By DAVE KOSONIC

Luckily no one was killed in a fiery Air France crash 16 years ago at Pearson Airport that was called a ‘miracle’ by some aviation experts and observers.

Shortly after touching down on Runway 24 Left parallel to Highway 401 at Pearson the out-of-control Airbus A340 with 309 people on board skidded off the end of the runway and into an Etobicoke Creek ravine in a gut-wrenching August 2, 2005 event.

Despite confusion and panic the flight attendants managed to guide everyone out of the aircraft within 90 seconds, moments before it caught fire, burst into flames and blanketed the airport area with huge clouds of dirty grey and black smoke originating from the burning jet and fuel.

The miracle of Flight 358 is that the 297 passengers and 12 crew members all survived. Twelve people were transported to hospitals for treatment of serious injuries but fortunately there were no fatalities.

Jean Lapierre, who was the Federal Minister of Transport, referred to the outcome of the crash as a “miracle” while others dubbed it the “Toronto Miracle”.

The flight had departed from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris hours earlier. According to flight records the trans-Atlantic crossing was uneventful and the pilots followed their previously filed flight plan. The pilots were identified by Air France as Captain Rosaye and First Officer Naud.

According to records by Pearson flight personnel before the crash ‘severe weather had forced Pearson to cancel 540 arriving and departing flights that day’ due to severe thunderstorms and varying wind speeds and directions that resulted in a risk to aircraft and challenging landing conditions.

Many flights scheduled to land at Pearson Airport were diverted to locations that day including Montreal, Syracuse and Buffalo. But despite cautions provided to the captain and first officer on Flight 358 by Toronto Air Traffic Control the pilots decided to attempt a landing about 4 p.m.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada in December 2007 issued the findings of an investigation into the crash. Some of the key findings of this report indicated that First Officer Naud, who was landing the Airbus, approached Runway 24 Left too steeply at above normal airspeed.

He allowed the aircraft to land too far down the runway. As a result he could not stop it in time and specified that he disengaged the auto pilot just before landing which left him totally in charge of the failed landing.

Captain Rosaye suffered extensive back injuries during the crash and he required multiple surgeries. He was no longer deemed medically and physically fit to pilot an airliner and he retired while experiencing the so-called ‘pilot’s worst nightmare’.

First Officer Naud was suspended for three months by Air France before returning to flight duties with the airline.

Eddie Ho, who was a passenger on the jet, escaped from the crash without a scratch. During an interview the following day he ‘praised the flight attendants and the injured captain who was the last one to escape the aircraft.

Ho recalls a flight attendant firmly saying: “Jump Out! Just Jump Out! Get Out!” before he jumped out of the aircraft four or five meters to safety. “It could have been worse. I am definitely grateful to God”, he added.

Various lawsuits were filed that resulted in financial compensation for passengers while excluding the Air France crew. The airline company also filed a counter lawsuit against Transport Canada.

Documentation claimed that recommendations made after an Air Canada DC 9 jet crashed into the north end of the Etobicoke Creek valley in 1976 killing two passengers were not acted upon that included extending Runways 24 Left and 24 Right over the creek valley.

 

 

A U.S. based company was being ripped off for more than $1 million by online thieves as fraud cops from both sides of the border stepped in and stopped the transaction.

The online theft of $750,000 U.S. was averted at the last minute due to the work of the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre (CAFC) and the U.S. Secret Service Ottawa Field Office, police said.

Police said the scam was thrashed after a Canadian company reported a similar scam to the CAFC last June. The information was passed on to Canadian and U.S. police.

A bank investigator soon discovered that a U.S. company, which was not identified, was transferring almost $750,000 U.S. to a suspected fraudulent account.

“The bank investigator put a hold on the transfer, contacted the company and began procedures to reverse the funds,” according to the CAFC. “A company employee expressed their thanks and said the interception had potentially saved jobs.”

Potential jobs in Canada were saved since the company could have shut down or forced to lay off employees with the huge loss.

Police said the scam is called a Business Email Compromise (BEC), which is among the most financially damaging online fraud.

“Without the initial report from the Canadian company, there could have been devastating losses to both the company and to people’s lives,” said Sgt. Guy Paul Larocque. “Unlike many traditional crimes, scams and fraud span over a number of jurisdictional borders.”

In a BEC scam, a fraudster will send an email that is spoofed to look like it’s coming from a known and trusted source. BEC messages include: a business receives a duplicate invoice with updated payment details supposedly from an existing supplier or contractor; an accountant or financial planner receives a large withdrawal request that looks like it’s coming from their client’s email; Payroll receives an email claiming to be from an employee looking to update their bank account information.

It also includes an email that seems to be from a trusted source who asks you to download an attachment, but the attachment is malware that infiltrates the entire computer network. Also any email that seems to come from a trusted source which asks you to buy gift cards.

If you have been a victim of scam, fraud or cybercrime, please contact your local police. We also encourage you to report an instance, whether you are a victim or not, with the CAFC via the Online Reporting System or by phone at 1-888-495-8501. By filing a report, you can provide invaluable information that could protect others.

 

 

 

The Ontario government has turned soil and building a brand-new long-term care home in the west-end at Runnymede Road.

The Runnymede Long-Term Care Home, to be located at Dundas St. W., and Runnymede Road, is part of the province’s plan to create ‘a 21^st century long-term care sector.’

Health officials said $4.9 billion will be spent over four years as the province plans to hire more than 27,000 staff, including registered nurses, personal support workers and support staff.

The Long-Term Home will provide ‘the highest quality of care for our most vulnerable people, where and when they need it.’

“Our government is sparing no expense to ensure our seniors have a modern and safe place to call home,” said Premier Doug Ford. “We will continue to deliver on our promise to provide our loved ones with the world class care they so rightly deserve.”

Rod Phillips, the Minister of Long-Term Care, said his government is rebuilding the long-term care sector ‘after decades of neglect.’

“When the new Runnymede Long-Term Care Home is completed, it will have 200 modern spaces for seniors in the community to call home, near their family and friends,” Phillips said.

The Runnymede Long-Term Care Home is expected to open in the summer of 2023, will provide new, safe, modern long-term care spaces in Toronto.

This new development is another example of the Ontario government’s $2.68 billion ten-year plan for the delivery of 30,000 safe, modern, comfortable spaces for our seniors to call home.

As of February 2021, more than 40,000 people were on the waitlist to access a long-term care bed in Ontario. The average wait time is 147 days for residents currently living in community settings. Ontario now has 20,161 new and 15,918 redevelopment spaces in the development pipeline.

 

 

Halton Regional police say they have had more than 124 high-end vehicles stolen since January by thieves who have mastered keyless entry and push-start technology.

The force is warning that they have seen an increase in relay and reprogramming thefts of expensive vehicles using keyless entry and push-start technology.

In most thefts, the vehicles are being stolen from the residents’ driveways during the overnight hours. The theft takes less than a minute, police said.

Police said 66 of the 124 autos stolen in Oakville have been through the use of relay or reprogramming technology.

“Thieves will use technology called a ‘relay device’ to find a key fob signal from inside a residence,” according to a Halton police release. “The thieves do not need to enter a residence to find the signal.”

The signal is then amplified which allow the thieves to unlock, start and steal the vehicle, according to police. The vehicle owners are shocked to discover their vehicle has been stolen and they are in possession of the key fob.

Halton auto officers warn that thieves also gain entry into the costly vehicles by mechanical means, like using a tool. They will then access the vehicle’s diagnostic port and reprogram a blank key fob which allows them to start and steal the vehicle.

In most cases, the vehicles are shipped abroad to foreign countries for sale within hours.

Police say the thefts can be avoided if residents; park in a locked and secured garage, install an on-board diagnostic blocker, install a steering wheel lock device, obtain a GPS tracking device, place the key fob inside a radio frequency shielding bag when not in use, equip the vehicle with an alarm and security cameras that capture the outside of your home.

Crime prevention is a shared responsibility.  Call 911 if you witness a crime in progress.  Call 905-825-4777 if you see suspicious vehicles or persons in your neighbourhood.

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.

 

 

 

With COVID-19 waning police say new online scams have shifted to target those seeking the vaccine or obtaining government emergency benefits and other assistance.

THE RCMP are warning of new online or text message scams that thieves are using to target seniors and other vulnerable people in the community.

The top scam involves a national relief fee of $85 for getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Not true.

Police say people are usually sent a text message that claims they have received a national relief of $85 from the government for receiving the vaccine. Once you press a button to accept the new-found cash you’ve been hacked.

“The phone calls and text messages are similar in context and can include scams as offering free gifts, refunds or making demand for immediate payment,” according to the RCMP. “In order to carry out their scam, the fraudster tries to convince you they are a legitimate company and hide their identity.”

Police said the scammer may become more demanding and issue veiled threats if you refuse payment such as being arrested.

Another ruse is the CERB cheque scam, in which a text message alerts a customer that he or she has received a deposit for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and directs you to click an attached link, where you are ripped off.

An ugly scam is one involving utility services or the  phone internet company scam, in which a person receives a text indicating they are receiving a refund from the utility or provider due to the virus and to press an attached link to accept.

Once you press the link the hacker has access to your information.

Another online racket is one called ID Spoofing Scam, in which the caller deliberately disguises their phone number to appear on caller ID in order to hide their identity. The caller does this to trick you into believing they are a legit company.

The RCMP warn people receiving the calls to hang up the phone right away and do not follow the prompts. Here are some police tips.

Do not respond to the calls or text messages to unknown or suspicious phone numbers. Research the company contact information independently and call the company to confirm.

Do not click on attached links. They may lead you to fake websites.

Do not give out your personal or financial information through the phone or text messages.

Do not respond to robocallers prompting you to push a number to be placed on a do not call list.

Utility or Phone/Internet Companies generally do not collect credit card or bank account information over the phone, by email or by text.

No government agency or bank will threaten to arrest you.

No government agencies will request payment in Bitcoin, iTunes cards, gift cards or interact e-Transfers.

 

 

 

 

Pizza store owner Robert Rubino can’t wait to welcome his many customers on Friday to his Cellar Door restaurant in New Toronto.

Rubino’s popular wood-burning pizzeria at 3003 Lake Shore Blvd. W. can now welcome 60 customers indoors and on his lovely patio, instead of 30, now that the province has hit Stage 3 and reduced COVID-19 limits.

“We are thankful to be getting back to our normal capacity,” he says. “We are lucky in that we have had great support from the community. They have been great to us.”

The internationally-trained chef has owned the Cellar Door for seven years. The eatery has been receiving good reviews and hundreds of likes on social media. Area residents love the taste of the wood baked pizzas and pastas.

Pizza doesn’t monopolize Rubino’s wood-burning oven; he uses it to obtain smokey, meaty flavours in his produce as well. Instead of regular gnocchi, he serves wood roasted potato gnocchi with mushrooms cooked three ways, peas and truffle pecorino.

Rubino, who is from Etobicoke, studied cooking with master chefs in Italy, France, the U.S. and Canada. He developed his skills from the various countries and believes in hiring his staff from the community and outsourcing local food items.

One of his growers, he points out, cultivate food items in a small space in the Lake Shore Blvd. W., and Kipling Ave. area.

After graduating from Wilfrid Laurier University, he went to the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York before heading to Italy where he learned to make fresh pasta at the Il San Domenico restaurant. He also has experience cooking in Buenos Aires and in France under Michelin-starred chefs Edouard Loubet and Joel Robuchon.

His staff of about six have been cleaning and shining the patio and inside the Lake Shore Blvd. W. and Ninth Street restaurant to get ready for their customers.

“People love our wood baked pizzas and pastas,” Rubino says. “They can taste the smoky wood flavour since it burns at a higher temperature and raises the crust.”

Orders can be placed by visiting their website at www.cellardoorrestaurant.ca. They can also be reached at 416-253-0303.

Nearby barber shops, salons and spas are also getting ready and pumped to open after a long closure to battle the virus.

Andrew Dinner, of Your Neighbourhood Barber shop, says he has been closed for months and is booked solid for haircuts from his returning regular customers.

Residents are again returning to bars to catch live bands and shows as days before the virus.

Darlene Simpson, a co-owner  of Dakotas Sports Bar & Grill, at 2814 Lake Shore Blvd. W., said they kicked off their live bands with The Grady Brothers on Friday at 7 p.m. to celebrate Stage 3 opening.

“It will be a great show,” Simpson says. “It has been a while and people cannot wait to see live entertainment again.”

 

 

A man is fighting for his life after being stabbed in the back inside a Walmart store near Sherway Gardens, police say.

Police officers have been probing the scene and conducting interviews at the busy store.

Police said a man in his 60s was taken to hospital after being stabbed on July 15 around 2 p.m., in the North Queen Street and The Queensway store.

The victim was apparently stabbed inside the store and it is unclear what sparked the incident, officers said.

Police have not released suspect information or details of the case.

It is believed that the suspect is at large.

There was a daytime shooting in September 2020 at a Walmart parking lot in The Junction that left one man dead.

It is unknown if any arrests were made in that case.

The stabbing investigation is being handled by officers of 22 Division.

 

Seniors are being warned by police to pay attention to their driving skills.

An 80-year-old woman is fighting for her life after trying to park her vehicle but instead accelerated into a concrete pole, police say.

Toronto Police said the senior was operating a 1997 Honda Civic in a parking lot at 600 The East Mall, near Rathburn Road, when the crash occurred.

“The woman sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported to hospital,” officers said.

An 85-year-old male passenger was also injured and taken to hospital.

This investigation is ongoing by members of Traffic Services. Police are asking local residents, businesses and drivers, who may have security or dash camera footage of the area or incident, to contact investigators.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1900, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, online on our Facebook Leave a Tip page, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes or Google Play.

Some tourists from South Etobicoke or elsewhere heading to Niagara Falls for a vacation or to sightsee at this time of the year are getting lost due to missing road signs.

Police say someone has destroyed or removed dozens of street signs from all over Niagara Region.

Niagara Regional Police said they are investigating more than 50 signs that were damaged, or removed, during a three day period, from July 9 to 12.

“A series of road signs that have been damaged or removed in the City of Niagara Falls,” police said in a news release. “The suspect, or suspects, are removing the signs and throwing them.”

The City of Niagara has replaced the signs.

Police do not have a motive as to why the expensive signs are being vandalized.

Police are seeking the public’s help in identifying those responsible. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Niagara Regional Police Service at 905-688-4111, ext. 1002200.

 

 

 

By JAY LLAVE

The Long Branch community has lost one of its unspoken heroes.

Patti Wright tragically lost her life to cancer on June 25. She helped everyone she met whether it was personal, professional, or philanthropic in nature. I was lucky enough to be affected by her energy.

Patti was the beloved wife of Jim Sanders, mother of Heather and her husband, Marc Arseneault, and Colin and his wife Katie Sanders. She died one month before her 65^th birthday.

Patti had retired from a long career as a lawyer and entrepreneur. She was a talented musician and passionate Rotarian devoted to supporting youth and education, among other causes.

A long-time volunteer, she was very active and will be sorely missed by members of the Lakeshore Charitable Foundation, which was founded by the late accountant Philip Barker.

Since 2016, Patti has arranged up to 100 volunteers yearly to answer between 160 and 720 handwritten letters to Santa Claus from an elementary school in Mindanao, Philippines.

The letters to Santa were part of a school initiative. This involved preparing four letter templates, a suitable location, supplies, and managing several organizations.

Patti recruited the Etobicoke Collegiate Interact Club and Richview Collegiate Interact Club, the Rotary Club of Toronto West, the Rotary Club of Etobicoke and the Rotary Club of Willowdale to help the Foundation with this letters.

She also organized and fundraised for “Days for Girls Kits” to be distributed to girls at the school. “The Days for Girls (DfG) Pad” is a washable, reusable, menstrual health product that’s built to last and donated to girls in poor countries.

We met in 2014 during our Rotary President’s class trip to Illinois. She continued to have a passion for Youth Services and led that committee for the district of 55 clubs.

In the short time that I knew her, she has taught me patience, compassion, drive, and responsibility without saying a word. I am grateful to have met her and will try to continue her lessons in this gift called “life”.

Patti lived a vibrant and remarkable life filled with family, friends, travel, gardening, experimental cooking, good wine, and as much sunshine as she could find. Her loss has left a vacuum felt by all who were touched by her vivacious and philanthropic spirit.

In lieu of flowers, donations to The Dorothy Ley Hospice (dlhospice.org) or to The Rotary Club of  West Charity Trust (canadahelps.org) in Patti’s name would be gratefully accepted. Private funeral service with public webcast on July 21 at 2p.m. Webcast and online condolences at newediukfuneralhome.com

Jay Llave is President of the Lakeshore Charitable Community and Lakeshore Accounting, at 3421 Lake Shore Blvd. W.