By DAVE KOSONIC

Fun times and memories at Etobicoke’s last drive in movie theatre.

One of the last ones to disappear was the Northwest Drive-In Theatre, which if can talk, will relay a lot of stories and many of these tales did not occur on the wide movie screen.

Some South Etobicoke boomers likely chuckle when they recall the Northwest, that was located for almost thirty years at the northwest corner of Hwy. 27 and Dixon Road from 1948 until 1977, when it was demolished to build a hotel.

It had a sister theater in east Toronto named the Northeast Drive-In. That location at Sheppard Avenue East and Victoria Park Avenue operated from 1947 until 1976 before being torn down.  It featured many films including a movie titled Pretty Maids All In A Row that was classified as adult entertainment.

During its heyday the Northwest was a magnet for many South Etobicoke high school students including those attending Alderwood Collegiate Institute or New Toronto Secondary School. Friday and Saturday evenings were the favorite times for these high-schoolers to visit the drive-in.

I attended Silverthorn Collegiate Institute and the Northwest was often dubbed the ‘passion pit’ by some students while they chatted in the halls about where they were planning to go during the upcoming weekend. I went to our local drive-in many times.

Car pooling to the Northwest was common with the high school crowd and sometimes as many as six theater-goers would be jammed into a large 1960s or ‘70s sedan or station wagon.  But some patrons bent the entrance guidelines. Before arriving at the ticket purchase and entrance gates one or a few of them would scramble into a sedan trunk and ‘disappear’ until inside the theater grounds and then they would emerge from their hiding places. They hoped that an usher wasn’t watching.

If a worker at the entrance became suspicious of ‘trunk hiders’ this employee would politely ask for the trunk to be opened.  If some potential theatre-goers were found hiding they would be told to pay the admission fee or leave.  Adult admission in the later 1960s was $1.75.

Parents and their children also enjoyed going to the Northwest for a casual family outing.  During summer the box office was not opened until 8 p.m. and the featured movie did not flicker onto the screen until dusk.

Yet the children could laugh – and – giggle while watching some pre-show cartoons or visiting the snack bar for goodies including popcorn, soft drinks, hamburgers and French fries. The snack bar bustled during intermission attended by uniformed female employees.  During the good weather some customers brought lawn chairs and watched the screen while sitting nears their cars.

But whether it was summer or winter, the neatly groomed and uniformed ushers at the Northwest were the unofficial handymen and watchmen.  Carrying their traditional flashlights with the cylindrical orange cone they would attempt to repair faulty in-vehicle speakers or heaters and assist in re-locating missing children with parents. They also shone their flashlights into cars now-and-then to make sure that everything was appropriate and that no alcohol was being consumed.  All ushers were male.

Most of the urban Toronto area drive-ins were closed by the early 1980s. There are now 16 drive-in movie theaters in Ontario and 37 in Canada.

 

Police are warning motorists to avoid parking near construction sites where there is a lot of activity to prevent their vehicles from being broken into or stolen by thieves.

Officers say there is a large amount of building and home construction taking place in our community these days and workers often park their cars nearby and can be on the job for hours with their vehicles unattended.

The warning stems from a series of break and entries to vehicles parked at construction sites in Oakville and Milton.

Police said eight vehicles were broken into and items stolen from May 21 to June 16 as their owners were working.

Police said among the items stolen were credit cards, cash, tools and other valuables.

Officers of Halton Regional Police are warning motorists to always lock their doors, roll up their windows and remove all valuables from their car.

One suspect has been arrested by police so far in an ongoing investigation into the thefts.

Lance Zambose, 46, of Burlington, was arrested on June 18 and charged with eight counts of theft under $5,000, four counts of fraudulent use of credit cards, fail to comply with probation and possession of property obtained by crime and driving dangerous.

He is being held for a bail hearing.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Halton Police Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4777 ext. 2216.

Police from 22 Division in an online post said the top vehicles being stolen in the community includes: Honda Civic, Land Rover Range Rover, Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot, Nissan Altima and the Ford F-150 pick up truck.

Tips can be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An emotional candle light vigil was held in Long Branch to remember a promising Mimico man who died when his motorcycle collided with a car.

The dead man has been identified on social media as Tyrone Roopchand, 35, of Mimico, who is described as an avid bike lover and has been photographed with a number of motorcyles online.

The deadly crash occurred on June 17 around 10:19 p.m. in the Lake Shore Blvd. W. and Forty Second Street area.

Police said there was a collision between a Kawasaki motorcycle that was turning left from Forty Second  Street to Lake Shore Blvd. W. Witnesses said the bike collided with a BMW travelling east on Lake Shore Blvd. W.

There was a vigil held at the scene and a number of drive-byes by motorcycle riders  to pay tribute to their friend.

Since then more than 1,000 friends and supporters have signed an online petition calling on the city to install a traffic light at Forty Second Street to make the area safer. Critics argue there are already traffic lights at Forty One Street.

In addition, crews working for the TTC and the City of Toronto are undertaking construction work to enhance the safety of the intersection at Brown’s Line and Lakeshore Blvd. W.

This “queue-jump” lane for streetcars will give westbound streetcars their own lane for approximately 100 metres approaching the western leg of the Lake Shore Boulevard / Brown’s Line intersection, the TTC said.

When completed, there will be a traffic signal phasing for streetcars, refreshed and new crosswalks and pedestrian crossing signal at the Long Branch Loop.

The TTC said the work is expected to be completed by July 31.

Meanwhile social media has been busy with messages from the victim’s friends and loved ones.

“This was my friend,” wrote Devika Persaud.

“He was like a son to me RIP Tyrone and I’m going to miss him,” said Tina Michaud.

“I’m very sorry for your loss. The world always loses the good ones too soon ,” noted Melanie M.

“Something needs to be done,” said Lorelei Green. “Far too often I see cars make unsafe turns and cutting off drivers or barely squeezing between an open stretch.”

“Unfortunately, this rider died from racing, not poor city planning,” wrote  Maui Marble.

Residents who signed a petition are also calling on city officials to make the roadway safer by making Forty Second Street a one-way street, install a new traffic light, placing large signage to warn about speeding or making illegal turns.

No date has been set for a funeral service.

 

 

 

Hundreds of kind-hearted people have donated more than $950,000 in two weeks to help an ailing Muslim family whose loved ones were almost wiped out by a crazed motorist in London.

A Go Fund Me campaign that was created on June 7 by family friend Sana Yasir has attracted hundreds of mourners who have pledged almost $1 million, which is the goal set for funds.

More than 650 people have pledged funds or left supportive notes to the grieving family and members of the Muslim and widespread communities in Canada.

The London, Ont., family of five were waiting at an intersection last June 6 when a driver intentionally mounted the curb and struck them, killing four, because of their Islamic faith, officials said.

The dead included two parents, two children and a grandmother. They are identified as Salman Afzaal, a physiotherapist and community leader, his wife Madiha, who was in the process of finishing her exams to obtain a Doctor of Philosophy at Western University in Civil engineering; and their daughter Yumna. Their son, Fayez, survived the attack. The grandmother was also killed.

“Nine-year-old Fayez is in stable condition but remains in hospital and is accompanied by a family member,” Yasir wrote. “The attack has been confirmed by police to be a hate crime.”

She said some funds will be donated to help London-area groups or charities, as approved by the family.

“I am well aware that the family does not need any money for funeral expenses as that has been taken care off,” said Yasir, who has been a friend of the slain family for 12 years. “The immediate family members will make a final decision on the funds and where it will be going.”

She said the giving away of the donations is an important concept in Islam, in that ‘it is a gift that not only benefits others in this life but also benefits us and our loved ones in the next.’

“When a person dies, all their deeds end except three: a continuing charity, beneficial knowledge and a child who prays for them,” Yasir cites words from a Muslim Prophet.

The useless murders were condemned by most Canadians from coast to coast.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. Madiha and her family are sorely missed by friends and colleagues,” members of Geosyntec Consultants wrote on Go Fund Me.

“Peace be With You. May you continue to see the love in the world through this terrible tragedy,” said Danielle Buchko.

“Side hustle signs by D is happy to donate proceeds raised for this fund. Spreading love and kindness to you and your family during this tragic difficult time,” another person wrote.

“It’s truly tragic and heartbreaking for the entire family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. We pray for love and healing inshallah,” Shelisa Singh said.

Nathaniel Veltman, 20, faces four first-degree murder charges and an attempted murder charge that prosecutors allege constitute an act of terrorism.

He is slated to return to court on June 21.

 

 

 

Some Long Branch residents were settling in for the night when a loud crash of crunching metal jolted the community.

Police were called to a horrific collision on June 19 at 10:19 p.m. on Lake Shore Blvd. W., near Forty Second Street, close to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 101, as a BMW and motorcycle collided at high speed.

Traffic Services Unit officers said a 35-year-old motorcyclist was travelling eastbound on Lake Shore Blvd. W., at a ‘high rate of speed.’

“The driver of a BMW was travelling northbound on Forty Second Street to westbound Lake Shore Blvd. W.,” according to a police press release. “The motorcycle collided with the BMW in the eastbound lanes of Lake Shore Blvd. W. and the rider suffered fatal injuries.”

Police are asking local residents, businesses, and drivers, who may have security or dash camera footage of the area or incident, to contact investigators.
Officers shut a section of Lake Shore Blvd. for nearly four hours as investigators scoured the scene for evidence.

The force of the crash wrote off the motorcycle. The rider died at the scene despite emergency aid being provided. He is the city’s sixth traffic-related fatality this year, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1900, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, online on our Facebook Leave a Tip page, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes or Google Play.

 

Etobicoke firefighters are mourning the death of a well-respected colleague who is being praised for his firehall finger-licking culinary skills.

Brian Malcolm Muir, who was dubbed ‘Big Bud,’ by his many colleagues, passed away peacefully on June 17 surrounded by his loving family at his Mississauga home. He was 75.

Muir served for 31 years as a firefighter for the Etobicoke Fire Department. He took part in fighting many big blazes over the years.

He was predeceased by his wife Emilia. Cherished father of Ian and  Cindy, Jason, Scott and Elaine. He loved his grandchildren: Ariel, Mickayla, Devin and Dylan. Brother of Hall, Sharon and Kevin.

Peter Zaremba, who worked alongside Muir, called ‘Big Bud’ a ‘firefighter’s firefighter.”

He was “a man larger than life with a smile and a spirit to match,” recalls Zaremba. “Brian was the firehall chef for all my years working with him. His meals were always top notch and were envied by other firehalls.”

He said his co-worker ‘will be missed. Godspeed my friend.”

Retired Etobicoke firefighter Paul Dodds says Brian was well known for his great meals.

“He was an amazing cook and one of the nicest men you would ever want to meet,” Dodds laments.

Other co-workers remember that Muir always left food in the firehall fridge for colleagues from other shifts.

Social media was lit up as Muir’s many friends over the years paid tribute to him

“R.I.P. Big Bud! A true great guy!” wrote Doug Gordon.

“He was a great man, great cook, and was the unofficial Etobicoke Fire Dept. photographer,” said Kevin Tweddle. “RIP Brian.”

“We on D shift loved following A shift Thursdays as that was fridge day and there were always great leftovers Brian cooked the night before,” recalls David Smith.

“Big bud was one of the best and there are no others like him,” mourns Tom George. “He was a great cook, great firefighter and a great man. RIP Bud.”

“He was one of the nicest guys on the job,” admits Glen Johnston. “He was not a good cook. He was a great cook. He could take an old shoe and make it taste like the best stake you ever had.”

Steve Yurg said ‘Big Bud’ taught him so much about fire and life as they worked together until he retired.

“He was one of the best cooks ever,” Yurg notes.

 

Residents and local merchants say they will miss a well-known candy maker and dozens of staff who are  moving after 50 years in the community for a larger brand new facility in Oakville.

Kerr’s Candy Ltd. says their factory at 956 Islington Ave., just north of The Queensway, is old and now to small as the candy maker expands.

The land that the current location is on is owned by the Toronto Catholic District School Board, and with nearby Holy Angels Catholic School deciding to expand, Kerr’s has been forced to move.

The company has been making Canadian treats for more than 125 years and has been in South Etobicoke since the early 1980s.

The confectioner moved to Toronto in the early 1900s and has made a name for its brands at the CNE and an array of retailers, including Walmart, Shoppers Drug, big box grocery stores and local shops.

Kerr’s was founded in 1895 by brothers Edward and Albert Kerr. After emigrating from Scotland, they opened a candy shop in St. Thomas, Ontario. Theirs is known for its high quality and rich heritage, so much so, that Kerr’s is an industry leader in Canadian confectionery.

“Our candy team, close to 80 of us, come from all across the globe,” Kerr’s said on its website. “We strive to have a happy, healthy and safe workplace, and our goal is to make Irresistible candy!”

They focus on creating candy for all Canadians. Their factory is peanut free, tree-nut free and gluten free. The company also makes many products that are suitable for kosher or halal diets, as well as sugar reduced diets.

While moving is never fun, the Kerr’s team says they’re excited for the upcoming changes and the potential that the company’s first new facility in nearly 40 years can provide.

“It’s a big change for us, we’ve been here in this facility since the early 1980s so it’s going to be an upgrade on everything. We built it pretty much from scratch, it’s going to be brand new,” explained marketing manager Whitney Martyniuk.

Many of its staff live in the area or have developed ties with local businesses and will be sorely missed.

You may be familiar with some of their products. They include lollypops, caramels, butterscotch, scotch mints, striped mints, toffee, fruit drops and the little red strawberry hearts.