The South Etobicoke News

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

Upscale boutique hotel planned for Humber Bay Shores

by

A premiere upscale hotel is being planned for Humber Bay Shores and what used to be called the Motel Strip.

A plan by Stay Inn Hospitality to build a 13-storey luxury hotel at 2157 Lake Shore Blvd. W. is up for consideration on July 14 by the Etobicoke York Community Council.

An Official Plan Amendment is sought to amend the Motel Strip Secondary plan to allow an increase in the maximum permitted density and building height.

The proposal, if approved, will see the hotel rise from a vacant staging area that is being used to build a 10-storey and 39-storey mixed used highrises.

The hotel, if it receives the green light, will have 165-suites and a ground-floor restaurant.

Plans show there will be a total of 54 parking spaces in a one-level underground parking garage.

City Planners have ruled that public community consultations for the project has to occur before the building is approved.

“The redevelopment of the lands within the Humber Bay Shores Development Area (also known as the Motel Strip) has resulted in a new mixed use, high density community that provides the surrounding area with a new waterfront destination,” the developers say.

Ironically, the site was previously occupied by the Silver Moon Motel, which was demolished in 2008. It was one of more than a dozen mostly family-run motels that once thrived in the area.

Stay Inn brochures says it “offers a selection of room types for every traveller,  from classic rooms to executive Jacuzzi suites, you will enjoy modern accommodations with top amenities and hotel features at a fabulous rate.”

Etobicoke Community Concert Band silenced by COVID

by

Some members of the Etobicoke Community Concert Band got together on Canada Day to celebrate the country’s birthday but may have to wait a while yet to celebrate their own. Helen, John and Dave (left to right) gathered at Applewood Shaver House to perform a version of O’ Canada on the steps.

It may be a while yet before the band is able to do a full show because of COVID 19. The COVID restrictions affect rehearsals as well as performances.

The popular and well-known band had to cancel shows in March and May as well as its summer concert in the park series.

The next scheduled show is October 30 when the band hopes to celebrate its 25th anniversary but that show may also have to be cancelled if there are still COVID restrictions in effect.

You can get updated information on the band at https://www.eccb.ca/

 

Detectives on the trail of possible buck-naked jogger

by

Police have stepped up a search for a man who is allegedly exposing himself in areas of south Etobicoke.

Toronto Police 22 Division officers say between June 27 and July 2, between 9 p.m. to 11 p.m., they responded to four radio calls for acts of indecent exposure.

It is not known if the suspect exposed himself in front of others and took off.

Police in a July 3 release said the south Etobicoke incidents occurred on Bloor St. W., and Dundas St. W., west of Royal York Rd., and in the area of Runnymede Rd. and Kennedy Ave.

The suspect is described as white, about 50 to 60-years old, tall, slim build, with short grey hair. He was last seen wearing a blue-black shorts or blue jeans.

Toronto Police launched a similar manhunt one year ago to find a man who tried to talk with women on three separate occasions while jogging naked from the waist down in the Yonge and Eglinton Ave. and Mount Pleasant Rd. and Moore Ave. areas.

Detectives in June 2019 circulated photos of the bottom naked jogger, (attached) who witnesses say was carrying a blue backpack and spoke with an accent.

It is not known if that pervert was ever arrested by police.

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

Pizza maker with a heart of dough that he shares with youth

by

A Long Branch pizza maker is receiving high praise on social media for his treatment of local school kids with little or no money.

Adriano, of Adriano’s Pizza, at 3329 Lake Shore Blvd. W., is known to hand out bottles of cold water, or maybe a few slices, to area kids in distress walking by.

“It’s all about the little things we do in life,” Adriano says. “You treat the kids good now and you will have a friend for life.”

He regularly donates his tasty pies to a range of charities, which has been slow lately due to COVID-19.

Adriano has presented to at-risk children expensive running shoes or items of clothing given to him by others.

“One time I saw one kid and his shoes had holes and his feet was wet,” he recalls. “I had a nice shoe here at the store and I gave it to him. He still comes back.”

Area resident Jenn Samson says a “gaggle of teens were walking by” when they were called into Adriano’s shop and left a few minutes later with candies in their hands and giggles on their faces.

“That man is the best guy ever!” one kid said, with the other agreeing.

“Teens aren’t always the most top-paying customers,” Samson says in an online post. “A lot of restaurants accept the business, but find teens loud and annoying.”

She recalls a restaurant in Mimico that treated kids fondly in the 1980s and they still talk about the place lovingly to this day.

“It makes a huge impact on them in a world that rolls their eyes on this stage of life,” she says.

It’s nostalgic to see a business owner not only take pride in their business, but looking out for our kids and being there for them to even just put a smile on their faces, she wrote.

“Bunch of teens laughing and chatting and eating lollipops,” Samson notes. “It was a sight to see.”

“Absolutely best pizza and reasonably price,” Helena Walker-Macinnis wrote about Adriano’s Pizza on social media. “This lakeshore pizza is delicious.”

The social media posting obtained more than 68 comments from area residents who have declared their love for Adriano’s Pizza.

Adriano gets a ‘like’ for sharing his care and respect with our younger citizens in these trying times.

Residents complain of dozens of fires being set on our beaches

by

Irate Humber Bay Shores residents say little is being done about the illegal fires and boozing that goes on most nights on their beaches.

Resident Joel Batters says enough is enough in a letter posted on social media to Councillor Mark Grimes in which he says he “ventured out into basically a full-out rave.”

There were “literally hundreds of people having fires, drinking, bbq’ing and partying on our beaches.”

“This has got to stop,” Batters pleaded. “Our neighbourhood is becoming an excuse for groups of people to come and do essentially whatever they please, and apparently even having a Toronto Fire presence isn’t making a difference.”

Toronto Police say dozens of fires are being set nightly by partiers in all our major parks, which includes Marie Curtis, Col. Samuel Smith and Humber Bay Park, which has the largest density of people living nearby.

Police have launched an educational campaign to remind residents that lighting fires in the parks are illegal and can lead to a fine of $360.

Fire officials have received dozens of calls in recent weeks about fires being illegally set in different parks as part of drinking parties that can include up to 20 or more people.

Sgt. Lhawang Jongdong says some of the fires are left lit by departed partiers and can possibly cause bush fires.

Police and firefighters took part in inspecting some of the worst areas on July 4.

“We want to let people know that it is illegal to light a fire in city parks,” Jondong says.

Police say the situation is so bad that more than 60 fires were burning at some points on July 1 in area parks.

“There were people coming in to the parks with bundles of wood.”  he says. “It is very dry out there and these fires can easily get out of hand.”

Officers are also advising park users they must leave by 11 p.m.

 

Oscar Peterson’s ex-wife Sandy who had roots here passes away

by

Sandra Cynthia Andrews Peterson, the former wife of acclaimed musician Oscar Peterson, has passed after an accidental fall down a flight of stairs.

Sandy, who had strong links to south Etobicoke, was 83.

Born in Kirkland Lake, she was a graduate of Etobicoke Collegiate and Toronto General Hospital School of Nursing, according to her obituary, which states she passed away on June 27.

Sandy worked at Toronto General as an Operating Room (OR) nurse during the beginning of open heart surgeries. She became Head OR nurse there and at Grace Hospital in Toronto.

“Soon thereafter, she met, fell in love with and married jazz pianist, Oscar Peterson, and she travelled most of the world with him from the 60’s and first part of the 1970’s,” according to the family.

It was during that time that Sandy and soon-to-be eight-time Grammy Awards winner Oscar lived at Amadeo Garden Court in Mimico for a number of years, where they spent a lot of time at the local stores and at Marie Curtis and area parks.

A mural of Oscar is now in the Lake Shore Village Wall of Legends with others who helped to transform the area.

The couple divorced in 1974 and she began working in the customer service department of Sears Canada.
Sandy later married James Andrews and moved to Nashville for 12 years before returning to Canada, to requalify as a registered nurse before joining Collingwood General and Marine Hospital from which she retired on her 80th birthday.
A busy person, she was an avid golfer and bridge player and was very involved with Probus, the Cinema Club and book clubs, as she was a voracious reader and a lover of all music, especially jazz. She was a philanthropist, a wonderful cook and fabulous baker.

“Always there to help any and all of her friends and family she was an extremely generous woman loved by all,” according to her obituary. “She had incredible presence in any situation with a smile and infectious laugh that could be heard everywhere.”
The family wish to thank the medical staff at both Collingwood General and Marine Hospital and Sunnybrook Hospital Critical Care Unit for the extraordinary care given to Sandy. Collingwood Hospital, in particular, went above and beyond in both the care and kindness given to Sandy and that shown to the family.

 

Beware of most recent scams that police say are targeting seniors

by

 Toronto Police officers are warning seniors in our community to be wary of two of the most-recent types of frauds that are targeting the elderly.

Detectives from 11 Division say in the first scheme seniors are targeted at various grocery stores as they are observed by fraudsters using their pin for debit cards or purchases.

Police say the seniors are then approached in the parking lot by one or two suspects who claim to provide assistance for those loading items into their car.

“At this time seniors are being pick-pocketed for their debit card,” police said in a release. “Please be cautious and protect your PIN number.”

Police say in the second scheme the suspect claims to be a police officer, who tells victims to hold on to their cash or jewelry at home, since they have information that thieves are coming to their home or bank to commit a robbery.

“The suspects pose as police who are requesting individuals to leave money for an officer to pick up at their home for safe keeping,” according to the police.

“Anyone contacted by a person posing as a police officer or other person they must trust, do not comply with any instructions to leave money for pick up tor safe keeping.”

You can reach police at 416-808-1100.

New Toronto was mecca for Canadian wallpaper industry

by

Local historians agree that Menzies’ Wallpaper Factory was one of the earlier companies to set up shop in New Toronto. Some say when Menzies moved in their plant was lit by oil lanterns.

The company made fine wallpaper products that was popular with women who wanted the decorative designs to grace their walls.

The Menzies’ company was purchased in 1903 by Reg. N. Boxer, dubbed the ‘Master Makers of Wallpapers,’ which became well-known for their ‘Maixmur,’ later ‘Resistolite’ brand of wall coverings.

Reg. N. Boxer and three other companies in 1927 formed the Canadian Wallpaper Manufacturing Ltd., (CWM), which had four plants that exported the south Etobicoke made products around the world.

The company was located at the so-called ‘Boxer Building,’ at 222 Islington Ave., which has been deemed a historical building. The McDonald Stamping Works Building, which is part of the Boxer Building complex, is deemed one of the oldest surviving industrial buildings in New Toronto.

The plant was one of the largest wallpaper factories in Canada which operated from 1903 to about 1963, as the industry blossomed with different brands and products being introduced.

The company’s colour department became the Dominion Colour Corporation in 1946, which supplied inks to many industries that were booming at the time. Dominion Colour is still in operation today at the same location producing inks.

“From original art to final printing, it is human skill and ability that make Canadian wallpapers so widely famous,” the company said in its marketing materials.

For decades wallpaper manufacturing was one of the more important industry in the area, employing hundreds of residents in the printing, designing and producing an assortment of wall coverings.

For 60-years CWM operated in New Toronto and was part of the community. The company had a whopping payroll of more than $2 million yearly and used then ultra-modern machinery to produce some of the ‘highest quality wallpaper in the world.’

The Boxer name remained in use until about 1959, while CWM continued until 1978 when, as Sunworthy, the company relocated to Brampton.

 

Former Reeve Ozzie Waffle was Etobicoke’s top salesman

by

Former Etobicoke Reeve H. O. (Ozzie) Waffle was an Royal Canadian Air Force veteran, car salesman and top booster of our community in a time of expansion.

Waffle, the owner of Islington Ford dealership at Dundas St. W. and Islington Ave. for more than 40-years, was a Reeve for the township of Etobicoke from 1957 to 1962, when things were booming.

He is timely today since during his two terms Etobicoke was busy catering to a post-war population explosion that led to the township offices being  moved to a new civic centre at 399 The West Mall, which served us well for more than 50-years.

The Etobicoke centre is being moved again to the former Westwood Theatre site at Six Points. The new location will be closer to transit and is slated to include a recreation centre, library, child care centre, public square and improved office space.

Waffle loved flight and served as chair of the Metro Civil Defence Organization and Queensway Hospital. It was under his tenure in 1958 that a young Queen Elizabeth visited Etobicoke to be met by thousands of her adoring subjects.

He is described ‘as a self-appointed leader of his community,’ for helping others during Hurricane Hazel in October 1954, when he organized a shortwave radio communications centre during the flooding to help others obtain clothing, food supplies and fuel.

“He helped to provide emergency heating for the children’s hospital and as one of Etobicoke’s leading auto dealers, got a truck convoy system working,” according to news at the time.

Waffle made a name for himself in 1958 by voting for a monorail system, rather than a subway, which was approved by Metro Council. Then Toronto Mayor Nathan Phillips was pushing for a subway which council approved 16 to 8.

Waffle, and partner, George Ledingham, started Islington Ford in 1946 after returning from military service after WW11. The dealership was merged with others in 1985 to create Thorncrest Sherway Inc.

He passed away in March 1980 and a tribute was paid to him in the Ontario Legislature for his love for Etobicoke.

“He was a great salesman for Etobicoke,” MPP John Palmer MacBeth said in the House. “He put Etobicoke on the map in the days of its expansion.”

MacBeth said: ”I guess there wasn’t a conference around Canada he didn’t attend and make well known where he was from. He was a builder in Etobicoke, a man of optimism.”

He said Waffle suffered from a debilitating disease that kept him handicapped for the last 10 years of his life, and yet continued to contribute to the welfare of the community.

Health and Wellness with fitness expert Adrianne Szabo-Payne

by

Allow your body to start from scratch.

What is it about Spring or Fall cleaning that gets you excited? Do you feel uplifted, lighter, freer?

Now consider how cleansing your body periodically would make you feel. I’m not talking about the obvious showering, brushing your teeth, etc. I’m talking about a nutritional cleanse to help move out toxins and provide the body with a good reset. Unless you engage in daily self-care and eat a super clean diet, overtime your body will retaliate and show signs of early aging, chronic illness, or disease.

The environmental, physical and psychological stress and toxins that we are exposed to on a daily basis take a toll on our organs and systems. Periodic cleansing can lead to clearer thinking, elimination of allergies, better energy levels and sleep quality, and releases stubborn fat.

A number of cleanse programs exist on the market today. The key is to find what resonates with you and works with your lifestyle.

You can start with the basics – removal of processed foods, refined sugars, artificial foods, caffeine, etc.

Anything that is deprived of nutrients should be eliminated. From there you can take a number of different paths. There are kits you can pick up at your local health food store that can support your major organs through the cleanse, but these aren’t specifically necessary.

Most cleanses incorporate an element of fasting and tend to be comprised of juiced fruits, vegetables, roots and herbs, so they are nutrient dense and loaded with vitamins and minerals.

Depending on the cleanse you select, be mindful of the number of calories you are taking in. Most cleanses can be low in protein and fat, leaving you feeling hungry, craving sweets, and low on energy.

You may also experience headaches and spontaneous 24-hour colds if your body is detoxing too quickly.

Therefore, it is important to drink lots of cleansing fluids like water, lemon juice, and herbal teas. You can also consider adding a spoonful of chia to your cleanse drink to help boost fibre for better elimination, and provide protein and fat for energy.

Whichever path you choose, make sure to consult your family physician or a nutritionist if you are already living with compromised health.

Completing a cleanse 1-2 times a year is a good idea. Cleansing and supporting your organs and systems makes it easier to fight infection, handle stress, and can help prevent more serious issues down the road.

If you would like more information on nutritional cleanse programs, or would like to join our cleansing community, feel free to drop us an email at info@monkeytreewellness.com.

Happy cleansing.

Also connect with Adrianne on Facebook at @monkeytreefitness or #monkeytreefitnesswellness on Instagram or visit her site at www.monkeytreewellness.com