Some hopes are dashed as promised updates to Centennial Park to make it into a world-class FIFA World Cup practice facility has been slashed.

FIFA has reduced training site requirements at Centennial Park from two training pitches and field houses down to one for the duration of the tournament in Toronto in June 2026, according to City documents.

The reduction results in net savings in capital expenses allocated to training sites, operations including safety and security budgets, according to the City.

Savings from the training site capital budget will be reallocated to other World Cup requirements including BMO Field, or Toronto Stadium, as it will be called during the matches.

FIFA has now downgraded the number of training facilities required in Toronto, freeing up funding for a city struggling to foot the broader bill.

“The City is now going to have to backfill that money and manage the pressure about the planned and ongoing work in the park,” Stephen Holyday, the councillor for Etobicoke Centre, told CTV Toronto.

The Centennial Park FIFA training facility is in the final design and tendering phases, according to the city, with completion slated for March 2026.

FIFA is freeing up funding for a city struggling to foot the broader bill.

It will cost Toronto almost $380 million to host the 2026 World Cup, the largest and most-watched international soccer tournament that is held every four years in host countries.

City officials

A man who set an aspiring nurse on fire on a TTC bus at Kipling Station in an incident that rocked the City is still a threat to the public and will have to spend more time in custody.

Tenzin Norbu, 35, was found not criminally responsible for the horrendous June 2022 death of Nyima Dolma, 28, a caregiver and nursing student, who was also born in Tibet.

Dolma was a beloved up-and-comer who was working her way up in Canada. She had only been here for about five years.

The two did not know each other that fateful day, in which Norbu may have been hallucinating, a panel has ruled.

An Ontario Review Board (ORB) in October ruled that Norbu, who has a lengthy history of mental illness and aggression, should remain in custody as he still poses a significant threat to the public.

The ORB hearing was held last August at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), where Norbu is being held.

He was charged with murder and found not criminally responsible for setting the budding nurse on fire with lighter fluid aboard a bus just over two years ago. She died in hospital from her injuries 18 days later, three months away from completing her nursing degree.

Norbu stands to receive privileges as walking around the CAMH grounds while “indirectly supervised.”

The five-member panel ruled he could be gradually given privileges to leave his unit at the facility for other parts of the hospital.

The brutal incident shook the city with people taking precautions on public transit.

A Go Fund Me page raised thousands of dollars to help with the funeral of the soon-to-be nurse.

Ward 3 Councillor Amber Morley is taking on Premier Doug Ford over the removal of controversial bike lanes.

Morley, a cyclist, has seconded a motion by Councillor Dianne Saxe taking Ford to task for straying from his lane by stepping on Toronto infrastructure claims.

The motion which will be considered by City Council on November 13 calls for the City Manager to write a letter to Ford protesting ‘the overreach’ of his anti-bike-lane Bill 212.

The Bill will give the Ontario government the power to restrict and remove bike lanes that use a lane of traffic in a bid to curb vehicle congestion.

The motion if approved will see a letter of protest from Council asking Ford “to respect municipalities’ jurisdiction to manage compete claims for its own infrastructure.”

It calls for the withdrawal of proposed Section 195.2 of the Highway Traffic Act, that is before the Ontario Legislature.

The motion states that Toronto, with a population of 2,794,356 in 2021, is the fourth-most populous city in North America.

“Our population, our economy and our government are larger than those of every Canadian province except British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec and Ontario,” according to the councillors.

It said Toronto is one of the most multicultural and cosmopolitan cities and the economic engine of Ontario, providing large subsidies to the province and other parts of Canada.

“Toronto provides a disproportionately large share of the revenue of the provincial government,” it states.

“

The City of Toronto owns, pays for, maintains and operates most of the infrastructure that allows ‘this goose to lay its golden eggs, in an environment of overwhelming and competing demands,” the motion declared.

“Managing and allocating this public infrastructure so as to appropriately balance these competing demands is a central function of municipal government,” the councillors said. It is “essential to allow us to do the jobs we were elected to do.”

They said Bill 212 is an ‘attack on the people of Toronto, proposing to wastefully tear up millions of dollars of newly constructed roads, to distort how Council balances demands for street space, climate action, affordability, road safety, tree cover and quality of life.”

The province plans to remove the bike lanes on busy streets to improve traffic flow and increase small business sales.

 

 

A popular artist whose unique pieces of driftwood art have awed many residents over the years at Humber Bay Shores has been ordered by the City to pack up his brushes and leave.

Damian Agostini has been for years making beautiful driftwood sculptures of birds and other wildlife near the pathway running along Lake Ontario at the Humber Bay shoreline.

The City has banned the lakeside art claiming the works pose a threat and danger to its workers.

The ban comes as the City recently unveiled a massive piece of Indigenous art called ‘Campfire’ in the same area overlooking downtown office buildings.

Agostini took to social media to thank area art lovers who appreciated his work.

“I want to take this opportunity to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the support and love that I’ve received,” he wrote. “I have a great time sharing my art with you.”

Art fan AJ Jx said the City asked the artist to leave.

“Everyone that has had the opportunity to see a new art piece on daily basis has been blessed,” AJ Jx wrote. “The City should focus on more important things than what this man has accomplished.”

Catherine Woodward thanked Agostini for his ‘absolutely amazing creations,” which Mercedes Riestra said was great art.

“It was such a pleasure to admire your talent during my dog walks,” Marcella Racic wrote.

 

Toronto City Councillors now earn about $128,000 yearly and there are calls for a pay increase due to their large ridings and heavy workloads.

A motion to increase the compensation and office budgets of the City’s 25 Councillors will be considered by Council on November 13.

A motion by Councillor James Pasternak, seconded by Councillor Chris Moise, is seeking an updated review of Councillor compensation; to adjust their payments to their counterparts, and regularly review their compensation, and that of their office staff.

Council “request the City Clerk to report to City Council by the fourth quarter of 2025 on options to modernize the job descriptions, salary bands, and the compensation envelope for staff in Members’ offices,” according to the motion.

It said in 2018 Toronto City Council was reduced from 44 to 25 councillors by the provincial government.

“Toronto now has perhaps the most populous wards of any major city in in North America and Europe,” according to the Councillors. “In order to manage this volume of work, at its first meeting of the 2018-2022 term of office, Council increased their staff budgets.”

Council requested the City Manager and the Chief People Officer to report back on the motion at the December 17, 18 and 19 City Council meeting.

Some residents are crying foul since Mayor Olivia Chow said the City is broke and Toronto Councillors are among the better paid politicians in the province.

Councillors earn about $128,000 yearly, depending on the committees they sit on. Mayor Olivia Chow earns about $206,000 yearly.

Regionals councillors outside the city earns about $40,000 yearly. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is paid about $410,000 yearly.

A federal MPP earns a base salary of $116,550 and additional responsibilities come with more money, ranging from $16,000 to $50,000.

The politicians are also eligible for one of the best pension plans in Canada.

In addition, the estimated salary for Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw is $237,508 yearly plus the perks that comes with the office, as car and driver.

Maybe we will get a TTC subway stop at Sherway Gardens Mall yet.

The CF Sherway Gardens Mall is moving ahead with plans to build mixed housing on its massive parking lots and again prepare for a possible extension of the Bloor Danforth subway line.

City officials are seeking Council’s urgent directions on amendments to the Sherway Gardens Secondary Plan at an upcoming Ontario Land Tribunal hearing on December 9.

“City Council’s consideration of this matter is urgent and should therefore not be deferred,” according to a motion to be considered by City Council on November 13.

Sherway Gardens Mall is seeking approval to redevelop its surface parking lots into a mixed-use community in which 15 new towers ranging from 17 to 45 storeys are proposed, including parks.

The development will create more than 6,200 residential units and over 14,000 square metres of new retail and office uses, according to the developers.

The plan calls for a transit hub at the northwest of the site to allow for the extension of the Bloor-Danforth subway line from Kipling Station.

At one time there were major calls from residents and political leaders for the subway to be extended to Sherway, but that has since faded.

Also planned is a multi-use trail with pedestrian and cycling infrastructure along the entire Queensway frontage of the site.

And a private ring road around the mall would be designed to City standards and dedicated as public streets through redevelopment.

“The surface parking lots surrounding the mall would be redeveloped with a mix of uses to create a walkable and more hospitable pedestrian environment,” according to planners. “The lands where the existing shopping centre is located were designated Mixed Use Areas to maintain the retail focus of this part of the precinct.”

Development in the forms of tall condos and townhomes are also taking the place of vehicles at Cloverdale Mall, Dixie Outlet Mall, Yorkdale Mall, Fairview and others.

 

 

T

There are calls by some City Councillors for Toronto to proclaim December as Christian Heritage Month.

A motion will be considered on November 13 by City Council to decide if Toronto will join about 25 other municipalities and declare next month as Christian Heritage Month.

Some residents warn that it is not a good idea with the large amount of hate crime taking place in the City due to the war in the Middle East.

They said the proclamation, if approved, will lead to calls from other groups as Muslims, Jewish, Hindu and others for their own religions to be officially proclaimed.
The motion by Councillor Nick Mantas, seconded by Councillor Frances Nunziata, said ‘Christianity is the most followed religion in our country, with more than half of the Canadian population identifying as members of the Christian faith.’

“The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms even mentions God in its very first sentence,” it stated, adding in December, Christians around the world prepare for their annual celebrations commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ; also known as Christmas.

“During this time, Christian faith groups utilize literature, art, music, gastronomy, and architecture to tell the stories of Jesus and his compassion, love, acceptance and the Good News of the Gospel he brought,” they said.

The motion said December is associated with the tradition of gift giving and gathering of family, friends, and people of all faiths. Christian organizations and places of worship offer religious services.

These are ‘initiatives that highlight a strong Christian heritage during the month of December.’

They said some municipalities which have proclaimed December as Christian Heritage Month includes: Ajax, Aurora, Bradford, Caledon, Clarington, Durham Region, Markham, Brampton, Milton, Mississippi Mills, Orillia and Ottawa.

Other areas with the heritage month also includes Pickering, Rideau Lakes, Sudbury, Wainfleet, Welland, Prince Albert, Regina, Saskatoon, Prince George, Whistler, Red Deer and Okotos.

 

 

 

 

 

Two slain Toronto Police offices from 22 Division are being paid tribute to as Remembrance Day approaches.

Constable John Zivcic succumbed to his injuries on December 2, 2013, at age 34, with six years of service to the Toronto Police.

The City of Toronto after 11-years this month authorized a stone marker and inscribed plaque be placed by parks staff on a tree that was planted in a Commemorative Tree Program to remember Zivcic.

A tree in the city boulevard at the intersection of Bloor Street West and Neilson Drive that was damaged in the collision was removed, police said, and for several years the tree stump remained, marked with the brass numbers of his police badge: “9824”.

The tree stump was eventually removed and a memorial tree was planted at that location honouring the legacy of  Zivcic, who died in the line of duty. The commemorative lilac tree was unveiled in a ceremony on September 2023.

The Toronto and Canadian police community are also mourning the loss of Constable Henry Snedden who was shot dead by a deranged man in Etobicoke 46 years ago.

Snedden and his partner, Donald Chadbold, responded on September 15, 1978 to what they thought was a domestic dispute on Mooreshead Drive, near the Etobicoke Civic Centre, in the Renforth Drive and Burnhamthorpe Road area.

“Upon arriving at the disturbance, the officers found two groups of people standing outside 16 and 18 Mooreshead,” according to police records. The officers separated.

Suddenly a man, Arthur Hayden Packwood, began struggling with Constable Snedden, according to documents.

Chadbolt rushed to his partner’s aid. Momentarily the two officers appeared to have the situation under control, police said.

“They didn’t realize Packwood had managed to get Snedden’s service revolver out of his holster,” according to police. “Shots rang out. Constable Snedden was dead before reaching Queensway General Hospital.”

“Snedden’s partner cradled him, trying to keep the veteran alive,” records show. It was too late.

The young officer was shot twice in the chest by Packwood, 27, on the front steps of the home with his own gun.

He had been on the force for just over two years.

Packwood, who had a mental illness and believed he was acting in self-defence, was eventually found not guilty of murder, due to insanity.

Another officer suffered serious injuries when he crashed his motorcycle rushing to the scene to help his ailing brothers.

Their deaths, along with other officers who pass, are marked yearly by their colleagues.

Construction plans are underway for a huge mega-development that will include a nursing home and four towers in the Evans Avenue and East Mall area.

Notices have been erected to alert residents of a proposed change of zoning for the site that is before the Etobicoke York Community Council. A ruling is expected in November.

Plans include construction a major subdivision with a nine-storey seniors residence, two blocks of three-storey townhouses and four condo towers on the north side of Evans Avenue, from Brown’s Line east to The East Mall, from 564 to 580 Evans Avenue.

The hi-rises ranging from 21 to 38 storeys in height and will face Highway 27 and the Gardiner Expressway,

The developers want to construct townhouses and four towers 21, 29, 32 and 38 stories on a shared three-storey base building and new roadway.

Also included is a new 4,129 square metre park and three 20-metre-wide streets that runs north-south and east-west, according to the proposal. There will be more than 1,000 parking spaces and the same amount of bicycle spots in total.

The development will have a total gross floor area of 100,841 square metres and will house 1,196 residential units, which includes 678 one-bedroom units, 397 two-bedroom units and 475 three-bedroom units.

The existing Active Green and Ross Tire store, which has stood there for decades, will be demolished to make room for the development. There were at one time about 65 of the franchise tire stores in Southern Ontario.

The proposal calls for the townhouses to be parallel to the new park, Evans Avenue on the south, and the new public north-south and east-west streets on the east and north.

A sidewalk in front of Evans Avenue would be reconstructed with a minimum width of 2.1 metres to improve pedestrian comfort and safety and comply with City standards.

The surrounding land includes a low-rise industrial building at 24 The East Mall, a two-storey motel at 560 Evans Avenue, a film studio called Studio 550, storage units and a gas station with a car wash.

Notices have also gone up to notify residents of a 26-storey tower, with 352 dwelling units, planned for 99 Birmingham and 210 Islington Avenue, where a Sikh temple now stands.

A similar notice has also been placed on the site of the Cineplex Theatre Queensway where 12 condos, some 46-storey tall, are planned. There will also be a daycare centre, park, retail and employment space, according to the developers.