A public meeting is being held in a City study that will increase the density and heights of buildings to 11 stories, upgrade and beautify sections of Lake Shore Blvd. W. corridor.

The Lake Shore Boulevard West Avenue Study community feedback drop-in meeting will be held on February 26 at Lakeshore Collegiate Institute, at 350 Kipling Avenue, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

City officials said recommendations for the area have been developed through community input, technical research, industry feedback and city by-laws.

“The recommendations are to be resilient, forward thinking, and make for a thriving, safe and accessible avenue,” according to a City notice.

The study said the four kilometre corridor in New Toronto and Long Branch is ideal for intensification and mid-rise buildings from Dwight Avenue west to Brown’s Line, with gaps at Humber College.

The corridor contains mostly two or three-storey commercial buildings with angled or parallel on-street parking, with some newer townhouses and some six-to-eight storey residential buildings.

The study proposes mid-rise buildings up to 11 storeys high along Lake Shore Blvd. W., west of Kipling Avenue and up to eight-stories along Lake Shore Blvd. W., east to Dwight Avenue.

The City’s Planning Department Staff also plan to streamline the development application process for proposals to meet new performance standards.

The plan will improve the ‘sub-standard sidewalk widths, lack of street trees, angled, perpendicular or parallel street parking, lack of street furniture as benches, waste bins, bicycle posts and lock up rings.’

“This study seeks to evaluate opportunities to improve the public realm to better support, facilitate, and accommodate the expanding population of south Etobicoke and the local economy,” according to the study.

Staff said the proposal for the area supports public transit, will integrate green infrastructure, make it safer, more attractive and vibrant to support local businesses.

Feedback from the community called for more greenery or tree canopy for the Corridor. Other concerns includes the installation of bike lanes along the boulevard in addition to easy accessibility to the TTC. The study is not looking at the installation of bike lanes at this point.

Long-time community social agency Haven on the Queensway which has helped thousands of needy area residents is moving and seeking donations to help restore a donated building nearby.

The charity that helps about 3,000 people weekly is trying to raise $250,000 by May when they have to move into a spacious office next door to their current 1533 The Queensway building.

Aretha Khaloo, Haven’s Director of Operations, said the building, which was donated by a developer, requires renovation work, including to the roof and sections of the inside, which the agency is responsible for.

“We have been working hard to find a larger facility that can meet the growing needs of our community while remaining accessible to our clients,”Khaloo explained.  “Our agency has grown and we will have move space to help our clients.”

The agency has launched a fundraising drive for the renovation and a planned new mixed-use building complex at 1543 – 1551 The Queensway they will occupy with other charities as Habitat for Humanity, Community Affordable Housing Solutions and St. Clare’s Multi-Faith Housing Society.

The complex will be made up of four towers ranging from 30 to 45 storeys constructed on a site that contains light industrial properties to be demolished.

A development application involving Hariri Pontarini Architects is going through the hearings process and will take some time. When completed the complex will have 342 affordable units out of 1,819 homes.

Haven on the Queensway would operate an over 3,750 square-metre facility across three levels of the podium. It will maintain its core housing services like a food bank, seasonal clothing donation centre, support services for senior citizens and its mobile street help services.

Other services planned include a daycare and playground, a drop-in space capable of hosting a wide range of meetings and events, and an educational centre teaching ESL programs and helping equip people with the tools and resources to find employment.

Meanwhile, Haven’s Coldest Night of the Year fundraising walk takes place for the 12^th year on February 22 at Sherway Gardens Mall. Supporters will be walking laps around the large mall.

Donations can be made on their website havenontheq.com

These Pearson Airport passengers are lucky to be alive and to see their loved ones this Family Day.

One child and two adults were critically injured after a plane with 80 passengers crashed and rolled over on its roof at Pearson International Airport on February 17 around 2:45 p.m. on Runway 23.

There was a crew of four on board the two-hour flight. It is not known if any was injured.

Some 15 passengers on the 16-year-old Canadian made CRJ 900 aircraft suffered injuries and were rushed to local hospitals for treatment, including the Hospital for Sick Kids. Fortunately, no one was killed.

Air Ornge officials said one man in his 60s and a woman in her 60s sustained critical injuries and were taken to two separate hospitals.

The incident involved Delta Airlines Flight 4819 which was arriving from Minneapolis – Saint Paul International Airport. The sky was clear and it was windy, but not snowing at the time of the incident.

Pearson emergency fire and ambulance crews rushed to the jet, which was on its roof on the runway. Flights were rerouted to other airports, including those in Hamilton and Montreal.

Images showed passengers and crews hurrying out of the outside down aircraft heading for the warmth and safety of a Pearson terminal.

“Emergency teams are responding. All passengers and crew are accounted for,” according to a post from Pearson Airport.

The suspended flights left many incoming and outgoing travellers in uncertainty of their travel plans. There were a number of flights delayed. Many passengers at Pearson were already facing weekend delays due to the snowy weather.

Peel police were on the scene investigating with paramedics and formed a staging area off the runway.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says provincial officials are in contact with Toronto Person to offer assistance following today’s plane crash.

“I’m relieved there are no casualties after the incident at Toronto Pearson,” Ford said in a post on X. “Provincial officials are in contact with the airport and local authorities and will provide any help that’s needed.”

The Bombardier CRJ-900 is a narrow-body, fixed-wing jet aircraft that seats 76 to 90 passengers. It’s a regional jet airliner that’s used by many airlines, including Air Canada, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada and other officials are investigating the incident.

Royal York Road is a two-lane roadway that is slated to undergo world-class traffic congestion if four proposed mega condo projects are built along a two kilometre stretch.

A proposal has been filed to build a 12 storey rental apartment on Royal York Road just feet away from the Gardiner Expressway.

The apartment at 464 Royal York Road is just north of Evans Avenue and south of the Expressway. It will contain 112 units, according to documents filed.

The proposal will be considered by Etobicoke York Community Council on February 19 and by City Council on March 26.

City staff are opposing the plan before the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) since an application for by-law amendments have outstanding issues to be resolved.

The application was submitted in February last year to permit a rental residential building which will include 48 one-bedroom apartments, 53 two-bedrooms and 11 three-bedroom units.

There are 61 parking spaces proposed for vehicles and 85 spots for bicycles.

The site is now occupied by a one-storey brick industrial building, which will be demolished.

Also in the works, is a proposal to build three mixed-use towers ranging from 17 to 35 stories at the intersection of Royal York Road and Queen Elizabeth Drive, which is also before the OLT.

The plan will mean the demolition of some homes and buildings at 506, 514, 516, 520 and 522 Royal York Road and 3, 5 and 15 Sinclair Street and 2, 7 and 10 Queen Elizabeth Boulevard.

A zoning by-law amendment application has also been filed to redevelop 351 through 365 Royal York Road into a 10-storey mixed use condo across from San Remo Bakery that will lead to the removal of eight homes.

Developers are seeking to build a mixed-use 37 storey and 23 storey towers at 266 and 268 Royal York Road, along with an eight-storey storage warehouse on the site.

The site is located on the west side of Royal York Road at its intersection with Stanley Avenue, near Cavell Avenue.

The buildings will contain 824 residential units, consisting of 613 studio and one-bedroom units, 167 two-bedroom units and 44 three-bedroom units. There will also be an eight-storey attachment.

Residents claim Royal York Road is already congested with traffic and will get worst as hundreds of new condo-buyers move in.

The City says tougher security measures are required as more online confidential Council, committee and board meetings are being conducted since the pandemic.

Auditor General Tara Anderson in a January 28 report called for online security guidelines to be beefed up with cybersecurity controls for conducting confidential meetings for City Council, its committees, boards, agencies and corporations.

It is possible for some bad actors to access some of the meetings to obtain confidential City information from staff online. There has already been major cybersecurity breaches at the Toronto Zoo, Toronto Public Library, some hospitals and the Cities of Hamilton and Huntsville.

Anderson wrote that over the last five years the City like other organizations accelerated the use of online collaboration and meetings through technology due to the COVID pandemic.

“Hybrid meetings, a combination of in-person and online video conferencing, have become common, including for conducting legislative meetings,” Anderson noted. “While these meetings have benefits in terms of ease and efficiency, they also introduce cybersecurity and confidentiality risks.”

She called for a security review to further strengthen the practices and controls used in initiating and conducting online meetings, particularly for confidential (in-camera) meetings.

The report said new guidelines for online confidential meetings should be drawn up and disseminated to City divisions, boards, committees, agencies and corporations. The guidelines can also be used for staff cybersecurity training.

The guidelines will be used ‘to proactively prevent unauthorized access to confidential information discussed in these meetings.’

She said the City Clerk has developed processes and staff training to secure the electronic portion of closed meetings of City Council and its bodies.

The report cited online security breaches can occur if an unauthorized staff member remained in a confidential meeting, staff can log into a meeting with reused credentials or login credentials being communicated in a public session.

It called for access to confidential meeting to be controlled though codes or passwords, which should not be reused, enable ‘waiting room’ features to validate attendees and lock online meetings.

A South Etobicoke man is taking on the City in a bid to halt the expansion of the sport of pickleball in some neighbourhood parks.

The City of Toronto is conducting a survey until March 3 on the best use and popularity of pickleball, which they plan to install to about 20 Toronto tennis courts across the city.

Chris Morren says he will purchase residents a Tim Horton’s coffee if they vote no to the expansion of pickleball on the survey.

City staff is conducting community engagement to review the sport before construction of pickleball courts begin in the Spring. Construction is expected to be complete by December.

Morren in his invitation on social media said he will purchase a large coffee, with proof, to the first 500 people who vote against pickleball being installed in Laburnham Park, at 23 Evergreen Avenue, in Long Branch.

“ I am willing to engage with an independent auditor to verify this is all on the up and up,” Morren wrote. “Pickleball is a fad and requires less exercise.”

He is willing to go to court to stop the pickleball expansion to local parks. “I’ll go to court if have to.”

Morren said he will ‘take the Bloor Street W. bike lanes over pickleball in tennis courts.’

He claims to be with a group called Torontonians Against Pickleball (TAP).

City staff is working with communities to collect feedback about upgrades to tennis courts across the city, including improvements to lighting, fencing and court surfaces.

“The community engagement process will also explore opportunities to introduce new facilities to support the growing sport of pickleball,” Staff said.

They are seeking feedback on amenities needed to support successful improvements at each park, the preferred improvements and options for adding pickleball at each park.

Some of the parks included for pickleball are: Baycrest Park, Graydon Hall Park, Hendon Park, High Park, Howard Talbot Park, Kingsview Park, L’Amereaux Sports Complex, Laburnham Park, Lanyard Park, Malvern Park, Maple Leaf Park, Martingrove Gardens Park and McDairmid Woods Park among others.

You can respond to the survey by calling Rosemary McManus, City of Toronto, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, at 416-396-7826. You can also visit www.toronto.ca/CourtImprovements.

 

 

Hello Jean Augustine Centre for Young Women’s Empowerment Community, Our Black History Month Celebration & Fundraiser is just ONE WEEK away! Get ready for an unforgettable afternoon, filled with inspiring speeches by Trey Anthony and the Hon. Dr. Jean Augustine, performances by Jean Augustine Centre youth and spoken word artist, Coco LaRain Veira, a delicious brunch, and more. Date: Saturday, February 22, 2025 Time: 11 AM – 2 PM Location: Famous People Players (343 Evans Avenue, Etobicoke ON) Grab your tickets before sales end tomorrow (Sunday, February 16) and join us as we celebrate the rich history, culture, and contributions of Black Canadians. Proceeds from ticket sales will help girls and young women in our community access free after-school programs and workshops designed to help them grow, learn, and thrive.

More than 100 flag-waving area residents braved the snow and cold to celebrate the 60^th birthday of the Canadian National Flag in New Toronto.

The celebration at the Eighth Street flagpole was one of hundreds held across the country on February 15 to mark the birthday of the Canadian National Flag and show love for our country.

Those attending the noon-time event were treated to pieces of two birthday cakes, which had the Maple Leaf beautifully featured.

There was much camaraderie, smiles and speeches about the love of our great country.

The Royal Canadian Navy Band performed the national anthem and Maple Leaf forever as 22 Division officers looked on. They both received loud applause by an appreciative crowd.

Local politicians MP James Maloney, MPP Christine Hogarth and NDP Etobicoke Lakeshore candidate Rozhen Asrani made the rounds shaking hands or handing out flags. Noticeably absent was Ward 3 Councillor Amber Morley.

Those at the celebration signed a large banner in honour of our country and birthday of our flag. The banner will be taken to the archives in Ottawa by Maloney.

Organizer Chris Korwin-Kuczynski reminded those gathered that the Maple Leaf became synonymous with Canadian courage during the Second World War.

“It was more than an emblem; it was a promise to protect freedom, to stand with our Allies and never waver in the face of tyranny,” he reminded.

“Today, in cemeteries far from home, countless of our fallen lie under headstones marked with the Maple Leaf.”

Maloney said he still gets emotional when he sees the Canadian flag.

“It makes me proud when I see our flag waving,” he told the supportive crowd. “We are lucky to live in a great country and in this great community.”

Hogarth has family members in the military and said the flag reflects our proud heritage and history.

“I am proud to be here and represent this community,” she said. “We have a great history that we should be proud off.”

Asrani said she has been attending community events and trying to meet as many residents before the February 27 Ontario election.

“We live in a great community,” Asrani said.

The Canadian National Flag with the red Maple Leaf was raised for the first time on Parliament Hill on February 15, 1965.

The president of a company hired by the City to work with the community to alleviate concerns of a proposed Third Street homeless shelter has resigned his day job due to threats against him and co-workers.

Bruce Davis, a realtor and head of Public Progress, in a post on social media said his office received a ‘hostile’ phone call from a resident who threatened to cause damage to those who work at his real estate company for work being done in regards to the planned shelter.

Davis said a caller threatened him, his company and co-workers by targeting his clients. He wrote he can take the heat but it is not fair for his co-workers.

“Basically, every agent’s livelihood was being threatened because of my connection to the broker and my unrelated consulting work for the City,” he wrote.

City spokesperson Elise Van Scheel said Davis is still a member of their shelter community consultative group.

“Mr. Davis and staff at Public Progress are continuing to answer questions and meet with key stakeholders and groups in the community,” she said by e-mail.

She said City staff are working with the local Councillor to confirm the date and format for the next community meeting.  More information will be released shortly and posted on the City’s website.

The former Toronto District School Board (TDSB) trustee and chair wrote that his real estate practice works with non-profit organizations across Ontario to lease or buy properties for affordable housing.

Davis is well-known by many for his community involvement, hockey, as a TDSB trustee, or through church activities.

“But anyone who knows me will tell you that the guy who threatened me and the brokerage has just redoubled my efforts,” he warned. “I never give up.”

The former school board official has chaired three committees and a working group that formed the Toronto Lands Corporation.

Public Progress was hired by the City to help with a smooth integration of the controversial shelter. They company’s website said they design, build, finance and operate affordable housing through development consulting, project management, community engagement and ongoing advisory services.

The City said the Third Street shelter is one of 20 planned citywide. It is expected to be completed by 2030.

Davis’ post led to dozens comments from readers online in support or against the location of the controversial shelter.