Women are being warned of a night prowler lurking in the Mimico area.

Police have stepped up patrols in the area as they search for a brazen attacker.

A suspect is on the lam after he tried to grab a woman through her bathroom window in her home on December 1, police said.

Detectives in a release said they responded to a call for a break-and-enter in the Melrose Street and Grand Avenue area just after 12 a.m.

It is reported that “a man opened the window to a basement apartment,” according to police.

“He reached in and tried to grab a woman in the washroom taking a shower,” police said. “She screamed and he fled.”

The suspect is described as white and aged between 18 and 35 years old.

Investigators are aware of other suspicious behaviour including prowling by night in the area.
Police said officers continue to patrol the area and would encourage anyone who sees anything suspicious to report it to police.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1100, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637), or Leave A Tip on Facebook. Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes or Google Play.

 

The Ontario government is making the largest single hospital infrastructure investment in the province’s history by investing more than $1 billion dollars to renovate and expand the Mississauga Hospital and  Queensway Health Centre in South Etobicoke.

As Etobicoke and Peel continue to grow, and over the next 20 years, the demand for health care services offered by Trillium Health Partners is expected to increase by nearly seven fold.

The province said the investment will add more than 150 new beds and a new inpatient care tower to centralize continuing care and rehabilitation services for patients.

The money will be used to build a “new, state-of-the-art Mississauga Hospital” and expand Queensway Health Centre, according to the Ontario government.

“This is the single largest hospital infrastructure plan in Canadian history,” Premier Doug Ford said.

“Investments in Ontario’s health care reaffirms the government’s commitment to put people first,” said Christine Hogarth, MPP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore. “This unprecedented funding will support our communities by increasing health care capacity and addressing growth demands and future needs.”

The redevelopment of the Queensway Health Centre will help meet the health care needs of patients and families in Etobicoke-Lakeshore by reducing wait times and providing a safe and comfortable environment for patients to receive high-quality care, according to officials.

“We are working hard to ensure all Ontarians have access to the high-quality services and supports they need most in their daily lives,” said Kinga Surma, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure.

Suma said to support growing demands on the health care system, Ontario is investing $30.2 billion over the next 10 years to build, expand and enhance hospitals.

The 2021 Budget outlined $1.8 billion in additional investments for hospitals in 2021-22, bringing the additional investment in hospitals since the start of the pandemic to more than $5.1 billion.

“The redevelopment and expansion projects at Trillium Health Partners (THP) will ensure we have the modern facilities and much-needed capacity to deliver high quality, exceptional care to this community for generations to come,” said Karli Farrow, President and CEO of Trillium.

THP is one of the largest community hospital systems in Canada, serving over 1.7 million patients yearly in Mississauga, West Toronto and surrounding communities across its three sites: Credit Valley Hospital, the Mississauga Hospital and the Queensway Health Centre.

 

 

After more than 37 years of feeding the community, the Dundas Street Grille may soon be gone.

The Dundas Street Grille, a popular restaurant known for its breakfasts, has been a mainstay of the neighbourhood around Kipling subway station since the mid-1980s.

The family-run eatery has been an Etobicoke landmark for generations.

Now there are plans to turn it into a 40-storey mixed use condo.

Documents filed by a developer show an Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment application to permit the redevelopment of the lands with a 40 storey high-rise mixed-use residential building, comprised of 475 residential units, at-grade commercial space and proposed parkland dedication area.

A lone single-family bungalow directly to the north at 28 Jopling Street South would also be demolished to make way for the new tower. A 340 square-metre park, buffering the enormous tower, is also proposed.

Designed by architects IBI Group for developer main+main, the new tower would soar almost 131 metres above Dundas Street West.

The building will feature a sloped roof terminating with a dramatic knife-edge point.

The condo will create 380 square metres of retail space on Dundas at the base of the development.

Parking is tight in the area and 177 parking spots are proposed for underground.

The matter is under consideration by Etobicoke York Community Council.

 

 

 

Some 205 Toronto Police officers and civilians have been sent home without pay for not being vaccinated or disclosing their status.

The 117 officers and 88 civilian staff were sent home on November 30 after being placed on an unpaid absence for being unvaccinated or not disclosing their vaccination status, according to police officials.

Chief James Ramer said almost 98% of the 7,415 Toronto Police Service members have disclosed their vaccination status and 98% are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

“Members are continuing to update their vaccination status every day,” Ramer said. “Our objective remains ensuring the health and safety of our members, our workplaces, and the public we serve.”

The chief said ‘if and when members are fully vaccinated and have disclosed their updated vaccination status, they will be able to return to work.’

“The Service is prioritizing frontline and priority response to ensure public safety is not impacted during this period,”’ he said. ”The Service is doing its part to protect the communities we serve and thank our members who have been vaccinated.”

The Service’s vaccination requirement was developed under the Board’s Occupational Health and Safety Policy and in consultation with the Board. Since its development, the Service has consulted with the Board on a regular basis on this important issue, providing the Board with timely updates and opportunity for meaningful dialogue.

The requirement is also consistent with the approach of the City of Toronto and its agencies, boards and commissions, and many public and private sector workplaces. It protects the health and safety of Service Members, as well as the members of the public with whom they interact on a regular basis and is consistent with Toronto Public Health advice.

The City of Toronto also has a separate vaccine mandate for its employees and has so far placed more than 500 individuals on unpaid leaves with the intention of terminating them with cause in the New Year should they remain non-compliant with the policy.

The Queensmen male chorus wants the community to know that their members have been entertaining Etobicoke residents for 68 years and have sung for generations of fans.

The male singing group began life as The Chorus in 1949 and became The Queensmen in 1953 “in recognition of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth 11,” says group member Einer Voldner.

“We continue as a strong organization and meet weekly from September through May,” Voldner says. “Before Covid we performed  six or more times annually, including joining five other male choruses at “Ontario Sings” every May.”’

The group, due to the pandemic, meet regularly on Zoom and has produced four virtual videos which can be seen on their website www.Queensmen.net.

The singers will be returning to the stage in their first post-pandemic concert at Parkland On the Glen Retirement Home in Mississauga on December 18.

They will be singing while wearing a special type of mask.

The group sings popular light songs or music ‘you like to hear.’ If you are missing musical camaraderie, you are asked to contact Einar at 905-876-1477 or einar.voldner@gmail.com

 

Irate Mimico Village residents have taken to social media to blast a plan to build a 10-storey mixed use condo directly across from San Remo Bakery that will lead to the removal of eight homes.

A zoning by-law amendment application has been filed by Tonlu Properties to redevelop 351 through 365 Royal York Road, which residents say is already congested with traffic and will get worst as hundreds of new condo-buyers move in.

Planner Bousfields is seeking rezoning for increased height and density for the construction of a 10-storey, mid-rise, mixed-use building, combining eight properties; now detached single storey houses in Mimico Village.

The proposal calls for 282 dwelling units, consisting of 6 studios, 52 one-bedrooms, 126 one-bedroom-plus-dens, 43 two-bedrooms, 28 two-bedroom-plus-dens, and 27 three-bedroom units.

The building is “U-shaped” as it wraps around a courtyard facing east in the centre-back of the building. The ground floor is set back five metres from the front property line and the building include terracing on the west, north, and south faces, according to documents filed.

The Mimico Village area has been designated for mixed use in the City’s Official Plan. With Mimico GO station a short walk away, multiple high-rise residential building developments as high as 37 storeys have been approved for the area, or in the process of seeking approval.

This “will intensity this under-utilized area in Etobicoke,” according to planners.

The proposal includes 288 bicycle parking spaces and 206 parking spots in an underground garage.

It did not take long before social media lit up with complaints from local residents.

“It’s going to be a disaster, it’s already chaotic trying to drive around that area can you only imagine condos going in sad, sad, sad,” Adriana Cofone wrote.

Long-time resident Hope Farrugia said the developer has expressed interest in building nine condos in the area ranging from 12 to 39 stories.

“This has pushed us out,” she complained. “As much as we love this neighborhood, we won’t be here much longer.”

“This is a drop in the bucket,” cited Shauna Currie. “That whole area has close to 3,600 units coming to it. The location on Royal York is awful.”

“The 10-year plan is to move out of city,” wrote Alyssa Dickey. “Won’t be anything left but condos and traffic. The local schools are old crowded and no way can accommodate hundreds of new students when all these go station condos are occupied.”

The proposal is being considered by Etobicoke York Community Council and will then go to a City Council vote.

Christina Murie is wishing for a better Christmas as she grieves the loss of her two beloved bunnies that were killed in a brutal death by a raging pit bull.

Murie, a local business woman, has gone out and purchased from a local breeder Sugar and Spice to replace Leo and Ruby, which were bitten to death this month by a pit bull that was allowed entry in the Birmingham Business Centre, at 80 Birmingham Street, where the bunnies lived.

The rabbits, which were adopted from the Toronto Animal Services, were chased by the large dog and bitten to death in minutes.

Leo and Ruby were buried in a service last week under a magnolia tree by a local pastor.

“I hope these two new bunnies, Sugar and Spice, will help cheer everyone up for Christmas,” Murie says.

“I am still heartbroken and I cry every time I pass by their area. There are clients in this building who misses them.”

She noted that local children often came over to play with the rabbits.

“The new ones are indoor rabbits,” Murie explains. “They are pampered rabbits in that they have never been outside.”

They will be loved and petted by area children in their home, which will  now be a dog-free zone.

The bunnies have a beautiful indoor space and are also placed outside during the day.

An investigation is underway into the deaths of Leo and Ruby.

 

Santa has a daytime gig.

This Santa was spotted in Alderwood selling popcorn, nuts and cotton candy from his trusted bike.

Turns out Santa Nick has been earning pocket money pedalling his bike in the Alderwood area for the past two years selling snacks as a side shuffle.

Nick was, and still operates, an ice cream truck in the neighbourhood selling icy treats to residents on those hot summer days.

“I drove the ice cream truck around here for 30 years,” he says proudly. “Had to quit that because of COVID.”

The ice cream business just melted during the pandemic, as many other businesses, leaving many people laid off.

He went to the garage and got out his well-ridden steed to modify into a vehicle that would bring joy to many in the community.

“All the people in Alderwood know me,” Nick says proudly. “I sell them ice cream and now I sell them popcorn, cotton candy and hot nuts.”

Area residents flock around his bike-cart to purchase snacks and wish him continuing best of health.

“I know all the dogs and little kids. I watched them grow up,” he boasts. “Some still come back and by stuff from me.”

Nick is a product of the community and started out life as an aspiring journalist, which fell flat.

“I work for myself and don’t like working for other people,” he notes. “I am an enterprising man.”

I bought a bag of popcorn, he sees an oncoming sale and rushes away.

 

Members of the community are invited for a merry Sing Along with Santa Claus and the Salvation Army on December 3 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in front of Job Start at 2930 Lake Shore Blvd. W.

And you are invited to join Santa on December 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a Story and Skate at the Powerhouse Skating Trail at Colonel Samuel Smith Park. Come check out some of Santa’s favourite floats.