It was a sorrowful night for a grieving family, Toronto Police and emergency workers.

Police said it is yet another case of a suspected drunk driver destroying a family in a matter of seconds.

Three young children are dead and a fourth is in hospital following a horrendous two-vehicle crash in the Renforth Drive and Highway 401 area just after midnight on May 18.

Police said the fatal crash occurred around 12:30 a.m. on Sunday as a speeding vehicle violently hit a vehicle with six inside that was stopped on the off-ramp of the highway.

Two children were pronounced dead at the scene and a third also didn’t make it despite the heroic attempts by paramedics and a police-escorted run to a local hospital.

A fourth child and two adults were taken to the hospital and are fighting for their lives. The extent of their injuries are not known, or the ages of the deceased children. It is believed they were on their way home from a family event.

The roadways around the Renforth Drive area were closed by police for hours as they collected evidence and conducted their investigation.

A 19-year-old driver of the second vehicle was taken into custody at the scene and faces impaired driving and a slew of other charges.

It is believed that the driver may be one of the people hospitalized.

Police said suspected impaired driving incidents still occur daily and a high priority is placed on the getting the drunks off the roads.

Last year there were more than 1,500 impaired driving arrests in Toronto, according to police. During the OPP’s Festive RIDE campaign last year about 800 impaired driving charges were laid.

Almost 100 impaired charges were laid by Durham Regional Police during their Festive RIDE program.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact Traffic Services at 416-808-1900.

It was a great turnout as members of the community came out in droves for the annual Toronto Police 22 Division Open House.

There were many things to do at the 3699 Bloor Street W. station on May 17 as hundreds of residents showed up to meet some members of the Emergency Response Team, Emergency Task Force, take selfies with antique police vehicles and meet their Community Neighbourhood Officers.

One of the more popular displays was the police drone exhibit, which was surrounded by eager children and adults.

The force has a newly-formed Drone Squad and the devices are used in day and night searches for missing persons or others, conducting surveillance and mapping crime or accident scenes.

But, the most popular line-up was for the free barbeque cooked by some of the Division’s finest. The BBQ was smoking all event long.

Inspector Jeff Bangild and his officers and volunteers were pleased with the good turnout, even though it poured rain towards the end of the event.

“We are very encouraged by the amount of people who showed up,” Bangild said. “There are many people who love the police.”

He was surrounded by members of the community what wanted to find out more about the force.

The Toronto Police Service is the largest force in Canada with more than 5.500 officers and 2,200 civilians.

Public consultations are being sought to look into the locations of the Third Street and other five homeless shelters planned for the City of Toronto.

A motion calling for the public consultation was presented by Councillor James Pasternak and will be considered by City Council at its May 21, 22 and 23 meetings.

The Councillors are calling for Toronto Shelter and Support Services to hold individual public consultations for each planned new shelter location.

They are to work with the local councillor to set dates and type of meeting planned, if in person or virtual.

The City last December unveiled the sites of six new shelter locations as part of a 10-year homelessness services strategy,

A public consultation team has been tasked with providing ongoing shelter updates, responding to questions and working collaboratively with the City and local community members.

A proposal to build a 80-bed homeless shelter on Third Street angered many residents who claimed it was not in the right location, being close to schools and a seniors residence.

The plan was changed to 50 beds for homeless seniors over 55 following uproar in the community between the pro-shelter and those who opposed it.

The shelters are slated to be completion by 2030 if approved.

More enforcement to protect eight species of hatching or migrating endangered turtles is being sought by a group that protects the animals in Toronto parks.

Members of Turtle Protectors (TP) told a City Infrastructure and Environment Committee last month that all eight turtle species in Ontario are ‘at risk’ according to federal guidelines.

The Indigenous-led program members now have volunteers protecting turtles in seven parks and eventually hope to spread out to other parks.

“We are focused on reconciling human impacts on turtles by protecting their nests, helping turtles cross roads and helping hatchlings get closer to water so they don’t get crushed by feet, cars or bikes,” according to TP co-founders Carolynne Crawley and Jenny Davis.

The Turtle Protectors work hard to protect the turtles at Colonel Samuel Smith and some other South Etobicoke parks.

The group said many turtles are injured or killed by dogs running free in leased-required parks. They showed an image of a turtle being clawed by a feisty canine.

They also mentioned the many turtles being injured or killed from the hundreds of people attending High Park to view the popular Cherry Blossoms.

“While we monitor parks for nesting turtles and hatchlings we find ourselves having to ask so many dog owners to put their dogs on leash,” the committee was told.

Group members said High Park is important as it is home to an adult Blanding’s Turtle that is deemed a threatened species in Ontario and endangered in Canada.

Volunteers place wire nets over the eggs of the hatching turtles to prevent them from being stepped on or eaten by other animals.

More than 100 volunteers last year donated more than 2,000 hours of their time to help 880 hatchlings move closer to water, sat with 124 Mama Turtles and protected more than 70 nests.

The said efforts to educate people, enforcement and install fencing to protect turtles have not worked.

A new shuttle bus service is being proposed to help move throngs of nature-loving visitors through High Park, now that vehicles are banned.

The shuttle bus would replace the park’s existing ‘trackless train’, which take fun lovers on a scenic 30-minute drive through nature.

The new buses have been recommended by the City’s Park and Recreation staff and will utilize electric buses if approved. The service could begin by December if approved by City council

The vehicles will take visitors for a fee to destinations in High Park in large TTC type buses than can hold up to 70 people each.

The buses “allows visitors to access key destinations within High Park without the use of personal vehicles,” according to the report. The vehicles will ‘also provide access to locations in the park that are not accessible to vehicles.”

“High Park is one of Toronto’s most treasured parks,” according to City officials. “The park is a unique greenspace that spans over 160 hectares, much of which is recognized for its environmental significance.”

It accommodates a wide range of activities, amenities, and ecological, recreational, and cultural functions, according to the report. The park is the largest in Toronto.

Many elderly or challenged park lovers and businesses have repeatedly complained about a traffic ban imposed at High Park and claim the park is mostly used by cyclists and nature lovers. The businesses have complained about a drop in sales due to a lack of cars.

The City will earn 15 per cent of gross revenue of the amount of passengers on the buses and signs will also be installed and shuttle stops displayed in the park.

The buses in peak season would operate on weekdays from 10 a.m to 6 p.m., with service available once every 30 minutes. On weekends, it is proposed to run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and would be available every 15 minutes.

The service would cost under $9 for adults and $6.19 for seniors and $6 for children. It would operate more frequently during the cherry blossom season.

The service could begin by December should the proposal be approved by city council

A heartbroken South Etobicoke mom has made an emotional plea for a hit-and-run motorist to surrender after hitting her son and leaving him critically wounded on a busy road.

Her 29-year-old son suffered critical injuries after being hit around 2:29 a.m. on April 27 near Royal York Road and Evans Avenue.

The driver of the vehicle fled the scene leaving the man fighting for his life in an area hospital.

“I am sending out a plea in case you (the driver) or anyone who knows anything to please come forward,” a woman identified as Monica Wilson wrote on social media.

“Some day you will be caught and arrested and the longer you wait the worse it will be for you.”

Monica is seeking answers as “to why you left my only son laying in the street and drove away.”

Police said the driver of the vehicle struck the pedestrian near the intersection and did not remain at the scene. They said the vehicle was last seen driving westbound on Evans Avenue.

“I don’t know if you were intoxicated, distracted, scared, or just simply cold hearted but I beg you to please just come forward,” Monica pleaded.

The son was rushed to a trauma centre with “life-threatening injuries.”

Police said the investigation is continuing and have not released a description of the suspect or the vehicle.

The post led to about 40 residents showing their support and offering best wishes to her ailing son.

“I am so sorry your family is facing this. How is your son doing?” asked Dayna-Lorraine Halverson. “Please know the community stands with you.”

“I am so sad to hear that your son had been involved in this hit and run,” offered Susan Raddata.

Jeannine Mir sent the upset family prayers and hugs.

“So very sorry for what your family is going through,” she said.  “The driver will be caught. I hope your son recovers fully.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 67-year-old Etobicoke Civic Centre has been deemed surplus property by City officials who want the large parcel of land be flattened to build more public housing.
The 399 The West Mall Crescent Centre was one of 26 properties identified across the City as surplus by the Toronto Parking Authority (TPA), after canvassing all the City’s divisions and agencies.

The building is expected to be demolished to build almost 1,400 housing units once a new Civic Centre is constructed in 2028 at the Six Points Interchange area.
“The list of sites (considered) includes underperforming car parks and properties that are vacant or currently used for non-parking purposes,” according to a TPA report.
The Old Centre is today used by Etobicoke York Community Council for meetings, hearings or for use by community groups. It is also rented for shows and exhibitions.

The report said staff is working to transfer the sites to city-building priorities, including the expansion of affordable housing, shelters and parks. They are looking at ‘repurposing underperforming lots toward future housing, parks or other long-term opportunities.’
There are plans to build 1,376 residential units on the 16.5 acre site.

Sections of the Old Centre will be incorporated in the new facility. The front door has been deemed as having heritage value and will be kept intact.
The massive property will bring in a huge sum to City coffers as the total gross floor area (GFA) of the building is 1.3 million square feet.
This report said the TPA operates parking at 271 City-owned parking facilities, including surface car parks and parking structures.

”These properties have generated significant interest from the development community, other City Divisions and City Council as land assets,” according to the report. Then can ‘be leveraged to advance various city-building initiatives.’
The City is working with other governments to achieve a 10-year goal of approving 65,000 rent-controlled homes by 2030. This includes 41,000 affordable rental, 6,500 rent-geared-to-income and 17,500 rent-controlled homes.

The Old Civic Centre was placed on the chopping board for housing along with the Lawrence Market North, a car park in Yorkville , 838 Broadview Avenue, 105 Spadina Avenue, 363 Adelaide Street W., and 30 Alvin Avenue.
The original Etobicoke Civic Centre was built in 1958 to replace the former Township of Etobicoke Municipal Hall.
The new state-of-the-art Centre to be completed in 2028 will feature more than 508,000 square feet of office space including municipal office towers, a multi-purpose council chamber, a child care centre, a new Toronto Public Library branch, a public health clinic for dental services and gym.
The new state-of-the-art civic hub, which is being built, will cost about $480-million to construct.

Liberal incumbent James Maloney must be doing a pretty good job in the community.

Maloney was returned by voters for his fourth term as MP of Etobicoke Lakeshore on April 28 under the leadership of tariff-fighting  Prime Minister elect Mark Carney.

Maloney obtained 34,600 votes and easily defeated former Conservative MP Bernard Trottier, in a comeback bid, who racked up a respectable 23,800 votes, according to Elections Canada.

NDP Cory Wagar received 1,560 votes, the People Party of Canada’s Thomas Fanjoy with 582 votes and Marxist-Leninist Janice Murray accumulating 183.

Carney’s and the Liberals won 169 seats, not enough for a 172-seat majority.

The Conservatives, whose leader Pierre Poilievre, lost his own seat, took 144 seats.  And Jagmeet Singh’s NDP party lost 17 seats and are down to seven and he stepped down.

Maloney was first elected in 2015 and re-elected in 2019 and 2021 and 2025. He is well-liked and attends most events in the community.  The approachable Maloney began his political life as a Toronto City Councillor in 2014.

Originally from Thunder Bay, he has lived in Etobicoke for over forty-four years. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Bishop’s University, and law degrees from the University of Windsor and the University of Wales in Cardiff, UK.

Maloney was a previous civil trial lawyer and partner in a Toronto firm where he practiced for over 20 years. He was involved in many significant cases, including the tainted blood crisis of the 1980s and the Elliott Lake Inquiry.

The dog lover is the former President of the Toronto Lawyers Club. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Franklin Horner Community Centre, The Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto and the Public Accountants Council of Ontario.

He is the proud recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and an advocate for mental health, he was instrumental in securing $25 million for a national suicide hotline.

James lives Etobicoke-Lakeshore with his dog, Walnut.