These brazen serial car thieves rolled one car, crashed into two police cars and injured a cop as they tried to escape police.

Two thieves who allegedly broke into three South Etobicoke homes in 10 days to steal car keys for the homeowners’ luxury vehicles have been arrested by a special police task force.

The men injured one Toronto Police officer and left a trail of destruction as they tried to flee officers of a newly-created Provincial Carjacking Task Force.

The suspects allegedly crashed into two police undercover cars and flipped another as they tried to evade being stopped by the task force, 22 Division Major Crime Unit and the Emergency Task Force, according to police.

One officer suffered minor injuries and a suspect had to be pulled out from the flipped vehicle by police in the Eva Road and West Mall area on December 18, police said.

The accuseds were being watched for three home invasions in which they stole car keys for high end vehicles which are shipped abroad for resale or used to commit crimes.

The first incident occurred on December 3 after police responded to a break and entry call in the Thompson Avenue and Van Dusen Boulevard area.

Police said the suspects forced their way into a home while the occupants were asleep and stole their car keys and fled in their car.

Ten days later on December 13 around 3 a.m. the suspects forced their way into another home in the Islington Avenue and Summitcrest Drive area, police said

As they tried to break in, the homeowners’ were awoken by several loud bangs at the front door. The owners went downstairs and were confronted by two suspects, who demanded their car keys.

This time the thieves stole two sets of keys and fled with two of the homeowner’s cars.

That was not the end for these busy and brazen crooks.

That same night about two hours later around 5:07 a.m. the same suspects forced their way into a third home in the Dixon Road and McArthur Street area, according to the task force.

Again the homeowners’ were asleep and was awakened and there was a confrontation with one of the suspects, according to police.

The suspects stole the victim’s car keys and fled the scene with his car. The victim this time suffered minor injuries.

By now the task force had a handle on the thieves and the crash and car roll over occurred as police were chasing them.

The task force was formed to stem the rising incidents of violence related to auto crimes across the  GTA. Local police services combined resources and established the task force to co-ordinate law enforcement efforts in combatting these crimes.

About 33 vehicles are stolen in Toronto every day. More than 11,000 have been stolen so far this year.

Rashid Zulmai, 18, of Toronto, has been arrested and charged with: robbery with violence, two counts of break and enter to commit an indictable offence, three counts of disguise with intent, three counts of conspiracy to commit and indictable offence, two counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, dangerous operation of a conveyance and two counts of fail to comply with order.

A 16-year-old young offender, who cannot be identified, has also been charged with a long list of similar offences.

The two appeared in separate courts for bail hearings on December 19.

 

There are calls from some residents for the City to stage a fireworks display in South Etobicoke as they prepare for the largest fireworks display in Canada to kick off the New Year.

The City of Toronto is gearing up to host the biggest fireworks display in Canada on December 31 to ring in 2024, according to City officials.

Some community members claim the fireworks are only staged in the downtown area and Ashbridges Bay in the City’s east end, which is difficult for residents here to attend or view.

They said a west-end fireworks display would bring in revenue for small businesses in the area from those wishing to see it and also be a boost to the morale of residents. In addition there are many places along the lakefront where the shows can be successfully staged.

“We are being treated as second class citizens,” said Chris Korwin-Kuczynski, chair of the Lakeshore Village Business Improvement Association (BIA). “There is a fireworks display in the east end and Toronto but nothing here for us.”

He said a display can easily be staged on the lakefront near Humber Bay or even at Marie Curtis Park.

“Ten minutes of fireworks is not a big deal,” Korwin-Kuczynski said. “City officials shouldn’t discriminate and give us something in the west end.”

He said it is too late for a display on New Year’s Eve, but shows can be staged on Victoria Day or Canada Day.

The cost will be minimal since the City already stages the two large shows.

On December 31 at midnight, residents and visitors to Toronto are invited to countdown to the New Year and witness a free 10-minute, high-altitude fireworks show synchronized to music, visible from anywhere with a view of the city’s inner harbour and also livestreamed online.

Designated viewing areas for the fireworks includes seven venues in the downtown area with none in Etobicoke.

For those unable to attend in-person, the live webcast begins at 10 p.m. with DJ sets until 11:30 p.m. The New Year’s Eve countdown begins at 11:30 p.m., which will culminate in the fireworks display.

The webcast will feature ASL and Closed Captioning and be available on the City’s CultureTO YouTube channel.

Headliners acts include Toronto-based artists DJ Sofia Fly and DJ Cozmic Cat. Local sensation Tynomi Banks will host the webcast. Pop-up participatory dance performances co-produced with The Dance Together Festival will transform public spaces and bring audiences together to celebrate through dance.

The City of Toronto bylaws allow fireworks on private property until 11 p.m. on Victoria Day and Canada Day. A permit is required to set off fireworks on all other days. Fireworks are not allowed in parks and on beaches.

Hate crimes have increased more than 40 per cent in the City so far this year and it is not slowing down.

Police said the war with Israel against Hamas has sparked the increase of hate-related crimes in Toronto, across Canada and the world.

Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw in his latest update said between January 1 and December 17 there have been 338 reported hate crimes, compared to 239 during the same time last year. That is a 41 per cent increase.

Demkiw said this included 147 anti-Semitic hate crimes compared to 81 during the same period last year. And there were 37 anti-Muslim-Palestinian-Arab hate crimes during that period, compared to 14 incidents last year.

“We are steadfast in our resolve to ensure that Palestinian, Muslim, Jewish, all communities for that matter, are kept safe from acts of hatred and violence,” the Chief said in an update on December 19 to the Police Services Board.

He said between October 7 and December 17  there were 98 hate crimes reported in Toronto, compared to 48 in 2022 during the same time period. This includes 56 anti-Semitic hate crimes reported, as compared to 18 during the same period last year.

There were 20 anti-Muslim/Palestinian/Arab hate crimes reported during the same time period, compared to two the same time last year.

There were also 11 reported hate crimes targeting the LGBTQ2S+ communities during this period, versus eight during the same time last year.

Some 53 per cent of the hate crimes were anti-Semitic from the October to December time period.

“We will be relentless, indeed resolute, in our pursuit of those who perpetrate crimes against any group or community,” Demkiw said. “Hatred will have no space in our city.”

He said since October 7, the beefed up Hate Crime Unit has made 43 arrests and laid 96 charges related to hate crime occurrences. Of the 96 charges, some 28 cases were mischief related 16 were assault related.

The force in November launched its hate-motivated graffiti intake form on TPS.ca to report hate-motivated graffiti. Since then they have received 129 submissions of which eight were confirmed hate crimes. There have been 159 hate crime graffiti occurrences reported to police between October 7 and December 17, including 27 anti-Muslim/Palestinian/Arab occurrences, compared to one last year and 111 anti-Semitic occurrences, versus 12 last year.

Hockey players helping the less fortunate in our community.

Members of the Etobicoke Hockey Club have donated five large bins of food and cash to the Daily Bread Food Bank following a campaign to help the needy.

The 500 pounds of food and almost $3,000 in cash were handed over to the Food Bank, on New Toronto Street, on December 18 so they can continue to help others in the community.

The Food Bank is at its busiest this time of the year as a record high of more than 12,000 new people access member food banks for the first time each month. They said with staggering food inflation and rising rents, they are bracing for these numbers to keep rising.

“This far exceeded last year’s donations and will go a long way to assist many in need in our community,” said club member Dave Clancy. “This is through the incredible spirit and generosity of our teammates, alumni, families and friends.”

The items were raised during a free December 10 Etobicoke Hockey Club (EHC) Christmas skate at the Ford Performance Centre, at 400 Kipling Avenue, in which about 125 skaters who turned up were urged to bring non-perishable foods and cash.

The EHC was founded in 1975 and members include former NHL and AHL players, including ex-politicians, whose ages range from 55 to 80.

“We are fortunate to be here and playing with our group,” Clancy said. “We have been supporting different charities for many years.”

They also collected pet food which will be donated to a Mississauga animal care centre.

Among the EHC players are former Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Mike Pelyk; and Doug Holyday, now retired after serving as the last Mayor of Etobicoke from 1994 to 1998 and Deputy Mayor of Toronto from 2010 to 2013.

Another member was ex-lacrosse player and politician Morley Kells, who was a PC member of the Government of Ontario from 1981 to 1985 and again from 1995 to 2003, and was briefly a cabinet minister in the government of former Premier Frank Miller.

 

A plan to introduce a Night Economy Program for longer bar, restaurant and nightclub hours in Mimico, New Toronto, Long Branch and other areas is forging ahead with the City’s blessings.

The issue was considered by City Council on December 14 and even though it was supported by many councillors, it was sent for more study.

There will be a first annual Night Time Economy Town Hall on January 17 to ‘connect with fellow night economy enthusiasts, share ideas and discuss strategies to enhance the vibrant nightlife in Toronto.’

The City is reviewing the licensing and zoning regulations for restaurants, bars and entertainment venues, including nightclubs and live music venues, and exploring strategies to support and enhance Toronto’s Night Economy.

Officials want one bylaw across the City instead of a hodge podge of them which resulted when the city was amalgamated.

The move would see more bars and nightclubs with live music and dancing opened until 4 a.m. with special permits, to accommodate those who are night owls or work shifts.

Long Branch, New Toronto, Mimico and part of the Dundas street strip would fall into these all-night zones.

Long Branch residents have said they are against the loud noise, drunkenness and potential crimes that may occur with the changes.

The plan would lead to later TTC operations and access to toilets to cater to the late-nighters.

The City said the Night Economy accounts for an estimated 300,000 jobs in all activities between dusk and dawn. They include dining, community and special events, performing arts, recreation, live music, festivals, shift work, retail, transit and emergency services.

“Toronto’s night economy provides employment opportunities, cultural activities, and entertainment experiences to residents and visitors, while also creating hundreds of thousands of jobs across numerous sectors,” the City said in a report.

The report said ‘enhancing and safeguarding the experiences of Torontonians between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. not only improves civic pride and sense of well-being, but also strengthens Toronto’s position as a leading global economic and cultural jurisdiction.’

“A healthy night economy that supports the needs of residents, visitors, and workers requires a proactive municipal approach to lay the groundwork for nighttime business and culture to thrive,” the report state.

It said more than 3,000 people were heard in consultations which have been taking place since 2016. They targeted outreach to Indigenous, Black, racialized, and equity-deserving communities, including women, 2SLGBTQ+, youth, people with disabilities and people who live with low incomes.

The report said Torontonians participate strongly in hospitality and arts at night: 92% go to restaurants, 85% to bars, 82% to live music, and 73% to cinema, theatre, and comedy.

The City said the move is meant to bring more business and revenue to outlying areas, rather than downtown Toronto alone.

Night Club Locations going to City Council also includes The Queensway from Mimico Creek Valley to Kipling Avenue; Etobicoke Centre, which includes Bloor Street West and Islington Avenue and Thistletown, including Albion Road and Islington Avenue.

The matter will go back to City Council for approval.

It is no longer a problem with high-rises in downtown Toronto, bird deaths occur in Etobicoke and in many places nightly.

Toronto City Council has voted in favour of turning off all lights at City buildings at night to save money and birds from being killed.

The City said many birds are killed by the unnecessary lights on City property during the bird migration season.

The Fatal Light Awareness Program Canada group has documented, artificial light from buildings and cityscapes endangers birds, especially during migration season, City council was told.

“Many species of birds migrate at night, using light from the moon, the stars, and the setting sun to navigate,” according to a report. “The bright lights of urban areas confuse these birds and pull them out of their way.”

The group said on foggy or rainy nights when the cloud cover is low, birds fly at lower altitudes and are more likely to be disoriented by city lights.

“They may be pulled down into downtown mazes, where they often collide with buildings,” they said. “Also dangerous are floodlights, lighthouses, and airport ceilometers (light beams for measuring cloud altitude).”

“Once birds are attracted to a light source, they tend not to leave it, and may become trapped until they die.”

The said the City used to have a program to turn off lights in its buildings at night during migration seasons, in order to reduce energy costs and reduce bird deaths.

“This program has fallen into disuse,” Council said. “Corporate Real Estate Management agrees that it should be resumed.”

Bird deaths are a serious problem in Toronto and surrounding areas with tall towers.

The group estimates that one million to nine million birds die every year from impact with buildings in the Toronto area. The group’s founder once single-handedly recovered about 500 dead birds in one morning.

 

Toronto Police say they have begun work to become more inclusive to all residents following a damning Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) report that found the force subjected Black people to systemic racial discrimination.

The report called From Impact to Action made 100 recommendations to improve the situation and said Blacks are more subjected to racial profiling and anti-Black racism by officers of the Toronto Police Service (TPS) and the Toronto Police Services Board.

“The finding is supported by evidence gathered throughout the inquiry, including analysis and consultations with Black communities,” the OHRC said in a report released December 14. “This finding confirms the need for change to challenge long-standing practices, which perpetuate anti-Black racism in Toronto policing.”

The recommendations called for the ‘purging of TPS database of photographs, fingerprints or other biometric information from charges that do not result in convictions.’

It called for expanding the collection, analysis and reporting of race-based data on stop, searches, charges, arrests and use of force.

The report seeks greater transparency on officer discipline and proactive investigative steps following a tribunal or court decision that contain findings of racial profiling, racial discrimination or violations of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

It also recommends increased anti-Black racism training in other training programs with effective evaluation

The report also calls for developing a distinct policy or procedure on racial profiling and supports calls to expand civilian-led mental health crisis response services.

The Board and TPS said they welcome the report and view it as an important contribution to the work underway in their efforts to ‘proactively and decisively address anti-Black racism.”

It said they cooperated with the Commission, by providing information, access to their databases and made personnel available for interviews.

“This finding confirms the need for change to challenge long-standing practices, which perpetuate anti-Black racism in Toronto policing,” the TPS said in a statement.

The force said ‘we have consistently made clear that the goal of the OHRC to address anti-Black racism in all its forms is also our goal.’

“Our leadership has been steadfast, consistent, and determined in working towards this objective, and to do so in meaningful and practical ways that improve relationships with Black communities in Toronto,” according to police.

“Change is required at all levels, and in all parts, of our police service,” Chief Myron Demkiw said. “It must include our leadership, our culture, mechanisms of accountability, training and education and beyond.”

He said change must also be ‘co-developed, co-designed, co-delivered, and evaluated in meaningful and continued partnership with Toronto’s Black communities.’

Demkiw said all officers now have to undergo a five-day Fair and Unbiased Policing Course that promotes equity, inclusion, and ethical law enforcement.

Topics addressed includes ethical policing, peer intervention, race-based data, anti-black racism, anti-Indigenous racism, mental health and addictions.

The popular and late Etobicoke Councillor and Mayor Rob Ford is finally getting a stadium named in his honour.

Toronto City Council voted In a 17 to 6 vote on December 15 to approve renaming Centennial Stadium after Ford, who died of cancer in 2016 at the age of 46.

Ford was the Councillor of Etobicoke North for 10 years and Mayor of Toronto for four, which was sparked with controversy.

The motion was put forward by Councillor Paul Ainslie, who pointed out a number of former mayors have had commemorative namings as Mel Lastman Square, Barbara Hall Park and June Rowlands Park.

The motion also ties the Centennial Park, near Renforth Drive and Rathburn Road, re-imagining to the stadium named after Ford and his love of football.

He coached the Don Bosco Catholic Secondary School’s football team and spent many hours at the stadium, that he loved.

The park was in the news recently after a petition was created and signed by almost 12,000 people to remove a go kart track and batting cages from the park after decades. They will be replaced by new attractions.

A motion by Ward 3 Councillor Amber Morley to conduct a review of the renaming was shot down by council.

Morley had called for more consultations on the matter and a report issued in late 2024.

The vote was split between those who supported Ford during his years as a councillor and mayor and those who opposed him.

Councillor Stephen Holyday said Ford was a polarizing figure, as many politicians are, but beyond the politics no one could dispute his dedication to working for the city.

Ford was beloved by many Etobicoke residents who applauded his refreshing frugality and dedication to responding to his constituents’ issues, however minor.

He is known for always returning phone calls from constituents and the media.

The park is expected to be renamed sometime next year.

Long-time Long Branch resident Lara Andres is a real estate agent by day and a brilliant artistic director by night.

Andres and artist Simon Paul have been creating beautiful posters of landscapes and landmarks that represents Mimico, Long Branch and Alderwood that sells for $50 each on his website.

Their most recent work is a poster of Centennial Park which was created after being touched by the loss of the go kart track and batting cages that have been there for decades.

They also create a selection of apparel, including T-Shirts and baseball hats, with artwork that represents Mimico, Long Branch and Alderwood.

“I live in the community and I conduct a lot of research before a piece of artwork,” Lara said. “People love the pieces and they are all pretty well sold out.”

He only has a few pieces of the silk screen art left over considering 50 pieces of each region were created.

They create the artwork which are made into silk screen posters at a Kensington Market studio.

“It takes about a month and a half to create and produce a poster,” he explained. “Quality is paramount to us and we have never had a negative comment about any of the posters.”

Lara, who came to Canada as boy from Guatemala, has been living in the community for about 17 years.

He is married to wife, Ingrid, and they have a daughter, Liesl, who is six-years-old.

Lara worked as an audio engineer for about 17-years and packed it in to spend more time with his family.

He and Ingrid runs Lara Group Real Estate and began the community posters to express his creativity.

“We first did the Long Branch poster and that just took off,” Lara recalled. “There was a waiting list of people waiting to get them.”

The posters are colourful and depicts local landscapes, landmarks and things found in the respective communities.

He will be auctioning off the last signed poster of each batch with all the proceeds going to LAMP Community Health Center.

You can bid on the poster by visiting his website at laragroup.ca

He has a store on the site where you can purchase his creative community posters and apparel.