The South Etobicoke News

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

Hall of Famer Walls was a Canadian boxing champ

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Earl Walls was a top Etobicoke boxer who was dubbed the “Hooded Terror” as the fought his way to become Canada’s Heavyweight Boxing Champion in the early 1950s.

Walls, who went on to become a successful realtor in the Kingsway area, is one of a few Blacks in the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame, at the Ford Performance Centre, which lists hundreds of hockey, lacrosse, football players, jockeys, golfers, some politicians and media personalities.

Dubbed the “Hooded Terror” in the ring, Walls began boxing at age 19 and quickly won the Ontario Amateur Heavyweight Championship. The native of Puce, near Windsor, started his professional career with a knockout victory in a fight in New York City.

After losing his next three bouts, he set up training in Alberta and by June of 1952 had won the Canadian Heavyweight title. In his pro career, Walls knocked out 27 opponents, including 14 in the first round.

“His boxing career was brief but extremely successful,” sports writers said of Walls.

By 1955, he was on his way to becoming the second Canadian, behind Tommy Burns, to take the  World Heavyweight Championship.

Walls was a contender then ranked fifth in the world and a title shot against the champ Rocky Marciano was in the works.

But in June of that year, at the age of 27, Walls stunned the boxing world by announcing his retirement.

Then married and with a young family, Walls no longer wanted to step into the ring.

“Boxing is a business. Strictly a career with me,” he explained in a newspaper article. “I don’t go for violence. And I don’t like the wrong impression people get of fighters – that we’re all gorillas, social bums.”

He gained enormous success in real estate while raising his family in Etobicoke, where he was involved with a number of charities, including Variety Village’s Sunshine Games. He is also a member of the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame and the Afro-American Sports Hall of Fame in Detroit. He died in 1996.

 

Glory days of the Long Branch Race Track

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It has been 65-years since the last wager was placed by emotional race fans on thoroughbreds plowing down a back stretch at the long-forgotten Long Branch Race Track.

Called Ontario’s leading horse racing track at the time, the Long Branch track operated for more than three decades from 1924 to 1955 and took up 39.7 hectares of prime land bounded by Evans, Kipling and Horner Aves., and the Canadian Pacific Railway to the west.

The facility, which attracted thousands, was owned by mining magnate Abe Orpen and his family before being sold to Toronto Racing Securities Limited which closed the track with the development of a new Woodbine Race Track, in Rexdale.

The Long Branch track was hugely popular with loyal fans travelling here by train from the U.S. and the southern Ontario area. It was a place where the rich mingled with the working class in hopes of winning big.

Each year thousands of fans would flock to the track for thoroughbred and standardbred races, according to City records.

The Canadian International Championship was first run as the Long Branch Championship Stakes in 1938 and the Cup and Saucer Stakes for Canadian foaled two-year-olds began here. Both of these races are still part of Canada’s racing season.

All that is left of the many years of excitement and wagering is a plaque by the City of Toronto, on the north side of Horner Avenue, just east of the railway tracks.

The brick and stone gatepost directly opposite this plaque was one of two marking the main entrance to the track. A so-called ‘avenue of maple trees, which still survive, highlighted the entrance.

Track owner Orpen designed the Long Branch track to be ‘Ontario’s leading and most-modern race track establishment.’

He had arranged for Canadian and Grand Trunk Railways to be built and service his racetrack with passenger trains full of horse betting patrons coming as far as the U.S. to the racing mecca.

Orpen, or Uncle ‘Abe” as he was called, was also president of the Long Branch Racing Association Ltd. , and an executive with the Ontario Jockey Club. During the thirties he paid for and ran a soup kitchen that would feed 500 men twice weekly until he passed away in 1937.

Ex-Argos Zeke still active with charity work

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Former Toronto Argos tight end and long-time South Etobicoke resident William “Zeke” O’Connor is 94-years-old and is more fit than many people half his age.

Zeke will always be remembered for catching the winning touchdown pass for the underdog Argos in the 1952 Grey Cup, beating the Edmonton Eskimos 21-11 at Varsity Stadium. It would be the last championship the Argos would win until 1983.

“That catch changed my life,” he recalls from the Delmanor Retirement Home.  “It led to many other opportunities for me.”

The son of a New York City cop, Zeke worked at Sears for 31 years after football and was a Grey Cup radio broadcaster, doing colour commentary on the CBC from 1956 to 1981.

While at Sears he met famous explorer Sir Edmund Hillary, who became the first man to summit Mount Everest in 1953. From Hillary he gained a passion for philanthropy, particularly in Nepal.

He formed and ran the Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation of Canada more than 30 years to help improve the lives of the Sherpas in the remote high-altitude villages of Mount Everest.

Zeke has since made about 45 trips to Nepal to help the Sherpas and is one of a few people who’ve have had a hospital and healing garden named him by thankful Nepalese.

He has helped to raise more than $5 million to build schools, hospitals, medical clinics, provide medical scholarships, train village health workers, build water pipelines, bridges, and to fund the Kunde Hospital and Sagarmatha National Park reforestation programs.

He was honoured on October 21 by the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame with a dinner gala and presented with a Governor-general ribbon of distinction.

“I have been given many awards and medals over the years,” Zeke says. “This one means a lot to me.”

The foundation is now run by his daughter, Karen, aided by Operations Manager Jeanne Cornacchia.

Zeke published a memoir in 2012 called Journey with the Sherpas: The Story of Zeke O’Connor and the Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation.

Before moving to Canada, he played pro football in the U.S. with the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns and New York Yanks before joining the Argonauts, which he says was a jumping-off point for many experiences, including a 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rotary Club of Toronto West.

Visit thesiredmundhillaryfoundation.ca for more info or to donate.

Police Service dog Reilly found a loaded gun

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A salute to members of the Toronto Police Service Canine Unit who also place their lives in danger every day.

Toronto Police Service Dog Aleksa is being credited with tracking down and leading to the arrest of an armed robbery suspect.

Aleksa, with her handler and members of the Emergency Task Force, were investigating the robbery in the north Etobicoke area on Monday night when the alleged robber took off.

The man was tracked down by the canine and held at bay until officers arrived.

“This is a great example of teamwork and a job well done,” police said on Twitter.

Another service dog Reilly was saluted by police for helping to find a loaded gun, police say.

Police say Reilly was searching for a car that was involved in a crime. Inside, officers found a loaded firearm concealed in a hidden compartment.

That find could have saved the life of an officer, or citizen, according to police.

And in Halifax, service dog Jynx, is hailed for finding a missing three-year-old girl who wandered off in an area with thick brush, downed logs and a steep hillside.

“In my mind it was so thick and so hard to navigate through that I was ready to pretty much determine that no human would go through there,” Jynx’s handler, Const. Dan Berube told the CBC.

The Toronto Police Dog Services was formed in 1989. The unit consists of 21 handlers and several dozen dogs. Most teams are comprised of one handler and one general purpose police dog.

The unit is responsible for hundreds of arrests and the laying of hundreds of criminal charges. They have also located thousands of dollars of property and pieces of crucial evidence including numerous firearms and other dangerous weapons.

No amateur sports or programs until late June at least

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By REJEAN CANTLON

It won’t be until about June 28 when City of Toronto officials look at reopening dozens of sports facilities or classes that were shut or cancelled due to COVID-19.

All classes, drop-in programs at city centres, programs as skating or swimming and after-school recreational care will be reassessed by City officials in about two months. They have been shut since March.

All City permits are cancelled until June 30 including, indoor recreation, pools, arenas, outdoor sports fields and seasonal permits, according to the City.

All City facilities will remain shut including community recreation and fitness centres, Toronto Pan Am Sports and Toronto Track and Field Centres.

Kids can keep busy in other ways as they await registration for amateur lacrosse, baseball or soccer teams, which are on hold.

Siblings, Brady, 10, and Keaton McCharles, 8, resorted to a classic South Etobicoke, and Canadian, way youngsters have always found to pass the time and stay fit. That would be playing road hockey.

“The main rule we have is to stay two hockey sticks apart from one another if friends from the neighbourhood want to join in,” Brady says. “That means no dekes or going top-shelf from the top of crease when we have a goalie.”

Mimico fitness enthusiast John Dalton says residents can remain active by visiting great parks like Colonel Samuel Smith, Amos Waites, Lakeshore Village or Alderwood Memorial to name a few.

“Take your dog for walk. You don’t need to feel like you have been trapped inside, just remember to social distance,” Dalton says. “One of the great things about living in our area is the variety of resources we have to stay active and healthy.”

No matter what type of exercise you chose to do, it can help you maintain your fitness level. And it may certainly help alleviate the stress caused by the coronavirus.

Getting through the tough times together

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By: Adrianne Szabo-Payne

It’s no question that pretty much every single person in the world is feeling the effects of COVID-19.
Whether you’re at home in self-isolation, or still required to go to work to provide essential products
and services for the rest of us, we have to take this time to pay extra attention to our health.
So beyond washing your hands every five-minutes and wiping every surface you touch with a disinfectant, how can you keep your immune system strong?
Firstly, we have to look at our immune system from all sides; physical, mental and spiritual. When we
look at ourselves as a whole, we’ll have a much better chance at keeping ourselves healthy.
Here’s a holistic approach to helping boost your immune system as we navigate through these times.
Feed your physical body with good food and exercise. It is easy to give up on the healthy regime during
times like this, but don’t fall prey to apathy and fast food.
Since getting to the grocery might not be as easy as you’re used to, when do you go, make good choices
by picking fresh leafy greens, colourful fruits and vegetables and lots of protein rich foods. If you’re
trying to eat less meat, remember to soak your beans and legumes and wash them through often to get
rid of most of the lectins which can cause digestive upset.
You can soak your beans and legumes for several days, so long as you wash them through every few hours. Use the internet to find recipes and how-to videos. Among my favourite is Tasty, showing step-by-step recipes.
Set an intention to exercise for at least 20-minutes daily. Go for a walk or bike ride through your
neighbourhood. These are all social distancing approved activities, and fresh air is vital for good health.
If walking or biking isn’t your thing, the internet is loaded with free exercise videos to choose from.
Try something new every week. It’s good for the body and the brain. And don’t forget to stretch!
Supplementing can help those who need a little extra help. Probiotics, Vitamin C, D and good fats will
help reduce inflammation and boost your immune system’s ability to fight off viruses and bacteria.
For your mental and spiritual health, set daily goals to keep you feeling productive. Include things like
calling a friend who might live alone and talk about COVID-free news; learn a new skill, the internet is a
wealthy resource; take 5-10 minutes to laugh out loud daily, funny animal videos are great. If you find
something great that helps you, remember to share it with a friend.
These might be unsettling times, but the silver lining is we are in control of how we react to it all. Be a
champion of positive energy. We will get through this together.

Adrianne Szabo-Payne is owner of Monkey Tree Fitness & Wellness, 800 Islington Ave. Phone 416-233-3400 or visit monkeytreewellness.com

Some Humber Bay Shores Park trees to be cut

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Some residents of Humber Bay Shores Park have taken to social media in a bid to save 200 trees which they claim are slated to be cut down near the amphitheatre and butterfly garden area.
Outraged members of the community are circulating an online petition and demanding Councillor Mark Grimes and other city officials halt the removal of the estimated 200 trees from the park.
Some people on social media say the deforestation of the waterfront park can lead to a loss of habitat of animals and plant species, increased greenhouse gases, less water in the atmosphere, soil erosion, flooding, increasing traffic and sound pollution.
”I am firmly against killing these trees and also against spending taxpayer money to do so,” one angry resident wrote.
Grimes in a letter says ‘the state of the Humber Bay Shores Park amphitheatre area has been a concern for a number of years now.’
He did not “order the removal’ of the trees but asked City staff to come up with some options to clean up the overgrown area, an initiative supported by the Humber Bay Shoes Condo Association.
“The plan for this space has always been to have it manicured and maintained, however due to budgetary restrictions, this have not been achieved,” Grimes wrote, adding a lack of maintenance has left the site overgrown with invasive species.
He says City staff have identified about 113 trees which require pruning to elevate lower hanging limbs and clear the pathways.
“We are told by Forestry staff that any tree marked for removal are generally smaller invasive species, or trees that are no longer viable to be maintained,” according to Grimes. The letter states ”over 75% of the trees recommended for removal are under 5-cm in diameter, with the rest being under 10-cm and under 15-cm.”
“The current condition of the site has led to the area being used for illegal activity as the coverage area in the area hides these activities from public view,” he says.
Humber Bay Park East covers 19-hectares, or 47 acres, while Humber Bay Park West extends on 120 hectares, or about 300 acres. The park, which was opened in June 1984, has a 27% tree canopy growth.
Residents on social media say they haven’t given up their fight to save the trees.

Local sports at a COVID-19 standstill

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As COVID-19 continue to spread, organized amateur sports in South Etobicoke have come to a stand-still. This includes the outright cancellation of practices, games, tournaments and other sporting events which sadly means the end of the remainder of the season for some.
Here’s a look at how the virus is affecting amateur sports in our area.
Baseball executives are monitoring Public Health and Baseball Ontario’s websites. The outdoor season is scheduled to begin early May and that remains unchanged. Pre-season training and other team events are cancelled until April 5 when organizations will reassess the situation.
All Etobicoke Basketball Association programming is cancelled or postponed until further notice.
The Toronto and Peel CPA (Canadian Poolplayers Association) has postponed league play and cancelled tournaments. Cricket Canada has suspended all practices and events until further notice. And, Etobicoke Gymnastics Club has delayed their Spring session to April 5.
All Hockey Canada sanctioned activities including games, practices, playoffs, try-outs for next season, camps and team activities (includes team parties and banquets) are cancelled. The Ford Performance Centre is closed until April 6.
Mimico Lacrosse Club has paused until April 5 all sanctioned in-person lacrosse activities, including try-outs, training sessions, scrimmages, practices and games.
Martial arts clubs are closed until April 5. Toronto Nomads Rugby has suspended all activities until April 10. The Ontario Soccer Association has cancelled all activities until further notice.
The Lakeshore Swim Club has cancelled all competitive program swim practices and dryland practices until April 5 and no swim meets will be held before April 20, including the Marilyn Bell Swim Classic that was to take place at the Etobicoke Olympian.

Iconic Gretzky-Horton TV ad filmed in Alderwood

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Many residents are still shedding tears after watching a young Wayne Gretzky meet his hero Tim Horton for an autograph in an emotional commercial that was mainly filmed at Brown’s Line Donuts in Alderwood.
“The Autograph” portrays a young Gretzky, played by Gordie Gilders, visiting a Tim Hortons location in 1968 in Brantford and getting an autograph from Hortons, the late Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman and restaurant co-founder.
The Great One would say he was inspired to become a professional hockey player after that meeting.
“They were filming here for two days last summer,” says Rina, who with her husband own the 744 Brown’s Line 1950s-style eatery. “Thousands of people have seen that commercial. It is very famous and people are still talking about it today.”
Many of the regular customers say they did not recognize their favourite restaurant at first.
“They (producers) did a great job transforming this place,” says Stan. “I come here every day and I still didn’t recognize the place. Someone had to tell me.”
The extras and actors in the commercial were dressed in 1960s clothing with ’60s hair and makeup, officials said.
The ad was shot “in an old diner off of Brown’s Line that they had converted into an original Tim Hortons with stools inside and tables. I couldn’t believe it,” one of those involved recalled.
Gretzky, or his dad, Walter, were not at the diner because their scene was filmed elsewhere.
At the end of the commercial, Gretzky is shown with tears welling in his eyes.
The story is an emotional tribute to Horton, who was one of the greatest defensemen of all-time. Horton spent 24 seasons in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Buffalo Sabres
His career tragically ended in 1974 when he crashed his sports car in St. Catherines. Horton, a member of the Sabres at the time, had played against his famous former team, the Leafs, the night before and was driving back to Buffalo. He died at age 44.
Horton opened his first doughnut shop in Hamilton in 1964. By 1968, Tim Hortons had become a multi-million dollar franchise. After Horton died, Ron Joyce, Horton’s business partner, bought the Horton’s family’s shares for $1 million becoming sole owner.
Today there are almost 5,000 Tim Hortons stores in Canada.

Problem-kid LeBron James want others to succeed

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As students return to school, all eyes are focused on NBA basketball star LeBron James’ I Promise School in Ohio that feeds and educates for free 240 at-risk inner-city children.

You may like or hate the former Cleveland Cavaliers now Los Angeles Lakers star, but at the end of the day he stepped up to the court and using more than $8 million of his own money provided an outlet for success for kids in his hometown of Akron.
Jubilant residents of the hard-hit city are delighted as their vulnerable 3rd and 4th-Graders will no long have to walk the streets and be exposed to gangs and crime.
The school, a project of the LeBron James Family Foundation and Akron Public Schools, provides students with a slew of awesome perks; which includes free tuition, uniforms, breakfast, lunch and snacks, transportation, bicycle and helmet and more importantly, access to a food pantry for their families.

The students who graduate will be guaranteed tuition to attend the University of Akron. All they have to do is show up and study. Their parents also have access to higher learning.
James was a problem student when growing up and missed months of classes as a result. Education remained important to him and he was driven by a mission to help kids overcome what he faced as a low-income student growing up in the ‘Rubber Capital of the World.’
“The jitters before the first day of school are real right now!!! Tomorrow is going to be one of the greatest moments (if not the greatest) of my life when we open the #IPROMISE School,” James said in a Tweet.
“This skinny kid from Akron who missed 83 days of school in the 4th grade had big dreams…”
He recalled skipping school for months as he and his mom moved from one couch or spare room to another thanks to friends and family members. He credits mentors, some of whom he met at school, for helping him to turn his life around so he attended every day of 5th Grade, the first year he played organized basketball.
James, who has won three NBA championships and four league-MVPs, called the school opening the greatest moment of his career.
“Walking these hallways and seeing, when I was driving here, just the streets that I walked, some of the stores are still up when I was growing up,” he told ESPN. “It’s a moment I’ll never forget.”

The school’s curriculum was crafted with the help of Akron County educators, who say they’ve long seen their students underperforming in the classroom. There will be a focus on hands-on education, with an emphasis on developing problem-solving skills, according to the school’s website.
Students will also have a later start time for school days and more staggered breaks in order to promote year-round education.
The NBA champion has become increasingly active in social issues in recent years, often speaking out against instances of racism and other forms of inequality. He said that for him, this school is an opportunity to create change.
“For kids in general, all they want to know is that someone cares. And when they walk through that door I hope they know that someone cares,” he said recalling his early days.
Some 43 staffers will help run the I Promise School, including teachers, a principal, four intervention specialists, a tutor, English as a second language teacher, music instructor and gym teacher.
Other famous Black celebrities as Sean “Diddy” Combs, ESPN analysist Jalen Rose and a few others have also put their names and millions in funding schools for at-risk youths in the U.S.

See more at www.torontonewswire.com

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