The South Etobicoke News

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

Alicia’s world as a successful coach and bodybuilder

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Local bodybuilder Alicia Bell is a certified personal trainer and high-level coach who spends a lot of time in area gyms working out.

A busy Bell fell in love with South Etobicoke and moved here about three years ago from her native Plaster Rock, New Brunswick.

“I chose Etobicoke because I love how beautiful the area is,” Bell says. “One of my favourite gyms is here and I love how close it is to the city.”

The former track and field athlete and online coach is an International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) Figure Pro, which means she has earned a Pro Card from winning a regional contest weight class.

She is an accredited kinesiologist and works as a strength coach, fitness model and competitive figure athlete, who coaches sprint, hurdles and track and field.

“Alicia has devoted her life to helping people reach their goals in fitness and sport,” her biography explains. “She is a well-known Canadian health and fitness Influencer and blogger.”

Bell writes for numerous fitness websites and publications and has been featured in three commercials; which includes endorsing products for New Balance Canada and Fuel Foods.

“I always tell young people never give up on their dreams,” she stresses. “You never know which lap will be your victory lap so keep going.

The athlete is a recognized track and field coach, who is well-known for coaching Team Canada at the Maccabi games in Israel in July of 2013. She led the team to 13 medals.

Now a head Track and Field Coach at Ryerson University, she also runs her own firm, Train It Right, a personal training and track and field club. She is also a content creator for Fitness Republic and Corus Entertainment.

“Who would have thought that someone like me from Plaster Rock could be a leader in health and fitness, shoot commercials and be in magazine,” she asks.

Bell has worked with National Basketball Association (NBA) clients as Dwight Howard and Rashad McCants; Olympic 800-metre runner Geoff Harris; U.S. rapper Lil Jon; author, actor Hill Harper and even rapper Drake’s mom, Sandi Graham.

She can be reached at her website www.trainitright.com

 

Hall of Famer Walls was a Canadian boxing champ

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Earl Walls was a top Etobicoke boxer who was dubbed the “Hooded Terror” as the fought his way to become Canada’s Heavyweight Boxing Champion in the early 1950s.

Walls, who went on to become a successful realtor in the Kingsway area, is one of a few Blacks in the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame, at the Ford Performance Centre, which lists hundreds of hockey, lacrosse, football players, jockeys, golfers, some politicians and media personalities.

Dubbed the “Hooded Terror” in the ring, Walls began boxing at age 19 and quickly won the Ontario Amateur Heavyweight Championship. The native of Puce, near Windsor, started his professional career with a knockout victory in a fight in New York City.

After losing his next three bouts, he set up training in Alberta and by June of 1952 had won the Canadian Heavyweight title. In his pro career, Walls knocked out 27 opponents, including 14 in the first round.

“His boxing career was brief but extremely successful,” sports writers said of Walls.

By 1955, he was on his way to becoming the second Canadian, behind Tommy Burns, to take the  World Heavyweight Championship.

Walls was a contender then ranked fifth in the world and a title shot against the champ Rocky Marciano was in the works.

But in June of that year, at the age of 27, Walls stunned the boxing world by announcing his retirement.

Then married and with a young family, Walls no longer wanted to step into the ring.

“Boxing is a business. Strictly a career with me,” he explained in a newspaper article. “I don’t go for violence. And I don’t like the wrong impression people get of fighters – that we’re all gorillas, social bums.”

He gained enormous success in real estate while raising his family in Etobicoke, where he was involved with a number of charities, including Variety Village’s Sunshine Games. He is also a member of the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame and the Afro-American Sports Hall of Fame in Detroit. He died in 1996.

 

Local funeral home takes part in Canadian military service

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Local funeral home owner Brad Jones says it was a repatriation service he will never forget.

Jones, of Ridley Funeral Home, at 3080 Lake Shore Blvd. W., was among the companies that helped the Canadian military to transport the body of Sub-Lt. Abbigail Cowbrough and honour five of her colleagues who died in a helicopter crash off the coast of Greece.

A Cyclone helicopter carrying six Armed Forces members crashed into the Ionian Sea on April 29. Defence officials have said it was returning to HMCS Fredericton at the end of a NATO training mission.

The remains of Cowbrough were recovered while the other five service members on board are missing and presumed dead. The remains of one other person have been recovered but not yet identified.

Cowbrough’s casket, which was draped in the Canadian flag, was slowly carried out of a CC-177 Globemaster at CFB Trenton by fellow military members while the mournful sound of bagpipes played. Her family then gathered next to a hearse after the casket was placed inside.

“It was a life-changing experience,” Jones recalls. “It was very somber seeing the many people lining up on bridges and overpasses along the Highway of Heroes as we made our way downtown.”

Jones, whose home is celebrating 100-years this year, says the crowds were very somber, respectful and “people braved the virus to be out on the bridges and along the highway to catch a glimpse of our heroes.”

The Canadian Armed Forces in a statement said “despite the challenges presented by the current COVID-19 environment … we are committed to a dignified and respectful repatriation for our fallen aviators and sailors.”

The other fallen members are Capt. Brenden Ian MacDonald, from New Glasgow, N.S.; Sub-Lt. Matthew Pyke, from Truro, N.S.; Capt. Kevin Hagen, of Nanaimo, B.C.; Capt. Maxime Miron-Morin, from Quebec; and Master Cpl. Matthew Cousins, from Guelph, Ont.

Cowbrough is the second female Canadian military officer to have lost her life in a month. Capt. Jennifer Casey, from Halifax, was killed after a Snowbirds famed Tutor jet crashed shortly after takeoff in Kamloops, B.C., on May 17, while in the midst of a cross-country tour to boost morale during the pandemic.

Steaming Pickin’ Chicken still sorely missed by many residents

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Many area residents are still licking their fingers with delight as they recall from yesteryear a busy fleet of VW Beetles that shuttled steaming barbequed chicken to mouth-watering households.

The popular Pickin’ Chicken BBQ restaurant opened in 1953 and had developed quite a poulet-loving following in its 17-years of operation in a time before take-out food would become as widespread as it is today with Uber Eats, DoorDash and other apps.

The company, aside its chicken, is best remembered for its fleet of colourful Volkswagen Beetles that delivered thousands of chicken legs and breasts dinners and assortments to awaiting Etobicoke and Toronto residents.

The cars were painted in bright colours with the Pickin’ Chicken name, phone number and address.

The beloved restaurant, which would later be copied by eateries as Swiss Chalet and others, stood at the site of Marina del Ray Condominiums, at 2261 Lake Shore Blvd. W., in Mimico.

The business was owned by Saul and Jerry Goldberg, who copied the success and soon opened two other thriving locations on Queen Street W., at Roncesvalles, and on Kingston Road.

Before long there were seven takeout franchise locations and Pickin’ Chicken was one of the favourite order-in meals at the time.

Hungry residents could have their choice of barbecued chicken as eat in, takeout, or delivered to their front door while the meal was still steaming hot.

Many in the community still remember licking their fingers after ordering Pickin’ Chicken on a Friday night.

“It was a great place,” agrees one long-time resident. “The chicken was always good and it was well-ahead of its time.”

But like many fast food outlets over the years, the business went bankrupt in 1970.

The property was sold to a developer who was planning to build a large world class hotel, but due to political pressure those plans were dropped. The property would change ownership more than once before it was finally purchased by corporation.

The 46-floor Palace Pier North Tower was completed in 1978 and the South Tower was finished in 1991. They were at one time the tallest, and one of the most expensive, residential complexes in Canada.

 

Three New Toronto brothers sent to WW1 and only one return

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By TOM GODFREY

These three courageous brothers from Fourth Street would set out for war, but only one would return home.

It’s almost like the movie Saving Private Ryan, but it took place right here in New Toronto more than a century ago.

It will be 105-years in September when the three valiant brothers enlisted in the Canadian military to fight for their country, but only one survived to return home as his siblings were killed in action overseas.

In the award-winning movie, U.S. officials learn that three of the four sons of the Ryan family were killed in action and frantic efforts were underway to return home a fourth son, James.

Victor, John and Thomas Arding, were born in Berkshire, England, but moved to Canada with their parents, William and Emily, who brought them up with lots of love in a small house on Fourth St.

Close brothers Victor and John enlisted into the Canadian military on the same day in October 1915 and were members of the 75th Battalion, as members of the 9th Mississauga Horse, of the Canadian Infantry.

They were both killed in action just more than a year later on November 18, 1916.

Their youngest brother, Thomas, had enlisted in the Canadian navy.

John, at 32, a Corporal, had worked as a fireman at Ritchie’s paper mills, was a member of a militia and had eight-years with the Queen’s Own Royal Lancers, a cavalry regiment of the British Army.

The father of three young children had also served in the Imperial Army of India, along with Victor.

He was injured in France in September 1916 and killed two months later.

His wife, Florence, was devastated and almost collapsed when told of her husband’s death, according to the Toronto Daily Star.

Brother Victor, a sergeant, was killed in a bomb explosion in the Desire Trench at the Somme. His remains were never found and he is listed on the Vimy Memorial in France.

A devastated Thomas completed his term with the navy and returned home.

News of the deaths spread like wildfire in New Toronto rocking the tight and closely-knit community.

Community leaders decided to honour the Arding brothers, and other slain soldiers from the area, by constructing The New Toronto War Memorial, which was designed as a fountain and opened in 1919 before hundreds of residents.

The 626-pound memorial now sits deserted outside the former Royal Canadian Legion Hall on Eight St.. A new home has been found for the monument on the grounds of Humber College.

The fountain was a brainchild of the ladies of Soldiers’ Comforts Association, which sent thousands of parcels overseas to troops during the war. The group had $800 cash left over and the fountain was constructed. Engraved on it are the names of the 19 area soldiers who had lost their lives in war.

The names included: John Arding, Victor Arding, Reginald Barron, Ernest Clark, Frank Clark, William Cooper, Fred Critchley, Joseph Hodges, Canton Gordon, Vincent Leaghey, Neil McFadyen, Arthur Millard, Joseph Mullineaux, John Neil, Richard Saunders and Joseph Staples.

 

Long Branch Judge Budzinski retires after years of service

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Long Branch raised Judge Lloyd Budzinski has pounded his courtroom gavel for the last time after almost 30-years of dedicated legal service to this province.

Within days of his retirement, Budzinski was busy with projects around his home that he could not make time for while working.

Budzinski, a judge of the Ontario Court of Justice, was appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice in 1992. He was called to the Ontario Bar in 1971 and appointed Q.C. in 1982.

“I grew up right here in Long Branch,” he says proudly. “My parents ran the popular Boulevard Fish and Chips store for many years and I grew up helping them.”

The former waiter, teacher, computer programmer, Crown Attorney and Defence Counsel spends a lot of time giving back to his community by speaking to groups or answering questions on the law.

He has deep roots in the area, loves the people and the community.

“My parents had a business here for many years,” Budzinski says. “I love it here. We are a lovely working middle-class community.”

A hard worker, he rose through the legal system and at one time served as Director of Planning-Policy and Assistant Deputy Minister in the Ontario government.

He oversaw the implementation of Domestic and Elder Abuse protocols, first Diversion Policies in Ontario, the implementation of the Victim Witness Program, new protocols re-Nursing Home Prosecutions and assisted implementing the Zuber Report on Regionalization.

His role as the Acting Assistant Deputy Minister gave him responsibility for developing and administering an $80 million budget for 700 lawyers and support persons.

He also created and delivered educational programs and training videos for lawyers, investigators, teachers, probation officers and students at police colleges, universities and community groups.

The former judge over the years has presided over some exciting high-profile cases including ones involving the late Toronto Mayor Rob Ford and the G20 Summit protestors.

He was also the Chief Prosecutor in the high-profile trial of former RCMP undercover officer Patrick Michael Kelly, who was found guilty of murder for throwing his wife Jeannette, from the 17th-floor balcony of their Palace Pier condo in March 1981.

 

Public memorial on hold for runaway U.S. slave Glover

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Runaway U.S. slave Joshua Glover may soon have a permanent home in Etobicoke.

A competition for a permanent public art memorial for Glover, a runaway slave who settled in Etobicoke 166-years-ago, has been put on hold due to COVID-19.

The City of Toronto this year approved more than $50,000 for a memorial to be located at a new Joshua Glover Park, at 4208 Dundas St. W., close to where he lived.

Proposals for the memorial are being sought from members of the community to come up with a design, which like Glover, can stand the test of time.

The proposals sought by City’s Arts and Culture Services, working with the Etobicoke Historical Society (EHS), had a deadline of April 30, which has been put on hold due to the pandemic.

Area Councillor Stephen Holyday has visited the site and expects work on the memorial will continue after the City gives a green light.

Glover, who escaped from his owner in St. Louis, Mo., in 1852, arrived in Canada in 1854 via the Underground Railroad after travelling 400-miles by night, dodging slave and bounty hunters.

Before making it across the border, he was released from a jail in Milwaukee by up to 5,000 irate citizens after his owner tracked him down in Racine, Wisconsin, according to reports.

Anti-slavery citizens in both Racine and Milwaukee assembled outside the courthouse and battered down the jail house door and rescued Glover, an event that highlighted the concern of many people about the injustice of slavery at that time.
Glover was guided along the Underground Railroad, a series of safe houses around Wisconsin, until he was able to board a ship to Canada.
He landed in either Owen Sound or Collingwood, and made his way to Etobicoke where he found work with Thomas Montgomery, owner of Montgomery’s Inn. Glover became one of 39 Blacks living in Etobicoke, which at the time had a population of 2,900.

He survived two wives, who were both Irish, and spent his last days at the York County Home for the Aged in Newmarket, where he died in 1888 at the age of 74.

City officials say a successful proposal will be selected by a panel and the artist will work closely with partners to develop the art, confirm siting, and install and complete the project.

For further info contact the Public Art Officer at 416-392-4173 or email publicartcompetitions@toronto.ca.

With files by Joel Winters

A long-ago sign that keep Italian newcomers together

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The mysterious ‘John Caboto Society Hall Erected 1939” is engraved on a plaque on top of a roof facing the corner of Portland  and Milton Sts., just east of Royal York Rd.

Local resident Ian Robertson says there are no other signs on the building about the social hall, and a side door is boarded up and beside a locked door with ‘Shipping Only’ sign.

The fading sign is from a bygone era many than 80-years ago.

It turns out the club, like the Statue of Liberty in the U.S., served as a welcoming and social outlet for Italian newcomers resettling in Canada in the 1920s.

The club was named the Giovanni or John Caboto Club, in honour of the famed Italian sailor and explorer John Cabot. He became, and still is, an important figure to Italian immigrant communities in Canada, although he sailed for the English Crown.

His landing on the coastline of modern-day Newfoundland in 1497 was used to validate and legitimize the Italian immigrant experience in Canada, serving as a source of pride.

The club was founded by Italian immigrants in late 1924, and in the U.S. and Canada became an important part of the local Italian community, providing a place for community gatherings, support for new immigrants and through fundraising activities, support for the larger community.

There are still strong branches of the club in existence in Windsor and parts of the U.S.

 

Glory days of the Long Branch Race Track

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It has been 65-years since the last wager was placed by emotional race fans on thoroughbreds plowing down a back stretch at the long-forgotten Long Branch Race Track.

Called Ontario’s leading horse racing track at the time, the Long Branch track operated for more than three decades from 1924 to 1955 and took up 39.7 hectares of prime land bounded by Evans, Kipling and Horner Aves., and the Canadian Pacific Railway to the west.

The facility, which attracted thousands, was owned by mining magnate Abe Orpen and his family before being sold to Toronto Racing Securities Limited which closed the track with the development of a new Woodbine Race Track, in Rexdale.

The Long Branch track was hugely popular with loyal fans travelling here by train from the U.S. and the southern Ontario area. It was a place where the rich mingled with the working class in hopes of winning big.

Each year thousands of fans would flock to the track for thoroughbred and standardbred races, according to City records.

The Canadian International Championship was first run as the Long Branch Championship Stakes in 1938 and the Cup and Saucer Stakes for Canadian foaled two-year-olds began here. Both of these races are still part of Canada’s racing season.

All that is left of the many years of excitement and wagering is a plaque by the City of Toronto, on the north side of Horner Avenue, just east of the railway tracks.

The brick and stone gatepost directly opposite this plaque was one of two marking the main entrance to the track. A so-called ‘avenue of maple trees, which still survive, highlighted the entrance.

Track owner Orpen designed the Long Branch track to be ‘Ontario’s leading and most-modern race track establishment.’

He had arranged for Canadian and Grand Trunk Railways to be built and service his racetrack with passenger trains full of horse betting patrons coming as far as the U.S. to the racing mecca.

Orpen, or Uncle ‘Abe” as he was called, was also president of the Long Branch Racing Association Ltd. , and an executive with the Ontario Jockey Club. During the thirties he paid for and ran a soup kitchen that would feed 500 men twice weekly until he passed away in 1937.

Ex-Argos Zeke still active with charity work

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Former Toronto Argos tight end and long-time South Etobicoke resident William “Zeke” O’Connor is 94-years-old and is more fit than many people half his age.

Zeke will always be remembered for catching the winning touchdown pass for the underdog Argos in the 1952 Grey Cup, beating the Edmonton Eskimos 21-11 at Varsity Stadium. It would be the last championship the Argos would win until 1983.

“That catch changed my life,” he recalls from the Delmanor Retirement Home.  “It led to many other opportunities for me.”

The son of a New York City cop, Zeke worked at Sears for 31 years after football and was a Grey Cup radio broadcaster, doing colour commentary on the CBC from 1956 to 1981.

While at Sears he met famous explorer Sir Edmund Hillary, who became the first man to summit Mount Everest in 1953. From Hillary he gained a passion for philanthropy, particularly in Nepal.

He formed and ran the Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation of Canada more than 30 years to help improve the lives of the Sherpas in the remote high-altitude villages of Mount Everest.

Zeke has since made about 45 trips to Nepal to help the Sherpas and is one of a few people who’ve have had a hospital and healing garden named him by thankful Nepalese.

He has helped to raise more than $5 million to build schools, hospitals, medical clinics, provide medical scholarships, train village health workers, build water pipelines, bridges, and to fund the Kunde Hospital and Sagarmatha National Park reforestation programs.

He was honoured on October 21 by the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame with a dinner gala and presented with a Governor-general ribbon of distinction.

“I have been given many awards and medals over the years,” Zeke says. “This one means a lot to me.”

The foundation is now run by his daughter, Karen, aided by Operations Manager Jeanne Cornacchia.

Zeke published a memoir in 2012 called Journey with the Sherpas: The Story of Zeke O’Connor and the Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation.

Before moving to Canada, he played pro football in the U.S. with the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns and New York Yanks before joining the Argonauts, which he says was a jumping-off point for many experiences, including a 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rotary Club of Toronto West.

Visit thesiredmundhillaryfoundation.ca for more info or to donate.