If you have a newer model Lexus RX350, you are being urged to lock it up.

The remote thefts of high-end vehicles are spreading across the country as sophisticated car thieves reprogram key fobs to steal your expensive ride without breaking into a home or stealing your key.

Halton Regional Police on August 19 arrested a Quebec man in connection with the recent thefts of high-end Lexus and other luxury cars in the affluent Oakville area.

“Officers observed a white Nissan Rogue SUV travelling in tandem with a 2020 Lexus RX350 in the area of Trafalgar Road and Dundas Street,” according to a police release.

Police said the newer model Lexus was being stolen when they began following the vehicles.

“After a short time the two vehicles split up,” according to a police report. “Officers conducted a traffic stop on the Nissan Rogue.”

As a result, a suspect was arrested and found to be in possession of seven blank Lexus key fobs, which detectives said, help ‘facilitate the theft of high-end Lexus motor vehicles.”

Police said the Lexus was stolen earlier in the day. It was found abandoned in a residential area and returned to the registered owner.

Luis Ahumada Prieto, 42, of Quebec, has been charged with seven counts of possession of automobile master key and possession of a schedule 1 substance.

He was released on an undertaking.

To avoid vehicle thefts, police are warning owners to park their vehicles in a locked and secure garage; install an on-board diagnostic blocker or a steering vehicle lock device; obtain an after-market GPS tracking device; place fob in a radio frequency shielding bag when not in use; always lock your vehicle and equip with an alarm or security camera.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Halton police at 905-825-4777 ext. 2216.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.

 

Police have arrested a Brampton trucker who they allege was hauling more than his declared load across the Canada-U.S. border.

The driver on August 9 was crossing the Blue Water Bridge, in Point Edward, when he was sent for a secondary inspection, according to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

Officers in a search found 83 kilograms of suspected cocaine hidden in a section of the truck, the CBSA said. The drugs is worth more than $1 million on the streets.

“We are proud of our officers at the front line who work tirelessly to protect Canadians and keep drugs out of our communities,” said CBSA District Director An Nguyen. “This seizure is another example of the ongoing cooperation that exists between the CBSA and the RCMP.”

Gurdeep Singh Mangat, 46, has been charged with importation of a controlled substance and possession for the purpose of trafficking.

The suspect is slated to appear in court on August 19 at the Ontario Court of Justice in Sarnia.

Police said if you have information about suspicious cross-border activity, please contact the CBSA Border Watch Line at 1-888-502-9060.

Anyone with information regarding criminal activity is encouraged to contact their local police, the RCMP at 1-800-387-0020 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

 

 

Two Etobicoke men are among 12 suspects arrested after police smashed a GTA crime ring seizing an large assortment of drugs and weapons.

Project Icarus was launched by Halton Regional Police following the probe of a single suspect in October 2020. It turned out to be the force’s largest drug bust in history.

The investigation grew in size “eventually becoming a joint forces operation involving the Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario, Peel Regional Police and the Canada Border Services Agency,” according to police.

Police said 12 suspects face 44 charges in the investigation in which 130 judicial authorizations were sought.

Etobicoke resident Trevor Harwood, 42, is charged with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.

Also charged from Etobicoke is Jile Cai, 34, with possession of property obtained by crime over $5000.

“Our dedicated officers turned a small investigation of a single suspect into a significant project,” said Halton Deputy Chief Jeff Hill. “Icarus has removed drugs, guns and criminals from the streets of not just Halton but the entire GTA.”

He said those who participate in organized crime will be “aggressively targeted.”

Police during the probe seized 27 kilograms of cocaine, 14 kilos of Ecstasy (MDMA),1,000 kilograms of cannabis in various forms. Also seized were $100,000 in currency, jewelry and expensive vehicles.

The weapons seized in the project included; a .40 caliber Glock handgun, a 9 mm Glock handgun, prohibited magazines and a 12 gauge shotgun and 1,100 rounds of ammunition.

“Project Icarus also resulted in the successful disruption of cocaine processing and illegal cannabis processing facilities,” Halton police said.

The suspects are before the courts.

AS told to Rejean Cantlon-

In local men’s league hockey play at Mimico arena, 55 year-old Desmond Kane is known for his tenacious work in the corners and his good natured comaraderie in the dressing room. Little did anyone know that Des was and is quite the accomplished golfer. He decided to share his amazing journey with us at the South Etobicoke News. Here is his story, in his words:

“My buddy Peter John Allen and my brother Brendan Kane convinced me to write about my qualifying for the prestigious 99th Ontario Amateur Golf Championship which typically features USA Golf Scholarship kids with previous Champions such as Corey Conors, Mike Weir and Ontario Golf legends Gary Cowan and Nick Westlock. Peter said, “you owe it to your grandkids” which is odd as I don’t have any LOL but anyways here’s my story.

On July 13th I participated in round # 1 which is the same format as PGA Tour events. The tournament moves around the province every year. The winner earns exemption to Canadian Amateur and goes to the US Amateur Golf Championship which was won a record three times by Tiger Woods. Almost every winner and most in the top ten are all very young and will turn professional soon after winning these events.

I had the privilege of playing with 16 year-old Mitchell Grey and 18 year-old Robert Mcvinne. Both of these fine young men were a pleasure to compete with and are excellent players.

It was 33 years ago that I made my one and only previous appearance at this event playing the first round with Canadian golf legend, Mike Weir, way back in 1988. Needless to say, our golf paths went in different directions. I’ll bet he wishes he could have been here in Windsor today battling it out in 40 degree heat but he chose the professional route for real money making millions lol… My kids are like… all you get if you win is a trophy?

My first round was going well, one over par 37 on front nine and then almost birdied #10 and then the shoes fell off, literally. I had to remove shoes and socks and stand in the lake on #12 as my ball was inches from water. I ending up making a very good bogey but the rest of the day was a real struggle. Golf can seriously humble you.

As my good friend Stevie Ray Kim Toonk would say, “if only I had some talent, could make some putts, keep the ball in the fairway once in a while, listened to my golf coach back in college, had a better demeanor for the game, made some birdies once in a while……I could have gone pro baby!”

Thanks to the lessons I learned from my much younger opponents I held it together as best I could for the balance of the round.

It was great to be back, many great players like McKenzie Hughes of PGA could not claim victory at this event and many very good players don’t make it here so I’m proud at end of day to be here with only 113 other golfers who qualified from regional qualifying sites across the province where it’s one day where you better shoot a low score under pressure to make it.

Can you guess I’m bored sitting in my Windsor hotel room away from my beautiful family? Onwards and upwards tomorrow, if I can fire a 68 maybe I’ll make the cut for last 36 holes. It’s a tall order but I’ve been dreaming about being back here for 33 years.

Unfortunately Des did not make the cut after his second round but he does have this impressive bragging right. He qualified. To be able to compete against the top amateur golfers is quite an accomplishment plus he’ll have another story for the hockey oldtimer’s this Fall and for his future grand kids.”

 

Mimico’s Rejean Cantlon covers amateur sports for the South Etobicoke News.

 

 

By DAVE KOSONIC

A car crash that occurred almost 60 years ago has a bizarre similarity to the violent vehicle mishap on Bloor Street West near Islington Avenue that claimed one young man’s life in the middle of the night and gravely injured another recently.

Back then a Metropolitan Toronto Police cruiser was idling by the curb in 1963 at the same location where the vehicle struck the pole early the other morning. Then a large 1960s station wagon clipped the side of the patrol car at about 3 AM and veered diagonally across Bloor Street before ramming into my father’s electronic business store at 3321 Bloor Street just west of Eagle Road.

Police at the time estimated that the speeding station wagon was travelling at about 80 miles-per- hour based on our former speed rating system when the driver side-swiped the Toronto cruiser. The police officer involved in this incident was shaken up physically and emotionally but suffered no serious injuries. He was attached to the former Dundas Street station in Islington Village.

The station wagon driver was identified as David Winston Logan who was in his mid-twenties and a local resident. He died soon after the violent crash that knocked the cement dividing wall between dad’s store and the next business completely out of position. Our family business named Belmont Television was badly damaged but recovered in time after extensive repairs were negotiated through insurance companies and the building landlord.

Area residents were awakened by the explosive sound of the 1963 crash. The Kingsway Ambulance depot was just across Bloor from dad’s store. The next day Kingsway Ambulance driver Ben Brown told father that he and his partner heard the crash and came running across the road to the mishap.

Brown said that he knew Logan was likely dead but they could not rush him to the hospital because an ambulance from another company had already been called. Driver Brown was quite seasoned in dealing with trauma but he told dad that the site was horrific.

I saw the smashed-up station wagon a day later at a nearby vehicle salvage yard and I realized what Brown was talking about. It was in real rough shape.

The landmark for both of these crashes so-to-speak is just across Bloor from the Bell Telephone facility at Eagle Road.

Let us hope that history does not repeat itself at that location again.

 

Members of the South Etobicoke community are rallying to help Haitians suffering from a deadly earthquake that has taken more than 1,300 lives and left in excess of 2,000 people wounded.

A prayer service will be held on August 22 at St. Margaret’s New Toronto church, on Sixth Street, to pay tribute to those who were killed in the August 14 earthquake, which measured 7.2 on the Richter scale.

“We are praying for the people of Haiti,” said Rev. Jacqueline Daley. “There will be a service to show our respect and dignity for the suffering people of Haiti.”

The church, Dorothy Lee Hospice and other agencies, are planning a South Etobicoke Community Memorial in October so residents can pray and show their respect to loved ones who passed away from COVID-19, drug overdoses or by suicide. More details are pending.

In Haiti, the death toll has risen to more than 1,300, with at least 5,700 people injured and thousands more displaced from their destroyed or damaged homes.

A one-month state of emergency for the country has been declared and officials said some towns were almost completely razed and people in need of urgent medical help.

Humanitarian organizations in Canada and around the world are asking for financial assistance to help the Haitians. The country had still been reeling from the aftermath of the catastrophic 7.0 magnitude earthquake in 2010 as well as Hurricane Matthew in 2016.

The Canadian Red Cross say they have 12 workers and dozens of volunteers mobilized to help with the search, rescue and medical treatment of suffering victims.

Canadians are being asked to support Red Cross relief efforts by making a donation to the Canadian Red Cross Haiti Earthquake fund. Donations can be made by calling toll free 1-800-418-1111, or online at secure.unicef.ca

Donations can also be made to Save the Children Canada who are coordinating a humanitarian response to help Haitian children and their families. They can be reached at donate.savethechildren.ca.

GlobalMedic, a Toronto-based disaster relief charity made up of volunteer paramedics, is asking for donations for its relief efforts in Haiti. After the 2010 earthquake, their team provided clean drinking water and medical aid. They can be reached at globalmedic.ca.

There is a big demand for emergency shelter, safe water, urgent medical aid and nutrition support, supplies to prevent disease outbreaks and services for kids and families who have lost their home and education for children in crisis.

 

 

Several tenants were affected by a smoky fire at a condo in The Queensway and Islington Ave. area that forced residents from their units and halted traffic on surrounding roads.

The two-alarm blaze broke out at 1050 The Queensway, just west of Islington Avenue, shortly after 2 p.m. on Sunday, according to reports.

Toronto Fire said the fire started on the balcony of one unit before spreading to several other units. There were lots of heavy smoke that could be seen in the area.

The busy Queensway was closed off in both directions from Islington and St. Lawrence as motorists were asked to consider using other routes.

Police said three units were affected by the fire. The area was cleared just before 4 p.m.

No injuries were reported, Toronto Fire officials say.

 

It is official. There is a Canadian federal election in 36 days from now.

As expected, Gov. Gen. Mary Simon has approved a request by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to dissolve Parliament, which triggers the issuing of election writs and signalling a federal election.

The date has been set for September 20, following a campaign that will last 36 days, the minimum permitted by law.

Many people did not want an election called at this time, just as the situation with COVID-19 improves and people return to their jobs or seek other work. Many people did not want to deal with another layer of stress that a federal election can bring.

Trudeau is betting that high vaccination rates against the virus and a post-pandemic economic rebound will help him prolong and strengthen his grip on power. New information shows 71% of the country’s eligible population is fully vaccinated.

“We will be taking decisions that will last not just for the coming months but for the coming decades. Canadians deserve their say,” he said in Ottawa on August 15.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is against the September 20 vote and so is Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole, who is concerned about holding a campaign during a fourth wave of the pandemic.

Local MPs and candidates knew the election was being called and have been working overtime recruiting staff, booking advertising and getting ready for 36 days of door-knocking and sign-planting.

The candidates for Etobicoke Lakeshore includes six-year MP Liberal incumbent James Maloney, federal Conservative Party’s Indira Bains, a party worker, and New Democrat’s Sasha Kane.

The declared candidates for the federal Etobicoke Centre as listed on its website are incumbent Yvan Baker and PC Maurice Comier.

With Elections Canada embarking on a series of new public health measures to ensure that the vote is conducted safely amid a forth wave, the price tag for the election is estimated to be $610 million.

A network of Elections Canada volunteers have to be recruited to work as well has offices booked across the country for the voting to take place.

 

 

How far would you travel to get a tasty ice cream cake.

This Saskatchewan man landed his helicopter in the middle of a busy parking lot so a passenger could hustle inside a Dairy Queen store for their favourite ice cream cake, according to the RCMP, who were called by irate residents since the chopper had people gawking, vehicles stopped and generally causing a kerfuffle.

The Mounties said they received a number of complaints from unhappy residents of Tisdale, that a helicopter had landed in a high-traffic parking lot on August 4.

“When it landed, the helicopter blew up dust and debris through the area, which includes schools, an aquatic centre and more,” the RCMP said in a statement.

Many residents thought there was a medical or other emergency event that was taking place.

They were wrong.

“Investigation determined the landing was not an emergency,” the Mounties explained. “A passenger of the helicopter exited the aircraft and entered a nearby restaurant to buy an ice cream cake.”

Police said the pilot, a 34-year-old local man, was licensed to drive the helicopter, but that it was illegal to land it where he did.

The pilot was charged with one count of dangerous operation of an aircraft under the Criminal Code. He will appear in court by car on September 7.