire.

Only slaves below the age of six were freed. Enslaved people older than six years of age were re-designated as “apprentices” and required to work, 40 hours per week without pay, as part of compensation payment to their former owners. Full emancipation was finally achieved at midnight on 31 July, 1838.

The first Emancipation Day Parade was held in 1932 in Windsor and would come to be known as the ‘Greatest Freedom Show on Earth.’ The parade and festival boasted famous guests like Martin Luther King Jr., Mary McLeod Bethune, Stevie Wonder, Benjamin Mays, Fred Shuttlesworth, Martha Reeves and The Vandellas, and Eleanor Roosevelt.

It ended in 1968 following fears of the Detroit Riot in 1967 when city councillors denied permits to stage the celebration.

 

Police searching for suspect who attacks women and a man

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Police believe this suspect is becoming more brazen against area women.

Toronto Police officers are investigating multiple assaults against women and a man in the area of Roncesvalles and Howard Park Aves, in the City’s west-end.
Police say a suspect has struck at least three women and one man in separate incidents.

Police say on July 28 the man approached a 36-year-old woman and allegedly sprayed contents of a drink at her before fleeing on foot.

Detectives in a release alleged the man on July 21 approached a 38-year-old female and “proceeded to spit on the woman” before again fleeing the area on foot.

Officers allege on July 20 the suspect approached a 55-year-old man, whom he proceeded to assault, before taking off on foot.

And on May 13, police say the suspect approached a 50-year-old woman and allegedly assaulted her before fleeing.

The man is described as 25 to 40 years of age, 5’8″ to 5’10”, thin to medium build, black hair. In the most recent incident the man was wearing a black baseball cap, grey t-shirt and grey shorts .
The investigations are ongoing and anyone who may have witnessed the incidents, or has information, is urged to contact police.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1100, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, online on our Facebook Leave a Tip page, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes or Google Play.

Renforth Rd. traffic cam issues the most tickets in the City

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A new radar camera installed on Renforth Rd. is spitting out money.
The South Etobicoke Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) camera has proven to be the most productive in issuing tickets of 50 installed in hotspots across the city.

A total of 7,645 tickets were issued by the Toronto radar cameras from July 6 to 20, according to a news release from the City.

City officials say the highest speed detected was 89 km/h on Renforth Dr., near Lafferty St., which is in Ward 2 – Etobicoke Centre, where the posted speed limit is 40 km/h.

That same camera on Renforth Dr. issued the highest fine at $718 and the most tickets of all the cameras, which represents 12 per cent, or more than 900, of all tickets issued.

A nearby camera caught the most amounts of repeat offenders with a total of eight tickets for speeding at Trehorne Dr. , near Duffield Rd. The number of repeat offenders during the first two weeks following the start of issuing tickets was 591.

There were about 299 erroneous tickets issued by the City during the time period which have been withdrawn.

And the penalties are expensive if caught.

A driver caught speeding between 1 and 19 km/h over the posted speed limit will receive a set fine of $5 per kilometre. If travelling between 20 and 29 km/h over the posted speed limit, the set fine will be $7.50 per kilometre. For anything between 30 and 49 km/h over the limit, the set fine will be $12 per kilometre.

If a vehicle is detected speeding 49 km/h over the posted speed limit, the total payable fine amount would be $718. This includes a set fine of $588, a victim surcharge of $125 and $5 inapplicable court costs.