The South Etobicoke News

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

Marking the struggles of Indigenous Peoples and police

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Today is National Indigenous Peoples Day as we support our First Nations in their struggles for freedom and equality.

There are a number of investigations underway against the RCMP into the killings of at least 25 Indigenous men, and women, in the last three years, records show.

Ceremonies are to be held for Rodney Levi, 48, who was fatally shot by the New Brunswick RCMP and Chantel Moore, 25, who was killed by an officer from the Edmundston Police Dept. They are the most recent victims of police shootings since June 4.

The New Brunswick shootings have prompted calls for a separate, independent inquiry and an overhaul of policing in the province, where the minister of Aboriginal affairs has already said there is a problem with systemic racism.

The gunfire have become part of a broader international discussion about police brutality and racism, which has gained prominence since police in Minnesota were filmed in the death of George Floyd, who was kneeled on for more than eight minutes by an officer on May 25, which sparked marches and anti-police demonstrations worldwide.

National Indigenous Peoples Day was announced in 1996 by then Governor General of Canada, Roméo LeBlanc, through a Proclamation declaring June 21 of Each Year as National Aboriginal Day.

“This is a day for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples,” according to the federal government.

The groups share many similarities, but they each have their own distinct heritage, language, cultural practices and spiritual beliefs.

Many people recall in horror that 150,000 Indigenous children were removed and separated from their families and communities to attend residential schools. While most of the 139 Indian Residential Schools ceased to operate by the mid-1970s, the last federally-run school closed in the late 1990s.

In May 2006, the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement was approved by all parties to the Agreement. The implementation of the Settlement Agreement began in September 2007 with the aim of bringing a fair and lasting resolution to the legacy of the Indian Residential Schools

King of the CNE’s tasty Tiny Tom Donuts passes on

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“One dozen per bag, one flavour per dozen”

The man behind Tiny Tom Donuts that is a fixture at the CNE has passed away.

Tom Brazier, the owner of Tiny Tom Donuts which have been enjoyed by fair lovers attending the CNE for six generations, has died at the age of 73, his son says.

Brazier died peacefully June 16 in a Markham hospital next to his wife Bonnie, said Adam Brazier, adding his father died of kidney failure after dealing with several illnesses.

The tiny donuts are a long-time staple at the 141-year-old fair. We have all gorged handfuls of the puffy treats.

This summer the fair was cancelled due to COVID-19. It will be the first time Canada’s largest fair won’t go ahead since the Second World War.

Brazier says there is no top-secret to making his popular donuts.

“They’re hot and they’re fresh, and they’re flavourful. They melt in your mouth,” Brazier has said. “And everybody likes a hot, fresh donut.”

Adam says his dad was grateful that his donuts “meant things to people,” and was “a tradition for the city.”

“His favourite times at the CNE were when people would come up and say, ‘When I was a kid, my father picked me up to watch these donuts being made, and now I’m here picking my kid up,” Brazier told CBC Toronto.

“He would get that story three or four times a day. And nothing made him beam more than that.”

Adam says his dad had a “generous spirit” and was an advocate for marginalized people.

“His favourite thing to do was to laugh and make other people laugh,” he recalls.

Brazier was beloved by all who knew him and was looking forward to celebrating his 60th anniversary at the CNE and 27th at Canada Wonderland.

He had stopped making his prized donuts himself about three years ago due to illness and the company is now run by his son and daughter-in-law.

We love Oscar Peterson now Montreal wants him back

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We love Oscar Peterson and New Toronto has already claimed him.

Peterson lived in the community in the 1960s and 70s’ and his portrait is among six Lakeshore Legends heroes whose mural grace a wall at Sixth Street.

Peterson, who was born in 1925 and has composed more than 400 pieces, lived at one time at Amadeo Garden Court Complex in two apartments overlooking Lake Ontario, according to local historians and residents.

Now, his hometown of Montreal, want to name a subway station after him.

An online petition is circulating to change the name of the Lionel-Groulx Metro Station to the Oscar Peterson station, to honor that city’s celebrated jazz legend.

More than 2,500 signatures have been obtained in a petition to try and place the musician’s name on a Little Burgundy station.

“I believe our city should honour his incredible accomplishments by renaming Lionel Groulx Metro Station as Oscar Peterson Metro Station,” the petition states. “He is considered one of the greatest jazz pianists of our time with a career that lasted more than 60-years.”

Peterson is an eight-time Grammy Award winner who is a virtuoso in the international jazz community. He was born and raised in the City of Montréal, where he grew up and learned his craft in Little Burgundy, where he loved.

Peterson died in December 2007 as an international star and one of the great jazz pianists and composers of the genre.

Duke Ellington called the Montreal-born virtuoso the “Maharaja of the keyboard.”

Lionel Groulx died in 1967 and was a Catholic priest, historian and Quebec nationalist.

The word-renowned pianist 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: NHL star Dave Bolland, marathoner Jerome Drayton, skater Petra Burka, swimmer Lou Gamble and others who contributed to the rich cultural fabric of our community.

The petition is available at change.org

Hate Crimes by race in annual Toronto Police report

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Hate crimes for the most part are committed by bullies who prey on the weak in a diverse city as ours.

The number of hate crimes last year in Toronto rose by less than 2%, according to a Toronto Police Service Annual Hate Crime Statistical Report.

Police says the number of hate crimes occurrences increased from 137 in 2018 to 139 last year.

The report with keeps track of hate crimes states that from 2010 to 2019 there has been about 145 hate crimes reported yearly. There were 18 people arrested in 2018 and 23 last year for hate offences.

“A significant percentage of reported hate crime occurrences in 2019 involve allegations of mischief to property (i.e. graffiti) in circumstances where there was limited or no suspect description available,” Hate Crime Unit (HCU) officers say, adding in most cases there were no witnesses.

“These factors present considerable challenges to these types of investigations and arresting suspects,” police notes.

The most targeted communities for hate crimes last year were; members of the Jewish community, followed by the LGBTQ community, then members of the Black and Muslim communities.

“The Jewish community was the most frequently victimized group for mischief to property and utter threat occurrences,” the report states. “The LGBTQ community, followed by the Black community were the most frequently victimized group for assault occurrences.”

Police say a number of factors can affect the fluctuation in the number of reported hate crimes and the community groups who are victimized.

“These factors include international events, community educational programs, hate crime training, and increased reporting,” according to detectives.

Some 15 of the 139 hate occurrences investigated last year were categorized as multi-bias, in that they targeted more than one group.  In 2018, about 21 of the 137 hate occurrences were categorized as multi-bias.

In 2017 and 2016, the number of mischief relating to religious property occurrences were five and zero. Today the Jewish community, followed by the Muslim and Catholic communities are the predominant victim group for mischief to religious property and educational institutions.

The HCU is a sub-unit of Intelligence Services – Security Section. The unit was established in 1993 and is responsible for collecting, analyzing and publishing data on reported hate crimes.

 

Mega Queensway Health Centre expansion gets a go ahead

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A plan to build a major redevelopment and expansion at Queensway Health Centre has been given the green light.

Hearings will take place at some point now that Etobicoke York Community Council approved the huge project at a meeting on June 17.

Councillor Stephen Holyday says no date has been set for public consultations.

“We still have a long way to go,” Holyday says. “It is very much at an early stage at this time.”

Trillium Health Partners is planning to build a nine-storey inpatient hospital wing at the Queensway site at 150 Sherway Dr., which will contain 416 beds to the north of the existing hospital. An eight-storey parking structure with 910 spaces is also planned.

The hospital has been raising funds and lobbying government officials to get approval to “provide more patients with the right care in the right place at the right time.”

They have raised $38.8 million so far that will go to the project.

This new wing would be connected by a covered walkway to the existing hospital building and pedestrian entrances would be from The West Mall side.

In addition to the 910 parking spots, 527 existing surface parking spaces will remain bringing the total number of parking spaces to 1,437. There will also be 124 new bicycle parking spaces.

The site will be located at the southwest corner of The Queensway and The West Mall, where some small hospital buildings stand.

Trillium Health Partners say they are gearing up for the next 20-years and to meet this demand, and are planning major expansion projects at the Credit Valley Hospital, Mississauga Hospital and the Queensway Health Centre.

The hospital last year received over 1.7 million patient visits and 276,003 visits to the hospital’s Emergency Departments and Urgent Care Centre. This is a significant increase from previous years. They have also performed 65,520 surgeries and delivered 8,364 babies.

 

New and fun Etobicoke-Opoly board game hits the streets

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Community residents and social media are buzzing over our new board game.

Yes, we have our own board game called Etobicoke-Opoly, which allows players to buy famous landmarks across our beautiful community.

“If you love Etobicoke, you’ll love this game,” the promotional materials promise. “Help spread the word about everything great that is Etobicoke.”

For those who have dreamed about buying The Kingsway, The Old Mill, or another Etobicoke landmark, now you can and have fun at the same time with Etobicoke-Opoly!

The game is created by Outset Media Corp., of Brampton, which says it plays much like the traditional board game. You can trade iconic Etobicoke landmarks and attractions as Sherway Gardens, Woodbine Racetrack, Etobicoke School of the Arts and more.

Much like best-seller Monopoly, in Etobicoke-Opoly players collect properties, pay rent and mortgages when needed, the makers say.

Another fun aspect are the “Big Fun” and “Contingency” cards with rewards as being crowned Miss Etobicoke or penalties as eating too much at Rib Fest. City blocks and keys to the city replace houses and hotels and streets as Royal York Rd., and Lake Shore Blvd., replace the old railways.

“This game screams Etobicoke through and through and we have loved playing it,” according to its marketers.

Outset Media says the “the game has been one of the best-selling versions and actually sold out in its first week in stores.”

Residents seems to love it and have taken to social media to talk about the game.

“Got mine. It’s so much fun,” writes Lisa de Wit.

“Omg how cool,” says Aziza Mamedova.

Tracy Cho-Yee thanked readers for the post saying “I have to have one.”

And Marie Braz asks “here’s my question, which Mimico street is Park Avenue.”

The game is being carried by Walmart Canada and available at its Sherway Mall branch, which has since restocked its shelves. It cost about $30.

 

 

More cannabis retail stores to open in the area

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Coming soon near you.

At least seven cannabis retail stores may soon be setting up shop in south Etobicoke if all goes well at City Hall.

The applications are under public notice and some of the proposals are listed on an Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) website.
There is an application pending to open a store at 4 Mimico Ave., called Lakeview Cannabis, which is being reviewed by the AGCO.

Another is slated to go at 5160 Dundas St. W., near Kipling Ave., and is undergoing the scrutiny process as well.

The deadline for both stores is June 30 for the public to object or lodge complaints.

There are also proposals to open three other cannabis stores in Ward 2 that was adopted with amendments on June 17 by Etobicoke York Community Council.

The proposals will be voted on by City Council on June 29.

A motion by Councillor Stephen Holyday call for retail pot stores at 418 The Westway, near Martingrove Rd., at 1735 Kipling Ave., near Dixon Rd., and 3112A Bloor St. W., near Brentwood Rd.

“There are new cannabis retail locations proposed in ever ward of the district,” the motion states.

Holyday says two other stores are in the works and will be located in the Six Points Plaza area.

He has been contacted by numerous residents who have raised concerns.

“There are concerns about the poor suitability of the locations, and the increased risk of access to cannabis by minors,” Holyday warns. “Some locations are very close to more than one school, and they are located at or near strip plazas and parks which are frequented by youth.”

The provincial regulations require “a separation distance of 150 metres between the retailer and a school, and many find this too permissive given the context.”

Complaints against stores can still be filed with the AGCO.

 

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City probing alleged case of racism at Centennial Park

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Mayor John Tory says the City is investigating allegations by two Black women that they were racially targeted by a bylaw enforcement officer at Centennial Park.

The irate women claim the incident occurred on June 16 after they had completed a work-out on a running track at the park. When they had arrived at the park earlier that morning, the gate to the park was open, and there were people inside exercising.

Videos posted to Instagram show the women repeatedly asking the officer why he asked them to provide identification as they were leaving the park, and no one else was targeted.

The women say on leaving  the park the gate that they had entered through was closed. Two white boys who also hopped over the gate with the women, say they were not approached by the officer or asked questions.

“Do you know you’re trespassing right now and if you were at my home, I could shoot you?” the women alleged the officer said to them.

The officer also threatened to photograph the licence plate of their vehicle.

“I was so shocked,” one of the women said afterwards. Visibly upset, the other woman complained she felt they were singled because they are Black.

“’Enough is enough, we can’t be dealing with this still. This is 2020,” one of the women Tweeted.

Tory says he will await the outcome of an investigation.

“No bylaw officer should ever threaten or even suggest violence,” Tory posted on Twitter. “I want to be clear that as Mayor I will not tolerate any City of Toronto employees engaging in behaviour that threatens residents or demonstrates anti-Black racism.”

Pillar to mark one of Long Branch’s early schools

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The last remaining pillar of the Long Branch Public and Continuation School, one of the earliest established schools in Etobicoke, has been relocated to the north-west corner of Lake Shore Blvd. W., and Long Branch Ave. to acknowledge the rich history of Long Branch Village circa 1884.
The concrete pillar bears a bronze sign that outlines its historic significance and that it has “been carefully relocated to preserve its connection to the community.”
The school began life as a two-storey Long Branch Public School, which was built in 1915 at 3495 Lake Shore Blvd. W. It was turned into the Long Branch Public and Continuation School in 1927, so Upper school and commercial subjects could be taught there. 
In 1930, Long Branch incorporated as a village. It was during the Depression years and many of the students left school by Grade 6 so they could help support their families.
In 1931 Long Branch secedes from the Township of Etobicoke.
By 1948 a kindergarten was established and two years later a Senior Boys Academic Vocational class began at the school.
Long Branch becomes part of the Lakeshore District School Board in 1951 and the Continuation School was moved to the New Toronto Collegiate. Students from the Public School had their school renamed the James S. Bell Public School, after Bell who served the school from 1926 to 1946.

Turtle hit by a car now freed back in the wilds

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Born free to swim again!

This female snapping turtle was hit by a car and admitted to the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre for treatment and is now healthy and has been released into friendly surroundings.

The turtle was admitted to the Centre one year ago due to injuries sustained while trying to cross a busy road, according to officials of the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (OTCC).

“She was still gravid with eggs,” the OTCC says in a post on Facebook. “Here she is being released back to her habitat!”

Centre workers say 11 eggs that the turtle was carrying were successfully hatched and the hatchlings were released in the area with ‘a coverage of aquatic vegetation that will provide safety from predators.’

The release of the turtle, which was shared by Friends of Sam Smith Park, had many area residents cheering for the animal as she settled in her new surroundings.

“That’s so great,” wrote Elizabeth Jones. “Thanks to all involved. This beauty was bathing at my dock yesterday.”

“Yeah! Happy dance for this awesome turtle,” says an excited Liz Burroughs. “Thank you for all you do each and every one of you.”

“That is a good ending story,” says Gary Hrystak. “Thank you Drew for making this photo and outcome possible.”

“Excellent story bless you all,” posts Alan Allen.

If you have an injured turtle please call the OTCC at 705-741-5000.
If you are inquiring about eggs, nest protectors, or anything else please email them at info@ontarioturtle.ca or volunteer@ontarioturtle.ca

The hospital is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. They are open during the Covid-19 pandemic and will admit injured turtle and have procedures to ensure no human to human contact.

OTCC is the only wildlife rehabilitation centre dedicated to providing medical and rehabilitative care to Ontario turtles. Once healed these turtles are released back into their natural habitat where they can continue to reproduce for many decades. In 2017 the hospital admitted 920 turtles, in 2018 the number was 938, and in 2019 they saw a record number of 1498 admissions.