Two off-duty police officers are being hailed as heroes after helping to pull a man from an apartment fire in the City of St. Catharines.

On December 6 at 11:30 p.m. York Regional Police Constable Justin Baird, who has been with that force for less than a year, and Toronto Police Constable Aidan Loughlin were in the area of St. Paul Street and James Street when they noticed flames coming from a second-floor unit above a cafe.

The officers sprinted towards the building and asked bystanders to call 9-1-1 as they smashed the front door to gain access to the building.

When the officers reached the second floor, they found an elderly male unconscious in one of the units.

They managed to pull him outside to safety until Niagara Emergency Medical Services attended and transported the man to hospital.

The victim suffered serious injuries and remains in a critical condition.

Both officers suffered smoke inhalation and were treated by paramedics.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Ontario Fire Marshal.

 

The spirit of giving was in the air at Sherway Gardens as Toronto Police did their part to give back to their community.

Police from 22 Division said their annual Stuff the Bus drive to collect toys for the needy was a big success.

A TTC bus was parked outside of ToysRus, at 690 Evans Avenue, as residents stopped by to leave toys for needy area children.

“A huge thank you to everyone who came out to support a great cause for South Etobicoke,” officers said on social media. “Thank you to all that helped volunteer and to everyone who donated.”

The drive took place on December 10 at Sherway Gardens. The toys will be handed out to at risk children in the community.

TTC workers also held a successful Stuff the Bus campaign last month in front of Walmart at Sherway Gardens. All the toys in that drive went to the Hospital for Sick Children.

 

A motion is before City Council to have Centennial Stadium renamed the Rob Ford Stadium to honour the popular and well-liked Etobicoke politician.

Councillor Paul Ainslie brought forward the motion that was seconded by Councillor Shelley Carroll. City Council will consider the motion on December 13.

The motion calls for the City’s Parks, Forestry and Recreation to undertake the necessary design and installation of replacement facility and signage.

It stated that Rob Ford served on Toronto City Council for nearly 15 years, serving as the Councillor for Etobicoke North for 10 years, and as Mayor for four years.

“Sadly, shortly after being re-elected as a City Councillor in 2014, Rob Ford passed away,” Councillors were reminded.

Historically, the City of Toronto has recognized former Mayors with commemorative re-namings which honour their service and spirit,” the motion said, citing Mel Lastman Square, Barbara Hall Park and June Rowlands Park.

“All of those who served with Rob Ford on Council knew that he had two passions – representing his constituents not only across the City but in particular in his home community of Etobicoke, and football,” Council was told.

‘The time is appropriate to consider renaming the Centennial Park Stadium the ‘Rob Ford Stadium’ in recognition of his decade and a half of public service,’ the motion noted, adding the time is right as Centennial Park undergoes a significant re-imagining through the Centennial Park Master Plan, which was approved by City Council in 2021.

A Request of Proposal also sought City Council approval to enter into a sublease or sub-licence agreement with the Centennial Park Golf Centre for someone to operate the Centennial Park Golf Course.

The agreements have an initial term of seven years, with an option, in favour of the City, to extend by four years, and a further option to extend for up to an additional six years, according to the proposal.

The City is hoping to ensure an operator is in place ahead of the 2024 golf season.

The City provides access to high-quality and affordable golf at seven golf courses, five of which are City-operated, and two of which are leased-out to private third-party operators. Centennial Park Golf Course is one of these two golf courses.

There was much furor earlier this year as almost 12,000 people signed a petition to stop the removal of the go-karts and batting cages from Centennial Park at the end of the 2023 season.

A plan to build a 13-story hotel at Humber Bay Shores is getting closer to becoming a reality.

The hotel has been approved by the Etobicoke York Community Council and the City Solicitor was seeking instructions from City Council at a December 13 meeting.

The matter goes before an Ontario Land Tribunal hearing scheduled for January 15, 2024.

Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment applications were submitted in February 2020 to permit the development of the boutique hotel which will have 165 suites and a ground floor restaurant.

The Stay Inn Hospitality will be a midsize hotel at 2157 Lake Shore Blvd. W. and have a total floor area of about 7,810.5 square metres.

The proposed hotel would have 36 parking spaces, which community members say is not enough.

Jim Reekie, of Humber Bay Shores Community Association, said his members are not opposed to the hotel.

“We did have a community meeting with city staff and the developer and we are not opposed to having this hotel in the community,” Reekie said in a letter to City Council. “We do have concern about the on-site parking which we feel is not enough.”

The hotel’s ground floor restaurant would bring visitors to Humber Bay Shores, the company said on its website.

“Our hotel would meet a need for comfortable places to stay for both travelers and guests of nearby condominium residents,” the hotelier wrote. “We want to give business travelers and tourists seeking a wellness focused experience a home base.”

Company officials said theirs is a unique hotel with a green focus that will bring jobs to the community and capitalize on transit connections.

The proposed hotel uses would provide about 40 to 50 full-time jobs to the community. It will also create jobs in the construction process.

“The City of Toronto has given direction for new business development in the tourism sector,” the company said. “A hotel would represent a boost to the local economy.”

They said the hotel will be close to transit, including a proposed TTC hub, Park Lawn GO Train Station and Waterfront LRT.

“Our vision is a for a hotel where it’s just as easy to hop on transit, use car-share, or walk, as it is to drive,” hotel officials said.

The site was previously occupied by the Silver Moon Motel, which was demolished in 2008. It was one of more than a dozen mostly family-run motels that once thrived in the area.

A local group has their eyes set on a large warehouse being built on Evans Avenue that they want to see stopped.

‘No Shipping Terminals’ is a non-profit community-based group that is trying to prevent a further influx of shipping terminals and trucks coming and going in our community.

Group members said the 450 Evans Avenue site will be a massive 60-loading door Amazon distribution warehouse that will have truck traffic at all hours.

The site was occupied by one of the largest packaging company in Canada, Cascades Inc., for almost 80-years and is being demolished to construct a new Amazon warehouse, residents say.

Cascades has been a leader in the recovery and manufacturing of green packaging and tissue products since 1955. The company operated in 90 locations and had 12,000 employees when the branch was closed for strategic repositioning of its business in Ontario and globally.

No Shipping Terminals spokesman Alex Ladacouer said the truck traffic makes it dangerous for area children, increase noise, dust and air pollution in the community.

“Our mission is to prevent the influx of shipping terminals and trucks coming to our community,” he said. “There are already many shipping terminals operating in South Etobicoke.”

He said at least five more warehouses are being developed.

The group in a release said warehouses are being developed at the former Campbells Soup site at 60 Birmingham Street that will have 86 doors.

Another is slated for 121 Thirtieth Street, with 60 loading doors or stalls, another at 260 Eighth Street with 116 doors and 541 Kipling Avenue with 78 doors.

They said the large amount of trucks cause traffic congestion on local streets, are in close proximity to residential areas, diminish property values, cause a lot of noise, worsens already-poor air quality and there is a lack of enforcement of trucking violations.

No Shipping Terminals is advocating for by-law freeze on additional terminals or distribution centres in South Etobicoke and to raise awareness about development and building permit applications they said threaten the community fabric.

They also want City staff to reject any minor variance, site plan or building permit application that would place the large distribution centres close to residential areas.

They have created a petition with upwards of 1500 signatures calling for a truck ban.

 

The Toronto Police Services Board is undergoing its budget process for 2024 and is seeking more funds to better serve the city.

The Board’s Budget Committee at its meeting on December 12 will be asking for $2,355,300 more for next year, which is a $178,500 increase over 2023.

If the request is approved by the Board it then goes to City Council later this month for consideration.

Toronto Police is one of the largest expenditure for the city. The force in 2023 had a budget of $1.16 billion.

The Board said the funds are required for collective agreements, salary and benefits and non-salary expenditures.

“The proposed budget recognizes that the Board’s work and the work of its professional staff occurs in the country’s largest municipality,” according to the Board 2024 Operating Budget Request.

It said the Board was given approval to add three staff members in 2023 and some of the budget increase is partially due to the cost of the new hires.

The Board is a seven-member civilian body that governs and oversees the Toronto Police Service. They ensure services are delivered in partnership with communities and keep the city the safest place to be.

The Board also creates opportunities for members of the public, government bodies and stakeholder groups to engage and provide their perspectives and input in policing issues.

Its members are working with police on the implementation of 81 recommendations on comprehensive policing reform and implementing a report on missing person investigations.

They also work with the Board’s Anti-Racism Advisory Panel and Mental Health and Addictions Advisory Panel to improve guidelines.

Members work with Neighbourhood Community Officers in west-end Divisions like 22, 12, 13 and 23 and the Service’s Community Partnerships and Engagement Unit.

“The Board must continue its high degree of engagement with diverse communities on significant policing and police governance and oversight issues,” the request state. “Continue to improve public transparency and accessibility to its work and governance processes.”

A priority in 2024 is to work collaboratively with the Ontario Human Rights Commission on the inquiry into racial profiling and racial discrimination of Black persons by the Toronto Police.

“Enhanced outreach and engagement of diverse communities, including Black, Indigenous and other racialized communities across Toronto,” the request said.

Some funds will be used to provide a honouraria for community members on the Board’s Advisory Panels and for American Sign Language (A.S.L.) translation services at its public meetings.

A significant portion of the non-salary costs are allotted for arbitrations and grievances. The 2023 budget included a $424,800 contribution to a Legal Reserve for the costs of independent legal advice.

The increased staffing of the Board office, according to the Request, will have a positive impact for Indigenous peoples, immigrants, refugees and undocumented individuals, women, 2SLGBTQ+, persons with disabilities, racialized groups, Black, vulnerable youth and vulnerable seniors.

They “will be positively impacted by the additional focus that can be brought to bear by professional staff on matters of relevance to these groups and communities,” according to the request by Board executive director Dubi Kanengisser.

The Toronto Police Service is the fourth largest municipal police service in North America with over 5500 officers and 2200 civilian support staff.

The newest mural in the community based on the life and habitat of New Toronto has been unveiled after two months of work.

A number of community residents cheered on December as the work was unveiled.

Artist Margaret Cresswell said the large artwork is based on the New Toronto community.

“I received my inspiration from the observation deck at Samuel Smith Park,” Cresswell said at the December 9 unveiling. “It is all about the neighbourhood.”

The work includes residents’ pet dogs, a skunk, blue jay, seagulls, ducks, oriole birds and a butterfly. More pets from the community will be added to the mural.

The eye-catching landscape mural is located at Ninth Street at Lake Shore Blvd. W. It takes up almost the entire side of a building.

Cresswell said the butterfly is in memory of her mom who passed away in October.

“The butterfly is the spirit of a person that is visiting,” she said. “It is in memory of my mom.”

Cresswell has been painting murals from about 20 years and has created more than 40 of them across the city.

Lake Shore Village Business Improvement Area (BIA) sponsored the artwork, along with the City of Toronto.

BIA chair Chris Korwin-Kuczynski described the work as fantastic.

“It is a nice addition to the neighbourhood,” he said. “It is a great piece of art that looks exactly like Sam Smith Park and you can walk right into it.”’

The community is rich with street art as a nearby mural in Mimico Village called Tangled Geese was days ago chosen as best mural in the City by the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA).

 

 

 

 

 

They are working to keep the city safer.

More than 60 students from across the City graduated in a Toronto Police after-school program after 17 weeks of hard work.

The students were part of a 2023 Fall Youth in Policing Initiative (YIPI) to learn more about policing and the work police officers do.

The graduation of 63 students, aged 15 to 18, took place on December 9 at the Toronto Police College, on Birmingham Street, in New Toronto.

Attending the event were Deputy Chief Lauren Pogue, MPP Christine Hogarth, Michael Parsa, the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services and Police Services Board Member Nadine Spencer.

“These students worked at various Divisions where they gained job experiences and life skills through their interactions with police officers and community members,” police said in a release.

The initiative is part of the Government of Ontario’s Youth Opportunities Strategy to build stronger communities by establishing and expanding community programs that help youth achieve a brighter future.

This program gives young people a paid opportunity to develop job skills while fostering positive partnerships with the Toronto Police Service, better connecting our organization to the people we serve, police said.

Youth who reside in a Neighbourhood Improvement Area in Toronto, are employed throughout the year, working alongside police officers and civilian staff in a wide range of roles. The program is offered full-time in the summer and after-school during the rest of the year.

The young people represented 31 neighbourhoods throughout the city namely: Mount Olive-Silverstone- Jamestown; Elms-Old Rexdale; York University Heights; Black Creek; Regent Park; Flemingdon Park; South Parkdale; Crescent Town; Thistletown-Beaumond Heights; Rustic; Glenfield-Jane Heights; Thorncliffe Park and Weston-Pallam Park.

 

Aicraft noise from planes using Toronto Pearson International Airport has left
many South Etobicoke residents sleepless and agitated for years and now
there may be relief to help curb the din.
Residents of Alderwood, Long Branch, New Toronto and Markland Woods who live under the flight paths have long complained to the Greater Toronto Airport Authority (GTAA) about loud and low-flying jets coming and going from Pearson.

Pearson officials last June issued an apology for the noise and claimed it was due to a $30 million rehabilitation of “Canada’s busiest runways,” which include Runway 05
for departures and Runway 23 for arrivals.

“Last night an airplane came over top and scared the living daylights out of me,” Alderwood resident Ruthmary James told airport officials then.
To curb the problem for residents, the federal government last June tabled Bill-C52: An Act to enact the Air Transportation Accountability Act and amend the Canada Marine Act.

The Bill, which is working its way through Parliament, will lead
to more transparency and accountability from airports, including the creation of noise
committees. C-52 will legislate airport operators to establish and oversee a noise
management committee to address questions and concerns from the public regarding the din of aircraft.

The Bill will set out notice and consultation requirements related to aircraft
noise, establish a complaint process and impose fines up to $5,000 against airlines for breaking he law.

The committees would hold meetings four times yearly and publish when and where there will be runway work and more noise from aircraft.

The weather is getting colder and police are warning residents of conmen trying to defraud homeowners in snow removal scams that target many seniors.

Toronto Police say the suspects use social media to advertise their snow removal service.

They then get citizens to pay in advance for the service and never return to remove the snow when it falls.

“Be wary of snow removal companies asking for full payment prior to any snow removal being done,” police warn. “Avoid impulse decisions to hire a snow removal company.  Do your research either online, through references or word of mouth.”

And always select a reputable company and obtain a detailed written contract, officers said.

Several people in the area last year lost between $200 and $400 each to a suspect running the ruse after the first blast of winter weather.

And the owners of a snow removal company several years ago were arrested and charged with nearly 70 fraud-related offences after several unsuspecting customers paid for services that were never delivered.

Police allege a company called Snow Easy Plowing advertised on promotional sites, such as Living Social and Groupon, snow-removal services at a deeply discounted rate.

Many people signed up for the service and, following the first big snowfall, customers did not receive the service they paid for, police said, adding no one showed up to do their walkways and driveways.

If you are a victim of fraud, report the incident to your local police at online reporting system  www.tps.ca or to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre’s by phone at 1-888-495-8501.