Hundreds of NHL fans descended on the Prince of Wales Park Rink on Third Street to see and cheer their favourite Toronto Maple Leafs hockey icons.

The cold did not stop fans from having a great time meeting and cheering their favourite Leafs alumni player as they signed autographs and chatted with fans outside the outdoor rink after a mock game..

The Maple Leafs annual outdoor practice attracts hundreds of Leafs’ lovers from across the region, some who travel hours to see their favourite players and obtain photographs.

Crowd favourite and former twice Toronto Maple Leafs captain Darryl Sittler showed what a professional he is by sticking around and talking, signing autographs and taking selfies with fans of all ages, who are loyal Maple Leaf boosters.

Sittler was circled by fans as he tried to enter an Uber after an Leafs alumni mock game. The driver had to wait at least 20 minutes as the hockey great did not disappoint anyone.

The lakefront skate gave fans an opportunity to be upfront and close to the hockey legends they admired from a generation ago.

On January 27 and 28 the Maple Leafs team, hot and on a roll, will take to the Prince of Wales ice for a morning skate.

There are thousands of fans expected to see their faves as Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner or William Nylander.

Handing out swag as pucks was MP Christiine Hogarth, who was out campaigning for a February 27 snap election in Ontario.

Hogarth said she was attending a church service with Premier Doug Ford that night as she tried to recapture the Etobicoke Lakeshore provincial riding which she has held for … years.

Perhaps the busiest place was the Tim Hortons trailer which had a long lineup for the free coffee being offered on this freezing day.

The streets to be closed includes: Third Street from Lake Shore Drive to the dead end, Lake Shore Drive from Third Street to the dead end of the street and Second Street from Morrison Street to the end.

The Leafs’ annual outdoor practice is a free, public event that usually takes place at Nathan Phillips Square at City Hall. The event features a number of activities that last year included a Toronto Professional Women Hockey League (PWHL) skills competition and a Leafs alumni signing session.

 

A 90-year-old Art Deco-style former post office located at was once the downtown of New Toronto is being designated as a heritage site by City Council.

The building at 2930 Lake Shore Blvd. W., at Islington Avenue, is expected to be deemed historic by a Toronto Preservation Board on January 31.

The New Toronto Post Office was completed in 1935 as part of the Public Works Construction Act of 1934, which saw the construction of 185 public buildings by the Government of Canada between 1934 and 1939.

It was designed by Catto and Catto Architects in the Stripped Classical Style with Art Deco elements, the limestone clad structure with polished granite accents has stood as a community landmark at the centre of downtown New Toronto since 1935.

The Board said the former post office is an example of ‘small-scale public building’ constructed as part of the interwar period from 1918 to 1939. The building ‘reflects the transition towards modernism that typifies this period.’

“Its flattened classical details including cornice of contrasting stonework bands, flattened pilasters, and imposing door surround flanked by fluted columns are hallmarks of Stripped Classicism,” according to a City report.

“…the strong planarity of the contrasting bands of limestone and black granite at the cornice and interior plasterwork of the lobby reflect the influence of Art Deco.”

The City said its scale and high-quality materials, including exterior and interior stonework were introduced by the Department of Public Works in 1936 to reduce costs.

The first Post Office in New Toronto opened in 1892 at 818 Lake Shore Road inside a grocery store operated by Christopher Reid who served as the first postmaster from 1892-1907. In 1908, it was relocated to 131 Sixth Street where it would remain until 1935.

New Toronto was established in 1890 by the Mimico Real Estate Security Company, which registered a subdivision for the lands north of Lake Shore Road between Dwight Avenue to the Grand Trunk Railway corridor.

In 1913, New Toronto was incorporated as a village with a population of 500. At this time a handful of commercial properties existed along Lake Shore Road between Fifth and Seventh Streets. After becoming a town in 1920, New Toronto would continue to grow, achieving a population of 6,000 in 1930.

FEBRUARY 1 THE ETOBICOKE CIVIC CENTRE WILL commemorate Black History Month African Heritage 2025 with the raising of the Pan-African Flag at the Civic Centre, 399 The West Mall. The Celebrating Our Mosaic ceremony runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to celebrate the culture, heritage, and contributions of people of African descent. There will be special presentations, entertainment and refreshments. All is welcome.

FEBRUARY 1 BLACK HISTORY MONTH RECEPTION, Art Exhibition & Ujamaa Marketplace from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Newmarket Old Town Hall, 460 Botsford Street, in a free event emceed by Emily Mills, award winning founder of How She Hustles.  There will be entrepreneurs in health and wellness, technology and supply chain industries. Also drumming, dance and spoken word performances. Featuring a gallery exhibition highlighting this year’s theme, “I and I, I Wanna Rule My Destin.” meet  local Black-owned businesses offering unique cultural products and services. Organized by the Newmarket African Caribbean Canadian Association.

FEBRUARY 6 VICTORIA UNIVERSITY HONOURING Dr. Jean Augustine at the Isabel Bader Theatre as part of Black History Month celebrations. Jean was the first Black woman elected as a Member of Parliament and appointed as a federal cabinet minister. Her accomplishments include having the month of February officially recognized as Black History Month. A professorship will be created in her name. Tickets are $100. Contact vic.alumni@utoronto.ca

FEBRUARY 8 A CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. for an inspiring evening filled with soulful gospel music at Lyric Theatre, Meridian Arts Centre, 5040 Yonge Street. U of T’s Faculty of Music and the Toronto School of Theology present a powerful musical journey featuring traditional and contemporary gospel pieces, dynamic drumming by the U of T West African Drumming and Dance Ensemble, and an electrifying gospel rhythm section.. For more e-mail music@utoronto.ca. Tickets also available at Ticketmaster.

FEBRUARY 18 BLACK HISTORY afternoon event for seniors at 1 p.m. drumming. Food and Culture Caribbean at 2:30 p.m., entertainment 3:30 p.m. To register contact erica@lampchc.org, call 416-252-6471 ext. 246 or rosema@lampchc.org ext. 257

UNTIL FEBRUARY 18 FREE DRUMMING WORKSHOPS at 1 p.m. at LAMP CHC for a free African drumming workshops and let the rhythm take control. Come unleash your inner groove and connect with fellow music lovers. For more e-mail erica@lampchc.org or call 416-252-6471 ext. 246.

FEBRUARY 22 JEAN AUGUSTINE CENTRE’s Black History Month Celebration from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Famous People Players, at 343 Evans Avenue. The celebration features special guests, performances, brunch vendors and more. Tickets are $40 at Eventbrite starting January 29. Proceeds will support the Centre and its programs and workshops for young women aged 7 to 17 in Etobicoke and GTA.

FEBRUARY 8, 15 and 22 BLACK HISTORY MONTH New Words at Colborne Lodge with renowned poet Desiree McKenzie as she creates poetry that responds to racism, colonialism, Indigenous land and gender inequities. Takes place 11:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. at the Colborne Lodge Museum, 11 Colborne Lodge Drive. For more info e-mail clodge@toronto.ca or call 416-392-6916

FEBRUARY 28 BLACK HISTORY MONTH MAJESTIC WARRIORS the veteran roots reggae band and guests will perform reggae music at Jj’s Bar & Grill at 2814 Lake Shore Blvd. W., near Islington Avenue, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.. All is welcome to this dance and cultural vibrations event. Tickets $12.

 

It took 11-years but a plaque has been finally placed for friends and family to remember Toronto Police Const. John Zivcic.

Zivcic, 34, died of head injuries after his police vehicle was involved in a collision in November 2013 at the intersection of Bloor Street West and Neilson Drive.

The husband and family man was on traffic duty and was responding to an emergency call for an impaired driver with his lights and sirens on when he was involved in a collision.

The young officer had been stationed for more than six years at 22 Division, in South Etobicoke.

A group of family, friends and co-workers gathered on January 23 as a plaque was unveiled under a tree on Bloor St., near the crash site, in memory of Zivcic. The tree was planted prior in his memory and police dog was named Zee after the officer.

“This lilac tree planted in John’s honour is very significant and will have special meaning for many people,” police said then. “This tree will serve as a constant reminder of the ultimate sacrifice John made in protecting the citizens of Toronto.”

Police said the plaque unveiling brought together his family, friends, and fellow officers to honour his courage, dedication, and commitment to serving his community.

Deputy Chief Lauren Pogue said the tree and plaque serve as a reminder of what many police officers know well.

“I pass this place frequently and I think about John, his sacrifice, his courage and commitment to community, as many of you do,” she said. “This plaque ensures everyone who passes can reflect. And it offers us a place to gather to celebrate John and ensure he is never forgotten.”

Hamilton Police Service Chief Frank Bergen, who was serving as the 22 Division unit commander at the time of the tragic collision, said the loss of Zivcic was one of the most impactful moments of his career. He still carries his funeral card in his police forage cap.

Then Inspector Anthony Paoletta said Zivcic’s legacy lives on in his love for his family, commitment to policing and his love for the South Etobicoke community.

City Councillor Stephen Holyday, who helped make the plaque a reality, joined in the ceremony where a police bagpiper played Amazing Grace, and Special Constable Steven Cooper sang Bring Him Home as Mounted Unit officers stood as an Honour Guard.

An upcoming Ontario election was an open secret that will send more than four million of us to the polls later this month in the prime of winter.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford now high in the polls confirmed on January 24 that he is calling a snap election on January 29, that is set to take place on February 27.

It will be a cold call to vote for residents and hundreds of volunteers installing election signs or knocking on doors. The vote itself is expected to cost about $160 million.

The astute politician is taking an advantage of a lack of leadership in Ottawa, U.S. tariff threats and a booming economy to call a vote, as he is riding high in the polls.

Recent polls indicate 46 per cent of respondents expressed support for the reigning Tories versus 22 per cent for Bonnie Crombie’s Liberals, 19 per cent for the NDP, just 7 per cent for the Green Party and 6 per cent other.

The Premier has been scoring points lately from residents for a long list of reasons, one being his leading Captain Canada role in standing up to U.S. tariffs.

He claims he requires a large mandate from voters to stand up to President Donald Trump, in a tariff fight that could cost Ontarians ‘10s of billions of dollars.’

Ford’s popularity buoyed as many voters were happy with beer and wines now sold in corner stores, reducing some vehicle and gas taxes, pushing to remove controversial bike lanes from busy streets and now free money with a cheque of $200 being sent out to help qualified Ontarians at a cost of $3 billion.

He has also won the high-profile fight to move the Ontario Science Centre to Ontario Place and add a luxury spa with tremendous work now underway.

Crombie and Styles claim Ford is calling an election now to maintain and retain power to make his friends richer.

A search for a fast-fingered woman accused of stealing a luxury watch from a man while on a date led Toronto Police to a trove of high-end stolen goods at a Humber Bay Shores condo unit.

Police said their probe began after a female allegedly stole an expensive watch from a man she was on a date with on January 6 around 2 p.m. at a hotel in the Wellington Street West and Blue Jays Way area.

Detectives managed to identify the woman and that led to a search of an apartment in the Park Lawn Road and Lake Shore Blvd. W. area.

Several luxury items were seized at the address, according to police.

Bianca Azaria Bourne-Nikolajev, 30, of Toronto, is wanted by police for theft over $5,000 and possess property obtained by crime exceeding $5,000.

She is described as 5’8″ tall, 115lbs, thin build, with black hair.

Investigators are looking to identify owners of the luxury items that were seized during the search warrant. Contact police if you recognize the suspect or believe any of the stolen goods were yours.

It is not known if the woman met the men on a dating website and the alleged thefts occurred on a first date.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-5200, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com

 

These alleged bank robbers chose to rob a bank about five blocks away from Toronto Police’s 22 Division.

Police in a release said the suspects are a man and woman who were nabbed by officers of a Public Safety Response Team after robbing a bank January 22 around 3:12 p.m. in the Bloor Street W., and Kipling Avenue area.

Officers said the crooks drove to the bank and one suspect entered wearing a mask to disguise their identity.

“They placed their hand inside their jacket and indicated they were armed with a firearm while making a demand for cash,” police said.

The suspect took a quantity of cash and fled to the awaiting vehicle which drove away.

Officers from 22 Division, at 3699 Bloor Street W., just blocks away received a robbery call and was there in a flash.

Sharp-eyed Response Team officers located and stopped a vehicle and arrested two people after a short foot chase.

Charged are Mohamed Bashir Salat, 37, and Afaf Shuayb Mohamed, 35, both of Toronto, for a slew of robbery offences including disguise with intent, possession of property obtained by crime and conspiracy to commit and indictable offence.

She (Afaf) was scheduled to appear in court at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre on January 23.

 

  Somewhere in Etobicoke there is a $60 million Lotto Max jackpot winner walking around.

And we hope the lucky winner is booking a vacation to someplace warm to escape the cold.

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has announced the January 21 winning multi-million dollar Lotto Max ticket, for the first big win in 2025, was sold some lucky person in Etobicoke.

The OLD did not identify the winner or where they are from specifically in Etobicoke.

“The lucky winner from Tuesday’s draw now holds Ontario’s first major Lotto Max victory of the year,” the OLG said on its website. “The $60 million prize is a life-altering amount, making the ticket holder one of Canada’s newest multi-millionaire.”

In addition to the jackpot, there was also an Encore prize worth $1 million that was sold in Dufferin County.

In 2024, there were a record-breaking 11 jackpot wins in Ontario, totaling $525 million in Lotto Max jackpot prizing.

The winning numbers in Tuesday’s Lotto Max draw were 13, 15, 21, 35, 36, 42 and 47. Bonus: 38

 

A young offender accused of shooting to death a Long Branch man was part of one of the City’s worst gunfight in which more than 100 shots were fired.

The 16-year-old from Brampton is charged with the killing of professional poker player Matthew Bergart last April.

Toronto Police said the teen is among 23 people in custody on connection with a gunfight between two gangs in which two officers were trapped in the middle.

The gunfire erupted in the area of Queen Street West and Sudbury Street last November 11 at around 11:20 p.m.

Police were in the area for an unrelated investigation when the gunfire broke out.

Police said occupants of a stolen vehicle pulled up to a recording studio in the neighbourhood and three suspects exited the vehicle, opening fire on a group who had gathered outside the building.

“This brazen act of violence escalated into an exchange of gunfire between two groups,” police said.

The bullets struck an unmarked police cruiser with plainclothes police officers inside, she added.

Despite the barrage of bullets, no one was injured during the shootout, police said.

As the suspects attempted to flee the scene officers boxed in the stolen vehicle and one of the occupants was arrested after a brief foot pursuit.

So far 105 charges have been laid and warrants issued for nine others as part of Project Poppie.

“This incident was an audacious and reckless exchange of gunfire in downtown Toronto,” Supt, Paul MacIntyre told the media on January 23. “It is nothing short of a miracle that no one was injured or killed, including innocent civilians and our officer.”

Police seized 16 illegal firearms in garbage containers and other areas that were ditched as the gunmen fled the scene. Some of the firearms seized were modified in order to be capable of fully automatic fire.

The teenager nabbed at the wild shootout scene was charged with second degree murder into the death of Bergart at his Long Branch home.

He also faces five other serious gun related offences.

Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw said the officers performing a bail compliance check were inside a cruiser “found themselves in the middle of a gun fight.”

“Their unmarked vehicle was struck multiple times, and we are very grateful that none of our police officers got hurt,” he said. “Gun fire in our public spaces must be recognized for the harm it causes not just for those involved directly, but for by-standers and the public at large.”

Charges were stayed against eight people of 23 initially charged, police said.

Three of those sought on warrants are young offenders and the other are aged from 18 to 17 and are from Brampton, Mississauga and Toronto.