Many South Etobicoke residents grew up a streetcar ride away from the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) which was always a highlight of our summer in Toronto.

Now after 142 years of memories, the CNE is at risk of closing its gates and food venues. The late August fair, along with other major city attractions, will be cancelled for a second year to curb the spread of COVID-19, according to city leaders.

More than 70,000 people have signed an online petition calling on the provincial and federal governments to contribute $5.5 million each to save the iconic fair.

Without financial support the CNE will not survive to 2022, according to the petition.

It is estimated that the CNE will lose up to $70 million in revenue due to the 2021 closure and will have to reassess the “financial viability” of surviving a second consecutive year of money lost.

According to the CNE Association, the not-for-profit agricultural organization which oversees the event, the CNE saw a $6 million loss in 2020 after an unprecedented decision to cancel its 18-day in-person event.

“Without government support, the 142-year-old fair could close its gates forever,” said Councillor Mike Layton in a Tweet. He is also the host of the petition.

The CNE is also an important employer, particularly of youth, keeping near 5,000 people per fair season in their employ and supporting 700 independent vendors, the petition state. As a regional cultural attraction, the CNE also supports more than 1,000 entertainers during the fair.

The CNE operates as a non-profit, paying rent to the City of Toronto to operate. The city provided financial support to the CNE in 2020 and will do so again in 2021, as well as committing to partner to support continued operations, but there is still a desperate need for financial support from other levels of government to secure the future of the CNE, and the economic activity it generates.

The pandemic has meant this one-of-a-kind family tradition has been cancelled for two years in a row and is facing huge financial pressure.

“Without action now from all levels of government the CNE is at risk of being unable to host another fair,” the petition stressed.

For well over a century the Canadian National Exhibition Association, and its signature event the CNE, has brought together Canadians and visitors from far and wide to mark the end of summer with countless attractions and experiences.

“Not only is the fair the signal of the end of summer, but it is a major attraction in Ontario with over 1.4 million visitors every year,” the organizers said.

The popularity of the 18 day fair makes a significant economic contribution to the economy of the GTA and province, generating $93.1M and $128.3M respectively.

The petition can be found at change.org

 

As many as 100 gunshots were flying in mid Etobicoke on a nice Sunday afternoon as many families were enjoying the sunshine and a taste of the outdoors.

After the gun smoke had lifted,  a 28-year-old man was dead and three others hospitalized after being injured in gunfire just before 2:30 p.m. at an apartment complex in the area of Willowridge Road and Eglinton Ave. W., just west of Martin Grove Road.

The Willowridge complex is well known to police and has a long history of incidents in which police had to respond.

Toronto Police Insp. Michael Williams said a dark sedan entered the complex on May 16 and approached a Toyota Camry and Mercedes Benz that were parked in front of 22 Willowridge Road.

The occupant or occupants in the sedan opened fired on those inside the two parked vehicles. The gunshots lasted for some time, according to witnesses.

Police and residents estimate about 100 shots were fired at the vehicles as residents in the area ran for cover forgetting about plans of getting some rays in the park.

“From the sounds of things, it was very confusing even for anybody that would have seen what took place as vehicles and people running in all directions, quite chaotic,” Williams said.

When officers arrived, they located one of the victims in a roundabout near the Mercedes. Two other young men were found collapsed on a nearby street.

Police found three male victims in their late 20s and early 30s suffering from gunshot wounds.

All four were transported to the hospital in an emergency run by police.

Williams said one of the victims was later pronounced dead. Of the victims who remain in hospital, one is described as in life-threatening condition and two others have serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

“It doesn’t appear to be random. But again, we can’t jump to any kind of conclusions at this point,” he said.

Officers were at the scene for hours as they canvass for witnesses, cellphone and dash cam videos that can help in the investigation.

Police last summer found 86 shell casings after a nightclub shooting in New Toronto, which at the time was a record for casings found at a scene. The Willowbridge shooting is estimated to have left behind a record 100 bullet casings.

Police are appealing to anyone with information to contact 23 Division, homicide investigators at 416-808-7400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS.

 

Two New Toronto area residents are waking up in hospital in serious condition after a motorcycle and a Toronto Police cruiser collided near Sixth and Birmingham Streets.

The police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit, is investigating the collision that took place in the area of Sixth and Birmingham Streets, just north of Lake Shore Blvd. W., around 8 p.m. on May 13.

Toronto paramedics say a woman in her 30s and another person were transported to trauma centre with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

No one was injured in the police vehicle.

A video posted on social media shows the police vehicle travelling on Sixth, which is a one-way street.

Residents allege the vehicle was travelling the wrong way in a one-way street when the crash occurred.

Police officials said they cannot comment on the case due to the SIU investigation underway.

Some streets in the area were closed as police investigated the incident.

No charges have been laid at this time.

Police did not say if the officers were on their way to a call at the time the accident occurred.

The names of the injured residents have not been released.

 

Mourning seniors who belong to Storefront Humber are creating a Remembrance Garden to help them pay tribute to the many friends and loved ones they have lost to COVID-19.

“During my conversations with our volunteers and clients it was made clear that many had lost loved ones during the COVID-19 close down,” said Bruce Buchanan, Manager of Community and Social activities for Storefront Humber Inc.

Buchanan said the many emergency lockdowns and closures have been tough on the seniors.

“Many of our seniors and adults with disabilities have been very isolated and the Garden will let them know that they are always remembered,” he acknowledged.

He said ‘many people were not able to mourn as they would have been able to (and that has) had an effect on their emotional and isolation over the past year.’

“Not everyone who passed away was due to Covid but still the loss was still very much on the minds of our community,” Buchanan noted.

He said during a discussion the idea came up for the Remembrance Garden project.

“We have six large wooden raised beds at the front of our Storefront Humber building on Lake Shore Blvd. West and Mimico,” he explained. “A project was made to plant flowers as a way to visually and emotionally have a place to do our remembering and celebrating those we lost and are being missed.”

Storefront members will begin planting the garden on May 18. The volunteer board have donated geraniums for the planting.

The garden will be for clients and their families “to visit and remember those who we have lost.”

In addition, small coloured fabric flags will be hung with have the names of those people we wish to remember, Buchanan said.

They will be hung from the larger trees at the front that over hang the remembrance gardens.

Someone has donated some money for a small wind chime to hand in the tree as well.

The Tibetans believe the prayers and mantras will be blown by the wind to spread the good will and compassion into all pervading space.

Therefore, prayer flags are thought to bring benefit to all, he said.

They are traditionally hung outdoors (on trees, homes or mountain tops) so that when the wind blows their energy and prayers are released into the universe.

Storefront Humber provides extensive programs to help seniors and adults with disabilities remain independent in their own home and in the community. Their office is located at 2445 Lake Shore Blvd. W. They can be reached by phone at 416-259-4207 or email at sfh@storefronthumber.ca

 

Police are once again warning area residents frustrated from stay-at-home orders and lockdowns due to COVID-19 to be extra vigilant if they are shopping for pets online.

Officers said Internet fraudsters are skilled at their craft and many unsuspecting people are becoming victims of robberies, scams, frauds or thefts.

The warning comes as three puppies were reunited after being stolen while advertised for sale online by scammers.

Peel Regional Police said the three pups were the victims of an online scam. Officers executed a search warrant at a residence in St. Catharines and located the puppies safe and sound after a search.

Officers said the pups were fraudulently obtained in Mississauga between March 8 and 9.

“A woman went to two different addresses in Mississauga responding to ads posted online for puppies for sale,” Peel police said in a news release. “The victims contacted police when they went to cash the cheques and discovered they had been cancelled.”

Police said in all three cases, “the woman provided personal cheques to purchase the puppies in excess of $3,000 each.”

“Users of online classifieds websites, whether buying or selling, can be vulnerable to crimes,” police said. “The exchange of goods for payment has varying risk factors, whether via mail or face to face.”

Dejanay General, 22, of Hamilton, Khalid Ali, 20 and Jacob Bell, 23, of St. Catharines, have been charged with theft and robbery offences. They appeared in court on March 27.

Police said there are many types of scams fraudsters will use to deceive people into giving them money, personal information, or property. Understanding these various types of scams is an effective fraud prevention tool.

You can check out their website at peelpolice.ca for tips on how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud.