After more than six decades, The Oculus, a one-of-a-kind space-age park pavilion, is finally getting a facelift.

The unique galactic shelter is well-known to cyclists and pedestrians who pass by a meadow where it is located along the Humber River Recreational Trail in South Humber Park.

The Oculus Revitalization Project was delayed due to COVID-19 and organizers say the work will begin next spring.

They are urging community residents and park lovers to attend a short talk on October 16 about the Oculus’ ‘past, present and future of space and its cultural heritage value.’

Visitors will be able to ask questions, provide feedback and share their thoughts on the pavilion.

Pop up time slots at the facility are slated for 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m., 1 to 1:30 p.m. and 2 to 2:30 p.m.

Only 20 tickets are available for each slot, due to the virus. There will be five volunteers and only 25 people per talk will be allowed.

“Many are eager to hear about the progress of the project while also enjoying outdoor park spaces,” the organizers wrote on social media.

They will also be revealing a new temporary public art installation at The Oculus, which is designed by Giaimo, a Toronto-based architecture firm and co-led by ACO NextGen.

“The installation will brighten the pavilion until the restoration process is possible in spring 2021,” according to the organizers.

The project is one of five selected for Park People’s Public Space Incubator (PSI) Grant, funded by the Balsalm Foundation and Ken and Eti Greenberg. The project has been further sponsored by the Friends of the Pan Am Path, HNR Properties, and CS Vinyl.

Designed in 1958 by Alan Crossley and built by Toronto Parks a year later, The Oculus, was a former public washroom that stands as an ‘understated monument to Toronto’s mid-century concrete past.’

“Over the last few decades, the pavilion has suffered significant neglect,” the organizers say. “This revitalization project aims to transform The Oculus into a welcoming community gathering place along the trail.”

To register for the talks, or for questions or concerns, please contact stephanie@acotoronto.ca

The wearing of masks and physical distancing are required at this event.

A New Toronto man is making an appeal for thieves to return his prized e-bike after it was stolen from outside his home.

Bernard Graham said the $4,000 Daymak Beast electric-bike was stolen on October 11 around midnight from outside his 148 Islington Ave. apartment unit, which is just north of Lake Shore Blvd. W.

“It was the worst day of my life,” Graham says. “It is my transport to get to work and shopping in the community.”

The long-time area resident says he always parked the bike in a secure spot out of public view.

He is in the process of filing a complaint with Toronto Police and trying to obtain video from security cameras in the area.

“I feel empty inside that my transport is gone,” Graham says. “I feel like part of me is gone and I feel so empty.”

He says he didn’t realize the e-bike was gone until notified by a neighbour early the next day.

The production assistant for Lush Cosmetics, on Jutland Rd., purchased the e-bike last March from an area shop so he could travel to work safely during COVID-19.

“I am very disappointed by the loss of my bike,” he says. “The bike was so large that I didn’t expect it to stolen from where it was parked.”

He believes the thief, of thieves, had their eyes on the bike and cut a thick lock securing the bike with a bolt cutter when he was inside.

He loved the ride and had added parts to enhance the e-bike; such as a windshield, custom saddle, saddle bags, rear shocks and changed the tires.

“This was my ride to avoid the virus,” he says. “I feel like by routine has been destroyed and that nothing is safe anymore.”

Police say electric bikes, just like other bikes are stolen in one way or the other, sometimes, the e-bike has a whole may be stolen. Other times, some critical components may be removed from the e-bike.

Officers say e-bikes have become more affordable over the years and it makes them an investment worth protecting.

“To keep your e-bike safe, you may need to be proactive by employing proper security measures,” according to police.

If you see Graham’s e-bike please call police at 416-808-2200 or leave a message on Facebook at  https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1637264909781265&id=100004933147170

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.

This brazen scam involves the use of fake police numbers.

Police are asking residents to be aware of ongoing telephone scams, this one involves the numbers of Toronto Police being spoofed to try and defraud people .

Police warn that have been several instances over the last few weeks where members of the public have received telephone calls from what appears to be Toronto Police Service numbers.
The caller display shows the number as 416-808 and four subsequent numbers. When the person calls the number back to say they missed a call from this number, it is discovered the initial call was a hoax and was not made by police.
In most cases the callers are seeking money in the form of bitcoin payments.

Police are warning that calls made by members in Divisions and Units do not display a number and appear as Unknown Caller or Private Number.
Additionally, officers would leave a voicemail, offer their name, badge number and a call back number for the public to call and confirm specific details.
The Toronto Police Service and other Government agencies will not ask the public to deposit money using Bitcoin machines, according to a release.
Officers say there are numerous fraudulent calls being made where unknown people have the capability to mimic telephone numbers, sometimes called “spoofing” and place outgoing calls.
Police warm never to provide details or confirm personal details over the telephone, instead follow up with whatever agency is indicated to ensure they are aware of the matter.
If you have been the victim of a fraud or scam always report the matter to your local police at 416-808-2222 or call CrimeStoppers anonymously.