A local child with a rare heart condition has received a dream-come-true shopping spree in her favourite store – Toys “R” Us.

Abby, at the age of 7, has shown remarkable resilience in her young life.  She was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) and a rare genetic condition called Menke-Hennekam Syndrome, from which she has already undergone three open-heart surgeries.

She remains full of life despite ongoing health challenges such as frequent respiratory infections and the need to see a liver specialist.

During the Dash, she snagged over 65 toys! Some of these toys included a scooter, Barbie Dreamhouse, a toy piano, and a Care Bear. True to her generous spirit, plans to share some of her new toys with other children in hospital, said Kristina Hopp , of the Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada

Toys“R”Us Canada, in partnership with Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada,  granted the spirited and energetic child a lifetime: a three-minute shopping spree at their local store.

Abby was able to fill carts with as many toys as possible in just three minutes. The Dash is designed to provide seriously ill children with joyful memories away from hospitals, treatments, and medical worries.

Since 1998, the dedication of Toys“R”Us employees and the generosity of customers have raised over $30 million, helping Starlight Canada deliver vital programs nationwide from Comfort Kits with essentials for hospital stay, Treasure Chests with small rewards after procedures to hospital grants that fund urgently needed playrooms, equipment, and activities.

A photo of a Toronto Fire truck on fire as it was responding to an emergency call has gone viral on social media.

The photo shows a brave fireman with an extinguisher trying to put out a hot blaze in the underside of the lifted cab of the firetruck in downtown Toronto.

The cab is popped open and smoke fills the inside and rear of the fiery fire truck. No one was reported injured in the blaze.

The photo of the blazing truck went viral on social media with more than a 100 comments from readers. Most people poked fun at the irony of the situation.

Readers said the engulfed Pumper 442, a Spartan ERV Metro Star, entered service in 2017 and had responded to more than 3,000 fire calls in eight years. The vehicle has travelled just more than 6,000 miles, according to records, which listed it for sale.

The Spartan ERV is supposed to be one of the safer fire trucks on the road.

It is described as a “94-inch wide cab that is configured with an extensive range of premium systems and components. Easily accommodate your crew, equipment and storage needs with numerous cab-style and roof-line options.”

“Must’ve been at a Leafs playoff game!, commented Geoff Empey of the smoking truck.

Andrew Siwey couldn’t believe his sight. “Wow a real ‘fire’ truck!” he chimed.

“Gives new meaning to “being in the hot seat,” noted Trevor Robinson Cards.

Alan Saulsbury said it was a lubricant failure.

“Turbo lube failure. Very common on all trucks,” he wrote.

“Sad. Not funny,” piped in Matej Kelava..

Anton Pienaar believes a hose with oil came loose.

“Probably an oil hose that came lose and spilled oil on the hot engine happened to one of our fire trucks,” he said.

Matt Bullock called the situation embarrassing.

“That’s embarrassing,” he wrote. “Oh well at least they had extinguishers handy and didn’t need to call the fire brigade.”

Bill Kiechle warned it could have been an intense electric vehicle battery fire.

“Just be thankful it’s a diesel fire engine. If it was lithium, you’d never put it out,” he noted.

Toronto Police are probing a second round of shootings in a month in New Toronto.                  Police were called around 5:12 p.m. on October 13 to probe the most recent reports of shots being fired, this time at Lakeshore Village Park.

Officers found evidence of shots being fired but there was no one found with gunshot wounds.

A male suspect about 5-foot-6 wearing a mask and black clothing is being sought.

On October 4, a suspect was arrested for firing a gun at another man in connection with a September 21 scuffle at Lake Shore Blvd. W., and Islington Avenue.

Officers allege a verbal argument occurred between the men, when one was shoved to the ground and a weapon discharged.

The suspect was in possession of a loaded .38 calibre revolver handgun and a quantity of ammunition.

Riley Larman, 28, of Toronto, was charged with assault, discharge a Restricted Firearm and six other gun related offences, including careless storage of a firearm.

Officers of 22 Division have charged a man for committing an indecent act in a local restaurant.

Police said they responded to a call on October 12 for an alleged indecent exposure in the Dundas Street W., and Royal York Road area.

Police in a release alleged the suspect entered the establishment on October to pick up a food order.

A victim witnessed the suspect commit an indecent act inside the restaurant and called police.

Seyedabdollah Darvishiamrei, 58, of Toronto, has been arrested and charged with indecent act. He was slated to appear in court at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre on October 13.

Investigators believe there may be more victims.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-2200, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com

 

One of Etobicoke’s top amateur baseball booster may soon have his field of dreams.

The name of late baseball lover Jim Horton, who passed away last February at the age of 76, may soon grace the North West Baseball Diamond at Martingrove Gardens Park, at 31 Lavington Road.

Ward 2 Councillor Stephen Holyday in a motion to be considered by City Council on October 21 proposed the field be named the ‘Jim Horton Baseball Diamond,’ for his dedication to the sport.

Horton, who was dubbed “Mr. Everything,” started coaching the sport in 1987 and was a life member of Martingrove Baseball.

He received the prestigious Etobicoke Baseball’s Lifetime of Excellence Volunteer Award for his ‘outstanding dedication to the sport of baseball in the city.’

“Jim’s contributions went far beyond coaching,” Holyday said. “He served as executive member of the Martingrove Baseball for more than 35 consecutive years.”

He said Horton held nearly every executive role, including president, vice-president, equipment manager, umpire-in-chief and treasurer.

Hoyday said the avid basketballer was instrumental in getting the City , with an Optimist Club donation, construct the Centennial Park baseball diamond, which is ‘still a jewel of ballparks in the west end.’

More than 325 people signed a petition showing their strong and positive community support for the park being named after Horton. Letters and testimonials of support were sent by members of the baseball community.

“Considering Jim Horton’s contribution to our community, and with the support of his family, it is appropriate that the City recognize his impact by naming the north west baseball diamond in Martingrove Gardens in his honour,” Holyday wrote.

He said Norton was dedicated to supporting children and youth, as well as fostering community health and well-being through the sport.

Martingrove Baseball was founded in 1958 and is an all-volunteer, community-based organization featuring all levels of co-ed baseball and girls’ softball from ages 4 – 28.

 

A TTC bus driver has been released from hospital following a collision in which his vehicle was hit by a suspected impaired driver.

The driver sustained minor injuries and was hospitalized from the October 10 crash that occurred around 5:40 a.m., near Royal York Road and Delroy Drive; north of The Queensway.

Two passengers on the bus were unharmed.

The bus was travelling on the 15 Evans eastbound route, travelling north on Royal York Road, at the time of the crash.

A man in his 20s was arrested by police for impaired driving and is slated to appear for a bail hearing. The suspect’s identity has not been released.

The investigation is continuing.

 

 

 

A man in his 20s was arrested for impaired driving following a collision with a TTC bus in Etobicoke early Friday morning. The incident occurred around 5:40 a.m. near Royal York Road and Delroy Drive. Toronto police responded to the scene after a vehicle struck the bus.

The bus operator sustained injuries and was taken to hospital with minor injuries, while two passengers on board were unharmed. The bus involved was on the 15 Evans eastbound route, traveling north on Royal York Road at the time of the crash. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

 

As a postal strike stretches on, it may only be a matter of time before we will have to venture outside in the cold to community mailboxes to get our mail.

City of Toronto officials are concerned by a plan by the federal government to eliminate Canada Post door-to-door delivery and replace the service with community mailboxes.

It is estimated up to 11,000 mail boxes will be needed to replace home delivery in Toronto. The boxes will be an eyesore for many;  leading to problems with their placement in dense areas; with snowplowing and maintaining, according to a councillor.

An urgent motion by Councillor Josh Matlow was considered by Council October 9 calling for City staff to approach Canada Post for more details on the mailboxes.

“It will be particularly challenging to find enough possible locations in dense, older parts of the city,” Council was told.  Staff also have “to consider the aesthetic impacts on our neighbourhoods and practical concerns including accessibility, safety, traffic  and snow clearing.”

Councillors are seeking the number of mailboxes and where they will be installed; the timelines for installation; designs being considered and guidelines for citing the structures.

The motion asked if the City will be reimbursed for its services in upkeeping the boxes once installed. The costs include: installation, traffic management, snow clearing and litter collection.

“Implementing these new boxes poses a lot of potential issues,” Matlow said. “Further complicating matters is that Canada Post requires the boxes to be on concrete slabs and at least nine metres from an intersection.”

Some 75 percent of Canadians receive their mail through these boxes,” according to the motion. “However, they have been placed in very few dense, urban areas across the country.”

This is not the first time that community mailboxes in Toronto have been considered. In 2014, the federal government announced their intention to eliminate home delivery but due to public outrage, the plan was cancelled in 2018.

Some 55,000 postal workers who are members of CUPW went on strike last September 25.

What some say is a sign of the shifting condo market.

Sherway Gardens has filed paperwork with the City of Toronto to tweak its plan to build four towers from 14 to 41 storeys high in the spacious parking lot of the mall.

The project by Diamond Corp. and Cadillac Fairview proposes to build condos and purpose-built rentals on the property.

The mall in a 2023 plan had sought for four buildings with heights of 12 to 41 storeys on the paved property.

Phase 1 of the massive project is estimated would deliver 1,650 homes, 940 condominium and 710 rental units, according to the developers.

There will also be three public streets built to link the Sherway community, according to plans.

Phasing will see a 41-storey rental tower advancing first, followed by a 40-storey tower, and finally a 35-storey condo and the 14-storey rental building.

There will also be a small park and open green space, according to plans filed.

Also planned is  a three-level garage with 829 spaces for vehicles and 84 for visitors.  The complex provides 1,244 bicycle parking spaces,  split between 1,124 long-term and 120 short-term stalls.

Parking lot developments are also taking place in Cloverdale Mall, Dixie Road Discount Mall, Yorkdale and a list of other malls.

An armed thief dubbed the ‘helmet bandit’ who with an accomplice robbed four Mimico businesses at gunpoint has been arrested by a Toronto Police Hold Up Squad.

Police said the bandit robbed four businesses along the Royal York Road area in a terrorizing five-month crime spree that preyed on small businesses from May 29 until his arrest on October 8.

Hold Up Squad officers said in a release the suspect would normally enter a business with a handgun and wearing a motorcycle helmet to hide his identity.

The thief would demand cash from store staff and flee in a waiting vehicle, police said.

Officers said the brazen thefts took place along Royal York Road, with two at Lake Shore Blvd. W., another at The Queensway and a third at Dundas Street. W.

Stefan Peric, 34, of Toronto, has been charged with four counts of robbery with offensive weapon, four counts of disguise with intent, four counts of use imitation firearm during commission of an indictable offence and four more or failing to comply with a court order.

He was scheduled to appear in court at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre, 2201 Finch Avenue West, on October 9.

A second suspect is being sought by police.