The South Etobicoke News

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

Grimes a no show at meeting with community leaders on planned shelter

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City officials expect to close the sale of 2950 and 2970 Lake Shore Blvd. W., for use as a 95-bed municipal shelter by mid to late December if all goes well.

“Assuming there is not request for extension of due diligence it will be closing in mid to late December,” Loretta Ramadin, a Project Director of the City’’s Support and Housing Administration (SSHA) told members of  the community. The “last back out date is early November.”

Ramadin was talking to members of the Board of the Lakeshore Village BIA, staff of Councillor’s Mark Grimes office, SSHA and Barnes Management Group, the community engagement facilitator, in a virtual meeting on September 28 in an update of the proposed shelter, to be located at Lake Shore Blvd., and Eighth Street.

BIA officials are upset that Councillor Grimes did not show up for the much-anticipated meeting on the proposed shelter that has sparked a major controversy in his riding. Grimes has been silent on the issue.

When asked by BIA Chair Chris Korwin Kuczynski why Grimes was not in attendance.

Grimes’ assistant Kim Edgar said “this is the first of many meetings that will be held,” according to minutes of the meeting that was made available to the South Etobicoke News.

When queried about the more than $13 million the City is paying for the property, Ramadin said “the City has appraisals completed for the fair market value based on assembled, combined developmental costs.”

She said a former condo project was cancelled “due to the height of the proposed building.”
Edgar said the property owner decided to appeal to Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) because the City had not reported back in a timely manner.

“Owner approached the city and the opportunity presented itself to the city,” Ramadin noted.

She said the City selects a shelter location based on ‘building characteristics, proximity to TTC, property being available and other services in the area.”

“Homelessness exists everywhere in Toronto, including Etobicoke,” she said.

The group heard restrictions were lifted so there are no distance issues between the proposed shelter and nearby Women’s Habitat, which they say is a provincial organization, not a shelter.

Carolyn Doyle, of SSHA Community Engagement, urged the community to think of this as ‘providing a spotlight on the area programming needs of the area.’

It is “improving the area, and a new customer base of 95 beds,” Doyle said. This is ‘an example of a positive integration.’

She recalled that a City representative talked to area businesses to see how they were affected after a men’s shelter was opened in the Junction Place.

The business owners reported they did not notice a change in theft, noticed more men in the area, more mental health issues and ‘wrap around services needed.’

She said a community liaison committee will be formed with stakeholders if the proposed shelter goes through.

Engagement Facilitators will be in the area in the next month seeking input, sending out surveys and meeting with the community.

The matter goes before City council on October 5. There is expected to be a report to council by the end of October and any decision to back out is delegated to City staff.

Lakeshore Santa Claus Parade may fall victim with others to COVID

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The long-awaited 30th annual Etobicoke Santa Claus Parade has become one of dozens of events being cancelled or going virtual this year due to COVID-19.

Dozens of iconic events like the 115th Toronto Santa Claus Parade, Beaches Santa Claus Parade, North Etobicoke Santa Claus Parade, Toronto Christmas Market and even New Years’s Eve on Nathan Phillips Square were cancelled this year.

A scaled- back Halloween Corner sponsored by the Lakeshore Village BIA takes place at Lake Shore Blvd. W., and Sixth Street on October 31 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Free treats!

Organizers of the Etobicoke Lakeshore Santa Claus Parade hope to have a virtual or other form of the event, where Santa may still make an appearance. Details are pending.

‘ It is with heavy hearts we announce that as per regulation and recommendation, there will be no physical parade this year,” organizers of the popular Etobicoke Lakeshore event said on social media. “… we reiterate that we will not be soliciting sponsorship this year, given the impossible year small businesses have faced.”

They say plans are being worked on so the thousands of children and parents who yearly line Lake Shore Blvd. W., in New Toronto and Long Branch can still see the jolly old man.

“We may be physically distant, but we can stay close with creativity, imagination, a little magic, and some help from our dedicated committee volunteers,” they wrote.

The parade attracts dozens of Christmas-related floats from area businesses and has been organized by an army of volunteers for the past three decades.

More than three dozen popular events that occur around in Toronto at this time of the year have been denied permits by the City due to the pandemic, which has surged in recent weeks.

Among the other events cancelled includes: Nuit Blanche, which will be altered or online, CIBC Run for the Cure (altered or online), cancelled outright are Ride to Defeat Diabetes for JDRF, 10th Annual Smoke Poutinerie World Poutine Eating Championship, Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Just for Laughs Toronto Street Festival, Halloween on Church and Festival of Lights.

The Cavalcade of Lights is also cancelled, Christmas in the Square with the Salvation Army is pending; so is KitzFest, Beaches Lions Christmas Tree Sale, Fairbank Village-Light Up the Holidays, 30th Annual Kensington Market Winter Solstice, Bloor Yorkville Holiday Magic, Riverside Halloween Fest, Heddington Halloween, Hanley Halloween 2020, Korean Week is cancelled, so is Himalayan Mela and the Canadian and Chinese Traditional Art Show.

Other high-profile summer events as Pride Toronto, Caribana, the CNE, Taste of the Danforth, the Honda Indy, Beaches International Jazz Festival and others were cancelled due to the virus.

Police warn of crooks preying on unsuspecting residents in a fake gold scam

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Police are warning area residents to be on the alert for unsavory crooks operating a fake gold scam that is ripping off people in our community.

Police from 22 Division have arrested a “group of individuals on the side of major streets scamming unsuspecting victims with false affection and compliments,” according to a Tweet.

Officers warn residents to create a physical distance if group members “try to hug you and stop accepting their fake gold rings or necklaces.”

The suspects usually embrace the victims in a show of false affection, according to police. They then offer fake rings or necklaces in exchange for cash, which they say they require for an emergency.

They may relate stories about being out of gas and need cash and are willing to part with their fake gold jewellery.

One woman told police a suspect pulled out her jewelry and said her family business made rings and necklaces out of gold. The woman showed her photos of the jewelry being made, she said.

“When I saw the 18-karat symbol on a ring I thought it was real gold,” the victim said.

She said the suspect told her that she would be doing a huge favour if she bought all the jewelry to help her fund her trip.

The suspect said she needed the cash and would give all the jewelry she had for $1,000.

The victim said she believed the suspect and went to an ATM and took out $1,000 cash and paid for the jewelry.

The woman, she said, hugged and kissed her and then fled the area.

Police say the suspects target victims in this crime of opportunity and may pick their wallets, steal their money, or real gold jewellery.

Another resident said she was approached outside a grocery store by suspects, who asked for gas money claiming he had to drive to Hamilton because his daughter was sick.

Police said to walk away and do not engage with the people offering jewellery for sale at low prices.

“If it is too good to be true, it probably is,” according to one detective.

The suspects can be be men or women and they operate in groups of two or more.

If you have any doubts call police at 416-808-2200.

Toronto mayor ‘Grassroots Bob’ helped to start the Elmer the Safety Elephant program

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Robert Hood Saunders was the 48th Mayor of Toronto who was best known for helping to start the wildly-popular  Elmer the Elephant Safety program almost 75-years ago.

Saunders was dubbed ‘Grassroots Bob’ by residents for his down-to-earth style when he was elected Mayor from 1945 to 1948.

He was first elected alderman for Ward 4 in 1935 and 1936 and served on the Toronto Board of Control. He was elected Mayor in January 1945 and was re-elected in 1946, 1947 and ’48. Ward 4 now includes large tracts of South Etobicoke.

A lawyer by trade, Grassroots Bob was at one time the President of the Canadian National Exhibition and Chairman of Ontario Hydro, where he went on to do great things and had a facility named after him. He was also a member of the Orange Order in Canada.

He helped to start the Elmer the Safety Elephant program to teach young children to remain safe after a trip to Detroit in 1946.

Grassroots Bob pitched the Elmer idea to an editor at The Toronto Evening Telegram newspaper, who agreed to sponsor the program with Toronto Police. They chose an elephant mascot because of the animal’s legendary memory.

Elmer the Safety Elephant was born in 1947. That year, his impact was dramatic. Traffic collisions among Toronto children dropped an astonishing 44 per cent, even though vehicle registrations increased by 10 per cent.

Back then accidental injuries were a leading cause of death and hospitalization for Canadian children up to age 19. The role of Elmer the Safety Elephant was to teach young children how to stay safe.

From the day Elmer appeared, he was an instant hit with kids. Over the years, his image has changed to maintain a positive impact on young children.

As the Safety Elephant’s fame grew, other Ontario communities asked for the program. Demand became so strong that the Telegram, owner of the copyright, authorized the Ontario Safety League to administer the program in Ontario outside Toronto. Elmer’s fame grew by leaps and bounds to encompass schools throughout that province.

By the 1960s, with requests for Elmer pouring in from other provinces, the Canadian Highway Safety Council was asked to assume administration of the program on a national level.

In 1968 that Council amalgamated with two other organizations to become the Canada Safety Council. When The Telegram ceased publication in 1971, the Canada Safety Council negotiated the transfer of all rights to the program. The Canada Safety Council currently holds the trademark and copyright for Elmer the Safety Elephant.

After his resignation as mayor, Saunders became chairman of the Ontario Hydro commission and one of his mandates was developing Ontario’s waterpower resources, especially the massive St. Lawrence Seaway and Power Project, which he did successfully.

Grassroots Bob died in 1955 at the young age of 52. He was travelling on Ontario Hydro business when the ice-encrusted Grumman Mallard aircraft in which he was a passenger crashed while approaching the London, Ontario airport. He succumbed to his injuries.

Ridley Funeral Home is among oldest business in the area marking 100 years

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October marks the 100th anniversary of Ridley Funeral Home, which prides itself in being one the oldest businesses operating in South Etobicoke.

Old photographs show the area around Ridley, at 3080 Lake Shore Blvd. W., surrounded by large trees and forests, when the company was opened in 1921.

Lake Shore Blvd. W., then Highway 2, was a two-lane road that was travelled by horse and buggy traffic when the company started. Streetcar service was introduced to the area around 1928.

The business was started in the Lake Shore Blvd. W. and Fourteenth Street location by former Beeton, Ont., undertaker William Baycroft and was called W.E. Baycroft and Sons Funeral Home. It was sold in 1947 to Art Ridley, and renamed Ridley Funeral Home.

A long-time client for the home then was the former Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital, which was built in 1888 and operated until 1979. In its prime, it housed 1,391 patients on the south side of Lake Shore Blvd. and Kipling Ave., which is now part of Humber College.

Over the decades Ridley has held services for generations of families in the community ranging from those with prominent positions to the many working people of every race and nationality.

The home saw busier times during an era when thousands of residents worked at Campbell’s Soup, Anaconda Steel, Goodyear Tire, W. & A. Gilbey, George Williams Shoes, Continental Can and so many firms that have since disappeared.

“The business has changed a lot over the years,” says Brad Jones, who today owns the firm. “We are still a family-owned funeral home and we still live here.”

Jones says the COVID-19 virus has led to smaller services in the chapel, with Celebration of Life services being held at a later date and the streaming of services so family and friends can view from at home without a risk of contracting the virus.

He plans to celebrate the company’s first century with a big party once the virus subsides.

Ridley is well-known by many families in the area and grief-stricken residents describe their service as a ‘one-stop’ shop when it comes to handling the funeral services of their loved ones.

“’We are a full service funeral home that provides one-stop shopping,” Jones says. “We love the people and are part of the community.”

His staff usually work with the families to help them cope during the mourning process.

“We reach out to the families and help them in their grieving process,” Jones explains. “We believe in helping people as they embark on their journey.”

He says his staff ‘pride themselves on making our facility feel like a second home, a true place for peace, comfort, and warmth.’

“One of the greatest things is that we learn about people and get involved in helping them through their dark times,” he vows. “We keep the families involved and regularly follow up with them.”

Area resident Brian says Ridley staff provided a source of strength and inspiration when his mom passed and he had to plan her services.

“There are so many things that have to be done when someone passes,” Brian recalls. “They were there to help us during the entire process.”

Elizabeth Shields thanked Ridley and staff for their 100-years of service in helping the community.

“My family has been a part of your family for many years whether it be personal reasons or for the church,” Shields wrote on social media. “Enjoy this historic moment.”

The Ridley staff is very active in helping many agencies and programs that improve our way of life.

The home is a proud supporter of the Franklin Horner Community Centre and is involved in a program to serve heat and ready meals for seniors. Ridley can be reached at 416-259-3705.

Bars and restaurants to shut earlier as part of COVID guidelines

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This will hurt.

Barkeepers in the South Etobicoke area are crying foul since they are now required to stop serving booze at 11 p.m., rather than 2 a.m., due to new COVID-19 guidelines.

And the more than 40 strip clubs in Ontario will have to remain closed until further notice to avoid a spread of the virus, according to Premier Doug Ford.

Effective at 12:01 am on Saturday September 26, restaurants, bars and other food and drink establishments, including nightclubs, will have to stop the sale of alcohol after 11 p.m., and prohibit the consumption of alcohol on the premises from 12 a.m. until 9 a.m.

The guidelines apply to employees, and requires the establishments to close by 12 a.m., and remain closed until 5 a.m., except for takeout or delivery, according to the law.

In addition, businesses or organizations are required to screen its employees for the virus.

The Premier said in the past five weeks Ontario has experienced an increase in the rate of new COVID-19 cases and something has to be done.

“Private social gatherings continue to be a significant source of transmission in many local communities, along with outbreak clusters in restaurants, bars, and other food and drink establishments,” he said.

The government last week ruled that only 10 persons can be in a bar or indoor space, and 25 outside.
“It remains critically important for everyone to continue following public health advice in order to stop the transmission of COVID-19 and protect our communities,” Ford said in a release.

Starting Friday, people with no symptoms of the coronavirus can visit up to 60 pharmacies in Toronto, Ottawa, Brampton, Mississauga, Markham and Huntsville by appointment  for free testing, according to the province.

Not many, if any, of the Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacies are located in the South Etobicoke area. The closest pharmacies in our area includes:

Shoppers Drug Mart, 579 Lakeshore Road East, Mississauga, at 905- 278-5506 or https://stores.shoppersdrugmart.ca/en/store/1275/

Shoppers Drug Mart, 700 Burnhamthorpe Road East, Mississauga, at 905- 279-1812 or  https://stores.shoppersdrugmart.ca/en/store/774/

Area residents can also visit St. Joseph Health Care Centre, at 30 The Queensway, to obtain a check for COVID-19.

St. Joseph has two assessment centres: one at its St. Michael’s site and another at the St. Joseph’s site. The centres are equipped with proper precautions such as hand hygiene stations and isolated spaces for those who are being assessed for COVID-19.

If you’re visiting their assessment centres, you’ll be given a mask upon entry and asked to clean your hands, you’ll be registered, and then seen by a team member to be tested for COVID-19. Please remember to bring your health card.

They can be contacted at 416- 530-6000

 

JUST IN: More police patrols after running gun battle in New Toronto

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Toronto Police have stepped up patrols in the New Toronto area following a raging gun battle just over two weeks ago that shook up residents and led to the closure of a major thoroughfare.

Toronto Police say 67 shell casings were recovered by officers in what was likely a ‘running gun battle’ in which about a dozen parked vehicles were hit by stray bullets that left ‘a crime scene covering two city blocks.’

‘The shooting occurred outside 2979 Lake Shore Blvd. W., likely a running gun battle that resulted in a wide crime scene running two city blocks,” according to members of 22 Division Community Response Unit who held a Sept. 24 virtual meeting with members of the Lakeshore Village Business Improvement Area (BIA).

The September 8 early morning shootout resulted in Lake Shore Blvd. W., at Eighth Street being closed for several hours due to a police investigation. One man was shot in the thigh.

Officers, who have since inspected the venue, said the incident “centered around an event at a basement after-hours club at this location.”

“There was a dispute inside the location that spilled out into the back alley,” according to minutes of the meeting obtained by the South Etobicoke News. “Some 67 shell casings were recovered. There was more than one shooter, but it is still unknown how many.”

The team’s priority was to open Lake Shore Blvd. as soon as possible to pedestrians and traffic, which they did, police told the BIA officials.

Days after the shooting, police, Toronto Fire, Municipal Licensing and Standards, Alcohol Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and Councillor Mark Grimes paid a visit to inspect the premises.

“The landlord told them that she rents the space out, but did not have any of the proper document,” according to the minutes. “All future private events must be cancelled until they are obtained and a timeline was given for this.”

Police said “in the past they had been getting permits but not complying with them so AGCO continued to shut down the events, in turn they stopped getting permits.”

The venue was inspected by fire prevention officials to determine if there were any violations. There were also concerns in regards to the spread of COVID-19 in a crowded venue.

“22 Division has set-up directed patrols for the area, and are paying special attention to the address and will investigate if necessary,” the meeting was told.

Police said they are looking into a request by the BIA to install security cameras in the area to nab lawbreakers. Police warn it is a very involved and costly process that requires community engagement.

Officers said “ it would be beneficial to have them (cameras) in some of the areas they spend the most time in.”

They urged the BIA to have their members install or ensure cameras in and outside their premises are operational since the footage can help police solve crimes.

 

Humber Bay Shores residents worry after Firkin on Bay temporarily shuts due to virus

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Some Humber Bay Shores residents are concerned and in isolation after visiting the popular Firkin on the Bay pub which has temporarily closed after a server tested positive for COVID-19.

A deep clean of the 68 Marine parade Drive location is underway and the company says employees will self-isolate and be tested before returning back to work.

The employee last worked at the pub on September 20 from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Firkin warned on its website.

The pub is not sure when it will reopen but in a letter to customers say they are taking necessary steps to ensure that they can reopen when it’s “absolutely safe to do so.”

Management at the pub say they contacted Toronto Public Health and shared contract tracing details.

“During these challenging times, we are prioritizing the health and safety of our guests and staff,” the pub told customers. “In full transparency, we are sharing the sad news with you that one of our team members has tested positive for COVID-19.”

The company say they are conducting a detailed deep clean of the pub.

“When we reopen, we plan to employ staff from other Firkin Pubs until we are certain that our On The Bay team members are able to safely work and safely look after our guests,” they said.

The busy pub is frequented my many residents who live in the condo towers at Humber Bay Shores  in the Lake Shore Blvd. W. and Park Lawn Rd. area.

“We appreciate your patience and understanding during these difficult times and hope that you will join us in wishing our team member a speedy and full recovery,” customers were told.

In other COVID news, a member of Premier Doug Ford’s staff has tested positive for the virus.

In a statement on Thursday, the premier’s office said a junior member of Ford’s tour team has tested positive.

“The Premier did not have any close contact or prolonged exposure with this staff member,” the statement read.

The premier’s office also said Ford will “monitor for symptoms and take appropriate next steps if necessary.”

COVID suspends mail delivery to South Etobicoke

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Hundreds of South Etobicoke residents will not be receiving mail or packages this week after two Canada Post employees contracted COVID-19 forcing a local depot to close.

More than 100 posties work at the Etobicoke Delivery Centre, at 145 The West Mall, and it is not known how many are in quarantine from the virus.

Officials at the busy delivery depot found out one employee tested positive for coronavirus on Monday, and found out a second also contracted the virus on Tuesday, according to workers and a statement from Canada Post.

The depot closed for a deep clean on Tuesday, and as a result mail delivery has been temporarily suspended to residents with postal codes beginning with the following digits: M8V, M8W, M8X, M8Y, M8Z, M9A, M9B and M9C.

Most of the postal codes are for residences in the South Etobicoke area.

Canada Post plans to re-open the Etobicoke depot and resume regular mail service after a deep cleaning later this week.

A number of posties during the last few months have contracted the virus at Canada Post’s massive Gateway sorting plant in Mississauga.

“We are putting safety first and we have been in contact with Toronto Public Health and are following their direction and guidance,” according to a Canada Post official.

“We will continue to evaluate the situation, work with public health officials and our local joint health and safety committee and keep our employees and the public informed.”

Canada Post says a post office attached to this facility is also closed today.

Price of New Toronto Shelter tops $13.25 million, residents fuming

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The purchase price of a proposed New Toronto shelter will be close to $14 million and more than three times the going market price, according to a memo from the City of Toronto.

The June 5 Authorization Memo states “purchase of ‘The Property” that includes 2950 Lake Shore Blvd. W. and 2970 Lake Shore Blvd. W. is for use as a municipal shelter.”

The purchase price of the property is $13,250,000 with additional costs estimated to be $594,169, making it almost $14 million, it states under the memo’ s ‘Agreements and Key Terms’.

Sales documents for the property show that it was sold to the current owner — 2970 Lake Shore Group Inc. — for just slightly more than $4-million in 2017.The assessed value of the property in 2020 is $5.3-million.

Documents show the city is paying 3.5 times what the property was purchased for three years ago, 2.6 times its assessed value and $140,000 per client simply to purchase the property.

The memo, which was signed by Shelter, Support and Housing General Manager Mary-Anne Bedard, Director of Infrastructure Justin Lewis and Deputy City Manager Giuliana Carbone, states that the funding has been set aside as part of a 2018 directive to open 1,000 new shelter beds in Toronto.

“It’s appalling, who’s going to pay for this?” Vashti King, of the New Toronto Ratepayers Association, asks of the purchase price. “People are up in arms in our neighbourhood.”

King says a year ago the same owners proposed a zoning amendment to build a nine-storey building with 95-rental units and two floor of commercial space. That plan was rejected by the City.

Area councillor Mark Grimes, who was first briefed on the acquisitions last February 24, has been silent on the issue. He only mentioned the shelter in a recent posting on social media stating that he expects the deal to be closed by December or January.

Grimes is calling for the facility be used as a women’s shelter.

More than 1,500 people have signed an online petition against the proposed shelter, with more than 1,000 giving their support in a rival petition.

Grimes office has received hundreds and phone calls and emails from residents about the shelter.

“The opening of the property will follow the council-directed community engagement process,” according to the document. “This includes hiring a third party facilitator, working with the councillor’s office to identify key stakeholders and developing a site specific community engagement plan.”

The memo states the property has a high shelter service rating and ‘will be able to accommodate at least 100 beds while meeting shelter standards.”

Residents argue there are already a number of shelters and schools in the area.

A working group was created to determine the renovations required for living, office, dining and programming space to ensure the site meet all requirements as a shelter.

If approved, the building will be brought up to standards and begin accepting the homeless by early next year.

The City says there are some 8,715 people in Toronto who are homeless, with some 533 sleeping outdoors, according to a 2018 assessment.

This is compounded by the opiod crisis with the highest recorded deaths in July and ‘pressures on the shelter system exacerbated due to COVID-19.’