By TOM GODFREY
Hard-working Ann Marie Curtis was the first female reeve of Long Branch and is best remembered for a beautiful waterfront park that is named in her honour.
Curtis served as the reeve of Long Branch from 1953 to her retirement in 1962, and was the only woman to hold that job. She was also a member of Metro Toronto Council and the first woman on its executive.
A proud housewife, she worked hard to improve the life of residents and oversaw improvements to infrastructure in Long Branch as the installation of storm sewers, the paving of roads and planting of crab apple trees to help curb floods.
One of seven children, she was raised in St. Louis, Miss., and later moved to Long Branch, got married to husband Bryce, and worked in a hat factory.
Her friends swore her “political commentary was as crusty as the scrumptious apple pies she loved to bake.”
Curtis became involved in activism after seven teachers in the community were fired. She became president of the Home and School Association and successfully lobbied for more kindergarten classes.
She became frustrated that the incumbent reeve was “rubber-stamping’ the decisions of others and ran against him and won the position.
Curtis made a name for herself during Hurricane Hazel, which struck in October 1954, killing seven people and leaving 700 evacuated from their homes, trailers and streets.
Curtis was in charge of the relocation of flood victims and advocated for the conversion of a flood plain on which the devastated homes stood into parkland. Some 300 homes were demolished, along with the trailer park to create a 35-acre park.
The popular Curtis even delivered compensation checks personally to the flood victims.
She is still remembered for the Long Branch Arena, a new artificial ice rink which she opened In December 1962, despite issues with funding.
Curtis retired in 1962 and moved with Bryce to Flesherton. There she served for six years as secretary of the Association of Mayors and Reeves in Ontario, where she was a former president.
Curtis advocated in 1962 for the amalgamation of Long Branch with neighbouring villages Mimico and New Toronto, but the proposal went to the Ontario Municipal Board, which left the villages in place. The Ontario government amalgamated the three communities into Etobicoke in 1967.
She died in 2006 at the age of 94. The park that was destroyed by Hazel was named Marie Curtis Park in her honour in 1959. It is marked by a plaque and cairn. To top it off she was inducted into the Etobicoke Hall of Fame in 1988.
Food lovers help educate girls in India
Etobicoke Indian food lovers are helping to educate two aspiring young girls across the world through the purchase of a tasty snack.
Karan Kalia, owner of Tich Modern Indian Cuisine, at 2314 Lake Shore Blvd. W., has been putting aside about 25-cents for the Indian teens from the sale of every tasty Onion Bhaji appetizer, which are a favourite of many customers.
Kalia says the change works out to a princely sum when converted into Indian rupees.
She says the funds help sisters Jyoti, 17, and Anjali, 15, who live a difficult life in New Delhi.
The pair help their mom, who works as an ironing lady, or “press wali,” for their village. They daily help to pick up the clothing, with the ironing and then return the items to their customers.
Most villages in India have a “press wali,” who acts as the local ironing lady.
“Jyoti is passionate about dance and hopes to pursue a career within the field,” she says. “Anjali is inclined towards finance and wishes to work in the banking industry.”
Her daughter Shanaya, 19, befriended the girls while on a trip to India and vowed to help them with their education.
“My daughter was surprised to see them studying under a lamp-post in New Delhi at night,” Kalia recalls. “They started a friendship and she wanted to help them.”
She says many customers order the appetizers once they learn that part of the price goes to help the girls with their education.
“Every couple months we exchange into rupees the money we have collected and send it to them,” Kalia says. “It may not sound as much but it is a fair bit after we convert it to rupees.”
She estimate they’ve sent more than 5,000 rupees to help the girls, which is more than $100 Canadian.
“It is a small gesture but it is a start in giving back to the community,” Kalia says. “Thanks to our customers here who are helping these girls in India.”
Tich restaurant just celebrated its fifth anniversary and has customers from across the city who love their good Indian cuisine.
Six officers with 200-years experience retire from force
More than 200-years of combined police experience from 22 Division have been lost as six well-liked officers are among those to recently retire from the Toronto Police Service.
“We salute and wish our well-deserving retirees the best of health, happiness and peace in the next chapter of their lives,” officers said of their departing colleagues on a retirement poster.
A private retirement gala is planned for April 16.
Among those who’ve left include the popular Staff Sgt. Doug MacDonald, who has 30-years of service, working in a number of positions with the force.
MacDonald was thanked online by dozens of colleagues, including community residents from the Mimico By The Lake BIA and Lakeshore Village BIA.
“So glad to have worked with you in this great community,” according to a post by the Lakeshore Village BIA. “We look forward to seeing you in your new civilian role. Thank you and congratulations.”
Colleagues from 11 Division says “Doug will be missed and was a great guy to work for.”
Also gone is Det. Sgt. Joanne Rudnick, who served 31-years and 11-months on the force; many spent investigating and collaring some viscous sex crime offenders.
We also miss Det. Barb Kohl, who over the years has helped to search for a number of missing people in the area.
Sgt. Lisa Ferris, a former bike cop, is being congratulated on her retirement after many years in a series of roles on the TPS.
Long-time Sgt. John Clarke, an avid skier, has also moved on. Clarke and four Toronto Police officers in 2017 represented city, country, and service at the North American Police Ski-Snowboard Championships in Snowmass, Colorado.
Thank you also goes out to Booker Ed Taylor and SDO Cindy Dodardo for serving the residents of our community.
The TPS have about 5,400 uniformed officers and 2,500 civilian employees. About 11 per cent of officers in Canada are eligible to retire with full pension, records show.
Oscar Peterson lived here and is a Lakeshore Legend
Many of us walk by a portrait of celebrated jazz pianist Oscar Peterson who helped to transform music and is one of six Lakeshore Legends heroes whose mural grace a Sixth Street wall.
Many residents didn’t realize the Montreal-born musician had long ties to our community and had lived in Mimico for a number of years in the 1960s and 70s’.
Peterson, who was born in 1925 and composed more than 400 pieces, during the 1960s lived at Amadeo Garden Court Complex in two apartments overlooking Lake Ontario, according to local historians and residents.
“For years Peterson frequented the mom-and-pop stores along the Lakeshore,” and according to his widow, Kelly Peterson “loved spending time by the water.”
He was often seen in Marie Curtis Park, which he loved, before moving to Mississauga.
The portrait of Peterson made it into Lakeshore Legends due to his love for the area and its residents, according to the Lakeshore Village BIA, which sponsored the artwork.
Peterson died of kidney failure at his Mississauga home in December 23, 2007.
He loved the area because some of his musician friends as Horace Lapp, a silent film accompanist, and trombonist pal Butch Watanabe also lived in the area.
The word-renowned pianist was the winner of eight Grammy Awards and worked with top musicians as Ray Brown, Ella Fitzgerald and many others. His song “Hymn To Freedom” rose to become one of the top crusade songs of the civil rights movement led by Martin Luther King Jr.
He loved York University and served as the university’s fifth chancellor and was involved in the York music program.
Peterson was recognized by the City of Mississauga in 2003 when a street was named for him and he was presented with a Civic Award of Merit. He had postage stamp unveiled in his honour, along with his name on plaques and numerous schools. He was also inducted to the Order of Canada in 1972.
The mural, by Toronto artist Chris Irvine, pays tribute to fellow Lakeshore Legends like NHL star Dave Bolland, marathoner Jerome Drayton, skater Petra Burka, swimmer Lou Gamble and others who led extraordinary lives and contributed to the rich cultural fabric of our community.
February is Black History Month
February is Black History Month and there are a number of interesting events taking place in the community to commemorate the annual event.
The St. Margaret Church, New Toronto, is hosting a forum on February 9 to mark the occasion.
The forum is called ‘From Harriet Tubman to Black Panther; Afro-Futurism and Prophetic Imagination’ and takes place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the 156 Sixth Street church.
The speakers include Carol B. Duncan, of the Dept. of Religion and Culture, of Wilfred Laurier University.
Gideon Strauss, the Academic Dean and Associate Professor of Worldview Studies, at the Institute for Christian Studies, will also be addressing residents.
The Jean Augustine Centre for Young Women’s Empowerment, 101 Portland St., is also staging a forum to mark the event.
Emma Asiedu-Akrofi, the Centre’s Executive Director, says the annual Black History Month Celebration and Fundraiser will take place on February 22 at the Assembly Hall, 1 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Dr.
“It promises to be great event as in previous years,” Asiedu-Akrofi says. “We’re in the process of finalizing details of the event.”
A Black History Month Cultural Celebration also takes place on February 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Etobicoke Civic Centre, 399 The West Mall.
Deputy Mayor Stephen Holyday will speak and the International Decade for People of African Descent from 2015 to 2024 will be celebrated.
The City of Toronto is staging a Black History photo display and events for the public. The City last month marked Martin Luther King Jr. Day with events and speeches. January 20 is declared Martin Luther King Jr. Day and is a public holiday in the U.S.
Known for his “I Have A Dream” speech King was gunned down in Memphis on April 4, 1968. The famed American civil rights leader was assassinated at the age of 39 while on the balcony of the famed Lorraine Motel.
22 Division Traffic Enforcement
Toronto Police 22 Division Sgt. Lhawang Jongdong and Const. Rodney Draheim set up on Bloor St. W., to take part in a city-wide traffic initiative that runs from February to May 2020. The initiative that was brought forward by Supt. Neil Corrigan and Insp. Tim Crone, will have one officer dedicated to traffic enforcement from each primary response platoon. There will also be a dedicated back-up officer.
Police say the strategic deployment will use data to identify problem areas of the community and units will be hitting the streets at specific times.
Police said the initiative will target aggressive driving and speeding and is in line with the Mayor’s “Vision Zero” program, which aims at eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways.
Officers will also take the time to educate drivers on the rules of the road in addition to enforcement.
Nobel Prize Doc
Column April 5.18
It will be 50-years this week that U.S. civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was killed by a sniper while standing on a balcony outside his room at the infamous Lorraine Motel in Memphis.
The shooter, James Earl Ray, fled to Toronto and hid out for several weeks in west-end rooming houses as he obtained new travel documents.
King Jr., was outside Room 306 speaking to colleagues as Ray lined-up his rifle and fired a fatal shot from the bathroom of an adjacent rooming house that overlooked the Lorraine.
It was just after 6:05 p.m. on April 4, 1968 when the father and civil rights icon was struck in the lower right side of his face by the assassin’s bullet. He collapsed to the floor and was cradled by friend Ralph Abernathy, as closest aide Jesse Jackson called for help.
The death threats against King Jr., and his entourage, had been mounting as he spoke at Southern rallies to help down-trodden Blacks. The man, who once had a dream, was rushed to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead about an hour later. He was 39.
King Jr. had dismissed another threat against him as he travelled to Memphis to prepare for a march on behalf of striking Memphis sanitation workers, who were seeking the same pay as whites.
News of his death spread like wildfire across the U.S., angering both Blacks and whites, who took to streets in more than 100 cities. More than 40 people were killed during the riots, robberies and the looting and burning of businesses.
President Lyndon B. Johnson called for a national day of mourning on April 7, which led to the closure of public libraries, museums, schools and businesses.
The next day King’s widow, Coretta Scott King, and other family members joined thousands of participants in a march in Memphis honoring King Jr. and supporting the sanitation workers.
His funeral service at Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church was attended by many of the nation’s political and civil rights leaders.
More than 100,000 mourners followed two mules pulling King Jr.’s coffin through the solemn streets. His body was interred in a crypt at the King Center, an institution founded by Coretta.
Shortly after the assassination, a policeman discovered a bundle containing a Remington rifle next door to the boarding house, which led to the FBI launching one of its largest international investigations in history.
Fingerprints lifted from the rifle led to Ray, a small-time hood who had escaped from a Missouri prison in April 1967, where he was serving 20-years for armed robbery.
Ray later admitted that he fled the murder scene to Atlanta, where he boarded a Greyhound bus for Detroit. Using an alias, he hopped in a cab across the border to Windsor, where he caught a train for Toronto’s Union Station.
“I got to Toronto pretty late in the day (on April 6). Then I started walking and trying to find a room and I walked quite a while until I found this Ossington St. address,” Ray told the Toronto Star in a 1993 jailhouse interview.
Ray said he hid at two west-end rooming houses as he obtained new documents to travel to Europe and then Africa to “earn a living as a mercenary.”
“I was just trying to get a passport and probably I think I’d have an easier time getting a passport in Toronto than Montreal (because) it’s English speaking and all of that,” he told the Star’s Robert Benzie.
On May 6, just over a month after the death of King Jr., Ray bought a ticket to London from a Bloor St. W. travel agency. He was nabbed at Heathrow Airport on June 8 trying to fly to Belgium.
He later confessed to the crime and was sentenced to a 99-year prison term. He died in 1998 after recanting his guilty plea and claiming to be framed by political forces. There are still those today who believe King Jr. was killed by the mafia or U.S. police.
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Viola on $10 bill
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