The South Etobicoke News

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

Faustina’s Coach Joe hangs up his hockey whistle

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By REJEAN CANTLON

Joe White is a hockey coach for the Faustina Hockey Club, and like many local hockey coaches, he is an unpaid volunteer. Sadly for many of his players and their families, the 2019-20 season was his last. Coach Joe has decided to hang up his coach’s whistle but not leave the game he loves entirely.

White’s contributions to minor hockey in South Etobicoke include coaching hockey for the better part of 15 years with various organizations and guiding the Faustina Fury U18 select program for the last five. He capped off his most recent campaign with a gold medal win with the NYHL Tier 2 Championship in 2018/19 season, the team was immediately promoted to Tier 1 and they had their sites on going deep into the playoffs, with another possible championship well in sight before the pandemic hit and their season was halted.

What’s special about Coach Joe has nothing to do with his successes on the ice but more about what his efforts mean to his players as a person. When he joined the team in 2012, his daughter, Cristina was part of the team. A few years later she decided to move on and leave the team, yet Coach Joe’s work was not done. He loved this team so much he decided to stay on and continue as head coach. His tireless volunteer commitment was not for the accolades but for the love of the game. White plans to stay on as a Faustina Member and as a member of its Board of Governors next season.

“For five years, Joe has been dedicated to our kids,” says incoming head coach, Ken Graydon. “Joe is always so organized and ready for practices and games. You can tell he really cares about the players and their development. Most of all, the kids really like playing together and I think it is because of the positive atmosphere Joe gives the team. Not only does he push them to be better, he also finds the time to smile and laugh along the way.”

On a warm, wet night in July during a pandemic, the team did what they could to honour their coach. They presented him with a personal gift that would have normally been given at an end of year banquet in person. Instead, they did the next best thing. Joe’s boys all signed a Faustina jersey in his honour and virtually presented it to him via a Zoom call.

Coach Joe acknowledged the gift with the grace that he has shown throughout his tutelage. “This jersey, signed by all of you, will always have a place of honour in my home. No doubt about it. Go get them next year boys! I know you can do it!”

Welcoming NHL hockey stars to the area for season

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A campaign has been launched by the Lake Shore Village BIA to welcome NHL players arriving in town this weekend for the start of a shortened season of hockey.

BIA officials say as many as 12 National Hockey League (NHL) teams from the Eastern Conference will be Toronto for games. The Leafs usually practice at the Ford Performance Centre, on Kipling Ave.

The NHL and NHL Players’ Association have announced return-to-play protocols, which features  Toronto and Edmonton acting as hub cities for players to better fight COVID-19.

The teams are to touch down on July 26 and will play their games without fans at the Air Canada Centre. Some of the exhibition games start on July 28.

Chris Korwin Kuczynski, Chair of the Lake Shore Village BIA, says two large banners are being made to welcome the Eastern Conference Players.

He said dozens of smaller posters will be circulated to businesses and other BIA members.

“We want to welcome all the players on behalf of the Lake Shore Village BIA,” he says. “We want them to have an excellent season.”

The teams will be isolated and confined to ‘bubbles’ to avert the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

The NHL playoffs this year is slated to begin on July 30 after two weeks training camp.

The league consists of 31 teams, 24 of which are based in the U.S. and seven in Canada.

 

 

Some 3,000 tickets laid by police in cycling blitz

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Area residents have been complaining about fast and reckless cycling on our pathways and roads.

Police have listened and more than 3,000 tickets have been issued to road users as part of a week of action and engagement.
Police say the tickets were issued from July 13 to July 19 as part of a 2020 Road Safety Campaign Geared to Cyclists.

Officers also took the time to educate cyclists on collision-causing behaviours, as well as taking enforcement action.
The campaign focused on “The Big 4” behaviours that are known to cause injuries to people using our roads and identified drivers who were speeding, driving aggressively, driving while distracted and driving while impaired.
Police say 1,950 tickets were issued for speeding; 927 for aggressive cycling, 92 for handheld and 38 for other offences.

Officers laid ten stunt driving-related infractions where the drivers received a suspension and their vehicles were impounded. A total of 19 impaired-related arrests were also made.
Sergeant Jason Kraft thanked all those who helped spread the traffic safety messages.
Police say the campaign was part of Toronto’s Vision Zero Road Safety Plan to curb collisions are preventable and unacceptable. Zero injuries and deaths on our roads is the number that we all should be working towards.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1985.

 

 

Summer in the 6IX starts on Monday to help keep teens busy

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Here is some ideas for parents who are searching for interesting things to keep their children busy.

More than a dozen area facilities including Marie Curtis Park will be taking part in Summer in the 6IX, a new City program to keep youth busy.

The free program, which kicks off on July 20 and runs for the summer, is designed for Toronto teens and young adults from the age of 13 to 24, who will be offered opportunities to drop in, meet up with friends and take part in fun, themed activities.

”Summer in the 6IX will be available to all Toronto youth at a variety of parks,” according to promotional materials. “There will be three session times offered daily at multiple locations across the city, seven days a week.”

Some of the activities include dance, fitness, ecology, sports, leadership, employment, arts and the media.

The programs are taking place at Marie Curtis Park, Sir Adam Beck park, James S. Bell, Gus Ryder Pool, Ken Cox Community Centre, Rotary Peace Park outdoor pool, Prince of Wales park, Ourland park, Amos Waites Park, Mimico Memorial park and many others.

City officials say the program was developed with Toronto Public Health with a strong focus on health and safety and for participants to maintain physical distance from other individuals and groups.

The equipment will be sanitized between uses, or individual supplies will be provided. Staff will conduct a verbal health screening with each participant prior to the program start and collect caregiver or participant contact information, should tracing be required.

Children under the age of 12 are eligible for another program, called ParksPlayTO, which is also being run by the City, MLSE Foundation which brings sports programming.

ParksPlayTO will offer activities such as nature exploring, gardening, active games, arts and crafts, family fitness, story-telling and music circles for children and their caregivers. Any child age 12 and under accompanied by a caregiver age 18 or older can participate in ParksPlayTO.

Find out more at www.toronto.ca. Registration required.

Coalition pushes for defunding of Toronto Police

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The push for Toronto Police to be defunded is underway

City residents have their last chance to weigh in on virtual public consultations about police reform today.

This takes place as protesters plan to take to the streets demanding that the force be defunded.

The Toronto Police Services Board’s fourth and final town hall on “police accountability, reform and community safety priorities” is expected to take most of the day.

Late last month, city council voted against a cut to the force’s budget, but proposed a series of changes to policing including anti-racism measures and the implementation of body cameras.

But a group organizing the protest, called No Pride in Policing Coalition, says that doesn’t go nearly far enough.

The coalition sent demands to the police board some of which include: no body cameras; no to expanding the police budget; defunding the budget by 50%; demilitarizing the police; removing cops in schools; decriminalize poverty, drugs, HIV and sex work; and dismantling Special Constables and TTC Fare inspectors.

The NPPC is a group of queer and trans people formed in 2018 to support all the demands that Black Lives Matter Toronto raised at the 2016 Pride Toronto parade. They support BLM TO in their demand for a 50% cut to the Toronto Police Services budget.

 

Health Canada recalls a hand sanitizer sold in the area

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Residents are being warned of a bad batch of hand sanitizers.

Health Canada have recalled a brand of hand sanitizers that was sold online in the community.

Blake Shaver, of Bread&Butter Designs, says “it has come to my attention that Visibly Clean Hand Sanitizer, manufactured by Brands International, which I sold to some of you through my website was recalled by Health Canada.”

“I have emailed everyone who purchased this product from me but I wanted to make sure that everyone knew about the manufacturer’s recall,” according to a posting.

He wrote that Brands International is responsible to exchange all lots of Visibly Clean remaining in the marketplace. They are offering an exchange for their 8-ounce Germs Be Gone with a pump top.

“If you still have Visibly Clean product and you didn’t receive my email please message me directly for instructions,” Shaver says.

For more info visit breadandbutterdesigns.com

 

 

 

For now most of our sports are on hold in the community

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By REJEAN CANTLON

South Etobicoke gyms await Stage 3.

On July 13th the province announced that 18 of 32 regions within Ontario will enter Stage 3 to reopen which is slated to start on Friday, July 17th. Although South Etobicoke is not included in the group of 18, looking forward, some local sports minded citizens are anxious for what lies ahead for our local athletes.

According to provincial authorities, amateur and recreational sports could resume so long as they “do not allow prolonged or deliberate physical contact” between players.

So what does this exactly mean?

It means that contact sports like wrestling and judo are out, for now. South Etobicoke will remain in Stage 2 until it is safe to move on. Once we are in Stage 3, other sports with some form of contact like hockey, lacrosse or football maybe allowed as long as these sports can be modified to maintain physical distancing and as little contact as possible is made. The provincial directive goes on to say that recreational facilities in Stage 3 regions including, bowling alleys, gyms, play-ground equipment, and pool halls can open for business, as long as physical distancing (2 meters apart) is in place.

As South Etobicoke awaits the green light to move to Stage 3, government officials are clear to point out that despite much of the province opening up, it does not mean that life is back to normal. Officials state that restarting activities in stages will ensure we keep everyone safe, healthy and moving in a responsible way.

 

Here’s some good news right in the ‘hood

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Area resident Moma Monica is today thanking her many mask buyers.

She took it upon herself on the outset of COVID-19 to launch a campaign to study and make her own line of face masks, which she then sold to friends, family and others to raise $1,170 which has been donated to the Black Health Alliance.

“I would like to thank everyone who bought a mask from me,” Monica told her supporters online.

The good news was applauded and shared by many on social media.

“Awesome thank you for your donation to a great cause,” Lystra Lewis-Bowles wrote.

“Thank you for doing this incredible fundraiser and letting us take part,” says Lisa Cunningham Davis. “Also, the masks are so comfortable!”

Penny Kyysalak O’Hare notes that the campaign benefits two causes.

It “provides masks to protect us and also to mental health resources which is very much needed,” she says. “Kudos.”

The Black Health Alliance is a community-led registered charity working to improve the health and well-being of Black communities in Canada.

The movement continues to build innovative solutions to improve Black health and well-being, and mobilize people and financial resources to create lasting change in the lives of Black children, families and communities.

 

All star slugger Joey Votto loved growing up in Mimico

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One of Etobicoke’s top baseball star Joey Votto says he wept after watching a video of George Floyd’s murder by a police officer and then considering his life of white privilege.

Votto, 36, who was raised in Mimico, says he has many Black friends who are professional baseball players, whom he talked too, without listening to their plight.

He had just finished reading “A Long Walk to Freedom,” the autobiography of Nelson Mandela, about his 27-year prison sentence for fighting racism in South Africa.

In a column for the Cincinnati Enquirer on June 7, the athlete wrote at first he refused to watch the video of Floyd’s murder when asked by a Black teammate.

“I wept,” Votto wrote after watching the video the next day. “I texted my friend back and apologized.”

The 2010 National League MVP and member of the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame talked about his Etobicoke upbringing and his views on race.

“I was raised in Mimico,” the first baseman wrote. “It is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world.”

He was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in 2002 and at the age of 18 began his career, traveling around the U.S. on buses, growing up in clubhouses that were predominantly divided between whites and Latinos.

“Most of our minor league teams had a few African American players,” Votto reflects. “And perhaps because of where I was raised, I found myself most comfortable with the group of Americans who weren’t white.”

“For five years, I shared hotel rooms with my African-American teammates,” he wrote. “We shared pizzas, played video games, and listened to music together. We developed friendships. I look back on these years as some of the best of my life.”

The athlete saw “glimpses of racism that should have opened my eyes to the realities of being a Black man in America.”

“My teammates, my friends, the ones that I shared great times with, faced prejudices that I never did and when they shared their experiences … I did not hear them,” he noted.

His privilege kept him from understanding the ‘why’ behind Colin Kaepernick’s decision to kneel during the national anthem.

“That privilege allowed me to ignore my black teammates’ grievances about their experiences with law enforcement, being profiled, and discriminated against,” he grieved. “And that privilege has made me complicit in the death of George Floyd, as well as the many other injustices that Blacks experience in the U.S. and my native Canada … No longer will I be silent.”

Votto made his Major League debut with the Cincinnati Reds in 2007 and is a six-time National League All-Star. He is one of the top players in major league baseball.

 

 

The Pompeys’ raising funds for gear for frontline workers

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Well-known Toronto ‘Dancing Cowboy’ Ken Pompey and his famous baseball player son, Dalton, are on a mission to help frontline workers obtain much-needed personal protective equipment.

The elder Pompey is Co-founder and Managing Director of No Wait Walk-in, an online gateway to total health care under one integrated network.

He is best known as the ‘Dancing Cowboy,’ some 30-years ago when he was a top dancer on the Electric Circus TV show that ran on MuchMusic and Citytv from 1988 to 2003 and was filmed at the station’s Queen St. W. studios.

Dalton, who was born in Mississauga, is no slouch either and played major league baseball as a centre fielder for the Toronto Blue Jays from 2014 to 2016.

Today he and Dalton have teamed up to get hospitals, and other healthcare professionals, some much needed personal protective equipment through their No Wait Medical Foundation.

They are taking part in a campaign with Great Lakes Brewery to raise funds to purchase hospital grade masks, gloves, gowns and goggles for Mississauga’s Credit Valley Hospital to protect medical professionals at the forefront of patient care.

For each and every can of Electric Circus Tropical Pale Ale sold, Great Lakes will donate $.75 (per can) to Ken and Dalton to help them obtain the much-needed gear.

“Our brewery is extremely grateful to all the hardworking women and men in our terrific healthcare system who continue to help battle COVID-19 day in and day out,” GLB officials say.

“We are thrilled to work with Ken and Dalton to get these amazing individuals, and organizations, the protective equipment they need in order to keep themselves, and our communities safe.”

You can help the Daltons’ reach their medical goal by purchasing cans or cases of Electric Circus from GLB’s online shop at info@greatlakesbeer.com or by visiting nowaitwalkin.com to make a donation.